Naturally Recovering Autism with Karen Thomas

The Importance of Consistency and A Roadmap in Navigating the Autism Journey: One Mother’s Inspirational Success Story Transforming Autism Challenges Into Triumph [Podcast Episode #182]

Mary is a true inspiration of a mother’s unwavering love and persistence to find the answers to give her autistic son Kevin his best life possible. Mary has gone from “being at the end of her rope” to finding triumph and success for Kevin. She says, “Consistency with the right roadmap make all the difference”.

Please listen to Mary’s inspirational story, and share it with those you know on the autism journey who could also use some inspiration.

From Mary regarding her son’s autism journey:

October 2023

Currently Kevin 16 year old, 10th grade

Background

Diagnosed 2009 (2yrs)- speech impairment- went to pre school in elementary school for the speech

Diagnosed 2012 (5) Autism like features, ADHD- told to go to Social Skills

Diagnosed 2016 (9) Autism level 2 needing substantial support, ADHD, Auditory processing delays, sensory issues, speech language impairment, Learning disability

Our Journey up to joining the Naturally Recovering Autism Program

A lot of research, going to different Autism Dr’s. Trying different protocols for 4 years. Little progress.

Speech, OT, feeding classes, Brain mapping, changed diet, cranial doctor, Chiropractor, supplements

Little eye contact, stomach issues, gluten intolerance, low weight, hitting, biting

At school, he hid a lot under the desks even in 6th grade. In 7th grade, he would leave to go to the bathroom and stay in there for a LONG time.

Active with soccer, Baseball/- challenger league, and Tae-Kwon-Do.

Started Naturally Recovering Autism program 11/2020

 With little eye contact, stomach issues, gluten intolerance, low weight, hitting, biting, low social skills Below grade level for all classes except Math
Struggling with Life

Importance of staying in the program

Today: Moved from Autism level 2 down to Autism level 1. Still below grade level in the reading/ language skills. He is about 8/9 grade level in reading/language. Has grown educationally 99% in the last year...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/182

Understanding Dietary Triggers: Oxalates, Salicylates, Phenols and Histamines in Autism [Podcast Episode #181]

Oxalates, salicylates, and phenols may be the culprit of new physical and/or emotional symptoms. They can trigger histamine intolerance and lead to many unwanted symptoms.

A low histamine, low oxalate, low salicylate, low phenol diet along with support for detoxification, including liver support and healing the gut, and balancing candida, are all crucial. There are some enzymes that can help along the way as we work on the underlying root cases, but we need to reduce the amounts of these foods our child is eating, especially if we notice symptoms after eating.

Histamines

Close to 100% of children with autism have histamine intolerance and mast cell activation. Histamines are released by the digestive tract and the brain in defense as an allergic reaction. In histamine intolerance the body is over producing histamines and there are too many for the body to break down. This stress type response is a trigger for mast cell activation which creates a strong inflammatory response in the body.

Symptoms to look for in histamine reactions

Symptoms from histamine triggers are both physical and behavioral. They can vary from itching, hives, rashes, sleep problems, anxiety, extreme mood changes, seizures, digestive issues and diarrhea to increased stimming and more. By reducing stomach acid histamines contribute to further issues with digestion working against your efforts to heal the gut, and is a common reason for GERD or acid back up.

One reaction can happen without all of the others. This can make it hard to determine what the cause is. Try a low histamine diet for a week. If symptoms subside then it can be helpful in determining...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/181

Empowering Parents of Children With Autism: A Guide To Smooth Dietary Transitions [Podcast Episode #180]

Why is my child a picky eater and what can I do to improve his diet? I hear this question all the time. In fact, it’s one of the most common questions I get so let’s dive into some of the reasons why and what you can do about it.

Diet can be tricky to transition for our picky eaters, especially those with autism, but there is hope. My own son was once a very picky eater and today he is not at all, and I’ve helped hundreds of parents transition their kids to healthier diets over time. Children and adults with autism can be stuck in their routines and have some obsessions around food, but there’s even more to this.

