Diet and autism
Research shows that changes in diet can improve their well-being and it is advised that parents be more vigilant when it comes to their choice of foods. Autism, which was a strange word and condition, even to many American and British parents who are usually at the forefront in research regarding children and education, is finally getting the attention it needs. It is pleasant to note that Nigeria, though largely ignorant about autism in the past, is experiencing a shift. Parents are becoming more aware because of the rise in the incidence rate; just as doctors have become more knowledgeable about the condition. There are still many parents though, who have never heard of autism and this is why we need to revisit the topic (we had featured it in our first edition). The best treatment for Autism is early intervention; parents need to know early enough to be able to deal with the situation quickly. That way, it is better managed and while there is no cure for it yet, the severity will be greatly reduced when early intervention occurs.
One of the ways of effectively managing autism in children is to continuously motivate them, monitor their diet and stick with the healthiest options at every point in time. A lot of the additives and preservatives are culprits in aggravating the condition so when you know the ‘safe’ foods, your autistic child is the better for it. However, because autism has such a wide spectrum, what works for one child can be completely different from what works for the next child.
