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Monday, April 5, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Dietary restriction brings positive results DEAR DR. GOTT: I read with interest the column that was recently posted about food issues with kids with autism. My son is 17 and has severe autism. For many, many years, he suf- fered terribly with fail- ure-to-thrive issues because of his aversion and bizarre sensory issues to many things, including food. He would go on what we called starvation diets; for days, he would eat absolutely nothing. I can remember giving him just about anything just so that I could get him to eat something. When he was 14, out of complete desperation, we placed him on a restrictive diet. We removed gluten, casein, corn, soy, all sugars and dyes. He refused to eat anything at all for five days, but at the end of day five, something miraculous happened; our son said his first meaningful word ever since slipping into autism at 18 months of age. He said, “Eat!” He then proceeded to eat a huge plate of chicken, rice and vegetables. When he finished, he said, “More eat!” Since that day, he is now eating a large vari- ety of healthy whole foods, and he now says approximately 800 words. Daily he adds to his knowledge. He is now partially verbal, no longer self-abusive or aggressive, and his sleeping issues have been resolved. I understand where the mother in the previ- ous article was coming from, and yet I com- pletely know what you are saying is true, as well. However, I don’t believe you went far enough into exploring the multifaceted issues with food needs for chil- dren with autism. I am hoping that you will take up the cause, espe- cially since you already support living without flour and sugar. DEAR READER: There are several disor- ders that make up autism spectrum disorders (ASD), also known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Those affected experience repetitive behavior or interests, the diminished ability to interact social- ly and problems with verbal and/or nonverbal communication. Often, sufferers dis- DW PLUMBING INC. Local Plumbers Serving all Your Plumbing Needs Since 1993 530 527-6403 Major Credit Cards Accepted Lic. No 679492 Dr. Peter Gott play unusual responses to sen- sory experiences, such as certain objects, sounds, foods and more. Autism was first defined in 1943, making it very new in terms of medi- cine. Currently, there is no known cause, no specif- ic treatment and no cure. Management is based on the specific needs of the child; therefore, what works for one child may not work for another. Experts agree, however, that early diagnosis and treatment are the best means to lessen symp- toms and improve quali- ty of life for these chil- dren. Of the possible treat- ment options, some par- ents may wish to try dietary changes. This theory is based on the idea that symptoms of autism may be caused or worsened by food aller- gies and/or a vitamin deficiency. A gluten- and casein- free diet has helped some children, such as your son. Gluten is found in wheat, oats, rye and barley, and is there- fore in many fortified foods, such as cereals, breads, baked goods and more. It is the same sub- stance that causes bowel problems in those with celiac disease. Casein is found in dairy products. Eliminating these two substances from the diet can prove because of their preva- lence, but, as you have found, it’s worth it if it helps. Some parents have also found that adding a vitamin B6 supplement along with magnesium (to make the vitamin more effective) improved symptoms. Studies are mixed, how- ever, with some children showing positive results, others negative and still others experiencing lit- tle or no effects at all. Any parent with a child who suffers from one of the disorders on the autism spectrum knows the unique diffi- culties in caring for these children. Thank you for sharing your amazing results and experience. Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet,” available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook.” 2 Deathbed confession devastates woman Dear Annie: I am a 64- year-old woman, and my husband is 65. We have been together for 45 years. Until recently, I thought we had the perfect marriage. However, when he became seriously ill and believed he might die, he confessed to an affair 30 years ago. He was traveling on busi- ness and had drinks with a woman who wanted to see the company apartment, and, well, one thing led to another. Apparently, it happened again two nights later. He said he broke it off then because he didn’t want to cheat on his wife and feared losing me along with his family. Of course, this blew me away, and I had all kinds of questions. I wanted all the details. To me, it is like it happened yesterday. I’m crushed that he never told me, because for 45 years, I thought we shared everything. I’m really having a hard time getting past this. He keeps saying he was young, drinking and stupid. I know he loves me. How do I move on? — Crushed Dear Crushed: These deathbed confessions may clear someone’s conscience, but they often leave the listeners with a horrible emotional burden. Fortunately, your husband is still alive and you have the oppor- tunity to resolve his heartbreaking revelation. Keep in mind that for him, the affair is ancient history. For you, however, it just happened, and you Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar are reevaluating your mar- ried life as if it contains false memories. It does not. Your husband valued his wife and marriage more than the tran- sient thrill of an affair. It is natural for you to need some time to forgive him and let it go, but we are confident that you can do this. If you need help, some short-term coun- seling will provide it. Dear Annie: Please settle an old argument between my sister and me. When invited to a party, be it birthday, anniver- sary, wedding, etc., if you will not be attending, are you obligated to send a gift? I say no, and