Naida's Plan: Effective Autism Diet Plan & Lifestyle Changes

If you think your child could be sick

Core problem may be in their stomach

We always knew Naida was sick, I mean she had a fever for four years. In the rare times she felt good she could talk to us. We kept trying to figure out what was wrong. Her blood test led us to a research group in Boston that had made two important discoveries. In 2016 they autopsied 20 people (mostly children) who had been diagnosed ASD. They found that 9 out of 12 had a weakened intestinal barrier and all 8 samples tested had an altered blood-brain barrier with increased neuroinflammation. These conditions are reversible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MCA?

Mast cell activation is the excessive activation of mast cells, causing them to release inflammatory chemicals such as histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cytokines, possibly contributing to widespread inflammation. Since a stomach issue may be causing mast cell activation it's important to remove other things in the environment that could also be activating mast cells.

What is Histamine Food Management?

When mast cells are actively releasing histamine, limiting dietary histamine may help reduce the total histamine load on the body. Things like leftover meats, counter thawed meats, some fruits and vegetables like strawberries and tomatoes are high in histamine. Learn about low and high histamine foods, especially meat thawing.

What are Free Radicals?

Free radicals are highly reactive atoms that can increase damage to cells. Sometimes we create free radicals during cooking, like deep-fried foods, burnt or charred meats or reused cooking oils. They can also be found in processed snacks like chips and other packaged foods. Free radicals can irritate the gut lining and may contribute to inflammation.

What is Microbiome?

Microbiome is a living control system in your gut that helps decide what gets absorbed, what gets blocked, and how your immune system reacts. Improve microbiome health with foods like cooked and cooled potatoes, green bananas, cooked apples, cooked blueberries, carrots, zucchini, asparagus, garlic and onions.

What is DAO?

DAO (Diamine Oxidase) is an enzyme in your body that breaks down histamine, especially the histamine that comes from food. Support DAO health with foods like fresh chicken, fresh turkey, cooked apples, cooked blueberries, carrots, zucchini, broccoli, asparagus and garlic.

Are the diet changes permanent?

No, most of the changes help heal the stomach and make sure it stays healed while the other systems improve. But remaining gluten free or very little gluten may be necessary long term.

Sensory Development

Learn about sensory development

Having a strong understanding of sensory development should make this process go a lot smoother. The diet and lifestyle changes could have the stomach functioning more normal within a few months. Then the nervous system needs to self correct and sensory activities can be an important part of that. Here are some basics.

Categories of sensory

There are 8 different sensory categories but the two most important to this process are vestibular and proprioception. Optimizing these sensory activities can help make the process go faster.

Vestibular

Spinning, swinging, jumping, bouncing, rocking, sliding, rolling, climbing, hanging upside down, balancing, tilting head, sudden stops, directional changes.

Proprioception

Pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, squeezing, hugging, crashing, jumping with impact, climbing, crawling, chewing, resistance activities, deep pressure, gripping, throwing, weight-bearing.

Rapid Sensory Development

There may be a phase when all your child wants to do is sensory activities. Accommodating them is the most productive thing for this healing process.

Sensory Access Problem

If your child has an extreme reaction it could be a sensory access problem. Their nervous system may be driving their behavior because of an unmet need. Avoiding these will be an important part of keeping your child regulated.

Replace Sensory with Sensory

When you’re trying to move your child away from one sensory activity it can be helpful to offer another sensory option. For example, if Naida was stuck on jumping and landing, I might offer her a sensory touch toy.

Keep it safe

This healing process is not linear. There will be good days, bad days, progress days, set back days. At times things might seem messy and your child could be more extreme than ever before. Create a safe environment for everyone, remove anything dangerous they can throw. Try to provide them with easy access to sensory activities.

Follow Your Child's Lead

Some of the above ideas were important in helping Naida regulate her nervous system. What your child needs may be different, try to follow their lead and let them find things that help them heal.

Important Things to Understand

Dump Drinking

This healing process may include dump drinking. Dump drinking is a pattern where the body suddenly seeks a large amount of fluid during or after periods of high activation, stress, sensory load, or recovery. Learn about the differences between mass, micro and precise dump drinking. Dump drinking is not a formal medical term. Consult with a knowledgeable doctor if you have any concerns.

Avoid Too Much Sensory

Overdoing sensory activities can cause mast cell activation. Try to redirect your child when you see increasingly hard impacts, crashing repeatedly, sloppy or asymmetrical landings, compulsive repetition, escalating intensity, seeking “bigger and bigger” and difficulty stopping. Too much sensory can turn into short sleep and rough mornings.

Stable Environment

One of the most important things you can do is give your child a stable environment. Treat their nervous system as ‘very fragile’, avoid startling or yelling. Patience and understanding will work in your favor. Both parents need to be ALL IN on healing their child.

Welcome

Diet and Lifestyle Changes to Overcome Non-Speaking Autism Symptoms

If you think your child could be sick

Core problem may be in their stomach

Frequently Asked Questions

Sensory Development

Learn about sensory development

Categories of sensory

Vestibular

Proprioception

Rapid Sensory Development

Sensory Access Problem

Replace Sensory with Sensory

Keep it safe

Follow Your Child's Lead

Important Things to Understand

We’re here to help

Support Naida’s Healing Journey

This is Not Medical Advice

Welcome

Diet and Lifestyle Changes to Overcome Non-Speaking Autism Symptoms

If you think your child could be sick

Core problem may be in their stomach

Frequently Asked Questions

Sensory Development

Learn about sensory development

Categories of sensory

Vestibular

Proprioception

Rapid Sensory Development

Sensory Access Problem

Replace Sensory with Sensory

Keep it safe

Follow Your Child's Lead

Important Things to Understand

We’re here to help

Support Naida’s Healing Journey

This is Not Medical Advice

Get Naida's Recent Progress Report

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