Tag Archives: toxins
Body Detox Part I: Sources Of Environmental Toxicity
We’ve said it before, and we’re going to say it again, the Autistic body is filled with toxicities. Whether its heavy metals, acidic overload, or other toxic waste-like matter, there is often an unhealthy level of these things in the body reaking havok. The first step to all of this is detecting and diagnosing what toxic substances are in the body. We’ve discussed Hair Analysis before (and we also have this special offer for you right now), and the benefits of utilizing this test to detect metals and other materials that may be harming the body.
Breastfeeding and Autism
We’ve all heard the saying “breast is best” and it is fantastic that women are being encouraged to breastfeed their babies because it has so many benefits for both mother and baby.
This month has been chosen by the US Department of Health and Human Services as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month and the department has launched a campaign to highlight the benefits of breastfeeding .
Breast fed babies are at a lower risk of:-
- Allergies
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Urinary tract infections
- Childhood leukemia
- Respiratory infections
- Ear infections
- Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Obesity
- Infections
Women who have breastfed/are breastfeeding their babies:-
- Have a lower risk of contracting breast cancer, ovarian cancer and Type 2 Diabetes
- Are at a lower risk of Postpartum Depression
- Burn 500 calories a day by breastfeeding alone and so can return to their pre-pregnancy weight quicker
- Can save a significant amount of money when compared to those who buy formula – It is estimated that a breastfeeding mom can save between $1,160 and $3,915 depending on the brand of formula the comparison is made against.
Moms are advised to give their babies breastmilk alone for the first 6 months of life (i.e. no weaning) and to try and breastfeed for the baby’s first year.
Breastfeeding and Autism
But hasn’t breastfeeding been linked to an increased risk of autism?
The Dangers of Toxic Cleaning Products
I’ve blogged before about reducing your child’s toxic load to help alleviate symptoms of autism, to cut the risk of autism in subsequent children and to have a healthier home, and today I’m going to talk about one particular chemical and toxin, phenol.
What is phenol?
Phenol, or carbolic acid, is a chemical that both occurs naturally and that can be manufactured. It ranges from being a colorless liquid to being a white crystalline solid and has a distinct sickly sweet or “tarry” smell which is often associated with the smell of hospitals.
Phenol is used in many different products. It is used to make phenolic resins which are used in industries like the automotive, plywood, appliance, nylon and construction industries, and it is also an ingredient in disinfectants like Lysol, antiseptics, cleaning products, medicines, mouthwashes, lozenges and ear and nose drops.
Phenol can also be found in food, as gallic acid and malvin.
Dangers associated with Phenol exposure
There are many dangers associated with dermal (skin) or oral (ingesting it) exposure to phenol, and also breathing it in. These dangers and health risks include skin irritation, poisoning resulting in muscle weakness, tremors, paralysis and even respiratory arrest, liver and kidney damage, cardiac toxicity (damage to the heart) and lung damage.
But what has all this got to do with autism?
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Many studies suggest that the epidemic rise of autism spectrum disorders is due to the fact that we are living in an evermore hostile environment, a world filled with pollution and toxins. We know that our toxic environment is to blame for many diseases and conditions, and now it seems that we can add autism to this list.
Environmental toxins include pesticides, emissions, dioxins and PCBs, Nicotine, Solvents and heavy metals. In this blog post, we will examine the link between heavy metal exposure and autism, and how this can be combated.
Heavy Metals
Some research has linked autism with heavy metal exposure, but what are heavy metals and how are our children exposed to them?
- Mercury – Mercury is used as a preservative (thimerosal) in certain medicines and some vaccines, and is also a by-product emitted by various industrial processes. Mercury is poisonous in high doses and the symptoms of mercury poisoning are incredibly similar to autism symptoms.
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