We all like to visualize what our children will be like when they are older.  However, when you discover that your child is autistic, the enjoyment from this pastime quickly vanishes.  Our son, Thomas, was progressing normally like any other child, and like any new parents we were taking great pleasure in watching him grow and achieve his developmental milestones.  However, at this time Thomas was also getting frequent ear infections and developing an asthmatic condition, both of which were promptly treated with the customary antibiotics and steroids courtesy of our friendly medical car provider.  During this same time I was showing signs of yeast problems.  On top of that, my husband’s family had a history of autoimmune diseases.  In hindsight, it should not have come as a surprise that soon after Thomas received his MMR vaccine at 18 moths of age he quit eating, talking and other strange behaviors began to emerge.

This was my observation in August of 2002, when Thomas was just shy of his third birthday.

He doesn’t seem to understand us.  Says “no” and ”go.”  Grabs my hand and pushes it toward what he wants.  Constantly holds two toy figures, Buzz and Woody, his favorite movie characters.  He’s very hard to engage in purposeful play.  Not interested in other children or toys.  Very little imaginary play and no interest in self-help.  Pulls my hair if I sing and will not let me read a book to him.  Some tiptoe walking and shaking head from side to side.  Has a need to climb and seeks spinning.  Only wants to watch Disney videos.  Wanders off without looking back and never excited when we return from an absence.  Hardly notices pain and bangs his head often.  All he wants to eat is cheese crackers and cheese, tofu hot dogs,  and juice.  Has chronic diarrhea and often wakes up in the middle of the night screaming.

At nearly three years of age, Thomas was diagnosed with autism and had the expression and understanding of a ten-month-old.  My husband, Russell, and I wondered if Thomas would ever have a vocabulary of more than 50 words, would ever fall in love and lead an independent adult life OR would he depend on us for the rest of his life while his father and I became another divorce statistic.

In the midst of Thomas’s “fog,” I remember remarking to Russell, “You know, if Thomas wants to go off and climb mountains by himself, we should encourage it 100 percent.  If making him enter our world makes him unhappy, we shouldn’t force it.”  Russell agreed.  Fortunately, we discovered the Body Ecology Diet, and with the help of Donna Gates the course of Thomas’s future was forever changed.

Never in my life have I done something that has had the impact on my family that following the Body Ecology Diet (BED) has had.  I am now more convinced than ever that not only those diagnosed with autism, but all of our children are missing out on the opportunity to be relieved of the many physical and mental problems afflicting our youth today.  If you grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s like I did, you probably have a hard time recalling any kids with asthma, food allergies, autism, ADD, AHD, OCD, other behavior problems, skin disorders or obesity (did I miss one?) that are so prevalent today.

Through BED I have learned that cultured foods, raw dairy, and sea vegetables are very beneficial to our mental well being.  I’ve also learned that avoiding bad oils, using coconuts, limiting grains, and applying proper food combining principles can make a real difference in our health.  The idea that becoming sick is actually part of the cleansing process is now embraced and celebrated by my family instead of being something that is dreaded.  Studying the Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates and my BEDROK protocol found on these web pages will give you greater insight into this approach to healing your child.  Also on my recommended reading list are Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Natasha Campbell McBride.  These authors advocate getting back to the basics of consuming pure whole foods.

After Thomas had been on the diet for a few months, most people who had seen him before and after described him as a completely different child.  His speech was slow to come around, but today at age seven he is talking very appropriately.  His teachers describe him as smart, eager, and cooperative.  He loves his friends and is constantly planning play times with them.  Reading, writing and arithmetic come easily to him.  There have been some bumps on the road to recovery, but we have always overcome them.  Recently, Thomas started taking guitar lessons, and his teacher is very impressed with his ability.  His dad and I are pleased to think he might become famous for his musical talent one day and not for being a circus act!

For my part I am constantly planning and preparing foods that are nourishing and satisfying for my family.  While it at times can be exhausting, it is very rewarding.  Donna said that I have been successful because of my attitude toward this change in diet and lifestyle.  She makes me sound like a hero, but believe me, I was far from that.  Everything I read said that I had to be organized, structured, and strict; whereas, my parenting style was none of those things and definitely was leaning toward the lenient side.  I just couldn’t see something has stringent and intense as ABA working for us.  I had no other choice but to make the diet work.

The Body Ecology Diet may seem overwhelming for many of you at first.  However, you will be surprised at how quickly you’ll catch on.  The changes can be easy if you incorporate them slowly as Donna suggests, and you’ll find yourself enjoying them too.  You have to have a different mindset to do the BED.  It would be hard to just wake up one morning and implement it 100 percent.  One of the reasons for this is that every child is different and so are their needs.  You may also find people will discredit what you are doing and try to talk you out of it, but my heart keeps telling me to go with what man did before the last century when autism was virtually unheard of.  While it may seem that you are spending more time in the kitchen, trying to correct bad behavior in your child can be much more of a drain on your time and way more debilitating.

There is another more spiritual aspect to the diet that Donna encourages, and that is prayer and forgiveness.  It is easy to become angry and blame society for what has happened to our children, but everything turns on forgiveness, so give it a try.

I hope you will join us in our journey.  The most common reaction I get from families when they review the BED is that it makes so much sense, even if it does seem a little overwhelming at first and leaves you asking, “Where do I start?”  Remember that you’ll be most successful implementing the BEDROK protocol one step at a time.  Many parents already have their children on some sort of diet regiment, and they like to add a BED principle or a new food once a week or maybe even once a month.  We find it easier to introduce new, acceptable foods before removing offending foods.

Donna has given me my child back, and I believe the best way to thank her is by spreading her message.  You aren’t alone, and we are here to help.  My hope is that one day when a teacher sees a happy, motivated, and focused child that they too will have a label, and that label will be BED.

Diane