For those of you who don't know, Piaget was a developmental psychologist who studied the cognitive development of children, which is why I have titled today's topic in his name-sake (although I'm not actually going to talk about his theories or his specific research).
But first, a little insight on me, and why I'm talking about -YET ANOTHER- health issue on a caking blog. As much as I am a baker and have studied cake decoration I have a whole other side to my life. I have a psychology degree with a specialization in educational psychology. I have also worked in a learning center for about 4 years. What does this mean? I have spent lots of time learning about and working with children with learning disabilities and difficulties. Ok, enough about me, back to the reason for today's post.
What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurobiological condition that can affect the normal function of the gastrointestinal, immune, hepatic, endocrine and nervous systems. It impacts normal brain development leaving most individuals with communication problems, difficulty with typical social interactions and a tendency to repeat specific patterns of behaviour. There is also a markedly restricted repertoire of activity and interests. Individuals on the autism spectrum tend to have varying degrees and combinations of symptoms and therefore treatment needs to be specific to the individual.
How can the symptoms of autism be managed? A gluten-free/casein-free diet is also known as the GFCF diet. It is one of several alternative treatments for children with autism. When following this strict elimination diet, all foods containing gluten and casein are removed from the child's daily food intake. Some parents of children with autism believe their children are allergic or sensitive to the components found in these foods. Some seek allergy testing for confirmation. Yet even when no allergy is confirmed, many parents of autistic children still choose to offer the GFCF diet. Among the benefits they report are changes in speech and behavior.
How does the GFCF diet work?
The gluten-free/casein-free diet is based on the theory that children with autism may have an allergy or high sensitivity to certain foods. In particular, the theory targets foods that contain gluten and casein. Children with autism, according to the theory, process peptides and proteins in foods containing gluten and casein differently than other people do. Hypothetically, this difference in processing may exacerbate autistic symptoms. Some believe that the brain treats these proteins like false opiate-type chemicals. The reaction to these chemicals, they say, leads a child to act in a certain way.
Based on this theory, diets free of gluten and casein are given to children with autism. The intent is to reduce symptoms and improve social and cognitive behaviors and speech.
I know that eliminating both gluten and casein from anyone's diet can seem a daunting task...but don't the benefits seem worth it for children with ASD?! So, for the amazing families out there who are living with autism, I applaud you...you DEFINITELY deserve a piece of cake! You don't have to deprive yourself or your child of the simple smile brought with a cupcake, or the joy of a birthday cake ever again, (as they say) I've got your back!
On another note...as I've been baking, and adding new flavors to the menu all the time, many people have been asking me "Why don't you make red velvet cake?" and so begins my second rant on how cake ingredients can affect cognitive development (WHO KNEW, RIGHT?!).
Red 40 Dye and Hyperactivity
Red 40 dye is an ingredient that is used to add artificial color to foods, beverages, and some cold medications. While red 40 dye is approved by the FDA, many parents of children with ADHD have had to limit or remove the dye from their children's diets due to its effects on behavior. Red 40 dye has been linked to ADHD and has been shown to be a trigger for hyperactive behavior in children who consume it regularly, and exacerbate the negative traits that are associated with ADHD. Common symptoms that children who are sensitive to red 40 dye experience include severe temper tantrums, fidgeting, aggression, inability to focus, and nervousness. The dye has also been linked to physical symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches. Parents of ADHD children who are becoming increasingly hyperactive after ingesting red 40 dye may see a significant improvement in behavior after the dye is removed from their diet.
For those who don't bake, or weren't sure; red velvet cake is chocolate cake that has been dyed red. As we all know, chocolate cake is naturally dark, so as you might have figured, it takes A TON of red dye to change the cake batter from its natural brown to a bright red colour. So, to finally answer the question "Why don't I make red velvet cake?"... it's a personal choice. I just don't see the benefits of adding something that has such negative effects on children's behavior, that does nothing for the flavor of the cake, it just makes it "pretty". Well, I'm sorry. For those who love red velvet, you'll just have to settle on brown velvet (haha) from me. Why not try my triple chocolate cake instead? No, it doesn't look like a Canadian flag when you bite into it...but you might just make a new favorite...and save your kids from having a hyperactive fit!
Alright, jumping off my soap box now! Just remember, eating healthy and doing something good for your body doesn't have to be bland or boring, it's my goal to make it fun and delicious!
Until next time,
Happy baking, caking and tasting!
Love and sprinkles xoxo
>>Do you have a child with ASD or ADHD? Have you made changes to their diet to lessen their symptoms? Tell me about your successes and failures in the comments section.<<
>>Do you have a child with ASD or ADHD? Have you made changes to their diet to lessen their symptoms? Tell me about your successes and failures in the comments section.<<
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