Cold Season Already?

I have a cold.  It's what I call a "head cold" and I almost never get them.  During the winter months, I increase my resistance by taking extra vitamin supplements, including D3.  I did not get a cold all of last year, but, I sure do have one now.  (Sniff-sniff)  I do not take any OTC medicines when I get a cold.  I suffer it through and am generally better within 5 days.  The symptoms are rough, but shorter duration is what I go for.

When my kids get a cold, I don't give them cold medicine either -- especially if it has red #40 in it!  No way! 

We've experienced crazy behavior too many times... so the last few years we've used what I call "old fashioned" remedies for our colds.  Hot steamy showers, diffused essential oils (RC & Thieves), lots of fluids - including hot teas, juicing, staying home and increasing sleep and rest, etc.  Most people want to feel better right away - me too!  However, I have personally found that taking medicines that mask the symptoms have negative effects on us and prolong our illness.  Quite the opposite effect of why we would want to take them!

Ran across a great post about OTC medicines and such -- over at The Autism File:

"The FDA recommends that parents and caregivers check the active ingredients on the product label. Parents and caregivers should also check the inactive ingredients on the label, as both may affect the well-being of a person with ADD, ADHD, or ASD.

Inactive ingredients such as preservatives, dyes, and other excipients can cause allergic reactions, such as rash, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, anaphylaxis, hyperactivity, and, in some cases, upset stomach and diarrhea.

■First, you can ask your pharmacist to look at the package insert. Under the title “description” at the very top of the insert, there is a list of all the ingredients in a manufactured product.

■Second, check a Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR). The PDR is a compilation of package inserts printed as a book. Most libraries and large book stores have a copy of the PDR. Unfortunately, only the most current high volume prescription drugs are in the book.

■Third, you can look online. Find the official website of the prescription drug you are checking on. Click on “health care professional” and then go to the prescribing information section, which will bring up a copy of the package insert. The first item listed is the description, and the inactive ingredients are listed there."

You can link over to the whole article here.  She has a couple of great tables highlighting many of the ingredients that we avoid - including sodium benzoates and the effects of  such on those with special needs.  I also personally think that hand washing does an amazing job of ridding germs and assists in fighting off colds too.

Isn't it funny that so many  informative websites (IMHO) are autism related?  Yet - they are beneficial to the whole family.  Again, in my opinion.  The older I get and the more I experience, the more opinions I have.  I hate cold and flu season.  I will work hard on prevention again this year.  Really hard. 

Vitamin D - For Almost Everything

I am on a big ol vitamin D kick lately . Why?

Well, I started out thinking it was to prevent the flu. After reading 8 or 9 articles about preventing the flu, I thought I might order some vitamin D. Didn't have to though... I found some right in my cupboard. That's all it took and I am now taking CalMag D.

A 3-tablet serving of Cal Mag D provides:

• Magnesium to help regulate calcium levels.
• Vitamin C to promote collagen formation for bone strength.
• Copper to promote bone and collagen strength.
• Zinc to support bone growth and maturation.
• The calcium equivalent of 20 oz. of milk.
• No added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

I also recently read a book about weight loss and vitamin D. Ok, another hopeful point there - I am open to healthy weight loss, of course.

My father recently had a heart attack. Out of the clear blue sky too. Very scary and I haven't had peace since then. The doctors missed it. He had been having his heart attack for 2 days and they missed all his signs... sending him home to die, from what they called Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because he had been burping a lot. Good grief - he's only 68 years old... ((sniff-sniff)) The good news is that he did not die; but - he has blockages... and it is worrisome.

Well, anyway - I was looking around for commentaries regarding prevention of heart attacks and heart disease. Guess what I found? One of my favorite websites off all time - Dr. Mercola, commenting about scientific FACTS and vitamin D. I have to post some of his post and include the link.

Vitamin D Can Boost Your Health All Around

Vitamin D is not “just a vitamin,” but rather the only known substrate for a potent, pleiotropic (meaning it produces multiple effects), repair and maintenance seco-steroid hormone that serves multiple gene-regulatory functions in your body.

There are only 30,000 genes in your body and vitamin D has been shown to influence about 3,000 of them. Receptors that respond to the vitamin have been found in almost every type of human cell, from your brain to your bones. And researchers keep finding health benefits from vitamin D in virtually every area they look.

