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have you tried goats cheese? Though it still contains the same proteins, it is supposed to be better.

 

I'm just making my first batch of gluten free crumpets! They don't look like crumpets!!! :unsure: The new shop ones are so expensive - nearly �2 for four!!

 

If it's casein that;s the problem then goats milk/cheese will be much better but if it's lactose then goats milk/cheese is no better at all!

(As well as lactofree milk, you can buy lactase - the enzyme - in capsule form which you take 5 minutes before you eat, or also as drops which you put into ordinary milk and leave overnight - both work really well for lactose intolerance)

 

Are the crumpets "pikelets"? If so, they taste fine, they're just a little on the skinny side, so eating 4 at once is a little too easy...

 

Phil

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I guess they are pikelets- I recall seeing that name somewhere. They are edible, but don't taste anything like crumpets! J won't even try one as they don't have any holes! :tearful:

 

I did use a different make of gluten free bread flour and yeast (it was a Glutafin recipe) but I doubt that would make much difference.

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I've tried goat's milk, but it just smells like goats to me and I'm not keen.

 

I have to admit I expected not to like it; I'd heard it had a distinctive taste... but for me, I can't taste any difference, though my daughter can and won't be fooled if we tell her otherwise, so I guess some people have more sensitive taste/smell than others.

 

Have you tried rice milk? That's reasonably pleasant, with none of the odd taste of soya.

 

Phil

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Hello Everyone,

 

hope you are all well and had a nice Easter.

 

I've decided to try Alfie on Gluten free foods, i really didnt realise how much gluten was in EVERYTHING he ate!

 

So, i've been weaning him down, and used a lot of free from stuff in tesco/sainsburys.

 

the thing is, its only been 6 days and the change in Alfie is incredible. Hes had one outburst in that time, and he is communicating more and understanding loads more.....and understanding requests too. Hes less resistant to changes if i just explain....he just seems so much happier, willing to communicate, and calmer.

 

is it just a placebo thing as in i feel more positive so he does too?

 

or can it just be a coincidence?

 

or can it happen this fast???

 

sorry if this sounds random, he was only diagnosed 5 weeks ago....its all still very new. Plus, i am struggling to find "accessories" for meals as he doesnt like pasta and i cant find gluten free chips! Plus he wont eat veg. grrrrrr.

 

any advice/experiences would be so gratefully recieved.....thank you x

Edited by Precious Alfie

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With our 4-year-old we're in fact doing a GF diet because he can't take wheat or rye flour. We've got the impression that this diet does improve his "social abilities" or whatever you call them. But still, his AS is pretty conspicuous.

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Hi PA :)

 

I've not heard of really rapid changes like this with gluten (when trying the diet it's recommended that you give it at least six months, but I guess that's working the other way when initially you don't see a change, IYKWIM), but for my son cutting out dairy 'fixed' his bowel problem within a matter of days, and that had benefits on behaviour because (I assume) he wasn't in so much discomfort... maybe it's a bit of that combined with the placebo effect you mention, and a reduction in gluten levels (peptides won't have completely cleared his system yet)?

Either way, you're off to a good start, so the next month or so should give you more insight as to whether it's an ongoing change or temporary coincidence :)

Gluten free chips - I'm assuming you mean oven chips? Look at the supermarket own brands rather than the branded ones - particularly the 'value' ones... oddly, given that the 'official' FF ranges are so expensive, you'll find the really cheap stuff is often okay because they haven't added all the extras like MSG/Wheat (flavour enhancers/added texture). Avoid any 'curly fries' too! After a while you may be able to turn him onto jacket spuds or 'skin fries' (basically quartered lengthways, rolled in olive/sunflower oil and roasted), which give you far more flavouring options ('cos you're adding them and you know what they consist of) and are healthier too :thumbs:

Good luck, and i hope it helps :)

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Mcains oven chips are apparently ok *at present* as long as its the plain ones just with sunflower oil as they aren't 'bleached' first..Alphabites are too now they've been rebranded.

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Mcains oven chips are apparently ok *at present* as long as its the plain ones just with sunflower oil as they aren't 'bleached' first..Alphabites are too now they've been rebranded.

