functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
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AAPI’S NUTRITION GUIDE TO OPTIMAL HEALTH: USING PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS<br />
Raw ½ small ½–1 small 1 medium<br />
Canned 1/3 cup 1/3–½ cup ½ cup<br />
Juice 3–4 oz 4 oz 4 oz<br />
Grains<br />
Bread, buns, bagels ¼–½ slice 1 slice 1 slice<br />
Pasta, rice ¼–1/3 cup ½ cup ½ cup<br />
Cereal, cooked ¼–1/3 cup ½ cup ½–1 cup<br />
Cereal, dry 1/3–½ cup 1 cup 1 cup<br />
Crackers 2–3 4–6 4–6<br />
Meat <strong>and</strong> Dried Beans<br />
Meat, poultry, fish 1–2 oz 1–2 oz 2 oz<br />
Eggs 1 1 1–2<br />
Peanut butter 1 Tbsp 1–2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp<br />
Beans 2–4 Tbsp ¼–½ cup ½ cup<br />
Source: ADA Pocket Guide to Pediatric Nutrition Assessment<br />
Daily Multivitamin <strong>and</strong> Mineral Supplement for a<br />
Child with Autism - Children with autism tend to<br />
eat a very poor diet limited to only a few foods,<br />
so they often suffer from numerous vitamin <strong>and</strong><br />
mineral deficiencies. If this is the case, the child<br />
will need to take a daily multivitamin <strong>and</strong> mineral<br />
supplement. Many healthcare professionals believe<br />
that vitamin <strong>and</strong> mineral supplements are<br />
unnecessary <strong>and</strong> that children can get everything<br />
they need just by eating a well-balanced diet.<br />
This may be true for children who eat a variety of<br />
healthy foods from the different food groups, have<br />
a properly functioning digestive system that can<br />
digest <strong>and</strong> absorb the nutrients consumed, <strong>and</strong><br />
whose bodies are able to utilize the nutrients<br />
absorbed. Unfortunately, most children with autism<br />
do not fall into this category. Children with autism<br />
often eat a very limited variety of foods <strong>and</strong> have<br />
mealtime behavior problems that interfere with their<br />
food consumption (50, 51, 52). Many have<br />
sensory problems that impact their acceptance of<br />
certain textures, flavors, <strong>and</strong> smells of foods,<br />
resulting in feeding problems. Some autistic<br />
children are on elimination diets that limit their<br />
intake of certain nutritious foods. Still, others have<br />
chronic gastrointestinal disorders that interfere with<br />
their ability to digest <strong>and</strong> absorb nutrients properly.<br />
All of these factors make children with autism far<br />
more vulnerable to having chronic vitamin <strong>and</strong><br />
mineral deficiencies.<br />
Severe vitamin <strong>and</strong> mineral deficiencies are rare in<br />
the U.S.; however, marginal vitamin <strong>and</strong> mineral<br />
123<br />
deficiencies are very common. A marginal vitamin<br />
or mineral deficiency can result from a chronic<br />
poor diet, which impacts the child slowly, over<br />
time, with more subtle symptoms. Marginal vitamin<br />
<strong>and</strong> mineral deficiency symptoms include poor<br />
attention <strong>and</strong> concentration, irritability, loss of<br />
appetite, mood <strong>and</strong> behavior changes, depression,<br />
anxiety, <strong>and</strong> sleep disturbances. Marginal<br />
deficiencies can affect a child globally, meaning<br />
they can prevent both his body <strong>and</strong> brain from<br />
functioning at their best. The child will be<br />
physically <strong>and</strong> mentally unable to fully respond to,<br />
participate in, <strong>and</strong> benefit from his therapies. While<br />
vitamin <strong>and</strong> mineral supplements can not replicate<br />
all the nutrients a child would naturally consume<br />
from eating a variety of whole foods, a<br />
supplement is a good complement to his diet. A<br />
Registered Dietitian will advise parents on selecting<br />
an appropriate daily multivitamin <strong>and</strong> mineral<br />
supplement for the child.<br />
Water is the most basic nutrient our bodies need,<br />
<strong>and</strong> it is also one of the most neglected<br />
components of our diet. Our bodies need a certain<br />
amount of water each day for proper body<br />
temperature regulation, muscle function, absorption<br />
of nutrients, transporting nutrients into body cells,<br />
transporting waste out of body cells, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
elimination of waste <strong>and</strong> toxins from the body. We<br />
get water not only from drinking it, but also from<br />
other liquids like milk <strong>and</strong> juice <strong>and</strong> from<br />
vegetables <strong>and</strong> fruits. If we do not have enough<br />
water in our diet, we are at risk for dehydration.<br />
2012