Of all the expensive kitchen appliances I've bought for the purpose of creating better things to eat for my picky food child Bright Eyes, the $17 donut maker from Big W has been the most successful.
The problem with a lot of gluten free cooking is that it just seems to crumble apart. I have not had good success with cookies and muffins. However, if you put the same batter in the donut maker it comes out so together you wouldn't even know it was GFCF.
Today's recipe is a lucky success: Zucchini and Banana donuts. Here's how I did it.
Peel (to get rid of the green bits for hiding purposes) and steam a zucchini. Whizz together with a ripe banana into a disgusting looking mash.
Cream 150g butter with 3tsp sugar.
Add the zucchini/banana mix.
Add one egg.
Mix in 1 tsp baking powder and about 3/4 - 1 cup of GF flour. (Honestly, I measured nothing, so I'm guessing. You need a relatively thick batter.)
Spoon into the donut maker and cook the donuts.
Ice with a thin coat of chocolate icing (just icing sugar, cocoa and water)
It might work in a waffle maker or small pancake maker too. The last batch of donuts had sweet potato in them, so you could try any type of pureed vegetable.
I'm pleased I made them with a banana because I'm not tempted to eat them at all, bananas being my least favourite food (besides liver).
Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts
Monday, February 2, 2009
Friday, September 19, 2008
Progress
Things were much better today. Bright Eyes is adapting back to his GF/CF diet and seems to be becoming calmer.
I was very very happy to discover a really good bread recipe which he has taken to very easily. I've made it twice now - once with sultanas and once just plain - and it tastes lovely. Even my husband likes it!
This is how I did it:
In a small bowl combine and leave the following:
1/2 cup warm water
2 1/2 tsp yeast
2 tsp sugar
Mix up the wet ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rice milk (or water)
4 eggs
4 tbsps oil
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Mix the dry ingredients:
4 cups GF flour
an appropriate amount of the Orgran gluten substitute (read the packet)
I also added 1/2 cup of LSA mix (linseed, sesame and almond)
(For the raisin bread, I added about 1 cup sultanas and a bit of sugar)
1 1/2 tsp salt
Combine everything and mix well. Put it into a well oiled bread pan and smooth it out with oily hands. Score it down the middle and leave to rise in a warm place under oiled plastic wrap for up to 90 minutes.
Bake for about 1 hr at 200C.
I was very very happy to discover a really good bread recipe which he has taken to very easily. I've made it twice now - once with sultanas and once just plain - and it tastes lovely. Even my husband likes it!
This is how I did it:
In a small bowl combine and leave the following:
1/2 cup warm water
2 1/2 tsp yeast
2 tsp sugar
Mix up the wet ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rice milk (or water)
4 eggs
4 tbsps oil
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Mix the dry ingredients:
4 cups GF flour
an appropriate amount of the Orgran gluten substitute (read the packet)
I also added 1/2 cup of LSA mix (linseed, sesame and almond)
(For the raisin bread, I added about 1 cup sultanas and a bit of sugar)
1 1/2 tsp salt
Combine everything and mix well. Put it into a well oiled bread pan and smooth it out with oily hands. Score it down the middle and leave to rise in a warm place under oiled plastic wrap for up to 90 minutes.
Bake for about 1 hr at 200C.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Sad eyes
Poor Bright Eyes has not had such bright eyes recently. He's been pretty aggro, especially with his brother for the last few days.
It's not because his brother is particularly difficult - he just seems to have a need to get him away and express his dislike loudly and violently.
I've noticed his eyes being quite glassy again too.
I have a bad feeling that it's because he hasn't been on his diet for a while now. At first he didn't seem to react to gluten, but the longer time goes on, the more I think I need to get him back to the GF/CF diet.
I'm dreading it. It's going to be so difficult to take bread and biscuits away again. You can pray for us if you think of it!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Carrots
Yes, Bright Eyes actually ate some microscopic pieces of carrot tonight. Probably the first vegetable he has eaten in 3 years. It's a cause for mild rejoicing.
