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ABC’s of Autism: E is For Eggs

Eggs are one of the most versatile foods available. From fried to scrambled to poached to hard-boiled, an egg’s possibilities are endless. Luckily for an egg’s consumers, it is also rich in Vitamin K2. This vitamin is not abundant in most foods and is found in significantly lower concentrations in eggs from caged hens than from pasture-raised hens.

So why are eggs so important? A 2015 scientific study suggested that supplementing an autistic child’s diet with vitamins such as Vitamin K drastically improved many of the internal problems that the child had experienced. Any lack of vitamins may manifest itself in physical or behavioral symptoms. That is why it is so important for all children, but especially autistic children, to consume a full range of vitamins.

In another study, it was hypothesized that children with Autism have metabolic and genetic abnormalities which may result in the reduction of the Vitamin K cycle.

What can you do? Consider purchasing only eggs from pasture-raised hens, as opposed to caged hens. These eggs are rich in Vitamin K2 (and taste significantly better than their caged counterparts!). The picture below demonstrates the drastic difference between pasture-raised and caged eggs. The yolk on the right is from the egg of a pasture-raised hen, and the yolk on the left is from a caged hen. They differ in both size and richness of color.

In this article, you can read more about the color of an egg yolk and vitamin K contents!

To learn more about the importance of K2 for health we recommend the book- The Calcium Paradox by  Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue. And to learn about how Vitamin K and Autism might be connected… read our K is for… post here.

If you want to learn more about vitamin-rich options for your entire family, we are here to help. Check out our Empowered Library for more resources.

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ABC’s of Autsim: D is for Deep Freeze

A deep freezer is a relatively inexpensive way to ensure that your child always has safe, toxin-free meals. Deep freezers resemble small chests and can be placed in a corner in the garage, inside the kitchen, or in another easily accessible location. These freezers preserve food for three months or longer.

In our experience, whenever we were rushing out the door to sports practice, dance recital, or birthday party, we weren’t thinking about the food available at those places. Often times, there were not safe (gluten-free, dye-free, etc.) options offered. Getting a deep freezer helped to solve this issue. We started to make toxin-free food in bulk, storing the majority of it in the deep freezer. For instance, instead of making a batch of 12 gluten-free muffins, we would make 36 or more and store them in the deep freezer. That way, as we were running out the door to our various activities, I would grab a few muffins for the road. By the time that my daughter was hungry, the muffins were thawed and she had a safe, nutritious snack to keep her going.

Deep freezers cost anywhere from $100-$250. They can be found at a variety of stores, including Costco, which is linked here. This is a great investment that has saved many families a lot of time and hassle over the years!

If you want to learn more about meeting your child’s dietary needs, easy ways to meal prep for your entire family, or other life hacks, we are here to help. Check out our Empowered Library for more resources to help your family.

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ABC’s of Autism: C is for Clostridia

Clostridia are members of the normal human flora, present primarily in the intestinal tract. They colonize the gut of other vertebrates and insects and are ubiquitous in soil. Three specific types of clostridia are notable in medicine: Clostridium tetani which leads to tetanus,  Clostridium difficile which leads to infectious colitis, and Clostridium botulinum which is responsible for botulism.

Clostridium tetani is the bacteria responsible for the disease tetanus, which can often be fatal. The word tetanus comes from the Greek word tetanos which means to ‘stretch’. Tetanus infection is characterized by rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscle. (source)

Clostridium difficile is the bacteria responsible for the disease sometimes known as c.diff. This infection is common in the elderly, those who have been on antibiotics and those who are in medical facilities.transmitted from person to person by the fecal-oral route. C. difficile is shed in faeces. C. difficile can live for long periods of time on surfaces (source)

Clostridium botulinum  is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves. Symptoms of botulism usually start with weakness of the muscles that control the eyes, face, mouth, and throat. This weakness may spread to the neck, arms, torso, and legs. Botulism also can weaken the muscles involved in breathing, which can lead to difficulty breathing and even death. (source)

What does Clostridia have to do with Autism?

The Canadian organization Treat Autism explains:

“Research by Dr. Sidney Finegold compared the gut flora of children with regressive ASD to neurotypical (typically developing) children.  The results show that clostridia counts were higher in the children with autism. Not only were the counts higher in those with autism, but the number of clostridia species were also higher.  Children with ASD had 9 species of Clostridium not found in the neurotypical group.  The neurotypical group showed only 3 species not found in children with autism. In all, there were 25 different clostridia species found. In stomach and small intestine specimens, the most striking finding was total absence of Clostridia from neurotypical children and significant numbers of such bacteria from children with autism.”

