Should we cancel Kellogg’s?
Do you eat Kellogg’s Cereal?
Growing up, my entire breakfast repertoire consisted of all their cereals including Frosted Flakes, Rice Crispies, Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Flakes, Frosted Mini Wheats, and Special K.
They also make Pringles, Frozen Breakfast, Club Crackers, Eggos, Cheez-Its, Pop-Tarts, and Nutri-Grain bars.
There is now a movement, #cancelkelloggs, boycotting the purchase of Kellogg’s products.
Why?
Kellogg’s is adding toxic additives to their products such as food dyes and BHT in the products sold in America while selling safer versions without the toxins in other countries.
Many countries take a precautionary approach by either banning these additives or adding warning labels to protect their citizens.
The US allows companies to police themselves and will not remove additives unless they’ve been proven dangerous.
It’s cheaper for Kellogg’s to use cheaper ingredients such as flavor enhancers, color additives, and preservatives than using the safer ingredients used in products sold to other countries.
These harmful ingredients can decimate our health by putting us at risk for obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
It boils down to the bottom line.
Kellogg’s will not make any changes here unless the FDA cracks down on them, which is unlikely to occur.
We can prevent Kellogg’s from increasing its profits by voting with our wallets and not purchasing their products if you want to avoid some of these harmful ingredients.
What’s In Your Water?
It is extremely important to remain hydrated, but do you ever consider whether your water is safe?
My township recently had a meeting about PFAS (forever chemicals), which has contaminated our region’s water.
This stems from firefighting foam used in training many years ago at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station which has mainly ceased operations since 2011.
Many cancers such as thyroid, kidney, ovarian, uterine, and breast correlate with elevated PFAS levels.
The township is telling the residents to write to our senators and congressmen, but nothing’s being done.
The township doesn’t want to spend the money and can’t procure any state or federal funding.
Many people can’t afford the testing or a reverse osmosis system to filter out PFAS and are concerned about the welfare of their families.
It may take consumer action against the EPA and Navy to get this rectified.
That’s what happened when several advocacy groups were concerned about fluorine being added to their water to prevent tooth decay.
Even though fluoride is supposed to support the teeth, it is a neurotoxin causing neurodevelopmental disorders and other health problems including heart disease, cancer, lower fertility, and tooth discoloration.
After 7 years in litigation, the citizens last week won a landmark case against the EPA and the court ordered the EPA to regulate the unreasonable risk posed by fluoridation of water.
If you’re thinking about using plastic bottled water, think again!
The plasticizer endocrine disrupting chemicals BPA and phthalates leach into the bottled water and also increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, and infertility.
The average person is consuming a credit card a day in plastic.
To be sure that you’re eliminating toxic chemicals in your water, buy glass bottled instead of plastic bottled water, or better yet, take water (hopefully without toxins) from your home and put it in a stainless steel or glass bottle.
To purify your home water, the best option is purchasing a reverse osmosis system where there are affordable options like countertop systems.
These are just 4 of the many toxins that we need to be wary of not only in our drinking water but in a plethora of items that we purchase.
PANDAS/PANS Awareness!
PANDAS/PANS awareness day was on 10/9/24!
This made me reflect upon how many children I have seen seriously afflicted with this.
PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Strep infections and PANS- Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome- similar symptoms to PANDAS but not caused by Strep.
They commonly present between 3-12 years old and affect approximately 1 in 200 kids.
Unfortunately, there has been significant resistance in the medical field to accept the research and evidence supporting the existence of this debilitating condition for kids and their families.
These kids present after exposure to Strep, another infection, allergen, or toxin with an abrupt onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as motor tics, obsessive-compulsive thoughts, anxiety, aggression, sensory processing disturbances, trouble focusing, sleep and eating disturbances, and deterioration in handwriting and school performance
The treatment is geared toward treating the underlying cause which with PANDAS is Strep and with PANS is any other infection or irritant that can cause inflammation of the brain.
After treating the root cause, inflammation of the brain persists due to antibodies produced by the infection attacking an area of the brain known as the basal ganglia which governs emotional and motor control.
There is typically a three-pronged approach to tackling the condition: treat the root cause, reduce the inflammation, and ameliorate the psychiatric symptoms.
