Fw: Kirkman Family Newsletter OCTOBER 2010

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From: nemcannon@...Reply-to: specialmomsspecialkids To: specialmomsspecialkids Sent: 10/25/2010 4:13:11 P.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: [specialmomsspecialkids] Fw: Kirkman Family Newsletter OCTOBER 2010

I think this is one of their better newsletters...

Subject: Kirkman Family Newsletter OCTOBER 2010To: nemcannon@...Date: Monday, October 25, 2010, 2:04 PM

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Food is Foundational . . . .

Sound science and healthful foods go together!

Nutrients are especially helpful for special needs individuals.

In This Issue . . .

This Month's Special Offer Part 2: Scientific Model for Special Needs Conditions

Nutrition is Foundational: An Interview with Dietician and Nutritionist, Judy Converse

Don't Trick Your Kids' Health: Have Healthful Halloween Treats!

From Our Family to Yours

This Month's Special Offer

$25.00 OFF Your order of $100 or moreUse this KEY CODE: N251

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Part 2: Scientific Model for

Special Needs Conditions

By Larry Newman

Chief Operating Officer

Technical & Regulatory Affairs Kirkman Group, Inc.

Last month we looked at the most recent scientific model for approaching special needs conditions. Reviewed and prioritized in the following order were:

evaluating gastrointestinal health; using special diets; improving nutritional status; addressing sleep disorders; addressing behavioral and social skills issues; improving immune status.

Addressing those aspects should generate great improvements in special needs individuals. Most of the information outlining those conditions was such that parents could try a lot of interventions on their own. There are additional interventions for special needs conditions which are more complicated and require the involvement of a physician and possible laboratory testing. These are conditions which you may hear about at conferences or read about in special publications, and you may be uncertain as to whether they affect your child or what interventions can be used for these more complicated situations. Included in this list of complex topics are:

methylation; sulfation; oxidative stress and the use of antioxidants; toxicity and detoxification.

Sulfation and methylation refer to biochemical pathways that get regulated by the body and normally do not present complications in healthy individuals with well-functioning immune systems. Special needs and sensitive individuals tend to exhibit abnormalities in these biochemical pathways, however. Each of these pathways has a unique purpose, and an abnormality can lead to numerous health issues, which are explained in the subsequent discussions.

Sulfation

The sulfation process is linked to an enzyme system known as phenol sulfotransferase (PST). Normally, PST is involved in a process called sulfoconjugation, whereby a group of potentially harmful chemicals known as phenols are attached to sulfate and thereby eliminated from the body. When there is a deficiency of sulfate in the bloodstream, phenolic compounds may build up in the body, and this in turn can interfere with neurotransmitter function. Sulfate deficiency and the resulting impairment of PST activity may explain some sensitivity reactions to a variety of phenol-containing foods, such as apples, grapes, chocolate, food colorings, and some herbs and spices.

Special needs individuals seem to have only about 20% of the normal level of sulfate in their bodies, the rest having been excreted excessively in the urine. In addition to the phenolic buildup described above, sulfate deficiency can contribute to other negative aspects of body chemistry including:

preventing the detoxification of metals and other environmental toxins from the body; inhibiting the release of pancreatic digestive enzymes, thereby hindering digestion; limiting the activation of the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK), which plays a role in socialization; contributing to a leaky gut because of an unhealthy ileum.

Sulfation can often be supported and improved by topical Epsom salt products such as Kirkman's Magnesium Sulfate Cream or by giving individuals Epsom salt baths. A combination of the two also works very well, such as using the cream in the morning and giving a bath at night. Oral sulfate such as glucosamine sulfate may be effective to some degree in certain individuals, but this is not purported to be as effective as the Epsom salt preparations or baths. Methylation Methylation is a series of very important biochemical reactions in the body which are responsible for overall good health. In special needs individuals, this process is very often lacking to some degree, making these individuals poor methylators. A properly functioning methylation pathway has life-rewarding health benefits including:

proper brain function; healthy detoxification; proper reproduction; DNA protection; a healthy, normal, non-premature aging process.

