I am often asked, "Give me the summary, what you did to recover your son and yourself from Autism and Autoimmune Disease?" While the answer to that question is completely complex integrating a variety of areas from biomedical approach to various therapies for the autism treatment, there were a few key areas that were absolutes for both of us. One of these areas was testing for heavy metals. Once obtaining the results we then set out to eliminate those toxins from our body. This process is called Chelation Therapy. Many people are most familiar with that term and this method when it comes to lead poisoning. If someone has lead poisoning it is common practice to chelate, thus eliminating that lethal toxin in the body. Unfortunately, when it comes to areas like Autism and Autoimmune Disease, there are those who like to counter the fact that Chelation therapy is a viable part of a treatment plan. My take: if tests uncover that there is toxic heavy metals in one's body that are not properly being eliminated then it is likely they are contributing negatively to one's health. So, why not eliminate them and see if some symptoms don't disappear as well!

In our case and most others, healing the gut issues (see articles on Yeast / Candida Treatment and Food Allergies) is identified and treated prior to the heavy metal elimination. Was there tremendous improvement from doing this treatment? Well - we're both recovered. I believe this was definitely a piece in the puzzle of each of our recoveries. Could we have left this piece out? Sure. Anything is an option. However, the picture of recover would then have a hole in it for us. Make sense? You cannot have a completely beautiful picture of a puzzle with missing pieces. Some of those pieces are critical for viewing the main subject of the picture and others are simply background adding to the overall beauty of the completed puzzel. But if you desire to view the entire picture then you'll take the time and effort necessary to fit them in as well. In the end - there are no holes and you are left with a beautiful complete picture.

Below is a list of a few of the toxic metals and various areas they can come from. This list is not exhaustive nor are the areas of these metals being found conclusive. This is simply a sample for increased understanding. Should this information cause you to go crazy and extreme in life? NOT AT ALL! I've found you must be balanced! If you go to an extreme then the stress and anxiety trying to live a completely 'clean life' will likely cause more damage than these toxins themselves! So- as always proceed with wisdom. There are many places to find healthy options and avoid adding toxins to your body. For example, there is aluminum free baking powder available in many stores - even Wal-Mart™ now!

One last note, many people wonder and ask, "My grandmother used Aluminum Baking powder every day in her bread. She and my grandpa ate it daily and lived into their nineties! So why would I bother changing my baking powder now?" Well, there are a vast array of reasons and you can research online to view many more than these. But just a few basics: you are now a third generation consumer of this one area of toxin consumption, how many other fast foods, processed, preservative filled food and drinks do you consume that they rarely did? This is just the beginning. My suggestion to ask yourself is: would I rather compare and find excuses not to make a simple change or would I rather take the slight edge decision to just ignore my new knowledge. No one decision will likely cause an issue. It's the culmination of many 'small decisions' which pile upon each other. Rendering a result of either healthy or unhealthy. It's a choice. Each person has that option.

Just like choosing to grab a bag of carrots or a bag of chips for a snack is a choice - so is each element of treating Autism and Autoimmune Diseases. Will one small choice make the difference? Yes & No. One small good decision repeated over and over again will help you achieve the results you desire while one small rejection repeated over and over again will keep you where you are and likely cause you to go backward. Is it easy? Yes & No. It's easy to make either small decision. It's your choice.

Some of the Toxic Heavy Metals & Their Sources*

Atmospheric pollution from automobile exhuaust, lead based paint, and it's dust. Tin cans, pesticide residue on tobacco, pencils - when paint is eaten by those who chew penciles. Vegetables grown beside busy highways, animals which eat those vergetables and burning coal or lead battery castings. Lead plumbing systems (tap water). Artist's pigments (oils), and pottery glaze. Processed organ meats, canned dog food, kitchen utensils, and some candy wappers. Dense traffic, hair dyes, crayons and comic books.

Large fish (organic complexing), pesticide residue, mercurial fungicides on seed grains, and ental fillings. Coal burning (atmospheric), calomel (mercurous chloride, interior pains, and some pharmaceuticals.

Atmosphericic pollution from burning coal and pertrouleum products. Cigarette smoking, nickel coins, eyeglass frames, costume jewelry, kitchen appliances, pins, sissors, hair clips, hydrogenated oils, and margarine.

Preserved foods in tin cans, and asparagus canned in glass. Processing and packing of: gelatin, smoked fish, mararoni, dried legumes, dried milk, milk in large cans, tea, tap water, and air.

* List taken from integrative health specialist of indiana