Author: Jenny

I am a public health nutrition counselor with fifteen years experience in the field of prenatal and early child health and lactation education (breast feeding support). Autoimmune disease, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and genetic defects that can cause nutrient deficiencies are also research interests.
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Coffee is a methyl donor, yippee for my DNA

Proper methylation of DNA regulates which sections of DNA are active and will be used to direct metabolic activities in the body and which sections are turned off. Some people have metabolic defects in their ability to methylate normally. Problems in the normal methylation cycle may be more common for people on the autism spectrum and in some other genetic conditions like Down’s Syndrome.

The following website has a book available to read online that includes information about metabolic differences that have been found to be more common for people on the autism spectrum. Methylation differences in metabolism are discussed in Chapter 2 of the book Autism: Pathways to Recovery, by Dr. Amy Yasko. In the chapter coffee and Ritalin are described as methyl donors, and it is suggested that they might be helpful for some people for that reason.  Defects in the normal ability to methylate DNA is impaired in some people which may leave their immune systems over active with autoimmune symptoms or underactive and more susceptible to actual threats. [dramyyasko.com/resources/autism-pathways-to-recovery/chapter-2/]

A book available online, thanks to the author Dr. Amy Yasko. She mentions in the opening paragraph of Chapter 1 that the U.S. population grew by 13% in the 1990s and the number of people with autism grew by 172% in the same time frame. Read more: [dramyyasko.com/resources/autism-pathways-to-recovery/chapter-1/] *She is a Ph.D. professor in genetics rather than an M.D. Medical Doctor.

In 1975 the rate of autism was 1 in 5000.  Approximately one child of every 88 born in the year 2000 were found to have autism and the rate was 1 in 68 – one infant out of every 68 children born in 2002 were found to have autism. [aplus.com/a/scientist-claims-half-of-children-will-have-autism-by-2025]

There may not be a ‘cure’ for autism but there are nutritional strategies that help manage some of the more common metabolic differences if parents and health professionals are allowed to acknowledge the existence of the differences.

/Disclosure: I am not recommending coffee for children or infants.  This information is provided for educational purposes and is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes./

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Apathy at the population level may be a symptom of hypothyroidism

An increase in the number of people at the population level who have symptoms of apathy [1] and low sex drive [2] could be due to an increase the number of people who have a thyroid problem whether the problem is due to iodine deficiency or from other causes. There is more research available about iodine deficiency as a cause of hypothyroidism but there has also been research suggesting that an excess of goitrogens may also cause epidemic levels of thyroid problems. Cassava is an example of a goitrogenic food that has affected large numbers of people in areas where it is frequently consumed. Iodine supplementation can help against the effects of many goitrogens which can “include sulfur-bearing organic compounds, industrial pollutants, and artificial and bacterial contaminants of water.” And protein-energy malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency may affect iodine status. [1]

Radioactive iodine may also affect thyroid health. And exposure to radioactive iodine may be affecting more people than is recognized. The mind is connected to the body after all, so looking for physical reasons for mental health symptoms makes more sense to me than assuming that apathy and sexless relationships have simply become the new normal for a significant percentage of people. Fatalism is a term being used to describe the attitude being exhibited by many Japanese young adults. [3] But the term fatalism might also just be a new way to describe apathy.

In a report released in 2013, the Fukushima Prefecture Health Management Survey found that more than 40 percent of the Japanese children living in the area showed evidence
of thyroid nodules or cysts. None of the children were found to have thyroid cancer. Thyroid hormone status was not mentioned. [4] The presence of nodules or cysts is not uncommon according to other studies, and have been found at a frequency of 67% in some research; the importance of assessing for iodine deficiency was mentioned in the abstract. [6]

Before Fukushima there was Hiroshima and Nagasaki. [5] It’s sad to consider the possibility of large numbers of people being affected by a chronic health condition but I also find the idea sad that fatalism might be affecting large numbers of people. Having a fatalistic mood seems far less treatable than having an actual physical condition. Thyroid hormone replacement might be possible if hypothyroidism is diagnosed. Infants who are born with congenital hypothyroidism can develop normally if the condition is diagnosed early and the infant receives adequate thyroid hormone or iodine depending on the reason for the hypothyroidism. If infants with congenital hypothyroidism are left undiagnosed and untreated then they are more at risk to grow to a shorter height and have a lower IQ than typical.

Iodine supplements can help protect against radioactive iodine if taken before damage to the thyroid has occurred but too much iodine may be harmful if hyperthyroidism is a risk. See a health professional if concerned about iodine or thyroid status. Lab tests are available to assess iodine and thyroid hormone levels and whether there are thyroid autoimmune antibodies present.

Being able to see a medical doctor about a physical condition might get more effective results than seeing a psychiatrist about fatalism if the apathetic mood is actually a mental health symptom that is being caused by a physical condition.

/Disclaimer This information is provided for educational purposes and is not intended to provide individual health care. Please see a health professional for individualized health care./

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An update on fracking, 2014. link

Fracking or hydraulic fracturing is a mining process that releases small amounts of oil from tar sands. The process uses large amounts of water which is injected deep underground as high pressure steam. The steam dissolves the oil in the tar sands and it is brought to the surface by the fracking fluid which also contains solvents. The water that is used becomes contaminated by the solvents and by other toxic chemicals which are brought up by the process in addition to the small amount of oil that is recovered. [link]

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Finding one’s life purpose in three steps

The three steps can be found in the linked article: [link] The strategy involves brainstorming until reaching an emotional reaction like crying at one of your listed ideas. It didn’t take me long to reach tears:

My life purpose is to enjoy it

is to dance

is to teach

is to nurture

is to be at peace

My life purpose is to create baby slings and promote happy mother baby dyads.

After I stopped crying (that is how you know you reached an idea that is important to you) I realized that the short ideas fit together within the more specific life purpose statement. Babies are soothed by gentle dance motions and teaching mothers nurturing techniques can help the infant and the family be more at peace.

In the past I developed a baby sling for my own infants and I shared the design with a few other parents over the years. It had already been on my mind to make another one when I tried the life purpose exercise. Baby wearing can help the infant’s digestive system and the mood of mother and baby can be improved. [1] The baby sling I designed is a little different than the type available in the link but I have seen the Maya Wraps and heard positive feedback about them. They have the big advantage of being currently available along with video guides. Mine currently is a pattern in a box somewhere but promoting happy mothers and babies was also part of the life purpose statement I wrote.

There may have been some bias involved in my attempt at the life purpose exercise – crying over babies – kind of a given – I may have to try again: [link]

Happy New Year and best wishes for finding and achieving your own life purpose goals.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use.