Children on the autism spectrum almost always have an overgrowth of candida in their gut. In fact, scientists estimate that 70% of all people have an overgrowth of candida. In our intestinal system we have what are known as “good” bacteria. They work hard to keep our gut lining and our immune system in good health to fight off infection and disease. Candida, also known as yeast or fungi, is some of the normal bacteria we all carry in our gut. The problem arises when Candida’s numbers grow too high and get out of control. When the bad bacteria grow to a higher count than the good bacteria we have what is known as an overgrowth. This is often referred to as a yeast infection or Candida albicans.

These bacteria have a delicate balancing system. This balance can easily be thrown off by such things as physical injury, poor diet, toxins, emotional stress and the use of antibiotics. Fungus, and yeast, such as Candida albicans in the gut, can easily be inhaled through oral secretions and affect our respiratory pathways and lungs. Fungus in the body is unknowingly tied to many allergies and can also mimic symptoms of a heart attack.

Yeast is systemic! This means that it is present throughout the body wreaking havoc in the organs, tissue, joints and central nervous system, including the brain. The GI tract is often damaged so severely by Candida that holes have been created in the lining of the intestines. The spores or babies of the yeast have legs on them that bore holes through the intestinal lining. This causes leaky gut.

This “leaky gut” allows undigested food and toxins to reach the bloodstream. These toxins flow to any organ or tissue they can, including the brain. Leaky gut also causes food allergies. The undigested food is seen by the body as a foreign agent and antibodies are created against them. Foods once tolerated suddenly create allergic reactions. You may have already become aware of foods that seem to create symptoms in your child.

COMMON EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

• Hyperactivity or other behavioral problems.
• Excessive irritability
• Decreased cognitive function (brain fog)
• Depression
• Anxiety

COMMON PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

• Headaches
• Joint pain
• Ear aches and infections
• Tonsillitis
• Skin rashes (can be anywhere, but are commonly on the backs of the hands)
• Itchy skin
• Large protruded belly (indicative of allergy-inflammation due to yeast overgrowth)
• Cravings for sweets and carbohydrate foods
• Dark circles under the eyes (can also be due to food allergies which coincide with leaky gut)
• Chronic diarrhea
• Constipation
• Gas, bloating
• Low energy
• Chronic sinus congestion
• Itching in the vagina or anus
• Stuffy nose (fungi live in the nasal passages)
• Trouble breathing and/or wheezing
  

Benefits Parents Have Noticed

When pathogenic bacteria become more balanced, parents notice improved sleep, better digestion and elimination, an increase in speech, communication, and social behavior, less aggression, better focus and concentration, increased energy, and much more.

Many people on antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication can have their symptoms disappear after a proper GI program that rebuilds, strengthens, and balances the good bacteria in their gut.

WHY IS YEAST SO HARD TO GET RID OF?

We take antifungal agents to fight Candida, but the lesser-known truth is that they just build up resistance to these products and the yeast becomes stronger over time. This makes it harder to get rid of. When the yeast feels threatened by one of our yeast programs, it has the ability to hibernate in tissues where it is kept safe and sheltered from our anti-Candida program. Some is killed off, and we feel the effects of the die-off, so we believe it is working.

Candida Spores

Yeast also releases spores which are like their babies. These spores can actually bore themselves into the tissues of our bodies and go into a sort of hibernation when they sense they are in danger. This keeps them safe from most yeast cleansing products.

During a Candida cleanse, these yeast and their spores do their best to stay safe. Since this is the case, it makes sense to find a product that can kill both the motherlode and their hiding babies. Otherwise, we begin feeling better, think we are yeast-free, end our eradication program, and soon find ourselves back where we started. The spores will come out of hiding, and begin breeding a whole new colony of yeast. It is frustrating to spend the money, and take the time, to go through the process and not make the progress hoped for.

The worst part is that Candida builds up a resistance to antifungal agents which make the yeast stronger.

Once we go through a proper candida eradication, then we need to practice maintenance. When I say ‘proper’ candida eradication this does not mean diflucan or other short term anti-fungals.

ANTIFUNGALS: WHY NOT?

Antifungal products have been used for years to help eradicate Candida albicans. However, I have found that they do not take care of the imbalance completely when used alone. Some of the products I mention below are helpful for the immune system or for short-term relief. However, Candida learns how to hide away from these types of products and lay their spores, only to come out of hiding once we stop the cleansing program.

A few of the Commonly Used Antifungals:

• Oregano oil
• Black walnut
• Garlic
• Olive leaf extract
• Pau d’arco
• Malic acid, found in apple cider vinegar
• Grapefruit seed extract  
• Diflucan (an antifungal medication)

They also have a likelihood of intense die- off reactions for your child such as headache, fever, increased irritability and anger, anxiety, increased stimming, and much more.

The First and Easiest Place To Start

Diet

Sugars, including fruit, processed carbohydrates (even most gluten free foods) that turn to sugar in the body, antibiotics, and high stress levels all contribute to candida overgrowth. The high sugar content foods are very inflammatory and also let the candida come back if were not careful.

You can get my free guide here to the top 7 foods to begin eliminating from your child’s diet, or at autismcheatsheet.com.

For many with candida it is a good 6 months to a year to be strict on the diet, but as you begin cleansing it and doing further detoxification, then the mercury and heavy metals are not getting in the way of the body removing the excess candida more easily. He can have just a little fruit but be mindful of too much. He likes the sugars in the processed carbohydrates and the sugary foods, including dairy because his body is craving them from the candida overgrowth. 

Once it is more balanced then the diet doesn’t have to be so strict but it should become a general lifestyle. It is fairly ongoing. Gluten, cow’s milk, and processed carbohydrates are not really good for anyone. The gluten and dairy also create opiates in the body so they are very addictive. You will notice your child craves them just as they crave sugars so the transitional process to a healthier diet is a slow and steady one.

Transitioning away from gluten and casein (dairy and wheat) can be a longer term transition due to the addictive properties of them. The best way to transition is slowly. Try reducing the amount you give by just a little bit each day.

Obviously, their behavior is a huge indicator of what is happening. Remember that things may get worse before they get better due to the candida being starved of the foods they need to thrive on, so they die. This brings ‘die-off’ reactions which are worsening symptoms.

Toxin binders are important to have in place to help sop up the extra toxins being released which are contributing to their behaviors.

Practice Prevention

Once we go through a proper candida eradication, then we practice prevention and maintenance everyday because candida can get out of hand again very easily. You as a parent should also go through these protocols and do the diet too. We pass candida and other toxins and infections in utero so your child could have easily gotten it from you so you don’t want to pass it back and forth in the family.

Please listen to my podcast episode #55 on candida, Candida Questions-Sugars and More Ways to Test [Podcast Episode 55].

What Causes Leaky Gut and How To Regain Your Child’s Health With Autism [Podcast Episode #156]

The first crucial step of autism recovery is to begin restoring health to the gut and the immune system.

The health of the gut is directly linked to the health of the brain and therefore to the symptoms of autism. In fact, 80% of the immune system comes from the gut so if the gut is not healthy, then the brain can’t thrive, and the immune system is compromised. It’s a vicious cycle, but thankfully, it’s one that we can put an end to by first eliminating harmful foods.

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