Whole food supplements and HLC Mindlinx probiotics for Autism

Q. My 11 year old autistic son has super sensitivity to oral ingestion. He eats only mac+cheese, chicken nuggets, fries, pop-tarts and plain noodles. I am super concerned for his development. He takes pills fine and right now takes your HLC MindlLinx, and fish oil capsules. Do you have any good whole food nutrition tabs to recommend. I have tried every shake/supplement on the market. Please keep in mind that I have a limited budget. I'm sure you know that autism therapies aren't covered under insurance benefits.

A. Many autistic children have extreme food preferences and taste sensitivities. The best thing to do is to try to get him to eat healthy fruits and veggies gradually, sneaking them into his foods whenever possible. The less fried food and sugar you give him, the better his behavior will be, especially if he is sensitive to gluten. Try making your own baked potato wedges instead of giving in to serving french fries.

I went through our line of whole food supplements and I'm going to recommend:

• One Daily I by Innate Response - (whole food vitamin & mineral tablets) - it says one a day, he may do better with 2 tablets a day, one at breakfast and one at lunch. Try him first at one tablet a day for a week before increasing to two tablets a day. Take note of any improvement or changes in his focus and behavior. Children with spectrum disorders often do better with higher levels of some nutrients, especially Vitamin B6 & Magnesium.

• P5P (vit B6) plus Magnesium - by Klaire Labs (veggie caps) - provides the correct ratio of these nutrients that are needed in higher quantities. I would recommend 1 cap with breakfast. P-5-P is essential for healthy amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitter balance, immune function, and responsible for over sixty enzymatic reactions. Research shows that P-5-P or B-6 plus magnesium is the most critical vitamin/mineral combination in the treatment of Autism and ADD/ADHD.

Please feel free to review our link on Autism if you'd like. Also, you might be interested in signing up for our free Quick Health Tips newsletter, this is sent out 1-2 times a month via email and it has a variety or topics on health and nutrition, as well as coupons to be used with our products! Let me know if you need further guidance with our products or how he does with these products I've recommended!

Is Brain Vitale safe for a 6 yr old who suffers from Sleep Apnea?

Q. Is Brain Vitale by DFH safe for my son who is 6 years old and weighs 60 pounds? He had suffered with serious sleep apnea, he is very emotional, and not able to focus on anything. He cannot get into the deeper levels of sleep.

A. Brain Vitale is safe for a healthy child without seizure or brain disorders. The dose would be 1/4-1/2 tsp daily. I would use Brain Vitale with him carefully and note any changes in behavior for the better or worse.

In addition, I highly recommend:
1. HLC Mindlinx, by Pharmax: This is healthy probiotics mixed with some glutamine, both very helpful for GI function and help break down gluten and casein in his food. Gluten and casein have been known to cause behavioral problems in kids. Give 1 or 2 capsules after meals.

Your sons' sensitivity to certain foods/chemicals provides us a clue that his intestines are not working very well. If this is in fact true, (which would have been caused by antibiotic and steroid/anti-inflammatory med use from surgeries), than he is not absorbing his nutrients and would definitely exhibit poor brain chemistry symptoms such as poor sleep and emotional flux. Also, we know that you have developed Celiacs, probably related to stress, and this shows us that genetically, he has an intestinal weakness predisposition.

2. Berry Frutol Fish Oils by Pharmax (1-2 tsp. daily): My 4-year niece asks for them each time she steps foot in my house! This helps to reduce inflammation in the GI in addition to support neurotransmitter reception in the brain. Using liquid is better because it allows you to use a higher dose without having to swallow 8 or more pills.

3. ASDplex Hypoallergenic Nutrition: Available only through our sister company, but very helpful to correct underlying nutrient deficiencies. It is free of all allergens. It is often used by children with Autism and ADHD, because of it's purity and bioavailable forms of nutrients such as B-vitamins and magnesium, both important for sleep and healthy brain function, and an excellent combination of amino acids, necessary for neurotransmitter production. Your son may have in common with autistic children that his GI system is broken down and having trouble producing neurotransmitters. Of course, Autistic children have other features as well, yet this product may be perfectly suited for your son.