 

:thumbs: I was really surprised at the above, as that brand wasn't in the past...

Now do a fair range that are okay, including one with a very Harry Hill's TV Burp style name!

I've sent PA a link to their website (no direct links to commercial websites, please :) ), but it's easy enough to find with a search engine if anyone else is interested :)

 

BD :D

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Hi all -

 

Recently discovered the EnerG flax loaf in one of the big supermarket chains and it is, as a certain Mr K would put it, 'exceedingly good'...

Following on from that, two of the other biggies, we discovered, are carrying another of EnerG's new products, the incredibly unimaginatively (but accurately) named 'Gluten Free Loaf', which is also exceedingly good!

Unfortunately, neither are available on scrip (but if enough people requested who knows?), but if you ain't getting your gf bread on scrip i'd strongly recommend giving these a try... Best yet, the texture with both is better than any gf bread I've tasted (including my home made stuff) without refreshing... At last, 'sandwich' rather than 'toast' bread :thumbs:

Ben's chuffed as punch!

 

BD :D

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Hi all -

 

Recently discovered the EnerG flax loaf in one of the big supermarket chains and it is, as a certain Mr K would put it, 'exceedingly good'...

Following on from that, two of the other biggies, we discovered, are carrying another of EnerG's new products, the incredibly unimaginatively (but accurately) named 'Gluten Free Loaf', which is also exceedingly good!

Unfortunately, neither are available on scrip (but if enough people requested who knows?), but if you ain't getting your gf bread on scrip i'd strongly recommend giving these a try... Best yet, the texture with both is better than any gf bread I've tasted (including my home made stuff) without refreshing... At last, 'sandwich' rather than 'toast' bread :thumbs:

Ben's chuffed as punch!

 

BD :D

 

hi there bd...have just bought some freefrom prods from sainsburys today for charlie...but was not impressed with the stingy loaf split in 2 parts and costing �1.79 (approx 10 small slices)....now you mention this energ flax and a word i dont understnd..scrip'...what does that mean/ and where can i get this bread.....am trying a gm,gf,lf diet for me and charlie....i recently saw my specialist as on top of everything else i suffer from lupus (SLE) and apparently this sort of diet may be beneficial to people like me as well as aspy folk like my boy and hubby....many thanks for your good advice as always,maria

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:jester:

I think they just meant prescription, some people get their gf/wf foods on prescription. I think that is what he meant anyway.

thanks sg....always helpful as ever....i suppose i should have guessed!!...how is it going....hope things are calming a little for you....what about that posting on the flight...the funny one by...was it baddad or..cant remember now....such a laugh....anyway..you will be okay..i am sure....your inner strenght that has helped you face many hurdles will be with you at the airport!!!...and of course you will be seeing this mr j at the end of it...so go for it...maria

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What is the texture like? The wf/gf stuff I tried was like chewing on sponge and have been thinking about going wf again for a while but that was my sticking point I missed bread.

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Hem hem......

 

Best yet, the texture with both is better than any gf bread I've tasted (including my home made stuff) without refreshing... At last, 'sandwich' rather than 'toast' bread :thumbs:
:shame:

 

Seriously, it's really nice... more like a cheap white loaf texture than a whole grain brown but not dry/crumbly at all...

TBH if it was full-size and cheaper i'd quite happily eat it, especially the flax one.

For toast, it comes out a bit like melba toast, but not. Lovely for pate or garlic Kerrroutons! :lol:

 

But why are you 'toying' with GF? Surely* it's a 'need to' or don't 'need to' unless it's more a detox thingy?

 

 

 

BD :D

 

 

* and don't call me Shirley......

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But why are you 'toying' with GF? Surely* it's a 'need to' or don't 'need to' unless it's more a detox thingy?

 

The reason I was thinking of going gf/wf was the fact that when I did before I noticed that my IBS symptoms disappeared when I did. As soon as I started eating it again I noticed the symptoms got worse again. It tends to get really bad when I've had too much dairy or wheat.

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It tends to get really bad when I've had too much dairy or wheat.

 

Very likely - that seems to be the pattern. With Ben it's dairy/bowels, gluten/behaviour, but I guess the two could play off each other.