Dr. Derrick Mc. Fabe and Dr. Richard Frye built on this research with their paper in 2015. In that paper, they “review the evidence that enteric bacteria that are overrepresented in children with ASD, particularly Clostridia spp., produce short-chain fatty acid metabolites that are potentially toxic to the mitochondria.”  They,  “provide an example of this gut–brain connection by highlighting the propionic acid rodent model of ASD and the clinical evidence that supports this animal model.”

They also  “discuss the potential therapeutic approaches that could be helpful for GI symptoms in ASD and mitochondrial disorders.”

Statistics show that approximately 70% of children have gastrointestinal dysfunction. this research from McFabe and Frye aims to help better understand the underlying physiology associated with ASD that may be related to concurrent mitochondrial and GI dysfunction, in light of clostridia bacteria overproducing metabolites that can be toxic to mitochondria.

What can you do? Talk to your doctor about obtaining lab work to measure your child’s bacteria levels and other metabolites that can be measured in urine and blood. If you have not read our Top 10 Lab Tests for you Child, it can be a good first step in determining some of the underlying issues that may be challenging your child’s body.

If you want to learn more about potential treatments for ASDs, need help talking to your doctor, or don’t know where to begin, we are here to help. Check out our Empowered Library for more resources.

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ABC’s of Autism: B is for Bifidobacteria

Bifidobacteria are strains of healthy bacteria that live in the human gut. They are commonly referred to as “probiotics” and are often taken alongside antibiotics to maintain healthy levels of bacteria. Recent research has suggested that these bacteria play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of autism. There may be a correlation between gut symptoms and severity of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

A 2011 study on the relationship between gut bacteria and the severity of autism revealed a connection between the two. Children diagnosed with autism had significantly lower levels of bifidobacteria than non-autistic children. Low levels of bifidobacteria are a biomarker for autism. These decreased levels corresponded to more gastrointestinal (GI) troubles. Ultimately, as the amount of GI problems increased, so did the severity of the autism. Children with many GI problems had higher ATEC (autism treatment evaluation checklist, higher score equals more severe autism) scores than children with fewer GI problems.

Learn more about how genetics impacts bifidobacterium levels here: scientific version and in layman’s terms (includes a video)

What can you do? Talk to your doctor about obtaining lab work to measure your child’s bacterial balance/imbalance. From there, you can determine with your physician, if treatment would be beneficial to your child. We can help you prepare for this conversation with your doctor.

If you want to learn more about potential treatments for ASDs, need help talking to your doctor, or don’t know where to begin, we are here to help. Check out our Empowered Library for more resources to help your child and your family.

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ABC’s of Autism: A is for Arginine and Alanine

Arginine and Alanine are types of amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks for all sorts of materials in the human body, including protein and muscle. Research suggests that arginine is an important factor in the treatment of ASD (autism spectrum disorder) symptoms. As of right now, there is not a standard chemical test performed to diagnose ASDs. However, as research on the connection between arginine and autism progresses, a diagnostic test may develop in the near future. Autism may have a biochemical origin.

Scientific studies have shown that many adult males diagnosed with autism have arginine levels that are higher than typically developing control subjects. The study concluded: “The present study identified deviated plasma metabolite levels associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in individuals with ASD.” Arginine can serve as a biomarker (a quantifiable substance that indicates the presence of diseases, disorders, or other biological maladies) for autism. This new research is interesting since it suggests that autism has an underlying chemical component. Bodily chemical imbalances can be treated through physical steps. This is sometimes as easy as adding a daily supplement to one’s diet or removing a toxin from the environment.

Alanine has also been found to be an abnormal biomarker in individuals with Autism. To read more about alanine and autism click the link below:

Dr. Richard Kelley’s ASD/MITO paper

What can you do? Talk to your doctor about additional blood tests that may reveal more about your child’s condition. To help with this process, our Chief Patient Advocacy Officer Kristi Wees created an eBook called “Top 10 Lab Tests For Your Child.” In this book, Kristi simplifies the seemingly complicated world of laboratory blood testing and describes it in a way that parents can understand, giving them the information they need to have an educated conversation with their child’s physician.

If you want to learn more about potential treatments for ASDs, need help talking to your doctor, or don’t know where to begin, we are here to help. Check out our Empowered Library for more resources.