While intermittent fasting may have beneficial effects on various autoimmune diseases, fasting is not right for everyone.

Intermittent fasting can be detrimental for people with autoimmune issues because it can potentially exacerbate their condition by putting additional stress on the immune system, which is already dysregulated in autoimmune diseases, potentially leading to increased inflammation and flare-ups due to the body’s tendency to attack its own tissues during fasting periods. 

Why intermittent fasting may not be right for someone with autism:

Immune system disruption:
Fasting can cause fluctuations in immune cell activity, potentially leading to an overactive immune response in individuals with autoimmune diseases where the body is already attacking its own tissues. PANS is an autoimmune attack on the brain and it is very common in children with autism. You will see a sudden onset of OCD, clinginess, and fearfulness.

Increased inflammation:
While some research suggests intermittent fasting might reduce inflammation in healthy individuals, in autoimmune conditions, it could trigger increased inflammatory markers due to the body’s altered immune response. 

Stress on the body:
The stress of fasting can further exacerbate autoimmune symptoms. If your immune system is fragile and you’re constantly having flare-ups, you might want to avoid fasting until your body is stronger.

What to do instead:

Focus on a balanced, healthy diet with controlled portion sizes, regular exercise, and mindful eating habits to achieve similar health benefits, prioritizing nutrient-dense foods and limiting processed options; essentially, managing your overall calorie intake without strict fasting windows.

Ketogenic Diets are popular for this reason. A ketogenic diet primarily consists of high-fats, moderate-proteins, and very-low-carbohydrates. The dietary macronutrients are divided into approximately 55% to 60% fat, 30% to 35% protein and 5% to 10%carbohydrates.

In our episode Healthy Carbs, Candida Control, and What You Can Do To Soothe Autism Symptoms [Podcast Episode #210] we discussed how low-carb diets can be potentially sleep disruptive and anxiety provoking if candida overgrowth is still strong and candida is eating up all of the glucose our brain needs. This is very common in sleep disorders. 

I discuss this in detail in my podcast episode # 133, How To Improve Sleep Tied To Candida Induced Hypoglycemia. 

In this case, Hypoglycemia is very hard on the adrenal glands. It is a challenge during the day, but also very hard on your system at night. During sleep, Candida feeds on your blood sugar. This stresses the body and the brain and your glucose levels are lowered significantly. Your brain relies on the right amount of glucose to function properly. Therefore, this stress during sleep overworks the adrenal glands due to this imbalance in blood sugar. 

When the adrenals become fatigued it also creates an imbalance in your thyroid gland.

When cortisol release becomes deregulated by the adrenal glands, it can result in adrenal fatigue. The adrenals will often release too much Cortisol. A common symptom is waking in the night, usually around 3:00 a.m.

When blood sugar drops, it causes low glucose levels in the brain. Thus, the brain’s energy supply is low. This causes the brain to secrete toxins such as glutamate. The result is negative behavior and mis-wiring in the brain. This is especially disruptive when the brain is developing and also causes adrenal problems.

Some symptoms of low blood sugar are hyperactivity, an inability to handle emotions, and aggressive behavior.

Before bed…

Balancing Blood Sugar To Help Sleep

To help improve sleep, experiment with feeding your child a snack at bedtime, one that has some protein with fat and a little carbohydrate such as a bite or two of a protein bar, or almond butter on a slice of apple. Give a snack again if your child wakes up in the middle of the night. Here’s why it could help with sleep.

Almost every child on the autism spectrum has candida overgrowth.

Candida eats sugar (or glucose) in the blood at night, and then the brain doesn’t have enough food (blood sugar feeds the brain). When the brain gets hungry, it signals the adrenals to tell the liver to release more glucose into the blood. The adrenals have now been doing this since birth, so they’ve become worn out and fatigued. They can no longer do this efficiently, so the brain stays hungry. As it needs food, it wakes your child up to try and get some.

This snacking will provide the additional glucose that it needs. The protein and fat slow down the digestive process so the glucose is released over time, instead of all at once, and will last a longer time. This snacking helps many to improve sleep 

So the answer is…everyone is different and we need to listen to what our unique body is telling us.

Remember, Not all carbs are created equal 

Whole carbs are minimally processed and contain the fiber found naturally in the food, while refined carbs have been processed more and have had the natural fiber removed or changed. These refined, or processed carbohydrates turn to sugar in the body and cause blood sugar spikes that can lead to diabetes and weight gain, and their sugar also feeds candida and other pathogenic microbes in the gut. 

