Opioids.
Probably.
Opioids work fast, and have an incredibly robust pleasure-response. Multiple types of foods contain substances with chemical similarities to Opioids. Wheat and Casein are two of the classics, they either contain precursors or cause the release of morphine-like peptides in the body.
That's one of the hypothesis regarding AUTISM isn't it? That it's a dysfunction of the opioid system, since people using high dosages of classic opium have difficulties with socializing, stiff facial features and above all, stereotypic, repetitive behaviours. (during intoxication)
However, this has been hard to prove, since no increased opioid metabolites have been found in autistic children's excretes or blood.
You have no doubt heard of the hypothesis that dietary changes would improve autistic symptoms - well, the results are shaky at best, and it's now more or less considered to be a bust - the theory doesn't seem to hold up well enough.
But still, I suppose there might be something to it...
There's of course the evidence showing that glucose, when combined with fats, seems to cause a pleasure-reaction similar to heroin, so possibly there's more to it, or glucose itself affects the opioid systems semi-directly, somehow. We'll look into it! = )
An experiment for yourself, is to try and remove both casein and gluten from diet (I believe you've already tried this, though?) and see if sandwiches and fast carbohydrates like potato chips still elicit the same response.
And finally, the ultimate experiment - REMOVE all carbohydrates, if wheat and gluten doesn't work, and see what happens - will food still be as rewarding? If you do this, you must do it for your whole family - every ounce of glucose must be removed from your house-hold and either binned or given to the poor. You can't allow yourself to have any temptations of glucose. Finally, there's of course the evidence that autists, much like ADHD-ers, have decreased production of Kynurenic Acid - an LCHF diet DRAMATICALLY increases production of KYNA - there's even reports of people ending up in a slight depersonalised state from LCHF-diets -and this is in line with increased NMDA-antagonism.
Any problems with transitioning to a sugar-free diet can be rectified with supplementation with extra electrolytes (extremely important!), fluid, and, of course, powdered SCFA's like Butyrate (direct energy to your brain, without affecting glucose-levels - PERFECT!! - an excellent cheat for a starter lchf-dieter)
I believe you also recall the recent connections between Autism and Substance Use Disorder? Since they share alterations in the brain, the connection might be similar to ADHD and SCT - i.e kind of two sides to the same coin.
References:
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The A2 milk case: a critical review
https://www.nature.c...rticles/1602104
Sugar and Fat Bingeing Have Notable Differences in Addictive-like Behavior1–3
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC2714381/
Sugar-bingeing rats have a significant decrease in enkephalin mRNA (53), whereas μ-opioid receptor binding is significantly enhanced in the NAc shell, cingulate, hippocampus, and locus coeruleus
Gluten-free and casein-free diets in the therapy of autism.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26418822
Decreased tryptophan metabolism in patients with autism spectrum disorders.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/23731516
Neuroinflammation, the kynurenine pathway, and autism
https://www.autismsp...hway-and-autism
Kynurenic acid: a factor for schizophrenia and autism
https://neuroshaman....nia-and-autism/
Edited by Stinkorninjor, 23 January 2018 - 01:56 PM.