Some of the reasons why your child with Autism is a picky eater:

1. The bad bacteria in their gut such as candida or yeast overgrowth thrives on the sugars and processed carbohydrates he eats. This makes him crave those foods. The problem is that when we feed the bad bacteria they get stronger. They are contributing to our child’s gut staying ill and something called ‘leaky gut’ which is where they have holes in the lining of their gut that allow undigested foods into the bloodstream. The immune system sees these and thinks they are a foreign agent to attack so each time it sees them it creates an allergic response and our child becomes allergic to that food. Leaky gut also contributes to poor absorption of nutrients from the food they are eating.
2. Bad foods are inflammatory and keep the lining of the gut weak and easily permeable to breakage and more leaky gut issues.
3. The gut controls the brain and up to 80% of the immune system, so we must heal the gut to heal many of the behaviors our kids have like irritability, sleep issues, lack of ability to focus, and poor immunity so they’re not sick all the time.
4. Gluten and casein are the proteins in wheat and dairy. They create opiates in the body so our kids are literally addicted to these foods.
5. PANS is an autoimmune issue that many kids with autism have. You may notice high anxiety, fearfulness, and obsessive compulsive behavior (OCD). The OCD is also an obsession with the way they eat food or what foods they will eat.
6. Target the root triggers. Viruses, mold, Lyme, candida, parasites, and toxins all contribute to keeping the gut ill, so all must be worked with. They also contribute to a PANS flare-up which keeps the OCD happening.
7. Histamine intolerance is very high in people with autism. Histamines are released by the digestive tract and the brain in defense as an allergic reaction. In histamine intolerance the body is over producing histamines and there are too many for the body to break down. This stress type response is a trigger for mast cell activation which creates a strong inflammatory response in the body...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/180

Balancing Blood Sugar and Gut Health: Strategies for Autism [Podcast Episode #179]

Artificial sweeteners are unhealthy alternatives. For example aspartame is an excitotoxin which means it literally can excite brain cells to death. Current evidence indicates that sucralose and saccharin could influence the gut microbiota by reducing the good bacteria in the gut, and it has been linked to cancers. For instance, in one study, scientists fed Splenda to rats for 12 weeks. Splenda is an artificial sweetener that contains sucralose. The authors concluded that, after 12 weeks, the rats had fewer beneficial gut bacteria.

Hypoglycemia or Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia is a condition that comes from low blood sugar or glucose. Behavioral outbursts, anxiety, and lack of ability to think clearly come from the brain being starved of its energy supply. When it has been too long since our last meal or snack, blood sugar drops and our brain cannot function properly. If we eat too many sugars and refined carbohydrates, our body responds by releasing large amounts of insulin to counteract the effects of all of the sugar. This is especially hard on the liver and can cause it to become congested creating further physical and behavioral problems.

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can trigger many unhealthy reactions in our bodies. Excess insulin secretion can contribute to many severe disorders including allergies, asthma, alcoholism, cancer, heart disease, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, and more.

The Glycemic Index 

The glycemic index or GI is a way to measure the physiological effect that various foods have on blood glucose levels. Knowing this can help you to control those hunger and energy fluctuations during the day by eating better choices. This becomes very easy in a short period of time. Once you begin to learn what foods are high and which are low it starts to fall into common sense...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/179

Exploring the Vitamin D Connection To Autism, Influenza, and More [Podcast Episode #178]

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins and one that most people are deficient in. Be sure you supplement with vitamin D3, as it is the most bioabsorbable form. Many neurodevelopment conditions are associated with vitamin D deficiency such as depression, lack of motivation, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, muscular sclerosis, and schizophrenia.

Vitamin D helps neurons grow and survive, and is important in brain development and its protection. It also decreases heavy metal damage to the brain, and is anti-inflammatory.

As we approach the winter months we have less exposure to vitamin D from the sun. I’ve always said it’s not flu season, it’s low vitamin D season. This is why the prevalence of colds, flus and other viruses is so strong in the months with less sunlight and less skin exposure due to long sleeves and long pants covering our skin.

