If you’re walking the autism recovery journey with your child, you’ve probably experienced moments that feel confusing—or even discouraging.

Just when things seem to be improving, a behavior resurfaces.

A new challenge shows up.

Sleep shifts. Digestion changes. Emotions run higher.

And the question creeps in:

“Are we doing something wrong?”

I want to gently reassure you today:

Uneven progress is not only common—it’s often a sign that healing is happening.

One of the biggest misconceptions parents face is the idea that recovery should look like a straight line:

Improvement → more improvement → no setbacks.

But the body doesn’t heal that way—especially when we’re supporting neurological, immune, and detox pathways all at once.

Healing tends to happen in layers and waves.

You may see:

• A leap forward in communication, followed by emotional sensitivity
• Better sleep, paired with temporary digestive changes
• Increased awareness before behaviors settle down

This doesn’t mean you’re going backward. It means the body is reorganizing and recalibrating.

When the nervous system begins to regulate and the body starts clearing stored toxins or inflammation, it can temporarily feel uncomfortable.

Children don’t always have the words to express that internal shift—so it can come out as:

• Increased stimming
• Emotional outbursts
• Fatigue or restlessness
• Sensory sensitivity

From a healing perspective, this often signals that the body is waking up, not shutting down.

Progress isn’t always obvious at first, especially if we’re only watching behaviors. Some early signs of healing include:

• Changes in sleep patterns (even if temporary)
• Digestive shifts or improved elimination
• Increased emotional expression or awareness
• More eye contact or curiosity
• Periods of fatigue followed by clarity or calm...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/239

There’s been a lot of conversation around autism—what’s working, what’s not, and how overwhelmed families can feel trying to support their children in a way that actually makes sense.

After recently hosting a 3-day autism recovery blueprint event where I walked parents through my 4 stage process for optimum results in autism recovery, I wanted to take a moment to slow things down and reflect on it. Not to introduce something new—but to share what I’ve been seeing consistently inside the Naturally Recovering Autism membership. 

(By the way, if you missed the 3-day event you may still be able to catch the replays before the links expire by going to NaturallyRecoveringAutism.com/GO.)

Because sometimes, the most powerful thing we can offer isn’t another strategy, but a clear concise roadmap that a parent can follow…

Plus, real stories from real families who are walking this path too.

When my own son was diagnosed with autism 20 years ago now, I was told to drug him and try behavioral therapies-basically, good luck. They told us we would be managing his symptoms the rest of his life.

Fortunately, my background as a Craniosacral Therapist studying the brain and holistic health let me know the brain can and does heal, but I had to research autism more specifically to find out what was going on and what the solutions were so my son could live his best life possible.

Naturally Recovering Autism was created with a simple, but often overlooked belief:

when the body is supported in a holistic, gentle, and consistent way, it has an incredible ability to move toward balance.

This isn’t about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all answers.

It’s about education, nervous system support, detox pathways, lifestyle shifts, clearing coinfections and empowering parents to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing, and HOW to do it.

And over time, that support adds up.

Inside the membership, families often share changes that may feel small at first—but are deeply meaningful:..

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/238

Autism is changing — not because autistic people are changing, but because our understanding of autism is finally catching up to the lived reality of millions of individuals and families.

For decades, autism was described in narrow, stereotypical terms: one “type,” one path, one set of behaviors. The diagnosis was something handed to people, not something that reflected the full complexity of who they were.

But today, the conversation is shifting.

New research, broader cultural understanding, and the voices of autistic individuals themselves are ushering in a more accurate, more compassionate, and more inclusive view.

We’re entering a new era — one where diagnosis, diversity, and identity work together to give us a deeper picture of what autism really means.

Diagnosis: From Narrow Labels to Nuanced Understanding

Historically, autism diagnosis was based on a narrow checklist of observable behaviors. These frameworks unintentionally left out large groups of people, especially:...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/237

Some people simply want to use X39 for personal wellness. Others feel called to share it. If you are loving what X39 is doing for you and want to share it with friends, family, or your community, LifeWave also offers a simple way to do that. You can become a Brand Partner, which gives you better pricing and an optional path to earn from sharing.

What Brand Partner Status Gives You

• Wholesale pricing on X39 so you save on every sleeve.

• Your own LifeWave website to share and send people to easily.

• Volume points and commissions when others order through your link.

• A flexible business option you can keep small or grow over time.

Why Many People Start Here Most people begin as Brand Partners because it is the best way to get started with X39. You get the lowest price, and your account is set up in case you ever want to share. There is no pressure or requirement to build a business. You can simply enjoy the savings and keep it for personal use.

How to Become a Brand Partner

1. Click the button below to choose your enrollment kit.

2. Select Core, Advanced, Advanced Plus, or Premium based on what fits your goals.

3. Complete your enrollment and place your first order...

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https://thrivingwithpatches.com/

Autism Is Not One Thing: Why So Many Children Struggle — And Why It’s Not “Just Autism”

For decades, autism has been treated as a one-size-fits-all label. But parents everywhere are starting to notice something that traditional models have missed:

Not every autistic child struggles for the same reasons — and many challenges aren’t “autism,” they’re biology.

New research confirms this intuitive truth. Scientists are now identifying multiple autism subtypes, shaped by different biological pathways such as immune function, gut health, metabolism, detoxification, and sensory processing.

This shift marks a turning point away from the idea that autism equals a fixed set of symptoms — and toward understanding each child’s unique neurological and biological profile.

And that’s exactly where powerful breakthroughs happen.

Let’s be clear from the start:

But the challenges many autistic individuals face are not personality traits.

They’re not “who the child is.”

They are biological stressors layered on top of their neurodivergence — stressors that can be reduced, supported, and improved.

These may include:

• chronic inflammation
• gut dysbiosis
• nutrient depletion
• impaired detox pathways
• mitochondrial or energy-production issues
• hormonal imbalance
• persistent immune activation
• environmental toxins
• food sensitivities (gluten, dairy, oxalates, salicylates, phenols, histamines)...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/236

Far-infrared has been used for centuries as a natural, safe method to assist health in multiple ways. Additional methods to assist detoxification are extremely important, especially for children with autism. Far infrared saunas are an excellent resource for this.

Please watch this interview with expert Phil Wilson, to discover the many stress-relieving, and additional health benefits of far-infrared heat, including in-home, portable saunas.

See studies and testimonials below.

Sauna as a valuable clinical tool for cardiovascular, autoimmune, toxicant- induced and other chronic health problems.

Far infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications.

Effects of far infrared accupoint stimulation on autonomic activity and quality of life in hemodialysis patients. (This study also shows the reduction of stress and fatigue on the autonomic nervous system.)

Below are some video testimonies (Almost all Doctors)  that you might find helpful in recognizing that the Relax Sauna is Unique in its effectiveness because of it being able to generate 95-99% pure far infrared energy, unheard of in the infrared sauna industry. These are just a few of the 650 + video testimonies on the relax sauna...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/235

Leafy greens, beans, and whole grains have long been celebrated as the heart of a clean, nutrient-rich diet. And yes — they can be incredibly nourishing. But there’s a side of the story most people simply never hear: how certain crops accumulate heavy metals, how common pantry staples can harbor mold and mycotoxins, and how all of this can overwhelm the body’s natural detox systems… especially in people with sensitivities or impaired detox pathways.

Let’s pull back the curtain on the part that rarely gets talked about.

Some leafy greens — especially kale, chard, and mustard greens — are what botanists call “hyperaccumulators.” They’re very efficient at pulling minerals from the soil. The problem is that they don’t distinguish between minerals you want and metals you absolutely don’t.

If the soil contains thallium or other heavy metals, those greens can soak it up.

Thallium exposure has been associated with:

• Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction

• DNA strand breakage

• Neurological symptoms

• Mood changes

This doesn’t mean kale “causes” depression or neurological issues. But for people already dealing with inflammation or impaired detoxification, thallium becomes one more burden the body has to manage.

Many parents intuitively notice that their child on the spectrum is more sensitive to environmental triggers than other children — and there’s a reason this can happen.

Many autistic individuals have variations in genes involved in detoxification and methylation, including MTHFR. These variations don’t mean anything is “wrong,” but they can slow or alter the way the body processes toxins.

That means heavy metals, mold toxins, and chemical residues may:

• Build up more quickly

• Hit harder

• Stay in the system longer

• Interfere more with neurological and immune function

For a child already dealing with sensory processing, gut challenges, or nervous system overload, these exposures can compound the stress on the body, sometimes showing up as sleep issues, irritability, mood changes, or behavioral shifts...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/234

Researchers from Virginia Tech have discovered that ultra-processed meats and beverages are the worst for brain health. Individuals who consumed one or more extra servings of either of these foods showed a significantly increased risk of developing cognitive impairments, including those associated with forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

A recent article from Children’s Health Defense shared new research ranking which junk foods are most harmful to the brain — and it’s not just about kids’ waistlines or sugar highs. It’s about how what we eat can shape how we think, learn, and even feel.

Let’s dig into what this new research is saying, and more importantly, what it means for our families.

These studies found that foods loaded with refined sugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients don’t just harm the body — they change how the brain functions.

Think of it like this: the brain runs on clear signals, kind of like a radio station. When it’s getting clean fuel — whole foods, real nutrients — that signal is clear. But when it’s constantly fed ultra-processed foods, it’s like turning up the static. The brain starts to lose focus, memory gets fuzzy, and mood and motivation can shift.

Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) are now known to include obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, depression, and an increase in all-cause mortality. In fact, according to a study published in Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes Association, up to 220,000 young Americans under age 20 are likely to have Type 2 diabetes by 2060 — a 673% increase from 2017 levels.

One of the studies found that people who ate a lot of processed meats, fried snacks, and sugary drinks had measurable changes in the areas of the brain that control memory and emotion. Another study showed that even short-term diets high in sugar and fat can rewire how the brain’s “reward center” works — making people crave those same foods even more.

A study of nearly 124,000 people found that drinking just one daily serving of artificially sweetened drinks increased the risk of a liver disease known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or metabolic dysfunction.

That means the more we eat these foods, the more our brains want them, creating a loop that’s hard to break.

Recent research has shed light on a startling concern—more than 300 chemicals have been detected in babies’ cord blood and placenta at birth. This discovery highlights the fact that exposure to harmful chemicals begins much earlier than we previously thought.

From conception through pregnancy, toxins can pass from the mother to the fetus, raising concerns about their potential long-term effects on child development and health.

Children’s brains are still developing, which makes them much more sensitive to these kinds of foods. When a growing brain is constantly exposed to sugary, processed foods, it can interfere with how nerve connections form.

Some of the research cited by Children’s Health Defense found that kids and teens who eat a lot of junk food have more trouble with memory and learning, and can experience more mood swings or attention issues.

Part of that is because junk foods crowd out the nutrients that developing brains need — like omega-3s, zinc, and iron. And part of it is chemical: those processed ingredients can actually change the way the brain’s reward systems respond, which makes healthy foods less appealing over time...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/233

Many parents are willing to do anything to help their child with autism. When traditional therapies don’t bring the progress they hope for, it’s easy to feel desperate—and to keep searching for the next answer.

That’s exactly where one devoted mom found herself. After years of struggle, she tried nearly everything—including expensive stem cell injections overseas. She and her husband even took out second mortgages to afford treatments that promised breakthroughs.

But despite their best efforts, the results were temporary. Her son still struggled to connect, focus, or express how he felt. The spark she knew was inside him hadn’t yet come alive.

Then she found the Naturally Recovering Autism Membership Program, and everything changed. 

Instead of chasing one treatment after another, she finally had a clear, step-by-step roadmap—a natural, whole-body approach that addressed the real root causes behind her son’s symptoms.

Through the membership program, she learned how to:

• Support her son’s gut health to reduce inflammation and improve focus
• Use safe, natural detoxification methods to clear underlying toxins that affect the brain
• Restore nutrient balance to strengthen communication between the brain and body
• And most importantly, how to bring calm, connection, and joy back into their daily lives

Within months, she began seeing real, lasting progress:

Her son started making eye contact, engaging with others, and showing affection—saying “I love you” for the very first time.

This mom’s story is a reminder that every child—no matter where they begin—is capable of so much more than we’re often led to believe.

When the body is supported naturally and the right healing steps are followed in order, the changes can be remarkable. These are not “miracles.” They’re the result of understanding how the body and brain are connected—and how to restore balance so healing can happen naturally...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/232

Every parent of a child with autism knows the moments of doubt, frustration, and heartache. For one devoted mom, the journey began with silence—days and months where her son barely spoke, struggled to connect, and seemed trapped in his own world.

Like many families, she searched tirelessly for answers, trying therapies and interventions that promised breakthroughs. But true, lasting progress remained out of reach—until she discovered the Naturally Recovering Autism Roadmap.

The Naturally Recovering Autism program gave her a clear, step-by-step plan designed to support her son’s body and brain in a holistic way. Instead of chasing quick fixes, she learned how to:

• Support gut health and reduce inflammation 
• Rebuild nutrient balance to fuel focus and communication
• Promote safe, natural detoxification
• Create predictable, supportive routines that encourage learning and connection

Within months, she began noticing remarkable changes: small gestures became words, words became sentences, and eventually, the phrase every parent dreams of hearing: “I love you.”

This story is a powerful reminder that every child with autism has potential beyond what we often imagine. With the right guidance, patience, and tools, progress is not only possible—it can be transformative.

The Naturally Recovering Autism Roadmap gave this family the framework to see real, lasting results—proving that recovery doesn’t always come from the most expensive or dramatic interventions, but from consistent, thoughtful support that addresses root causes...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/231

In a landmark move, California has passed a new law (AB 144, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 17, 2025) that gives the state authority to establish its own vaccine schedules and related policies — rather than being bound by federal guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Here’s a breakdown of what the law does, why it was enacted, and how it fits into a broader trend among U.S. states.

