Nutrition and Your Autistic Child

It seems like common sense that a well nourished child is a happier child. Many parents have noticed moody or cranky behavior in their young children before meal time or after school when they arrive home hungry. For an Autistic child, however, who may not be able to accurately communicate his or her needs, this hunger may go unnoticed. Or they may not want to eat and may have many food aversions. For these reasons, integrating nutrition therapy into treatment for children with autism is critical.

In many cases, nutrition is not an integral part of overall therapy at diagnosis. Yet many parents who eventually seek out this information on their own, are getting nutrition information from questionable sources. Some parents may not take nutrition therapy into consideration at all.

Autism is complex and involves a spectrum of challenging behaviors, so it is natural for both parents and caregivers to initially focus directly on controlling those behaviors. In many cases, the health care team includes a physician, occupational therapist, speech therapist and behavior therapist; but does not include a registered dietitian to provide nutrition therapy. What is interesting is that almost all autistic children have nutritional deficiencies, food intolerance, or gastrointestinal disorders that often are not thoroughly addressed. While studies involving the significance of the effect nutrition status has in the management of autism are preliminary, there is good reason to consider filling this gap in treatment.

The goal of nutrition therapy in autism is to support the structure and function of the child's brain and body to perform at their optimal level and to maximize the child's brain function so that the response to other treatment is enhanced. Proper nutrition therapy should include a comprehensive nutrition assessment and also address feeding problems, any gastrointestinal problems, or need for vitamin and mineral supplementation.

Imagine a child who has difficulty communicating his or her needs, feeling uncomfortable every time he eats due to unknown food sensitivities or intolerance. This sends a negative message to avoid those foods or avoid eating all together. Children with food allergies are at higher risk for nutrition-related problems and decreased growth, but children with autism are more negatively affected due to their problems with sensory integration dysfunction.

Allergy symptoms may include hives, coughing, eczema, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, gastrointestinal reflux, watery eyes, nasal congestion or sneezing. To determine which foods are problematic, an "Elimination/Challenge Diet" is applied. Once problem foods are removed from the diet, the discomfort is resolved, and the child becomes more open to mealtime. A well-nourished child is a better-behaved child. In many cases, children who undergo nutrition assessment and treatment, have a formed bowel movement for the first time in his or her life. Imagine how eliminating this discomfort helps a child!

Many autistic children may also have a subclinical nutrition deficiency. This is a deficiency of a particular vitamin, mineral, or essential fatty acid that is not severe enough to produce a classic deficiency symptom, but rather has more global, subtle effects that result in loss of optimal health and impairment of body processes. These subclinical deficiencies can cause irritability, poor concentration, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances or loss of appetite. While it is best to determine which vitamin or mineral the child may be deficient in, minimally a standard multi-vitamin and mineral supplement is recommended. Look for supplements that have the USP label on them, and those that are free of colors, allergens or artificial flavors to eliminate any possible food intolerance issues. Using liquid forms that can be mixed into favorite foods (such as applesauce, yogurt, juices, or sherbet) is one strategy for children who have difficulty chewing or swallowing vitamins. Asking a pharmacist to compound a multivitamin and mineral supplement that is age appropriate is another option.

In addition to the multivitamin/mineral, omego-3 fatty acids have been shown to be helpful as well. Numerous studies indicate that Omega-3 fatty acids are deficient in those who have ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Abnormalities in fatty acid metabolism may account for many features common in these conditions. There is some preliminary evidence that it is also deficient in children with autism. For children ages seven and older, 650 milligrams per day of an Omega-3 that provides both EPA and DHA is recommended. For children four to six years of age, 540 milligrams per day is recommended, and for children aged one to three, 390 milligrams per day is needed.

Much more research is needed in the area of nutrition and autism, but clearly nutrition is a key piece of the treatment puzzle that is often missing. Speak with your health care team about a thorough nutrition assessment for your autistic child.

