April/May
One of the most important aspects
of Stephen’s recovery was removing
genetically-modified organisms (GMO’s) from
his diet. When I first learned about GMO’s, I
felt they were bad for us. However, it wasn’t
until my youngest son battled chronic eczema
and body odor despite the fact that we were
already gluten-free and casein-free that I
started to research more. I learned about
endocrine disruption caused by genetically
modified soy and about glyphosate, the
pesticide sprayed on GMO crops. Glyphosate
is a chelator, which means it can “bind to” and
remove nutrients from our body. When you
combine this with the fact that glyphosate is
also registered as a broad spectrum antibiotic
that can destroy the healthy bacteria in our gut
- making us vulnerable to infections, pathogens
and food allergens - I was convinced it was
contributing to Stephen’s inability to feel his
best.
After we removed all foods with
genetically-modified ingredients and switched
to organic, we saw Stephen emerge in all
areas – academically and socially.
Joyce: How long was your son under
the care of a traditional Westen health care
provider?
Kathleen: We visit our traditional health
care provider for routine check-ups on an
annual basis but that is the extent of the care
they provide. Common health complaints, like
colds or viruses, are managed very effectively
at home using natural remedies.
Our focus is on maintaining health on daily
basis rather than relying on Western medicine
to “repair” dysfunction. We are grateful for
modern medicine for acute injury and other
specialized medical needs but the days of
visiting the doctor as if it’s a repair shop have
long passed and we are stronger and healthier
than ever before.
Joyce: At what point did you take
your son’s health into your own
hands?
Kathleen: I think once I was equipped
with the information I needed to feel
confident, I was ready to do more on my
own. But, to be honest, it was my own
health crisis that forced me to learn about
nutrition and its role in chronic disease
and that was the catalyst for change.
Joyce: Did you seek out a
non-traditional Western health care
professional?
Kathleen: I did consult with a local
naturopathic doctor who was trained
as a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctor
when Stephen was about 5 or 6 years
old. She had a lot to offer and was the
first one to suggest a gluten free/casein
free diet. Looking back, it is obvious to
me that I was not ready to learn what
needed to be done. I implemented this
dietary recommendation for about one
or two weeks and quickly discounted its
effectiveness. I was still looking for the
“magic bullet.” I was also stuck in the
mindset that alternative practitioners were
too expensive because they didn’t accept
insurance. Wow, how my perspective
has changed. I think once you realize
that many of the so-called alternative
treatments are actually aimed at resolving
the dysfunction in the body and often lead
to long-term results, it makes you realize
that this model is far more effective and
well worth the investment.
Joyce: What protocol did you
or the non-traditional health care
professional follow?
Kathleen: I was the one that
implemented Stephen’s protocol. I have
2015
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