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The Biomedical Approach
MINDD Foundation supports an Integrative approach to many disorders with a focus on “Biomedical” intervention which works to rebalance the body’s biochemistry so that metabolic, immunologic, neurologic and digestive systems are all working optimally. Once chemistry is optimal, then other therapies (ABA, speech, auditory and visual processing, sensory integration, motor development) “hold” better. We do encourage that ABA be done alongside biomedicine (do not wait).
The Biomedical approach is being researched and developed by several key groups who are conducting thoughtful, scientific studies; Autism Research Institute (www.autismwebsite.com), Defeat Autism Now! (www.danconference.com), The Pfeiffer Treatment Center (www.hriptc.org)
Dietary intervention is a critical part of the “Biomedical” treatment of Autism, ADHD/ADD, OCD, PDD-NOS, RETTS, Aspergers, epilepsy, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Cerebellar Ataxia, Down Syndrome, schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders that result in learning delay and behavioural issues.
The biomedical approach has helped thousands of children improve in speech, language, socialization, behaviour, immunity, digestion and more.
Biomedical intervention is also important in treating neurobiological illness such as chronic infections (ear, nose, throat, upper respiratory, urinary tract), allergies, eczema, food sensitivities, digestive disorders, anxiety, depression.
MINDD Foundation recognises 4 key components in “Biomedical Intervention” which all must be addressed for successful treatment. Diet helps immensely but it is not the only factor.
- Dietary Intervention that includes restorative foods and eliminates harmful foods
- Gastro Intestinal healing to improve digestive function to best absorb nutrients and effectively screen out toxins
- Nutritional Medicine to support organ systems for improved metabolic, immunologic, neurologic and digestive function. Supplement are prescribed based on individual needs and include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids
- Detoxification of heavy metals (mercury, lead, arsenic…) and POPs (persistent organic pollutants like PCBs)
We recommend that you find a physician that is well trained in this field (see www.mindd.org under “practitioners” ). We also ask that you encourage your own physician to attend some MINDD training seminars where they will receive continuing education points (RACGP points).
Dietary Intervention
While waiting to see an experienced practitioner, you can help your child enormously through dietary intervention. Certain enzymes critical for metabolizing food are low functioning in some individuals and unmetabolised food can adversely affect neurological function and development as well as immunity and digestion. Casein and gluten found in dairy products and in many grains (wheat, oats, spelt, millet) are a problem in this case. Food additives (artificial colors and flavors, preservatives) are also a problem (they too need enzymes to detox them). Food really is medicine in this case!
Many families report that the whole family benefits from diets low in gluten, casein, and grains. Everyone also benefits from a diet free of additives, colors and preservatives. Organic food is also recommended as many foods now contain harmful pesticides which are especially hard for ASD children to detox.
We support 3 key diets; Casein-Free/Gluten-Free, Specific Carbohydrate Diet and Gut & Psychology Syndrome Diet.
The Gluten-Free/Casein-Free diet (CF/GF) is critical in improving neurological function as most individuals with the above disorders have metabolic issues that make it hard to process casein and gluten. It recognises that certain individuals have metabolic problems and are not able to break down casein and gluten which leads to gastro intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) and to an opioid effect on the individual as casein and gluten peptides travel through holes in the gut, into the blood and up to the brain. The individual can feel vague, disoriented and without judgement similar to the feelings of someone on heroin.
It is important to consider going low carbohydrate, high protein and keeping corn and rice to a minimum as they do cause digestive problems by feeding gut pathogens (see Specific Carbohydrate diet). The CF-GF diet is not about giving your child lots of rice pasta and corn crackers as these are low in nutrients. Emphasis should be on fresh fruit, vegetables and a variety of meat that is cooked slowly (chargrilling and fast cooking creates more toxins).
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is essentially a grain free and sugar-free diet with all carbohydrates coming from vegetables and fruit. This is based on the theory that certain individuals have trouble processing and metabolizing disaccharides and polysaccharides and the undigested food sits in the gut and feeds pathogens such as yeast, fungus, bacteria and virus that in turn releases toxins that effect brain and body function and development. The SCD includes the CF-GF diet for the most part though some individuals are allowed fermented dairy product like yogurt and kefir.
The Gut & Psychology Syndrome Diet is similar to the Specific Carbohydrate diet but offers more tips on how food serves as medicine in terms of detoxing the body and supporting organ systems.
Mindd recognises “elimination” diets to be effective but does not see this as the entire solution. Nutritional medicine and digestive healing must be incorporated into the treatment allowing for the possibility of certain foods (e.g. salycialtes, other allergy-inducing foods) to eventually be reintroduced. Casein and gluten are best kept out of the diet longterm. Oxilates are also proving to be an issue with many individuals. Many families find that the child is more open to new foods once certain nutrients and minerals (zinc) are supplemented.
While there are key underlying principles that apply to most patients, it is important to go to an experienced practitioner who is trained in the “biomedical” approach. They will help you to understand the difference between food allergies and sensitivities, run an allergy panel for you and help heal your gut.
Fermented Foods
MINDD highly recommends sugar-free yogurt, kefir and fermented foods (miso and vegetables) to help replace beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract that are usually low in numbers due to metabolic and digestive disorders (medications, antibiotics, toxic exposure and illness are all causes).
Resources
Gut & Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride gives a excellent account of how food works as medicine and why Autism, ADD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression have a commonality and run in families. There are also lots of family-friendly recipes. This is written by a Russian-trained neurologist with a degree in nutrition from the UK whose approach got her own ASD son off the spectrum! You can order this at www.mindd.org
Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gotschall is an excellent guide for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. You can order this at www.mindd.org
www.pecanbread.com is a great website for food lists
www.generationrescuse.com explains why autism is an epidemic and how it is treatable
There are dozens of excellent casein-free and gluten-free books. Just remember to go easy on carbohydrates in general!
Genetics & Hereditary Factors
While there is a genetic story to the above disorders, there is also a history of poor gut bacteria, low nutrient count and high toxicity coming from the mother due to antibiotics, illness, allergies, blood and metabolic disorders, poor diet and toxic exposure (e.g. dental amalgams, vaccines and medications with mercury, lead paint). Many mothers in fact suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue, Chrohn;s Disease, Food sensitivities, allergies, anxiety, depression and digestive disorders. Siblings are also at high risk as they too inherit the genes and blood chemistry of the same parents. It is not uncommon for an autistic child to have siblings with ADD, Dyspraxia, digestive disorders etc…
The biomedical protocol can really help mothers and siblings. It is especially important to address these issues if the mother is planning another pregnancy!
Seminars
Mindd Foundation runs an annual conference, The Mindd International Forum On Children, each May featuring international experts in the area of biomedicine, neurodevelopment and nutrition.
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