The Autism Detective Episode

Autism Detective episode

Patricia Lemer, aka The Autism Detective, has a channel on Spotify. She interviewed me about my book, Almost Autism: Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder, A Reference for Parents and Practitioners.

In the episode entitled Maria Rickert Hong: Almost Autism, Recovery IS Possible 11/26/2019, you can listen in as Patty and I discuss how kids can improve from symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder, which I call “almost autism”. Listen in!

Here’s the description for Patty’s show: Patricia Lemer, a licensed Professional Counselor, with over 50 years experience, and the author of the best seller, Outsmarting Autism, interviews Moms, Dads, therapists, educators, and other professionals. They share clues they follow to help individuals of all ages, on the autism spectrum become the best version of themselves. Learn how biomedical, sensory, motor, visual, auditory, perceptual, homeopathic, detoxification, language, behavioral, social-emotional, energy, vagus nerve, and other therapies can heal our kids.

Book Review: The Body Ecology Diet

Book Review:  The Body Ecology DietThe Body Ecology Diet is a gut-healing diet that I highly recommend.  Its basic premise, building upon the foundation of what Dr. William Crook built in his “Yeast Connection” books, is that many chronic issues are due to a buildup of yeast (Candida) and other pathogens in the gut.

Sign up for the webinar replay below of my interview of Donna Gates about the Body Ecology Diet.

Because doctors don’t offer systemic Candida infections as a diagnosis, it is often overlooked as a causative factor in autoimmune, neurological and hormonal diseases, disorders and conditions, even cancer, when, in my mind, it should be one of the first suspects.

Most people don’t understand how the use of steroids, antibiotics, birth-control pills and even ibuprofen can negatively affect the gut’s ecosystem.  The Standard American Diet (SAD) with its grain, sugars and starches also contributes heavily to a disrupted gut ecology.

It boils down to this:  70% of your immune system is located in your gut.  If its inner ecosystem is overrun by bad guys, like Candida, it can leave you vulnerable to more virulent infections, diseases and disorders.

Not only that, but Candida can affect your ability to produce hormones, which is why people with candidiasis often have adrenal, thyroid and reproductive-hormone problems.

People with candidiasis are frequently fatigued, get sick a lot, have “female problems”, food allergies, chemical sensitivities, constant headaches and other symptoms that are often dismissed by the medical establishment.

To me, the Body Ecology Diet is the most comprehensive approach to healing the gut, and therefore the body, because Donna addresses these hormonal balances; as far as I know, hers is the only gut-healing diet that does.  She emphasizes the use of sea vegetables to heal the thyroid and adrenals, which is brilliant, in my mind.

She also emphasizes the consumption of probiotic foods that contain oodles of probiotic bacteria.  Foods such as homemade kefir, sauerkraut, kim chi and other fermented foods.

If you think about it, before the invention of refrigeration, all foods that our great-grandparents ate were fresh, preserved with salt (real salt, not the processed white stuff we find today) or preserved with fermentation.  These are truly health-promoting foods!  That’s why the subtitle of this book is “Changing the Way the World Eats with Probiotic Nutrition”.

I won’t say it’s an easy diet to follow, although it is far easier than the basic anti-Candida diet, mostly because of the various principles upon which the diet is based:

  • Expansion and contraction
  • Acid and alkaline
  • Uniqueness
  • Cleansing
  • Food combining
  • 80/20
  • Step by step

Because of the food-combining principle, you can have gluten-free grains on the diet (just not with protein), which is a nice highlight for people out there who feel better eating grains or those who need more carbohydrate-rich diets like children and athletes.  To this end, Donna also includes Peter D’Adamo’s Blood Type theory in the book.

However, food combining makes it a bit more challenging about when to eat things like olives, avocados, nuts, etc.  If you’re eating out, it’s best to think Paleo-type foods (minus the nuts and fruit).

All in all, it’s a very well-thought-out and comprehensive diet that offers health-promoting principles for everyone.

LENTIL SALAD WITH CILANTRO AND LIME

[gmc_recipe 5097]

WOULD YOU LIKE A SNEAK PEEK AT AN IIN CONFERENCE?

