Food and Autism
We will be discussing autism in relation to body burden and synthetic chemicals toxins soon but for now... what about food?
Natasha Campbell McBride writes in her, excellent, book 'Gut and Psychology Syndrome' "A well-functioning gut with healthy gut flora holds the roots of our health. And, like a tree with sick roots is not going to thrive, the rest of the body cannot thrive without a well-functioning digestive system." [1]
Get going with good bacteria
Good bacteria are vital.
You can make sauerkraut, its easy! Eat
with every meal, it is a great way to start repopulating the gut
with good bacteria.
If you find it easier to buy it then make sure that it has not been pasteurised and does not contain any synthetic preservatives. Sauerkraut is important, according to Donna Gates (Body Ecology), to consume for a few weeks prior to taking probiotics.
Beneficial bacteria can help in eliminating heavy metals in the body, thus a good quality probiotic is crucial to build up the body's own balance of beneficial gut flora.
It is vitally important to replace beneficial bacteria so efficient detoxification and elimination can occur and according to Natasha Campbell McBride, in autistic children..."diarrhoea and constipation would often alternate." Having an efficient, working gut is crucial for excretion and detoxification, regular, healthy bowel movements are essential.
I like InLiven or Fast Tract, which are certified organic probiotic superfoods. Fast Tract particularly is created to re-colonise the gastrointestinal tract with the full spectrum of Lactobacillus (friendly) bacteria. Both InLiven and Fast Tract are easy to take and hide in foods for children!
Foods to be aware of in a traditional food diet.
Onions, leeks, artichokes, bananas are all foods with prebiotic qualities, which are thought to feed the good bacteria in the gut.
Coconut oil - It has medium chain fatty acids that are reported to kill candida and infections. Can be used for cooking and is an ideal skin moisturiser. [2]
Good bacteria love sugar, please limit sugar or exclude if feasible, diet products are not the answer!
Soaking grains is important, such as rice, quinoa or lentils. Soak in water and a little lemon juice for a few hours prior to cooking.
And finally, be aware if adding in probiotic foods into the diet, that the 'Herxheimer effect' or die off can occur. That can basically be the period where good bacteria and bad bacteria are fighting and toxins get released into the body, resulting very often in headaches and exacerbated symptoms. Thus START SLOWLY. Rome wasn't built in a day, and in my experience it is very wise to take it slowly.
References:
[1] Gut and Psychology Syndrome, Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, MMedSci(neurology), MMedSci(nutrition).
[2] The Coconut Oil Miracle, Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D. published by Avery.
Tags: bacteria, gut, autism, fast tract, inliven, sugar, candida
Comments
"Raine, thank you for your kind comments. I always say the gut is where good health starts. Get good bacteria, through real food and the body can start to 'live' again. Go sauerkraut & fermenting!"
"Raine, thank you for your kind comments. The gut, as I say, is where good health starts. Get good bacteria, through real food and the body can start to 'live' again. Go sauerkraut & fermenting I say!"
"Great article! Beneficial bacteria are so important, and so many people are unaware that most of the food they eat is processed and dead. The foods mentioned here are really important to good health. Many people are also completely unknowledgable about autism being a disease of abnormal bacteria in the gut. Thanks again, hope to see you over at Agriculture Society as well. Raine Saunders. AgriculturalSociety"