Client feedback: My name is Judy. I conversed with you via email back a few weeks ago and you made some suggestions for my son Lukas and I purchased the products you suggested. Luke has been taking them for approx. 10 days and the results have been incredible, within 2 days there was a dramatic change in his disposition he appears to be balanced. His behavior and the up and down emotional state have improved dramatically.
THANK YOU!!!

What do you recommend for my 12 yr old son with ADD?

Q. What do you recommend for my 12 yr old son with ADD?

A. I recommend your son take the Omega Marine Softgels or liquid each day with a meal. Take 2 caps twice daily with meals. Omega 3s are incredible brain food.

If your son cannot swallow capsules, there is a liquid version available. Lastly, your son should take a good multivitamin to ensure he is getting the core nutrients he needs for brain health. ADD is often times easily remedied by just adding the basic nutrients into their diets. This includes the Omega 3s and a good multivitamin such as DFH Complete Multi (take 2 twice daily with meals).

What do you recommend for my 6 ½ year old daughter with ADHD?

Q. What do you recommend for my 6 ½ year old daughter with ADHD?

A. There are some great products available to reverse the underlying deficiencies she may have and reduce the symptoms she is experiencing. This protocol I have laid out primarily targets the gut and the brain. These two organs seem to play the biggest role in ADHD. You may also read our ADHD section of our website to see the whole list of products available.

1. HLC Mindlink by Pharmax: This is a human-strain probiotic which also contains gut healing amino acid glutamine. Research correlates poor gut function and leaky gut syndrome with ADHD due to the escape of proteins and other particles which travel to and alter the brain function. (Take 1 capsule or ¼ tsp with meals twice daily to improve gut function, reduce permeability as seen in leaky gut syndrome, assist in ADHD and other neurological and intestinal disorders.)

2. Biofocus Rice Berry or Whey Chocolate is a Multivitamin Meal Replacement that might work very well for your 6 1/2 year old. It contains an excellent composition of vitamins, high levels of minerals, particularly magnesium glycinate, and building blocks for many of the brains’ neurotransmitters. It even has herbs to help with brain circulation. I have not tasted it, but based on it’s contents, I think it is an excellent product for your daughter’s condition. (Take 1 serving daily at breakfast as directed on label to support brain function.)

3. Berry Frutol by Pharmax is an excellent quality fish oil, essential for make up of brain receptors involved in attention and brain function, reception of neurotransmitters. This fish oil is disguised especially for children. It is so tasty that my niece asks for it every time she walks in my door. Of course, I gladly give it to her! (Take 2-3 tsp daily from a spoon to aid in neurotransmitter action)

Why does HLC Mindlinx help ADHD when there is no apparent GI problem?

Q. I was recommended to give my son HLC Mindlinx for ADHD. But, he doesn't have a bowel problem. Why was this product suggested for him?

A. Research shows that very often kids who don't have any symptoms of bowel irregularities still have an imbalance of bacteria which affects their brain function. HLC Mindlinx helps to re-establish a healthy bacterial balance in the gut, as well as breaks down the amino acids responsible for mental imbalances as seen in attention deficit disorder. I highly recommend giving it to him for at least 1-3 months to see how it can effect his ADHD.

High DHA fish oils are also very beneficial for kids with ADHD. DHA is the nutrient which makes up brain cell receptors where neurotransmitters are received. Often this nutrient is deficient in ADHD kids, which prevents healthy brain chemicals from reaching the brain cells. I recommend High DHA Berry Frutol, by Pharmax, which most kids enjoy.

I also recommend eliminating all trans fats, reducing sugar, and reducing gluten and dairy. These dietary measures in combination with the supplements have proven very effective at treating ADHD.

Other products can be seen on our webpage for ADHD Kids.