Conventional and integrative approaches with therapies such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, psychotropics, and supplements are implemented in addition to a healthy diet, exercise, and improving sleep to help mitigate neuroinflammation.
Many kids struggle for some time before finding a practitioner that recognizes and understands that PANDAS/PANS is a legitimate serious condition requiring a personalized approach.
If you have any concerns about your child or someone you love being affected by PANS/PANDAS, please contact me and I’m happy to support them.
Vaccine, Profanity?
When did the word vaccine become profanity?
I frequently see different words substituted for vaccine to avoid a post being taken down.
It just seems absurd.
It’s ok to have an open discussion over this even if it’s polarizing.
Just recently, a 23-year-old girl had a severe reaction to 3 vaccines that a hospital required before providing treatment for a rare blood disorder.
We’ve all heard about reactions to vaccines, with some being fatal.
Reactions occur to medications and food as well, with some being fatal.
The most important factor is to have a discussion with your provider and do your homework, weighing the risks vs. benefits.
It’s ultimately up to you to make that decision.
Once you’ve made that informed decision, you can move on.
If there’s a reaction, you were made aware of the potential repercussions.
You should never feel forced or be kicked out of a doctor’s office because you decide not to take vaccines.
Parents have a recommended CDC vaccination schedule for their children but there are modified schedules that can be discussed with providers or using philosophical/religious exemptions if you decide to opt out of vaccinations.
With flu and Covid season upon us, there’s a big campaign to get vaccinated.
There’s no guarantee that these will confer immunity since they’re manufactured in advance without knowing which strains will be prevalent.
Ultimately, it’s up to us to make these decisions based on the information we’re given and the research we do.
Never feel pressured and let’s have these open discussions and posts about vaccines without fear or hostility.
Back to School
It’s great to see the kids back to school.
How can we make it a super year for our kids?
Optimizing their physical and emotional health is key.
There has been a decline in metabolic health of our children result in dramatic increases in depression, ADD, autism, obesity, and diabetes.
How can we improve this?
It’s not always necessary to drug our kids with Prozac, Ritalin, or Ozempic.
Try to look for any underlying factors that could be the cause and address them.
Supplying the foundations of real food, exercise, abundant sleep, toxin removal, minimizing screentime, and healthy social interactions are vitally important.
Basically, remove the bad stuff and put in the good.
Provide healthy real food lunches to bring to school and advise against vending machines and highly processed school food.
Our food forms the structure and biochemistry of our bodies.
We need strong building materials such as protein, fiber, and healthy fat, and not crappy materials such as sugars, refined carbs, and seed oils.
Physical activity after school, whether after-school sports, intramural activities, martial arts, riding a bike, or walking, will provide tremendous benefits.
Reduce phone time. The constant blue light and doomscrolling are detrimental.
Our kids can be under significant stress related to academics, social pressure, and family dynamics. Speaking with a therapist or counselor can be quite helpful
We want to provide our kids and families with all the tools to make this school year a success.
At Hope Health and Wellness, we have started a membership program to provide continuous support to families.
Click here to learn more about becoming an HHW member.
Full Moon Changes?
Do you have an increase in symptoms such as fatigue, joint/muscle pain, headaches, inflammation, or emotional shifts around the full moon?
There has been research suggesting that the moon can influence our behavior.
Two main neurochemical changes occur in the body during a full moon: melatonin drops resulting in difficulty sleeping and immune system suppression and an increase in serotonin which regulates our mood.
It’s no wonder people why people will comment “There must be a full moon tonight” when not feeling well.
Parasites like to thrive in this environment of increased serotonin and low melatonin.
We can get parasites from contaminated food or water, bug bites, or eating undercooked meat.
Parasites can use our body’s serotonin to reproduce and create biofilms that can protect them from being detected or killed.
Other symptoms that you may experience cyclically around the full moon related to parasites are cravings for sugar and alcohol, severe diarrhea or constipation, skin rashes, teeth grinding, and anal itching.
There is stool testing available to help determine if you have a parasite.
If testing is positive, natural remedies like wormwood, papaya seeds, pumpkin seeds, and berberine can help kill parasites or you can get a prescription anti-parasitic to eradicate them.
If you notice these cyclical full moon symptoms, consider getting evaluated for parasites.