IIN live crowdHave you ever wondered what kind of fun health coaches from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition have at one of our conferences?

If you’re passionate about health and wellness and want to experience the amazing energy of Integrative Nutrition’s live events, now’s your chance!  [Read more…]

SPEAKING EVENT: WHAT’S BEHIND THE EPIDEMIC OF AUTISM, ADHD, ALLERGIES & ASTHMA?

stormJoin me in the Memorial Room at the Main Fairfield Public Library in Fairfield, CT on April 30, 2013 at 7:00pm, as I discuss “What’s Behind the Epidemic of Autism, ADHD, Allergies and Asthma?”

Why is the rate of autism now 1 in 50, when it was only 1 in 10,000 a couple of decades ago?

Why do 1 in 10 children have ADHD?

Why are allergies and asthma “the new normal” in our schools these days?

I’ll be talking about the perfect storm causing all of these illnesses in our children today and what we can do about it.

When:
April 30, 2013 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Where:

Memorial Room at the Main Fairfield Public Library in Fairfield, CT
1080 Old Post Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824
USA

 

 

Kale Quinoa Patties

Kale Quinoa Patties You can serve these kale quinoa patties as a veggie burger on a bun or use one to top a salad of mixed greens.

Lemon, parsley, avocado and/or salsa make tasty garnishes.

Serves:  8

Prep time:  10 minutes

Cook time:  15 minutes

Source:  TreeHugger

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups filtered water
  • 4 large pasture-raised eggs (whisked)
  • 3 large scallions (sliced thin)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup steamed swiss chard or kale (chopped)
  • 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon ghee or coconut oil

Directions

Rinse 1 cup of quinoa thoroughly and place the grains in a medium sauce pan with 2 cups of water. Allow quinoa to soak for 15 minutes. Then, with the lid on the pan, bring the water to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook until quinoa is tender and has absorbed the liquid – about 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.

In a large bowl, mix together cooked quinoa, eggs, scallions, garlic, salt, steamed chard or kale, and breadcrumbs. Let everything sit for a few minutes to absorb the liquid. Form patties.

Heat ghee or coconut oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook up to 6 patties at at time (don’t overcrowd the pan). Cover the pan and let the patties cook for 7-10 minutes until they are a deep rich brown. Flip and cook the other side for another 7-10 minutes until both sides are nice and brown. Let patties rest on a cooling rack while you finish the next batch.

See Also

Dairy-Free Recipes

Egg-Free Recipes

Gluten-Free Recipes

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Coconut-Milk Panna Cotta with Raspberry Sauce

Coconut-Milk Panna Cotta with Raspberry SauceThere is no guilt in eating this Paleo/GAPS/SCD-legal coconut-milk panna cotta! You can vary it by using other berries or fruit.

Serves:  4

Prep time:  20 minutes

Cook time:  5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup cold, filtered water
  • 2-1/2 teaspoons grass-fed gelatin
  • 3-1/2 cups homemade coconut milk
  • pinch sea salt
  • 1/2 cup raw, local honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla powder
  • 4 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
  • 2 Tbsp. raw, local honey
  • 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
  • 1 cup fresh raspberries (for garnish)
  • 10 sprigs fresh mint (for garnish)

Directions

Place the cold water in a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the top, and mix together. Set the gelatin mixture aside aside to set.

In a medium saucepan, combine the coconut milk, salt and honey. Over medium heat, bring to a gentle boil and then immediately remove from heat. Whisk in the gelatin and vanilla.

Divide the mixture into small dessert bowls or martini glasses. Place the glasses on a tray and cover them on a tray and cover them with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 5-6 hours.

Place raspberries, honey and lemon juice and zest in a blender and liquefy. Add additional water and honey in small amounts as needed. Strain the mixture and refrigerate until ready to serve the dessert. It is best to use the sauce the same day that you make it. Freeze leftover sauce for future use.

Serve the coconut-milk panna cotta chilled, topped with fresh raspberries and a drizzle of the sauce.

See Also

Dairy-Free Recipes

Egg-Free Recipes

Gluten-Free Recipes

Sign up for my best gluten-free, dairy-free recipes below: