Naturally Recovering Autism with Karen Thomas

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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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

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Causes and Prevention of Worsening Symptoms When Detoxing Your Child With Autism [Podcast Episode #172]

Rapid detoxification

Detoxification, even the initial phase when you’re changing the diet can cause some toxic “backlog” in your child’s body. You may notice some very heightened symptoms in this process. Rapid detoxification or die off can be too much for the body to handle and throw a person into mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). 

Since kids with autism have poor detoxification pathways we need to support them right away. Healing the gut is the beginning phase of everything. The gut controls the brain and 80% of the immune system. We begin with the right diet by removing the top inflammatory foods, supporting detoxification pathways properly, and giving only one new supplement at a time.

We use the lowest possible dosages too. Never just use a recommended dosage on any supplement bottle when working with a child with autism or it is more than likely that you will throw them into a die off reaction.

Die off reactions include worsening behaviors, increased stimming, loss of focus or speech, headaches, fever, anxiousness, stomach ache, flu-like symptoms, rash, and more. 

By offering toxin binders to help sop up additional toxins that their body cannot process out fast enough,  giving supplements to assist strengthening the detoxification pathways, and by supporting the liver you can help to reduce rapid die off symptoms. Always remember to move forward slowly.

Die-off is not an illness or infection, it’s a temporary syndrome in response to the process of detoxification. It is the body’s immune response to releasing toxins. As toxins break down or pathogens  die, they can release harmful substances that can exacerbate symptoms. The symptoms from die off generally resolve within 3-7 days. It is when the die off symptoms do not slow down and worsen that we must look at what other issues may have been triggered.

PANS 

Beyond these worsened behaviors we can throw our children into more harsh issues such as PANS, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Syndrome. What this really means is an autoimmune issue where the immune system has become overactive due to fighting harder against an onslaught of toxins being released too fast and the immune system becomes overactive.

Symptoms of PANS include a rapid onset of obsessive compulsive disorder, fearfulness, clinginess, and increased anxiousness.

It is important with autism not to boost the immune system. It may already be overactive and likely is with PANS. For this reason we need to be sure our treatment regulates the immune system. Regulating the immune system and treating infections with the right diet and the right supplements that also reduce inflammation are essential.

The goal is to keep the child stable. Triggers that contribute to a PANS flare-up include Streptococcal infections, mold biotoxins, Lyme, rapid die-off reactions from detoxification that is going too fast for the child’s body to keep up with, and toxic exposure...

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Autism, Toxins and Improving Health and Behavior [Podcast Episode #171]

The All-Important Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is the part of our brain that tells our nervous system if we should feel calm or fearful. This is commonly known as the fight or flight response. The hypothalmus is often injured in children on the autism spectrum. The hypothalamus has no protective blood-brain barrier, making it easy for toxins to enter this area and cause damage. A few known environmental toxins are mercury, aluminum, and bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in plastics such as drinking bottles, baby bottles, toys, dental sealants and the linings of food cans. Mold biotoxins are also a top offender.

The hypothalamus holds within it the areas responsible for aggression, territorial defense, and sexual pursuit. It also controls sleep and appetite cycles along with the limbic system (another part of the brain). Estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus effect food intake, energy, and the distribution of body fat.

Two Neurochemicals You Should Know

The hypothalamus is part of both the endocrine system and the nervous system and is responsible for messages between the two. The hypothalamus releases many neurochemicals including:

• Dopamine: a neurotransmitter affecting reward-based motivation, decision-making, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, restless leg syndrome, lack of focus and motor control. It also affects a part of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex. The pre-frontal cortex controls executive functioning such as the ability to see consequences for our actions and organizational planning. It is a big issue for people on the autism spectrum.
• Oxytocin: released via the pituitary as a part of hypothalamic functioning. Oxytocin is the hormone involved with the ability to bond with others, especially the mother after birth.

How Can We Help the Hypothalamus?

What can we do to assist the hypothalamus?

Zinc, vitamin D3, proper iodine levels and exercise are crucial to the proper functioning of the hypothalamus.

Scientists have found that gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin, and dopamine. Up tp 95% of serotonin is made in the gut. The gut must be healthy for adequate amounts to be produced and transfer properly to the brain.

There is an excellent product called Stress Reducer Elixir  that may increase oxytocin and serotonin levels naturally . This comes as tasteless sublingual drops.

Your Unborn Child’s Exposure To Toxins

It goes without saying that you should do your best to avoid toxins around your children and during pregnancy. When a mother is exposed to environmental toxins during pregnancy the fetus is directly affected. The liver is our main organ of detoxification. When it is congested and not working properly, then bile and toxins are frequently pushed back into the stomach. The cells become injured and weak and are then more susceptible to damage from pathogenic microbes such as candida, parasites, H. Pylori, and more.

These pathogenic bacteria then cause inflammation in the gut which weakens the lining and even breaks holes through it. This is known as leaky gut. Leaky gut allows for undigested foods and other toxins to leak into the bloodstream causing inflammation throughout the body and brain. The behaviors we see are due to many factors but they all include inflammation and its effect on the central nervous system and the brain in particular...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/171