Martin Matthews
Director, Nourishing Hope
martin@nourishinghope.com
415-235-2960

Autism “Informed Consent” Must Include Hope:
Personalized Nutrition Featured at Leading Medical Conferences

With autism affecting 1 in 36 children, medical leaders examine how
personalized nutrition offers real, science-backed solutions.

Autism “Informed Consent” Must Include Hope:
Personalized Nutrition Featured at Leading Medical Conferences

With autism affecting 1 in 36 children, medical leaders examine how
personalized nutrition offers real, science-backed solutions.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 5, 2025 At a pivotal moment in healthcare, Julie Matthews, MS, CNC, presents personalized nutrition for autism at two of the most respected medical conferences this month: the Integrative Medicine for Mental Health (IMMH) and the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS).

For decades, families have been told nutrition doesn’t help – that food reactions and gastrointestinal distress are “just autism.” This denial of evidence and lived experience has robbed parents of genuine options. Today, science proves otherwise.

The Science and Experience
Decades of research now confirm what parents have long observed: nutrition can improve autism symptoms. Julie Matthews, MS, CNC, a nutrition researcher with 23 years of clinical experience, is one of many voices bringing this truth forward. She is co-author of two peer-reviewed studies: one published in Nutrients (2018), proving diet and nutrition intervention improves autism symptoms, and another in the Journal of Personalized Medicine (2023), showing multiple therapeutic diets to be more effective than medication. She authored Nourishing Hope for Autism, recognized as the “Most Progressive Health Book” at the 2009 Independent Publisher Awards

“For 23 years I’ve watched children’s symptoms decrease—sometimes dramatically—when their diets are matched to their unique needs. Now the science proves it, and the medical community is taking notice,” said Matthews.

The Process of Nourishing Hope
Matthews calls this process Nourishing Hope – the science-based use of food and nutrition to improve systemic health, learning, and behavior. Autism and related disorders can involve gut problems, food sensitivities, sensory challenges, and immune dysfunction – areas where dietary intervention can spark meaningful improvement. Other valid therapies, from biomedical interventions to communication breakthroughs like Spellers, also remain obfuscated. It’s an injustice to deny families access to safe, science-backed options that could improve health, functioning, and lifelong well-being. True informed consent must also include hope.

The Stakes
Autism now affects 1 in 36 children in the U.S. The annual economic burden is estimated at $268 billion, projected to exceed $460 billion by 2025. Embracing the truth of hope could transform lives while easing this burden – even modest improvements through diet could save billions each year. It would also spark broader societal change: fueling demand for healthy allergen-free foods, advancing custom supplements, and inspiring innovation across industries that support better health.

A Historic Shift
As the global dialogue around autism shifts from causation debates to solutions, the recognition of nutrition on respected medical stages marks a turning point. Families deserve the full truth. Autism informed consent must include hope – not vague promises, but the proven truth of hope backed by science. Matthews’ newest book, The Personalized Autism Nutrition Plan (BenBella Books, 2025), ensures that this science and practical guidance is accessible to parents and professionals worldwide.

About Julie Matthews

Julie Matthews, MS, CNC, holds a Master’s in Medical Nutrition (Arizona State University). She is a Certified Nutrition Consultant, published researcher, and award-winning author specializing in personalized nutrition for autism and related conditions. She founded Nourishing Hope to convey the efficacy of nutrition for autism and chronic disease, and developed the BioIndividual Nutrition® approach to train professionals worldwide.

About Nourishing Hope

Founded in 2002, Nourishing Hope provides education, resources, and support for families and practitioners using food and nutrition to improve health, learning, and behavior in children with autism and related conditions. Julie Matthews’ pioneering programs, research, and training have reached tens of thousands of families and hundreds of health professionals worldwide.

About IMMH and MAPS

The Integrative Medicine for Mental Health (IMMH) conference is the largest international meeting on integrative approaches for mental health. The Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS) is regarded as the gold standard in pediatric integrative and functional medicine training.

Press Contact:
Martin Matthews
Director, Nourishing Hope
martin@nourishinghope.com
415-235-2960
NourishingHope.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 5, 2025 At a pivotal moment in healthcare, Julie Matthews, MS, CNC, presents personalized nutrition for autism at two of the most respected medical conferences this month:: the Integrative Medicine for Mental Health (IMMH) and the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS).

For decades, families have been told nutrition doesn’t help — that food reactions and gastrointestinal distress are “just autism.” This denial of evidence and lived experience has robbed parents of genuine options. Today, science proves otherwise.

The Science and Experience
Decades of research now confirm what parents have long observed: nutrition can improve autism symptoms. Julie Matthews, MS, CNC, a nutrition researcher with 23 years of clinical experience, is one of many voices bringing this truth forward. She is co-author of two peer-reviewed studies: one published in Nutrients (2018), proving diet and nutrition intervention improves autism symptoms, and another in the Journal of Personalized Medicine (2023), showing multiple therapeutic diets to be more effective than medication. She authored Nourishing Hope for Autism, recognized as the “Most Progressive Health Book” at the 2009 Independent Publisher Awards

“For 23 years I’ve watched children’s symptoms decrease—sometimes dramatically—when their diets are matched to their unique needs. Now the science proves it, and the medical community is taking notice,” said Matthews.

The Process of Nourishing Hope
Matthews calls this process Nourishing Hope – the science-based use of food and nutrition to improve systemic health, learning, and behavior. Autism and related disorders can involve gut problems, food sensitivities, sensory challenges, and immune dysfunction – areas where dietary intervention can spark meaningful improvement. Other valid therapies, from biomedical interventions to communication breakthroughs like Spellers, also remain obfuscated. It’s an injustice to deny families access to safe, science-backed options that could improve health, functioning, and lifelong well-being. True informed consent must also include hope.

The Stakes
Autism now affects 1 in 36 children in the U.S. The annual economic burden is estimated at $268 billion, projected to exceed $460 billion by 2025. Embracing the truth of hope could transform lives while easing this burden – even modest improvements through diet could save billions each year. It would also spark broader societal change: fueling demand for healthy allergen-free foods, advancing custom supplements, and inspiring innovation across industries that support better health.

A Historic Shift
As the global dialogue around autism shifts from causation debates to solutions, the recognition of nutrition on respected medical stages marks a turning point. Families deserve the full truth. Autism informed consent must include hope – not vague promises, but the proven truth of hope backed by science. Matthews’ newest book, The Personalized Autism Nutrition Plan (BenBella Books, 2025), ensures that this science and practical guidance is accessible to parents and professionals wordwide.

About Julie Matthews

Julie Matthews, MS, CNC, holds a Master’s in Medical Nutrition (Arizona State University). She is a Certified Nutrition Consultant, published researcher, and award-winning author specializing in personalized nutrition for autism and related conditions. She founded Nourishing Hope to convey the efficacy of nutrition for autism and chronic disease, and developed the BioIndividual Nutrition® approach to train professionals worldwide.

About Nourishing Hope

Founded in 2002, Nourishing Hope provides education, resources, and support for families and practitioners using food and nutrition to improve health, learning, and behavior in children with autism and related conditions. Julie Matthews’ pioneering programs, research, and training have reached tens of thousands of families and hundreds of health professionals worldwide.

About IMMH and MAPS

The Integrative Medicine for Mental Health (IMMH) conference is the largest international meeting on integrative approaches for mental health. The Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS) is regarded as the gold standard in pediatric integrative and functional medicine training.

Press Contact:
Martin Matthews
Director, Nourishing Hope
martin@nourishinghope.com
415-235-2960
NourishingHope.com