 

:D

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Has anyone heard of Bowtrol...comes from the usa.I have been taking them for ibs probs...also stopped eating white bread and my ibs symptoms have all but gone.Earlier today I cooked a hearty meal of gf/lf freefrom pasta with homemade tom based sauce...it was delicious...the pasta surprised me as it is much lighter and seems to taste less stodgy.....the freefrom bread was rubbish though..broken,seemed stale etc...have looked for other sources and there are loads...somerfield have got that enerG bread that BD was on about.maria

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I know that for some people, the problem is mass-produced, shop-bought bread. My gut improved when I switched to more expensive brands or instore baked loaves. As you enjoy bread so much, that might be worth a try before going gluten-free.

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I know that for some people, the problem is mass-produced, shop-bought bread. My gut improved when I switched to more expensive brands or instore baked loaves. As you enjoy bread so much, that might be worth a try before going gluten-free.

 

I've tried a lot of bread over time, expensive, cheap, home made and they all had the same result.

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Hi there,

 

I have been told by a friend that she receives gluten free products for her son on prescription, he has aspergers.

I consulted someone else who said that only colieacs get it on prescription.

Is this a postcode lottery deal or down to if you doctor is sympathetic or not,

Does anyone have any info or advice?

 

Best wishes

 

nic

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or down to if your doctor is sympathetic or not,

 

Best wishes

 

nic

 

That's pretty much the situation... the actual 'guidelines' GP's have to work by are fairly ambiguous (sort of 'where the patient will benefit from/where the patient needs') so it's a matter of your doctor agreeing that there is a benefit or need.

I always think it's a good idea to start at the GP - let them think it's their idea - and also ask them to fund the urinary analysis via Sunderland as a starting point. If the results from Sunderland come through showing 'spikes' the GP's really (logically) gotta go with that recommendation. Also worth pushing at that point for blood tests to confirm there aren't other problems...

If the urinary analysis shows no peaks - problem solved and you've saved your child the invasive blood tests :)

Going to the GP without the urinary analysis (or to request that) is really a non-starter, as without those results anything you tell him is basically 'anecdotal evidence'...

 

hope that helps

 

:D

Oh - PS: Also tell him why you suspect there might be a problem i.e. your childs bowel/toileting/vomiting/eating disorder problems... if your child has none of those symptoms it's unlikely (but not impossible) that intolerances are a big factor for them...

Edited by baddad

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i do know the supermarket M has a lot of good gluten and dairy free own brands but it can vary from town to town what they have on the shelfs T is not to bad either you could check on line for books in this area on recipies etc and borrow from library also if you type in gluten free recipes on search engine you can find a lot of sights with recipies

hope this helps :jester:

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:thumbs: I was really surprised at the above, as that brand wasn't in the past...

Now do a fair range that are okay, including one with a very Harry Hill's TV Burp style name!

I've sent PA a link to their website (no direct links to commercial websites, please :) ), but it's easy enough to find with a search engine if anyone else is interested :)

 

BD :D

Precious Alfie - has the improvement continued? An improvement could happen as quickly as you describe. Did you have your son tested for celiac disease before you cut out gluten? In a very small number of cases children who have celiac disease may show behavioural symptoms which are very close to, or identical to autism (I was told this by one of the top celiac researchers/doctors in the US). When gluten is cut out, the child changes dramatically. I understand that this is REALLY rare. And I've read and been told that there is no greater incidence of celiac disease amongst autistic children than the population at large - ie, it would run at 1 in 100. (Very few people with celiac disease get diagnosed. - so some of us will have celiacs in the family or even be celiacs ourselves without realising it.) Celiac is NOT the cause of autism. But in a small number of cases it may produce similar symptoms - clinginess, anxiety, irritability etc.

The fact that your child reacted so fast to a gluten free diet doesn't necessarily mean he/she is celiac, but you should be aware of the possibility. When he/she is older you might like to do a gluten challenge after talking to your doctor, (putting him/her back on bread etc for several weeks) so that a blood check can be run. They can't check for celiac disease unless the patient is eating quite a lot of gluten.