Fun In The Sun
Well, it’s time for fun in the sun as the unofficial summer begins.
Many people worry about exposure to sun and with risks of skin cancer from overexposure but don’t always consider all of the benefits.
Think about how exhilarating it is to step out in the morning and feel the sun hit your eyes and body.
It has an impact on both physical and mental health.
UV light from the sun contacts our body to convert cholesterol into vitamin D, which is vitally essential in maintaining excellent metabolic health.
Why not get it naturally from the sun instead of taking a supplement?
The infrared light from the sun provides energy to our cells. Our cells are literally solar-powered.
Our mitochondria are transforming the energy from the sun, food, and oxygen into our cellular energy, ATP.
Just like consuming nutrient-dense food to your cells, you want to provide that daily dose of 5-30 minutes a day without sunscreen depending upon your complexion without sunscreen.
As with other treatments, the Goldilocks principle applies to the sun- not too nor too little.
Let’s break away from the excessive junk blue light we get from our computers, TVs, and phones which trigger mitochondrial death signaling pathways in the retina.
Blue light-blocking glasses or software can help if your work requires you to be looking at a screen all day.
Get outside and reap the benefits of the benefits of moderate sun exposure for you and your family’s health!
Good Energy
Dr. Casey Means just wrote a brilliant book, “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection between Metabolism and Limitless Health,” focusing on increasing our cellular energy to reduce metabolic dysfunction which leads to all diseases.
She is an Ears, Nose, and Throat doctor who stopped practicing surgery after seeing how sick her patients were by just treating the downstream ENT manifestations of their diseases instead of the root issues.
She is now focused on fixing our epidemic of busted metabolism with over 93% of Americans having at least 1 sign of metabolic dysfunction.
Creating health is giving the body what it needs and removing what it doesn’t to prevent chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, cancer, diabetes, and autism.
Dr. Means states that metabolic dysfunction occurs when any of our 40 trillion cells are underpowered.
When the powerhouses of our cells are not able to convert energy that we receive from our food, water, oxygen, and sun into cellular energy, we become sick.
Think about when a baby’s crying- they will not be able to express to you if they’re hungry, tired, need diaper changes, feel gassy, or have pain. You’ll go through all of the motions to figure out what’s causing their crying.
The same goes for our cells when they are not making enough energy. They will start screaming out for help by displaying general symptoms including fatigue, pain, and behaviors in our kids, and will be more specific when the cells of organs like the brain, heart, gut, kidneys, or eyes are affected.
Dr. Means talks about 7 main lifestyle causes that are going to underpower our cells which include eating ultra-processed food, lack of physical activity, stress, insufficient sleep, toxins, lack of natural light (sun) exposure with excessive artificial light (technology), and lack of exposure to changes in temperature.
Any of these factors will block our body’s ability to produce the cellular energy that it needs to create optimal health.
So, what can we do to increase cellular energy to prevent metabolic diseases for our?
· Eat an organic whole-foods diet no matter what diet you choose- keto, Mediterranean, paleo, vegan, carnivore
· Move at least 2 and ½ hours per week and do 2 days of resistance training per week- don’t need to worry about specifics
· Reduce stress with whatever approach works for you- massage, therapy, meditation, yoga, reading
· Get at least 7 and ½ hours of sleep
· Avoid toxins including BPA in plastics, phthalates in personal care products, PFAS in personal care products and clothing, glyphosate in food
· Get out in the sun at least 20 minutes a day to power your cells and regulate your body’s timeclock and reduce exposure to blue light throughout the day.
· Get outside to expose yourself to temperature changes to improve cellular energy
Providing our cells with what they need and removing what they don’t need will allow them to make good energy to create health for our families!
Cereal For Dinner?
Kellogg’s CEO has recently been running this ad campaign saying it’s good if you’re tight on cash.
Do you want to eat Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops, or Frosted Flakes for dinner?
It’s bad enough eating this for breakfast.
Their main ingredients are sugar, highly refined oils and grains, salt, food dyes and BHT which is a hormone disrupting preservative.
They get you with marketing cereals as being fortified with vitamins and minerals and being “heart healthy.”
There’s nothing healthy about most cereals.
There is currently a petition demanding that Kellogg’s remove synthetic food dyes from their cereals.
