With the autism epidemic surging, the number of autistic children in the United States has greatly increased. Estimates range from one in 500 to one in 1,000 cases in the United States each year. However, this condition -- responsible for a range of social and developmental problems -- doesn't plague American children only.
Autism rates in Scotland have also increased dramatically within the past decade, leading Scottish researchers to conduct a study in hopes of revealing the cause. And they made an exciting breakthrough: Childhood autism may be associated with a deficiency of fatty acids (omega-3 fats) found in oily fish.
Promising Results
According to a pilot study of about 20 autistic children, cell membranes in the blood of autistic children processed fatty acids at a much faster rate than other children. Brain cell membranes are largely made up of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, substances found in oily fish such as:
Based on their discovery, researchers speculate fatty acid deficiency may be a partial trigger for autism.
The Scotsman June 1, 2005
I feel very strongly that omega-3 fat deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies in this country and results in profound contributions to nearly all disease. Not only are these fats important for your child's neurological development, they also have vital contributions to:
Breastfeeding your child is one of the most important first steps you can take in encouraging normal development of your child's brain and nervous system. Breast milk is naturally high in omega-3 fats and other important nutrients. It is important to remember, though, that if you are going to have healthy breast milk you must eat well and get enough high-quality omega-3 fats in your diet.
Finally, while the results of the above study are certainly exciting, the researcher's advice to eat more fish as a source of omega-3 fats should be taken with caution. An unfortunate result of modern times is that our lakes, streams and oceans have become contaminated with a number of toxins, including mercury.
As some of you may know already, mercury is another important contributing factor to the development of autism. While its potential connection to the disease is most commonly seen with vaccinations, seafood and other sources like dental fillings are also important to be aware of.
This is why you will want to find a clean source of fish oil. You can purchase certified mercury-free salmon but that is expensive as it is shipped frozen overnight from Alaska. Alternatively, a less expensive option would be to find a high-quality fish or cod liver oil. As we have just passed the first day of summer, most of us should be receiving our vitamin D from the sun, not from cod liver oil. So, unless you are getting little to no sun exposure it would likely be best for you to use a high-quality fish oil at this time of year.
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Did You Know the Autism Rate is Rising? Cod Liver Oil May Make Children Smarter The Dramatic Effect of Fish Oil on Learning & Development
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