Many scientists continue to find that optimal nutrition is essential for a healthy brain function. This fact is even more important if you suffer from a challenging disease like autism, ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc.
For example, eating foods high in refined carbohydrates like white bread, white sugar, and white flour is pretty devastating for brain function. On the contrary, eating foods high in healthy fats like salmon, flax seeds, avocados, olive oil, chia seeds, and nuts is rejuvenating for the brain.
A recent nutrition article expresses that consuming junk foods like refined carbohydrates alters the metabolism in autism and causes children to deteriorate mentally and physically (1). As a father with a child with autism, it is becoming obvious that our environment, including the foods we consume, can add health to our bodies or make us more toxic.
What's the solution?
There is a need for everybody working in the health care field and patients to be educated in nutrition and work as a team to make a difference in autism and many chronic diseases. Parents, behavior therapists, and occupational therapists need to focus on adding strategies to add healthy foods in children on the spectrum.
I believe that great things can happen in your body if you start eating whole, healthy foods.
References:
(1): Doreswamy, S., Bashir, A., Guarecuco, J. E., Lahori, S., Baig, A., Narra, L. R., ... & Heindl, S. E. (2020). Effects of Diet, Nutrition, and Exercise in Children With Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review. Cureus, 12(12).