Unblind My Mind: What are we eating?: Dr. Katherine Reid at TEDxYouth@GrassValley

Summary

In this compelling narrative, a biochemist and mother shares her journey of discovering the link between diet and her child's autism. After traditional therapies failed, she turned to nutrition, implementing a three-phase dietary change that dramatically improved her daughter's social skills, communication, and sensory perception. The story emphasizes the profound impact of food on brain function and chronic illnesses, ultimately leading to the establishment of a nonprofit to raise awareness about the importance of diet in health.

Takeaways

• 👩‍🔬 The speaker is a mother and biochemist who researched the link between diet and her child's autism.
• 👶 The speaker's child, Brooke, was diagnosed with moderate autism at the age of three and a quarter.
• 🥗 The first phase of dietary change involved supplementing with nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
• 🌟 Within days of supplementing, Brooke showed improvements such as making eye contact and responding to her name.
• ⚽️ The second phase was a gluten and casein-free diet, leading to improvements in social skills and communication.
• 🔬 Research indicated a connection between glutamate dysfunction and various diseases, including autism.
• 🍽️ The third phase involved reducing free glutamate in the diet, which led to significant improvements in Brooke's behavior.
• 🚫 Over 50 different labels can be used for MSG or free glutamate in food, indicating its widespread presence.
• 📉 A diet low in free glutamate can help manage conditions like diabetes, allergies, and digestive issues.
• 🌱 The speaker advocates for a return to whole foods and cooking from scratch to reduce free glutamate intake.
• 🌟 Brooke's progress after implementing the low-free glutamate diet was remarkable, leading to her being mainstreamed in school.

Q & A

What led the speaker to investigate the relationship between food and autism?

The speaker's motivation to investigate the link between food and autism began when she discovered that her child, Brooke, had been diagnosed with autism. As a mother and a biochemist, she was determined to explore how diet could improve her child's health.

What were some of Brooke's symptoms before dietary changes were made?

Brooke exhibited symptoms such as lack of eye contact, difficulty interacting with others, absence of imaginary play, repetitive behaviors, and hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as light and sound. Her communication was limited to repeating words from songs or books.

What was the first phase of Brooke's dietary changes, and what were the results?

The first phase involved supplementing Brooke's diet with nutrients through a smoothie containing organic vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and herbs. Within days, Brooke began making eye contact, and over the next few weeks, she became more responsive to her name and more aware of her surroundings.

What was the effect of the gluten and casein-free diet on Brooke's behavior?

After six months on the gluten and casein-free diet, Brooke showed significant improvements in her social and communication skills. She became more interested in interacting with other children and developed imaginary play. However, some sensory perception distortions and repetitive behaviors persisted.

What was the 'yes-no loop,' and how did it affect Brooke?

The 'yes-no loop' was a repetitive and obsessive behavior where Brooke would get stuck in a state of indecision for hours, often about trivial matters like whether a blanket should be on or off the bed. This behavior created severe family stress, and traditional therapies did not seem to help.

How did the speaker's research on glutamate influence Brooke's diet in phase three?

The speaker's research on glutamate, an amino acid linked to various brain and body disorders, led her to reduce free glutamate in Brooke's diet. She discovered that free glutamate in food, particularly from processed proteins, could cause chronic overactivation of bodily functions, including those related to autism.

What changes did the speaker notice after reducing free glutamate in Brooke's diet?

Once free glutamate was reduced in Brooke's diet, the 'yes-no loop' behavior disappeared completely, and her social and communication skills quickly caught up with her peers. Brooke was even removed from her special needs school due to her improvements.

What personal health improvements did the speaker experience after reducing free glutamate in her own diet?

After reducing free glutamate in her own diet, the speaker experienced significant health improvements, including the disappearance of chronic headaches, pollen allergies, and digestive sensitivities.

What is the main point the speaker wants the audience to understand about food and health?

The speaker emphasizes that food has a profound impact on the brain and body. She encourages the audience to become more aware of what they are eating, reduce processed foods high in free glutamate, and adopt whole, natural foods to improve health.

What impact did the speaker's discoveries have on her broader life and career?

The speaker was so convinced by the impact of food on health, particularly related to free glutamate, that she started a nonprofit organization to raise awareness about the issue. She also shared her findings with others and received feedback on how dietary changes helped with various conditions, including migraines, allergies, and autism.