Vitamin D is essential for fighting both viral and bacterial infections. It seems to be especially important in fighting viruses and is a far better choice in fighting the flu than anything, especially other toxin filled options that only cover one strain of influenza.

A 2009 pediatric research journal stated that children and infants deficient in vitamin D are more susceptible to viral infections.

Several large observational studies have shown a link between a deficiency and respiratory tract infections such as colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

—Any mechanism that prevents UVB absorption (clothing, increased pollution, longer periods spent indoors, etc.) works in a similar fashion to prevent cutaneous production of vitamin D3. Using the definitions from above, estimates suggest that 1 billion people around the world may be vitamin D insufficient/deficient...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/178

Autism Success Story: How A Grandma Transformed Her 21-Year-Old Grandson’s Life With the Naturally Recovering Autism Roadmap [Podcast #177]

Sonja is grandmother to her autistic grandson, Kyle. She is getting results now because she has been proactive and persistent to find the right program that offers a complete roadmap and the support she needs. Sonja says, “We could have recovered Kyle a long time ago if we weren’t so overwhelmed.”

Sonja and her daughter no longer live in overwhelm on the autism journey and are finally getting results recovering her 21-year-old grandson, Kyle. She says it’s all thanks to the  Naturally Recovering Autism roadmap she now has in our membership program. It lets you do steps one at a time as a slow and steady process so it has also helped bring Kyle’s mom on board.

Sonia is so happy to hear Kyle saying his first clear sentence and says, “I know I will recover my grandson now that I have the Naturally Recovering Autism roadmap”.

Kyle has only spoken in broken words in the past. This time it was a complete sentence and it was clear with NO STIMMING. It was as if you and I were having a normal conversation. 

Being on this program is a lot better than the last one I was on. Responses were weeks and weeks away with testing results. The Doctor was difficult to get online.

Thanks again for all you do Karen. It’s amazing these children deserve a much better life. These kids deserve college, marriage, and being the person they were meant to be.

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/177

The Dangers of Inflammation In Autism [Podcast Episode #176]

Inflammation is a crucial process for our health, but when it becomes chronic, it can lead to a host of health problems.

Recent studies have suggested that inflammation may play a role in the development of autism. A study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation found that children with autism had higher levels of inflammatory markers in their blood than typically developing children.

Another study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that children with autism had higher levels of inflammatory cytokines in their brains than typically developing children.

Some Causes of Inflammation

Environmental toxins including heavy metals, coinfections, pathogens (viruses, fungi, candida, parasites, Lyme, Mold, etc), Poor diet, Electromagnetic Field Radiation, plus maternal stress increases inflammation in the fetus.

What is inflammation and how is it related to autism?

Inflammation is a natural response by the immune system to protect the body from harmful stimuli such as pathogens or toxins. However, when inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to tissue damage and a variety of health problems, including autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and even neurological disorders like autism.

Recent research has suggested that inflammation may contribute to the development of autism by disrupting brain development in utero or early childhood. Inflammation can also exacerbate symptoms associated with autism, such as irritability and social withdrawal...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/176

How To Help Your Autistic Child Focus Better [Podcast Episode #175]

There are Some Common Causes Why Children With Autism Have Trouble Focusing, however, as we do this there are natural supplements that can assist. We will discuss both. Know I am here to help you on this journey.

Natural Supplements to Help Focus and Behavior

Prescription medications come with negative side effects. There are natural ways to work with focus and attention issues. Always check with your practitioner for individual dosage needs.

• Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to brain function, concentration, and mood, energy, and they are anti-inflammatory. Take with food for best absorption.
• L-tyrosine is an amino acid that will help the ability to focus. It builds the neurotransmitter called dopamine. Take away from food. Do not use it if your child is in a PANS flare.
• SAMe helps with motivation
• 5HTP is beneficial for mood stability and better sleep (5HTP helps makes neurotransmitter called serotonin). Note: 5HTP works so well that you should not take it if you are on medications. Take away from food.
• Gingko Biloba for focus and memory
• Phosphatidylserine is a natural phospholipid compound found in high concentrations in the brain. Supplementation has shown improvements in thinking skills and memory.

