Shandy Laskey interviewed Darolyn Lewis FNTP CGP about her top three tips for reducing load to improve autism symptoms. You can watch the replay below. Please note that you will be asked to provide your email address to continue viewing this video at the 30-minute mark.
What Is Total Load?
As part of Autism Awareness month in April 2021, we invited one of our Epidemic Answers Certified Health Coaches, Darolyn Lewis, to join us on Instagram Live @documentinghope to discuss her top three tips for parents to help lower their child’s total load to reduce their challenging symptoms of autism.
The total load represents each individual’s body burden or accumulation of environmental stressors and and the interaction of this body burden with their unique biochemistry and genetic predispositions.
A person’s total load includes stressors such as:
- Emotional stressors such as:
- Trauma
- Worries
- Fear
- Biological stressors such as:
- Toxicity
- Poor nutrition
- Dehydration
- Physical stressors such as:
- Physical trauma, including birth trauma
- Poor visual processing
- Poor auditory processing
- Retained reflexes
- Environmental stressors such as:
- Poor lighting
- EMFs
- Household chemicals such as fragrances and dryer sheets
- Educational stressors
- Behavioral stressors such as:
Each person has a total load that is specific to them and based on their exposures – including their exposures in utero – and lifestyle factors. It’s important that to find ways to reduce this load because an overburdened body creates dysfunction and/or illness in the body.
Research, including our own Documenting Hope CHIRP™ Study’s preliminary findings, has elucidated that many small stressors can lead to big health challenges.
Total Load and Autism
Children with autism spectrum disorders, especially those with regressive autism, have been shown to have a higher total load that is contributing to their symptoms of autism and other co-morbid health conditions.
Watch this replay to hear how Darolyn lowered her son’s total load and to discover what her top three tips are for parents. You’ll hear Darolyn’s family’s story of how her son’s autism symptoms and his other co-occurring health conditions improved with holistic nutrition and lifestyle changes, in addition to traditional and integrative therapies!
About Darolyn Lewis FNTP CGP
Darolyn holds a Master’s of Science and throughout her career, she has mastered the skill of coaching individuals to higher standards. Her passion for proper nutrition led her to become a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Certified GAPS Practitioner, Epidemic Answers & AIP Health Coach. Her mission is to coach parents and help them understand the important role nutrition plays in help their kids health and wellbeing.
Darolyn is fueled by her passion for our bodies what it needs in order to properly function. After being told that she had to make dietary changes for her son, over eight years ago, she now feels it is time to give back and help parents that are struggling to understand the connection food has on the body.
Darolyn is on a mission to help as many parents as she can, understand how implementing a more nutritious lifestyle can lead to a better quality of life. You can find out more about her and her work at her website TheNutritionalSpectrum.com
Disclaimer
This interview is not a substitute for medical advice, treatment, diagnosis, or consultation with a medical professional. It is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on to make determinations related to treatment of a medical condition. Epidemic Answers has not verified and does not guaranty the accuracy of the information provided in this interview.
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Resources
Lambert, Beth. A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America’s Children. Sentient Publications, 2010.
Lemer, Patricia S. Outsmarting Autism, Updated and Expanded: Build Healthy Foundations for Communication, Socialization, and Behavior at All Ages. North Atlantic Books, 2019.
