Autism, Allergies, and Eczema…Oh My!

I do randomly blog on health issues, because it is very important to me.  I’ve blogged before on my boys’ health issues.  My oldest son, Michael, is diagnosed with Aspergers and A.D.D.  My younger son, Gabriel, has severe eczema and anxiety.

I read this article http://www.larabriden.com/the-inflammation-from-a1-milk-is-mind-boggling/  this morning.

Dr. Lara Briden has an awesome, informative blog.

I firmly believe that modern medicine is more about covering up symptoms than addressing the source of the problem.

I have resisted giving up milk and dairy to this point.  Hello, we are Midwestern.  We LOVE us some cheese, ice cream, and milk.  I didn’t think we had problems with milk.  But maybe I was wrong… Dr. Lara makes a very convincing argument.

It ‘clicked’ in my mind because I know as a baby I started suffering from severe ear infections at around the time when cow milk was probably introduced.  Through childhood I also had asthma, allergies, and then anxiety, depression, thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances, stomach aches, acne….the list goes on.

I know for sure I can not have gluten, soy lecithin, or carrageenan.  Do I need to add cow’s milk and dairy to the list?

I know everyone in the 70’s was fine eating white bread and margarine and veggies from a can.  Autism and food allergies were unheard of.  But could the damage have been cumulative?  Check out this infamous cat study.  http://www.spiritofhealthkc.com/portfolio/food-the-pottenger-cat-study/  He took the cats from their natural ‘whole foods’ diet and put them on processed, canned food.  The affect on the health was seen getting more severe with each generation.  Obviously, we are not cats.  But I think the massive switch from traditional foods to heavily processed foods in our culture, over the last 100 years or so, is having equally disastrous consequences.  Coupled with environmental toxins and aggressive vaccinations- our kids are paying a high cost.

I am going to try cutting out dairy for our family.  I’m going to look at goat milk options, which appears to be much more tolerable.  What can it hurt?  I would do anything to see my baby healed from eczema.

It is super overwhelming because my kids are so dang picky.  I’m just going to charge ahead and do it.  I have already seen huge improvements from eating mostly healthy, unprocessed foods.  I know diet is huge and can positively affect virtually any health issue- even mental health.

I know it is overwhelming (especially with a family) to overhaul your diet.  Easy swaps that make a huge difference-

-replace vegetables oils (yes, even canola) with olive oil, coconut oil, or butter.

-cook more food from scratch.

-try not to eat from a can (BPA).

-use sea salt in place of table salt.

-go organic and grass fed when possible.

-take vitamin D.