Are the assumptions we have about children with disabilities impeding their healing process? Are these assumptions blocking access to the support and resources that most of us take for granted? When we bring dignity and respect to all children, regardless of their assumed level of intelligence, anything can happen.
My name is Samantha Gilbert, FNC, CHNP, CNC, and as a functional nutritionist, Autism is a complex condition with biological roots, but focusing on gut health and addressing nutrient deficiencies has shown promising results in autistic children. By staying current with research, you can effectively serve clients with Autism Nutrition needs. Discover the benefits of Autism Nutrition to enhance overall well-being and support your child’s health journey.
We can’t ignore the fact that there are distinct underlying causes that can only make their symptoms worse and even stand in the way of the body’s amazing ability to heal.
So, can nutritional therapy help autism? Yes!
Schedule a free consultation with Eat for Life so that you can learn more about functional nutrition. Share your journey with me, and I’ll tell you how I might be able to help your child. Let’s see if functional nutrition is for you.
While health practitioners are constantly learning more and more about autism, scientific research has shown that nutrition and vitamin levels play a significant role in autism and its symptoms. Unfortunately, these imbalances are complex and don’t respond well to pills and prescriptions, which makes them hard to tackle using conventional medicine. If you’ve tried getting answers from your primary care pediatrician, you probably know what I mean.
“The assumption of intelligence sets the stage for revealing intelligence and brings dignity and respect.
When a child is respected, I feel like anything can happen.”
Dr. Vaishnavi Sarathy
However, functional nutritionists like myself have pinpointed a few key imbalances that highly correlate with autism. By addressing these imbalances, we can foster equilibrium in the body.
Autistic children suffer from a severe amount of something called high oxidative stress, which is basically an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. The body produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), and these products can damage cellular components, including DNA, proteins, and lipids. This damage can disrupt normal cellular functions and lead to various health issues.
In addition to appearing in autistic individuals, oxidative stress is associated with a wide range of health conditions and diseases, including:
Methylation is a biochemical process that involves the addition of a methyl group (CH3) to DNA molecules or other molecules within the body. It plays a crucial role in gene regulation and influences gene expression. Research is clear that abnormal methylation patterns are associated with autism.
Copper is an essential trace element required for various physiological processes in the body, but excess copper can be toxic. The research is clear that copper levels and copper metabolism are associated with autism. We’ve seen that this imbalance leads to high oxidative stress and other symptoms we see in our autistic clients.
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions in the body, and they play a critical role in various physiological processes. Enzymes are involved in numerous metabolic pathways, and disruptions in these pathways have been shown to contribute to autism. Some individuals with autism have been found to carry genetic mutations that affect the function of specific enzymes or metabolic pathways.
Gut health is crucial, especially for those with autism. Healing the GI tract can reverse issues like malabsorption, yeast, and bacterial overgrowth, which cause food sensitivities. Biochemical imbalances in autism are more intense and difficult than in any other condition, including non-Asperger’s autism phenotypes. Addressing “Autism and gut health” is essential to manage these challenges and improve overall well-being.
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Most kids with autism are picky eaters and struggle with food sensitivities due to gut inflammation and abnormal intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut. The right autism diet can help, focusing on nutrient-dense foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and fermented foods to support gut health and reduce inflammation.
See a number of free recipes in my journal that you may find helpful.
Not long ago, I worked with a mother who really struggled to help her sweet young boy, Grant. I was honored to be her guide. Today, Grant is better able to communicate with others, repetitive behaviors have reduced dramatically, his ability to focus is much better, and he is now able to enjoy more foods.
In every situation, I create personalized wellness and nutrition plans for your child. There are no cookie-cutter approaches when it comes to autism.
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If you are interested in learning more about nutrition therapy for an autistic child, the first step is to schedule a free consultation. It’s important to find a practitioner who fits your child’s needs and your family’s values. Let’s meet to see if function nutrition is right for you.
Together, we can provide your child with a diet that supports wellness, health, and happiness.
Of important note: our definition of autism, as defined by Dr. Albert Mensah of Mensah Medical, is much narrower than conventional medicine statistical data that includes Asperger Syndrome, which is a very different genetic, epigenetic, and biochemical phenotype with much different cognitive capacities than autism. Those studies are using autism spectrum disorder as an umbrella term that incorporates conditions such as Asperger’s that are not autism, both of which should never have been added to the DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition).
“Today we are over two years into our healing journey and continue to run lab work, change and improve Rex’s diet, administer supplements and have a neuroplasticity program in place. Now our son is looking into our eyes, calling us mom and dad, sleeping through the night and playing outside in the sunlight. We still have a way to go but Rex is healing and shedding his symptoms of autism.”
If you’re ready to start your healing journey, schedule your free one-on-one consultation to discuss your current mental and/or physical health challenges, history, and desired health goals. Take the first step on your healing journey today.
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