Some of the main changes under AB 144:

• It establishes a baseline for vaccine coverage based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations as of January 1, 2025.
• It authorizes the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to modify or supplement those baseline recommendations, using guidance from independent medical organizations (like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, etc.).
• It requires that state-regulated insurance plans (including Medi-Cal) cover vaccines that the state health department endorses under its guidance — meaning no copays for many Californians under those plans for state-recommended vaccines.
• It gives CA authority to act more independently of federal advisory bodies when those are perceived by state leadership to be compromised or less trustworthy. Why This Law Was Enacted

  Several reasons motivated the push for this law:

  1. Concerns over federal changes: The law reflects growing concern in California (and some other states) that recent shifts at the federal level — including reconstitution of advisory panels, changes in vaccine eligibility criteria, and what state officials view as politicization of public health — have undermined trust in the CDC’s recommendations...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/230

Instead of just focusing on the controversy or risks of misdiagnosis, you can pivot toward the benefits of finally having clarity through a late diagnosis, and then be empowered with actionable, natural strategies that align with what we do at Naturally Recovering Autism.

1. Clarity & Self-Understanding

• Many people spend years confused about why social situations, sensory environments, or certain tasks feel harder for them than for others. A diagnosis provides a framework — “Oh, that’s why.”

   

• This self-knowledge can reduce self-blame, shame, and anxiety.

  2. Access to Resources & Support

• Even later in life, a diagnosis can open doors to support groups, therapies, accommodations in work or school, and tools for managing sensory overload or executive function.
• Parents of children diagnosed later can finally advocate more effectively for educational resources.

   

  3. Direction for Healing & Growth

• Instead of trying random approaches, families (or adults themselves) can pursue strategies that actually match the needs of an autistic brain and body.

   

• You can move from “what’s wrong with me?” to “here’s how my brain works, and here’s what helps.”

Once someone receives a diagnosis — whether at 5, 15, or 55 — the question becomes: What can I do now?

Here are some natural interventions:

1. Nutritional & Gut Health Support

• The gut-brain connection is well-documented. Late-diagnosed individuals may realize their digestive issues, food sensitivities, or chronic inflammation have been compounding their challenges.
• Approaches: gluten/dairy-free diets, probiotics, gut-healing protocols, anti-inflammatory nutrition. Get my free food guide at autismcheatsheet.com...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/229

Pesticide used on oats known to harm development, fetal growth and harming reproductive health later in life.

Asheville, N.C. – Aug. 25, 2025 – A new investigation by Moms Across America has found disturbing levels of a banned pesticide, chlormequat, in some of the most popular children’s cereals sold in the United States.

Given this disturbing finding, Moms Across America is calling on the administration to revise the recently leaked draft of MAHA Commission strategy report, which falls short in calling for increased policy enforcement to reduce exposure of harmful pesticides to our children and American families.

The findings raise serious concerns about food safety, particularly for children, and call into question the effectiveness of regulatory oversight by the Food and Drug Administration.

Chlormequat, which has been linked to infertility, cancer, and developmental harm, was detected in 11 out of 14 cereal samples tested. The highest level—134.16 parts per billion—was found in General Mills’ Honey Nut Cheerios. It is not permitted for use on food crops in the U.S., and it was illegal for any imported grains to contain detectable levels of it until 2018.

Key findings include...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/228

I’m excited to share a non-invasive, easy-to-use technology that is showing tremendous promise for children with autism, as well as many other health conditions. This could really help your child now.

This wearable patch is a form of light therapy that activates our own dormant stem cells in the body. Stem cells are how our bodies heal. 

This one-of-a-kind breakthrough patch technology uses the body’s own light to activate its own stem cells, promoting better cellular health-benefits that can help children thrive by:

• supporting natural healing, 
• resetting genes, 
• Improving function of the immune system, 
• balancing inflammation, and the immune response.

The X39 patch is FDA compliant as a general wellness product, and backed by over 80 double-blind studies...

Click Here or Click the link below for more details!

https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/225

Dr. Isaac Eliaz brief biography:

Dr. Eliaz has been a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine since the early 1980’s, with a specific focus on immune health, detoxification and mind-body medicine. He also has experience creating clinical protocols that have shown success in addressing the symptoms of autism and those on the autism spectrum have. He is a respected clinician, researcher, author and educator, he has been teaching continuing education to health care providers for over 25 years. As part of his commitment to the advancement of integrative medicine, Dr. Eliaz is directly involved in ongoing research and has published a number of peer reviewed studies demonstrating the effectiveness of specific integrative therapies for immune enhancement, heavy metal toxicity and cancer prevention and treatment…

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/227

This guide will cover how to get a vaccine exemption in each of the 50 United States.

Parents who choose vaccination exemption for their children do so because they believe that children get too many shots altogether, and they have valid concerns about serious side effects, such as autism. Ultimately, it is a parent’s choice to make the right decision for their child’s individual needs. 

Types of Exemptions: 

Medical Exemptions: These are granted when a child has a medical contraindication to a vaccine, such as allergies to vaccine components or a history of adverse reactions. 

Non-medical Exemptions: These include: 

• Religious Exemptions: Allowing exemptions based on religious beliefs that prohibit vaccination. 
• Philosophical or Personal Belief Exemptions: Allowing exemptions based on personal or moral convictions against vaccination. 

State Variations: 

• • Medical Exemptions: All states and the District of Columbia allow medical exemptions for children unable to receive vaccines due to medical reasons. Typically, a medical exemption must be written by an MD or doctor of osteopathy (DO). 
  • Religious Exemptions:
  • This exemption is based on the First Amendment, the right to freely hold and exercise religious beliefs. Most states allow religious exemptions, with only a few (like California, New York, and West Virginia) not allowing any non-medical exemptions...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/226

Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, is a board-certified osteopathic medical doctor from Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Tenpenny is an internationally known expert on the problems associated with vaccines. Her book, Saying No To Vaccines”  is a guide written to help adults and parents refute the most common reasons to vaccinate. Please listen to this very informative interview.

As the “Voice of Reason about Alternative medicine”, Dr. Tenpenny is an outspoken advocate for free choice in healthcare, including the right to refuse vaccination. She has done hundreds of radio, TV and print interviews, and she is a returning speaker to the Cal Jam...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/224

Mitochondria give cells over 90% of their energy. Without proper energy cells cannot carry out their functions.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction vs Mitochondrial Disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction simply means that the mitochondria are not working correctly. Mitochondrial disease is the term used when the primary cause of mitochondrial dysfunction resides in the mitochondria. Mitochondrial disease is generally genetic. It can be inherited from either or both parents. A special type of mitochondrial disease is caused by mutations on the mitochondrial DNA, and is inherited only from the mother. When the primary cause of mitochondrial dysfunction resides outside the mitochondria, mitochondrial dysfunction is called “secondary” (to something else).

Symptoms of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Cellular energy is necessary for the function of all cells, but is particularly critical for nerve and muscle. Both nerve and muscle are important in GI function, thus cyclic vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, poor GI mobility, and other digestive disorders are common. Additional potential complications of mitochondrial dysfunction include chronic fatigue, neuropathic pain, depression, autistic regression, seizures, hypoglycemia, visual and hearing difficulty, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, intellectual disability, and dysautonomia.

Mitochondrial Triggers

Mitochondrial dysfunction can be genetic, but even then, disease is often triggered by the environment. Viral infections are among the most common triggers of mitochondrial dysfunction. Additional potential triggers are other infections (e.g. lyme bacteria), vaccinations, toxins, anesthesia, and any other significant stressor. In order situations, mitochondrial dysfunction can be acquired. In fact, stroke and heart attack involve mitochondrial dysfunction, whereas cells are receiving insufficient oxygen for required energy metabolism. Many environmental toxins can poison mitochondria as well, including some pesticides...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/223

Podcast Interview on Natural Allergy Elimination with Paula Vetter

Your child may have obvious allergies to certain pollen’s or foods, but there are many other unknown possibilities, as well. Natural allergy elimination can desensitize the body from all kinds of issues that are affecting his immune system, his brain, and much more. These compounds are in foods and chemicals found in everyday life.

By getting rid of allergies the immune system is freed up to work where it is needed. During a session for natural allergy elimination the practitioner is able to detect which meridians pathways of the body are being affected such as anatomy, physiology, brain, and circulatory systems. Acupressure points are stimulated which opens a gateway to the immune system, and tells it to recognize the product as normal, a correct way to respond.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/222

While intermittent fasting may have beneficial effects on various autoimmune diseases, fasting is not right for everyone.

Intermittent fasting can be detrimental for people with autoimmune issues because it can potentially exacerbate their condition by putting additional stress on the immune system, which is already dysregulated in autoimmune diseases, potentially leading to increased inflammation and flare-ups due to the body’s tendency to attack its own tissues during fasting periods. 

Immune system disruption: Fasting can cause fluctuations in immune cell activity, potentially leading to an overactive immune response in individuals with autoimmune diseases where the body is already attacking its own tissues. PANS is an autoimmune attack on the brain and it is very common in children with autism. You will see a sudden onset of OCD, clinginess, and fearfulness.

Increased inflammation: While some research suggests intermittent fasting might reduce inflammation in healthy individuals, in autoimmune conditions, it could trigger increased inflammatory markers due to the body’s altered immune response. 

Stress on the body: The stress of fasting can further exacerbate autoimmune symptoms. If your immune system is fragile and you’re constantly having flare-ups, you might want to avoid fasting until your body is stronger.

Focus on a balanced, healthy diet with controlled portion sizes, regular exercise, and mindful eating habits to achieve similar health benefits, prioritizing nutrient-dense foods and limiting processed options; essentially, managing your overall calorie intake without strict fasting windows.

Ketogenic Diets are popular for this reason. A ketogenic diet primarily consists of high-fats, moderate-proteins, and very-low-carbohydrates. The dietary macronutrients are divided into approximately 55% to 60% fat, 30% to 35% protein and 5% to 10%carbohydrates.

In our episode Healthy Carbs, Candida Control, and What You Can Do To Soothe Autism Symptoms [Podcast Episode #210] we discussed how low-carb diets can be potentially sleep disruptive and anxiety provoking if candida overgrowth is still strong and candida is eating up all of the glucose our brain needs. This is very common in sleep disorders. 

I discuss this in detail in my podcast episode # 133, How To Improve Sleep Tied To Candida Induced Hypoglycemia. ...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/221

Elopement—also known as wandering—is a common behavior among children with autism. It refers to when a child leaves a safe environment without permission, often placing themselves in potentially dangerous situations. According to the National Autism Association, 49% of autistic children have attempted to elope, and the behavior typically peaks between ages 4 and 7.

Understanding the causes of elopement is the first step toward reducing its frequency and improving safety.

Many children with autism experience sensory processing differences. They may find certain environments too loud, bright, or overwhelming, leading them to flee. Others may seek out sensory-rich experiences—like spinning fans, running water, or flashing lights—and wander off in pursuit of them.

Children with limited or nonverbal communication skills may elope as a way to express a need or emotion. Elopement becomes a nonverbal message, saying “I’m upset,” “I need a break,” or “I don’t understand.”

Some children elope to avoid non-preferred activities, such as schoolwork, chores, or social interaction. Elopement can function as a behavioral response to challenging expectations or transitions.

Autistic children often experience anxiety in social or unfamiliar settings. For some, running away is a natural response to overwhelming fear, acting as a way to self-soothe or find safety.

Children on the autism spectrum may also struggle with impulse control and planning. In some cases, they may run impulsively without a clear goal or without recognizing potential dangers.

Not all elopement is escape behavior. Sometimes children are simply trying to reach a desired location—like a favorite playground, a relative’s house, or even a store they remember.

7. One of the most common, yet unknown, triggers for elopement is phenol sensitivity. Elopement is from many things but the sensory overload and impulsivity also come from phenols known to contribute to eloping. 

Phenols are the natural colorings in foods such as in fruits and vegetables. Phenols are also in the artificial colorings that are in yogurt, candy, and popsicles, etc. Used industrially, they help form and are contained in plastics. They can be an allergen, whether from food or plastic products. People with poor methylation are often phenol sensitive. It is very common for children on the autism spectrum to be allergic to phenols. This is often due to an ill digestive tract.

Normally the body could properly utilize and eliminate phenols. Phenols and salicylates are in most foods. Candida/yeast overgrowth and leaky gut contribute to phenol sensitivity. Leaky gut will allow these chemicals to enter the bloodstream in high 

concentrations. This alarms the body and triggers an immune response which creates an allergy to these chemicals...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/220

Pica in children with autism, touching on its link to PANS, nutritional deficiencies, emotional factors, and gut health.

Pica is a complex and often misunderstood condition that can be particularly concerning when observed in children with autism. It involves the persistent eating of non-food items such as dirt, paper, chalk, hair, or even small objects like coins or toys. While pica can occur in children of all backgrounds, it is significantly more common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Understanding the why behind this behavior is crucial for parents, caregivers, and professionals who want to provide appropriate support.

Pica is defined by the DSM-5 as the repeated ingestion of non-nutritive substances over a period of at least one month, and at an age where this behavior is developmentally inappropriate. In children with autism, pica can often persist beyond toddler years and may require clinical attention due to the risks involved, including choking, intestinal blockages, poisoning, and exposure to harmful bacteria.