Of course, there was a down-side - it was on a regular piece of pizza. But tomorrow night there will be GF/CF pizza on the table for him ... with carrots!!!
Of course, there was a down-side - it was on a regular piece of pizza. But tomorrow night there will be GF/CF pizza on the table for him ... with carrots!!!
Monday, May 12, 2008
On a bad day...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Fringe dweller
Although my two year old is not the subject of this blog, he features in my worries frequently.
I have been concerned about him for a little while. He’s obviously not ASD from his social skills, and I owe a lot to RDI for helping me to recognise his good referencing and checking. However, I think his speech is slow, his bowel motions and picky food habits remind me of Bright Eyes, plus he has a clear milk intolerance.
I thought he might need testing for intolerances so that I could get on top of whatever gut issues he has and increase his rate of normal development, so I went into the GP a few months ago to ask her for an allergy test. She wrote a referral to the allergy clinic of the best children's hospital in the state, which is where I drove (1.5 hours) today.
The first thing I said to the paediatrician was “I’ve got an ASD boy, and I’m concerned about this child because I know there’s a brain/gut connection and diet plays a big part in autism, and I think he has some allergies, plus a few gut issues the same as my ASD boy.”
She said straight away, “Well, you know that research has been completely debunked. Are you talking about Wakefield’s study? He was pulled in front of the Medical Board and given a dressing down. He’s lost all credibility.”
I was completely flummoxed and said, “I don’t know who’s done what research, but there’s a lot of stuff out there that says there is a huge connection between gut and brain and diet is really important.”
“Well,” she said, “there’s a whole lot of stuff on the internet and you can’t believe everything you read.”
At that point I started to cry. I spent the rest of the consultation in tears, and in the end the doctor asked more questions about me than the baby, and even suggested I go to a psychiatrist for my depression.
I was too polite to tell her that I was crying because she completely rubbished everything I have learned and put into action.
I have spent sooooo long doing research and reading, and I have put in so much energy implementing diets and keeping Bright Eyes from eating stuff he would like to eat. And I have seen results. And then I have a doctor tell me there's no proof and it's bad medicine.
I feel like I am on the fringe... again.
I have been concerned about him for a little while. He’s obviously not ASD from his social skills, and I owe a lot to RDI for helping me to recognise his good referencing and checking. However, I think his speech is slow, his bowel motions and picky food habits remind me of Bright Eyes, plus he has a clear milk intolerance.
I thought he might need testing for intolerances so that I could get on top of whatever gut issues he has and increase his rate of normal development, so I went into the GP a few months ago to ask her for an allergy test. She wrote a referral to the allergy clinic of the best children's hospital in the state, which is where I drove (1.5 hours) today.
The first thing I said to the paediatrician was “I’ve got an ASD boy, and I’m concerned about this child because I know there’s a brain/gut connection and diet plays a big part in autism, and I think he has some allergies, plus a few gut issues the same as my ASD boy.”
She said straight away, “Well, you know that research has been completely debunked. Are you talking about Wakefield’s study? He was pulled in front of the Medical Board and given a dressing down. He’s lost all credibility.”
I was completely flummoxed and said, “I don’t know who’s done what research, but there’s a lot of stuff out there that says there is a huge connection between gut and brain and diet is really important.”
“Well,” she said, “there’s a whole lot of stuff on the internet and you can’t believe everything you read.”
At that point I started to cry. I spent the rest of the consultation in tears, and in the end the doctor asked more questions about me than the baby, and even suggested I go to a psychiatrist for my depression.
I was too polite to tell her that I was crying because she completely rubbished everything I have learned and put into action.
I have spent sooooo long doing research and reading, and I have put in so much energy implementing diets and keeping Bright Eyes from eating stuff he would like to eat. And I have seen results. And then I have a doctor tell me there's no proof and it's bad medicine.
I feel like I am on the fringe... again.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Inspiration
I went to a big expo today, all about gluten free food, health products and diet. It was great to find a few new products, but the best things were the free seminars.
Well-known in the Australian autism scene are Dr Anthony Greenwood and Karen Wheelwright. Greenwood presented on the connection between gut dysfunctions and neurological development, and Wheelwright looked through the variety of different diets that are followed around the place.