Can vitamin D help you prevent cancer? You betcha.

Fight colds and the flu? Yes!

Help prevent obesity? It sure can.

Tackle depression, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis? Yes, yes and yes!

In fact, researchers have calculated that simply increasing levels of vitamin D could prevent diseases that claim nearly 1 million lives throughout the world each year, as the widespread vitamin D deficiency seen today is fueling an astonishingly diverse array of common chronic diseases.

Video about Vitamin D and Updated

The Role of Vitamin D in Your Body

There are only 30,000 genes in your body and vitamin D has been shown to influence over 2,000 of them. That is one of the primary reasons it influences so many diseases, from cancer and autism to heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

A study by Dr. William Grant, Ph.D., internationally recognized research scientist and vitamin D expert, found that about 30 percent of cancer deaths -- which amounts to 2 million worldwide and 200,000 in the United States -- could be prevented each year with higher levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D has a protective effect against cancer in several ways, including:

• Increasing the self-destruction of mutated cells (which, if allowed to replicate, could lead to cancer)
• Reducing the spread and reproduction of cancer cells
• Causing cells to become differentiated (cancer cells often lack differentiation)
• Reducing the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, which is a step in the transition of dormant tumors turning cancerous

Beyond cancer, the researchers pointed out that increasing levels of vitamin D3 could prevent diseases that claim nearly 1 million lives throughout the world each year! And other studies showed that you can decrease your risk of cancer by MORE THAN HALF simply by optimizing your vitamin D levels with sun exposure.

Vitamin D even fights colds and the flu, as it regulates the expression of genes that influence your immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and viruses. In fact, it is very rare for someone with optimized vitamin D levels to come down with the flu.

Vitamin D for flu fighting? I sure hope so!

Vitamin D for fighting cancer - I hope this too!

Vitamin D to keep this mom healthy - oh yes! My kids need me... they really do. Time will tell, as usual, but - I am professing that we will stay healthy the rest of the flu season -- which is Wisconsin, lasts half a year...

New Vitamins

I'm always tweaking Nick's diet. This time, it's with a semi-new vitamin - that I have been working on getting him to take, and I think I found the secret! It's raw honey. Simple. Only wish I'd known 11 months ago...

Anyway - here is the multi-vitamin we're trying: Syndion.



It's a liquid and I love the fact that I don't have to crush or dissolve another supplement. Now I just have to add it to our routine and be consistent in giving it and then hope and pray for good results. Nick has the worst circles under his eyes, still. But - school is going well, this week...and that is all the good news for now.

Friday - On the Road

This morning, we packed up our family, plus 2 - and all squeezed into my Ford Explorer and drove to Kentucky.

5 adults + 2 kids = a full vehicle!



Always interesting to travel with 3 generations - especially with Nicolas. I cannot find his magnesium, and may need to drive to Whole Foods in Cincinnati or Indianapolis to get some. Or not. Seems like I recall vowing not to ever forget it again, with my little experiment, earlier this year - didn't I?

How bad could 3 days without complete supplementation be? Hmmm...

I do have some "Peace & Calming" essential oil along - and may use it in Nick's bath tomorrow, if a good swim does not tire him out.

We are going to do some homeschooling educational fieldtrips this weekend. I will post about it tomorrow night. After an 8 hour drive, I need some sleep... especially since this is day #19 (I think) of NO COFFEE. ((sigh)) I am doing ok... for now. This is the longest I have ever gone without coffee, E V E R .

Fatty Acids for Brain Health

I am crazy busy. Homeschool, spring cleaning, getting ready for a garage sale, clients and volunteering... I have to try to enjoy these times and I keep telling myself "gotta love it!". The only other alternative is to go crazy. So - I'm lovin' it.

I have orders coming in all week from Vitacost and Kirkman. That's kind of exciting, actually when I consider that without supplements, I wouldn't have half of the son that I have. What I mean to say is that the supplements help him more than I ever thought they would.

I switch supplements often, as I am continually "tweaking" Nick's diet and fine tuning his recovery. One product I am thankful for that is organic, GF-CF, sugar free and tastes good, in particular, is Nick's Barlean's Organic Omega Swirl. The kids call it "lemon pudding". It's good. In fact, it's better than good and tastes exactly like my grandmother's lemon meringue pie. No - not kidding.



