MANILA, Philippines – Autism is a multi-systemic metabolic disorder that can be treated with natural diet, a medical expert said.

“The old perspective is that it’s due to genetics, that it’s a brain disorder and it’s not treatable but it’s a multi system metabolic disorder,” said Dr. Eileen Comia, medical director of Advance Biomedical Treatment Center based in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

In a recent lecture here, Comia said that autism was treatable and that three to 25 percent of children with ASD recover.

Comia said that in treating children with autism, she would usually start with the gut.

“The treatment for autism starts in the gut. You have to control and make this normal,” said Comia who is promoting natural and alternative treatment for children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Comia said that unknown to most parents autistic behavior may not be caused solely by the disorder itself but by discomfort in the gut.

This is why, she said, she recommended a “gluten-free and dairy-free” diet that could improve the social and cognitive behavior and speech of ASD patients.

Citing medical research, Comia said children with autism may be allergic or has high sensitivity to dairy products and foods containing gluten as these exacerbated autistic symptoms.

Comia noted that the Filipino diet was basically gluten-free and dairy-free “for the most part”.

“Meat and vegetables like Sinigang (Filipino sour stew) are gluten-free. Our kakanin (rice pie) is made of non-dairy coconut milk. Our puto (rice cake) is [made from] rice flour,” she said.

“If every pediatrician promotes gluten-free and dairy-free diet, how many kids will you save?” the internal medicine specialist said.

“The fact that they can recover, there are so many things you can for your child. So do not settle for ‘we can’t do anything for our child anymore’ because there are a lot of ways,” she said.

Comia said she has formed a group advocating the change of diets and treating mental health the natural way.
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