Is nutrition important for kids with Autism?

Autism is one of the health conditions that is often treated very poorly. This leaves many parents in confusion about what they should do to meet their child’s needs and the best approach to supporting them. This article addresses the physiological aspect rather than the pedagogical/behavioral piece looking at whether nutrition is important for kids with Autism

With recent developments and research, it has been found that including Biosuperfood in the diet can help support and improve the behavioral issues related to autism.

What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. It is important to note that some people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms. But for people with ASD, these characteristics can make life very challenging.

How Can Biosuperfood Help Children who have Autism?

Those with children on the spectrum may already know that the condition is a biological and neurological impairment and therefore not come from a psycho-emotional origin. So, the condition can be helped by giving the child food that can change his or her biochemistry.

An autistic child has low glucose metabolism which leads to a low energy supply to neurons, which eventually impacts the critical chemicals in thought-neurotransmitters leading to this health issue. The algae concentrates found in Biosuperfood contain the needed components that can help make more neurotransmitters that can in turn help improve the condition.

It has been found that autistic children are also prone to develop gastrointestinal problems that can perpetuate behavioral issues. But, as research suggests, modifying diet and including the required minerals and vitamins offered by BSF can help to improve digestion and decrease behavioral issues.

Bio-Algae concentrates also consist of 20 amino acids and other essential fatty acids that are important for producing healthy neurons. The best part, BSF consists of 100 trace elements that autistic children have trouble producing along with vitamins that can help distribute trace minerals.

What Are the Additional Health Benefits of Consuming Biosuperfood?

Children who include BSF in the right amounts consistently have managed to reap the following health benefits that include:

• Improvement in the bowel movements
• Alertness and calmness
• Improvement in the eating behavior
• Increase in eye contact
• Decrease in the hyperactivity
• Reduction in hiccups, bloating, and reflux

It goes without saying that Diet is a crucial element to optimize a comprehensive approach to Autism. What to include and avoid, as well as a look at the Ketogenic diet as a possible dietary approach;

Autism Diet

These recommendations are made by Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNS, is a doctor of chiropractic, certified doctor of natural medicine, and clinical nutritionist.

Foods to Eat

Additive-free, unprocessed foods: Food additives may be problematic for ADHD, so it is best to eat unprocessed nutrient-dense whole foods prepared at home.

Bone broth: Bone broth (ideally made from scratch) provides important amino acids and minerals that can help heal leaky gut and improve mineral deficiencies.

Poultry: Poultry like organic turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid, that helps produce serotonin (a calming neurotransmitter). Research has shown that people with autism spectrum disorders may have decreased “tryptophan metabolism,” which can change brain development, neuroimmune activity, and mitochondrial function. (12)

Foods high in probiotics: Try to add fermented foods into the diet, such as kefir, amasai, sauerkraut, or kimchi. These fermented foods contain probiotics, which are essential for helping repair a leaky gut. Increasingly, research is showing that a healthy balance of bacteria in the body has a major impact on autism. I’m not surprised that “evidence is growing that microbes in the gut may make some autism symptoms worse or even cause them.” (13)

In fact, a study published in 2013 showed that compared to healthy children, those with autism had “altered levels of several intestinal bacterial species, including fewer Bifidobacterium, a group known to promote good intestinal health.”  (14)

Wild-caught fish: A diet high in Omega 3’s is critical for brain health and research has shown it can be particularly helpful for someone diagnosed with ASD and hyperactivity. (15) According to a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published in 2017 in the journal Neuropyschiatric Disease and Treatment, a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids may be linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This analysis comes to the conclusion that giving children with autism spectrum disorders omega-3 fatty acids may help with their hyperactivity, lack of energy, and repetitive behavior. (16)

Foods to Avoid

Gluten: Some parents of children with ASD say that their child’s symptoms get worse after eating gluten, which could mean that their child is sensitive to it. It’s a wise idea to have your child tested for food allergies, especially gluten and cow’s milk. To see if a gluten-free diet helps, avoid all foods made with wheat — such as bread, pasta, and wheat cereal.

There are also over 140 scientific studies involving gluten and autism. One of the most recent studies published in 2018 reveals how autistic children who were given a modified ketogenic gluten-free diet with MCT significantly improved core features of autism spectrum disorder assessed by the ADOS-2 and CARS-2 behavioral tests after just three months. (18)

Cow’s dairy: The protein in cow’s dairy, called A1 casein, can trigger a similar reaction as gluten and, therefore, should be avoided in a dairy-free diet. For calcium, increase green leafy vegetables. You may also want to try goat’s milk kefir, which provides calcium and other key nutrients as well as probiotics.

Sugar: Sugar can cause fluctuations in blood sugar leading to behavioral problems. Avoid any forms of concentrated sugar including candy, desserts, soda, or fruit juices. Sugar has also been shown to have major negative effects on the brain.

Food coloring and dyes: Children with autism, especially those that also have ADHD, can be sensitive to a variety of food dyes and colorings. Therefore, all processed foods should be avoided. Many experts in the U.S. believe that the FDA should require manufacturers to include a label warning parents that artificial colors may affect hyperactivity in some children. (19)

Soy: Soy is a common food allergy and contains phytic acid, a type of antinutrient that impairs nutrient absorption and can irritate the intestines causing leaky gut syndrome.

The Ketogenic Diet for Autism

Two studies on people and five studies on animals have shown that the keto diet, which is low in carbohydrates and high in fat, might be a good way to treat autism. While large-scale research is still required, animals on the ketogenic diet have markedly lower instances of behaviors common to that model of autism, such as social deficits, mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced sociability, communication, increased repetitive behavior, stress response deficits, and microbiome issues.  (20,  21, 22, 23, 24)

In children, a pilot study found that most of the subjects displayed “mild-to-moderate improvements” when rated on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Two of the children had “significant improvements.” (25)

A case study of a child with both epilepsy and autism reported that the patient lost a lot of weight and improved in both cognitive and behavioral symptoms of autism. This particular patient dropped from a 49 to a 17 on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, moving from a severely autistic rating to “non-autistic,” boasting a 70-point IQ increase. (26)

How Much BSF Should be Included in the Diet?

Biosuperfood as a part of your strategy helps supports brain health as it’s nano-nutrition structure easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, unlike synthesized molecules in many vitamins and supplements. Children should start gradually with the F1 formula, building up to 6 capsules per day.

Download these guidelines for suggested usage and titration.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not reviewed any of the statements provided on this website. This website’s products are not meant to be used in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. Information from this website or this business should not be used in place of direct, individualized medical care or advice. All decisions pertaining to your health must be made by you and your medical professionals. Regarding the identification and management of any illness or condition, you are advised to speak with your medical professional.