Nick can't swallow pills/capsules, so if he is willing to take the lemon pudding, I am willing to give it daily! It is rich in vital and essential Omega-3 fatty acids, which, if you recall - are necessary for healthy brain function.



Here's what their website says:

Packed with essential Omega-3s, Omega Swirl was created to nutritionally support:

• Heart Health* (Gotta take care of the ticker - right?)
  
• Healthy Cholesterol Levels* (Had them tested lately?)
  
• Joint Mobility & Bone Density* (Very, very important...)
  
• Energy & Endurance* (To put up with screaming kids...)
  
• Skin, Hair & Nail Health* (Yes, even though it may not look like it, I do color my hair monthly!)
  
• Mental Health, Wellness and Acuity* (Save what's left...)
  
• Healthy Blood Glucose* (To avoid those cravings for something like cheesecake or pecan pie, perhaps?)
• Sexual & Hormonal Health (Hugh?)
  

ASD Experiment #1- Created Chaos

Yesterday, I decided to try a little "ASD Experiment" on Nicolas. We continued on with our daily routine - as a completely GF-CF SF, normal day (normal for Nick, that is). Nothing different or out of the ordinary, with one exception: no supplements. None.

OH MY GOODNESS! Massive created chaos.

Today has been the worst day of the year for Nicolas. His body was screaming out to me, giving me loud clear signals...that something was terribly wrong. Poor Nicolas. Poor me. Poor us...




Because of missing supplements? Well, for this particular child, in the spectrum, I would have to answer - yes. I wouldn't have believed it - if I hadn't experienced it. Even our oldest son, 20, asked what was wrong with "the little crazy boy" today. ((SIGH)) I think it's the absence of the magnesium supplement, is what I think.

After today, I am seriously considering doing another experiment with Hubs home though...(Help me - Jesus... !) and becoming an advertiser for a specific calcium/magnesium supplement, with vitamin c! It's called Kid's Formula CALM. As in calcium and magnesium. I love Nutrilite products and have been loyal for decades, but - due to Nick's "condition", we must have allergenic supplements, without the common allergens of gluten, diary, soy, sugar, red #40, copper and folic acid. That's why we are not using Nutrilite with him. Anyway... The website of this particular product claims that it will relax the nerves and help a child to grow, concentrate and stay healthy. We had none of that here today. I even tried Shrinky Dinks, and they did not help. If they don't do it, nothing will!

Anyway - this magical supplement contains no sugar or artificial sweeteners and zero carbs. Specifically - NO YEAST, DAIRY, EGG, GLUTEN, SOY, WHEAT, SUGAR, STARCH, PRESERVATIVES OR ARTIFICIAL COLORS OR FLAVORS.




From their website...

SYMPTOMS OF MAGNESIUM DEPLETION

Because magnesium is required for hundreds of enzymatic reactions (enzymes are protein molecules that stimulate every chemical reaction in the body), deficiency can cause a wide variety of symptoms, such as

Low Energy • Fatigue • Weakness Inability to Sleep • Weakening Bones Muscle Tension, Spasms and Cramps Abnormal Heart Rhythms • Headaches Anxiousness • Nervousness • Irritability

All of the signs of a magnesium deficiency in adults also apply to children. So do the results obtained by handling that deficiency. The only difference is that children don't require as much magnesium as adults do because they have smaller bodies. I add it to watered down orange juice that he drinks each morning with his breakfast, or at lunch. The water acts as a carrier and takes the magnesium to wherever his body needs it.

"Give your children Kid's Formula Calm and you will see almost instant results."
-Peter Gillham

ADHD and Austism Spectrum Disorders...

“The ADHD diagnosis is tailored to justify the use of stimulants for the behavioral control of children in groups. It enumerates behaviors that healthy children often display in structured, over-controlled groups in which their individual needs are unmet."
“Ultimately, by suppressing emotional and behavioral signals of distress and conflict, stimulants allow adults to ignore the needs of children in favor of creating a controlled environment. Meanwhile, stimulants do not improve academic performance and provide no long-term improvement in any aspect of a child’s behavior or life.”
—Peter R. Breggin, MD

“ADHD” AND MAGNESIUM

University of Maryland Medical Center reports that some experts believe children with ADHD may be exhibiting the effects of mild magnesium deficiency (such as mental confusion, decreased attention span, and irritability). In one study involving 116 children with ADHD, 95% were magnesium deficient. In another separate study, 75 children with ADHD, who were also identified as being magnesium-deficient, were randomly assigned to receive magnesium supplements in addition to standard treatment or standard treatment alone for 6 months. Those who received magnesium demonstrated a significant improvement in behavior, whereas those who received only standard therapy without magnesium exhibited worsening behavior.

