As much as I would love to report otherwise, the autism
epidemic is getting worse.
The official numbers for autism diagnosis is now 1 in 100,
according to the US Department of Health and Human
Services. It used to be 1 in 150. And in the 1980s, it
was around 1 in 2,500.
It also strikes males 4 times more often than females.
The cause
======
Many theories exist about what causes autism, including:
- mercury in vaccinations,
- genetics,
- environmental toxins (including heavy metals,
pesticides and flame retardants),
- viral or bacterial infections,
- disruption of early fetal brain development and
- diet.
(I personally know three different people who swear their
kids were normal up until the day they had their MMR
vaccine...and now they are autistic.)
Although the causes of autism are up in the air, there
seems to be a constant among autistic children:
Most of them have chronic digestive problems, including
leaky gut syndrome and high levels of the bad bacteria
Clostridium tetani in their systems.
This has lead to increasing research into the links
between autism and intestinal flora.
The link
======
According to Mark Brudnak, PhD, author of "The Probiotic
Solution," a child may have a reaction to a vaccine or an
infection that disrupts how certain genes in their body
switch on or off. This can cause malfunctioning in the
child's immune and digestive systems.
When this occurs, proteins are no longer properly broken
down in the GI tract. Also, the good bacteria and healthy
cells in the intestinal walls die off, the bad bacteria
(like Clostridium tetani) flourish, and the gut lining
becomes like a sieve (called leaky gut syndrome).
When the gut wall is leaky, incompletely digested proteins
like casein (the protein in dairy products) and gluten (the
protein in wheat) seep out into the bloodstream.
Then these proteins can travel to the brain and cause it
to trigger opiate-like effects (like being on morphine),
which is a common symptom of children with autism.
That's why parents of autistic children are frequently
told to eliminate casein and gluten from their child's
diet...and they see great results when they do.
The promise of probiotics
===================
Since probiotics are very effective in helping to
alleviate leaky gut syndrome and achieving a healthy flora
balance, many researchers and forward-thinking healthcare
professionals are recommending probiotics for children with
autism.
And the results have been VERY promising.
One medical study in particular has proven so successful
that the study technically "failed," according to a New
Scientist report on September 9, 2006.
The study, by Professor Glenn Gibson at Reading
University, UK, found that autistic children vastly
improved their concentration and behavior when given
probiotics.
He studied 40 autistic children, aged 4 to 8. Half were
given the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus Plantarum while
the other half received a placebo. The parents were asked
to record their children's mood and behavior in a diary.
It was supposed to have been a blind study, where the
participants were not told who was taking the actual
probiotics and who was taking placebos.
But the results were too obvious. Parents whose autistic
children were taking the actual probiotics saw such drastic
improvements in their children's behavior that they knew
their children were taking the real thing.
This led to problems at the crossover point of the study,
where the two groups were supposed to switch medicines.
The parents whose children were taking the real probiotics
refused to make the switch because their children had
improved so dramatically!
That's why the study was considered a "failure"--because
the second half couldn't be completed. But the results
spoke for themselves.
Hundreds of similar studies have been and are currently
being conducted that provide hope for children with this
devastating condition.
Two super bacteria
===============
Two bacteria that are showing a LOT of promise with autism
are Lactobacillus plantarum (used in Dr. Gibson's study
above) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
In addition to showing promise with helping to alleviate
autism symptoms, these powerhouse research-grade strains
also help your body in other ways:
- L. plantarum 299v helps reduce bad (LDL) cholesterol
levels while boosting your overall immune response and
fighting off pathogens like E. coli.
- L. rhamnosus GG has been shown to help shorten diarrhea
(and prevent it altogether), relieve constipation, and
prevent lactose intolerance.
It also alleviates symptoms of IBD and IBS, helps ease
yeast and urinary tract infections and strengthens the gut
wall (which is vital for leaky gut syndrome).
And if you have a loved one with autism, I encourage you
to have them use Super Shield, then write to us and let us
know their experience.
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
PS: To maintain properly balanced intestinal flora, it's
also essential to eat a fiber-rich, alkalizing diet. The
manuals in Great Taste No Pain show you exactly what to do,
and the recipe book makes eating right positively delicious:
- http://www.greattastenopain.com/great.asp
=============
About the Author
Sherry Brescia is a natural health researcher, president
of Holistic Blends, Inc. and author of the mega best-
selling Great Taste No Pain Health System.
She has over 20 years experience in the medical research
field, and cured herself from IBS in 1992 by changing her
diet and eating the way she now teaches in her Great Taste
No Pain system.
Sherry has made it her life's mission to help others with
digestive challenges by educating them about the role of
diet in overall health and the importance of an alkaline pH.
**The FDA has not evaluated all of these statements. The
contents of this email are not to be considered medical
advice and are for educational purposes only. If you are
experiencing health challenges, always consult your doctor
for medical advice and follow it even if it contradicts the
contents of this email.**
