I
have never thought that mercury in vaccines caused autism, but I thought there was a truth beneath all the media.
My thoughts are simple---Autism is there, vaccine or not--however, kids with autism spectrum disorder CANNOT process heavy
metals, toxins, foods, or even free radicals from their bodies like typical kids. They are pre-disposed to accumulating
these things in their bodies. And what and how they accumulate these toxins is very individualized. We all have
toxins at a cellular level that need to me removed, and I believe that the process of how we do it is the same, it is
just volume--kids with autism spectrum disorders have more toxins than a typical body can handle without help. .
In 2003, my youngest son was 7 years old and once again in the hospital for pneumonia—in
August, not cold season and lost over 20% of his already too skinny body weight. He was also a higher functioning
autistic and as most children of the autism spectrum had numerous food allergies and sensitivities as a young child.
He also had a type of antibiotic resistant staph infection in one of his ears, where there had been a tube—he was a
mess. We were sent to an infectious disease specialist at our local children's hospital who tests him for
everything, including Cystic Fibrosis, a test that was looking for a mutation of the gene---He failed that first test, and
barely passed the second with the lowest score. He still may have a mutation of the gene, there are thousands and more
to be identified, so at some point in his life, he may find out why his lungs are such an issue for him. While at the
hospital one of the nurse’s that worked in the infectious disease clinic mentioned the value of nutrition and how
his diet was effecting his body’s ability to heal and fight infection. I put it in the back of my mind.
From time to time, I thought about it, and my son recovered, and his ear was surgically cleaned and healed.
Over the next years, and then really in 2007 I got serious about nutrition for my kids.
Once I decided to listen to my son's body, and pay closer attention to his behavior and
his health, I developed a plan. Along the way I was devouring all the peer reviewed, published medical studies that
I could find on helping your body grow healthy at a cellular level. The medical documentation was out there for the
general populations, but I had to synergize and translate all of it into what would work for my son--and how to best help
him.
First I really looked at his primary food allergies as
a young child-dairy, soy, eggs, (including chicken and turkey), red dyes, and tree nuts. Then I looked at his diet on
a good day, fresh fruits and veggies, and beef. He supplemented his diet with Alimenton formula until age 6. No
sugar, no corn syrup, no gluten were in his diet on a good day. Then I looked at his diet on a day of meltdowns, tantrums
and more sensory issues such as light and sound. He had the same fruit and veggie based diet, but also added gluten
and processed foods such as cheerios. Interestingly enough, the more "on spectrum" he behaved, the more he wanted trigger
foods, like gluten, and corn syrup. There was a definite pattern. The real question for me was could I positively
impact his physical health by changing his diet, and not just his behavior?
Some of the relevant research I used to make my decisions--and please remember, this was
a journey of several years, and not overnight---
(AN-tee-OK-sih-dent).
The American Cancer Institute defines, antioxidants as: a substance that protects cells from the damage caused by free
radicals(unstable molecules made by the process of oxidation during normal metabolism). Free radicals may play a part
in cancer, heart disease, stroke and other diseases of aging. Antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins
A, C, and E, and other natural and manufactured substances.
The NCI Health Information Tip Sheet for Writers:
Diet and Diseases has this to say:
Most Americans don't eat enough fruits and vegetables to keep them healthy.
Despite the fact that they are important for maintaining overall good health and preventing diseases, eating fruits and vegetables
is not even on many people's radar screens. Taking multivitamins
doesn't solve the problem--it is impossible to capture all of the vitamins, minerals, disease-fighting phytochemicals, and
fiber found in fruits and vegetables, in a pill. Only fruits and vegetables, not vitamin pills, can provide all of these health-protecting
nutrients together. Simple lifestyle changes can save lives and improve
your quality of life. A person does not have to drastically alter his or her diet to be healthier. Simply substituting an
apple a day as a snack instead of a candy bar can make an important difference in lowering risk for disease and improving
everyday performance. It is not necessary to make large changes in diet in order to improve health and avoid disease.
Some of the information I found that was interesting and supported my decision
to focus on nutrition and cellular damage, but isn't necessarily supported by the mainstream medical community--
From www.ewg.org--- a study originally published in 2004; "Scientists have identified a signature metabolic impairment or "biomarker"
in autistic children that strongly suggests that these children would be susceptible to the harmful effects of mercury and
other toxic chemical exposures (James 2004a).
This impairment manifests as a severe imbalance in the ratio of active to inactive glutathione, the body's
most important tool for detoxifying and excreting metals. Glutathione works as an antioxidant, keeping in check the potentially
destructive process of oxidative stress caused both by normal metabolism and environmental contaminants. Autistic children
showed a significant impairment in every one of five measurements of the body's ability to maintain a healthy glutathione
defense."