There are many nutritional supplements which support proper methylation. You should discuss these options with your physician carefully because each special needs individual is unique and requires a methylation improvement program specifically tailored to their specific disorder and lab test results. Products used to support the methylation process include:

methyl B-12, dimethylglycine or trimethylglycine, folic or folinic acid, vitamin B-6/magnesium, SAMe, selenium, zinc, phenol reducers, such as Kirkman's Phenol Assistâ„¢.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants

Our bodies constantly react with oxygen as we breathe and as our cells produce energy. This oxygen activity has its consequences in that during this process, highly reactive molecules are produced known as free radicals. These free radicals then interact with other molecules within our cells causing oxidative damage to proteins, membranes, genetic material and other cell components. External factors such as pollution, sunlight, chemicals, heavy metals and other impurities we encounter or ingest also trigger the production of free radicals. This whole process of oxidation and free radical production is known as oxidative stress. Evidence is convincing that oxidative stress is implicated in many diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease and that it also has an impact on the body’s aging process.

It is important to minimize oxidative stress damage by consuming antioxidants which retard the process. Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. The body produces an array of antioxidants to defend itself against these free radicals. Selected foods we eat also contain a variety of antioxidants, including vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Of note, certain fruits and vegetables contain certain nutrients which are powerful antioxidants.

Many of the vitamins and minerals we consume from food or nutritional supplements have antioxidant properties. These include:

vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, selenium, zinc.

Specialty dietary supplements that provide antioxidant activity include:

beta carotene and mixed carotenoids, melatonin, coenzyme Q-10, pycnogenol, grapeseed extract or grape extract, L-Carnosine, L-Carnitine, resveratrol, green tea extract (and other select teas), L-Glutathione, super oxide dismutase.

Tomatoes contain a pigment called lycopene which gives the plant its red color. Lycopene is a very powerful antioxidant, so consuming tomato based products such as canned tomatoes, tomato sauces, tomato soup or juice -- even ketchup -- will supply your body with antioxidant activity. Lycopene is also present in watermelon in highly concentrated quantities. Additionally, lycopene is available as a dietary supplement.

Lutein is a carotenoid-type antioxidant found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach; this has been recently implicated in preventing or lessening the severity of macular degeneration. Lutein is available as a supplement as well.

Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes, are extremely high in antioxidant activity because they contain natural substances such as carotenoids, flavonoids, terpenes and coumarins, all of which offer good free radical protection.

Certain members of the berry family contain powerful antioxidants, including cranberries, blueberries, elderberries, acai, black currants and grapes, all of which contain high concentrations of anthocyanins. Grapes also contain another powerful antioxidant called resveratrol which is getting a lot of interest as of late. Resveratrol is the component of red wine which is thought to be very beneficial to health; resveratrol plus the abundant flavonoid polyphenols also present in the red wine help contribute to the fact that the French suffer a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease despite having a diet rich in saturated fats. More research is necessary to prove this correlation.

When it comes to antioxidant activity, the described compounds work more powerfully as a group rather than separately. Combining the vitamins, minerals, specialty supplements and foods provides a far greater benefit. It is not necessary to take all of the aforementioned products to get this beneficial effect. You can pick and choose those that fit into your dietary habits and supplement regimen.

It is impossible for us to avoid all damage by free radicals because they are present both inside and outside of our bodies. By utilizing the protective effect of antioxidants, however, one can feel comfortable with the fact that research shows that people who eat a diet rich in antioxidants, fruits and vegetables are less likely to get certain diseases.

Individuals with special dietary requirements and individuals with special needs often have elevated oxidative stress. There are laboratory markers which measure levels of antioxidant compounds present in the body. Talk to your doctor about appropriate testing and subsequent supplementation with antioxidants.

Detoxification

Substantial evidence is emerging linking many medical conditions to negative environmental influences present in our world. The frequency of many of these medical conditions is increasing, which leads to further speculation that outside environmental causative factors are involved.

Included in the list of environmental insults that can affect disease states are toxins such as heavy metals, PCBs, and pesticides present in the products we use; toxic chemicals; and contaminants in the air we breathe and the water we utilize and drink. These environmental pollutants can affect the body in numerous ways. Natural body defense mechanisms such as immune response can be bombarded with the insults, thereby becoming less effective because of the toxic load.

Another area of intense research is how environmental factors affect the genetic makeup of an individual. There are many genes in our body that are considered “environmentally responsive,†which means that they can be altered by environmental factors. If you alter a gene’s makeup, the potential exists for changing the normal development of a person. Some of these changes can be immediate, and some may take many years to manifest. Depending on which gene is involved, an individual can become vulnerable to changes in metabolic pathways, physical development, immune response, brain development and function, and nervous system development and function.

The following conditions could be linked to continued exposure to environmental toxins:

learning or speech difficulties; lack of social skills; aggressive behavior; passive behavior; poor immune response; biochemical pathway issues.

