functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...

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