D iet is a powerful tool. The choices we make about what to eat and what to feed our children have profound impact on health and present a great opportunity to support healing and recovery from autism. Some parents hesitate to try autism diets (or physicians are slow to suggest them) because they don’t know if (why / how) diet works. One recent news report about autism diets suggested uncertainty about their efficacy, saying it was uncertain whether diet helps the symptoms of autism, or whether it helps the gut (which in turn affects a relief in autistic symptoms). The insinuation was that since they don’t know how it’s helping - the “autism” or “the gut” - they don’t know if it’s working at all. This is foolhardy: don’t limit your potential because some “experts” fail to realize why or how diet works! As a Certified Nutrition Consultant with experience supporting hundreds of families with children on the autism spectrum, I will explain to you WHY and HOW diet works. This will remove any mystery about diet and get you on the road to recovery. The common physical symptoms of children with autism include diarrhea, constipation, bloating and GI pain, frequent infections, sleeping challenges and inflammation/pain. For many, nutrient deficiencies, imbalanced biochemistry and digestive problems are at the core of these symptoms. These weaknesses in physiological functioning can be directly tied to biochemical processes that are affected by diet - i.e. the absence of requisite nutrients and / or the presence of offending substances. Altering food choices affects these processes and helps improve symptoms. Why diet helps: A Whole Body disorder Historically, autism was considered a “mysterious” brain disorder, implying that it begins and ends in the brain. Through the array of common physical symptoms observed and the breakthrough work of the Autism Research Institute, a more appropriate “whole body disorder” (the brain is affected by the biochemistry generated in the body) perspective of autism has emerged. Martha Herbert, MD, PhD, who was one of the first to describe autism this way, refers to the brain as “downstream” from the body’s functioning. Referring to the chart, Whole Body Disorder, you can see the complex set of factors that influence autism (on the right): toxins, environmental factors, digestive health and inflammation. The right side indicates the effects they can have on the brain. Here’s how imbalanced biochemistry affects the brain and the symptoms of autism: JULIE MATTHEWS, CNC CErTIfIEd NUTrITIoN CoNSULTANT AUTHor: NourishiNg hope Julie Matthews is a Certified Nutrition Consultant, author, lecturer and dAN! Practitioner for families on the biomedical model for treating autism and AdHd. She has been studying the biochemistry of autism for seven years. Her book, Nourishing Hope, is a comprehensive guide to nutrition and dietary intervention for autism that informs parents and clinicians of the scientific rationale for autism diets and presents a holistic approach to applying this healing strategy. She embraces many of the dietary philosophies of the Weston A Price foundation nutritional model. Julie presents her work at the defeat Autism Now! (dAN!) and Autism one national conferences, teaches Traditional Healing foods cooking classes, hosts a health-oriented radio show in San francisco and another on Autism one radio, and has a private nutrition practice in San francisco where she consults with clients from around the world. Her website: www.Nourishinghope.com contains free information, including links to videos of her presentations and interviews with experts. AUTUMN 2008 THE AUTISM FILE 8
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Understanding that the gut and brain are · begins in the gut,” and this certainly proves true with autism. As you can see, digestion and gut health affect the brain and autism’s
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Why diet helps: A Whole Body disorderHistorically,autismwasconsidereda“mysterious”braindisorder,implyingthatitbeginsandendsinthebrain.ThroughthearrayofcommonphysicalsymptomsobservedandthebreakthroughworkoftheAutismResearchInstitute,amoreappropriate“wholebodydisorder”(thebrainisaffectedbythebiochemistrygeneratedinthebody)perspectiveofautismhasemerged.MarthaHerbert,MD,PhD,whowasoneofthefirsttodescribeautismthisway,referstothebrainas“downstream”fromthebody’sfunctioning.
Julie Matthews is a Certified Nutrition Consultant, author, lecturer and dAN! Practitioner for families on the biomedical model for treating autism and AdHd. She has been studying the biochemistry of autism for seven years. Her book, Nourishing Hope, is a comprehensive guide to nutrition and dietary intervention for autism that informs parents and clinicians of the scientific rationale for autism diets and presents a holistic approach to applying this healing strategy. She embraces many of the dietary philosophies of the Weston A Price foundation nutritional model.
Julie presents her work at the defeat Autism Now! (dAN!) and Autism one national conferences, teaches Traditional Healing foods cooking classes, hosts a health-oriented radio show in San francisco and another on Autism one radio, and has a private nutrition practice in San francisco where she consults with clients from around the world. Her website: www.Nourishinghope.com contains free information, including links to videos of her presentations and interviews with experts.
