Study: Autism Linked to Industrial Food, Environment

Study: Autism Linked to Industrial Food, Environment

www.commondreams.org

A new study by Clinical Epigenetics, a peer-reviewed journal that focuses largely on diseases, has found that the rise in autism in the United States could be linked to the industrial food system, specifically the prevalence of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the American diet....

...The number of children ages 6 to 21 in the United States receiving special education services under the autism disability category increased 91 % between 2005 to 2010

(visit the link for the full news article)

There has been a huge explosion of autism in recent years in the developed world. Some conspiracy theorists have suggested in the previous ATS threads it is a result of vaccination. Maybe, I don't know. This study seems to point the blame to the factory farming/industrial food industry.

The article also mentions all the other bad and disgusting things that HFCS does, like taking minerals out of the body and causing possible brain problems.

If you need another reason to cut artificial foods out of your life, this is it. This news should be important to the women who are pregnant or have their young children, too.

Help your children, stop eating garbage before they are born and if you already have your children, make sure they eat good foods! And if you personally are eating these trashy foods: stop it.

Here is the direct link to a PDF of the report:
Click here for PDF

www.commondreams.org
(visit the link for the full news article)

I find the autism statistics hard to believe. There is such a spectrum to the thing that it is hard to define.

Its like the ADD thing. I think we can blame the Doctors for the rise in statistic's more than anything.

Double Post.

reply to post by Germanicus



It is an interesting possibility, thank you for your opinions.

So the idea would be that such people always existed but were not called "autisitc." It could be the truth.

Nevertheless there seems to be data behind this cause. I have no trouble believing that HFCS does horrible things to the body.

Perhaps a combination of over-diagnosis and a real increase?

Originally posted by Germanicus
I find the autism statistics hard to believe. There is such a spectrum to the thing that it is hard to define.

Its like the ADD thing. I think we can blame the Doctors for the rise in statistic's more than anything.

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

It's hard to believe until your child is diagnosed.
I used to feel the same.

Originally posted by ValentineWiggin

Originally posted by Germanicus
I find the autism statistics hard to believe. There is such a spectrum to the thing that it is hard to define.

Its like the ADD thing. I think we can blame the Doctors for the rise in statistic's more than anything.

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

It's hard to believe until your child is diagnosed.
I used to feel the same.

I used to work with children with 'special need's'. im not saying it doesnt exist. I just dont believe the statistic's. If your child is still young and it is only mild it may pass so to speak.

I bet your kid is smart hey.

reply to post by Germanicus

I also have concerns about how many are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The first thing I'm wondering is whats causing it, if its true. But more importantly, IS IT TRUE, or are they just redefining disorders they used to call something else....

Like, when I was a teenager we called it "manic depressive", now they call it "bipolar".

I remember when kids were just hyper and their parents dealt with it, then I remember when kids were hyper and every other one was put on ritalin and labeled ADD.



Whatever it is though, I have no doubt it has something to do with things we put into our bodies (knowingly and unknowingly). Whether it be while we're pregnant, or the formula we feed our kids, or the baby food, or stopping at mcdonalds once in a while... everything you buy these days is over processed ... and if you want to eat healthy it costs a small fortune.


My oldest son has Asperger's - it would make complete sense to me to find out that it was the foods I was eating. Most of it was garbage. On the other hand, I didn't change my diet much for the second child and he's perfectly normal. ON THE OTHER HAND, my 2nd child is also a much pickier eater. He never ate baby food, he went straight to table food. In fact, he's mostly lived on a diet of chicken, pasta, peas, and corn. He didn't eat his first cheeseburger until he was well into his teens.

So maybe its not something that happened wholely in the womb, but something that just started there and progressed.

I don't know how we can be sure.... but I do know that if I eat a cheeseburger today I get sick. Which really sucks, cause cheeseburgers are my absolute favorite food. I do try to make healthier choices now by keeping fruits and veggies on hand, and near every meal I cook comes with 2 vegetables.... but as I said, its just too expensive for me to eat 100% healthier. I'd like to give up red meat entirely, but chicken around here is running about twice the price per lb, and fish is running 3x the amount. I suppose I could give up meat altogether, but you know... its just too yummy.


