Benefits of a Gluten-Free & Casein-Free Diet
Research has proven the importance of a GFCF diet (gluten-free and casein-free) for many of the following conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Dementia, Celiac, Depression, Weight-Loss, Psoriasis, Migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, Chron’s Disease, Schizophrenia, Ulcerative Colitis, Chronic Diarrhea Cystic Fibrosis.
Many individuals have problems breaking down the proteins that are in dairy called caseins and the protein in wheat, oats, barley, rye, and spelt flours called gluten. Illness occurs when the incomplete breakdown of the gluten and casein pass the intestines as peptide chains and enter into the bloodstream crossing the blood-brain barrier.
The incomplete breakdown turns into casomorphines from the casein and glutomorphines from the gluten and transforms into an opiate. Opiates can cause any of the following side effects: clouded mental functioning, insomnia, diarrhea, impaired social connection, blocking of pain messages, dilated pupils, inflammation on the stomach lining and depression. It is a vicious cycle that never ends.
What happens when you eat foods that you cannot breakdown? The result is inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, skin disorders, depression, weight issues, behavioral and mental health issues.
Take heart; there is hope. One can implement a specialized GFCF diet and assist their body in healing while removing any toxic residue from the incomplete digestion of the offending foods. Also, the daily use of adding specialized digestive enzymes will lighten the burden of the body in the digestion process. Don’t be overwhelmed since there are so many delicious and nutritious alternatives to explore to eat. There are numerous cookbooks, and local health food stores will offer gluten-free and casein-free products from snack bars, flours, deli meats, dinner dishes, bread, cakes, and more. Read all the labels before consuming anything. Educate and empower yourself.
Let Food Be Thy Medicine and not Thy Poison.
Check out my Instagram and Pinterest pages @NancyGuberti to get food ideas.
Foods that contain gluten
Breads and cereals made with:
Abyssinian hard wheat
Barley
Barley flour
Barley malt
Barley hordeum vulgare
Bleached all-purpose flour
Bran
Bread flour
Brown flour
Durum flour
Enriched flour
Fu (dried wheat gluten)
Gluten flour
Graham flour
Granary flour
Hard wheat
High protein flour
High gluten flour
Kamut wheat
Oat flour
Rye
Spelt
Wheat
Wheat flour
White flour
Whole meal flour
Vital gluten
Other sources of gluten:
Alcoholic beverages
Avena
Beer
Bouillon cubes or powder
Bread crumbs
Bulgur (bulgur wheat/nuts)
Broth (packaged)
Cereal extract
Cereal binder
Chilton
Couscous
Cracker meal
Croutons
Dextrin
Durum
Edible starch
Einkorn wheat
Filler
Galactose
Ghee
Glutamate
Glutamic acid
Gravy cubes
Gravy mixes (unless homemade with cornstarch)
Herbs with wheat fillers
Hordeum
Hydrolyzed oat starch
Hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP)
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
Malt
Non-dairy creamer (coffee creamer)
Oats
Pearl barley (Job's Tears)
Nougat
Seitan
Simplesse
Semolina
Soba noodles
Teriyaki sauce
Triticale
Udon
Vegetable starch
These foods may contain gluten.
If the item is not labeled GF/CF, check with the manufacturer.
Baking powder
Baking soda
Chorizo sausage
Gelatinized starch
Ground spices
Hot dogs
Lactic acid
Luncheon meats
Modified food starch
Natural flavoring
Sausages
Soy sauce (shoyu)
Surimi
Miso
Monosodium glutamate
MSG
Rice malt
Rice syrup
Vitamins
Check for gluten-free baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, xanthan or guar gum at health food stores or online.
Foods that contain casein
Milk:
Acidophilus milk
Buttermilk
Condensed milk
Evaporated milk
Dry milk
Goat milk
Low fat milk
Malted milk
Milk chocolate
Milk powder
Milk solids
Non-fat milk
Powdered milk
Skim milk
Whole milk
Other sources of casein:
Artificial butter flavor
Butter
Butter fat
Butter flavoring
Butter oil
Caseinate
Cheese (hard and soft)
Cottage cheese
Cream
Cream cheese
Custard
Curds
Delactosed whey
Half and half
Ice cream
Lactoglobulin
Lactose
Lactalbumin
Lactate solids
Lactulose
Pudding
Rennet casein
Ricotta cheese
Sherbet
Sour cream
Sour cream solids
Whey
Yogurt
These foods may contain casein.
If the item is not labeled GF/CF, check with the manufacturer.
Brown sugar flavoring
Bavarian cream flavoring
Caramel coloring
Chorizo
Coconut flavoring
Hot dogs
Luncheon meats
Natural chocolate flavoring
Sausages
What can my child eat?
Many foods do not contain gluten or casein, such as:
chicken, fish, meat
fruits, vegetables
potatoes, rice
cereal and pasta labeled "gluten-free" but make sure does not counting any corn or soy
Guten-free flours:
Amaranth flour
Buckwheat flour
Garbanzo bean flour
Garfava flour
Lentil flour
Millet flour
Nut flours (such as almond, cashew)
Potato starch flour
Potato flour
Quinoa flour
Rice flour (brown or white)
Sorghum flour (Jowar)
Sweet potato flour
Tapioca flour or tapioca starch
Teff flour
Yucca (cassava flour)
Milk substitutes:
Almond milk
Coconut milk
What else do I need to know?
Gluten is also found in many non-food items, but some brands are gluten-free. Read labels as products can change their ingredients and not alert consumer.
Contains gluten: certain lip balms
Laundry detergent
Soda detergent
Soap, shampoo
Spices (ground)
Sunscreen
Toothpaste
Stickers, stamps, and envelopes have gluten in the glue. Some medicines and antibiotics contain gluten, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving them.
Be careful not to mix GF/CF foods with other foods when using household appliances such as toasters, ovens, microwaves, and waffle irons. Use a separate toaster. When using ovens or microwaves, keep GF/CF foods in separate containers from other foods.
Before starting any new food and supplement regime, always discuss with your medical practitioner.
Join the Autism Expert Training and take a deep dive into the knowledge and be empowered to be the ripple effect in the lives of others.
"Looking forward to helping you transform your life & career with Biomedical & Nutritional Intervention Training! Let's help you become an Autism Coach!"
Nancy Guberti, MS, CN, Functional Medicine Specialist
Author, Healthy Living Everyday
Co-Author, Autism Essentials
