The article below reviews medical research related to diet and autism. As a reminder, under no circumstances does Life Skills Advocate recommend that you begin dietary changes without consulting your child’s medical care team. Always seek medical advice from a trusted professional experienced in working with children with unique needs.
With the latest Centers for Disease Control estimates indicating that 1 in 54 children now have a diagnosis of autism in the United States, more parents than ever before are looking for tangible, evidence-based strategies to help their children succeed. Many of the questions parents continue to demand better resources relate to the connection between autism symptoms and diet. With so many families demanding resources, researchers, practitioners, and scientists must continue to study and support better information about ASD and nutrition.
What We Know About Diet and ASD
While we don’t know a lot about autism and its connection to diet, some studies identify relationships. It’s been reported that gastrointestinal disorders are nearly eight times more common among children with autism than other children. Many children with ASD suffer from issues like chronic constipation, diarrhea, and frequent abdominal pain more often than their peers. Studies have shown these chronic digestive issues can translate into increased behavioral challenges.
Also, we know that children–whether or not they have a diagnosis of autism–benefit from a healthy diet. The USDA recommends that all children consume multiple servings of vegetables every day in their ChooseMyPlate.gov recommendations. Depending on the age of a child and their activity level, it’s recommended that they consume 1-3 cups of vegetables each day. But what about the specific benefits of cruciferous plants and children with ASD?
Research on Cruciferous Vegetables and ASD
From 2014 to 2017, a small series of studies appeared in several peer-reviewed medical journals about a promising line of research into cruciferous vegetables and autism. The studies followed several individuals with autism and found that consuming high doses of cruciferous vegetables in supplement form resulted in decreases in several key autism symptoms. Here’s the summary of this research:
What are cruciferous vegetables?
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, cruciferous vegetables are members of the mustard family and include plants like:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Sprouts
- Brussels sprouts
- Watercress
- Radishes
What are the health benefits of eating them?
The dark green, leafy vegetables in this family are well known to have health benefits for all children and adults–not just those with autism. Some of the known benefits of cruciferous vegetables include:
- High in folate
- Excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K.
- Known to contain phytonutrients that lower inflammation and reduce the risk of developing cancer.
- High in fiber
The benefits are so great that the USDA recommends that all individuals focus on cruciferous vegetables as the preferred vegetable in their weekly diet.
Sulforaphane and Autism
As mentioned above, the studies on cruciferous vegetables and autism explicitly relate to some of the micronutrients found in one of the veggies in this family: broccoli sprouts. Individuals consumed a supplement form of one of these micronutrient compounds: sulforaphane (Pronounced: sul-fer-AHH-phane).
Sulforaphane was isolated because it’s known to reduce inflammation and to help alleviate other issues in the body like oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant absorption. The logic follows that foods with sulforaphane may help or reduce our body’s stress response to environmental invaders. Also, given that cruciferous vegetables are high in fiber, eating increased amounts of cruciferous vegetables may also help with issues like chronic constipation.
The Limitations of This Research
At the time that these studies came out, many families and medical professionals were encouraged by the results. Sulforaphane supplements can be purchased over-the-counter at most health foods stores. The results in the studies occurred in 18 weeks, a relatively short period compared to other lengthy treatments.
However, other researchers recommend taking these results with caution. Much of the research on diet and autism is considered corollary or associative. While there may be some relationship between eating cruciferous vegetables and autism, it has not been ‘proven’ to have a cause and effect relationship. Besides, it would be difficult to consume as much sulforaphane through regular grocery store vegetables as was administered in the study.
Similarly, not all individuals in the study saw benefits. Given that ASD symptoms fall along a spectrum, often researchers anticipate different outcomes for different children. Without knowing which children may benefit from sulforaphane supplements, it’s difficult to recommend one way or another who should ultimately take them. Finally, several of the participants in the studies showed adverse side effects from taking the sulforaphane supplements, including seizures, liver issues, and upset stomach.
Moving Your Child’s Diet Forward
In short, even though the research outlined above shows some promise for cruciferous vegetables reducing inflammation and oxidation in the body, much more research needs to be done. As a parent or caregiver, it’s essential to evaluate what’s known about the benefits and evaluate that for your own child’s needs. While more research on taking sulforaphane supplements for ASD needs to occur, parents can still be confident in the benefits of eating cruciferous vegetables as part of a healthy diet.