Bacon anyone?

Originally posted by ValentineWiggin

Originally posted by Germanicus
I find the autism statistics hard to believe. There is such a spectrum to the thing that it is hard to define.

Its like the ADD thing. I think we can blame the Doctors for the rise in statistic's more than anything.

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

It's hard to believe until your child is diagnosed.
I used to feel the same.

Agreed on that. I was in denial for a couple years on my son. It took reading and researching my own self with the raw data and going blind on studies to accept what the OP takes as a given for rates and how they have exploded. It seemed too much for me to believe too. Well... It isn't and they are exploding that way.

As for the crap they peddle about Diagnosis being better. Well, I'll buy that TO a POINT. That point comes and goes with the border line kids that you may think something is a little off with....but it takes Dr. Rx Pad to come up with the right diagnosis and pill to pop for it.

My son is not a product of better diagnosis. I would have called him 'retarded'...to my shame...when I was his age and I say this because there simply weren't many in school in the late 70's into the late 80's to see like this. Now?? Good Lord....A serious % of my Son's school fit as some level of Special Needs and the Nurses Station is probably better stocked than Walgreens on ADHD and ADD meds.

Something is happening to our Children.... We know what, we don't know WHY..but we sure know it's happening.


If others need additional information and want to read it straight from people who are about presenting facts and not agendas, here is the site for it.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHY)

It is what it says and that is as simple as it can be put. The data for Autism and just about everything else is collected, sorted and presented nationally via that site. I'd say Enjoy as my kneejerk closing...but this isn't a subject I expect anyone will if this is the first time seeing the hard data and terrifying numbers of whats happening to our precious children.

Another thing to consider, along with the possibility of chemicals in foods etc, is the age women are having children. At older and older ages women are having children, and with it appears to come an increase in birth defects.

Originally posted by Germanicus
I find the autism statistics hard to believe. There is such a spectrum to the thing that it is hard to define.

Its like the ADD thing. I think we can blame the Doctors for the rise in statistic's more than anything.

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

Your first and second sentence contradict one another.

Let me clear it up for ya

The statistics shouldn't be hard to believe because there is such a wide spectrum that it is hard to define.

If you are trying to say that it is hard to believe everyone diagnosed actually is autistic because the spectrum is too broad, that is a valid point. That being said, just because you are on the spectrum doesn't mean you are autistic. Most of the people on the spectrum are in the Asperger's Syndrome area.

Another reason for an increase in statistics showing autism is more docs are becoming familiar with it. Before they just thought the kids were odd, or whatever. Now they are trained to look for signs. Are there false positives? I am sure. But that is better than a majority having no diagnosis and no real treatment. Just treated as if they were dumb kids.

Originally posted by Bakatono

Originally posted by Germanicus
I find the autism statistics hard to believe. There is such a spectrum to the thing that it is hard to define.

Its like the ADD thing. I think we can blame the Doctors for the rise in statistic's more than anything.

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

Your first and second sentence contradict one another.

Let me clear it up for ya

The statistics shouldn't be hard to believe because there is such a wide spectrum that it is hard to define.

If you are trying to say that it is hard to believe everyone diagnosed actually is autistic because the spectrum is too broad, that is a valid point. That being said, just because you are on the spectrum doesn't mean you are autistic. Most of the people on the spectrum are in the Asperger's Syndrome area.

Another reason for an increase in statistics showing autism is more docs are becoming familiar with it. Before they just thought the kids were odd, or whatever. Now they are trained to look for signs. Are there false positives? I am sure. But that is better than a majority having no diagnosis and no real treatment. Just treated as if they were dumb kids.

Well friend,thanks for your patronising advice.
Obviously the last thing I want to do is offend parents of children that have 'special need's'. So I softened there and as I said,it does exist.

I do not contradict myself at all. By saying 'hard to define' I am saying people do not know where the spectrum begins and ends.

And as I said,I used to work with these kids. And the fact that you say "dumb kids" leads me to believe you have very limited understanding of Autism.

Does that clear it up for ya?


And if you want a conspiracy think Pfizer and the like pushing drugs on kids.

reply to post by Bakatono

I agree with your point that "docs are becoming more familiar" - but as someone else said in another thread - aren't doctors just spewing what they're told by big pharma?