My particular interest was in the launch of this book, Healing Foods, by Sandra Ramacher. She has followed the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for ten years and has been cured of colitis. It's a beautiful book and I bought a copy!
So now I've got the kick of inspiration I needed to start the SCD with Bright Eyes - and myself! Yes, I'll be going on it too. To do it successfully, I know I'll have to have a plan. Here it is:
1. Start properly after Christmas.
2. Before Christmas, start trying out different foods and alternatives - especially for breakfast and snacks.
3. Get some friends to attempt a few recipes for me, so I don't burn them and end up discouraged and defeated.
4. Try to change as much as possible now so that after Christmas it will feel normal to do it!
Well-known in the Australian autism scene are Dr Anthony Greenwood and Karen Wheelwright. Greenwood presented on the connection between gut dysfunctions and neurological development, and Wheelwright looked through the variety of different diets that are followed around the place.
My particular interest was in the launch of this book, Healing Foods, by Sandra Ramacher. She has followed the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for ten years and has been cured of colitis. It's a beautiful book and I bought a copy!
So now I've got the kick of inspiration I needed to start the SCD with Bright Eyes - and myself! Yes, I'll be going on it too. To do it successfully, I know I'll have to have a plan. Here it is:
1. Start properly after Christmas.
2. Before Christmas, start trying out different foods and alternatives - especially for breakfast and snacks.
3. Get some friends to attempt a few recipes for me, so I don't burn them and end up discouraged and defeated.
4. Try to change as much as possible now so that after Christmas it will feel normal to do it!
Monday, November 12, 2007
SCD Diet.... should I, shouldn't I
I'm back on wavering about whether I'm going to put Bright Eyes on this incredibly strict diet called SCD - the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I know that the homeopath is going to recommend that I do when I take him next week.
It sounds scary... I don't know if I can... I don't know if he'll eat... am I being cruel depriving him of food... will it have good effects on him... am I wasting my time...
Something that may help me decide is an allergy expo that is being held this weekend up in Sydney. I just discovered it online tonight! And... there's a beautiful new recipe book for SCD being launched, plus free seminars, and my guess is, free taste testing.
Am I up for it????
It sounds scary... I don't know if I can... I don't know if he'll eat... am I being cruel depriving him of food... will it have good effects on him... am I wasting my time...
Something that may help me decide is an allergy expo that is being held this weekend up in Sydney. I just discovered it online tonight! And... there's a beautiful new recipe book for SCD being launched, plus free seminars, and my guess is, free taste testing.
Am I up for it????
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Eggs and good things
Welcome to my life.
I am jumping up and down with a grin all over my face because.... Bright Eyes ate a piece of egg tonight.
It was only a 1x5cm strip of omelette, left over from his sister's dinner. I put it on his plate along with his regular sausage and a new innovation - star shaped rice balls. The rice stars were firmly rejected so I removed them, but the egg stayed on and got eaten!!!
Today was also a good challenge to the new 'calm down' routine following our RDA. We managed to get through the day with only a few little upsets which didn't last too long and didn't escalate into big icky things because I got the anxiety down quickly.
Another good thing: I have been spending about 40-45 minutes each day in lab time in the last few days. This is more than the required 30 minutes, and it's honestly because I'm enjoying it more. We are having fun and doing more complicated things and getting on well together. I hope I can get it to an hour a day over the next few months.
I have noticed an increase in Bright Eyes' receptive language. We had out his Bob the builder tool belt yesterday. (We took it to church for the working bee on our new building. He told the minister: "This is Bob Church.") I told him what each of the tools were, he repeated the word and we both had a turn using each one.
Then we played a game where he had the belt on and I asked for a tool by name. He looked for it on his belt, handed me the right one when he found it and I then used it to 'fix' a chair. We reversed roles - I wanted to see if he could use the name of the tools. He wasn't going that far, but he did use them correctly when I gave them to him.
I am jumping up and down with a grin all over my face because.... Bright Eyes ate a piece of egg tonight.
