A Great Day for Autism

Yesterday was a great day!  It’s Autism Awareness Day, people learned something important about autism – that the CDC just informed us that autism rates are up 23% and the there’s no plan for helping. But something else happened, something hopeful.  Today there is new “awareness” that what people eat matters, both for healing autism and preventing it. Dr. Martha Herbert launched a media tour for her new book, The Autism Revolution, appearing on Fox TV and national radio program.  It’s a big deal to hear this message, out in the “real world,” outside the biomed circles – very exciting. Martha (can I call her that?) is my inspiration, she’s an M.D. and Ph.D.

Dr. Martha Herbert is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, a Pediatric Neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and an affiliate of the Harvard-MIT-MGH Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging.  She is director of the TRANSCEND Research Program (Treatment Research and Neuroscience Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Dr. Herbert earned her medical degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.  Prior to her medical training she obtained a doctoral degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying evolution and development of learning processes in biology and culture in the History of Consciousness program, and then did postdoctoral work in the philosophy and history of science.  She trained in pediatrics at Cornell University Medical Center and in neurology and child neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where she has remained.  She received the first Cure Autism Now Innovator Award and is now on the Scientific Advisory Committee of Autism Speaks.

Not only is she accomplished and associated with the best schools and hospitals, but she also she studied “evolution and development of learning processes in biology and culture in the History of Consciousness program.”  Wow!  Brainy and consciously evolved—I love it! The video of Dr. Martha Herbert on Fox and Friends. Dr. Herbert explains how “the brain is not malformed, the brain is irritated.  Diet is big because it triggers the immune system and provides the ingredients for our cells.”  She also says, “you need to reduce the irritation and the inflammation in the brain. I’m not talking drugs. I’m talking about the same kind of anti-inflammation diet people have read about.  Outstanding high-density nutrient dense foods.  Fruits and vegetables.  Lots and lots of the rainbow diet. Every color of the rainbow in your daily diet.  That’s going to give the body the ingredients it needs to start fixing things.”   What a day for autism!  A wonderful gift for families with autism on Autism Awareness Day, the gift of awareness that your kids can get better! And that healthy food and nutrition are imperative! These are thing you can help influence. Since before I spoke at my first DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) Conference, I remember resonating with Martha’s presentation on autism as a whole body disorder (which got me teary eyed).  I’ve always connected with her message.  Once again, I’m excited to be aligned – on this important topic – the power of food to heal autism! Martha joins us in Boston I’m thrilled and honored that Dr. Martha Herbert will be speaking at our Food and Nutrition for Autism learning event in Boston on April 15^th.  Learn more and join us: https://nourishinghope.com/east-coast-tour/ Check out Dr. Martha Herbert’s new book, The Autism Revolution, at: http://theautismrevolution.com/