Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Chemicals in Food Possibly Affecting the Chemicals in Young Development: Specifically in Autism Spectrum Disorders Blaise Bowman Samford University

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders Chemicals in Food Possibly Affecting the Chemicals in Young Development: Specifically in Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism now affects about 1 in 100 children (Stats and Facts) found from a study done in 2011 and this number is growing. One possible cause behind these growing numbers could be due to the large amounts of food dyes, pesticides, and Genetically Modified Organisms found in our food today. The nutrients people receive from the food that they eat affects how their body functions. There is no known cause behind Autism

Spectrum Disorders. However there may be some connections between the toxic food we consume and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Background of Autism Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interactions and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior (Das, 2013, p. 1175). The term autism comes from the Greek meaning self. The word came about through referring to people who are, removed from social interaction -- hence, an isolated self (Danaher). The term autism has been used since the 1900s, but it was not until the 1940s that autism started to be referred to as it is used today. Leo Kanner is a very well known doctor who was one of the first people to work with and study autism. Hans Asperger was also a leading researcher behind studying these disorders. He is the one who was first able to identify Aspergers syndrome, hence it being named after him. It is due to the work of Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger that knowing what Autism Spectrum Disorders are and how to understand them has come such a long way. For many years autism and schizophrenia were thought to be linked with each other. However, through

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders

separate understanding and observation of autistic children in the 1960s is when the two became unrelated (Danaher). Figuring the details out of autism is still in motion. There is still research being done on the reasoning behind what causes autism and treatments for it. From the early 70s treatments for autism consisted of LSD, electric shock, and behavioral change techniques (Danaher). Thankfully between the 80s-90s is when behavior therapy and language therapy became the primary way of treating children with autism. Each child with autism is different. What may work for one child may be the worse thing for another. That is why each case of autism is unique just like that child. Autism is usually recognized by the age of three. Some symptoms of autism are abnormal reactions to sensations, physical coordination, and the inability to communicate. There are few to none cases of autism being diagnosed after the age of three. Background of Growing Food Food is an important part of every culture. It brings people together in a mysterious way. In many cultures sitting down to a meal is a time to relax and enjoy the company around you. The American culture of fast food has turned the art of food production into exactly that- producing. This is not just growing the produce; it is massproducing the food people consume. The amount of food manufactured has nearly doubled in the past thirty years due to the consumer need. Since the 1950s at least 800 chemicals have been found in American food products (Herber). Now there are well over 1,000 chemicals registered and formulated into more than 20,000 pesticide products, according to Schafer and Marquez (p. 22).

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders Many farms have to meet the growing need for food by increasing the amount of

food they produce. Each fruit and vegetable has a season that it is grown in and harvested in. Meaning that for example the only time you can eat corn is during the summer and early fall. However in todays world people do not want to wait an entire year to eat certain types of foods. Just with produce there are many pesticides, hormones, and chemicals used to help grow, and enhance the food. These pesticides have been thought to be safe when they were first introduced, however now we are able to see otherwise. Cleaning the pesticides off when you buy the produce makes the food safe for the consumer. Schafer and Marquez share how, These pesticides are considered systemic, which means they are often applied at the root (as seed coating or drench) and are then taken up through the plants vascular system. Systemic pesticides on food cannot be washed off (p. 22). It does not end with fresh food produced. Processed food encompasses much more when it comes to what is used to make these different products. Processed foods as described by Natural Health are any food that is changed from its natural, raw state. There are over thousands of chemicals used in processed foods, much of them include ingredients we are unable to pronounce and a long list of food dyes. Many of them are harmful to our bodies and the toxicity levels in our bodies. The Issue Is it possible that our bodies have reached such a toxic state that it is affecting our offspring? The number of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder has increased in the past thirty years. Dr. Jockers says, Much of this is due to the influence of industrial chemicals, processed foods, birth and childhood spinal trauma, and sedentary behavior.

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Much of the nutrients people eat affect the rest of the body especially the chemicals in the brain. Dr. Das says, It is noteworthy that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) seem to play a significant role in brain growth and development, synapse and memory formation, and cognitive function development. What people consume and brain function are indirectly related. Autism is a sensory disorder. It affects the brains way of processing information. Characteristics such as impaired social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and communicating. In Nutritional factors in the pathobiology of Autism Dr. Das shares how the brain is altered by how nerve cells and their synapse connect and organize. The number of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder has increased 261% in the past twenty years (as seen in Appendix A). Comparing this to the number of pesticides, herbicides, and other pesticides have increased to 1.1 billion pounds used a year this is a staggering comparison. It is very possible that the two could be linked (Schafer, Marquez). It is a crucial time when a child is developing in the mothers womb. Exposure to any sorts of harmful chemicals during pregnancy can have serious affects on a child. Researchers believe autism spectrum disorders reflect changes in brain structure occurring during critical windows of development in the womb. These shifts in brain architecture may be caused by genetics, environmental insults such as chemical exposure, or an interaction between the two (Schafer, Marquez p.7). There is even research saying that it is not just exposure to these toxins during pregnancy but even before.