For the record, my son has never been on any medication for his diagnosis. They wanted him on something and I refused it - and he's doing just fine - got through school, graduated slightly late but only cause he got pnuemonia his senior year, and he is currently trying to find employment. Yes he is a little odd, but no more so than anyone else I know - just in his own way.


His full diagnosis was, "An Auditory Processing Disorder and A.D.H.D. stemming from Aspergers"

They really did lose me on the ADHD diagnosis..... there's was never a hyper bone in this child, and he never had trouble concentrating.... on what he wanted to concentrate on


I think his oddities lie more in the "auditory processing" than they do in the "aspergers" - but its hard to say. If you asked me to describe it specifically it would be hard but I can give an example.

If I ask him to do "A", "B", "C" and "D", he'll do them out of order like - "A", "D", and "C" - but completely forget he was even asked to do "B". Best way to solve this is write it down. Even if he doesn't keep the list with him, once he reads it, he'll remember.

The only thing I can think of that really looked "Aspergers" to me, was the fact that he has routines and requires prompting. For example... he never did homework. Ever. He said home was for home and school was for school and generally refused to do it. Even sitting for hours at night, hours and hours.. for years.... he would NOT pick up that pencil and write. Even as a small child, he was content to sit at the dining room table and stare at a blank piece of paper.

He eventually won that fight. By the time he reached middle school I just warned his teachers that homework would not be done and why, so they made arrangements for him to have time to complete assignments at school.


It all worked out in the end.
Without medication.

Originally posted by Germanicus


And as I said,I used to work with these kids. And the fact that you say "dumb kids" leads me to believe you have very limited understanding of Autism.

Actually, you didn't say. But, saying so does increase your status regarding knowledge of the subject.

And I never called them "dumb kids". What I said was that it is a good thing that doctors are trained better to see the signs of autism so that they can diagnose them. It is better that they are diagnosed, even with a few false positives, than to go un-diagnosed and treated as "dumb kids". They are not dumb at all and I am not insinuating that they are. I am saying that they get treated that way when they are not diagnosed. A diagnosis changes everything, for the better.

And if you want a conspiracy think Pfizer and the like pushing drugs on kids.

I agree. The way drug companies push drugs on kids is horrible. Really odd thing is that a lot of these problems don't exist in the "developing" world. Or they are very minor. Lots of "autoimmune" diseases are restricted to the "west" or "modern" world. IBD, for example, really only exists in large numbers in the UK, US, parts of the EU and Australia. It is starting in China recently. Go anywhere else? Doesn't exist. Austism is pretty much the same.

So, there is something environmental causing this to be sure. HFCS, vaccinations, mercury, a combination of all three, something else, who knows. But there is something very specific to people in the "1st" world which allows for these diseases.

If autism spectrum disorder and the ADD spectrum disorder weren't caused by foods... then explain why there are countless cases of improvement by changing diet?

My son had ADHD growing up, doctor diagnosed. I took out all sugar from his diet, all processed foods, and added strong fish oil supplements to his diet after asking the doctor for an alternative to medications. His school grades all improved by at least one full letter grade.

I know people who's children wouldn't speak because of their autism, and when they removed milk and casein from their diet, they began to speak for the first times in their lives.

I know other people whose children were completely unresponsive, even to therapy, but became more responsive once high fructose corn syrup was removed from their diet.

There is definitely a link, but there is a lot of money covering it up.

If I were sinister, I would buy a food company and a pharmaceutical company... engineer the food to create a disease that I already have a drug made to treat....

Sound familiar???

Metabolic Syndrome... check out the following video if you're interested in the biochemical effects of sugar and high fructose corn syrup, discussed by one of the top endocrinologists in the field.



You are what you eat... and we are eating food every day that modifies our genetics. (most of us at least) Next time you pick up a can of soda, ask yourself why there is so much sodium? Then you'll understand what the sugar is for and wonder what they are trying to cover up with the salt. (chemicals that kill you) The salt "flattens" the potency of the chemicals, and the sugar and high fructose corn syrup cover it up.

Where does corn syrup come from? Well, corn of course... and who makes the corn? Monsanto... and what kind of corn is it? Genetically modified... making sense yet?