These next two have strong caveats with them so let me explain further…

Probiotics

Probiotics build good bacteria in the gut. This also crowds out the bad bacteria which interfere with immunity and clear thinking. You must start slowly with probiotics due to a die-off reaction that happens when too many bad bacteria die at once and release their toxins. Half of a capsule is plenty to begin as you watch for symptoms. Reduce the dosage if symptoms arise.

Parents are rarely educated in the essential knowledge of die off reactions that can happen from detoxifying too rapidly and not having enough proper toxin support binders in place.

When yeast “dies off” it releases toxins that can enter your bloodstream. This is also known as Herxheimer’s reaction. It means that the liver cannot keep up with filtering out the toxic waste being released by the dying pathologic organisms.

Symptoms of die off include irritability, headaches, fatigue and flu-like symptoms. Some people also experience either diarrhea or constipation.There may be heightened emotional outbursts or hyperactivity...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/175

7 Vital Back to School Stategies For Parents Of Children With Autism [Podcast Episode #174]

School can be stressful for children with autism, and for their parents too. Get empowered by having the right strategies to assist with better energy, clearer thinking and ability to focus, as well as calmer behaviors and better social engagement. It’s also important to know your rights. Here we cover the most vital strategies for your child’s greatest success.

1. Parent Help With School Advocacy-504 vs IEP

We know that the needs of each child are very different. For this reason, you as a parent are your child’s best advocate. If you’ve been getting calls from the school about your child’s behavior or told that your child is having difficulty in class with anything including a particular subject, or your child needs emotional support because they experience anxiety or other issues, then it’s a good time to ask for help for them.

Know that in most states a staff member of the school, including teachers, cannot legally say they suspect there is an issue with your child. A staff member of the school cannot even say they think your child has a learning disability or needs help.

A parent begins by writing a letter to the school making a written request. This cannot just be verbal. It needs to be in writing so there is a paper trail and proof you’ve asked.

In this letter, you as the parent, say that your child may be having issues in school and that you suspect they may have a learning disability. Do not specify autism. Just ask for an assessment to be done by the school. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act the school must provide a free evaluation, and then assistance based on those results.

Once the results of the evaluation are in, then the decisions are made around how to reach the best success for that individual child.

504 vs. IEP

IEP and 504 plans help to educate staff on campus about the special individual needs of a child to ensure the greatest success.

504 and IEP plans are funded by the school and completely free. They are also required to be given under law due to the disabilities act...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/174

Gut Derived Opiates in Autism Helped by Probiotics [Podcast Episode #173]

Children with autism are known to have GI problems. What is not as commonly known is how much the gut directly affects the brain and behavior, and how part of that problem comes from opiates. Yes, studies show the same opiates that come from opiate-derived drugs come from some foods when they are broken down in the gut. People on the autism spectrum have a much harder time breaking down these opioids, (also called exorphines), due to poor digestion and detoxification. For this reason, these opioides build up to large numbers further affecting their health and behavior.

These opioids are just what they sound like, opiates, or morphine derivatives. They give that spacey look, and the lack of ability to concentrate.  They have the same drug-like effects of morphine, so our kids get addicted to them.

Gluten and Casein

Gluten is the protein in wheat products and casein is the protein in dairy products. Gluten creates opioids called gluteomorphines, and casein creates ones called caseomorphines. These two food sources should be removed from your child’s diet completely. Additionally, spinach, rice and soy also contain opiate producing properties. Does your child “crave” breads, crackers, pasta, and other processed carbohydrates filled with wheat and possibly dairy too? Their opioids could be a big part of the reason why.

Common foods that contain gluten:

• Wheat
• Barley
• Rye
• Soy sauce
• Gravy

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/173