Nourishing Hope for Autism

By Julie Matthews, CNC

Julie Matthews' book, Nourishing Hope for Autism, is foundational for parents of a child with autism or other neurodevelopmental disorder, such as ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, learning disabilities and developmental delays. Not only does she detail the impact of environmental factors and biochemical impact on a child's developing brain, but she also discusses the impact of nutrients and special diets in improving symptoms in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

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This comprehensive book belongs on the bookshelf of every parent of a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Published in 2008, it was one of the very first books to put together the effects of nutrition, environmental factors and biochemical imbalances in these children.

One of the first pages in the book is a flow chart that shows the following:

Biochemical imbalances => neurological disorder => genetic, biochemical and environmental factors => common physiological symptoms => nutritional strategies and opportunities => impact of nutrients => diet options for autism => holistic nutrition approach.

There’s no one thing that causes autism; instead, there are a variety of factors that contribute to a child’s total load so that when they are exposed to a trigger (which can vary from child to child), that trigger then becomes the “straw that broke the camel’s back”. In the book, Julie discusses some of these contributory factors, such as:

Mercury toxicity
Other heavy metals
Other environmental toxins
Common immune-function pediatric interventions

Candida overgrowth and other types of gut dysbiosis
Ear infections
Antibiotics
Methylation and other genetic predispositions

These contributory factors can lead to common physiological issues such as:

Julie is one of the first well known holistic nutritionists to explore the positive impact of nutrients on the symptoms of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. These nutrients include:

Vitamins
Minerals
Amino acids

Essential fatty acids
Gastrointestinal supplements
Other supplements

Julie is most well known for her work in educating parents about the positive effects of special diets for these children. Her focus is on bioindividual nutrition, meaning what works for one child isn’t always what works for another. Her compendium of nutritional strategies helps a parent to compare and choose among the following special diets:

All of these lead to Julie’s holistic approach to nutrition in improving the health and symptoms of these children. Add this book to your reference library, as you will refer to it time and time again.

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Resources

Articles

Bone Broth Recipe

CBS News: ADHD Diet Study Suggests Healthy Eating May Help Kids

Chicago Tribune: Do Diet Changes Help ADHD Children?

The Feingold Diet: Our Family’s Experience with a Dye-Free Diet

Julie Matthew’s BioIndividual Nutrition recipes

Julie Matthew’s BioIndividual Nutrition Feingold Diet / Failsafe Diet

Our Journey with the Feingold Diet

Books

Adams, Mike. The Truth About Aspartame, MSG and Excitoxins. Truth Publishing, Inc., 2010.

Ballantyne, Sarah. Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease Heal Your Body. Victory Belt Publishing, 2014.

Blaylock, Russell L. Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills. Health Press, 1996.

Bock, Kenneth. Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders. New York, NY. Ballantine Books, 2008.

Campbell-McBride, Natasha. Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia, 2010.

Cordain, Loren. The Paleo Diet Revised: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Foods You Were Designed to Eat. Harvest, 2010.

Davis, Sheri. All Natural Mom’s Guide to the Feingold Diet: A Natural Approach to ADHD and Other Related Disorders. Sheri Davis, 2014.

Ernsperger, Lori, et al. Just Take a Bite: Easy, Effective Answers to Food Aversions and Eating Challenges! Future Horizons, 2004.

Feingold, Ben. The Feingold Cookbook for Hyperactive Children, and Others Associated with Food Additives and Salicylates. Random House, 1979.

Feingold, Ben. Why Your Child Is Hyperactive: The Bestselling Book on How ADHD Is Caused by Artificial Food Flavors and Colors. Random House, 1985.

Galland, Leo. The Effect of Intestinal Microbes on Systemic Immunity. Excerpted from Power Healing. Random House, 1998.

Giustra-Kozek, Jennifer. Healing without hurting: treating ADHD, apraxia, and autism spectrum disorders naturally and effectively without harmful medication. Howard Beach, NY: Changing Lives Press, 2014.

Herbert, Martha, Weintraub Karen. The Autism Revolution: Whole-Body Strategies for Making Life All It Can Be. New York: Ballantine Books; 2012.

Hersey, Jane. Why Can’t My Child Behave?: Why Can’t She Cope? Why Can’t He Learn? The Feingold Diet Updated for Today’s Busy Families. Pear Tree Press, 2014.

Hong, Maria Rickert. Almost Autism: Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder, A Reference for Parents and Practitioners. 2014.

Lambert, Beth. A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America’s Children. Sentient Publications, 2010.

Lemer, Patricia S. Outsmarting Autism: The Ultimate Guide to Management, Healing and Prevention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Tarentum, PA, Word Association Publishers, 2014.

Matthews, Julie. Nourishing Hope for Autism: Nutrition and Diet Guide for Healing Our Children. Healthful Living Media, 2008.

Scott, Trudy. The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings. New Harbinger Publications, 2011.

Seroussi, Karyn. Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother’s Story of Research and Recovery. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.

Sisson, Mark. The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram Your Genes for Effortless Weight Loss, Vibrant Health, and Boundless Energy. Primal Nutrition, Inc., 2019.

Tam, Michelle, et al. Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Volume 1). Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2013.

Voegtlin, Walter. The Stone Age Diet: Based on In-depth Studies of Human Ecology and the Diet of Man. Vantage Press, 1975.

Wahls, Terry. The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles. Avery, 2020.

Wahls, Terry. The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life: The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions. Avery, 2017.

Websites

Amy Yasko’s list of foods with high free glutamates

Katie Reid’s pantry list of recommended foods.

Unblind My Mind: Dr. Katie Reid’s website gives extensive explanation about the science, a TED talk by Dr. Reid and video tutorials to help parent’s discern appropriate foods in a local supermarket.