It was only a 1x5cm strip of omelette, left over from his sister's dinner. I put it on his plate along with his regular sausage and a new innovation - star shaped rice balls. The rice stars were firmly rejected so I removed them, but the egg stayed on and got eaten!!!
Today was also a good challenge to the new 'calm down' routine following our RDA. We managed to get through the day with only a few little upsets which didn't last too long and didn't escalate into big icky things because I got the anxiety down quickly.
Another good thing: I have been spending about 40-45 minutes each day in lab time in the last few days. This is more than the required 30 minutes, and it's honestly because I'm enjoying it more. We are having fun and doing more complicated things and getting on well together. I hope I can get it to an hour a day over the next few months.
I have noticed an increase in Bright Eyes' receptive language. We had out his Bob the builder tool belt yesterday. (We took it to church for the working bee on our new building. He told the minister: "This is Bob Church.") I told him what each of the tools were, he repeated the word and we both had a turn using each one.
Then we played a game where he had the belt on and I asked for a tool by name. He looked for it on his belt, handed me the right one when he found it and I then used it to 'fix' a chair. We reversed roles - I wanted to see if he could use the name of the tools. He wasn't going that far, but he did use them correctly when I gave them to him.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Not so good
Today Bright Eyes threw his first tantrum about going to preschool. He wouldn't get out of the car, so I had to grab him and then carry him kicking and screaming through the gate. The preschool teachers got him to calm down by getting out the train set - a surefire winner.
But we're all a bit concerned. He has been going downhill for the last four weeks in terms of mood and irritability and tension.
I have a dreadful feeling that what I once read about the GF/CF diet is coming true. It said that for some children, GF/CF works for a number of months, but then the digestive tract starts to react to other types of starches like riceflour and cornflour etc.
The solution is to follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which basically cuts out all sugars and starches. But that sounds really tough. I'm not sure I can do it.
I bought a cookbook by Sally Fallon today - Nourishing Traditions - which might give me some more ideas and see what we can do.
But we're all a bit concerned. He has been going downhill for the last four weeks in terms of mood and irritability and tension.
I have a dreadful feeling that what I once read about the GF/CF diet is coming true. It said that for some children, GF/CF works for a number of months, but then the digestive tract starts to react to other types of starches like riceflour and cornflour etc.
The solution is to follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which basically cuts out all sugars and starches. But that sounds really tough. I'm not sure I can do it.
I bought a cookbook by Sally Fallon today - Nourishing Traditions - which might give me some more ideas and see what we can do.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Vegetable success... sort of
I could tell you in detail about the six tantrums in the last three days, or I could focus on the positives instead!
It's true, we have vegetable liftoff! Kinda. I have been trying him out on fresh squeezed healthy juice at the local shops and he has happily gulped down a beet/apple mix a couple of times.
So I decided it was now time to get out the juicer again. Previously (about five months ago) I tried juicing for him, but he hated the noise of the machine and wouldn't drink the proceeds.
This time, however, he made the juice himself. He stood up at the bench in his apron, took the fruit and vegies, juiced them and then drank it all afterwards.
We put in beetroot, apple, carrot and a tiny bit of spinach. It was a beautiful red and tasted pretty fine! So today he has already had his daily quota of fruit and veg!!!
We drank it together with lots of eye contact and giggles and going on about how clever we were to make juice!
We also made a lovely gluten free loaf of raisin toast together. To a supermarket GF bread mix I added linseed/sunflower mix, sultanas, cinnamon, an egg and some grated apple. It worked beautifully. Next time I'm going to throw in some processed zucchini as well (skinned to avoid the green colour). He gobbled up the bread for lunch. It's the first time he's ever eaten any bread I've made for him.
I can see juicing and bread making being on our regular list of RDI lifestyle activities.
Feeling happy!
It's true, we have vegetable liftoff! Kinda. I have been trying him out on fresh squeezed healthy juice at the local shops and he has happily gulped down a beet/apple mix a couple of times.