There are multiple factors that can contribute to pica behaviors in children with autism, including sensory processing differences, emotional regulation difficulties, nutritional deficiencies, and underlying medical conditions. Here are some key contributors:

One of the most common underlying causes of pica is a deficiency in essential nutrients and minerals. When the body lacks certain elements, it may instinctively seek out non-food items that contain trace amounts of what it’s missing. In children with autism, this is especially relevant due to dietary restrictions, picky eating, or poor absorption caused by gut health issues.

Common deficiencies linked to pica include:

• Iron – Low iron levels (anemia) have a strong correlation with pica. Increasing heem foods which are rich in iron are suggested. Thai is much better than supplementing with iron since iron supplements can aggravate virus activity. Food-based supplements are a much safer way to increase iron naturally.  
• Zinc – Important for taste, smell, and immune function. 
• Magnesium – Needed for neurological and muscular function. 
• Calcium – Can influence cravings for chalk or dirt. 
• Vitamin D and B12 – Deficiencies can affect mood, energy, and neurological health. 

Children with autism may be more susceptible to these deficiencies due to selective eating, inflammation, or gut dysbiosis.

Pica can also be a self-soothing or sensory-seeking behavior. Children with autism may have heightened or lowered sensory sensitivities and may find certain textures, smells, or even the act of chewing or swallowing non-food items calming or stimulating.

Other emotional and psychological factors that may drive pica include:

• Stress or anxiety – Non-food chewing may become a coping mechanism. 
• Communication challenges – Inability to express discomfort or emotional needs might manifest as pica. 
• Obsessive-compulsive tendencies – Some children may develop ritualistic eating of non-foods. 

Providing alternative sensory activities and emotional regulation tools can help reduce the compulsion.

PANS is a neuroimmune condition characterized by the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, eating restrictions, tics, or emotional disturbances following infection or inflammation. Interestingly, pica has been observed in children experiencing flare-ups of PANS, particularly when inflammation in the brain affects areas related to impulse control and appetite.

In these cases, pica may appear suddenly and be accompanied by other neuropsychiatric symptoms. If this is suspected, seeking a qualified PANS/PANDAS specialist is critical, as treatment often involves addressing underlying infections and modulating the immune response...

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Fluoride has long been promoted as a critical ingredient in the fight against tooth decay. It’s added to public water supplies, found in most commercial toothpastes, and endorsed by many dental organizations. But growing research raises valid concerns about fluoride toxicity—and many health-conscious individuals are choosing to go fluoride-free.

In this episode, we’ll break down what the science really says about fluoride, why some experts are calling for caution, and the potential health benefits of switching to fluoride-free products and water.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral known for strengthening enamel and helping prevent cavities. Since the mid-20th century, it’s been added to drinking water and oral care products as a public health measure to reduce tooth decay.

But here’s the thing: more fluoride isn’t always better—and studies suggest that long-term exposure can come with unintended health risks.

Most of us grew up being told how important and beneficial fluoride is.We were told that it was important for strong teeth. Because of this, it is much harder for most people to accept its downfall.

There are over 25 human studies and 100 animal studies connecting fluoride to brain damage and lowered IQ. Several peer-reviewed studies have shown fluoridation to weaken bones. Dental fluorosis is when tooth enamel becomes discolored and is due to fluoride disrupting the enamel during development. However, dentists will often tell us it’s because of poor hygiene.

Please recognize that the dangers of fluoride are real. What they did not tell us is that fluoride damages a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which has no blood-brain barrier to protect it. The hippocampus is responsible for emotions, behavior, learning, memory, and spatial awareness. It is the primary part of the brain affected by those with Alzheimer’s. 

We absorb fluoride from dental treatments, brushing or rinsing with fluoride, and drinking water with added fluoride. When aluminum and fluoride are combined, as in fluoridated water in an aluminum pan or using fluoride toothpaste from an aluminum container, the toxic effects are heightened.

  There are two factors of fluoride toxicity that are of greatest concern.The first is genetic damage. Damage to DNA repair enzymes affects the reproductive cells and is inherited by our children...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/218

Learn the benefits of regenerative farming and Eating Organic Regenerative Foods!

Proper nutrition can create defenses against toxic impact, including those from heavy metals such as mercury, and assisting in its excretion. Nutrition also protects the nervous system in many ways by keeping cell membranes strong or strengthening weak ones, protecting DNA, improving the production of energy within the cells, and reducing inflammation. Proper nutrition also protects the enzyme systems that detoxify the cells and the liver.

What the average person, and the average professional, thinks good nutrition is are often vastly incorrect. Many Americans still think the french fry is a valid, nutritious vegetable and we eat from boxes and cans. A compromised digestive tract does not allow the nutrients from fresh foods to absorb into our cells and fulfill our body’s needs.

Read your labels. Know what to look for. Our foods today are poisoned routinely by large manufacturing companies that choose to add ingredients that are chemical in nature. Many of these foods actually make us crave more food.They also contain sugars and toxins that will invade the central nervous system—this means your child’s brain!

How we grow, feed, and prepare our food is another issue altogether. Conventional food is grown in soil that is so depleted of nutrients to feed the growing crops that when the crop is mature enough to eat, it lacks sufficient quantities of nutrients. We eat food thinking it is giving us the nutrition we need. Most grains, fruits, and vegetables are genetically modified and are grown in toxic pesticides. Our livestock are fed grains grown in these same pesticides, and they are fed antibiotics and hormones that remain in the meat we eat. This means more toxic overload.

Children with autism, ADD, food intolerances, or an improperly working digestive system are already deficient in vital nutrients that their growing brains need. It is never a deficiency of just one nutrient—when one vitamin or mineral is lacking, additional deficiencies develop. These children are usually not absorbing the nutrients from the good foods they eat, and they have a breakdown in the metabolism of nutrients as well. We all need supplementation along with good nutrition, but these children especially do.

Another very important aspect is that our food sources are severely depleted of nutrition due to over-use of soils, therefore limiting them of vital nutrients. Seeds for grain are mutated, often to the point that our bodies do not even know how to digest them. These same grains, also laden with chemicals, are given to the animals that we eat, along with hormones that have been ingested and injected.

When we put this into our bodies, we not only lack what we need for good nutrition, but we ingest so many chemicals ourselves that we need supplementation to combat the toxicity.

The main reason our food today has fewer minerals is that modern farming practices have depleted the soil. Here’s why:..

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/217

When it comes to hydration and performance, electrolytes are often mentioned—but not always understood. Many people believe they’re just for athletes or that any sports drink provides them. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. In this episode, we’ll clear up common misconceptions, explain the real benefits of electrolytes, and guide you to the best sources for proper hydration.

What Are Electrolytes and Why Are They Important?

First, let’s go over just a little bit of science:

There are 94 Natural Elements of the periodic table that consist of foundational solid, liquid and gaseous substances referred to as ‘elements’. 

From a nutritional perspective, the solid and liquid elements can be divided into “Minerals” and “Trace Elements”.

Those elements that chemically dissolve in water become ELECTROLYTES because the water makes them electrically charged (positive and negative).

During Evolution the animal species (including humans) inherited their body fluids and electrolytes from the ocean.  The oceans contain nearly all 78 minerals and trace elements of the Periodic Table of the Elements as electrolytes. A small number of elements do not dissolve in water so they do not form charged electrolytes. 

So, the proportions of electrolytes in the body fluids are the same as they are in the ocean. They’re just diluted.

Electrolytes are essential minerals that carry an electric charge and help maintain various bodily functions. 

The primary electrolytes include:

• Sodium – Regulates fluid balance and nerve function
• Potassium – Supports muscle contractions and heart health
• Magnesium – Aids muscle relaxation, nerve signaling, and energy production
• Calcium – Important for bone strength, muscle movement, and nerve function
• Chloride – Helps with fluid balance and stomach acid production
• Phosphate – Plays a role in energy storage and bone health

These minerals are vital for maintaining hydration, muscle function, nerve signaling, blood pressure, and overall cellular processes. Without the right balance of electrolytes, you may experience muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, and even severe health complications...

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In this episode, we’ll explore why hydration is key during detox and share creative ways to help you and your kids drink more water.

Water plays a critical role in detoxification, helping the body flush out toxins, support organ function, and maintain overall health. Whether you’re undergoing a cleanse, recovering from illness, or simply trying to rid your body of built-up toxins, proper hydration is essential. But getting enough water isn’t just important for adults—children also need to stay hydrated, and sometimes, getting them to drink enough can be a challenge.

Remember, we’re talking about water, not juice or sugary, chemical laden, food dye filled drinks that pretend to be healthy and are often labeled as ‘sports’ drinks, nor are most effectively offering quality electrolytes.

When your body is in detox mode—whether naturally or as part of a structured cleanse—it needs extra water to:

1. Flush Out Toxins

Your liver and kidneys are the primary detox organs, filtering out harmful substances from your body. Drinking enough water ensures these organs function properly and that toxins are effectively removed through sweat, urine, and bowel movements.

2. Prevent Dehydration & Fatigue

During detox, your body works hard to eliminate waste, which can lead to fluid loss. If you’re not drinking enough water, you may feel tired, sluggish, or experience headaches. Proper hydration keeps your energy levels up and reduces the risk of detox-related fatigue.

3. Support Digestion & Bowel Movements

Many detox symptoms include bloating, constipation, or digestive discomfort. Water helps move waste through the intestines, preventing toxin buildup and improving digestion.

4. Maintain Electrolyte Balance...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/215

Renowned cardiologist and epidemiologist, Dr. Peter McCullough, known for his groundbreaking post COVID protocol sits down with Karen Thomas, a leading expert in natural autism recovery for an insightful discussion on autism causes, triggers, and solutions.

In this exclusive podcast episode, #214,  I have the honor of being joined by world-renowned cardiologist, Dr. Peter McCullough.

Together, we explore the many factors that contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and share practical solutions for parents and caregivers seeking to improve the lives of their children. 

First answering the question: What is autism?

Then, what are the multifaceted causes of autism?

Autism is a condition that has seen a dramatic rise in diagnoses over the past few decades. With 1 in 33 children diagnosed today…the question we ask, and answer, is why?

While genetics play a role, research increasingly points to environmental factors as key contributors. Dr. McCullough and Karen Thomas discuss several underlying causes and triggers, including:..

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/214

Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s both alarming and essential to understand because we are all affected by it. This is the presence of microplastics in the human body, including in newborns’ cord blood, and the potential health implications.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in size. They’ve been detected in various environments including our oceans, the air we breathe, the water we drink and even the food we eat. But the most concerning is their presence within our own bodies.

A recent study published in ‘Environmental International’ examined six human placentas from healthy pregnancies. Researchers found microplastic fragments in four of these placentas.

These particles likely entered the mothers’ bodies through ingestion or inhalation and subsequently reached the placenta. While all the babies were healthy at birth, the study’s lead author expressed concerns that these microplastics could potentially disrupt immune mechanisms in developing infants. 

Further research has detected microplastics in umbilical cord blood, indicating that these particles can cross the placental barrier and reach the fetus. This discovery is alarming, as it suggests that exposure begins even before birth. 

Animal studies have provided additional insights. For instance, pregnant mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed that these particles could cross the placental barrier, leading to brain abnormalities in their offspring.

This raises concerns about potential developmental issues in humans, though more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions, we know these are dangerous. 

The health implications of microplastics are still being studied, but evidence suggests they can cause inflammation, disrupt hormone function, and lead to other adverse effects. 

Hull York Medical School found that these microplastics cause cell death, allergies, and cell wall damage to human tissues.

Given their pervasive presence, it’s crucial to understand how they impact human health, especially during critical developmental periods like pregnancy.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/213

While soy has its place in the diets of many cultures, modern soy consumption, particularly in the West, may come with a host of concerns that are worth understanding. From genetic modification to hormonal disruption, let’s dive into why eating soy might not be as healthy as you’ve been led to believe.

When it comes to healthy eating, soy is often marketed as a superfood—a plant-based protein alternative that’s good for your body and the planet. But beneath this lies a more complicated truth.

One of the biggest issues with soy today is that the majority of crops are genetically modified (GM). In fact, around 90-95% of soybeans grown in the United States are genetically engineered.

These modifications are designed to make soy crops resistant to herbicides like glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. While this might seem like a win for agricultural efficiency, it has some troubling implications for your health and the environment.

Glyphosate exposure has been linked to a variety of health concerns, including endocrine disruption, cancer, and gut microbiome imbalances.

When you consume products made from genetically modified soy, you’re also potentially ingesting residual glyphosate. Over time, this can accumulate in your body, contributing to chronic health problems.

Additionally, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are often associated with monoculture farming practices, which deplete soil nutrients, harm biodiversity, and contribute to ecological imbalances.

By consuming genetically modified soy, you’re indirectly supporting an agricultural system that may be unsustainable in the long term...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/212

People ask if genetics are the cause of autism, and if it’s genetic, then it makes sense to them. They think that it couldn’t be recovered from. So let’s talk about genetics.

First, we all have genes, but genes are simply a blueprint. We’re basically born with it just like an architectural blueprint. This blueprint is actually given to us at conception before we were ever born.

So then this blueprint is affected by different things such as environmental toxins outside that mom is being exposed to while she’s pregnant. There are toxins in the air that she’s breathing, the food that she’s eating, the water, she’s drinking plastics in the air, and then there are pathogens.

There’s candida which can get overgrown. It’s a type of yeast bacteria. There is Lyme disease, parasites, and mold biotoxins. We can have exposure to all of this just from what mom is being exposed to or was exposed to even prior to our conception that’s in her body. These things damage the DNA (genes).

And what dad was exposed to that was in his sperm at conception as well. Studies are showing that the sperm can actually be already affected with toxins, and when we are conceived, this is allowing the mutation of some genes right from conception.