A member of my family has celiac disease, I'm intolerant of gluten (but won't do the gluten challenge because I can't bear the symptoms and I don't want to risk further damage - I just stay off the stuff) and my son has Aspergers. So I'm deeply interested in all this. He was tested for celiac but was clear. I would have been thrilled if he had had celiac because it is the only auto-immune disease for which there is a known and simple cure - don't eat gluten.

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Hi

 

We''ve just had our DS (AS with behaviour problems) tested and found that he is intolerant to gluten, so we're about to start him on a gluten-free diet. :pray:

 

Just wondered if any of you have advice or experience which might help - like do we need to give him any supplements? Our GP is not very supportive becaue the theory behind this is not medically proven :(

 

Thanks, Nicky x

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Hi Nicky -

 

My son has been gluten free since he was three, and it's a doddle now to how it was 7 years ago! We're actually in the process of 'challenging' the diets right now - with some very interesting and liberating results! - but similar challenges a couple of years gave a very different picture...

No, you shouldn't need to give him any supplements, as most of the things you'll be switching to (soya milk etc - I'm assuming you'll be going DF as well?) will have calcium added and that's the only real worry...

He also takes a generic brand of Omega 3 capsules, but that's more a 'general' supplement ('cos few of us eat enough naturally these days) than a dietary intervention, IYKWIM :)

 

I'll PM you too, as living in your neck of the woods I can give you some pointers on where i shop and for what :)

 

:D

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Hi Nicky, how did you find out about this, my son was tested by the reasearch unit. My Doctor or dietian didn't think it was needed and because my son has a restricted diet any way the dietian thought it would be to complicated. Please keep us updated, I am interested to see how it goes. X

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Hi Nicky, how did you find out about this, my son was tested by the reasearch unit. My Doctor or dietian didn't think it was needed and because my son has a restricted diet any way the dietian thought it would be to complicated. Please keep us updated, I am interested to see how it goes. X

 

Hello, purplehaze

 

A friend of mine mentioned the possible realtionship between diet and ASDs - her DS is Aspergers. I went on the net and found lots of information. The research findings were that DS has a 'peak' on gluten, but not on casein. However, they say that this doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't have a problem with dairy, but the likelihood is that it's OK.

 

I'm going to go ahead, and try to get my GP onside - I'll let you know how it goes :pray:

 

Nicky x

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Hi Nicky -

 

My son has been gluten free since he was three, and it's a doddle now to how it was 7 years ago! We're actually in the process of 'challenging' the diets right now - with some very interesting and liberating results! - but similar challenges a couple of years gave a very different picture...

No, you shouldn't need to give him any supplements, as most of the things you'll be switching to (soya milk etc - I'm assuming you'll be going DF as well?) will have calcium added and that's the only real worry...

He also takes a generic brand of Omega 3 capsules, but that's more a 'general' supplement ('cos few of us eat enough naturally these days) than a dietary intervention, IYKWIM :)

 

I'll PM you too, as living in your neck of the woods I can give you some pointers on where i shop and for what :)

 

:D

 

Thanks, baddad, I've PM'd you back :)

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Hello, purplehaze

 

A friend of mine mentioned the possible realtionship between diet and ASDs - her DS is Aspergers. I went on the net and found lots of information. The research findings were that DS has a 'peak' on gluten, but not on casein. However, they say that this doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't have a problem with dairy, but the likelihood is that it's OK.

 

I'm going to go ahead, and try to get my GP onside - I'll let you know how it goes :pray:

 

Nicky x

 

 

hi Nicky, was it the sunderland research unit that did the test, because they tested my son and it came back the same as what you have said. It had really high peaks for gluten and dairy was ok but they said the same as what they said to you about it could still be a problem.

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Nicky, i forgot to ask if your DS experiences bowel problems, my son has a bowel disorder. X

 

No, he doesn't have bowel problems.

 

I've just tried to make some GF bread, but it didn't rise and was disgusting! :sick:

 

I'm going back to the kitchen now to try again - wish me luck!! :pray:

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Do you have an electric whisk? If the mix is very thick, you need one with special "dough hooks." I have found that mixing it well with an electric whisk is the only way to get enough air into it. You can get electric whisks for under �20, and they have many uses.