Please watch the video... it explains a lot.

~Namaste

reply to post by Bakatono

Actually, you didn't say.

I used to work with children with 'special need's'.

Yes I did say that. Clearly. And yes it does give me an advantage over some person that reads magazines and alarmist news reports. It was my job. I took it seriously.

Edit- And again,anyone that treats a kid diagnosed with autism as "dumb" has no idea. It is the opposite.



PostEdit- And no,a diagnosis can be the worst thing in the world if its off. Once these kids are put on medication it is a very hard thing to get them off of it. It is taken far too lightly. We are all too eager to fix everything with a pill these days.

reply to post by Forevever


Good on you. I am not a big fan of meds either. I think most of them are worse than the "disease". That, and the fact that most of them don't help much. They may tone down some of the symptoms we don't like, but they don't really affect the condition. Meds are really more for us, than for them. Sad really.

Good friend of mine has an autistic kid. No meds. He is treating him with a restricted diet, lots of vitamins and constant hands-on work. He said his child has shown significant improvement without meds. Was just a matter of learning how he communicated and what he was interested in and then encouraging that. Well, it was much more than that, but that is the general premise.

They plan to avoid meds at all costs, but he is about to get into public school so they are worried. Seems teachers just want to send kids home if they are different and not medicated (i.e. comatose).

My relative, on the other hand, loves the meds. His child is medicated to the gills. Doesn't help at all. He still has all the problems, but they are muted while he is doped up. They just give him more meds. Sad.

Originally posted by Germanicus
reply to post by Bakatono

 

Actually, you didn't say.

I used to work with children with 'special need's'.

Yes I did say that. Clearly. And yes it does give me an advantage over some person that reads magazines and alarmist news reports. It was my job. I took it seriously.

Edit- And again,anyone that treats a kid diagnosed with autism as "dumb" has no idea. It is the opposite.

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

PostEdit- And no,a diagnosis can be the worst thing in the world if its off. Once these kids are put on medication it is a very hard thing to get them off of it. It is taken far too lightly. We are all too eager to fix everything with a pill these days.

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

I see it, it is in a subsequent post to the one I was responding to. I apologize. Didn't get to reading it until now.

BTW: I never called them dumb. But, there are people who do. When I was in grade school that is how they were treated by teachers. They were either tossed out of class for not paying attention or being disruptive, or they were put in a corner and ignored.

BTW II: I am not in favor of meds. A diagnosis doesn't mean they have to have meds, it just means that the parents can use that to get into programs to help treat their child (with diet and other treatments to help communication, and training for the parents). They can, of course, get meds as my relative did. I don't agree with it but he doesn't listen. I don't treat my children with meds either. Diet and vitamins, and exercise, and book reading. Doubt the book reading affects their physical health, but it sure helps their mental health. I think spongegbob is just about as dangerous as any med.

reply to post by SonOfTheLawOfOne


Diet does have an effect and that is the first place you should start to try to manage the childs behaviour. But that does not mean all these kids have ADD. Its just good old fashion 'hyperactivity' in most cases.

Parenting styles also play a role. Back in the 70's if you kid jumped around off the walls you would discipline them. Not the case today for most parents. The child is blameless. Can do no wrong. The undesirable behaviour must be caused by some disorder. Well no. Maybe you dont feed the kid an adequate diet and you are offering poor parenting as far as behaviour managment goes.

And again,I mean no offence and disorder's do exist but its blown all out of proportion.

Originally posted by ValentineWiggin

Originally posted by Germanicus
I find the autism statistics hard to believe. There is such a spectrum to the thing that it is hard to define.

Its like the ADD thing. I think we can blame the Doctors for the rise in statistic's more than anything.

edit on 16-4-2012 by Germanicus because: (no reason given)

It's hard to believe until your child is diagnosed.
I used to feel the same.

I have an autistic child, and both my father and I were diagnosed as "Aspergers" as adults after my son was.

none of us live in the USA nor have spent more than a few weeks there in our lives.

HFCS was first introduced to US markets in the mid 1970's, and production in the US took off in the late 1970's after sugar tariffs were increased.

HFCS production in the US has actually DECREASED since 2000.

See here