Rosanne Rust, MS, RD, LDN
Registered Dietitian
Nutrition Consulting, Writing, Lectures
http://www.rustnutrition.com
Licensed Provider for Real Living Nutrition Services®

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Do You Know Your Nutrition Facts? A Psychology Self Help Test

Knowing the nutrition facts can be beneficial to us. It determines the health conditions and risk factors. For example, when it comes to nutrition and their corresponding value, glucose should be kept in healthy levels; however, when the person is at higher risks for contracting diabetes, glucose levels in the blood must be controlled.

Psychological tests help determine the person whether he is getting enough of the essential nutrients ore when he is getting beyond what should be given. In the case of diabetics, by answering psychology self-help test, they will know if their glucose is high or low. Self-help test for this type usually includes questions about the kinds of foods normally and frequently eaten and the portion. Salts and sugars, even sweeteners are also asked.

Proper nutrition is important in keeping healthy body and mind. Proper nutrition can be taken from foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats and poultry products. It is also important to follow the Required Daily Allowance of each nutrient. Balance is the key; deficiency in any of the nutrient can lead to serious health issues if left unsolved. Overconsumption of nutrients can also be bad for the health and weight.

Equally important about nutrition is the different value a person needs. Depending on his condition and needs, the nutrition of the person can be adjusted to best suit the person. If the problem has something to do with weight, then nutrition facts can be of help. Depending on the weight again, his calorie and carbohydrate consumption may need adjustment. Psychology self-help test can give you the kick-off start on knowing all facts about proper nutrition.

On the web, there are many psychology self-help tests to help you with your needs. There can be tests on sodium, fruits and vegetables, fats, calories, fats, fats substitute, trans-fatty acids and many more.

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Nutrition and Obesity

There are nearly 34 million people in the United States alone who are obese by the medical definition - more than 20% over their optimal body weight. The combined total of people in the country who are currently dieting, who have just finished a diet, who have given up dieting, and who are about to start a diet numbers about 20 million. Fitness and nutrition are a one billion dollar industry.

There are no carb, low carb, slow carb, no fat, low fat, high protein and extremely high protein diets - and none of them work very well, at least not for very long. Some even go to the extreme of all liquid diet plans. Why do these diets have such poor results?

- The body cannot survive without food. It can't be just any food, either. There has to be enough variety to provide all the nutrients the body needs to function properly. This includes all three of the macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

- A liquid diet is not only difficult to maintain, it may end up being harmful in the long run.

- Missing meals may actually cause weight gain because it slows down the metabolism and reduces thermogenesis.

- Having a balanced diet is always better than just not eating.

- Very few people attempt to learn what their bodies require before starting a diet. It's a good idea to consult a doctor, dietician or nutritionist before making any major changes in dietary plans.

Why Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fats Are So Necessary

All three of the macronutrients are needed for different reasons. Fat and carbohydrates are mostly used as fuel for the body, but they have other functions as well. Protein can also be a source of energy, but it has a number of other functions to perform as well, including:

- Building and repairing cells, such as the cells that comprise RNA and DNA

- The creation of enzymes that digest food and create cells

- The creation of chemicals that create neurotransmitters, which send message along the nerves throughout the body

- The creation and maintenance of connective tissue

- The creation of cell membranes

- The maintenance of fluid balance, preventing too much fluid (causing edema or heart disturbances) or too little fluid (which causes dehydration)

- The regulation of the pH level in the blood

- The formation of certain hormones and enzymes, excepting those eight essential amino acids that must come from food sources

- The proper health of the immune system because antibodies are proteins.

- The creation of certain hormones that help regulate digestion, sleep and ovulation

Are Liquid Diets the Answer?

Not everyone even loses weight on an all-liquid diet. For one thing, it is terribly difficult to maintain. The body will always crave solid food, so even if some weight is initially lost, it will become harder and harder to avoid giving in to temptation. Usually, after a prolonged lack of solid food, too much food is eaten to make up for the lack and the weight comes right back. In fact, more weight is often gained than was lost.