The Canadian version of fruit loops contains more natural products including concentrated fruit juices as naturally dyes.
Canada bans the use of BHT as a preservative and Japan forbids the use of red dye 40.
The European Union requires food companies to put warning labels on products with these ingredients stating they may have an adverse effect on attention and activity in children.
These artificial dyes can cause hyperactivity and behavioral problems in some kids.
In addition, we’re seeing an increase in numerous disorders in children including obesity, diabetes, depression, and autism.
So, would you rather save a few bucks according to Kellogg’s, or put yourself at risk for compromised health, since many of these ingredients in cereal are detrimental to our metabolic health?
On top of that, they are marketing to our children on TV using mascots like Tony the Tiger and Tucan Sam.
Cereal might be a cheaper dinner option according to Kellogg’s CEO, but the cost of medical bills and health will far outweigh replacing chicken or steak with Lucky Charms.
SPELLERS
Have you seen Spellers?
What an incredible documentary based on the book “Underestimated” about non-speakers with autism learning how to communicate through letterboards and other devices.
It has had a profound impact and has won prestigious awards.
These nonspeakers whose lives are followed in the movie felt imprisoned in their minds for most of their lives until their families pursued the spell-to-communicate approach better known as S2C.
Most of these kids were written off as low functioning with extremely limited potential due to being nonverbal.
Little did anyone realize that many of these kids are brilliant but have verbal apraxia where there is a disconnect between the brain and their mouth not allowing them to speak.
Up to 30 % of children with ASD are non-speakers or minimally verbal.
The stars of the movie are displaying their amazing skills, and our community is in awe.
Some of these nonspeakers didn’t start S2C until they were teenagers, so don’t ever lose hope.
These families persisted despite many of the naysayers and struggles that encountered.
There’s always an opportunity at any age to see improvement in our kids.
Don’t get caught up in the dogma that a window closes for a child when they reach a certain age.
I have seen numerous children and adults make tremendous strides no matter what age.
The S2C movement is starting to work with children who are verbal but are unreliable speakers.
You should work with your health care provider to see if there’s any underlying cause of the apraxia even if you’re working with an S2C practitioner.
#spellers #ASD #autism
Do You Know About TruDOSE?
I recently came across a novel treatment at an autism conference that has been used in regenerative medicine which is creating traction.
We learn in school about platelets’ clotting abilities, but they also can trigger cell production and tissue regeneration.
The regenerative treatment known as TruDOSE platelet therapy uses the healing power of the body’s platelets to restart the body’s immune and repair systems to reduce systemic inflammation.
Many studies have shown that there is neuroinflammation occurring in ASD, so it would make sense that this treatment could be therapeutic
The procedure involves testing a few drops of blood and analyzing it using the TruDose technology to personalize a dose treatment plan.
The blood is then drawn from the arm, spun down by centrifuge and the platelets are then administered back into the arm through an IV.
This is similar to a therapy known as platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections which have been used for years to increase the concentration of growth factors to accelerate the healing process.
Like stem cell treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and fecal occult microbial transplantation, TruDose is not an FDA-approved therapy for autism.
As we know, there’s no magic bullet but it’s always exciting to hear when there are new options available.
I mention this because families should know all the available possibilities to consider.
More clinics are starting to use TruDose in the US.
As with other therapies, it is important to do your due diligence and collaborate with your provider to determine what’s best for your child.
TruDOSE has a website: www.trudosetherapy.com if you’re interested in learning more about it.
If You’ve Seen One Kid with Autism…
Have you heard the saying, “If you’ve seen one kid with autism, you’ve seen one kid with autism?”
Even though our kids have characteristics that qualify them as having ASD, their biology is unique.
Just like ice cream, there are hundreds of flavors yet there is the commonality of them being creamy, sweet, and tasty.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach that works and each child needs a thorough investigation into the root causes of what’s happening with their biology.
Since there are many potential causes and approaches, families need to partner with their practitioners to discuss all of the possible concerns and prioritize how to proceed.
Some families can implement various treatments simultaneously and others need to take it slow and steady.
Where can you start?
Make a list of your concerns to discuss with your practitioner.
There are lifestyle measures such as dietary intervention, removal of toxins, exercise, and sleep hygiene that can be managed by the family.