Certain nutrients are considered natural detoxifiers and can help minimize exposures and enhance the body’s natural detoxification process. Examples of such vitamins and minerals are zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E and selenium. Other nutritional factors which can be helpful are taurine, N-Acetyl cysteine and glutathione.

Being selective in the products we use or the foods we eat can greatly influence our toxic load. The FDA has already issued warnings about how much fish we should eat because of the mercury content. Using other food products or dietary supplements with ultra-high purity, such as those with a hypoallergenic designation, is another means of minimizing our toxic load. This also carries over into the personal care products and household cleaning agents we use. And don’t forget about the air we breathe and the water we drink and cook with. The purer our water and air are, the less exposure we will have to environmental contamination. Numerous air and water filtration products are available to improve air and water purity. Kirkman® markets the Kirkman Kleen™ line of personal care and cleaning products which are formulated with safe ingredients so as not to contribute to a toxic load in the home.

When these environmental toxins are encountered by the body, a detoxification process must occur to prevent a toxic overload. In sensitive individuals the detoxification pathways are often compromised, requiring the system to obtain a “boost†from the outside. Kirkman’s Detox-Aid Advanced Formula is a product which may provide that “boost†to help support the body’s natural detoxification processes. On the other hand, severe heavy metal overloads such as lead poisoning may require a drug treatment. Only a physician can make that determination.

This completes our discussion of the more complex parts of a scientific model for approaching special needs conditions. In summary, our complete scientific model now includes:

evaluating gastrointestinal health; using special diets; improving nutritional status; addressing sleep disorders; addressing behavioral and social skills issues; improving immune status; evaluating methylation status; evaluating sulfation status; monitoring oxidative stress and using antioxidants;evaluating toxic exposure and potential detoxification requirements.

All of the major conditions affecting sensitive or special needs individuals have now been addressed. With your physician, the correct intervention plans can be appropriately implemented.

Nutrition is Foundational: An Interviewwith Nutritionist & Dietitian Judy Converse

By Teri Arranga

Consultant

Kirkman Group, Inc.

This month I wanted to talk about the foundational role of diet for special needs and sensitive children, and I was interested in learning the perspective of a licensed, registered dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition for the learning and developmentally disabled population. So, I thought of Judy Converse, MPH, RD, LD. She recently published the book Special-Needs Kids Eat Right: Strategies to Help Kids on the Autism Spectrum Focus, Learn, and Thrive. And her upcoming book is titled Special Needs Kids Go Pharm Free: Nutrition Focused Tools To Help Minimize Meds and Maximize Health and Well Being.

I interviewed Judy a few times on my radio show. Let's turn now to some of my conversations with Judy.

Judy, what is the physiologic rationale for trying a special diet with special needs and sensitive children?

Data show that as many as 60 percent of kids with special needs have nutrition problems. The exact physiologic nature of this varies for each child, regardless of the special needs diagnosis. Fixing those nutrition problems is critical for a child to reach his or her potential. This is true for any child.

The problem is not that we don't have a scientific rationale for this -- the problem is that the health care system doesn't engage the science. The fact is that pediatric doctors today don't have nutrition screening on their radar. My practice consists wholly of kids with some kind of special needs diagnosis -- anything from asthma or cerebral palsy to autism to severe food anaphylaxis. In 11 years, I have received, perhaps, five or ten MD referrals for nutrition care. These kids are not referred by their doctors -- they are referred to me by autism service organizations, speech therapists, occupational therapists, other caregivers, tutors, or by families themselves. Over the years, I've consistently observed that the doctors miss nutrition problems that can be quite serious for a child's growth, gain, learning, or behavior.

Is a trial of a special diet sufficient for these children, or do some people also find it necessary to look to supplemental nutrients -- either for supporting greater metabolic needs or for gaps in special diets?

What's important is getting some sound, professional guidelines. For example, if you just remove some foods from your kid's diet and nothing changes, there are many reasons why that may have failed. If you just try a few supplements, this can mean nothing, too, if there is unresolved inflammation or toxicity, untreated growth delays or malabsorption, and so on. Without professional screening and assessment first, you don't know what nutrition problems are there. You don't know what you are treating or why.

What about supplements that are not specifically vitamins or minerals, like probiotics and digestive enzymes? How important are these, and why do some parents use them?

These can be great adjuncts to a nutrition care plan, again, if it is found on assessment that these tools make sense for that child. It's important to choose the right ones for a child's situation. In the gastroenterology community, prescription enzymes like Creon are very useful for some kids but not others. The same is true for kids using non-prescription enzymes. It's all about matching the right tool to the job at hand.

