Thoughts on the Glutamate Autism Connection
After following diet changes and doing some research, I started to get a better understanding of the role of excess glutamate in many health issues. There is a huge connection between excess glutamate and autism. In my opinion, dietary sources of free glutamate in addition to intrinsic glutamate or glutamate signaling produced by the body, play a much bigger role in health issues than we realize. Due to the number of glutamate receptors throughout the brain and its regulation of over [...]
Incorporating Herbs
In my opinion, immune dysfunction due to underlying infections and imbalances is one of the most prominent reasons for elevated glutamate levels. Herbs are used to help combat underlying infections, intestinal overgrowth, and pathogens, calm microglial activation, and restore proper gut and neurological function. Many families start with culinary herbs, slowly work to incorporate healing herbal teas, and build up from there (powders, tinctures, etc) based on their individual needs. We've personally found the most benefit from herbs by introducing one [...]
Speech & Language Development
This is not a comprehensive list, simply some articles I have found along the way. “GABA, which is short for gamma-aminobutyric acid, is your primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Its primary role is to calm the brain, slow things down and relax you. One of the ways that it assists in this process is by increasing alpha wave production. It is also vital in speech and language. GABA puts the pause or space between words when you speak. The brain uses it to [...]
A Story of Hope | “My Son’s Diagnosis Was Removed”
We occasionally get letters or comments from parents that have seen improvements in health with diet. To help provide hope to so many still in the trenches, I’ve decided to make more of an effort to share some these comments (with their permission, of course). Many of us don’t have it all figured out, but we cling to the hope and words of progress. Everyone’s journey is different, diet changes may not reap huge changes for all, but it is absolutely [...]
Lowering Glutamate | Flaxseed Oil
"Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is immensely globally used as a food aroma and additive, several studies indicated its toxicity in different body organs. Here, we aimed to evaluate brain dysfunctions in experimental animal that administered MSG and appreciate the beneficial role of flaxseed oil in attenuating this effect." "The results of this study indicated that MSG was responsible for brain dysfunction that appeared in disturbances of neurotransmitters levels. In addition , the administration of omega-3 fatty acids in treated group effectively [...]
Pesticides, Herbicides, & Why We Try to Consume Organic
This is not a comprehensive list, simply some articles I have found along the way. Organic is always our preferred choice! Here are just a few examples of why we try to choose organic over conventional food products. While we are not always able to source organic, making an effort to at least avoid the "Dirty Dozen", should be beneficial. Auxigrow In 1998 the EPA ruled that MSG can be sprayed onto crops without restriction. Auxigrow, which contains free glutamate [...]
The Role of Glutamate in Vaccines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIxmq6W5Omg&fbclid=IwAR3L0wD6mKCBQaCsdIVCz2kqXiYSsKWf3OXrBulIJ9EKhsiUVUEU_ONGgLM&app=desktop As a mother of an injured child, I believe there is a huge connection between vaccines, autism, and glutamate. As we know autism, like many other chronic conditions, is a hyper-glutamate condition. There are several ways vaccines can lead to elevated glutamate levels and induce neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, and 'immunoexcitotoxicity,' resulting in increased sensitivity to glutamate. Elevated glutamate levels have been studied to be a primary contributor to a laundry list of health issues. A few include autism, [...]
Screen Time & EMF’s
This is not a comprehensive list, these are simply some articles I have found along the way. Many (especially children on the autism spectrum) demonstrate drastic behavioral and mood improvements by reducing exposure to electronic screens and electromagnetic frequency (EMFs), including wifi/wireless routers, cellphones, tablets, smart meters, cellphone towers, etc. This behavioral improvement may be because screen time decreases GABA (therefore increasing glutamate), and EMFs increase overall glutamate levels. They cause a surge in glutamate from the increased glial activity, [...]
Seizures & Epilepsy
This is not a comprehensive list, simply some articles I have found along the way. “Epilepsy, a paroxysmal disorder characterized by abnormal neuronal discharges, is common in children. While the causes of epilepsy are many, the fundamental disorder is secondary to abnormal synchronous discharges of a network of neurons. Whether or not a seizure occurs in a child depends upon the balance between excitability and inhibition. Central nervous system neurotransmitters have significant effects on neuronal excitability and play a pivotal [...]
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Higher levels of glutamate and altered glutmate signaling have been linked to the development of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is thought that the high levels of glutamate in response to immune/microglial activation could be a large contributer to the imblanance. Though the connection is still being explored, glutamate-modualting drugs are being targeted as a treatment. Personally, this makes a lot of sense as you often see higher levels of OCD in those with chronic underlying infections (PANS, PANDAS, Lyme, etc..) [...]