Children's Health - Autism - Important Diet For Autistic Children

Although medication and physical therapies are important for autistic children, without carefully chosen intake of foods with vital nutrients, they will be lessened their effectiveness. In some cases, it may contribute to severity of the symptoms if wrong kinds of food are taken as we mentioned in previous article. It is the responsibility of the parent of autistic children to record daily food intake and carefully observe the reaction of the child during early stage of diagnosis. There are some foods which may increase the autoimmune response, thus weakening the immune system in fighting the forming of cell oxidation and bacteria and virus. Others may decrease the blood circulation to cells, thus interfering with central nervous system in transmitting and regulating information, etc. Here are some important diet for autistic children's parent to consider.

1. Organic Foods

a) Organic vegetables and fruits are grown in the friendly environment without being sprayed with harmful chemicals. They are expensive, comparing to conventional grown foods, but they have their unique benefits for children with autism. Since there are no protection from man made chemicals, the foods spoil easily, they must be rushed to the market as soon as they are harvested, thereby decreasing the loss of nutrients in the foods. If you can buy them fresh, they must be good. Since most autisic children are diagnosis with deficiency of vitamin B6, zinc, selenium and magnesium, please make sure all vegetables and fruits chosen containing high amount of them.

b) Organic meat

It is important that parent who would like to feed their autistic children with meat for intake of protein, please make sure that the animals are organic growth. Otherwise, the existence of growth hormone injected or fed to the animals may interfere with the function of central nervous system in regulating the production of the child's hormones, thus increasing the severity of the symptoms and brain tumors and cancers as we mentioned in previous article. It is for the child's benefit, if the parent can replace them with soy based protein or make sure that the animals are organic growth.

2. Blood circulation

a) Essential fatty acids

Fatty acid besides is vital for the function liver fat and protein metabolism, it also plays an important role in helping our cell in information transmitting as well as reducing the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood stream..

b) Garlic

Garlic is considered as one the super foods, containing certain substances, besides decreasing the forming of plaque accumulated in the arterial wall, it also makes the blood thinner, thereby increasing the circulatory function in transporting the blood throughout our body, including the nervous system, leading to reducing symptoms of autism. Children who take the blood thinner medication should consult with their doctor before applying.

c) Oranges

Orange contains high amount of vitamin C and bioflavonoids besides helping to increase immune system in fighting against autoimmune dysfunction and cells oxidation, they also help to strengthen the capillary walls and increase blood flow in the body.

d) Watermelon

Watermelons are rich in lycopene which not only helps to prevent the irregular cell growth, including tumor and cancer in the brain,but also reduces a buildup of plaque in the arterial wall, thus increasing the circulatory system in transporting oxygen and nutrient to the body cells' need, including central nervous system.

3. Detoxification

a) Leaf green vegetable

Besides containing high amount of vitamin C and other vital vitamins and minerals, it also contains high amount of chlorophyll, one of the substance not only helps to strengthen the arterial wall and decrease the level of bad cholesterol in the blood stream, but also cleanse the body toxins, including heavy metals.

b) Lemons

It is said that high amount of vitamin C in lemon helps to convert accumulated toxins into the a water soluble form and eliminate it through kidney urinary secretion.

c) Garlic

Besides it is important to make our blood thinner for better circulation and increase the immune function in fighting against cell oxidation, it also helps to activate liver enzymes in toxins elimination.

d) Broccoli sprouts

It contains high amount of phytochemicals called isothiocyanates, besides helping to inhibit carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis, it also is considered as enzyme-stimulating agent, helping to reduce inflammation and increase the body in toxins elimination.

There are many more vegetables and fruits have the same functions as above such as cabbage, broccoli, psyllium, etc., please make sure you chose the one that your child likes it.

4. Immune system

a) Soy food

Soy food contains high amount of plant based protein. Research studies show that deficiency of high-quality protein can result in depletion of immune cells, leading to inability of the body to make antibodies, and other immune-related problems.

b) Carrots

Carrot contains high amount of beta carotene which can be converted from vitamin A, it is a powerful antioxidant which not only helps to improve immune system in fighting against irregular cells growth, but also prevents the immune function abnormal function, attacking the body cells.

c) Cold water fish

Cold water fish contains high amount of essential fatty acids, which not only helps to improve the central nervous system in information transmitting, but also is vital for liver function in fighting against toxins accumulating in the the body.

d) Squash

Besides it contains many vital vitamins and minerals, its beta glucans helps to modulate and activate the immune system , thereby increasing the immune function and decreasing the risk of autoimmune diseases, allergies, or yeast infection and inflammation.

5. Digestive problem

Since most children with autism are found to have digestive problem, caused by imbalance of microorganism in the gastrointestinal tract

a) Foods contain digestive enzyme

Since most children with autism have a problem in digesting the complex foods, including those with high fiber. Adding rich digestive enzyme foods help to improve the digestive system in absorbing vital vitamins and minerals, thus decreasing the risk of immune dysfunction and elevating the symptoms of autism caused by nutrients deficiency.

b) The pH balance

Maintaining the corrected levels of Ph helps to reduce the risk of over growth of harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal track and increase the production of digestive enzyme in absorbing vital nutrients for our body. It is said that the autistic child need to have the right levels of magnesium and potassium to maintain a pH balance between 6.5 and 7.5. for protein synthesis and enzyme activity.

Foods containing high amount of digestive enzymes include sprout, legume, papaya and pineapple.

6. Central nervous system

a) Soy

Besides containing high amount of calcium and other vital vitamins and minerals as well as phyto chemicals which are vital for immune system in guarding our body against infection and inflammation, its protein also helps to improve the brain function as a neurotransmitters, because most neurotransmitters are made from amino acids including tryptophan and tyrosine of the protein in food we consume, thus decreasing the severity of the autistic symptoms.

b) Spinach and strawberry

Spinach and strawberry contains high amount of antioxidants which helps to decrease the risk of free radical forming in the central nervous system thereby, increasing the brain cells' functions in regulating the hormone production of glands and improving the transportation of information.

c) Amino acid

Dietary protein is required to be broken down into the amino acids for our body to function, including neurotransmitters, hormones, DNA, enzymes. therefore intake of food with good sources of protein will help to decrease the symptoms of nervous irregular function for children with autism.

There are 2 kinds of dietary protein

a) Complete protein containing all eight essential amino acids includes fish and meat, fowl and eggs, cheese and yogurt.

b) Incomplete protein containing some of the 8 essential amino acids includes grains and legumes, beans and right, but you can combine the incomplete protein to make up a complete protein such as rice and beans.

Since a complete protein is necessary for improving the brain cells's function, not all complete protein risk foods are good for autistic children, some of them may causes allergic reaction as well as interfering the digestive enzyme in nutrients absorption, please consult with your doctor or dietitian before applying.

It is advice for parent with autistic child to keep a food diary and note of their child's behaviours and symptoms alongside all the foods intake. This can help to identify the foods that cause immune allergic reaction and replay them them with other foods containing at least the same nutrients. Once again, please consult with your dietitian or nutritional therapist before applying.

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