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n Yeast.Whenthereisyeastovergrowthinthebody,toxinsenterthebloodstreamandmaketheirwaytothebrainwheretheycancausesymptomsrangingfrom“spaciness,”foggythinkinganddrunkenbehavior.
n Whenthebiochemistryofmethylationisnotworkingproperly,neurotransmitterscannotbemethylated(andthereforearenot“activated”)astheyneedtobe,increasingthelikelihoodofanxiety,depression,ADHD,andsleepingissues.
n Inflammationinthegutandbraincanbecausedbytoxins,foodsensitivitiesorbadbacteriaoryeastinthegut.Thiscancausepainthataffectsbehavior:self-injuriousbehaviour,leaningoverfurniture,eyepokingandheadbangingareallcommonsigns.n Whendetoxificationispoor(commonwithautism),toxinsfromfoodandthe
n Whendigestionispoorandthegutistoopermeable(a“leakygut”),thenutrientsthataresupposedtogetthroughcannotabsorbproperly.Thisleadstonutrientdeficiencies,whichcanaffectallcellularfunctionincludingpoorbrainfunction.
n Opiatescanbecreatedfrominadequatebreakdownofgluten,casein,andsoyleadingtosymptomsofopiateexcess:foggythinking,insensitivitytopain,opiateaddictionandwithdrawalandirritability.
leAky gut ANd gut iNFlAmmAtioN. Improvingdigestion,reducinginflammationandhealingthegutareimportantstepsinoverallhealthandhealing.Behavior,languageandskinrashesareafewoftheareasthatimprove.
n Remove foods that inflame the gut. Gluten,casein,soy,cornandeggsarecommonoffenders.Theexactfoodstoremovewilldependontheindividual;however,gluten-andcasein-freedietsareamongthemostpopularandsuccessful.Sugarandrefinedoilsalsocontributetoinflammation.n Add foods that heal the gut.Foodssuchasgingerandturmericreduceinflammation.Fishoil,flaxseedsandwalnutscontainOmega3sthathaveanti-
n Add foods that supply beneficial bacteria.Fermentedfoodssuchasnon-dairyyogurt,youngcoconutkefirandrawsauerkrauthelpsupplygoodbacteriathatreduceinflammationandhelpcreateanenvironmentthatishealing.
n Add foods that increase beneficial bacteria levels.Prebioticsarefoods,oftenhighinsolublefiber,thatsupportgoodbacteriaandincreaselevelsinthegut.Thesefoodsinclude:asparagus,bananas,beans/legumes,chicoryroot,garlic,honey,kefir/yogurt,leeks,onionsandpeas.Butyricacidisashortchainfattyacid(oftenproducedbygoodbacteriafromtheconsumptionofsolublefiber)foundinbutterfatandgheethathelpsnourishtheintestinallining.
n Increase the quality and digestibility of food.Increasefoodqualityandtheamountofnutrient-densefoodssuchasvegetablesinthediet.Forideasongettinggreatervariety,seethelistofnutrient-densefoods.Soakingandfermentinggrainsincreasesdigestibility.
n Sneak in vegetables for picky eaters.Pureeingvegetablesandaddingthemtomeatballs,smoothies,pancakes,muffinsandsaucesisagreatwaytodisguisethem.
n Add supplementation. Itcanbedifficulttogettherequisitetherapeuticlevelsofnutrientsthroughfood.Addingvitamins,minerals,fattyacidsoraminoacidscanbehelpfulinboostingneedednutrients.
n Remove sugars. Sugarsfeedyeast,contributingtoyeastovergrowth.Reducetheamountofcookies,muffinsandothersugar-richtreats.Evensugarinfruit,especiallydriedfruitandfruitjuice,canbeaproblemforsome.
n Remove yeast-containing foods.Bread,grapes,plums,agedmeatsandcheesesandvinegarscanfeedyeastandshouldberemoved.
n Remove starches.SomepeoplechoosedietssuchastheSpecificCarbohydrateDiet(SCD)thateliminatestarchesthatcanfeedyeastsuchaspotatoes,cornandgluten-freegrains.
n Add probiotic-rich foods. Fermentedfoodscontainlivebeneficialbacteriathatcrowdoutyeastandsupportahealthyinternalenvironment.
Understanding that the gut and brain are connected helps explain WHY autism and overall health are improved through a diet that supports digestion/GI health and biochemistry.
