Pregnant? Planning To Be? This Is Important! by Joan Kent, PhD

Pregnant? Planning To Be? This Is Important!
By Joan Kent, PhD

The incidence of autism is rising. According to November 2015 statistics, one child in 45 has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors.

According to the DSM-5, autism spectrum disorders may result in functional limitations in communication, social participation, social relationships, academic achievement, or occupational performance, either individually or in combination.

Symptoms typically manifest in the first two years of life and may include restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. While symptoms significantly affect social or intellectual functioning, ASD can also be associated with motor coordination difficulties and physical health issues, such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances, or cardiac issues.

Children with ASD can have a wide range of impairment. Some children are mildly impaired by their symptoms; others are severely disabled.

Current costs of care are $260 billion a year. That number is expected to skyrocket over the next decade, with medical, nonmedical and productivity losses estimated to reach $461 billion up to $1 trillion by 2025.

ASD has been shown to respond – in some cases significantly – to such dietary improvements as avoiding certain food additives (MSG is only one example) and/or foods with low nutritional value. Low-value foods might include sugar, white flour, or wheat generally because of the gluten.

Maternal Metabolic Conditions Affect Autism Risk

More and more studies show a link between maternal metabolic conditions and autism risk. Babies born to pregnant women with metabolic conditions have an increased risk of autism and developmental disorders. The risk of boys is four to five times higher than that of girls.

Metabolic conditions are sometimes known collectively as Metabolic Syndrome. These conditions include diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood lipids (triglycerides), high fasting glucose, large waist circumference, and decreased insulin sensitivity (or insulin resistance).

What Causes Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is often associated with obesity, although obesity is not the only underlying factor. Genetic predisposition, for example, may contribute to metabolic syndrome.

Nevertheless, metabolic conditions are expected to become more common in pregnant women due to rising obesity rates in the U.S. Pregnant women need not have all of the metabolic conditions listed above to be at risk. The presence of one or more can indicate metabolic syndrome.

One, somewhat less known, fact is that poor diet can also set the stage for metabolic conditions. Regardless of underlying cause, the metabolic consequences remain the same.

Fortunately, metabolic conditions can be controlled and even reversed with the right food and health program.

Perhaps even more fortunately, addressing metabolic conditions in women who are – or are planning to become – pregnant could potentially reduce the incidence of ASD.

As a nutritionist with over 20 years of experience and success in helping clients reverse metabolic conditions, I place high value on getting out in front of ASD.

Addressing maternal metabolic conditions through a combination of nutrition and physical training can help to do that.

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If you would like assistance with metabolic conditions — and you don’t have to be pregnant — I would be happy to help. Please sign up for a Food Breakthrough Session on the home page under Coaching. It’s free, and there’s no obligation.