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Its amazing how an Autistic child continues to grow and develop considering how their diets are so limited at times. Is this a cause of Autism or a clue to what lies ahead? The more clues the better, the earlier the better as well. this article points to being able to identify children at one month who MAY have an ASD, this would be welcome news as the best remedy for Autism right now is getting the right therapy in Early Childhood.

New research on the finicky eating habits of children with autism finds that while autistic children do tend to eat a less varied diet than other kids, their feeding preferences have little negative effect on their height, weight and growth.

Researchers at the University of Bristol began with a database of all children who were born between 1991 and 1992 and enrolled in a long-term study in Avon, England. The children’s caregivers completed detailed food questionnaires describing the kids’ eating habits at five intervals, beginning at 6 months and continuing to age four and a half. Since autism is generally not diagnosed until after age 2, when children begin speaking, the study captured feeding habits in children well before parents were even aware their children may be affected with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). That means their answers to the questionnaires were less likely to be biased by knowledge of their child’s eventual autism status.

By the end of the study, when the children were 7 years old, 79 had been diagnosed with an ASD, compared with 12,901 who had not.

Researchers found that by the time they were 1 month old, autistic children were already 35% more likely than unaffected children to be slow feeders. By 1 year, their diets were considerably less varied – they ate fewer vegetables and fruits, but they also consumed less sweets and carbonated beverages. By that age, parents also reported that children with ASD were nearly twice as likely to be choosier about their food than unaffected children.

However, the scientists found no significant differences in the total energy intake or overall carbohydrate, fat and protein consumption between the autistic children and the controls at 18 months. All the children were similar in height, weight and body mass index (or BMI, a ratio of height and weight used to measure obesity). “For parents of an autistic child, these data suggest they needn’t be too concerned about their child’s eating habits,” says Pauline Emmett, a nutritionist and one of the authors of the paper published in Pediatrics. “In general, these children are not going to end up malnourished. I think it’s a hopeful message for parents.”

Read more at Time.com

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Biofield – This new term adopted by the National Institutes of Health in the United States describes a growing body of research purportedly showing a subtle human energy field that permeates and extends beyond the physical body. The biofield has been identified by many biophysics scientists as an integral part of our being and oversees the co-ordination and regulation of our physical body, chemical reactions, emotional balance, mental functions, energetic systems and memory. When our biofield is out of balance, we’re out of balance!

Stress to our biofield comes in many forms: Traffic jams. Irate bosses. Fears and phobias. Stressors in these examples, although they are not totally unavoidable, they can be manageable as a result of our ability to exercise positive control over our reactive, emotional human nature.

iRenew BioField Products

Other more constant forms of stress, which are more difficult and if not impossible to avoid altogether as well as being much less manageable, are delivered to us daily without consent arrive in the form of ElectroMagnetic Fields (EMF) also known as ElectroMagnetic Radiation (EMR). ElectroMagnetic Fields (EMF) / ElectroMagnetic Radiation (EMR)

You cannot see it, taste it or smell it, but some believe electromagnetic radiation is becoming one of the most pervasive environmental pollutants in industrialized countries today. Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) or electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are the terms that broadly describe the unnatural energy fields created by the vast array of wired and wireless technologies that have altered the landscape of our lives in countless beneficial ways. However, these technologies were designed to maximize energy efficiency and convenience; not with the possible negative biological effects on people in mind.

Even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued warning, stating, “There is reason for concern” and advises “prudent avoidance.” Based on the existing science, many public health experts believe it is possible we will face an epidemic of cancers and other illnesses in the future as a result of the unnatural frequencies we absorb due to the uncontrolled use of cell phones and increased population exposure to WiFi and other wireless devices.

We live in an invisible fog of EMF which thirty years of science, including over 2,000 peer-reviewed studies, demonstrates massive amounts of evidence of possible serious health risks as a result of excessive exposure to electromagnetic fields. It has been estimated that the average person is exposed to 100 million times more electropollution than was exposed to their great grandparents.

How EMF / EMR stressors affect your BioField?

