Tag: autism

Increase in Autism Rates

April 2nd, 2012 by Paula Gallagher

A new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 88 American children has some form of autism spectrum disorder. That’s a 78% increase in 10 years.

The increase in numbers are attributed to better diagnosis, broader diagnosis, and better awareness. However, according to Mark Roithmayr, president of the advocacy group Autism Speaks, the reason for about 50% of the increase is unknown.

Research has pointed to environmental changes as one of the reasons for this increase. The three BIG environmental influences seem to be:

1) Pesticides: Infants and small children should be consuming organic foods as much as possible. Especially when it comes to fruits, vegetables and dairy.

2) Overuse of antibiotics: Ear infections are very common in children and so is prescribing antibiotics. Most ear infections are viral and will not be helped by antibiotics. Overuse can cause resistance to superbugs, as well as lowered immunity. Continue reading “Increase in Autism Rates”

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Prenatal Vitamins Linked to Decreased Autism

December 13th, 2011 by Paula Gallagher

Thinking of becoming pregnant? Well, don’t wait until the two pink lines show up on your home pregnancy test to start preparing. It’s important for a woman to start taking a good quality prenatal that contains 800 mg of folic acid as well as iron, calcium and vitamin D3, as soon as she starts trying to conceive (and ideally 3 months before conceiving).

Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated vitamins that help support a woman’s body during pregnancy. The most important reason in the past to take a prenatal was for the increased amount of folic acid. Folic acid combined with a B group vitamin, not only before pregnancy, but during, significantly reduces the possibility of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. This condition can develop in an embryo very early in pregnancy, perhaps even before a woman knows she is carrying a fetus.

However, a recent study has given even more importance to prenatal vitamins. Continue reading “Prenatal Vitamins Linked to Decreased Autism”

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Sunday Radio Show: Hidden Connection Between Children’s Diets & Ailments

July 22nd, 2011 by Paula Gallagher

Host Dana Laake and her special guest Kelly Dorfman will be discussing the hidden connections between children’s diets and common childhood ailments.

Kelly Dorfman, MS, LND, is a health program planner and nutritionist. Kelly specializes in nutrition and lifestyle strategies to address complex health problems from autism to bone loss to rare genetic disorders. She has a special interest in children and is a co-founder of Developmental Delay Resources (DDR), a non-profit organization to educate parents, teachers and health professionals who deal with children facing attention, behavior and cognitive challenges. Kelly’s special talent for integrating information from many sources and finding practical solutions has made her a popular speaker and workshop leader.

Tune in this Sunday from 10-11am on 1500 AM (WFED) or listen live on the web. Our shows are streamed everywhere.

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Lancet Retracts 1998 Study About Autism

February 3rd, 2010 by Paula Gallagher

The prestigious medical journal Lancet has retracted a study linking the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine to autism. In a statement explaining its retraction of Wakefield’s paper, the Lancet said, “Following the judgment of the U.K. General Medical Council’s Fitness to Practice Panel on Jan. 28, 2010, it has become clear that several elements of the 1998 paper by Wakefield et al are incorrect … in particular, the claims in the original paper that children were ‘consecutively referred’ and that investigations were ‘approved’ by the local ethics committee have been proven to be false. Therefore we fully retract this paper from the published record.”

Will this really affect the way people view vaccinations? Continue reading “Lancet Retracts 1998 Study About Autism”

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