That white bread, crackers and pizza dough has to go. It’s inflammatory and causes disruption and breakage in the lining of the gut triggering more food allergies too.

You can add some grain free, whole food carbohydrate foods into the diet such as:

• cassava (see tortilla recipe with cassava below), 
• amaranth, 
• millet 

Do this only in moderation, as too much carb is not a good thing, but a little of the right kind is fine. This is not a license to overload, as that can still feed the candida and end up creating too much sugar in the body causing insulin, or blood sugar, spikes.

The solution is to eat HEALTHY carbs, along with some vegetables for fiber, and moderate amounts of organic protein.

Hypoglycemia is a condition that comes from low blood sugar or glucose. Behavioral outbursts, anxiety, and lack of ability to think clearly come from the brain being starved of its energy supply. When it has been too long since our last meal or snack, blood sugar drops and our brain cannot function properly.

If we eat too many sugars and refined carbohydrates, our body responds by releasing large amounts of insulin to counteract the effects of all of the sugar. This is especially hard on the liver and can cause it to become congested creating further physical and behavioral problems.

Foods higher on the glycemic index also have a greater likelihood of creating hyperactivity and then a “sugar crash” with loss of all energy within an hour or two after consumption. We do not want to use protein in excess as too much can be hard on the liver. Small amounts that are spread out will suffice to keep blood sugar balanced. See Individual guide from my episode, The Glycemic Index and Autism [Podcast Episode #159].

Adrenal Fatigue Hypoglycemia is very hard on the adrenal glands and can contribute to adrenal fatigue. It is a challenge during the day, but also very hard on your system at night. During sleep, Candida feeds on your blood sugar. Hyperactivity and Negative Behaviors When blood sugar drops, it causes low glucose levels in the brain. Thus, the brain’s energy supply is low. This causes the brain to secrete toxins such as glutamate. For a more in depth explanation see How To Improve Sleep Tied To Candida Induced Hypoglycemia [Podcast Episode #133].

The result is negative behavior and mis-wiring in the brain. This is especially disruptive when the brain is developing and also causes adrenal problems. Hyperactivity, an inability to handle emotions, and aggressive behavior are common symptoms.

Combine your fats, carbohydrates, and proteins at each meal. Eat plenty of vegetables, but avoid fried foods, gluten, corn, cow’s milk and caffeine. Remember, it is essential to drink pure, faltered water. 

Eat Lower Glycemic Foods ● Organic grass fed beef ● Organic Poultry (chicken and turkey) ● Line-caught fish● Organic Eggs ● Nuts (not peanuts) with plenty of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli along with very low amounts of A few Lower-Glycemic Starches ● Millet ● Amaranth ● Cassava.

Cassava Flour Tortilla Recipe

INGREDIENTS

•   3 cups Otto’s Cassava Flour

• 1 teaspoon Himalayan Salt
• 3/8 cup Organic, Cold Pressed, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 cups filtered Water (+ or – 3 tablespoons)

Mix ingredients together in a bowl. Pull out the desired amount for the size you’d like to make and roll it into a ball. You can flatten the dough in an aluminum free, non-toxic tortilla press or roll the dough in between two pieces of unbleached parchment paper. Cook in a ceramic non-toxic skillet, (avoid toxic non-stick teflon). Turn on the skillet and cook on medium low until the edges look dry and cooked through. This will take about 3-5 minutes per side, depending on how hot your burner gets.

Quickly Reduce Your Child’s Symptoms of Autism by Eliminating 7 Foods Most People Consume Daily!

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.

• Harmful Foods: Identify the foods that worsen autism symptoms and understand the science behind their impact.
• Smart Food Choices: Learn about easy dietary swaps that can significantly enhance sleep, clarity of thought, and emotional well-being.
• Practical Implementation: Get valuable tips on how to implement these dietary changes easily and effectively.

This is for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat. Every child’s level of recovery is different. No two people are the same. It is never implied that all children will have the same outcome. Results are all based on individual biology and the work that is done. This process takes time and various steps, effort and resources need to be weighed. Our programs are intended to help you become more knowledgeable and guide you to help bring your child a better quality of life, whatever that may be. We want to help by giving great content, direction and strategies that move you forward. Nothing on this page or any of our websites is a promise or guarantee of results or future outcomes. The results on this page and any of our websites are not typical or promised. In fact, there will be people who purchase this and other programs and never put the work into implementing the strategies taught and therefore will achieve little to no results. Our more detailed earnings disclaimer, privacy policy, and terms and conditions for this program and website can be accessed via the links below. We hold ourselves (and you) to a high standard of integrity. We are cheering you on every step of the way.