Broccoli Improves Autism (And 5 Other Natural Ways To Help)

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Think Differently
Think Differently

A small but important study just revealed that a component of broccoli and broccoli sprouts (sulforaphane) can help give autistic patients a significant boost to social skills and verbal communication… naturally!

 

 

Published Oct 13, 2014, researchers studied 40 males between the ages of 13 and 27… all who had moderate to severe autism.

26 received broccoli sprout extract (50 to 150 umol daily) and 14 received placebo and measured the results after 18 weeks.

 

The results were impressive — almost half showed measurable improvement in several different areas including social and verbal skills.

46 % of participants had measurably improved social and verbal skills after taking broccoli-sprout extract for over 4 months, compared to only 3% of the placebo group.

Among the statistically significant benefits:

 

– improved social interactions

– improved eye contact

– improved verbal communication

– decreased repetitive movements

– decreased irritability

– decreased hyperactivity

Parents and caregivers used the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and physicians used the Clinical Global Impression Improvement scale (CGI-I) to measure a range of behaviors and objectively measure outcome.

 

Dietary sulforaphane (found in both broccoli and broccoli sprouts) is healthy and has a recognized low toxicity profile, so it appears to be very safe to recommend a broccoli rich diet to patients with Autism.
The effects appear to be directly and measurably related to the sulforaphane rich broccoli-sprout extract and benefits wear off after the sulforaphane is discontinued.
Hopefully this positive and encouraging but small study will be repeated on a larger scale, for a longer period of time, and with female autistic patients as well.

So… up broccoli intake — check.

What else can help support the health and function of patients with autism?

 

1. Earthing

 

As I talk about in this radio interview on Q104.3 in Jan 2014 (when The Grounded hit theaters in New York) Earthing has shown promising results with autistic patients.

There are two pathways in which Earthing might help…

  • first by reducing the negative effects of EMF exposure (to which autistic patients are exquisitely sensitive)
  • and second, by increasing restorative sleep (sleep disturbances are well-known to exacerbate autistic symptoms).

 

Books-Seen-in-The-Grounded

 

Want to introduce Earthing to your child?

 

My children’s book From The Ground Up visually introduces the concept of Earthing and gives parents tons of ideas on how to earth with their child to support their health!

 

 

2. Sleep

Sleep is a time to integrate, process, repair, release and grow.

Autistic folks need this down time to regroup as much or more than anybody else. Be sure to focus on getting deep restorative sleep — ideally for 9 + hours a night.

As I mentioned in tip #1, Earthing can help with this.

For more tips on getting a good nights sleep, head here.

 

3. Fish oil

Omega 3s are essential to support our nervous system (as well as many other organ systems in our body.) Autism is a very complex condition that is primarily considered a neurological condition that affects communication.

From treating depression to reducing symptoms of ADHD, fish oil has been shown to be incredibly helpful in stabilizing brain function.

More on that here.

 

4. Eat organic

As I blog about here, pesticide exposure is directly linked to autism.

 

5. Broccoli sprout supplements

If you can’t routinely get broccoli into your diet but you want to increase your intake of sulforaphane, consider broccoli sprout supplements like these.

xoxo, Laura