So I decided it was now time to get out the juicer again. Previously (about five months ago) I tried juicing for him, but he hated the noise of the machine and wouldn't drink the proceeds.
This time, however, he made the juice himself. He stood up at the bench in his apron, took the fruit and vegies, juiced them and then drank it all afterwards.
We put in beetroot, apple, carrot and a tiny bit of spinach. It was a beautiful red and tasted pretty fine! So today he has already had his daily quota of fruit and veg!!!
We drank it together with lots of eye contact and giggles and going on about how clever we were to make juice!
We also made a lovely gluten free loaf of raisin toast together. To a supermarket GF bread mix I added linseed/sunflower mix, sultanas, cinnamon, an egg and some grated apple. It worked beautifully. Next time I'm going to throw in some processed zucchini as well (skinned to avoid the green colour). He gobbled up the bread for lunch. It's the first time he's ever eaten any bread I've made for him.
I can see juicing and bread making being on our regular list of RDI lifestyle activities.
Feeling happy!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Diet... food... nutrition
Bright Eyes' nutrition is high on my mind at the moment, following a great little public presentation by our homeopath on the 'Gut-Brain Connection'. I also happened to get out of our local library a book with this wonderful title: Happiness is a regular and full bowel movement, which focuses on many of the same ideas.
Digestion and nutrition affect the blood which affect the brain. This gut-brain connection is not widely known about or discussed as general knowledge in our society these days. We know we should 'eat healthily' but we grin naughtily and slap ourselves on the wrist when we don't. Eating well is a sort of optional extra in our minds.
We don't realise that for some people, eating right makes the difference between having brain fog all day or being able to think. Eating is for living, not living for eating.
What came out of the seminar is this.
Bright Eyes needs:
probiotics, fermented foods, good oils and fats, fruit and vegies and regular protein meals.
He needs to get rid of:
sugar, processed foods, gluten and casein (wheat and milk), artificial everything, chemicals and bad fats (I'm not talking about saturated animal fats, but trans-fats like margarine, vegetable oils that have been processed and oils that have been overheated so that they have free radicals in them).
It sounds great, and I am so truly convinced of all of it that every meal time and snack time I feel hugely guilty. The fact remains that he won't eat good stuff. He won't eat meat except for his own brand of sausages. He refuses vegetables and eggs and fish. He loves sugar and chips and lollies and hates yoghurt.
A doctor who wrote a book about all of this said that you can teach children to eat things. She put her autistic son's video on for 10 minutes and then turned it off and said "You can have it back on when you eat this pea."
Apparently it took forever, but he ate the pea. Am I willing to go through these sorts of agonies? I just don't know.
Digestion and nutrition affect the blood which affect the brain. This gut-brain connection is not widely known about or discussed as general knowledge in our society these days. We know we should 'eat healthily' but we grin naughtily and slap ourselves on the wrist when we don't. Eating well is a sort of optional extra in our minds.
We don't realise that for some people, eating right makes the difference between having brain fog all day or being able to think. Eating is for living, not living for eating.
What came out of the seminar is this.
Bright Eyes needs:
probiotics, fermented foods, good oils and fats, fruit and vegies and regular protein meals.
He needs to get rid of:
sugar, processed foods, gluten and casein (wheat and milk), artificial everything, chemicals and bad fats (I'm not talking about saturated animal fats, but trans-fats like margarine, vegetable oils that have been processed and oils that have been overheated so that they have free radicals in them).
It sounds great, and I am so truly convinced of all of it that every meal time and snack time I feel hugely guilty. The fact remains that he won't eat good stuff. He won't eat meat except for his own brand of sausages. He refuses vegetables and eggs and fish. He loves sugar and chips and lollies and hates yoghurt.
A doctor who wrote a book about all of this said that you can teach children to eat things. She put her autistic son's video on for 10 minutes and then turned it off and said "You can have it back on when you eat this pea."
Apparently it took forever, but he ate the pea. Am I willing to go through these sorts of agonies? I just don't know.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Sausages
There was a bright side to the difficult tantrum day. And that is that Bright Eyes ate about two bites of chicken sausage at dinner time.
