Active Family Chiropractic's Wellness: The Silent Time Bomb Now Affecting 1 in 54 Boys in the US

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that 1 in 88 children in the U.S. are now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The number represents a 23 percent increase in the last two years and 78 percent in the past five years!

But that was just the average—the numbers were much greater for Hispanics (110 percent) and black children (91 percent).

The study, published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, also found that ASDs are nearly five times more common among boys than girls.

Broken down, the numbers equate to 1 in 54 boys with ASDs, and 1 in 252 girls. The updated estimates are based on data collected in 14 American communities during 2008.

New Jersey was far higher than the average with 1 in 49 but the highest prevalence was found in Utah, where a staggering 1 in 47 eight-year-olds were identified with some form of ASD! For those of us that live in Utah this statistic is incredibly powerful.

In Utah, boys are almost three times as likely to have autism than girls with one in 32 boys identified, according to the new data, versus one in 85 girls. Researchers say the spike is real in Utah and can’t be attributed to over diagnosis or a different definition of autism. However, the new Utah rate comes solely from a sample pool of about 2,000 children — the smallest group in the nation — in a single urban area along the Wasatch Front.

WHAT is Causing the Skyrocketing Increase in Autism Spectrum Disorders?

With a 78 percent increase of any health problem in just five years we must stop and ask ourselves what is causing it. Prior to the CDC's announcement, the Canary Party, a citizens' action group on autism, predicted that the CDC would downplay the seriousness of these latest statistics.

And as predicted, on its new autism webpage, the CDC stated they suspect some of the increase "is due to greater awareness and better identification" among some of the children.

But even taking that possibility into consideration, the statistics are shocking. How can one in 88 American children have some form of autistic disorder? In a normal, healthy environment, that just shouldn't happen. And the fact that it IS happening demands immediate attention.

While many doctors, researchers and advocacy groups are channeling their energy on finding "the" cause, vaccines being the main target, this narrow approach can be extremely counterproductive.

Research is now clearly showing that environmental factors play a primary role in the epidemic of autism spectrum disorders. But which environmental factors are to blame?

Previous studies indicated that autism spectrum disorders were due mainly to genes, as high as 90 percent, meaning that genetic factors accounted for the vast majority of variables contributing to the development of autism. But a new study suggests that environment — including conditions in the womb, age of parents and other factors — may account for a greater fraction of the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders. This new study suggests that genetic heritability accounts for less than half of the variation in risk of classical autism and other autism spectrum disorders, such as Asperger syndrome. Shared environmental factors are responsible for 55 percent of autism and 58 percent of autism spectrum disorders, researchers reported online July 4 in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

While vaccines have been main the target of people's suspicions, there's evidence suggesting there are other factors as well. The factor that prevents us from dismissing vaccines as harmless is the fact that toxic overload appears to be at the core of the problem, and vaccines do contribute to a child's overall toxic load. So while it's inappropriate to blame vaccines alone for the rapid rise in autism, it would be just as inappropriate to ignore their impact.

The majority of autism cases seem to result from the "activation" of a number of different genes, along with various environmental factors that co-mingle to produce autism. Research is showing us our genes are very adaptable—they continuously respond to their environment.

Environmental Factors that May Play a Role in Autism

When looking into the possible environmental factors for autism, they are incredibly diverse. The following is just a short list of examples:

Electromagnetic fields: Work by Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt suggests there are distinct correlations between a woman's exposure to electromagnetic fields during pregnancy and her child's neurological functioning. He found that if you sleep in strong electromagnetic fields during pregnancy, your child will likely begin to exhibit neurological abnormalities within the first two years of life, such as neurological dysfunction, hyperactivity, and learning disorders.

In 2007, this theory received additional support from a study published in the Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine. It presented the theory that electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from cell phones, cell towers, Wi-Fi devices and other similar wireless technologies may work in conjunction with genetic and environmental factors, becoming an accelerating factor in autism. After more than five years of research on children with autism they found that EMR negatively affects cell membranes, allowing heavy metal toxins, which are associated with autism, to build up.
To learn more about the science of HOW electromagnetic radiation affects and harms your body, please review this previous article featuring Dr. Martin Blank.

