A great deal of evidence has been coming out in recent years that certain gut infections, such as clostridium species and candida, may be producing toxins that can either cause or aggravate certain symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, ADD, and ADHD. 

Why do these "bad bugs" cause so many problems? Certain pathogenic gut flora such as clostridium difficile and candida albicans produce harmful toxins that can get into your child's blood stream and cause all kinds of neurological and inflammatory damage. Toxins released by clostridia in particular can damage certain signaling proteins in the brain, leading to changes in behavior and brain development. 

In addition, harmful gut bacteria and yeast are often triggers for digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, gas, and bloating. Issues with digestion are a common in kids with autism and can cause a great deal of discomfort and stress. 

Once pathogens such as clostridium and candida have been removed, either by pharmaceutical antimicrobials or by antibaceria and antifungal herbs, a long-term course of probiotics can help drive populations of good bacteria up while preventing a relapse of the bad. Once good bacteria are introduced, certain changes in diet, such as reducing pesticide and herbicide exposure by eating organic fruits and vegetables, can help your child's gut biome continue to thrive.

Having a healthy gut means both repopulating the gut with beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and healing and sealing the gut lining. Inflammation in the intestines, whether caused by bad bacteria and yeast or by immune issues such as food allergies can lead to a condition called intestinal hyperpermeability, or "leaky gut syndrome."  In leaky gut, a damaged intestinal lining is unable to form a complete seal between the foods the gut is digesting and the bloodstream. This allows tiny molecules of incompletely broken down nutrients to enter the blood, which can trigger even more inflammation and allergies.

There are a lot of ways we can help heal and seal the gut in kids with autism. Specific nutrients nourish the cells that line the interior of the intestines, while others can damage cells and encourage more inflammation in the gut. In addition, certain GI insults such as artificial preservatives, heavy metals, food allergens, pesticides and herbicides can lead to increased permeability with widespread negative effects. Getting the right foods in and getting wrong foods and environmental toxins out can have huge impacts on the health and function of the gut.