So this blueprint, this genetic blueprint that we have, is affected right from the moment of conception from what mom and dad have going on then from what is in the mom’s body while you’re in the womb, while the fetus is growing, those genes are being mutated.

Then after the child is born, then there are other external toxins. There are things that are also given in the breast milk from the mom transferred. There are things that are in the child’s air in the household that are chemicals in the water, in the food, the things that are surrounding us...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/211

What is the difference between a bad carb, that feeds candida and causes blood sugar imbalance, and the healthy ones?

When removing the inflammatory foods from the diet we are simultaneously taking away the sugars the candida and other pathogens use to thrive. As this happens we are likely to see some triggering symptoms such as heightened behaviors, worsened sleep, lethargy, headaches, and more. 

We need to remove the bad carbohydrates that feed candida so we can get it under control, but the brain also needs some glucose which is converted from carbs. Without any carbs our sleep and energy can be affected.

What is the difference between a bad carb, that has to go, and the healthy ones? Carbs are sometimes referred to as “simple” versus “complex” or “whole” versus “refined.”

Whole carbs are minimally processed and contain the fiber found naturally in the food, while refined carbs have been processed more and have had the natural fiber removed or changed. These refined, or processed carbohydrates turn to sugar in the body and cause blood sugar spikes that can lead to diabetes and weight gain, and their sugar also feeds candida and other pathogenic microbes in the gut. 

Parents commonly tell me that the bad foods are all their child will eat and they fear not getting any nutrition into the child if they stop eating these foods. The reality is that these processed carbohydrates also lack essential nutrients, as well as damage the gut from inflammation and other toxins, so the child is not only not getting nutrition but actually continuing to have their gut and overall health damaged. 

Some BAD, processed carbs with grains to AVOID that are also are high in carbohydrates include, but are not limited to:

gluten 

white bread

refined pasta

white rice

crackers

breakfast cereal

pizza dough

potato chips (and products made with potato starch and potatoes in general)

instant oatmeal (no oats in general)

corn

Additionally, be sure to avoid dairy, especially cow’s milk. It is highly inflammatory, and naturally high in sugar. For a list of the top 7 foods to avoid, and why, you can get my free food guide at autismcheatsheet.com.

Healthy carbs are whole food, minimally processed, and grain free. These are acceptable in moderate amounts even on a candida diet, but the key word here is moderation. 

We are removing the bad carbohydrates such as processed ones to help starve out the candida, however, if sleep becomes disrupted from a lower carbohydrate diet then add back in some healthy carbohydrates and give a protein/carb snack before bedtime such as sliced apple with almond butter.

To give your child’s brain some food with glucose to help sleep and to help a bit with calming, you can add some grain free, whole food carbohydrate foods into the diet such as:

• cassava (see tortilla recipe with cassava below), 
• amaranth, 
• buckwheat, 
• millet, 
• berries, (don’t over-do daily quantities)
• occasional zucchini and butternut squash...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/210

Recent studies from Harvard Medical School 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.

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

Cytokines signal the immune system to protect the body from threats like bacteria, allergens, toxins, and other harmful microbes and substances. In this case, they are pro-inflammatory, so they create inflammation as a defense mechanism for the body. 

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. 

Studies increasingly indicate a strong inflammatory state associated with ASD [11]. This inflammatory condition is often linked to immune system dysfunction [12]. Enhanced inflammatory activity in ASD children has been demonstrated through pro-inflammatory biomarkers analysis.

What is inflammation and how is it related to autism?

Inflammation is a natural response by the immune system to protect the body from any harmful stimuli. 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 healthy brain development during critical periods of growth in utero or early childhood. Inflammation can also exacerbate symptoms associated with autism, such as irritability and social withdrawal.

Children with autism often have chronic inflammation. This is not only a problem in the digestive system but also in the brain. Inflammation impairs brain cells and it can also kill them.

 If the brain cells are weakened, they are even less capable of fending off toxins or excreting them once they have entered the cell...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/209

We live in a world filled with electromagnetic field radiation from cell phones to wifi and satellites, so how can we protect ourselves in today’s world of high technology and convenience? This is what I share with you today. I’m always about offering you education and solutions to help protect your family and live a healthier life!

In order to help your child’s body recover from toxic insult, pathogens, inflammation, and more, we must simultaneously harmonize electromagnetic field radiation, otherwise healing will be limited. For reference, electromagnetic field radiation is also commonly referred to as EMF or EMR.

Children with autism may be on a program to increase their overall health as part of a recovery process, but EMF’s can sabotage your efforts unless you protect your child from them.

This podcast will cover many of the dangers to help you to truly understand the danger that EMF’s emit on us constantly. I also offer you the very best solution I have found for your protection from EMR.

I’d like to go over some studies for you because studies offer credibility and more in depth knowledge for you, but it is my hope that they also help you to take this seriously.

A few quick tips to peak your interest:

A 7 minute phone call triggers Epstein Barr virus in the body. See screenshot of study. 

Mold biotoxins are produced up to 600x more in the presence ofEMF’s. Mold mitigation starts with emf removal!! 

EMF’s lower testosterone levels

When a pregnant mom turns on her cell phone it gives a blast of EMF to the fetus that is measured to be amplified by 20 times more inside the womb than the area outside...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/208

The Center for Disease Control has determined that tooth decay is the #1 chronic childhood disease in America with children ages 2-5 being the most prevalent. 

Today I’m introducing the subject of preventing as many incidents of tooth decay as possible. This topic arises for two reasons: First, for years I have seen and heard about so many traumatic events caused by dental cavities and the difficulty of treating autism spectrum patients; and second because I know that oral health is an important component of overall general health.

In over 18 years of working with autism, hundreds of parents have told me about their children’s dental issues, and many resulted in multiple extractions at a very young age.

I’ve partnered with a highly skilled pediatric dentist, Dr. Steve Branam, for this podcast to help expand outreach regarding the importance of increasing education about oral health.

Dr. Branam is a champion of reducing tooth decay in families through the use of Xylitol toothpaste. He has been in practice for 50 years, conducted over 500,000 patient treatment sessions, and interviewed the parents of thousands of new patients. 

He also performs surgery on many special needs children and is intimately familiar with the problems of controlling and treating tooth decay in children on the autism spectrum and their families. His backlog of surgical patients is growing, and the growing demand for intensive treatment of autism spectrum children is a national phenomenon...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/207

Have you ever been told that your child cannot recover from autism? Yeah, me too. Yet today, my son is no longer diagnosable with the symptoms of autism he once had.

Sometimes, instead of getting excited when they hear this, a parent will get defensive, as though someone is trying to change ‘who’ their child is. Autism is not a ‘who’. It’s a ‘what’.

The correct term is “Autism Spectrum Disorder” (ASD). It refers to a range of neurodevelopmental conditions collectively characterized by similar traits, like challenges with social skills, communication, and repetitive behaviors. 

Autism is defined as the autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, because the symptoms range in severity.

If you are new to all of this or reading about autism for a friend or loved one, let’s begin with the basics. Generally, the symptoms of autism refer to a difficulty processing emotions and a heightened sensitivity to external stimuli.

No two people with autism have the same exact symptoms. It’s an extended spectrum with one end being those who are higher functioning and the other being very low functioning. The meaning behind “functioning” depends on their ability to navigate life. 

Some symptoms simply make life more challenging.

You may have also heard the term “Aspergers Syndrome.” This term was first described in 1944 by Austrian physician Hans Asperger.  In 2013, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) removed the term Aspergers and placed this diagnosis under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorders...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/206

Keep track of the lunar cycle each month and observe whether your child’s symptoms, or your own, intensify in the days leading up to and following the full moon. [This is podcast episode #205].

The full moon has long been associated with a range of mysterious phenomena, from sleep disturbances to heightened emotions. But one of the more intriguing aspects is that full moons can increase parasite activity in humans. Is there any truth to this claim, or is it just another lunar myth? 

Let’s explore how the moon’s phases, particularly the full moon, might impact the behavior of parasites and what science has to say about it.

Common ways we get parasites are from inhaling them from the air we breathe, in the food we eat, drinking water, swimming or bathing in contaminated water, and through our skin. Lesions in the skin, especially on the feet, allow for easy entrance into the body. Animals carry different parasites that they may pass onto humans. Plus, poor hygiene also plays a big role.

Parasites are organisms that live off a host, relying on them for nutrients and shelter. Human parasites include a range of organisms such as protozoa (like Giardia), helminths (such as tapeworms and roundworms), and external parasites like lice.

Their lifecycle often depends on factors such as environmental changes, the host’s immune system, and how many have noticed, even the lunar cycle.

While parasite infestations can go unnoticed for some time, they can lead to significant health issues, including gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, and weakened immune responses. Understanding how these organisms behave is crucial to preventing and managing infections.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/205

The birth of a baby is a miraculous moment, yet recent research has shed light on a startling concern—more than 300 chemicals have been detected in babies’ cord blood and placenta at birth. This discovery highlights the fact that exposure to harmful chemicals begins much earlier than we previously thought.

From conception through pregnancy, toxins can pass from the mother to the fetus, raising concerns about their potential long-term effects on child development and health.

This episode will delve into the sources of these chemicals, their potential effects on babies, and how you can reduce exposure during pregnancy.

Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells which help to regulate the immune system. Their responses shown in blood screening can be indicators of underlying coinfections of autism such as Lyme, mold, and strep.

These infections are often undetected in many traditional blood tests, but it can also contain toxic chemicals and environmental pollutants.

Studies, including the Environmental Working Group (EWG) investigation, have found traces of heavy metals, flame retardants, pesticides, and industrial compounds in the umbilical cord blood of newborns.

– Lead: A potent neurotoxin linked to developmental delays and cognitive issues.

– Mercury: Found in fish and industrial pollutants, it can affect brain development.

– Bisphenol A (BPA): Used in plastics, BPA has been associated with hormone disruption.

– Phthalates: Common in plastics and personal care products, they can disrupt the endocrine system.

– Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs): Used in flame retardants, these chemicals can harm brain and thyroid development.

The fact that these chemicals are present in cord blood is alarming because it indicates that a fetus is exposed to these substances during critical periods of development...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/204

This episode is designed to resonate with parents by addressing common barriers to action, such as fear, confusion, and overwhelm, while also offering solutions that empower them to take action for their child’s recovery.

As a parent of a child with autism, you’re no stranger to the challenges of daily routines, therapy sessions, and creating an environment where your child can thrive.

However, even with the best intentions, procrastination can creep in, especially when implementing critical steps toward your child’s recovery.

Today, we’ll explore why parents may delay taking action, how overwhelm can lead to procrastination and affect progress, and, most importantly, how to overcome it to ensure the best outcomes for your child.

Why Do Parents Procrastinate in Implementing Recovery Steps?

Raising a child with autism often feels overwhelming, and for parents, it’s common to experience moments of doubt, fear, or exhaustion. Here are some key reasons why procrastination may happen:

1. Fear of Failure: The fear of not doing enough, or not doing things “right,” can be paralyzing. Parents may delay starting a new therapy or intervention because they worry about whether it will work.

2. Lack of Time or Energy: Managing a household, work, and other responsibilities can drain your energy. The extra tasks associated with autism recovery, such as therapy appointments, dietary adjustments, or implementing behavioral strategies, may feel daunting.

3. Uncertainty or Confusion: With so much conflicting information online, it can be hard to know which steps to take first. When parents feel unsure about which approach is best for their child, it’s easy to delay making a decision.

4. Emotional Overwhelm: After an Autism diagnosis, it’s common for parents to experience a range of emotions, including sadness, frustration, or anxiety. These emotions can sometimes make it difficult to take action, even when you know what needs to be done.

How Procrastination Affects Your Child’s Progress

Procrastination can have a significant impact on your child’s progress. Early intervention is crucial for children with autism. The earlier you implement strategies, and educational plans, the better the long-term outcomes for your child. Delaying important steps could slow down your child’s development and create additional challenges in the future.

In addition, procrastination can lead to stress and guilt for parents, which may further delay action. It becomes a vicious cycle—feeling overwhelmed, avoiding tasks, then feeling even more overwhelmed by the mounting to-do list...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/203

Statistics show the rate of autism recovery is significantly higher with a parent’s intervention.

As a parent of a child with autism, navigating the journey can be overwhelming. From understanding the diagnosis to exploring various treatments, the path can seem unclear and daunting.

However, by taking control of your child’s biomedical path, you can make informed decisions that lead to meaningful improvements in their health and quality of life. This episode provides guidance on how to empower yourself with knowledge, create a roadmap, and take charge of your child’s biomedical journey.

Understanding Biomedical Interventions for Autism

Biomedical interventions focus on addressing the underlying biological issues that may contribute to the symptoms of autism. These interventions can include dietary changes, supplements, detoxification protocols, and addressing gut health.

The goal is to improve overall health, which can, in turn, reduce symptoms and enhance your child’s development...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/202

We’re told a child cannot recover from autism, Right? Wrong!

When parents first receive an autism diagnosis for our child, we often hear statements like, “Your child will never fully recover,” or “Your child will never speak,” or “There’s no cure for autism.”

While for some an autism diagnosis will remain along with some of their symptoms, We also know that these statements are not true. Children all over the world are recovering from their symptoms of autism in all levels of recovery.

My own son is fully recovered from his symptoms, even when I was told it wasn’t possible. I’ve helped parents worldwide get results for their kids too.

One mom I helped said she was told that her son would “NEVER” speak, but today she says he is speaking ‘endlessly’.

Many parents hold onto the belief that their children can make significant strides in their development, often achieving levels of independence and success that defy early expectations. If you’re one of those parents, then this podcast is for you. You refuse to accept limitations and believe in your child’s potential for recovery.

One of the most dangerous things you can do is allow yourself to be alone on this journey. It is hard and sometimes even scary.