Mercury toxicity: It is already an established fact that exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions -- all similar to traits defining, or associated with autism. Mercury pollution is widespread from the burning of fossil fuels, but the use of thimerosal-containing vaccines and dental amalgams—both of which contain mercury—also cannot be overlooked as major sources of individual exposure to this neurotoxin

Vaccines: A 2011 review^vof the peer-reviewed, published studies on autism (going all the way back to 1943) revealed numerous documented cases of autism caused by encephalitis following vaccination. There are many potential vaccine-related culprits, including the use of toxic adjuvants; the presence of human DNA in vaccines; and the increasing number of vaccines given in a short period of time

Phthalates: Research from 2009 discovered that infants who lived in homes with vinyl floors were twice as likely to have autism five years later, compared to those with wood or linoleum flooring. Vinyl floors can emit chemicals called phthalates, which are widely used plastic softeners found in much more than just vinyl flooring. Hairsprays, perfumes, cosmetics, toys, shower curtains, wood finishers, lubricants, certain medical devices and more all contain phthalates. Researchers have suggested the chemicals may contribute to autism by disrupting hormones not only in small children but also in the womb

Vitamin D Deficiency: There is also a link between rampant vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and the proportionate jump in autism, which has been highlighted by Dr. John Cannell. The vitamin D receptor appears in a wide variety of brain tissue early in the fetal development, and activated vitamin D receptors increase nerve growth in your brain

Neurologist Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride has a theory linking environmental factors together, brain toxicity stemming from gut toxicity, otherwise known as Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS).

The Standard American Diet May Be Contributing to ASD

I have long suspected that the increase of autism in children in the United States may be linked to the typical American diet. Now, according to a new study published online in Clinical Epigenetics by Renee Dufault just such a link has been identified. The study explores how mineral deficiencies—affected by dietary factors like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)—could impact how the human body rids itself of common toxic chemicals like mercury and pesticides.

“To better address the explosion of autism, it’s critical we consider how unhealthy diets interfere with the body’s ability to eliminate toxic chemicals, and ultimately our risk for developing long-term health problems like autism.” said Dr. David Wallinga, a study co-author and physician at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).

Key Findings:

Autism and related disorders affect brain development. The current study sought to determine how environmental and dietary factors, like HFCS consumption, might combine to contribute to the disorder.
Consumption of HFCS, for example, is linked to the dietary loss of zinc, which interferes with the elimination of heavy metals from the body. Many heavy metals like mercury, arsenic and cadmium are potent toxins with adverse effects on brain development in the young.
HFCS consumption can also impact levels of other beneficial minerals, including calcium. Loss of calcium further exacerbates the detrimental effects of exposure to lead on brain development in fetuses and children.
Inadequate levels of calcium in the body can also impair its ability to expel organophosphates, a class of pesticides long recognized by the EPA and independent scientists as especially toxic to the young developing brain.

“Rather than being independent sources of risk, factors like nutrition and exposure to toxic chemicals are cumulative and synergistic in their potential to disrupt normal development,” said Dr. Richard Deth, a professor of Pharmacology at Northeastern University and a co-author of the study. “These epigenetic effects can also be transmitted across generations. As autism rates continue to climb it is imperative to incorporate this new epigenetic perspective into prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies.”

In order to slow the epidemic of autism in the U. S., continued research of the impact of the industrialized food system and exposure to environmental toxins on ASD must be key areas of research in the future.

Like the previously described studies and theories, this adds to the multifaceted view of autism that we now have. It is not one single cause but rather many intermingling causes that cumulatively raise the risk of ASD. It only makes sense that the processed foods and GMO's of the SAD (Standard American Diet) would also contribute our dramatic increase in austism.

GAPS: Another Possible Cause of Autism

Dr. Campbell-McBride is convinced that autistic children are born with perfectly normal brains and sensory organs, but that abnormal gut flora, passed on from their mother and father, leads to devastating gut and brain toxicity. In children with Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS), toxicity flowing from their gut throughout their bodies and into their brains, literally clogs the brain with toxicity, preventing it from performing its normal function and processing sensory information.

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But what leads to such devastatingly abnormal gut flora? Dr. Campbell discovered that a large percentage of mothers of autistic children were bottle-fed. Then, as they received many courses of antibiotics throughout their childhood, they developed increasingly worse abnormalities in their gut flora, which in turn was passed on to their children. Add to that a diet of processed foods and the damage to a woman's gut flora deepens even further, and each generation quickly gets worse and worse, unless active remediation is undertaken. According to Dr. Campbell-McBride:

"Many of these modern factors created a whole plethora of young ladies in our modern world who have got quite deeply abnormal gut flora by the time they are ready to have their first child."

