Maintaining Gastrointestinal Health Among Children With Autism

With all the research and studies being done on the subject of autism, it is no longer surprising to hear or learn about any new connections between autism and other parts of one's body. The connection isn't always (or is never) clear cut, which means it cannot be determine if the said connection can be the cause or simply the effect of autism. However, many experts and medical professionals have learned to take advantage of these connections to treat the symptoms of autistic children. This is the same rationale among people who use antioxidants to treat individuals with autism. And this is also the same idea that gives life to the theory that gastrointestinal health is connection to autism.

So how does this theory work?

Any parent of an autistic child would know that, more often than not, diarrhea is a prevailing problem for their child. Although it is not a general condition, a significant number of children with autism suffer from constant diarrhea or loose bowel. Besides this, many children with autism also complain of stomach ache and constipation often. Needless to say, children with autism do not have the healthiest digestive systems around. They often suffer from the "leaky gut" syndrome, a problem caused by damaged bowel linings and parasite infections in the gut, among others. Leaky gut syndrome can cause a number of complications, such as the mal-absorption of nutrients from other parents of the body.

The reason for this among autistic individuals? Their imbalance gut flora. The digestive tract is home to numerous bacteria-good and bad. The good bacteria, naturally, should overpower the bad bacteria by 85 percent, otherwise there will be an imbalance. Obviously, such imbalance exists among children with autism. In fact, it was learned that their gut flora is infested by a bacteria called clostridia, a specie connected to gangrene, colitis, botulism, tetanus, and food poisoning. Naturally, because of the imbalance, the autistic child's gastrointestinal health suffers.

Of course, it is possible to maintain good gut flora despite the overwhelming presence of the clostridia. One of the more popular techniques used here is the intake of probiotics. Probiotics have been around for centuries. They are components of food substances that can promote good health. But more than general good health, probiotics can improve the microbial balance in one's digestive tract.

But more than that, a much cited research journal in the Reading University in the United Kingdom published a study in 2006 that demonstrates how probiotics can not only help gastrointestinal health but also the overall well being an autistic child. The study used 40 children, half of which were given probiotics and the others fake probiotics. None of the involved parties knew which they had. The parties were asked to give the substance to their children for a few weeks, after which the other 20 will receive the fake probiotics while the rest gets the real one. While supposedly a blind research, the results were so obvious that the involved parties who received the real probiotics refused to switch. The research was a failure, but what it presented was promising. Why? Because those who took the real probiotics noted improved abilities and skills among their children.

The study shows that gastrointestinal health and the overall being can be connected. Still, although it is not entirely proven, probiotics remain to be helpful.

The Link Between Autism And Mercury

What does mercury got to do with anything-specifically autism?

A lot, if you base it on numerous researches and surveys conducted over the years. It may seem far-fetched how mercury, a metal substance, can cause the brain development disorder many have thought to be due to genetics, but the link, they say, is there. According to the researches conducted in the past five years, such as the ones done in the Journal of American Physicians and Doctors, mercury poisoning can damage the brain of a child, thus causing autism.

But if this is true, how does one get exposed to mercury?

Although there are many possible reasons why a child can be exposed to mercury, one of the prime reasons why this has become a treatment is due to the fact that mercury can be found in vaccines-as in the vaccines infants and children had to take. These vaccines contain a preservative called thimerosal, an organomercury substance. Thimerosal is around 50 percent mercury in terms of weight, and this is the exact substance that infants and children had to take with their vaccines for common ailments such as mumps, measles, and rubella (or the MMR vaccine). Now, it wouldn't be a problem if the body can naturally expel the mercury from its system. Unfortunately, it can't. Not everyone can expel mercury from their bodies. The cumulative amount of mercury in the body often causes the damage. According to researches claiming mercury can cause autism, the metal substance stays in the body, damaging the brain and hindering it from developing. This is how mercury can cause autism, at least according to such claims.

Of course, concerned groups and offices try to disprove the claim. America's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention office claims that there is no link between mercury poisoning and autism, saying that vaccines have always been safe for children. However, this is not entirely true. During the 1970s and the early 1980s, many individuals have successful filed cases against medical practitioners for their use of vaccines on people who have suffered from various disorders and conditions. When not used properly, vaccines can be very dangerous and harmful. Also, there have been reports that say countries that do not extensively use vaccines are better off when it comes to the number of children suffering from autism.

And speaking of extensive use of vaccines, it should be noted that several years ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only recommend the use of three vaccines. Today, this recommendation number has reached more than 20. Naturally, if mercury does cause autism, then it is only natural why the number of autism cases has gone up in the recent years. More than 20, after all, is way too much. Perhaps this is one of the environmental and external factors that the medical sectors say that could trigger autism in the body?

It is possible to treat autism symptoms when you consider that autism is caused by mercury poisoning. One popular treatment used here is called chelation, wherein the metal substances are removed from the body. It is also possible to use natural supplements in order to help facilitate the expulsion of the chemical from the body. Antioxidants, for one, are known to help eliminate harmful toxins, chemicals, and free radicals in the body. Many parents swear that these treatments do work.