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Pesticides that have accumulated for years in an expectant mothers bodystored in blood and fatty tissuescan be mobilized during pregnancy and cross the placental barrier. A mothers exposures to pesticides during pregnancy add to this chemical mixture in the womb (Schafer, Marquez p. 18). There have been ten chemicals linked to the possible development of autism found by Dr. Philip Landrigan of Mt. Sinai Medical Center and the number is increasing. Lead, Methylmercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls, organophosphate pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, endocrine disruptors, Automotive exhaust, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Brominated flame retardants, and Perfluorinated compounds are found in consumer products. These chemicals are something that humans come into contact with on a regular basis. There has been no direct study that has proven or disproven this idea, however it is still something to think about. Dr. Mercola says, There's no shortage of evidence that toxins of different sorts can wreak havoc with brain function. Add to this the more recent findings that your gut is profoundly influential for brain health, and a picture of toxic overload combined with inadequate nutrition comes into clear view. Continuing in Dr. Mercolas article The Silent Time Bomb Now Affecting 1 in 54 Boys in the US we have seen that environmental factors play a large role in autism, mainly the toxins in the world. Gut and Psychology Syndrome, also known as GAPS, is a link between brain toxicity coming from gut toxicity. Gut and Psychology Syndrome is, toxicity flowing from their gut throughout their bodies and into their brains, literally clogs the brain with toxicity, preventing it from performing its normal function and processing sensory information

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders (Mercola). In conclusion the toxic chemicals used in food production have the possibility of causing autism. Other Affects of Chemicals Not Just on Autism Pesticides do not have an affect just on autism, but many other health issues. Schafer and Marquez make an interesting statement about the growing number of disabilities in children today. They say, From childhood cancers to autism, birth defects and asthma, a wide range of childhood diseases and disorders are on the rise. Our

assessment of the latest science leaves little room for doubt: pesticides are one key driver of this sobering trend (Schafer, Marquez p.1). The article A Generation in Jeopardy goes into detail about the relation of pesticides and ADHD, Autism, cancer, birth defects, asthma, diabetes, and obesity. In Appendix B you are able to see how much childrens disabilities have increased since 1975 (Schafer, Marquez p.2) Conclusion The increase in childhood disabilities is shocking. It is now estimated that 400,000 to 600,000 children born in the United States have a neurodevelopmental disorder (Schafer, Marquez p. 6). There is much that needs to be done to figure out a way to overcome these increasing numbers. Children with autism are such unique and wonderful children. Any possible help that we could give them makes a world of difference. There have been few cases of hearing about autistic children being cured of their autism, however there is always a possibility. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride has a son who was diagnosed with autism at age three. He is now fully recovered and is living a normal life. She is a neurologist, but went back to school after receiving the news about her son and acquired a postgraduate degree in human nutrition. From this degree in

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders understanding how the human body works Dr. Campbell-McBride was able to cure her son. She goes into detail during an interview with Dr. Mercola, found in his article The Silent Time Bomb Now Affecting 1 in 54 Boys in the US, about Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS). She says how The very name establishes a connection between the functioning of the digestive system and the functioning of the brain. Dr. Campbell-

McBride was able to cure her child mainly through changing her sons diet completely. Her patients call it the GAPS diet. Dr. Campbell-McBride says, What GAPS diet does, it removes all the foods which are difficult to digest. It provides foods which are easy to digest and which are very dense in nutrition. Because these patients are not able to digest and absorb food properly they have got multiple nutritional deficiencies. Their brains are starving. Their immune systems are starving. The rest of their body is starving. Dr. Campbell-McBride made these changes in her childs diet and is able to say that he does not have autism anymore. She detoxified her sons body through changing what he ate to natural, nutrient rich foods. Both her book and website are self help sources for anyone who is in this situation. It only takes small steps to help eliminate these toxins. With the increase in mental disabilities and the growing number of pesticides used it is a strong possibility that the two are linked. To function and perform the human body uses the nutrients of what people eat. The chemicals found in food affect how a persons body performs even affecting brain function. In conclusion if becoming more green can help with this, why wouldnt we do this? Sometimes it takes just a thought to grow into a movement.

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders References Cambell-McBride, N. (2010). Gut and psychology syndrome: Natural treatment for autism,

dyspraxia, a.d.d., dyslexia, a.d.h.d., depression, schizophrenia. Medinform Publishing. Danaher, J. History of autism. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/history-of-autism Das, U. N. (2013). Nutritional factors in the pathobiology of autism. Nutrition, 29(7-8), Pg 10661069. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.samford.edu/science/article/pii/S089990 0712004364 Das, U. N. (2013). Autism as a disorder of deficiency of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and altered metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Nutrition,29(10), Pg 1175 1185. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.samford.edu/science/article/pii/S089990 0713000543 Jockers. (2011, August 19). Boost your child's iq naturally. Retrieved from http://www.drjockers.com/2011/08/boost-your-childs-iq-naturally/ Mercola. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/04/17/aps-onepidemic-autismspectrum-diseases.aspx Herber, L. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/anarchist_archives/bookchin/HerberChem.html Schafer, K. S., & Marquez, E. C. (2013). A generation in jeopardy . Retrieved from http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/KidsHealthReportOct2012.pdf

Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders Appendix A Schafer, K. S., & Marquez, E. C. (2013). A generation in jeopardy . Retrieved from http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/KidsHealthReportOct2012.pdf

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Chemicals in Food and Autism Spectrum Disorders Appendix B Schafer, K. S., & Marquez, E. C. (2013). A generation in jeopardy . Retrieved from http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/KidsHealthReportOct2012.pdf

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