Help for Autism
Autism is a growing problem in this and other countries. The rate of autism is overwhelming, yet the actual cause of autism is under heated debated. Many claim that vaccinations are the cause, yet studies funded by the manufacturers of these vaccines have said there is no evidence that vaccines are causing the problem. However, there are many good, independent scientific studies that show a correlation between vaccines and the rising rate of autism.
My focus today is not on who or why, but rather what can we do to help these precious children and families who are caught in this battle. The other day Oprah did a show on autism and discussed with Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete. It was good to finally hear mainstream media speak out on how vaccines could be the problem and discuss some natural approaches to help with their kids – because the traditional approaches aren't working!
As a doctor who practices natural, holistic medicine, it was good to see women who just didn't accept the 'company line' and sit back and institutionalize or medicate their children. It was great hearing Ms. McCarthy speak about the wondrous benefits her son received when they began removing all dairy and wheat from their diet. It confuses me when I look at the fact that we, as doctors, are supposed to "first do no harm" – yet we don't look at the simple and often times most effective things we can do for someone's health.
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It is unfortunate, but most doctors don't study, work or implement nutrition into their practices….which is why when you ask them about various nutritional protocols or products they say, "I don't think so." You don't ask a cardiologist to help you with hormones, nor do you ask an orthopedic surgeon to help you with a heart condition ... so why would you ask a doctor who doesn't use nutrition or supplementation in their practice to comment on their effectiveness?
Overcoming the problems…
Hidden food allergies are a huge problem, not only for children with autism, but also for adults suffering with fatigue, arthritis, indigestion, allergies, depression, hot flashes, PMS, etc. The most common foods to avoid are dairy, wheat, corn, soy, coffee, MSG, trans fats and artificial sweeteners. I would recommend taking all these foods out of their diet for a minimum of two to four weeks. People don't realize the amount of destruction these hidden food allergens can cause to their immune system.
Nearly seventy percent of our immune system is found in and around our digestive system! When it becomes irritated or inflamed, due to the over-exposure to food allergens and yeast overgrowth, our immune system becomes compromised. When we remove the harmful foods that are irritating our system we can reduce the burden on our immune system. This will inevitably help anyone dealing with any type of health challenge, but can be especially helpful for children with autism.
The second step in strengthening the immune system of your child (or yourself) is to remove the yeast overgrowth (candida) found in the intestinal tract. We all have yeast, but the use of antibiotics, birth control pills, steroid hormones and a diet high in refined, processed foods only further exacerbates the problem. Garlic, oregano, grapefruit seed extract, pumpkin seed, as well as, high doses of 'good' gut bacteria such as acidophilus and bifidobacterium help remove the yeast and restore the good bacteria.
The next step is to restore normal function to the digestive system and this is where supplements like aloe vera, slippery elm, glutamine, peppermint and ginger can help. They will heal and patch-up the digestive tract and reduce the burden on the immune system. Once this is done, the body is better able to protect itself from nasty foreign invaders otherwise your immune system is also being attacked from within. These internal attacks are what confuses the immune system and could be a huge reason for autoimmune diseases such as; rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Crohn's, MS and celiac.
The Vicious Cycle….
This whole compromised immune system is a vicious cycle, because if the child is sensitive to dairy or grains, yet consumes them… It weakens their immune system and makes them more susceptible to infections. Ear infections are a common problem. This starts the cycle of taking antibiotics, which kill off the good bacteria and promote the overgrowth of yeast. This cycles back and causes more digestive distress and further weakens the immune system. It happens the same way for most adults, but we also get to throw stress into the equation, This causes the over-production of cortisol and adrenaline, which is like throwing gasoline onto the fire!
The point we need to understand is that autism, like many other health complaints, can be greatly improved and recovered from – if we recognize what Hippocrates the father of medicine said, "let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food." The goal of anyone with autism or any other health complaint is to get healthy. Unfortunately, the goal and objective of big pharma and traditional medicine is for you to get healthy… as long as you follow their treatment plans and take their medications. There is no money to be made by eating more fruits and veggies! We need to realize that what we put into our mouths everyday, as food and drink, can be just as powerful as many of the drugs that are prescribed.
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Dr. Len Lopez is a nutrition and fitness expert and author of "To Burn or Not to Burn, Fat is the Question." His approach to health is "restore function and you restore health!" If you want to learn more about natural healing listen to Action Steps for Health, go to www.DrLenLopez.com or call (972) 458-0099. We invite you to take an 'on-line health quiz' to see how well your body is functioning.