According to many top ranked scientists and professionals in the medical community, ambient man-made electromagnetic fields, across a range of unnatural frequencies, are believed to be a serious environmental issue. Every aspect of the ecosystem may be affected by electromagetic fields, including the biofields all living species from animals, humans, plants and even microorganisms in water and soil.

In the past few years there has been a drastic increase in the number of people getting brain tumors (not to mention other cancers and disease states like Autism, ADHD, CFIDS and so on). Brain tumors are now the number-one cause of death in children in Australia and the United States. It is now being predicted by epidemiologists, that within the next ten years we could see at least a 1,000 percent increase in this disease state.

Ever growing scientific research corroborates the suspicion that unnatural electromagnetic energy fields may:

* Cause brain tumors
* Harm blood cells
* Cause cellular changes
* Damage your DNA
* Accelerate and contribute to the onset of autism
* Trigger Alzheimer’s disease
* Damage your eyes
* Cause sleep disorders

This mounting scientific evidence suggests that our safety standards are inadequate and out of intelligent caution we must limit our exposure to electromagnetic fields or risk possible negative health consequences in the future.

Protecting ourselves against the electromagnetic fields of unnatural energy is not easy as we are exposed to an estimated 100 million times the levels our great grandparents experienced. So in this new landscape of what some have dubbed ‘e-smog’, it is each individual’s responsibility to take certain precautions and protections against the effects unnatural energy fields are believed, by many doctors and scientists, to have on our biofields and overall health.

iRenew BioField Products

Step #1: Limit Your Electromagnetic Field Exposure

Limit your exposure and exercise prudent avoidance of the electromagnetic fields emitted by electrical devices is crucial in reducing the amount of electromagnetic radiation your body absorbs each day. Here are most common electromagnetic field avoidance and radiation reduction tips:

* Do not stand in front of the microwave while in use.
* Use the speaker phone feature on your cell phone when possible.
* Place your computer tower as far away from your body as possible.
* Place all electric clocks and other electrical devices such as telephones and answering machines at least 6 feet from your bed.
* Use incandescent bulbs instead of fluorescent lighting when possible.
* Use the oven to warm and cook your food instead of the microwave.
* Maintain at least 8 feet from the TV screen.
* Avoid using hair dryers on children.
* Rearrange your office and home area so that you are not exposed the electromagnetic fields from the sides/backs of electric appliances and computers.
* Don’t sit too close to your computer monitor.

Every day, our biofields are impacted by flickering computer monitors, irate bosses, cell phones, emotional stress, tabloid television, and traffic jams just to name a few. We are literally bombarded with electromagnetic radiation and unnatural frequencies that can wear us down. When our biofield is out of balance, we’re out of balance.

Bringing your biofield to a more balanced state is believed by many to increase mental and physical performance, reinforce our natural immunity to stress and enhance our sense of well-being.

Biofield Therapy – The New Science of Healing

Although it seems like magic, it is actually science! It is believed by many that the unnatural energy fields in our environment disrupt the natural energy frequencies on which our biofield operates causing an imbalance throughout our personal energy system.

Your Life’s Energy is Your Biofield

iRenew BioField Products

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Sometimes I wonder if it is better to home school or not. Any ideas? We would love to hear them and your thoughts on home schooling an autistic child, or any child for that matter.

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For the past year or so, I have tried to watch every movie with an Autism link in it in hopes of learning or as a source of inspiration. And for the most part, this has worked in providing insight and further understanding. Recently, I watched the Temple Grandin movie starring Claire Danes on HBO last night. All I can say is very well done and impressive. I highly suggest making time to view this movie which to me was dead on.

Here is a speech given by Temple Grandin that is sure to educate and inspire. Here are some insights from Temple on what to do as soon as you know or see an indication of Autism. “When I was a little kid, I had all the symptoms – no speech and really severe autism,” she says. “You’ve gotta work with the kids really young … My mother made sure I had my first job when I was 13, working for a seamstress. When I was in college, I had internships at a research lab and at a school for autistic kids.” Early intervention is key.

There are a wealth of great tips and insights in this video for anyone who is in contact with an autistic person- Focus on strengths, Don’t punish sensory issues, The Autistic brain is highly detailed and constantly at work, limit surprises. Thinking in pictures- a mind that works like Google search engine for images and more…

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There is no cure for ASD.  Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement.  The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that meet the specific needs of individual children.  Most health care professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.