You don’t have to do this alone. It is so important to have a support system and a community of like-minded parents who “get it”! They’re living it too and know what it’s like. It makes all the difference.

The concept of “recovery” in autism is complex and varies from child to child. For some, recovery might mean gaining the ability to communicate effectively or perform daily tasks independently. For others, it might mean overcoming sensory sensitivities or developing social relationships.

Recovery does not necessarily imply the complete elimination of autism traits but rather a significant improvement in the quality of life and functional abilities. Kevin is one of these stories.

Three years ago Kevin was thirteen years old but still biting and kicking kids at school in fear and anxiousness that was debilitation for him, and others. Now, just three years later, with my help, Kevin is now calm, happy, and the leader in his summer youth camp. His mom, Mary, shared Kevin’s story of transformation in podcast episode #182. Please listen to it for your own inspiration...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/201

What is low vagal tone and why have studies linked it to people with autism spectrum disorders? Learn 5 ways you can easily stimulate the vagus nerve at home, and how it can help both you and your child to improve Digestion, Calming, and Overall Better Health.

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body branching out from the brain to different areas of the body. It  not only regulates gut physiology, but is also involved in controlling the cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, digestive, and endocrine systems. It has a tremendous connection with our ability to stay calm. This is because the vagus nerve is intimately connected with the parasympathetic nervous system. Children with autism commonly display symptoms of vagus nerve dysregulation. 

Resetting the vagus nerve can help to create what is called vagal calm in the body. The vagus nerve is important to address at the beginning of any detoxification protocol since detoxifying is an additional stressor. The vagus nerve may need to be reset to optimize the autonomous nervous system to eliminate inappropriate fear responses, whether fight or flight, or an immobility shutdown response. This is commonly seen in symptoms such as heart arrhythmias.

Neurodegeneration of the vagus nerve comes from intestinal disorders, environmental toxic exposure, coinfections, inflammation, or any physical or emotional trauma that cause continual stress on the body. The vagus nerve can get stuck in the fight or flight response and create anxiety-like behaviors, as well as depressive ones. It also has to do with our ability to connect to others. This will be discussed a bit later...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/200

Overcoming Confusion and Misinformation in Meeting the Needs of Children on the Spectrum

While I’m used to guiding health-minded audiences deep down the Rabbit-Hole of water topics, today’s discussion with Karen will be light on science and heavy on practicality. It aims to explain the challenging path for families who are intent on providing the safest and healthiest water for children on the Autism Spectrum and other Special Needs.

Choosing water for consumption (drinking, beverages and food preparation) and water for bathing water for your family is daunting task because of the minefield of misinformation and hype that is associated with suppliers of water treatment for consumers. You cannot trust the Internet, your local water dealer, big-box stores or persuasive TV promotions. It is unconscionable and embarrassing to me – someone who spent the past 50+ years in the water industry that it has has not kept up with the current state of water contaminants AND the growing assaults on the declining state of health of humanity. Based on decades of observing homeowner’s selection of water treatment technology, I conclude that more than 80-90% purchase and install inadequate systems for their and their children’s health needs.

Introduction

The human body is 50% to over 90% water by weight depending on the stage of life. Not too long ago it was revealed that if we were to segregate all the types of molecules that make up the body, H2O would amount to 99% of them!

An adult body contains roughly 40 liters of functional water derived from more than a billion years of evolution in the sea. No other single factor had such a profound influence on the animal kingdom’s biological design and function.

There are two primary compartments in the body: The Extracellular fluid (ECF) and the Intracellular Fluid.

So, our 50+ trillion cells are floating in the Extracellular fluid (the Terrain) and contained within them is the Intracellular fluid where all the action is. It is the biochemical quality of the Terrain that governs overall health. Virtually all the great physiologists over the past 2 centuries agree one central concept – “The Terrain Is Everything”

Understanding healthy hydration and how to maintain it

Maintaining proper hydration is not only about consuming enough water. In fact, consuming an excessive amount of water can interfere with optimal hydration. Many factors can jeopardize the body’s ability to maintain healthy hydration (illness, diarrhea, excessive work or exercise in hot climates, an imbalance in the quantity and variety of electrolytes).

Key indicators of dehydration are varied and can include

• Lightheadedness or dizzy feeling
• Dry mouth and tongue and cracked lips
• Less frequent need to urinate
• Muscle cramps
• Thirst
• Frequent headaches
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Urine has a darker color
• Eyes more sunken than usual

The key physiological measure in achieving proper hydration is having sufficient water inside our cells – referred to as intracellular water.

Sufficient pure water with the proper quantity and mix of electrolytes is key to achieving optimal hydration. A very rough daily guideline for those in good health is to consume – as water or sugar-free beverages (e.g. coffee, tea, vegetable juices, etc.)...

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What’s easier to follow and get results faster, a zig zag or a straight line? Of course, it’s a straight line. 

In our autism recovery journeys, we parents often zig zag around looking for answers from various practitioners and therapists, internet searches, and purchasing random supplements we’ve heard about, but don’t know how to use properly.

Detoxification, while essential for health and recovery, can be challenging. Here are strategies to stabilize during this process for a smoother journey and better outcomes in autism recovery.

After a decade of research and a lot of implementation to find what worked, today my son’s symptoms of autism are gone. This is after the so-called ‘experts’ told me it wasn’t possible.

Having a guide that has personally lived through it with success is important too.

There are very unique issues and sensitivities involved in autism recovery. We cannot assume that every professional knows what to do. In fact, on my own autism journey with my son I found doctors didn’t really know what to do so I began researching on my own...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/198

Karen Thomas of Naturally Recovering Autism interviews Zen Honeycutt from Moms Across America on Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury Found in Baby Formula.

Catalyzed by the FDA’s failure to regulate heavy metals in baby formula, a coalition of consumer advocacy groups commissions testing of 20 different brands. Groups urge the FDA and legislators to protect infants from toxic exposure.

Severe health risks posed by these toxic metals include developmental delays, cancer, kidney damage, and neurocognitive difficulties.

A coalition of consumer advocacy groups, including Moms Across America, GMOScience, and The New MDS, has uncovered alarming levels of toxic metals in baby formula. Testing of 20 popular brands revealed that 100% of samples contained aluminum and lead, with over half also testing positive for arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. Disturbingly, six formulas contained all five metals in both samples.

Notably, aluminum levels in one goat’s milk formula were up to 40,000 times higher than other metals tested, far exceeding FDA safety limits. Mercury and cadmium levels in several samples also surpassed allowable limits in drinking water.

Despite the FDA’s “Closer to Zero” initiative launched in 2021, no substantial regulatory limits have been set, leaving babies vulnerable. Recent efforts, including the Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which was announced by Congress on May 9, one week after the heads of Moms Across America and GMOScience met with lawmakers and the FDA in D.C. to deliver the results of the baby formula testing, aim to give the FDA authority to regulate and enforce limits on levels of heavy metals found in baby food and potentially formula.

Alarming rates of toxic metals when testing 20 different baby formula brands.

• • 100% of the 40 samples tested contained aluminum and lead.
  • 57% of the samples tested positive for arsenic, 55% for mercury, and 35% for cadmium.
  • Six of the 20 formulas were positive for all five toxic metals in both samples.
  • At 41,000 ppb, aluminum levels in a goat’s milk baby formula were 4000 – 40,000x higher than other metals in the formulas tested and exceed limits set by the FDA for maximum safety level of aluminum for a preemie.
  • Levels of mercury in four samples measured above the limit allowed by the FDA in drinking water.
  • Levels of cadmium in both samples of one formula were nearly twice the level allowed in drinking water.
  • The is heightened vulnerability of infants due to their small bodies and rapid cellular growth...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/197

It’s common in children, and adults, with autism to have speech issues. This can be a difficulty speaking clearly all the way to completely non-verbal, at any age.

Many symptoms come from various toxins, pathogens and coinfections. We begin with healing the gut and diet, but there is so much more involved. In my last podcast episode We discussed the toxicity of aluminum. In studies it has been noted that speech is one of the symptoms associated with speech issues of all kinds.

It’s never just one thing. Speech is helped by all of it, but for best results the complete A-Z approach must be done. As underlying common symptoms of speech issues with autism I find there are three issues that are an absolute must to be covered properly for best results.

Speech issues are caused by many things, but the top three I’ve found in my research and experience are:

1. Aluminum 
2. Viruses 
3. PANS 

How Do We Get Aluminum Exposure?

Aluminum is prevalent in our society in the air, soil/food, water, cookware, and in the health care products most people use daily such as deodorants, fragrances, lotions, make-up, and so much more. It is contained in antacids, over the counter supplements, and medications.

Almost 75% of all adjuvant-based medical treatments include aluminum salts. 

Aluminum Poisoning with Emphasis on Its Mechanism and Treatment of Intoxication See Study here.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/196

Aluminum is prevalent in our society in the air, soil/food, water, cookware, and in the health care products most people use daily such as deodorants, fragrances, lotions, make-up, and so much more.

It is contained in antacids, over the counter supplements, and medications. Aluminum-based adjuvants are also used in the immunotherapy of allergic conditions. Almost 75% of all adjuvant-based treatments include aluminum salts.

Aluminum Poisoning with Emphasis on Its Mechanism and Treatment of Intoxication See Study here.

Mehrdad Rafati Rahimzadeh, 1 Mehravar Rafati Rahimzadeh, 2 Sohrab Kazemi, 3 Roghayeh Jafarian Amiri, 1 Marzieh Pirzadeh, 4 and Ali Akbar Moghadamnia 5

Aluminum, a corrosion-resistant metal, has light weight and density, high electrical and thermal conductivity, and high ductility and is easily deformable.

For this reason, it is used in aerospace industries, transportation industries, packaging and food industries, building and construction, electrical industries, a wide range of home household and appliances, machinery and equipment, and monetary currency like aluminum coins...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/195

Nanti’s son was diagnosed with autism at twenty-eight months. For almost a decade, she searched for answers to help give him a future with more independence,  peacefulness, and a better way of life.

After trying various practitioners, one after the other, that did not give her any real help or hope for his future, she persevered to find the education, guidance, and support she needed and found it at Naturally Recovering Autism.

Today, due to her efforts, Nanti’s eleven year old son has greater independence, is now calm and happy, sleeps through the night, can speak, write, ride a bike, has friends, and the whole family has more peace. She says he is FINALLY on the road to recovery...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/194

Diet does matter! The food we eat causes chemical reactions to take place in the body. These reactions can be healthy ones such as strong bones and immunity, or they can be unhealthy reactions such as an underlying cause for aggression and even violent behaviors, sleep disorders, hormonal disruption, gut dysbiosis, weak immunity, inability to focus, fatigue, anxiety, and much more.

Please listen as Karen Thomas interviews Founding Executive Director of Moms Across America, Zen Honeycutt , to discuss important environmental factors relating to the food you eat and the connection to a variety of health issues. Learn what you need to know to keep your family healthy.

• Current US policy regarding regulations of heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides in our food
• Latest test results of popular children’s cereal
• The FDA banned Red Dye No.3 in cosmetics in 1990 based on scientific evidence of its carcinogenic risks, yet the agency has never moved to ban it from our food. In October of last year, California became the first state to ban Red dye No.3 with the passage of AB418. Seven other states have followed suit and passed similar bills so far in 2024.
• What consumers can do to avoid toxic-laden food
• What consumers can do to help change policy to ensure better regulations of pesticides and heavy metals in the food supply, especially ultra-processed foods
• What farmers can do to ensure a clean food supply...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/193

A time comes in your life when you know that in order to make changes in your life you have to do something differently.

When my son had debilitating symptoms of autism that no one knew how to help me with I realized it was up to me to make a change happen for him. After that last trip to the Emergency Room it was the fuel for my fire to learn on my own.

Do you have this fire burning inside of you? If you want to know how to help your child with autism to live a happier, healthier and more productive life to their full potential then please join me for my free live virtual event, the  Autism Recovery Action Plan. Registration is now open. Register here now!

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/192

Candida is very tricky to work with so you need to know many of the contributing factors and why it is so hard to get rid of. It’s never just one thing, and prsistency is key.

Candida requires sugar as food. This can come in the source of any chemical that ends in “ose” such as glucose, fructose, or sucrose. Carbohydrates such as bread and pasta are also converted by the body into sugars that act as another food source for the yeast. When glucose (from sugars and carbohydrates) is digested by Candida, it creates the alcoholic chemical ethanol and its extremely toxic byproduct, acetaldehyde.

Candida and this alcohol, acetaldehyde, are transferred via the placenta to the developing fetus and are capable of doing harm during development. After birth, the baby continues to receive alcohol through the mother’s breast milk.

Alcohol can cause malnutrition by preventing the body from digesting proteins. Many liquid herbal tinctures contain alcohol. Be sure supplements are alcohol free.

Associated problems from alcohol:

• Aggressive and violent behavior. Alcohol causes damage to areas of the brain that can increase aggressive behavior to violent behavior.
• Anxiety
• Lethargy
• Impaired coordination, speech, and memory loss.
• Liver damage causing a lowered ability of the body’s detoxification processes.
• Damage to the intestinal lining reducing the ability for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients.
• Inability of the hormones released by the thyroid to become activated. NOTE: The thyroid may produce an acceptable lab test because it is releasing the proper hormones. The problem is that, once released, the hormones cannot do their jobs due to acetaldehyde inhibiting the working sites needed by those hormones.
• Malabsorption and malnutrition due to inhibition of pancreatic enzymes and reduced ability for the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/191

Children on the autism spectrum usually have both candida and heavy metal toxicity. The essential candida diet where we starve out the bad bacteria by removing the bad processed carbohydrates and excess sugars that they thrive on ensures a better outcome.