I found a supplier of sausages that have nothing but organic meat, filtered water and almond meal in them. The butcher makes them for his autistic child and sells them to others who need them. As sausages are usually full of preservatives and often gluten, this is a great option for parents.
I ordered a tray of beef, chicken and lamb sausages last week. Unfortunately Bright Eyes rejected the beef ones straight up when I gave them to him the other day. Today I tried chicken though, mixed in with his regular sausages. He ate one bit and spat it out, but I removed it calmly and encouraged him to keep eating.
When I took his plate, I noticed that only four bits out of about eight were left of the chicken ones. So he did eat some!!!!
I think I might dance around for joy.
I found a supplier of sausages that have nothing but organic meat, filtered water and almond meal in them. The butcher makes them for his autistic child and sells them to others who need them. As sausages are usually full of preservatives and often gluten, this is a great option for parents.
I ordered a tray of beef, chicken and lamb sausages last week. Unfortunately Bright Eyes rejected the beef ones straight up when I gave them to him the other day. Today I tried chicken though, mixed in with his regular sausages. He ate one bit and spat it out, but I removed it calmly and encouraged him to keep eating.
When I took his plate, I noticed that only four bits out of about eight were left of the chicken ones. So he did eat some!!!!
I think I might dance around for joy.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Supplements
You might be interested to know where we're at with supplements and medications right now.
Here's the daily routine.
Breakfast:
He has digestive enzymes with his meal.
He has 3 ml of a homeopathic chelation therapy and 5ml of zinc drops in his glass of filtered water.
He takes a kiddies' vitamin supplement.
I spoon on a couple of blobs of goat kefir (like yoghurt) with his cereal and goats milk.
Lunch:
Digestive enzymes
In his tomato sauce, I mix a couple of capsules of Algotene, which is a nutrient supplement, based on seaweed.
I try to squeeze a couple of caps of fish oil over his food surreptitiously so he won't notice.
Dinner:
same as lunch
goat kefir for dessert, when he'll accept it.
In addition
I also mix his foul-tasting zinc undermethylation supplement with dairy free chocolate - he has a couple of bits a day.
He's currently taking a homeopathic remedy to try to clear his bowels.
He has a bath with epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) most nights.
After bath we squeeze on two capsules of evening primrose oil and rub into his back and tummy (omega6)
If I get all that lot in in one day... I'm a champion and I give myself some chocolate and go to bed.
Here's the daily routine.
Breakfast:
He has digestive enzymes with his meal.
He has 3 ml of a homeopathic chelation therapy and 5ml of zinc drops in his glass of filtered water.
He takes a kiddies' vitamin supplement.
I spoon on a couple of blobs of goat kefir (like yoghurt) with his cereal and goats milk.
Lunch:
Digestive enzymes
In his tomato sauce, I mix a couple of capsules of Algotene, which is a nutrient supplement, based on seaweed.
I try to squeeze a couple of caps of fish oil over his food surreptitiously so he won't notice.
Dinner:
same as lunch
goat kefir for dessert, when he'll accept it.
In addition
I also mix his foul-tasting zinc undermethylation supplement with dairy free chocolate - he has a couple of bits a day.
He's currently taking a homeopathic remedy to try to clear his bowels.
He has a bath with epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) most nights.
After bath we squeeze on two capsules of evening primrose oil and rub into his back and tummy (omega6)
If I get all that lot in in one day... I'm a champion and I give myself some chocolate and go to bed.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The Results
In a nutshell, what came out of the tests was: -
1. Bright Eyes is low in zinc and high in copper. The normal body ratio is 1:1. His is 2:7. This stops his brain working properly, and has an impact on his gut as well.
2. He has parasites in his gut, which means his digestion doesn't work properly, which also affects the brain.
Look, there are heaps of big words like undermethylation, gut dysbiosis, pyrolureiria that our doctor likes to use, and I'm sure he understands them properly. I actually do understand them when I read the literature, but I'll be blowed if I can report it back so that anyone else can understand it too.
I like to know what I can do about it all. So here's my list of things we have to do for him.