Is there a special role for fish oils?

I think so. Omega-3 oils consistently perform well for kids in my practice once they are properly dosed. Most families I've met who used them on their own tried the wrong dose, wrong form, wrong length of time, and nothing happened. Some children do not do well on them, and others have an allergy that precludes them from touching fish in any form. I use clinical signs and symptoms, not blood tests, to assess which oils a child will most likely need. If things get really murky, I can use a blood test, but this is not necessary to begin trying fish oils.

As evidenced by your client population, what kinds of effects have these items produced, for example, in a school setting?

I have repeatedly seen nutrition care keep a child in a desired school placement, such as kids who were close to losing a mainstream classroom placement because of disruptive behavior and low functional ability. Using a nutrition care process, I've seen these kids change so that they behave mostly well and start learning. I have seen kids distance themselves from one-on-one aid support, begin writing, begin reading, begin learning, and begin socializing and participating -- and this was after families were told their only hope was partial management with drugs like Risperdal, Concerta, or Depakote. I have also seen kids drop prescription meds altogether and function better than when they were on meds with no nutrition treatment. Nutrition interventions could save incredible amounts of money insofar as not needing to support special-needs kids as much in our schools.

Are there any co-factors that parents need to be aware of? Any supplements best taken together or apart?

I individualize care plans for each child. There is no one rule about supplements -- what goes into the mix here is picking the right form (liquid, capsule, powder, chewable, topical), the right dose, and the right time of day relative to activities, other supplements, foods or medications, and designing things so that the family can comply. I've met children taking over 60 supplements a day. I don't think this is fair to families or kids. I find a way to keep the progress going for the child with a simpler protocol.

As a registered dietician with a master's degree in public health, do you feel like special diet and supplemental nutrients are foundational to supporting the health of special needs and sensitive children?

The foundational part is getting these kids professionally assessed, so their nutrition problems can be identified and corrected. This may mean a special diet, different foods, supplements, and different family routines. It isn't a magic bullet, but each child deserves to reach his or her potential. Nutrition is foundational to that for every single child, special needs or not.

Are there any other thoughts that you'd like to share?

Every kid wants to reach his or her potential. Don't think for a second that a child with special needs is not aware of that on some level. It never ceases to amaze me how resilient these children are . . . how hopeful and proud they are once given the chance and the tools to learn and grow -- it's amazing. But parents who have only heard dark predictions from their doctors are afraid to try and are often confused by my even saying that it got better for other kids. I'm committed to sharing this, so I've just put up a site called "it got better 'dot' com" where parents can place short video clips or comments saying how biomed and the nutrition care process changed their kids' lives (the site is under construction right now, but it should go up shortly). It's gotten better for a lot of kids I know, but my telling parents this in my office isn't as powerful as one parent telling another; nothing works better than parents connecting with each other. Families of children with special needs need hope so that they don't feel isolated, hopeless, or disconnected. And, indeed, hope is real -- I have seen it.

Judy's website is Nutrition Care for Children at www.nutritioncare.net.Editor's note: With regard to fish oil, those who can’t or won’t take it could opt for another source of EFA instead.

Don't Trick Your Kids' Health . . . .Have Healthful Halloween Treats!

(from The Autism Cookbook: 101 Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Recipes by K. Delaine)

Crispy Cereal Treats

(Ghoulishly Good!)

6 cups puffed corn cereal

4 cups miniature marshmallows1/2 cup corn or canola oil

Place cereal in a blender and pulse until crumbly. Pour into a large bowl and set aside. Combine marshmallows and oil in a medium saucepan. Over very low heat, melt marshmallows, stirring constantly. Pour marshmallows into a cereal bowl. Stir with a large fork until marshmallows are evenly distributed. Press mixture tightly into a 9-inch, square baking dish. Pack as tightly as possible. This may result in some extra space in the pan. Place the dish on a cooling rack. Let cool slightly; cut into 3-inch squares. Serve slightly warm.

Editor's note: This is a great opportunity to utilize Kirkman's heat-stable Calcium with Vitamin D Powder -- either the hypoallergenic, unflavored variety or Kirkman's pleasantly-flavored calcium powder with natural chocolate flavoring. Sprinkle it right into the mix, eat and enjoy with gobbling goblins!

From Our Family to Yours

Pictured on our masthead is the family of Kirkman's owners Humphrey and Kulani Mahikoa: daughter, Bleu; son-in-law, Ted; and grandchildren, Tyler and Tanner.

Copyright, Kirkman Group, Inc., October 2010

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Products featured are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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