However, it is lesser know that mercury will slow down the removal of candida. Mercury inhibits the body’s natural ability to fight off excess candida so it is imperative to not only do a proactive diet and candida protocol, but this must include heavy metal detoxification.

Mercury is candida’s friend. It’s likely that one reason why candida can be so challenging to get rid of is because there is still mercury in the system. I have found that if we get rid of the mercury, candida seems to go away more easily, but first we must heal and strengthen the gut. The toxins released from heavy metals and fungus lower the body’s ability to turn the food we eat into energy.

With conventional sulfur containing heavy metal chelating methods, such as DMSA, one must exercise caution to be sure the liver is supported first and the gut has more balance prior. Sulfur may likely disturb the already weak GI tract. These drugs also deplete the body further of important minerals and allow for reabsorption of the toxins while it’s being excreted.

Mercury is known to inhibit the human body’s ability to kill Candida. It does this by preventing a type of white blood cell called neutrophils from killing the Candida fungus. These cells normally destroy microorganisms and foreign matter in the blood.

Some common sources of mercury come from our environment. The air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink all contain heavy metals. Be sure you have a high quality water filter like the one here.

Additionally, mercury amalgam dental fillings are a strong source of toxicity and the amalgams a mother has during pregnancy leak mercury into her system which is passed in utero to the growing fetus so the child can be born with mercury toxicity...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/190

Children on the autism spectrum almost always have an overgrowth of candida in their gut. In fact, scientists estimate that 70% of all people have an overgrowth of candida. In our intestinal system we have what are known as “good” bacteria. They work hard to keep our gut lining and our immune system in good health to fight off infection and disease. Candida, also known as yeast or fungi, is some of the normal bacteria we all carry in our gut. The problem arises when Candida’s numbers grow too high and get out of control. When the bad bacteria grow to a higher count than the good bacteria we have what is known as an overgrowth. This is often referred to as a yeast infection or Candida albicans.

These bacteria have a delicate balancing system. This balance can easily be thrown off by such things as physical injury, poor diet, toxins, emotional stress and the use of antibiotics. Fungus, and yeast, such as Candida albicans in the gut, can easily be inhaled through oral secretions and affect our respiratory pathways and lungs. Fungus in the body is unknowingly tied to many allergies and can also mimic symptoms of a heart attack...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/189

Parents wonder, “If my child with autism is on a gluten free and casein free diet then how will they get enough calcium?”

No dairy!!! Why not? A few reasons are that it’s Inflammatory, has a naturally high sugar content, and it creates opiates just like gluten does.  Yes, just like opiate drugs, so your child may be addicted to them. Then you may ask, “How do I get calcium into my child’s body?”

Minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium aid in eliminating acids from the body. An acidic body is one with toxicity, infections, and disease.

If there is not an adequate supply of calcium absorbed from food or supplements, the body will recruit from its own resources, such as retrieving calcium from teeth and bones and magnesium from muscle. This leads to deficiencies in those areas and greater problems can result.

I do not advocate supplementing with calcium either since excess cellular calcium can trigger many destructive processes in the brain, especially when there is lead toxicity. There are many good nutritional sources to get calcium from food. Such as broccoli, kale, almonds, salmon and sardines.

It’s estimated that up to 80% of people are deficient in this mineral.   It can become depleted by many things including lipid peroxidation which largely affects organs that are made of fat.

The brain contains 60% fats; therefore it is highly susceptible to the damage that can be done by lipid peroxidation and to toxins from lipid-soluble substances such as pesticides and mercury...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/188

People are told by well-meaning traditional medical practitioners that if ferritin (iron) is low, then they should take iron supplements – what could be the problem with this?

Beware of low iron in children. It is important in brain development. There may be many causes to their fatigue, lack of ability to focus, or ADHD, and low iron may be one of them. Our children often have heavy metals in their bodies and levels of lead may also be elevated if there is a deficiency in iron.

Proper enzymatic activity is critical and iron also helps assist the many functions associated with it. These enzymes are necessary for proper functioning of iron and are often not working properly due to the presence of aluminum in the body.

On the other hand, we do not want excess iron in the body because it can cause oxidation and inflammation. Yeast and intestinal bacteria can use excess iron to their advantage, and it can be overall immunosuppressive. Iron can help strengthen pathogenic (bad) bacteria in the gut. 

Too much iron in the body can increase the damage from excitotoxicity due to glutamate. If your child has weak liver or kidneys, check with your healthcare practitioner regarding his iron levels as too much can be dangerous for him. Diabetics should also be very cautious with excessive iron. 

Studies show excessive iron can cause increased susceptibility to infection, immune abnormalities, inflammation of the stomach lining, and ulcers. 

Taking iron in supplement form as excess iron can promote viruses to grow-it is best to get it from food sources.

It is common for those with imbalanced gut flora to be anemic. Anemia is when there are a lowered number of red blood cells in the body. Our kids often look pasty white and can be lethargic and weak most of the time. One likely culprit is the lack of iron, but it takes much more than iron to balance anemia. Healthy blood needs almost all of the B vitamins, vitamin C, A and D, amino acids, along with multiple minerals, including magnesium, manganese, iodine, copper and zinc...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/187

There are many types of viruses and they can cause many different health related neuro-developmental issues. In this podcast we will discuss many of these that relate to common symptoms of autism including speech, autoimmunity, cognition and our ability to think.

Many viruses can adversely affect the immune system, either by suppressing its function, or causing it to mistakenly attack the cells and tissues of the host body. This is called autoimmunity. We must not overlook the harmful effects of overstimulating the immune system. The brain’s immune system contains protective cells called microglia. These cells regulate brain development, maintenance of neuronal networks, and injury repair. Viruses can be active in the body for years and be a continuing over activity of the immune system.

When stimulated by a foreign substance the microglia secrete chemicals, including glutamate, preparing for an immune attack. This can get triggered in a sort of “on” position and stay activated spreading these chemicals and leading to an autoimmune issue. Multiple systems and organs of the body can be damaged. For example, the cells of the liver are highly susceptible, as well as the respiratory system. I’d also like to mention that glutamate can trigger seizures, so the viral component needs to be observed as a factor in them.

The immune system plays a vital role in brain development and a weak immune system can impact brain function, especially cognition and our ability to think. Inflammation is a strong factor here. We are always working to reduce inflammation to regain health...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/186

JAMA Pediatrics Study: October 2023 released a study, Persistence of Autism Spectrum Disorder From Early Childhood Through School Age.

Findings  Of the 213 children in this cohort study, 79 (37%) had non-persistent ASD. Higher baseline adaptive functioning and female sex were associated with non-persistent ASD.

Oct. 11, 2023 – According to a new study from Boston Children’s Hospital researchers found that more than a third of toddlers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder outgrew the disorder by the time they were about 6 years old. The findings were published this month in JAMA Pediatrics.

ASHA Wire noted that some children with autism may LOSE their diagnosis as children.

“Diagnoses can evolve as a child develops,” says Elizabeth Harstad, a developmental medicine physician, who led the study. “Our research shows how important it is that we monitor kids over time, because some children may really have changes in their social communication and behavioral function. This underscores the need for continuous assessments and adaptable intervention strategies.”

The study found no meaningful association between the intensity of a child’s interventions and their chance of keeping their autism diagnosis, indicating the need for more research to understand the role that intervention may have in children who outgrow their diagnosis...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/185

Studies show that martial arts can be an effective way to build motor control through the repetition of movement in people on the autism spectrum. This helps both the motor and planning areas of the brain. It is also offers a great form of exercise in a group setting where socialization can be increased, while still allowing the individual to move at his or her own pace. Martial Arts is a great way to keep them physically active and engaged. This improves overall physical and emotional well-being.

Al Loren has taught over 300,000 martial arts classes in 27 years. Al instructs kids, teens, adults, and seniors in multiple forms of martial arts including Karate, Aikido, T’ai Chi.  Al was the 1986 National champion in Karate. He teaches in Marin County and San Francisco. He has had great success working with children to adulthood who are on the autism spectrum and finds that it increases balance and coordination, motor skills, muscle strength, gives confidence and offers self defense.

Al Loren’s success comes from being compassionate and understanding the sensitivity necessary for each unique individual. Know that each accomplishment, however small, is a big deal. Building self esteem and trust through connection is key.

Please join me for my podcast interview #53 with Al Loren, an expert in martial arts who specializes in working with children on the autism spectrum and those with other special needs.

In my podcast #184 interview with Al Loren, we discuss the benefits of martial arts and his success methods for working with children and adults on the autism spectrum  which are found in his new book, Martial Arts on the Autism Spectrum...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/184

Trusts and wills for children with special needs are essential to have in place now, so their future is well prepared in advance. We need to be sure our children with special needs are cared for with or without us when we are either incapable, or no longer here.

In this podcast episode I interview attorney, Blake Baxter, on the subject of trusts and estate planning for children and adults with special needs.

Some of the questions we address in making sure the trust is set up correctly to protect your family are:

1. Who do you talk to about setting up a trust?
2. What kind of trust to have?
3. Who will be the be the beneficiary, the executor, or have power of attorney?
4. Who oversees the trust and handles the investments and accounts?
5. What if I’m still alive but no longer capable of making decisions for my child or their care?
6. Do I still need a Will if I have a trust set up?
7. Who are special needs attorneys who set up estate planning and how do I find a reputable one I can trust near me?

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/183

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...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/182

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.

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...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/181

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.

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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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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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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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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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.

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.

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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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.

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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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.

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.

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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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 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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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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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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I know, first hand, what it’s like to be a parent of a child with autism inside the whirlwind of confusion of not knowing if a food or supplement is right for your child, or how much to give to them in dosages. All people are unique too, so everyone’s needs will be different, especially a sensitive child with autism. I also know how it is to feel desperate for the right answers and support.  I’m grateful to have gone before you on this journey and to now be able to offer you the resources you need to help clarify so much of this. It is why I created this podcast and the programs I offer parents.

The first person to look to for help is yourself. You know your child best and you are his or her best advocate. No one else, not even a doctor, is with your child seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Others do not see the changes that you do. Do not be afraid to take charge. One of the first tools to learn is muscle test response or muscle testing. 

I was first introduced to muscle testing in 1987 when I began working as a chiropractor’s back office assistant. She was an Applied Kinesiology (AK) doctor. AK doctors are licensed healthcare professionals who use this technique in their practices to link weak organs and nutrition deficits in patients. I worked in that office with her for ten years. The accuracy and efficacy have no question in my mind.

The prevalence of muscle testing has grown tremendously since the early 1960’s when it was introduced by Dr. George Goodheart, a well-known Applied Kinesiologist (AK). Originally, muscle testing was referred to as Applied Kinesiology...

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To calm anxiousness we basically want to calm the nervous system. There are many tools and resources available to help with this task.

Exercise releases serotonin in our brain so it can actually improve our mood. It’s also healthy for us to move, getting oxygen into our blood and brain, strengthening our muscles and bones, and flushing toxins out of our system. Aerobic exercise like running or biking are great but simply going for a short walk can help a lot.

Using our muscles is one way to calm. Lifting a heavy object actually has a calming effect on the system. Ask your child to carry a fairly heavy object, within his

capabilities, like a box with some papers or books in it out to the garage for you. One of the best tools we have found for calming is the door jam bar. Easily installed in any doorway this indoor support bar is strong enough to do pull ups on and has an attachment so you can add a swing or trapeze bar to it. This is especially helpful on rainy days.

There are many door jam bars available, but not all are safe. The bar our occupational therapist told us about that we have had great success with and has a good reputation for being safe is sold by Playaway Toy Company Incorporated. Properly installed the weight limit is 175 pounds. For more information see www.playawaytoy.com or call (715)752-4565...

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Autism has many contributors, but there are specific ones among them that most people use daily. These toxins affect the neurological systems of fetuses and children at an even greater rate than they do adults.

Our families are the most important thing in the world to us. We must educate ourselves in order to protect them. There are many environmental toxins that we live in and around. Studies are coming out regarding their safety, or lack thereof, but most people are either unaware of the dangers or disregard the warnings rather than give up convenience.

Toxins are cumulative. Yes, small amounts over time build up and cause disease. Precautions can be made to detoxify the body or prevent them in the first place. Due to the nature of biology, each of us can tolerate different loads of toxins. These factors include our body’s ability to detoxify, the health of DNA, repair enzymes, amounts or toxins absorbed, the strength of cellular enzymes, age, genetic inheritance, possible pre-existing diseases, the number of toxins we are exposed to at different or concurring times, and the overall strength of the immune system.

The list of the top ten chemicals in consumer products that are suspected to contribute to autism developed by The Children’s Environmental Health Center are:

-lead -methylmercury -polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB’s) -organophosphate pesticides -organochlorine pesticides -endocrine disruptors -automotive exhaust -polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -brominated flame retardants -perfluorinated compounds...

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Lyme disease is on the rise. One in every four children on the autism spectrum tests positive for Lyme disease. It is the fastest growing vector-borne infection with 300,000 new cases per year. This number is said to likely be an underestimate. It continues to be under-diagnosed due to the Center for Disease Control’s inadequate established bands or markers used for detection in blood tests.

Lyme disease is usually contracted through a tick bite. Some of these ticks can be as small as a poppy seed and go unnoticed. Lyme can be passed in utero from a mother to her child, as well as in breast milk. Lyme can also be passed from mosquitoes, sand fleas, head lice and other insects. 

• Attention deficit disorder (ADD)
• Learning difficulties
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Depression
• Anger/rage...

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In our last podcast episode #165, we discussed adrenal fatigue. When the adrenals are taxed then the thyroid is directly affected. 

