Gut Derived Opiates in Autism Helped by Probiotics

Ninety percent of children with autism are known to have GI problems. What is not as commonly known is how much the gut directly affects the brain and behavior, and how part of that problem comes from opiates. That’s right. The same ones that come from opiate derived drugs come from some foods when they are broken down in the gut. People on the autism spectrum have a much harder time breaking down these opioids, (also called exorphines), due to poor digestion and detoxification. For this reason these opioides build up to large numbers further effecting their health and behavior. 

These opioids are just what they sound like, opiates, or morphine derivatives. They give that spacey look, and the lack of ability to concentrate.  They have the same drug-like effects of morphine, so our kids get addicted to them.

Gluten and Casein

Gluten is the protein in wheat products and casein is the protein in dairy products. Gluten creates opioids called gluteomorphines, and casein creates ones called caseomorphines. These two food sources should be removed from your child’s diet. Does your child “crave” breads, crackers, pasta, and other processed carbohydrates filled with wheat and possibly dairy too? Their opioids could be a big part of the reason why.

Removing wheat products, dairy, and rice from the diet is always a good idea for multiple reasons, including their opiate derivatives. However, removing healthier foods from their diet that are also known to create them, such as spinach and meats, can be more difficult and they are needed for nutrition. We don’t want the build up of these opiates, so we need to heal their gut and offer assistance to break down these drug-like chemicals in their body. Get your free guide to the top 7 foods to avoid to prevent further damage and to help your child’s gut heal.

Healing the gut and reducing opiates, or exorphines

Along with a healthy diet  I began giving my son Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics to build the good bacteria in his gut and begin crowding out the bad bacteria. Dr. Ohhira’s has multiple strains of the right blend of positive microorganisms to help with diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel, leaky gut, and more. They come as a softgel but can easily be punctured and squeezed out for non-pill takers. One at night before bed is a good start. A 2015 study showed how probiotics may alleviate the symptoms of autism and ADHD.

After he had been on Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics for a few days and I knew how his body was doing on them I added in 1/4 teaspoon of  HLC Mindlinx by Pharmax twice per day before meals. This helped to break down any opioids in both the foods he was currently eating, and from those that had built up in his system in the past. Remember that gluten, and dairy, are two of the most common foods that create these exorphines.

Results from HLC Mindlinx

After giving HLC Mindlinx to my kids their stomach aches, headaches, and behavior improved tremendously, within days…for both of my children. I couldn’t believe it! HLC Mindlinx contains a specifically selected strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus. This strain of organism is proven to degrade wheat and dairy exorphins and to attach to and colonize intestinal epithelial cells. Read one study here on the effects of this product on exorphins, or opioids, and autism.

There is so much to learn to help your child.

Click here to  get my list of foods you should eat and foods to avoid  to learn more specific dietary guidelines.

All of this information is in much more detail in my book, Naturally Recovering Autism: The Complete Step-By-Step Resource Handbook for Parents.   

Join our Free Autism Recovery Workshop, The 4 Stages to Naturally Recover from the Symptoms of Autism. Stage 1: Healing the gut, Stage 2: Natural heavy metal detoxification, Stage 3: Clearing the Co-infections, Stage 4: Brain support and repair.  Reserve your online seat here.

Help your child get the optimum results in Karen’s step-by-step online program, The Autism Moms Mentor, working to improve the biological health aspects for better focus and concentration, improved sleep, calmer moods, and a lot more. Already in over 35 countries, this program offers you the natural resources I used to recover my own son. It is unique in that it walks you through not only gut healing and detoxification, but also the co-infections often left out of a recovery program. It also includes additional components such as muscle testing and emotional clearing to empower you to get the best possible outcome with support from a mom who has done it!

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