These results suggest that magnesium supplementation, or at least high amounts of magnesium in the diet, may prove to be beneficial for children with ADHD."

This products can claim what it may - I have lived with the results of my created chaos. End of discussion.

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

A friend recently asked if we had made any changes, other than just Nick's diet.

And, she was just being sweet and honest. I was not offended in any way. I paused, looked at my friend, and asked her, "What do you mean?". She replied, "Tell me what else has changed in your lives, since starting this diet".

I don't know why this struck me the way it did, but it boggled me. It just did. I didn't know what to say.

Being a woman, she intuitively knew that I was "dumbstruck". Dumbstruck is the word I use to describe an action I usually and often apply to or describe as something that happens to Hubs. Ha! In this particular incident, it applied to me. She said, "How has it affected your lives?"


Uh, we buy our groceries differently now...

Duh... Silence on my part. I couldn't answer. That's rare for me, I know.

Everything has changed. Everything. I am not generalizing; I am saying what I mean and meaning what I say: E V E R Y T H I N G .

She pressed me to know more and I told her I'd put in on this blog - so here goes a small fraction:

Diet - the most significant change, well - affects how and what we all eat, where we shop, what we buy and how we cook. Try explaining to a four-year-old that she can't eat cheese in front of her brother... There are no more fast meals or quick/convenience foods. Tons of fresh fruits and vegetables, but - a 7 year old boy can't eat only fruits and vegetables...especially when he knows, wants and can't have other types of foods. A trip to the grocery store must be done solo. We can not take him with. Ever. Did it once and never again! Plan for extra time to read labels.
A lot of extra time.


Planning ahead when leaving the house! We have to take food with us as we can't just swing through a drive-though, ever. Good bye golden arches... no more running to the border either.

Holidays and birthday parties... no cake. No ice cream.No sugar and no red #40!


Cooking and dishes have changed too. No Teflon or non-stick surfaces, limited plastic ware. "Cross-contamination" is a commonly used phrase now. Wait! Better not sit down until the cast-iron skillet is cleaned!
Preventing isolation and loneliness. If I were a kid, I would have a hard time understanding someone like Nicolas -- UNLESS someone took the time to explain it to me; why he acts the way he does and has outbursts. He has few friends. We understand, really - we do. But, this means that we, his family, have to provide companionship, fun and entertainment for the boy. It sounds easy, but - it also requires planning and my time. Time is never on my side.



Money! Finances. Moo-la. A trip to Trader Joe's sure isn't a trip to Aldi's. Food produced in mass production with tons of ingredients will cost more than food with just one or two ingredients. Doesn't seem fair, does it? We pay more money to have (organic) quality food without chemicals, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fillers, preservatives, artificial coloring and flavors than with? I'd better not get started on that one! This is another blog subject for another day.

Attitude - even the most cheerful, happy, secure, satisfied, positive people get thrown for a loop when dealing with someone in the autism spectrum. Wanna see what you're made of? I mean, do you really wanna know what's inside? Take a step into the life, or the day, of someone with a "special" child. You'll have a different perspective at the end of the day... I promise you.


Babysitters? Don't exist. Thank God for Grandma and Grandpa!


Date night? Discontinued until further notice.

Sounds kinda tough - doesn't it? Yeah - it is kinda tough. But, underneath the frustration of trying to figure it all out, there's hope. There is hope and I believe that this is a treatable condition. Maybe even curable. If I didn't think so, I wouldn't be doing all of this. And, I would have checked-out a long time ago.

Guess what? I ain't checkin' out! I am not going anywhere...well - sometimes a little insane, but - it's only temporary.

I am not going to give up on Nicolas. This is just the beginning of his healing, after all.

I am not going to give up on my kids, my marriage or my life. My perspective is limited as a human. I can only see the past and the present. I can't see the future, but - I know the One who does. It's this hope that makes these changes possible.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
~ Jeremiah 29:11