Heribert Watzke: The brain in your gut | Video on TED.com

Those of us in the Autism world have known about the "second brain" for a while now. Glad to see that others are starting to jump on the bandwagon.

Parent Survival Guide to Biomedical Interventions

Thank you so much Autism One for making this invaluable information available free on the web.  It is because of organizations like this and DAN! that I have learned so much about the medial issues that go along with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

You can find this video at Autism One's website: CLICK HERE

Gut and Psychology

Article

Vaccine Safety

     This is one of the most sane and non-inflammatory discussions about vaccines and their safety.  I know it is a long discussion, but well worth your time.

     I had been questioning my belief that ingesting some of the ingredients (such as aluminum) of vaccines is different than injecting them directly into the blood stream.  I some how intrinsically believed this was true, but never had any scientific proof.  This physician explained exactly why this is true.

     I was also interested to hear him talk about the difference from vaccine-induced immunity and the immunity you get from actually having a disease.

It was also interesting to hear him state that doctors observed that after a bout of flu like symptoms, when children recovered, they seemed to have developmental jumps.  Very interesting.

     I think we would all be a lot healthier if we just took a step back and injected some common sense in to this discussion.  If you as a new mother or father do not feel comfortable about your newly born child having a bunch of medical procedures, then you should have the right to object.  You should also have the right to be FULLY informed before any "routine" medications are given to you or your child.  Every person is unique, and we have intuition for a reason.  If something doesn't feel right to you, you (still) have the right to refuse.

 

     I am really uneasy about the government getting involved in saying what vaccines I HAVE to have in order to work or for any children to go to school.     

     This discussion also touches on the flawed idea of "heard immunity" being applied to vaccines.  I strongly encourage you to watch the entire 11-part discussion on YouTube if you want to be more fully informed about vaccine science. 

Expert Pediatrician Discusses Vaccines - YouTube Playlist

Therapeutic levels of omega-3's may help with sensory processing

This article discusses a study which showed that mice with proper levels of Omega-3 essential fatty acids were better able to handle sensory overload.  I have found that my ability to handle stress improved when I started taking Omega-3's.  This article just reinforces the fact that this nutrient is SOOOOOOOOOO important to our kids - especially those with special needs.  I think it is also important to note that a change in DIET effected how animals related to STRESS.  Interesting!!!  Click on the link for the full article.

Article

Coconut Oil - healthy, who knew?

Over the past year or so, I have found myself being drawn to this kind of information.  Information that seems oxymoronic and counter cultural.  The more I read and learn, the more I realize that the information we get from our governmental agencies more often than not is not true.  This is a very interesting article about the health effects of coconut oil.  I will be switching over to this oil in my own life, and I'm excited about the effects I should see.  I'll keep you posted.

Coconut Oil

Is Dirt the new Prozac?

Article

Extremely interesting article about how microorganisms can help increase levels of serotonin and may treat depression.  I find this extremely interesting.  Scientists have speculated for a long time that living in a cleaner environment has increased the incidence of allergies, but here is some real proof as to why.  Occupational Therapists have used gardening for decades as a practical way to help people with depression, and now there is scientific proof that this is real.

The takeaway:  Play in the dirt to improve your mood, and let your kids make mud pies to prevent allergies!

High Fructose Corn Syrup contains MERCURY!

Article

Check out this article.  When I first was told that HFCS had mercury, I was skeptical.  I've done some research, and now know this is true.  Admittedly, US producers of HFCS state they no longer use mercury in the production of HFCS.  However, large companies of refined food in this country get HFCS from foreign sources (namely China).  I'm SURE these foreign governments have American's safety in mind when they produce products for export (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

Picky Eaters

Picky Eaters

Click on the link above for an article about how to implement a diet with a picky eater.

When I first starting working with children on the Autism spectrum about 8 years ago, I thought that the diet was a good extra step parents could take to help their kids. Now I realize that diet should be the FIRST intervention a parent starts on their road to recovery. Proper nutrition is the backbone of all other metabolic processes in the body. If the gut isn't happy, you aren't happy.

Worried about the Flu? Try these natural immune boosters!

Rather than rushing to get the unproved, quickly created vaccine, try these nutritional supplements to boost your immune function.

Check out these three articles about natural ways to improve your immune function.

Always contact your physician before taking any medication or supplements.

Fight the flu with natural immunity boosters

Canadian health agency looking at the role of Vitamin D

How to treat the Cold or Flu NATURALLY

Strengthen your immune system

You Tube

Great information. Easy to do and cheap. An apple a day - no a yogurt a day keeps the Dr. away!

Vitamin D Theory of Autism

Kind of scary how so many symptoms of autism can be possible explained by a deficiency of Vitamin D.  Check out this article from the Vitamin D Council to see how a deficiency in Vitamin D my be contributing to the autism epidemic.

Vitamin D Council

Omega 3

Nutrition

This article shows how important Omega 3's are in brain function.  

Video

Check out this video about how Omega 3 supplementation changes an animal's function.

Vitamin D - Cause of Autism?

Article about a connection with Vitamin D deficiency and autism - hmmm.

Scientific American Article

Vitamin D - Unsung Superhero?

Vitamin D

This article is about my new favorite subject: Vitamin D.  SO important, and so little understood.  Hey, if Dr. Oz is talking about it, then you know it is important!