NAVIGATING THE SPECTRUM

BIOMEDICAL AND NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS

Biomedical research suggests that many autistic traits, including sensory issues, learning disabilities, attention issues, social withdrawal, eye-contact avoidance and perseverative behaviors, may be attributable to an inability to break down certain food proteins to the detriment of a child’s developing brain. The foods that appear to cause the most harm are gluten (the protein in wheat, oats, rye and barley) and casein (the protein in milk). Many parents, doctors and nutritionists have reported improvement in behavior, attention and relatedness after eliminating foods containing these proteins from a child’s diet.

Gluten-free, Casein-free GF/CF diet helps 85% of children in improving overall well being. This includes speech, better bowel movements, better sleep patterns, less cranky behaviors, reduced stimming behaviors, less in a fog / dazed look and more ready to attend.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet The SCD diet allows the intestines to heal. Only carbohydrates that are easily digested are allowed. No grains or potatoes. Fruits and vegetables are to be peeled. In the beginning, the fruit and vegetables are also to be cooked. Nuts are allowed. However, be careful with the amount and quality of nuts in this diet. Nuts, especially peanuts, can be moldy. A child might also have an allergy to a particular nut. Additionally, most nuts are too high in linoleic fatty acids to be healthy in large quantities.

Low Oxalate Diet Oxalate is a highly reactive molecule that is abundant in many plant foods, but in human cells, when it is present in high amounts, it can lead to oxidative damage, depletion of glutathione, the igniting of the immune system's inflammatory cascade, and the formation of crystals which seem to be associated with pain and prolonged injury.

Soy This should not be part of the diet. It is too closely related to casein and gluten. Also, the phytoestrogens in soy will put an additional load on the PST enzyme.

Monosodium Glutamate MSG, Modified Food Starch and hydrolyzed vegetable protein are very hard on a person who has been subjected to yeast overgrowth, and should be avoided.

Low Sugar Diet Many children have a problem with yeast overgrowth. Sugar feeds yeast and needs to be monitored or eliminated in one’s diet.

Food Chemistry Issues Phenols, Salicylates and Amines are chemicals found in basically all foods. Some children have difficulty processing these natural food chemicals into useful, non-harmful substances. This condition is called PST deficiency. So you need to reduce your child’s intake, or help the body process them. Otherwise they build up to levels which can affect his behavior and physical condition. Some typical symptoms indicating your child may have a problem are [not all of these need be present]: dark circles under the eyes, red face/ears, diarrhea, hyperactivity, aggression, headache, head banging or other self-injury, inappropriate laughter, difficulty falling asleep at night, and night waking for several hours.

Beneficial Supplements Probiotics are beneficial living microorganisms that support healthy gastrointestinal and immune systems. Digestive enzymes assist with food intolerances - poor digestion. An enzyme test can reveal what the child has trouble digesting, absorbing or assimilating nutrients such as protein, sugars or fats, plus reveal certain nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin C and calcium. There is an enzyme formula for each digestive problem and nutritional deficiency. Minerals, Vitamins for Proper Methyl Metabolism, Amino Acids, Fatty Acids, Antioxidants, Herbs, and Epsom Salt Baths are other very important natural supplemental regimes to explore.

Chelation Chelation is the process of removing toxic metals from the body. Toxic metals are said to come from many sources including our environment, fish, and vaccines. There are natural chelators found in supplements and there are medically prescribed chelators available as options.

Cleaning up the Environment Check for hidden toxins in cleaners, carpets, paint, bedding, household chemicals and mold.