1. Gluten-free and casein (milk protein) -free diet. (His faulty gut wall can't digest these proteins and they end up floating around the body, acting like morphine. So the poor little fellow was continually drugged out by the very food he was eating.)
2. Digestive enzymes with every meal. These assist in digestion and help the nutrients in the food to be broken down and absorbed properly.
3. A completely foul mega multivitamin dose every day. It's mixed up specially to increase zinc uptake. (Apparently it's not as simple as just giving zinc drops every day.) This is a nightmare to give him. He won't swallow a capsule and the stuff tastes worse than bile. I have to mix it in a masking fluid and then try to hide that in vegemite, tomato sauce and juice throughout the day. Even then, he doesn't get the full dose.
4. More Omega-6 oils. Thankfully these work through the skin. Trying to get more medicine into his mouth would be a disaster. Every night I rub the oil from two evening primrose capsules into his body.
5. Avoid high copper foods (mushrooms, dried fruits with sulphur, oysters). That's easy. He won't eat most of them anyway!
6. Avoid foods with artificial preservatives and colourings in them. Again, he can't eat most of these anyway because of the gluten and dairy.
7. Filter drinking water (too much copper in Sydney Water apparently), avoid long baths and no swimming in chlorinated pools. The copper can get in through the skin.
8. Increase his intake of proteins throughout the day. This is hard. He'll only eat ham or sausages (gluten free of course!).
It's a lot to do and it can get very wearing preparing his food and making sure he never sneaks doughnuts, like he tried to today! However, I know that the difference in him since we began all of this is incredible.
My doctor is part of the Mindd Foundation who are promoting this approach to treating autism, ADD, dyspraxia, dsylexia and other related conditions. If you are interested in knowing more about their medical approach, click here.
1. Bright Eyes is low in zinc and high in copper. The normal body ratio is 1:1. His is 2:7. This stops his brain working properly, and has an impact on his gut as well.
2. He has parasites in his gut, which means his digestion doesn't work properly, which also affects the brain.
Look, there are heaps of big words like undermethylation, gut dysbiosis, pyrolureiria that our doctor likes to use, and I'm sure he understands them properly. I actually do understand them when I read the literature, but I'll be blowed if I can report it back so that anyone else can understand it too.
I like to know what I can do about it all. So here's my list of things we have to do for him.
1. Gluten-free and casein (milk protein) -free diet. (His faulty gut wall can't digest these proteins and they end up floating around the body, acting like morphine. So the poor little fellow was continually drugged out by the very food he was eating.)
2. Digestive enzymes with every meal. These assist in digestion and help the nutrients in the food to be broken down and absorbed properly.
3. A completely foul mega multivitamin dose every day. It's mixed up specially to increase zinc uptake. (Apparently it's not as simple as just giving zinc drops every day.) This is a nightmare to give him. He won't swallow a capsule and the stuff tastes worse than bile. I have to mix it in a masking fluid and then try to hide that in vegemite, tomato sauce and juice throughout the day. Even then, he doesn't get the full dose.
4. More Omega-6 oils. Thankfully these work through the skin. Trying to get more medicine into his mouth would be a disaster. Every night I rub the oil from two evening primrose capsules into his body.
5. Avoid high copper foods (mushrooms, dried fruits with sulphur, oysters). That's easy. He won't eat most of them anyway!
6. Avoid foods with artificial preservatives and colourings in them. Again, he can't eat most of these anyway because of the gluten and dairy.
7. Filter drinking water (too much copper in Sydney Water apparently), avoid long baths and no swimming in chlorinated pools. The copper can get in through the skin.
8. Increase his intake of proteins throughout the day. This is hard. He'll only eat ham or sausages (gluten free of course!).
It's a lot to do and it can get very wearing preparing his food and making sure he never sneaks doughnuts, like he tried to today! However, I know that the difference in him since we began all of this is incredible.
My doctor is part of the Mindd Foundation who are promoting this approach to treating autism, ADD, dyspraxia, dsylexia and other related conditions. If you are interested in knowing more about their medical approach, click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