Vaccination could be the "Straw that Breaks the Camel's Back"

Dr. Campbell-McBride's book Gut and Psychology Syndrome contains an entire chapter outlining what health care professionals need to do to improve the vaccination strategy, because the standard vaccination protocol is bound to damage GAPS babies.
She explains:

"It's a matter of the last straw breaking the camel's back. If the child is damaged enough, the vaccine can provide that last straw. But if it doesn't provide that last straw in a particular child, then it will get the child closer to the breaking point."
Fortunately, it's possible to identify GAPS within the first weeks of your baby's life. This knowledge would allow parents to make well-informed decisions about how to proceed with future medical decisions for their child. In her practice she starts out by collecting a complete health history of the parents, and their gut health is assessed. Then, within the first few days of life, the stool of the child can be analyzed to determine the state of her gut flora, followed by a urine test to check for metabolites, which can give you a picture of the state of your child's immune system.

These tests are available in most laboratories around the world and cost about $80-100 per test.

If the test results are normal the likelihood of autism after vaccines is dramatically reduced. Dr. Campbell-McBride has stated she has yet to find an autistic child with normal bowel flora. If you find that your baby has abnormal gut microflora, or begins to develop symptoms of autism a year or two later, the GAPS program should be started immediately. The younger the child is when you start the treatment, the better the results. Dr. Cambell-McBride's recommendation is children should not be given any vaccines until their microflora has been tested.

For more information about the GAPS Nutritional Program, including the two types of GAPS diets, and the importance of fermented foods, please review this previous article.

Reducing the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism is a complex condition with many contributing factors and it takes a multi-faceted approach to treat and prevent it. We should be looking at this condition from all angles:

Reduce your and your child's toxic burden: This includes avoiding as many dangerous chemicals as possible. As a general rule, eating whole organic foods will go a long way, as that automatically cuts out processed foods and related chemicals, genetically engineered foods, and artificial sweeteners.

Be mindful about the personal care products you use, as well as your household cleaning products and home building materials and furnishings.

Do whatever you can to establish a toxin-free environment for your whole family, and then establish a detoxification program. Please remember hidden toxins like mold and fluoride. The book, Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call, by Dr. Doris Rapp is an excellent resource if you're unsure of how or where to start.

Lower the EMF burden in your home, especially in your bedrooms.

Carefully review the vaccination issue, including the conventional vaccination schedule, and know that in most U.S. states you still have the right to opt out of vaccines.

Avoid pasteurized milk. This includes all milk products, such as ice cream, yogurt and whey. Even natural flavorings in food must be avoided unless the processor can guarantee that caseinate is not included.

Complete elimination of sugar/fructose, juice, soda, French fries and wheat (pasta, bagels, cereal, pretzels, etc) is also highly recommended.

Get proper sun exposure. Vitamin D deficiency in conjunction with damaged gut flora may be two of the most significant contributing factors to autism. Optimizing your vitamin D levels and your gut flora during pregnancy appears to be the most important prevention strategies discovered to date.

What now? What should we do?

There is a Precautionary Principle that states, "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically."

In other words, if multiple toxic exposures and poor nutrition are to blame, then trying to recognize "the" cause will get us nowhere. We need to recognize and accept that many parties, from varied backgrounds, may have useful information. This topic has become so polarized amongst the medical community, parents and advocacy groups, vaccine opponents, and politicians that real progress seems far from realistic at this point. Research is showing us that we need to cooperate rather than compete to find an answer to the autism question. That question being: What do we do about it?

The primary action that we should be taking is to take a much wider aim; to reduce ALL toxic exposure and improve nutrition. This includes but is not limited to reducing the toxic chemicals in cleaning products, clothing, and food but also vaccine load, especially in the US where children receive the most vaccines of any country on the planet.

While vaccine advocates stand behind the importance of "herd immunity," saying the vaccine will not work unless the majority is vaccinated, there's a recognizable risk to forcing everyone into a one-size-fits-all mold. Currently, the United States' vaccine rate stands at around 98% and advocates are forcefully pushing for 100%. What further damage could we be causing?

Not only are some children at greater risk for vaccine damage than others but we also eliminate the ability to evaluate the health risks of vaccinations if no one is allowed to opt out. We NEED to conduct comparison studies to evaluate the health outcomes of vaccinated versus unvaccinated children. At the very least, the medical community should offer more flexibility in the recommended vaccine schedule.

There is a strong likelihood that you, or someone you know will have to deal with ASD in their family. It is imperative that we begin to have an open discussion about possible causes and therefore prevention policies for this spectrum of disorders. It is already at epidemic rates; how much higher do the incidence rates need to rise before we begin to truly take notice? We must begin to take responsibility for what we are consuming, the medical practices we allow, and what is to be done about our children and their futures.

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