Helping Hands Occupational Therapy

Autism is much more complex. While it almost always involves neuroinflammation, the trigger is unique/buoindividual to each child.

Just like symptoms and presentation of Autism *spectrum* disorder can be varied, there is also a wide array of underlying contributing factors. It’s typically a complex series of environmental events and exposures over time.

The bottom line is that I’m really glad Autism is getting much attention so we can do our best to understand it and help these families find the appropriate treatments and support they need.

📈Cancer is the #1 cause of disease related death in children in the US.⠀
📈Autism is now 1 in 30 children, a 50% jump from 2017.⠀
📈1 in 5 children have asthma.⠀
📈1 in 6 have ADHD.⠀
📈1 in 6 have a developmental disability.⠀
📈1 in 5 children are obese.⠀
📈1 in 5 have a mental health disorder.⠀
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Big food, big ag + big pharma are at the root of it all.⠀
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Food regulation agencies have known for decades about the harmful affects of pesticides, herbicides and glyphosate on children’s health and childhood cancer rates but they have done little to nothing to regulate the use of them on our food supply.⠀
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These herbicides and pesticides disrupt the delicate gut microbiome and contribute to the toxic burden of children.⠀
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💫 The only way we can make an impact is by demanding and buying better for our families.⠀
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💫By refusing to buy ultra processed foods, GMOs, supporting brands who care about children’s health and making food at home from real foods, were demanding better options for children and helping to keep the food industry in check.⠀
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💫Here are some practical ways parents can make an impact at the grocery store. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, these are just some examples of MANY amazing companies that are working to make safer food products for kids and a few of many practical ways you can make simple swaps in your home.⠀
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1. Opt for grains that are low in glyphosate or certified glyphosate free⠀
2. Buy more “real food” snacks from protein, fruits and veggies instead of ultra-processed processed snack foods⠀
3. Buy grass-fed, pasture raised, wild and local meat and seafood as is feasible for your family ⠀
4. Opt for treats and cereals that are food dye free

Are humans becoming more allergic to food or is our food and environment becoming increasingly more toxic?  
 
What do you think? 
 
I would argue that it is the latter. Granted, food allergies are real and on the rise more than ever -- In the United States, food allergies are a widespread epidemic. 1 in 12 children (8%) have food allergies and the prevalence has risen by 50% since the year 1997. 
 
I would argue that the rise of food allergies has much more to do with toxicity, synthetic chemicals and pesticides on our food than genetics. Since the implementation of mass food production and caged farming practices that began around the early 1900's, our food has become increasingly void of nutrients and increasingly more synthetic and toxic. Environmental triggers and toxicants in our environment also play a large role in molding the gut microbiome and immune system. 
 
Epigenetics, or the study of how your behaviors and environment cause changes that affect the way your genes work, is much more likely the cause.