Moira, welcome to the list. >My son does not absorb food very well, his food is partly undigested in his >stools. Have you tried blending all his foods for him? This would take a much needed burden of his digestive system. >We are off all grains. Getting off wheat and other glutens helped, now we >are off all grains even potatoes and corn. Great. You might see more improvements the longer you keep your child off these foods. You might also want to make sure that the meat is from pasteur-fed animals and try aging it so that the enzymes can predigest the muscle and make it easier to digest. >My question is, how can he absorb say raw celery and carrots? I see pieces >of carrots in his stools, for example. Until the digestion is back to full strength, I would low-heat steam the vegetables and make them into a mush and make fresh juice from them as well. Giving your child the vegetables in their raw and whole form will act as an irritant and prolong the healing of the intestines which is important for the full absorption of nutrients and to prevent the occurrence of leaky gut syndrome and fungi such as candida albicans from taking over. >Also, another question, what would you do if you had a child who had been on >antibiotics for years, which ruined his intestines, with autistic type >behaviors as a result??? I would give my child raw, homemade kefir, along with probiotics and FOS. >We are on a "caveman" type of diet, meat, fish, veggies, very limited fruit. This sounds good to me. You might want to check his blood type and maybe make some adjustments according to that. Also, I would check out EEG-biofeedback and "holding therapy" - both report some success with autism - make sure my child did not consume any soda drinks, nutrasweet or msg and consult with an experienced naturopath to support me in my efforts. I hope this helps. Having a child with autism you certainly have your plate full but with such a resourceful mother, I feel positive your child will get well soon. Best, Peter [log in to unmask]