Educational/behavioral interventions:  Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis.  Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with ASD often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with a child with ASD.

Medications:  Doctors may prescribe medications for treatment of specific ASD-related symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Antipsychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems.  Seizures can be treated with one or more anticonvulsant drugs.  Medication used to treat people with attention deficit disorder can be used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity.

Other therapies:  There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for people with ASD, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies.  Parents should use caution before adopting any unproven treatments.  Although dietary interventions have been helpful in some children, parents should be careful that their child’s nutritional status is carefully followed.

What research is being done?

In 1997, at the request of Congress, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) formed its Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC) to enhance the quality, pace and coordination of efforts at the NIH to find a cure for autism (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-pervasive-developmental-disorders/nih-initiatives/nih-autism-coordinating-committee.shtml). The NIH/ACC involves the participation of seven NIH Institutes and Centers: the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders,  the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute of Nursing Research, and the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  The NIH/ACC has been instrumental in the understanding of and advances in ASD research.  The NIH/ACC also participates in the broader Federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) that is composed of representatives from various component agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the U.S. Department of Education and other government organizations.

In fiscal years 2007 and 2008, NIH began funding the 11 Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE), coordinated by the NIH/ACC.  The ACEs are investigating early brain development and functioning, social interactions in infants, rare genetic variants and mutations, associations between autism-related genes and physical traits, possible environmental risk factors and biomarkers, and a potential new medication treatment.

Where can I get more information?

For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute’s Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN) at:

BRAIN
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
(800) 352-9424
http://www.ninds.nih.gov

Information also is available from the following organizations:

“Autism Fact Sheet,” NINDS. Publication date September 2009.

NIH Publication No. 09-1877

Prepared by:

Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.

All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.

Last updated October 19, 2009

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Written By Lourdes Salvador of www.americanchronicle.com

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability characterized by social withdrawal, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated as causes of autism, moreover a high body burden of mercury and other toxic metals from vaccinations and environmental exposures has been increasingly given more attention.
Thimerosal is mercury containing vaccine preservative added to many childhood vaccines. It is widely suspected as a cause of an increasing widespread epidemic of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
Now, a new study shows that administration of thimerosal leads to long lasting neurological impairment in rats, specifically by altering the neural process of handling noxious stimuli.
Analysis also shows that significant amounts of mercury from thimerosal accumulates in the rat brain and remains long term. The mercury is not readily cleared, as was previously believed. Though mercury readily leaves the blood stream, it does not leave the body. It is now recognized to accumulate in brain tissue.
Additionally, this research is supported by various prior studies which show that children with autism suffer from a weak ability to excrete mercury and that the weaker the ability, the more severe the symptoms of autism.
Now, two new research studies investigating the effects of chelation therapy on the health and behavior of children with autism spectrum disorders have discovered that children receiving chelation to reduce mercury levels had significant improvements.
It appears that mercury may produce they symptom set recognized in the autism spectrum disorders as a form of autism.

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Pitch in $100 to support our work on behalf of those affected by autism by 11:59 PM EST on Friday, Nov. 13, and you could be chosen to receive two complimentary tickets to the Concert for Autism Speaks on Nov. 17.

http://action.autismspeaks.org/Donate100

It’s not often that you’ll find Jerry Seinfeld, the Boss, and a Beltway star like Meet the Press’s David Gregory under one roof.

But they’ll all join us on Nov. 17 at Carnegie Hall to celebrate the movement we’ve built together to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.

In support of that movement and our shared goal, can you pitch in now?

http://action.autismspeaks.org/Donate100

By donating today, you will support our work to fund biomedical research on autism spectrum disorders, helping people affected by them live better lives.

Side benefit: you could join us as a special guest on the 17th as we laugh, rock and cheer at Carnegie Hall.

Thank you for all that you do.

Hope to see you on the 17th,

Mark Roithmayr
President, Autism Speaks

P.S. — If you want to be sure not to miss what’s certain to be an unforgettable night, purchase a ticket for the Concert for Autism Speaks here:

http://action.autismspeaks.org/Nov17Tickets

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