Low levels of iodine, and other nutritional deficiencies, as well as certain drugs can cause the conversion of T4 (thyroxin), the lesser active thyroid hormone, into T3 (triiodothyronine), the necessary active form, to become blocked. T3 is about three times more potent than T4. Clinical symptoms, the entire endocrine system, and nutrition all need to be evaluated. It is possible to have a subclinical condition, which is difficult to detect.

Nutrient deficiencies, medications, including birth control pills, and diet all play a role in an inability for thyroid hormones to convert to their active states. Pesticides, fluoride, mercury, and lead are among the strong factors. Certain foods can be contributing factors to the alteration of T4, to T3 conversion. Soy is a food that is associated with blocking this conversion and reduces the ability of the thyroid to function. The artificial sweeteners sucralose (Splenda) and aspartame also create weaknesses in organs such as the liver that diminish nutrients needed by the thyroid.

Internal stressors, such as inflammation, also contribute to thyroid disorders. If the adrenal glands are imbalanced, there may be an imbalance in Cortisol levels. T3 only gets into the cells if there’s enough Cortisol. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, can cause symptoms such as nervousness, anxiety, rapid heart rate, sweating, fatigue, heat intolerance, hyperactivity, increased appetite, eye disorders, tremors, and weight loss. For this reason, the high quality lab Diagnos-Techs includes Gliadin testing (a derivative of gluten), in the saliva/adrenal test. Most natural practitioners carry these take-home tests in their offices...

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Stress can lead to weakened adrenal glands which leads to excessive fatigue. This can also mean trouble thinking clearly or being able to focus. Starting a new school year has multiple stressors involved, but especially so for those on the autism spectrum.

It is more than common for kids on the autism spectrum to have elevated adrenal hormones, otherwise known as cortisol, due to the internal stress from inflammation that their toxic overload, coinfections, and pathogens have on the multiple systems of the body. There is also a lot of outside stress from sensory overload, not being able to do what they want to do, lack of speech, poor sleep, etc. There’s a lot of frustration that is stressful for them, and for you as a parent too. It’s never just one thing that causes a symptom, so it is important to work with all of these triggers from A-Z. This will all help the adrenals but we can support them further as we work with the underlying causes.

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As I write this I want to be sure you know it’s never just one thing, but a combination of them that triggers anything, including seizures. Autism is a complicated diagnosis with many underlying biological issues that need to be addressed properly so the body can strengthen on its own. We don’t want to mask symptoms, but work with the causes.

 Remember that the gut controls the brain and up to 80% of the immune system, so take diet seriously! A diet low in carbohydrates and higher in Keto based foods is best. You can begin by removing the top 7 foods that contribute to inflammation and leaky gut syndrome. Get your free guide to them here.

Please also see information and links to studies on the “Ketogenic Diet For Those With Seizures”.

Histamines, whether food based or environmental can be a trigger for many things such as anxiety, sleep issues, increased stimming, mast cell activation syndrome, and seizures.

Environmental factors can include things in and around your home such as chlorine which is not only in swimming pools but also in our household water. Always use a quality filter for your drinking water such as the Aquatru. Also use a shower filter to help remove chlorine from the shower since the hot steam allows it to enter our pores in the shower. Santeforhealth.com has a shower filter and a bathtub bulb filter for those areas...

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Thousands of parents biggest worry is the question what will happen to our autistic children and adults when we are no longer around? Parents all need piece of mind that practical and emotional support will be available when they are not there to help.

Dr Anna Kennedy OBE, is founder of the Anna Kennedy Online Charity.

As a mother of two sons with autism, Dr. Kennedy saw the great need for support for adults diagnosed on the Autism spectrum. For many, autism is a lifelong condition that creates challenges for the individual based on levels of anxiousness, sensory issues, communication, and other behavioral difficulties.

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Losing weight has far greater challenges if you’re not aware of seven crucial things. Many mothers talk about how their children on the autism spectrum (or they themselves) are having trouble losing weight. Often this difficulty is due to combined factors, beginning with a diet high in sugars and starchy carbohydrates, but other underlying health issues may be contributing as well.        

Weight Loss Checklist                 

Healthy weight loss is a challenge for children on the autism spectrum. They may be eating what they believe to be a healthy diet and exercising, but still they cannot lose the weight. When this happens, I go through a mental checklist of seven things:

1. Metabolic syndrome

2. Liver congestion

3. Thyroid imbalance

4. Adrenal stress

5. Candida

6. Leptin resistance

7. Brain support

8. Bonus: mold Biotoxins

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Join Karen and Bryan Hubbard for the very first What Doctors Don’t Tell You seminar of the new year! Learn how Karen used her thirty years in the field of holistic health to find the resources and tools to help her son naturally recover from his symptoms of autism while also supporting him to live a happier and healthier life. Over the last 15 years, Karen garnered a passion to help other parents naturally recover their children who are on the autism spectrum and has become one of the top specialists in the field. In this interview, Karen also goes over the 4 stages necessary for autism recovery and answers common questions you likely have too. Please listen, learn and enjoy!

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Whether your child has autism, ADD, ADHD, or any other neurological imbalance, it is known that natural brain supplements often work far better than pharmaceutical drugs without the negative or dangerous side effects.

If you are not seeing desired results from your brain supplements treatment program, there are several possibilities as to why:

1. 1. The wrong diagnosis.
   2. The wrong brain supplements treatment protocol, i.e. supplements, medications, or therapies. This also means the incorrect dosages.
   3. Citric acid is taken too close to supplement time. Citric acid as is in orange juice, lemonade, preservatives and more. It deactivates some medications and supplements. Do not ingest it within an hour before or after taking them.
   4. Stress hormones, namely corticosteroids, damage brain cells, especially the temporal lobes. They may also counteract the effectiveness of some treatments. Reduce stress level.
   5. Lack of support from family, school, caregivers or therapists; creates stress
   6. The wrong diet.
   7. Caffeine and nicotine use.
   8. Lack of exercise.
   9. Taking over-the-counter medications or supplements that may interfere with treatment.
   10. Mixing together incompatible medications and supplements.
   11. Not staying on natural supplements for a long enough period of time to allow them to work (minimum of three to six weeks).
   12. Purchasing cheaper, lower quality products in order to save money.
   13. Not having the right doctor. Using the doctor on your insurance plan may seem cheaper at first, but may cost you far more in the long run.
   14. Being in denial about what your child really needs and not getting the proper help...

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The importance of knowing the glycemic index of your food choices is a preventative measure in your child’s health and behavior. This will also help to prevent obesity and diabetes along with keeping his gut flora in better balance.

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.

Based on scientific data foods have been tested to show their effect on blood glucose levels. Foods with a low GI will have less of an effect on blood sugar than foods with a high GI. The foods we eat have a direct impact on how quickly our bodies are able to digest them. Slower digestion gives your body a chance to regulate the release of insulin better.

Many inexpensive, pocket-sized books are sold on the glycemic index. It is worthwhile to pick one up and learn how the different foods you are feeding your child will affect his blood sugar. If we look around at the childhood epidemic of obesity and diabetes it is easy to see how it can be prevented by better choices of food. Some foods and their glycemic content are listed below. There are also many websites available.

• Foods with a high GI break down rapidly, therefore releasing glucose into the bloodstream very quickly. This causes a rapid release of insulin which starts to weaken the body’s ability to balance blood sugar levels. This also weakens the adrenal glands (our stress-handling organs), which then weakens the thyroid gland which helps to regulate our hormone levels. All of this contributes to diabetes and obesity.

Foods with a low GI will break down more slowly releasing glucose into the bloodstream more gradually.

Lower glycemic index foods will:

• Keep you feeling full longer • Assist in weight loss, (by reducing insulin levels it helps you burn fat). • Assist in the prevention of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer. • Help prevent hypoglycemia, which is associated with headache, fatigue, sleep problems, and lack of mental clarity. • Improve blood lipid profiles. • Assist in better cholesterol levels • Help with metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance also known as Syndrome X).

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There are other physical problems that can accompany autism. One disorder that affects so many children today is diabetes. It is important to recognize the signs of diabetes, know the triggers and understand what you can do to prevent it from happening to your child.

There are two types of diabetes: Type I and Type II. Type II diabetes is acquired insulin and leptin resistance and is directly related to poor diet, such as one high in processed foods and refined sugars, combined with a lack of exercise. If you are lucky, you can balance Type II diabetes with the proper diet and exercise with no need for insulin injections.

Type I diabetes is more severe. It is an autoimmune disease caused by the immune system attacking the pancreatic cells that produce insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes need injections of insulin to prevent death. Type I diabetes can be hereditary and its onset can be triggered by many things...

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Many foods eaten during the holidays such as sugar, gluten, dairy and food dyes will cause exponential harm to your child’s health and behavior. These foods bring common food allergies, inflammation, as well as physical and emotional instability. They are not good for anyone, but children on the autism spectrum and with ADD are particularly sensitive to these chemicals.  Their detoxification systems are not as capable as others to handle them. Their brain cells are particularly vulnerable also.

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. Too much histamine released causes histamine intolerance which causes mast cell activation. When this happens our protective mechanisms are broken down and we become hypersensitive to things we ingest or that are in our environment...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/157

Did you know that the gut affects a lot more than digestion? An ill gut can create symptoms such as poor speech, social connection, anger, depression, anxiousness, an inability to focus and concentrate, and much more.

It’s important to work with the root causes, then once the toxins, pathogens and inflammation are out of the way some of the physical and behavioral symptoms and the acquired allergies can be eliminated. 

Autism can be a symptom, not a diagnosis. It can be a symptom of something underlying such as toxins, pathogens, infections, a compromised immune system, and inflammation in the brain. Many things cause the symptoms of autism. It’s not just one thing.

Gut Healing

Yes, there is much involved in healing leaky gut and if we don’t heal up the lining of the gut that is allowing undigested foods into the bloodstream so the immune system reacts to them then it keeps happening. The gut lining has many reasons why it may have holes like candida, parasites, glyphosate (in Round-Up weed killer that is sprayed onto food crops), mold biotoxins, Lyme. If we don’t get to the core of the issues then it keeps happening. 

Supplements are required along with the right diet for a long enough period of time, and getting the coinfections cleared. We also must support the organs of detoxification and their pathways during this process. It all takes time. Once all of this is done, or greatly reduced, the allergy elimination can work on eliminating the allergies that were acquired during the time when the gut was ill. Make sense? 

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The mind fears that the unconscious rage will break out into consciousness. It creates a physical distraction to keep your attention on your body instead of the rage. We rationalize structural pain because it is socially acceptable.

We must acknowledge the psychological basis for the pain to get to the subconscious. The unconscious is terrified by the rage. We must acknowledge and accept the emotions.

Think of your repressed rage and the reasons for it. The conscious speaks to the subconscious. You tell your mind that you know what it’s doing and it’s not needed. By identifying them they reduce the symptoms such as back pain or headaches, etc.

It helps to list all of your reasons for anger, even from childhood. By identifying pressures consciously we reduce it. Find solitude.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/155

The Children’s Health Defense released an article on the surge of autism and the newly updated diagnosis rate for children with autism now being 1 in 30! According to a JAMA Pediatrics research letter published this month by a team of researchers in China, 1 in 30 — 3.49% — of children and adolescents ages 3 to 17 were diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2020

The letter also referenced a new study showing a 53% increase in ASD in American young people since 2017.

What is behind the current surge? Sadly, the CDC and other institutions in the medical community do not wish to dig deeply enough, so risk factors have not been adequately considered.

“Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, attributes risk factors beyond genetics to the development of the condition.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/154

Supporting your Child’s Brain & Body with the Detoxification & Die Off Process 

Detoxification often begins with the liver. When your child is loaded with toxins, the liver is congested and cannot function properly, creating a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. 

Until the liver is supported and working better — and many toxins have been gradually eliminated — the body is not able to handle detoxification or a die-off process. 

Toxins are in the blood, inside most cells, and are in fluids outside the cell, causing the pain, symptoms, and behaviors your child is experiencing. The cells want to get rid of them and a process of detoxification and protocol through nutrition and supplements will help.

What is die off? 

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. 

While some increase in symptoms is common, if your child’s symptoms or behaviors worsen, you can stop or reduce the dose before too many toxins accumulate in the body causing further problems. Failing to intervene in time, can cause extreme behaviors to develop.

Stay With The Process

The detoxification and die off process is slow, but there really is no alternative. Give the process time, stay consistent, and keep with the protocol as long as is needed. 

Eventually, as toxins and pathogens are eliminated — and as other fundamental issues are corrected through diet and supplements — you will be able to get your child’s body and brain healthy and functioning as normally as possible.

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Traveling with children who have special needs can bring up some of their challenges. Car sickness, anxiety over travel and unfamiliar territory are all issues that can come up quickly. Be prepared!

• Car or Air Sickness
• Anxiety
• Increasing Energy
• Hydrate
• Sunscreen
• Oppositional Defiance Disorder

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/152

Summer is here! As we begin taking trips, the reality of traveling with children with special needs can bring up some of their challenges. Food to eat on the go is another issue to navigate.

Here are some helpful tips for you to help make your travels more relaxing.

Avoid MSG, aspartame, food dyes, bad fats, sugar, dairy, and gluten. Avoid fast food restaurants due to trans fats, preservatives, and artificial ingredients that disrupt the brain. Google “farm to table”, or “organic restaurants” to find healthier choices. If you find a healthier restaurant try chicken with no antibiotics or hormones and salads...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/151

Karen Thomas interviews Dr. Fran Kendall, M.D.