Other areas such as gut dysbiosis, hormonal imbalances, seizures, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and autoimmunity often need to be addressed, and finding a practitioner that can help you determine your child’s unique biology
Tackle what you can and don’t feel overwhelmed.
Moms and dads must work as a team to see progress.
They may not agree upon everything, but collaboration with your team will help guide you toward optimizing the health of your child.
Although it can be stressful when your child is stimming, biting, screaming, and hitting, something is biologically causing these behaviors.
We can’t just chalk it up to their autism.
There are many areas to address, and you can start working on their healing today.
Enroll for a complimentary session by April 30 @ https://myhopewellness.satoriapp.com/offers/284340-complementary-wellness-session to discuss how I can help support you to uncover what’s biologically causing their behaviors.
#autism #autismawareness
Autism Action Month!
April is Autism Awareness Month/ Autism Action Month, so let’s take action to reverse the astronomical rate of 1 in 36 being diagnosed.
When my son was diagnosed in 2001, the rate of autism was 1 in 150, so it has climbed 317%.
Back in 1970, the rate was 1 in 10,000!
Even though I’m focusing on autism, it’s not the only childhood disorder that’s increasing- obesity, ADD, depression, diabetes, and asthma are as well just to name a few.
Why! Why are we seeing such an epidemic rise in these conditions?
We know that there hasn’t been a dramatic genetic shift.
Conditions such as autism stem from metabolic dysfunction.
So, what’s causing this metabolic dysfunction resulting in disease?
Let’s think about some of the changes since 1970 that could cause metabolic dysfunction leading to the meteoric rise in autism.
· Increase in environmental toxins such as heavy metals, BPA, and glyphosate
· Increase in ultra-processed and fast-food consumption
· Increase in vaccinations
· Increase in pharmaceuticals prescribed and over-the-counter use
· Increase in technology with more EMF exposure
· Increase in nutrient-depleted soil
There are other factors like infections, inflammation, gut microbiome disruption, and hormonal imbalances that also play a role.
For each child, there’s a unique set of circumstances that led them on their journey.
I am so passionate about helping families reverse autism.
I have been working with kids with autism since my son’s diagnosis, continue to learn new things every day, and am amazed by what warriors our kids and their families are.
I get what families with autism are going through from the lens of being a parent, health coach and physician.
When I started the Autism Healing Program last year, I didn’t know exactly how it would go, but my plan was to guide and support families in every capacity to help them reach their health goals.
I’m proud to report the great results that we’ve seen.
Throughout autism awareness month of April, I’m offering a free 60-minute session to discuss how we can work on your child’s healing.
I also work with children and adults with various metabolic disorders including ADD/ADHD, depression, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders.
So, this offer is being extended to anyone who may need guidance and support to reach their health goals.
One free 60-minute session is available per family to be booked by the end of April.
You can schedule the session at https://myhopewellness.satoriapp.com/offers/284340-complementary-wellness-session
#autism #autismawarenessmonth #autismaction
Double Down on the Basics!
When it comes to our health, everyone’s looking for that magic bullet.
It’s fantastic that we have many options out there such as different medications, supplements, devices, and procedures with innovative technology working to find a cure for nearly every illness.
However, childhood disorders and chronic diseases such as autism, diabetes, obesity, depression, cardiovascular disease, and cancer continue to rise at alarming rates despite all of the advances.
I have found focusing on the pillars of health quite effective at preventing metabolic dysfunction that can lead to disease.
So, what are the fundamentals we can work on to take control of our health?
The food we eat, the water we drink, the home air we breathe, movement, sleep, reducing stress, getting sunlight, and removing toxins from our home.
I have been amazed by the amount of progress I have seen not only in my family but the families that I’ve worked with.
My approach certainly has transformed over the years from prescribing “pills for every ill” to a holistic approach that empowers and supports families in their quest to attain optimal health and to prevent and reverse chronic diseases.
Sure, there are some great novel therapies such as stem cells, peptides, exosomes, and fecal microbial transplants, but these will likely rendered ineffective if our home environment is toxic.
It also is helpful to know what’s going on “underneath the hood” with basic lab testing to get a baseline and see how our biomarkers are responding to these measures.
