The apparent increase of incidents of autism spectrum disorders (including Asperger’s syndrome), and the cause of this increase, have been the source of much concern and debate in recent years. Some parents hesitate or even refuse to allow their children to be given standard vaccinations, fearing mercury and other toxins. More recently the medical community is looking into dietary toxicity instead.
Sugars come in three forms – monosaccharides or “simple sugars,” disaccharides, and polysaccharides; however, our bodies can only absorb monosaccharides. When other sugars are ingested, your body must first break them down into monosaccharides.
If this does not occur or occurs slowly, the micorbial flora residing in your belly, which aid with digestion and maintaining a proper ph balance, will feed on these more complex sugars and create an overgrowth of fermenting bacteria in your digestive system, damaging your intestinal walls and immunity. Toxicity and a lowered immune system can create symptoms congruent with an Autism spectrum disorder.
Treating a spectrum of symptoms with a strict diet is difficult and requires years of case studies; however, more and more medical professionals are considering the Specific Carb Diet as a treatment for Autism spectrum disorders. Mary Lou Hulseman of Fallcreek Family Medicine in Indianapolis is one of these professionals. Not only is her own daughter now symptom-free, but she has had similar success with numerous patients in the last decade. Mother Emily Sutherland shares about the improvements she has seen in her son under Dr. Hulseman’s care.
“He is much more reciprocal in his relationships and conversations than ever. His meltdowns are almost non-existent (for awhile he had one or more per day). He is feeling better; he rarely ever gets viruses or infections. He is gaining some much-needed weight (even with the restricted diet – his absorption of vitamins and minerals from his diet is SO much better). He was on three different medications (with various side effects) and now he is off all of them!”
Pamela Ferro, a private practice nurse in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, has treated hundreds of children in her clinic. She is quoted as saying, “Children with autism who are implementing SCD are demonstrating remarkable improvements in bowel function, language, eye contact, self-stimulatory behavior, anxiety, and mood.” For parents of a child with an autism spectrum disorder, these stories offer a hope that no other treatment modality has thus far.