Autism! Sometimes just the thought of it can scare us. However, that is only because we are not much aware of this disease; not many will know that this disease is quite manageable.
You just need to know the right things to do for someone who is suffering from this ailment known as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
It is mostly the stereotypes and the lack of knowledge that cause people to panic.
In this excerpt below, we will be discussing the disease in detail and how having a healthy diet and lifestyle can help your autism-impaired child lead a normal and, most importantly, happy life.
Source: helpguide.org
Contents
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
In scientific terms, ASD is a neural and behavioral disorder that affects children during birth or infancy.
Mostly caused due to an underdevelopment of the body.
This affects the way in which someone talks or communicates in a social setting. Yes, most children and adults who suffer from this autism spectrum disorder have trouble and difficulties communicating.
Plus, they might also suffer from a weak immune system and suffer from certain ailments from time to time.
However, you cannot put every person suffering from an autism spectrum under one basket since this disorder is very diverse.
Although you cannot have a single set of treatments that can help someone with this disorder because it has huge diversity, there are a few remedies and lifestyle changes that can help in the process of healing.
‘There is no greater force, as bigger than the force of the determination of getting well.’
Healthy Diet & Lifestyle Assisting With Autism
There are certain dietary additions and lifestyle changes that can be incorporated into the life of autistic patients in order to make their life better.
Source: ays.com.au
Lifestyle
These are the lifestyle changes as per experts-
Moving Pictures For Motor Skills
Anything which can help them express themselves through a moving picture can help them. This can be a tablet or a television, and this can help in improving the motor skills of kids who have Autism.
It can get slightly difficult for them to express what they desire through normally acceptable ways of communication. Hence, the tablet can be a great help to develop better motor skills.
Tablets assist in the entire education of such an individual, and you have to let them go at their pace. This allowance for learning things without any pressure is very important for patients with Autism.
Sleep Time
Autism, among other things, also causes a deficiency in the melatonin hormone in the body. This causes some sleeping issues, resulting in irritability and causing even more underdevelopment of neural functions.
Including a fair amount of Melatonin in the diet can assist in balancing the sleeping pattern of the individual. It can also help with regulating body functions, which are hormone levels, body temperature, etc.
Source: Forbes.com
Anxiety Blankets
Anxiety Blankets are something that provides a soothing effect on your body. Someone who has Autism can definitely take advantage of these weighted blankets the most
They are known for increasing the level of serotonin in your body and relaxing your system.
It’s also scientifically proven to assist with the sensory nerves and help provide the much-needed relaxation that the individual’s nerves are in need of.
Diet
Here are some of the dietary changes you can incorporate. Or rather the things you can add.
Source: mysmartclinic.com
Avoid Stomach Issues
If a person with Autism feels uncomfortable when eating a certain item, this can result in major outbursts and even stress.
It’s not a good idea to force-feed someone, so ensure that the food you are giving them is not causing any stomach issues, as autism patients already suffer from poor gut health.
Introduce Slowly
Do not add too many foods to the diet at once; there should be some restrictions.
As well as, if you think you need to add any food item, then you must do it gradually.
Always Consult A Doctor
Do not indulge in any food habits all of a sudden without consulting the doctor first. They will be able to tell you whether the addition will be fruitful or not or whether you may need an autism supplement instead (see Simple Spectrum).
The doctor can consult about the diet based on the type of
Source: blog.theautismsite.com
.
Frequently Asked Questions
While you have learned about how a healthy diet can help with Autism, we know that there are a few lingering questions that are not answered. So, we decided to answer them all below.
Q1. How To Help A Autistic Child Develop Social Skills?
As Autism is a related brain development disorder, it impacts a child’s ability to converse with others freely. This significantly hinders their social skills and engagement.
Here are a few tips by which parents can help improve the social skills of their child who have Autism.
- Reinforce positive behavior.
- Model and practice the right behaviors.
- Talk through possible social scenarios.
- Set the environment for success.
Q2. Does Exercise Help With Autism?
For children who have Autism, studies show that having a vigorous exercise for 20 minutes every day can help decrease stereotypical behaviors. Exercise is one of the effective methods to make your blood pump in your brain and help the child engage more with the environment.
Making your child do full-body exercise every day increases body coordination, endurance strengths, and body awareness. This helps the brain with its development.
Q3. Can A person have Autism And Another Disability?
Yes, they can have other physical or mental disabilities along with Autism. Autism is an abnormal condition that is caused by the different shapes and sizes of the brain. Because the brain is not normal, it takes more time to develop than a normal brain.
That being said, other physical and mental abnormalities can still affect a person who has Autism.
Some of the common and most frequently reported disabilities are:
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Attention-deficit.
- Epilepsy.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Source: otsimo.com
Healthy Diet – Healthy Life!
ASD is not the end of the world!
There are many who are leading quite a healthy and happy life with this disease. The key is to educate yourself as much as you can.