You can easily get started on a healthy diet, exercise, prioritizing sleep, testing water and air quality in the how, working on your stress, removing toxins from the home, and getting out in the sun for 10 minutes in the morning to help set your body’s time clock.
Just pick one thing at a time to not feel overwhelmed and you will see dramatic improvement in your wellbeing.
Make an Informed Decision
Does your provider discuss the risks versus benefits when it comes to vaccinations?
In most cases, parents are informed that they need to vaccinate against various infections otherwise their child can get very sick with an infection they’re not vaccinated against, or they won’t be able to start school since vaccines are mandatory.
Think about when you have surgery. You are required to sign an informed consent form where you acknowledge all of the risks that could occur from a procedure like bleeding, infection, or even death.
Should we have this with vaccines?
Vaccines are manufactured to help prevent specific infectious diseases which should provide a better quality of life for our children, however, there’s a correlation between chronic diseases such as allergies, asthma, obesity, and autism rising with an increase in the vaccine schedule even though there are multiple contributing factors.
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has paid out over $5 billion to date.
We’ve gone from kids getting 11 shots up to 18 years old in 1983 to now 58 shots with some kids getting 8 shots at 1 visit.
You also need to be aware that there are adjuvants added to vaccines such as mercury and aluminum which are neurotoxic and are used to ramp up the immune response.
In addition, preservatives such as formaldehyde and stabilizers like MSG are added to cell cultures that come from fetal tissue and animals.
There are millions of germs out there and the vaccines available can only potentially provide immunity to a select few.
We as parents need to weigh to weight the risk of being protected against a select number of infections vs. the potential of having a chronic debilitating disorder if the vaccine contributes.
Only you can weigh the pros and cons to make that decision.
Most states allow a philosophical or religious exemption for parents who decide to either not vaccinate or take a modified vaccine schedule approach.
Parents should always have the choice and be informed of the risks and benefits of each vaccine before proceeding.
#vaccines #autism
Is your cookware toxic?
We all know the importance of eating healthily, but not everyone knows that the cookware you use to prepare your dishes is just as important as the food itself.
We avoid toxins like glyphosate by eating organic, but how can we avoid toxic cookware?
Even the healthiest diet can result in severe health problems if your pots and pans are toxic.
So, what should we avoid?
The non-stick properties of Teflon cookware are coated with PTFE, a plastic polymer that, when heated above 572°F, starts to release toxins.
These toxic fumes lead to flu-like symptoms called polymer fume fever, informally known as Teflon flu.
Another chemical compound found in Teflon cookware is especially threatening since it tends to stay in the body for long periods.
Try cast-iron cookware instead since it doesn't leak anything toxic into your food
Though aluminum cookware is usually coated, the coating is prone to chipping, allowing the toxic metal to get right into your food.
As for aluminum foil, using it while cooking is even more dangerous.
When you wrap your food in aluminum foil and cook it this way, the amount of this substance that leaks into the food significantly exceeds the permissible level and is neurotoxic.
Consider using glass cookware instead, since it will never release anything toxic when heated.
Copper cookware can cause metal poisoning when you cook acidic foods in it.
Stainless steel is a great alternative that’s lightweight and scratch-resistant.
Avoid soft ceramic-coated cookware since it chips and can leech harmful heavy metals like lead and cadmium into your body.
Try 100% ceramic cookware instead since it’s made with natural materials, doesn’t chip, and isn’t toxic.
We can take control of our health in the kitchen and using non-toxic cookware plays an integral role.
#toxiccookware #toxins
Fast food?
Do you eat fast food?
A study recently showed that over one-third of Americans are eating fast food daily.
It’s staggering!
Fast food has crept its way into our schools as well which is detrimental to our kids’ health.
There has been testing on these foods looking at toxins such as glyphosate, heavy metals, antibiotics, and hormone disruptors such as forever chemicals and phthalates.
100% of the top twenty fast food brands came back positive for glyphosate which has been linked to many disorders like cancer, depression, cardiovascular disease diabetes, and autism.
These toxins can cause leaky gut and cause breakdown of the blood-brain barrier which could lead to neuroinflammation that we’re seeing in disorders of children such as ASD, ADD/ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
The highest levels of glyphosate were found in Panera Bread and Arby’s, meanwhile, Chopotle was found to have one of the lowest levels.