Liquid diets often make poor weight loss plans, but they can be a good start to something more easily maintained. All-liquid diets suffer from a number of flaws, such as:

- Slowing down the metabolism, as the body begins to perceive it is starving, which will cause more calories to be stored as fat, rather than burned as energy

- Amenorrhea or a cessation of menstrual cycles unrelated to pregnancy

- Constipation due to the lack of food for the digestive tract to push, which causes waste materials to back up

- Liquid diets that are high in protein can cause electrolyte imbalances serious enough to affect the rhythm of the heart.

- A quarter of those who are on long term liquid diets will develop gall stones, especially anyone who has a family history, or other risk factors, for such developments.

How Skipping Meals Affects Weight Gain

Skipping meals causes your body to start holding on to any food it gets. The human body is governed by a number of hormonal signals. Hunger, or a lack of energy from food, creates the hunger hormone (ghrelin), which most people respond to by eating. When the body feels it has had enough food, it releases the satiety hormone (leptin). A deficiency in leptin is why some eat more than they need and still feel hungry. If the hunger hormone is released, but no food is provided, the body will start burning fat. It will also slow down a number of body functions that take energy, including metabolism. After that, more food will be stored as fat, rather than burned as energy.

Keep Everything in Balance

Together, fats, carbohydrates and proteins make up the there macronutrients. All three of these are needed in healthy diets, despite what the no-fat and no-carbohydrate diets that have become so popular might say. It is important, however, that these be the right kinds of fats and carbohydrates in the right amounts. Fats should still be the smallest part of a healthy diet. These fats should all be of the monounsaturated types, such as olive oil, avocadoes and Omega-3 fatty acids. Carbohydrates should be the biggest part of your diet, provided they are the correct kind - complex carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are found in foods such as fruits and vegetables, and whole wheat breads and pastas. Complex carbohydrates slowly digest, which means they don't cause an insulin spike as simple carbohydrates (white bread and sugary foods) do. Insulin spikes lead to weight gain.

Learn How Much Is Enough

You will need to know how many calories you need to keep your current weight before you know how many calories you'll have to drop to lose weight. Once you've got that down, it's time to create a diet plan that gives you the macronutrients you need in order to have slow and steady weight loss. If you are on medications or being treated for any medical or physical disorder, these need to be taken into consideration before you make any big changes. Consulting a physician should not just be a suggestion - it should be standard practice.

About Protica Research

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of protein-rich, capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect protein beverage, IsoMetric, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility.

You can learn more about Protica at http://www.protica.com

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Longevity Now - Scam? - Nutrition and Its Connectivity to Longevity

Is Longevity Now a scam? The subject of anti aging and longevity has always been discussed by people regardless of their background. It is a very popular topic for discussions and lots of people are looking for ways to add years to their life and quickly boost their health condition. Aging has been seen as a process that needs to be prolonged for as long as possible, and David Wolfe of Longevity Now has promised that his strategies can help a person reverse the effects of aging effectively.

1. How to Improve your Diet's Nutrition Using the Longevity Now Strategies?

David recommends a number of ways to quickly and naturally boost the nutritional value of meals by adding small doses of super foods to them. These super foods are known to contain medicinal properties that can help maintain a body's balance. These foods are listed and discussed in detail inside his strategy guides and tutorial videos.

2. What Are the Benefits of Using the Longevity Now Methods?

These strategies recommended by David are based on his years of research in the field of anti-aging and nutritional health. By learning to make these simple changes to my diet and lifestyle, I am beginning to feel much healthier and active than I have been before I started eating the recommended super-foods.

3. What Are Some of the Super-foods Recommended by David Wolfe?

Some of the super-food he recommends include Maca, Honey, Royal Jelly, Acai, Incan Berries, Coconuts, Goji Berries and Cacao etc. Users will learn exactly how to adopt these nutritious foods in a variety of methods to include them into their diets for better health.

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Alzheimer's Nutrition

It is important to keep the Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients healthy by giving them the right kind of food. Nutrition may play a key part in minimizing the symptoms and side effects of this disease.

Symptoms of AD

Since AD starts slowly, the first symptom usually is forgetfulness. In its early stage, people with AD may have difficulty remembering activities and events that recently happened, names of familiar things and even people.

