Autism is a systemic body disorder that affects the brain. A toxic environment triggers certain genes in people susceptible to this condition. Abnormalities in body systems like immunity, gut function, and detoxification play a central role in causing the behavioral and mood symptoms of autism. These kids have smelly bowel movements, bloated bellies, frequent colds, ear infections, and dry skin which is not just a coincidence. All disease begins in the ‘GUT’, and this certainly proves true with autism. Understanding that gut and brain are connected helps explain WHY autism and overall health are improved through a diet that supports digestion/GI health and biochemistry.
Causes
Yeast overgrowth: When there is yeast overgrowth in the body, toxins enter the bloodstream and reach the brain where they can cause symptoms ranging from ‘spaciness’, foggy thinking and drunken behaviour.
Inflammation in the gut and brain can be caused by toxins, food sensitivities or bad bacteria and yeast. This can cause pain that affects behaviour: self injurious behaviour, leaning over furniture, eye poking and head banging are all common signs.
When detoxification is poor (common with autism), toxins from the environment and foods such as artificial ingredients, MSG, mercury and aluminium can build causing irritability, aggression, brain/cellular damage).
When digestion is poor and the gut is too permeable (a ‘leaky gut’), the nutrients that are supposed to become part of the body cannot absorb properly. This leads to nutrient deficiencies, which can affect all cellular function including poor brain function.
By products of gluten, casein, and soy acts as opiates leading to symptoms of opiate excess: foggy thinking, insensitivity to pain, opiate addiction and withdrawal and irritability.
Solution
By supporting digestion and biochemistry through diet and nutrition, we can improve the symptoms of Autism.
Improving digestion, reducing inflammation and healing the gut are important steps in overall health and healing. Remove foods that inflame the gut. Gluten, casein, soy, corn and eggs are common offenders. The exact foods to remove will depend on the individual; however gluten and casein-free diets are among the most popular and successful. Sugar and refined oils also contribute to inflammation.
Add foods that heal the gut. Foods such as ginger and turmeric reduce inflammation. Flax seeds and walnuts contain Omega 3s that have antiinflammatory properties.
Fermented foods such as non dairy yogurt, tender coconut kefir and raw sauerkraut help supply good bacteria that reduce inflammation and help create an environment that is healing.
Add foods that increase beneficial bacteria levels. Prebiotics foods, often high in soluble fibre, that support good bacteria and increase levels in the gut. These foods include: asparagus, bananas, beans/legumes, chicory root, garlic, honey, kefir/yogurt, leeks, onions and peas. Butyric acid is a short chain fatty acid (often produced by good bacteria from the consumption of soluble fibre), found in butter fat and ghee that helps nourish the intestinal lining.
Add supplementation. It can be difficult to get the requisite therapeutic levels of nutrients through food. Adding vitamins, minerals, fatty acids or amino acids can be helpful in boosting needed nutrients.
Nutrient-dense foods for AUTISM
Beta carotene and Vitamin A: Carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, winter squash, pumpkin, mango, kale, spinach, broccoli, butter/ghee.
Vitamin C: Sweet potato, winter squash, broccoli and leafy greens.
Vitamin B6: Sunflower seeds, pistachios, walnuts, lentils, grains and beans, rice bran
Folic acid: Beans, rice germ, asparagus, broccoli and bananas.
Omega 3: butter/ ghee, flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts
Zinc: Pumpkin seeds, nuts, legumes, ginger and oats.
Magnesium: Sweet potato, winter squash, broccoli, leafy greens, seaweed, whole grains, nuts and legumes.
Calcium: Broccoli, leafy greens, winter squash, seaweed and nuts.
We hope this article gives hope to parents that Autism can be reversed.
Reach out to us for Consultation.