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NutrieNt-deNse Foods
Beta-carotene and Vitamin A:Carrots,sweetpotatoes,apricots,wintersquash,pumpkin,cantaloupe,mango,kale,collardgreens,spinach,broccoli,codliveroil,butter/ghee,liverandeggyolk.
n Avoid food additives.Artificialingredientsareverydifficultforthebodytoprocess;avoidingartificialcolors,flavors,preservativesandMSGiscrucial.
n Avoid toxins in food supply and meal preparation.Preventtheintroductionoffurthertoxinsintothebodybyavoidingaluminiumandplasticincooking,byavoidingaluminiumpans,aluminiumfoil,storingandmicrowavinginplastic,andcannedfoods.
n Eat organic. Eathighqualityfoodsthatarefreeofpesticidesandhormonesbyeatingorganicproduce,grass-fedmeatandpasturedeggsandchickens.Non-organicchickencancontainarsenic.Eatingorganicavoidsconsumptionofpesticides,GMOs(geneticallymodifiedorganisms)andhormonesandprovideshighernutrientcontent.
n Add foods that support the liver. Antioxidantssupportliverdetoxification:beta-carotene,vitaminsA,C&E,Bvitaminsincludingfolicacidandselenium(seelistofnutrientdensefoods).Sulphurrichfoodsareespeciallybeneficialinliverdetoxificationprocesses,suchasbroccoli,cabbage,cauliflower,collardgreens,kaleandBrusselssprouts.Thespicescinnamonandturmericsupporttheliver.Glutathioneisapowerfulantioxidantandadequatelevelsaresupportedbytheconsumptionofasparagus,watermelon,broccoli,herbmilkthistle,papayasandavocados.
poor methylAtioN ANd sulFAtioN Biochemistry Methylation,transsulfurationandsulfationareonesetofbiochemicalpathwaysthatdonotfunctionoptimallyformanychildrenwithautism.Thesepathwayscanbesupportedbyavoidingcertainsubstancesandsupplyingneedednutrients.
n Remove phenolic foods.Whenthebiochemicalprocessesofmethylation,transsulfurationorsulfationarenot
n Improve methylation and sulfation through supplementation. Supplementingwithnutrientsthatcansupportthesebiochemicalpathwaysisimportant.Methyl-donorsandmethylation/transsulfurationsupportsuchas:vitaminB12,folate,B6,DMG/TMG,magnesiumandzincareimportantsupplementstoconsider.Determiningwhichsupplementsareneededandaddingthemcanbeveryhelpfultothebiochemistryandreducingautismsymptoms.
Julie Matthews is an internationally respected Certified Nutrition Consultant specializing in autism spectrum disorders. As an autism nutritionist, she provides sound diet and supplement intervention guidance backed by scientific research and eight years of applied clinical experience. Julie consults with families from around the world and routinely collaborates with pediatricians, M.D.s, and researchers. She presents at leading autism conferences, hosts multiple radio programs, writes for autism journals, and teaches healing foods cooking classes. Julie resides in San Francisco, California.
ORDER Online at NourishingHope.com
To inquire about a personalized nutrition consultation with Julie contact [email protected]
Nourishing Hope for Autism, by Julie Matthews Nutrition Intervention for Healing Our Children
Nourishing Hope provides parents of autistic children and practitioners who believe recovery is possible with the proven scientific understanding of why diets help the autistic child. It comprises extensive clinical nutrition experience and intense research. Readers are given practical steps for dietary intervention and a roadmap for getting started, evolving, and customizing the varied approaches. This book is dedicated to parents and clinicians who are relentlessly working to help heal children and gives them reason to hope and persevere. Nourishing Hope discusses: The scientific rational for nutrition intervention The role of genetics and environmental toxins The impact of nutrients on biochemistry and healing The most beneficial dietary options for autism A holistic nutrition approach to determining & evolving a diet
“Julie joins a small group of doctors, researchers and parents who believe there are reasons to be hopeful and interventions worth trying. This is an important addition to the library of "must read" books for parents of autistic spectrum kids and the doctors who treat them.” - Lisa Lewis, Ph.D., Author, Special Diets for Special Kids “Julie's written a comprehensive guide to understanding why there is hope for autism. Nourishing Hope helps me support my patients by providing both complex scientific information and practical steps for implementing a healthy diet for children with autism.” - Nancy O’Hara, M.D., Board Certified Pediatrician “This book is full of pragmatic and helpful information for families who are eager to learn the best principles of nutrition for the optimal health of their children." - Elizabeth Mumper, M.D., Medical Director, Autism Research Institute
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