As the disease progresses, this forgetfulness will start to significantly affect daily activities. Those in the middle stages of AD may already forget how to brush their hair or their teeth and cannot recognize people who are close to them. They start having problems in speech, comprehension, writing and reading. In later stages, people with AD either become aggressive or anxious and will even wander away from home.

Diagnosis of AD

If the disease is diagnosed early, the symptoms will be treated at once, adding to both the patient and caregiver's level of comfort in managing the disease.

Doctors normally diagnose AD by making use of several procedures. First is through brain scans followed by medical tests of urine, blood or spinal fluid. Doctors then give various tests for problem solving, memory, attention, language and counting after questioning the person's health and medical history. The doctor will also check into the patient?s ability to do daily activities.

These tests might also help doctors tell if the person has depression, thyroid problem, brain tumor or disease of blood vessels in the brain. Sufferers, on the average, live from eight to ten years after their diagnosis. A few managed to live for almost 20 years after the onset.

AD sufferers need all the care, understanding and attention they can get from family members, along with the best medical treatment from doctors to ensure that they will be taken cared of.

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Why is Nutrition Important For Weight Loss?

Why is nutrition important when you are trying to lose weight? Most people understand why eating right is necessary if you are trying to build muscle.

Muscle fibers are composed of protein. If there's not enough protein in a person's diet, it won't matter how much they work out. They will never be able to build muscle. Many other nutrients must be present in the diet, as well. But, what role does nutrient intake play in appetite and weight loss?

If you are overweight, you have probably tried and failed to lose weight in the past. What caused you to fail? If you're like most people, the answer is hunger.

You were hungry all of the time, sometimes even after eating a meal. You were probably tired all of the time, too tired to workout. So, even though everyone kept telling you that you needed to stick to your diet and your exercise plans, you couldn't do it.

The question is this. Why were you so hungry? The answer to that question is the same as the answer to; why is nutrition important.

When most people are trying to lose weight, they cut back on calories. In order to lose weight, you must consume fewer calories than you burn. You burn calories when you are exercising and when your body is at rest, even when you are sleeping.

But, the sensation of being hungry and the miserable feelings that come along with it are regulated by your brain and your hormones. Regardless of how many calories you consume, you can still feel hungry.

In order to keep your brain happy, you need to keep your hormones balanced. In order for your hormonal production to be balanced, you must consume the right nutrients. So, why is nutrition important for weight loss? Your nutrient intake keeps your hormones balanced and stabilizes your appetite.

When you eat empty calories or those that are processed very quickly by the digestive system, the hormone insulin starts pumping through your bloodstream. Its purpose is to get the cells to absorb all of this new glucose created by those calories, as energy.

When the cells have no need for the energy, the glucose is converted into fatty acids, within the liver. The fatty acids may be used if they are needed, but typically, they will be stored in fat cells.

So, why is nutrition important for weight loss? If the foods that you eat are rich in nutrients and processed slowly by the digestive system, there will be no spike in insulin levels.

In addition, if your body is getting all of the nutrients that you need, your brain will feel satisfied. It will not continue to put out the "hunger" signal.

In order to get all of the nutrients that your body and brain needs to feel satisfied, without consuming too many calories, you will need a good nutritional supplement. There's simply no other way to do it.

If you are already taking a multi-vitamin and you are still having trouble controlling your weight, because of hunger, you may need to change the foods that you eat. This is by no means a complete answer to; why is nutrition important for weight loss or in general. It's just the tip of the iceberg. The more you learn, the more successful you will be.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a health writer. Currently she is writing a series of articles about losing weight. Learn more about why nutrition is important at at http://www.total-health-and-fitness.net

Special Pregnancy Nutrition Needs

It is commonly known that nutrition is a critical part of everyday life. However, during pregnancy nutrition becomes even more critical for the health of you and your baby. Not only is nutrition critical during pregnancy, the nutritional needs of your body are different during this period of your life. Different nutritional needs develop because of changes in your body as well as the needs of a developing fetus. Your body is under a lot of physical stress during pregnancy which increases the need for special nutrition and added vitamins.