 

You need to leave it to rise in a very warm place. I leave it on top of the radiator. In the summer when I really do not want to put the heating on, I turn on the main oven and put it in the top oven to rise.

 

Also, if you are using Dove's Farm flour, I add twice as much yeast as instructed (and skip the sugar). It still comes out quite dense. I haven't yet found a brand that I would actually recommend. I prefer to eat things like potato salad instead, but the GF bread is OK for toast.

 

I had the Sunderland tests and it indicated a possible problem with gluten and no problem with dairy. I have found that cutting out gluten has had a major effect on my gut problems, energy levels and depression. Dairy does cause some gut problems, but I can tolerate small amounts. It seems to have a cumulative effect and I do get stomach upsets, tiredness and depressed if I have been eating too much. So you may find that cutting out dairy as well is worthwhile, even though the Sunderland tests did not pick up any issues.

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Do you have an electric whisk? If the mix is very thick, you need one with special "dough hooks." I have found that mixing it well with an electric whisk is the only way to get enough air into it. You can get electric whisks for under �20, and they have many uses.

 

You need to leave it to rise in a very warm place. I leave it on top of the radiator. In the summer when I really do not want to put the heating on, I turn on the main oven and put it in the top oven to rise.

 

Also, if you are using Dove's Farm flour, I add twice as much yeast as instructed (and skip the sugar). It still comes out quite dense. I haven't yet found a brand that I would actually recommend. I prefer to eat things like potato salad instead, but the GF bread is OK for toast.

 

I had the Sunderland tests and it indicated a possible problem with gluten and no problem with dairy. I have found that cutting out gluten has had a major effect on my gut problems, energy levels and depression. Dairy does cause some gut problems, but I can tolerate small amounts. It seems to have a cumulative effect and I do get stomach upsets, tiredness and depressed if I have been eating too much. So you may find that cutting out dairy as well is worthwhile, even though the Sunderland tests did not pick up any issues.

 

Thanks, Tally, that's really helpful :D

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Hi there

 

As you were kind enough to give me advice I though I'd post an update on how we are doing with my sons gluten free diet.

 

Basically I persevered with finding enough things he would eat, made up a menu, bought a breadmaker and a couple of books and as of last week he is gluten free! His diet is very restricted so I give him omega oils and a vitamin and mineral supplement. He goes to Nursery 3 days a week and I have got them on board and am supplying 90% of his food for them.

 

The best breakthrough has been buying a breadmaker, not only cause I love it for our ordinary loaves, but it has allowed me to experiment a bit, which I would never have got the energy to do if I had to make them by hand. So I have tried various bread mixes, GF bread flour and yesterday received my internet order of various GF flours to make my own mix (from a book) and see how that goes. Today I tried the mixing in a banana idea and its turned out not too bad - it needed be cooked longer tho.

 

I also asked the GP about getting anything on prescription and he seems generally open to the idea, which would be welcome as all this is costing a bomb - but I suppose that partially what the DLA money is for!

 

Anyway, just need to see now whether it helps. I'm not pinning too much hope on it, but it worth a try for a year to see what happens.

 

So thanks folks, we have got there (just about) I just have to crack to holy grail of a bread he will eat without Nutella etc on it and one other alternative main meal (at the moment GF fishfingers, potato waffle and beans is it) and it will be as varied as his diet ever was before - ie not very 8-) and I will be satisfied.

 

So thanks again.

x

custard

 

Just a thought - try buckwheat pasta. Health food shops should have it. I find corn and rice pasta too slimy, but buckwheat is great, and is nutritious because it is a vegetable, not a grain. My son will sometimes eat it too. Worth a go - I have never found it in a supermarket, sadly.

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There's a buckwheat pasta made by Ogran that you can usually find in the big two's FF section... I find it a bit sweet, but it does tend to hang together better than the corn based stuff! We usually 'go slimey', but then Ben likes lots of sauce and DF cheese on top of his, so the texture gets lost under that lot anyway. More often than not we eat rice instead these days - but that's not an option unless he likes rice!

 

If you are buying rice/corn flour - I find spirals work better than shells or other shapes :)

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