she says you must send a gift because you have been invited. Thank you. — Two Sisters Dear Sisters: If you do not attend the event, you are not oblig- ated to give a gift. However, for close friends and family members, most people send a gift regardless. It is a gracious gesture that pre- serves the special quality of the relationship. (This is particularly true with wedding presents.) When in doubt, we say you can’t go wrong sending a gift. Dear Annie: I was very interest- ed in the letter from ‘‘Depressed in Ohio,’’ the 48-year-old man who had never kissed a girl. While ther- apy is a good suggestion, a better one would be for him to seek out a dating coach, one who also has experience as a psychotherapist. Dating and courtship involve highly sophisticated sets of behaviors. A coach who has experience in both could be quite helpful to this man and others like him. I am working with a man right now in the same situation. All is not hopeless for these men and women who missed the boat in high school and college and then got further and further behind. They tend to be highly sensitive to rejec- tion in general, and to shame specif- ically, while being extremely pas- sive in and avoidant of potential sexual situations. The clue here is when he said a woman had never approached him. It’s almost certain that he has never approached a woman, either, and likely warded off any attempts if one was interest- ed. My client is also 48, which is a pretty advanced age to be starting from square one, but he is very motivated. For the first time ever, he is dating someone and has gotten much further than ever before. Under my guidance, he has been open with the woman about his lack of experience. They are proceeding slowing and building a real relation- ship before attempting sex. He is thrilled. — Romance Coach Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Fool around with this April puzzle difficult (MCT) For the calendar- challenged, April Fools' Day has just passed us. So in the spirit of ridicu- lousness, let's see if we can fool you with this head- scratching puzzler all about April. Will you have to wear the jester hat? Or will it be us who looks foolish? Only one way to find out. True or false? 1. April 2 is National Pickled Egg Day, while April 30 is National Hug Your Hamster Day. 2. Bobby April is a world-renowned wedding planner who has been used by some of the biggest celebrities in Hollywood. 3. The April birthstone is amethyst. 4. April Bowlby is an American actress best known for her supporting role on "Two and a Half Men." 5. Aprilaire is an award- winning 70-year-old Kansas City company that makes central air condition- ers. 6. The phrase "April showers bring May flow- ers" was first uttered by Juliet in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." 7. It was in April — April 4, 1964, to be exact — that the Beatles had the top five songs on the Bill- board Hot 100 singles chart, an achievement never equaled in the history of music. 8. April 1 is the day French workers traditional- 8th Best BBQ Around Cooked Fresh Daily B.B.Q. 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PICKLE’S SANDWICH SHOP • AIRPORT AUTO REPAIR • JOHN WHEELER LOGGING D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 • KAY STEPHENS, MD • QRC • GREENWASTE OF TEHAMA • TRI COUNTIES BANK • MOSS LUMBER & HARDWARE • BRETNEY SUTTERFIELD • HOYT-COLE CHAPEL OF THE FLOWERS • TEHAMA COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS • FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE CO. • SUSANNE WHALEN, DMD INC • PLACER TITLE CO. NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION Please help sponsor a classroom subscription Call Kathy at (530) 527-2151 to find out how. Through the Newspapers in Education program, area classrooms receive the Red Bluff Daily News every day ly pay respect to their places of employment by lifting a glass of wine and kissing their bosses on the cheek. 9. April is the month of Earth Day, Arbor Day and opening day in major league baseball. 10. The birthday of Confucius traditionally is celebrated on April 8, sending billions of Chinese into the streets to celebrate on brightly decorated bicy- cles. 11. On April 1, 1984, singer Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father. Many thought it was a fake news story in very bad taste. 12. In 1957, the BBC broke the news that the dreaded spaghetti weevil had been eradicated. It illustrated the April Fool's hoax by broadcasting pic- tures of Italians harvesting spaghetti from trees. D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY THE V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Bud’s Answers 1. False. April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day and National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, while April 30 is, among other things, National Honesty Day.(Would we lie to you?) 2.False.Bobby April is the special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He just sounds like a wedding plan- ner. 3.False.The April birthstone is a diamond. 4.True.She plays a character named Kandi. 5.False.Aprilaire, with headquarters in Madison, Wis., makes furnace humidifiers, air purifiers, thermostats and other products. 6. False. While it is from the time of Shakespeare — mid-16th century — this saying is most commonly traced back to Thomas Tusser, who compiled a book of writings called "A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry." He said "Sweet April Showers do spring May flowers." 7. True. And here are the songs. 1) "Can't Buy Me Love" 2) "Twist and Shout" 3) "She Loves You" 4) "I Want to Hold Your Hand" 5) "Please Please Me" 8.False. Seriously? The French? 9.True. Earth Day is April 22, Arbor Day is the last Fri- day in April, and opening day is the first Sunday in April. 10. False. But traditionally, it is the Buddha's birthday on April 8. 11.True. 12. True. Hundreds of viewers contacted the broad- caster, wanting to know how to cultivate their own spaghetti trees.