As soon as you find out that you are pregnant you need to consult your physician. The two of you should develop a pregnancy nutrition and fitness plan, that should be implemented as soon as possible. The first three months of your pregnancy are the most important because this is when most of your baby's organs and brain are being developed. Proper nutrition during pregnancy can minimize the risk of birth defects, malformations and miscarriage. The first three months are when most miscarriages occur.

You should immediately begin taking special prenatal vitamins to ensure the health of you and your baby. This will help to ensure that your developing baby receives all the right vitamins that are needed. Folic acid is one of the most needed vitamins during pregnancy and women rarely obtain a sufficient amount through their diet. Prenatal vitamins need to replace the vitamins that you are currently taking. Your regular vitamins although sufficient when you are not pregnant, may be detrimental to your developing baby during pregnancy. A pregnancy specific nutrition and fitness plan will help ensure a happy and healthy baby and will also make you feel better during your nine month journey.

Turn on the Water Works

Although drinking 6-8 glasses of water is highly recommended for everyone, water becomes more important when you are pregnant. In fact, during pregnancy many experts recommend that you drink 10-12 glasses of water daily. Water does not include juice, soda, coffee of other types of beverages, it only includes water. You need to keep in mind that everything that you consume during pregnancy passes through to your unborn baby. Not only is water extremely important for a multitude of reasons, you should probably avoid or severely limit your intake of soda and coffee. These beverages, provide numerous chemicals that may not be healthy for your developing baby.

Drinking a lot of water may be difficult and many women find it easier to keep a water bottle with them at all times so they can continuously sip water throughout the day. If you do not like the taste of plain water, you can always add a small amount of juice or a twist of lemon to add some flavor. Extra water is needed to aide in your baby's development, to remove waste from your system and to help ensure adequate flow of nutrients to your baby. Drinking alot of water may also minimize or prevent some of the ailments you commonly experience during pregnancy, such as nausea, constipation, and swelling. Severe constipation is a common symptom during pregnancy because your developing baby depletes the water in your system.

Pregnancy Nutrition - Foods to Avoid

Your body and developing baby are much more vulnerable to bacteria and other contaminants during pregnancy. As a result, there are certain foods that you will be advised to either avoid completely or limit during your pregnancy. Here is a partial list of items that you need to avoid or limit:

1. raw eggs, this may include certain dressings or sauces;


2. unpasteurized milk and cheese, this may include certain soft cheeses;


3. raw or rare fish and meats;


4. fish that tend to have high mercury levels;


5. caffeine and alcohol;


6. unwashed vegetables; etc.

Unwashed vegetables are very bad because of the pesticides and bacteria that they may carry. Caffeine in moderation may be acceptable but make sure you obtain specific details regarding the quantity that is advised. Your doctor and a pregnancy nutritional guide should be consulted to develop a complete list for you to follow.

Summary and Additional Resources

Pregnancy nutrition and fitness are extremely important for the health of you and your developing baby. Your baby has special nutritional requirements that begin at the moment of conception. The first three months of pregnancy are the most important because that is when your baby's organs and brain are being developed. It is also the time that most miscarriages occur.

Proper specialized nutrition can also make you feel better and provide additional energy during pregnancy which is critical because of the added stress that is being placed on your body. You will need to make sacrifices but it will pay off in the long run for you and your baby. When you see your healthy beautiful baby for the first time, you will know that it was all worth it!

There is a lot of information that you need to know about pregnancy and pregnancy nutrition. Although your doctor and loved ones can help, there is too much to learn for this method to be sufficient. We provide comprehensive pregnancy information and recommended pregnancy guides. We review the most popular guides to find the ones that are best for your needs.

Donna maintains http://www.MyPregnancyStages.com which is dedicated to providing the best pregnancy information and resources for your needs. She also helps pregnant and uninsured women save money on medical maternity costs. Full details can be found at http://www.MyPregnancyStages.com