This is a contributing factor to what’s making our society sick, and there are many healthier alternatives available.
Advocacy groups are getting into schools to make changes to our school lunches to replace the foods that are making us sick with nutritious food.
The problem is that there is an abundance of toxins and a lack of nutrients which are detrimental to all of us.
Unfortunately, not only fast food, but any food we eat out of the house can contain toxins.
There are many restaurants now like True Food Kitchen that cook whole food and give us a clean experience of eating out.
We should be making those same choices to shop organic to avoid glyphosate and ultra-processed foods that are making us and our kids sick.
While removing certain inflammatory foods for many of our kids like gluten and casein can be beneficial, one of the most important factors to create health is eating organic whole foods to fuel our bodies to prevent chronic degenerative diseases.
#fastfood #ASD #autism
What the heck is chlormequat?
Have you heard the news about chlormequat?
A study done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) was recently published this month revealing this pesticide was found in 80% of people tested.
Chlormequat helps prevent plants from bending over, allowing the crops to be more easily harvested.
This pesticide was approved by the EPA in 2018 to be applied on oat-based products such as Quaker Oats and Cheerios and was detected in 92% of oat-based foods.
We hear how Oatmeal and Cheerios are touted as “heart-healthy” foods.
Is it worth the risk?
What is the problem with chlormequat?
Animal studies show it reduces fertility, harms the reproductive system, and alters fetal growth.
Even though we don’t have enough data yet from human studies, it is quite alarming to see the effects on animals.
Who wants to take that risk?
EWG continues to study the prevalence of chlormequat and its potentially harmful effects on our health.
The majority of kids with autism have enough difficulty with detoxification.
Why bombard them with another toxin?
How can you avoid chlormequat?
Purchase organic oats, which are grown without synthetic pesticides.
This sounds remarkably similar to glyphosate, and we know how much harm that has caused.
#chlormequat #autism #toxins
Genomics
What do you know about genomics?
There is a growing movement towards personalized medicine instead of the one-size-fits-all approach.
This takes into account genetics, environment, and lifestyle to create a tailor-made solution.
Everybody has heard of genetics- inheritable genetic conditions that are passed down from mom and dad like sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis.
Genomics is a more recent discovery of how our genes are influenced by the environment and the influence this has on personalizing how to prevent and manage disease.
Until about 10 years ago, it would cost approximately $1 billion to sequence our whole genome which is about 20 thousand genes.
Now, you can get it done for less than $500 and get reports of how certain conditions are controlled by hundreds of genes with personalized reports on how to address them.
Conditions such as dementia, autism, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders can be treated using genomics.
The genes load the gun, and the environment and lifestyle pull the trigger
Genes can be modified in order by turning on and off switches that are affecting various pathways in the body that lead to disease.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be “loaded” with all of the information about your genetics with the practical applications that could be implemented?
We want to work on changing the expression of our genes to optimize their function and how they could protect and heal us.
Genomics can help prioritize interventions and address root causes to improve your health, especially for brain-related disorders like autism with just getting a cheek swab- no blood draw needed.
#genomics #autism
Does Your Child Toe Walk?
Does your child walk on their toes?
Approximately 10% of children with autism toe walk.
For many of the kids, there is a sensory processing disorder underlying their toe walking, however there are other possible causes including vitamin and mineral deficiencies, visual disturbances, retained primitive reflexes, neurotransmitter imbalances and food sensitivities.
Nearly 80% of our kids have mitochondrial disorder leading to reduced energy production by our cells.
If our kids’ mitochondria are not producing enough energy, this can lead to difficulty with coordination and muscle strength causing toe walking.
Often, when we treat constipation or mitochondrial dysfunction, the toe walking will improve.
Many kids will toe walk when they are constipated which is so common amongst ASD kids.
They are trying to alleviate some of that pressure in the belly by going on their toes.
Some children are given special braces, casts, or even recommended surgery to eliminate the toe walking.
We would not want to cut off our kid’s hands if their hands are flapping or their feet if they are always jumping, so we should look for and treat any underlying causes before doing anything drastic like surgery.
Toe walking, like many other symptoms that ASD kids exhibit, are clues to help guide us to finding the root causes of a child’s autism.
#toewalking #ASD #Autism