What if my child won’t eat vegetables?
As mentioned above, many parents struggle with diet and food selectivity issues in children with ASD. It can be difficult for children to gain the micronutrient benefits of green leafy vegetables if they don’t regularly consume them, or eat them at the recommended weekly serving size. If you struggle to get your child to eat enough vegetables, consider some of these strategies, or consult with a behavior or feeding professional.
6 Ways To Encourage Your Child to Eat More Vegetables
- Be a good model. When it comes to getting enough veggies, it’s essential to practice what you preach. If you expect your child to eat green leafy vegetables, model good behavior by eating them yourself. Prepare them regularly for meals in ways that you enjoy. Chances are higher that your child will eat something that you also enjoy.
- Add choice. As often as possible, allow your child to choose which vegetable for meals. Allow your child to choose between several different options, or allow them to choose between eating vegetables raw, cooked, or prepared in a specific way.
- Allow your child to help with shopping and food preparation. Some children may be more likely to eat foods that they helped pick out at the grocery store and prepare in the kitchen. Incorporate your child into meal planning, letting them know that they must choose a vegetable to cook on each menu.
- Have vegetables easily accessible. A common technique in weight loss and establishing healthy eating habits is to have healthy foods like vegetables readily available and avoid having alternatives in the house. For children who like to look in the refrigerator for a snack, make the choice for a green leafy vegetable easier to make than for high calorie, sugary snacks.
- Teach “Try Something New” with other foods. For some children with ASD, the challenge of eating vegetables relates more to problems with trying new foods. If this is the case, it’s best to work on the skill of eating new foods before introducing non-preferred foods like vegetables. Start by choosing something similar to your child’s highly preferred foods (e.g., a new flavor of ice cream, a different brand of chips). When your child is willing to accept and try new preferred foods, gradually introduce more difficult, less preferred foods.
- Start slow and then add in additional servings. Most research on food tolerance and food selectivity recommends introducing new foods slowly. Start by having a small amount of a vegetable on the table, away from your child’s plate. Then move it onto your child’s plate without asking them to eat it. Then gradually introduce touching the vegetable and exploring it before asking the child to eat it.
For more tips about helping your child eat more vegetables, try this Vary Your Veggies Guide from ChooseMyPlate.gov.
Start By Talking to Your Child’s Doctor
Although this article provides general advice about the benefits of a diet of healthy vegetables, it should not take the place of medical advice. Every child with ASD is different, with unique needs and physiology. What works for one child may require a different strategy for another child. There may also be underlying biological reasons for your child’s feeding issues.
Under no circumstances does Life Skills Advocate recommend that you begin dietary changes without consulting your child’s medical care team. If you have questions, download our infographic that summarizes this article for your next appointment. Always seek medical advice from a trusted professional experienced in working with children with ASD.
Further Reading
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – The Beginner’s Guide to Cruciferous Vegetables
- Autism and Health: Advances in Understanding and Treating the Health Conditions that Frequently Accompany Autism – A special report by Autism Speaks
- Broccoli Sprouts and Autism: What You Need to Know – Paul Wang, Autism Speaks Senior Vice President of Research
- Centers for Disease Control – Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2016
- Choose My Plate – Daily Vegetable Consumption Guidelines from the USDA.
- Choose My Plate – Vary Your Veggies Guide
- Eating for Autism – Elizabeth Strickland
- Evans, S., & Fuller, D. J. (2016). Initial outcomes from an autism treatment demonstration. Clin Med Invest, 1, 16-19.
- Oregon State University – Micronutrient Information Center
- Singh K, Connors SL, Macklin EA, et al. Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2014;111(43):15550-5.
- Singh K, Zimmerman AW. Sulforaphane Treatment of Young Men with Autism Spectrum Disorder. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2016;15(5):597-601.
Our AI son is 17 now, and his behaviors are minimal compared to what they used to be. When he was younger, we introduced broccoli because it’s one of his older sister’s favorites. We called them trees. He was a giant eating all the trees on his plate. We have broccoli about 4 times a week. I cook fresh broccoli to crisp tender. He doesn’t like anything on his food. No sauce or seasoning. Everything must be plain, or he’s not eating it. In addition, we take Juice Plus Supplements. His are gummies. They are derived from fruit and vegetables. This article solidifies my belief that food effects his mood.
Thank you for sharing, Deanna. Glad to hear you introduced broccoli to your son early on! 🙂