Dr. Kendall is a Harvard trained physician with a career of over 25 years specializing in metabolic, mitochondrial, and inherited (genetic) disorders. This interview focuses on mitochondrial disease, a lesser known, but common genetic disorder causing symptoms ranging from seizures, GI problems, fatigue, and Rett Syndrome. Dr. Kendall is an expert in this field. In this interview we discuss what you need to know about mitochondrial disease and what you can do about it...

Mitochondria give cells over 90% of their energy. Without proper energy cells cannot carry out their functions.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction vs Mitochondrial Disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction simply means that the mitochondria are not working correctly. Mitochondrial disease is the term used when the primary cause of mitochondrial dysfunction resides in the mitochondria. Mitochondrial disease is generally genetic. It can be inherited from either or both parents. A special type of mitochondrial disease is caused by mutations on the mitochondrial DNA, and is inherited only from the mother. When the primary cause of mitochondrial dysfunction resides outside the mitochondria, mitochondrial dysfunction is called “secondary” (to something else)...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/150

Electromagnetic Field Radiation (EMF’s) can sabotage the efforts of your child’s recovery program, unless you protect your child from them.

I have researched a product I wish to share with you to help harmonize the harmful effects of electromagnetic field radiation. I am excited for you to learn about this fascinating technology.

Focused Life Force Energy (FLFE) activates a positive energetic environment that supports the consciousness of your space and provides you with more energy to improve the quality of your life.

• To expand our consciousness
• To sleep and meditate more deeply
• To boost our body’s natural healing ability
• To increase focus, concentration, creativity
• To energize our living/working space

Parents report improved ability for their child to do schoolwork and a greater sense of calm.

FLFE’s EMF Mitigation Program changes the way EMFs are influencing our lives.

The FLFE environment and the FLFE EMF Mitigation Program harmonizes and acts in other ways (including using the energetic signature of Shungite) to have EMFs be positive for us, actually supporting us to rise in consciousness...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/149

Mindful Parenting comes from conscious thought patterns. Often we are driven by our emotions and we react, rather than respond.

Please listen to this interview with Ana Vega, the founder of Happy Families and an international Parenting Expert, Coach, and Consultant.

After growing up with a mom living with severe schizophrenia, she became a Vice President in NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the largest mental health organization helping people affected by mental illness and their families. 

Then, while working as a journalist and an entrepreneur and becoming a mom, she developed a passion for parenting and helping other parents.

As a coach she uses the unique combination of Mindful and Positive Parenting to help make parenting easier and more enjoyable.”

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/148

Nanti’s son was diagnosed with autism at twenty-eight months. For almost a decade, she searched for answers to help give him a future with more independence,  peacefulness, and a better way of life.

After trying various practitioners, one after the other, that did not give her any real help or hope for his future, she persevered to find the education, guidance, and support she needed and found it at Naturally Recovering Autism.

Today, due to her efforts, Nanti’s eleven year old son has greater independence, is now calm and happy, sleeps through the night, can speak, write, ride a bike, has friends, and the whole family has more peace. She says he is FINALLY on the road to recovery.

Nanti shares her inspiring story with you here. Please listen now…and please share this with friends in need!

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/147

I would like to share this article on Pat Gesualdo. I had the privilege of interviewing him for my podcast. Please listen to this informative discussion with Pat.  

In the study done in SURREY, ENGLAND/MONTVILLE, N.J. (August 27, 2014) –Drumming can help children with autism spectrum disorders and O.D.D. to stop violent behavior, self-mutilation, and assist with developing cognitive functioning, social skill interaction, and grade point average, according to the research team at the Woodland Grange School in Surrey England, and the non-profit research organization Drums and Disabilities, (D.A.D.) in Montville, NJ.

For people with autism and cognitive disabilities, the synapses in the brain ineffectively communicate with each other. Playing repeated patterns of music can re-train these synapses, and can help these people re-establish the correct synapse pathways. The study was conducted by David Ciauro (EdS, MA,LAC), Pat Gesualdo, Senior Research Director for D.A.D. Christopher Topple, and Colin Jenkinson, Head Teacher for the Woodland Grange School.

Playing repeated patterns of music rhythms which the researchers called “Drum Therapy,” helped the study participants to re-train the synapses in the brain, and develop physical and cognitive functioning.

“The study participants in our school have stopped violent behavior, self mutilation, and have achieved a 100% attendance record, as a result of the Drum Therapy research,” says Head Teacher Colin Jenkinson. “Their parents and I are in total disbelief of their success.”

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/146

Excitotoxins are toxins that will excite the neurons in your brain. They can also be referred to as neurotoxins because they damage and destroy the brain and spinal cord. What most people do not realize is that these toxins are in the foods they commonly eaten every day. The problem with these toxins is that they will excite brain cells to death. They literally die. This causes the brain to secrete glutamate and aspartate (excitotoxins), which cause negative behavioral changes. This can cause faulty wiring of the brain, especially during its developmental stage...

Glutamate is an amino acid and a neurotransmitter for the brain. It helps stimulate brain cells, which help neurons to communicate. It all sounds good until it is too much of a good thing. When these neurons get over-excited, it can cause seizures and even kill brain cells...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/145

Dr. Daniel Amen is the New York Times best-selling author of several books including Healing ADD, and Change Your Brain Change Your Life. He is the leading expert on SPECT imaging brain scans which offer specific information about the functioning abilities of each particular part of the brain and each specific brain scan.

Listen to this informative interview as Karen interviews Dr. Daniel Amen and learn what natural solutions are available for your child.

As an Amen brain type coach, I am able to offer you a ten percent discount on consultations through the Amen clinic. Use this link and the referral code, “Karen Thomas,” to receive your 10% discount when you schedule an evaluation online or call (1-866-260-8227).

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/144

Learn a simple way to help your child right from home. Allergic reactions in the body lead to the physical and behavioral symptoms such as anxiousness, anger, sleep issues, inability to focus, and more. 

It is still crucial to work with the underlying issues of autism such as toxic overload, pathogens and infections, but this at-home allergy kit may help alleviate the allergic responses the body is having to them as you are working with those core issues, allowing your child (and you) more peace. 

Please listen to this interview with Ynge Ljung as we discuss the solutions these at-home allergy kits can offer.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/143

The symptoms of autism can be difficult enough to work with. Puberty brings with it many additional challenges for both parents and their children. Beginning around the age of nine, the body triggers hormones to begin puberty. By the age of fourteen, a noticeable change in behavior is happening.

If your child has been going along peacefully, but suddenly becomes incredibly difficult to deal with, more aggressive, angry, moody, and loses all motivation, it is likely due to hormonal changes affecting his brain.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/142

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Many parents of children on the autism spectrum have concerns about safety for themselves, their other children, or those in their community. Autism and anger often go hand in hand. Anger and impulsive behavior can be a daily occurrence.

This does not mean,of course, that all children on the autism spectrum have anger issues. But many do. And when they do, it is difficult for the entire family to deal with, and scary! Some parents live with extreme fear for their own well being and for the safety of others. Dare we mention Newtown or the 2014 episode at The University of California at Santa Barbara?

As it turns out, there are several possibilities for issues of anger or violent episodes in children and adults on the autism spectrum. Neurotoxic foods such as monosodium glutamate or MSG are known to create episodes of anger. The heavy metal lead is another trigger for anger...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/141

Hypoglycemia is a condition that comes from low blood sugar or low glucose levels. Behavioral outbursts, anxiety, and lack of ability to think clearly can be the result of the brain being starved of its energy supply.

When it has been too long since our last meal or snack, our 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 the hormone insulin to counteract the effects of all of the sugar. This is especially hard on the liver and can cause it to become congested. The liver is our main organ of detoxification. Children with autism already have issues with this which can create further physical and behavioral problems...

• Hyperactivity
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Irritability and anger
• Trouble sleeping and nightmares
• low cognitive function, confusion and inability to focus
• Headaches
• Digestive disturbance
• Visual issues
• Cardiovascular problems
• Nerve disruption

• omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA
• COQ10 or ubiquinol
• alpha lipoic acid
• chromium picolinate
• gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
• berberine
• cinnamon
• vitamin D
• peppermint

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/140

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021, depression is a common illness worldwide. Approximately 280 million people in the word have depression. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 7.1% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 4.4 million) have diagnosed anxiety, and 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 1.9 million) have diagnosed depression. The percentage of adults who experienced any symptoms of depression was highest among those aged 18–29 (21.0%), followed by those aged 45–64 (18.4%) and 65 and over (18.4%), and lastly, by those aged 30–44 (16.8%). Women are twice as likely than men to experience mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression. In teens, the percentage doubles between the ages of 14 and 17.

Adolescents with mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, stigma (affecting readiness to seek help), educational difficulties, risk-taking behaviors, physical ill-health and human rights violations. Globally, it is estimated that 1 in 7 (14%) 10-19 year-olds experience mental health conditions, yet these remain largely unrecognized and untreated.

Actual depression is more than feeling sad. True depression is when the sadness is prolonged and effects everyday life. Feeling a strong sense of anxiousness, fearfulness, worry, poor concentration and excessive guilt are also signs of depression...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/139

Does diet really matter? Yes, the intake of gluten can directly affect the brain and the behavior of your child on the autism spectrum.

Gastrointestinal surgeon, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, found the greatest results in treating children with autism came from a gluten free/casein free diet. When he treated the inflammatory bowel disease he found their behavior improved, sleep improved and there was an increase in communication...

Gluten (wheat protein) and casein (dairy protein) release natural opiate-like substances into the bloodstream, which, if they get through the blood-brain barrier, can mimic the effects of morphine in the brain. The opiates in casein and gluten are called exorphins, specifically, gluteomorphins and caseomorphins...

Behavioral issues such as hyperactivity and mood disorders are common in people with gluten sensitivity.

• Glyphosate
• Leaky Gut
• Damage to the DNA
• Some symptoms of gluten sensitivity
• Gluten-containing grains and starches
• Gluten-free grains
• Read Your Labels
• Supplements to Help Digest Gluten
• Testing for gluten sensitivity

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/138

We have reached over 50,000 downloads!

Thank you for being a loyal listener and helping us reach this new milestone. We appreciate your support and will continue to help educate you on the important subjects on the autism journey...and hopefully make it a bit easier for you too. Please share our podcast with your friends who can benefit from it too. Thank you!

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Blog: https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/blog

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Attached is the CEO (Naturally Recovering Autism), Miss Karen Thomas special message for its audience!

Many of the foods at grandma’s house may be healthy for most, but act as “triggers” for children on the autism spectrum. What can you do when your child wants to eat foods he should not eat? If you know that food will create strong behavioral and physical problems for him, of course it is best to avoid them altogether… but that is not always easy during the holidays.

It is my wish to help you through these holidays. These days can be very trying for moms of children on the autism spectrum. We don’t want our children to feel isolated or shut out from the festivities, but when we know issues will arise from the food at the celebration, how do we measure the pros and cons?  What can we do?

We can definitely ask Grandma to use only ingredients that are gluten-free, non-dairy, with no added food colorings or artificial ingredients. But this is real life. Will she do it? Does she know how?

You can educate Grandma, letting her know that others at the table will probably feel better after the meal too. You can certainly give it a try.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/137

he Covid pandemic has added a new element of stress to our lives. When it does end experts say the element of anxiousness that has developed for individuals is likely to continue much longer that the physical health impact. Don’t get waylaid helping your child because of your personal mental health. The pandemic hit and the shutdown caused anxiousness and depressive symptoms for us, but there is hope.

You don’t have to let this affect you long term. You do have a say in how you live your life...

Below I’ve listed 7 tips to help you and your child to gain improved physical and mental health, to help restore overall calming.

• Gut Health and Diet: Why is diet so important and what are the right foods? Bad foods feed Candida, and parasites. Gut health keeps our immune system strong but also builds necessary neurotransmitters that are made in the gut...
• Support Your Liver: A congested liver, toxins such as heavy metals, and mold affect hormones, including our stress hormone cortisol...
• Calming Supplements: Anxiousness comes from many things. External environmental triggers like toxins, but also from internal underlying pathogens and infections...
• Sensory Calming: Sensory overload is common in children with autism but it is also common in their parents too. The underlying pathogens and toxins take an effect on our central nervous system...
• Emotional Mindset Techniques: Emotion code work to release old subconscious patterns that keep us in the stress response and reacting to life’s occurrences rather than responding. Responding is a choice. Count backward from 5, (5,4,3,2,1) then take a deep breath and let it all the way out. Now notice how you feel...
• Exercise: Exercise releases serotonin in our brain so it can actually improve our mood. It’s also healthy for us to move, getting oxygen into our blood...
• Sleep: Sleep is crucial to our overall physical and mental health and it’s when our body’s heal. Sleep can be affected by many things too. The stress hormone cortisol can wake you up...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/136

Let’s talk about school. Children on the autism spectrum can have a hard time sitting still, staying calm, and focusing. As with anything else, there are different needs for each child.

Learning should have emotion involved. We are often driven to learning by a need of some kind. For parents there is no greater need than to help their child. Studying takes time and energy. For children with autism there is often a shorter attention span so we have to make the most of every minute. So how do we go about learning and retaining? Retaining is the key...

The brain gets bored if a task is done too long. When this happens it stops retaining. The pomodoro technique is known to increase focus, retention, consistency and quality of time spent. Quality is essential to help retain and utilize the information...

How Pomodoro Works?

• Decide on the task, and a time period to do it in, and explain it to your child.
• Start your timer on your phone or on a Time Timer or wherever.

• Make this the time for focusing on work for the next 25, or so,  minutes.

• Stop once the alarm goes off.

• Take a 5 minute break.

• Resume working for another 25 (or so) minutes and then take a break for another 5 minutes.
• After 3 or 4 cycles, take a 20-minute break...

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/135