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Shine a Light on Autism: Join the Movement This April
Village Green Nutrition Team on
Shine a Light on Autism: Join the Movement This April
April is World Autism Month, a time to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and foster support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a complex developmental condition that affects social, communication, and behavioral skills. However, every individual with autism is unique, with their own strengths and challenges. Autism occurs across all races, ethnicities, and genders, with a diagnosis rate of 1 in 44 children in the United States.
Light It Up Blue on April 2nd
On April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day, communities worldwide come together to "Light It Up Blue", an initiative led by Autism Speaks to show support for individuals with autism and their families. Landmarks, businesses, and homes illuminate blue lights, and people wear blue to symbolize inclusion, understanding, and solidarity. By spreading awareness and embracing acceptance, we take meaningful steps toward building a more supportive and inclusive world for individuals with ASD.
Recognizing the Signs of Autism
ASD can present with a wide range of behaviors, and early identification is crucial for effective support. Some common signs include:
- Difficulty with social interactions or lack of interest in playing with others.
- Communication challenges, such as delayed speech or difficulty understanding emotions.
- Repetitive movements or behaviors, such as hand-flapping, rocking, or spinning.
- Unusual responses to sensory stimuli, such as being overwhelmed by loud noises or bright lights.
- Challenges with daily activities, including sleep, eating, and toileting.
Because autism exists on a spectrum, symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Some individuals require significant support, while others may live independently with minor accommodations.
The Role of Underlying Health Issues
Many individuals with ASD experience underlying health concerns that impact their well-being, including:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) issues, such as leaky gut, food sensitivities, and dysbiosis.
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Metal dysregulation and oxidative stress, which can contribute to neuroinflammation.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction and methylation impairment, affecting energy production and detoxification.
Addressing these biochemical imbalances through specialized lab testing, nutrition, and targeted therapies can help improve quality of life for individuals with ASD.
Specialty Lab Testing & Precision Nutrient Therapy
Scientific research shows that individuals with ASD often have distinctive biochemical imbalances. Dr. William Walsh, a leading expert in nutritional psychiatry, has identified key patterns in autistic children, including:
- Zinc deficiency and copper overload
- Elevated toxic metals
- Vitamin B6 deficiency
- Undermethylation (seen in over 90% of autistic individuals)
Lab testing, such as Village Green’s Brain Chemistry Panel, can help identify these imbalances, allowing for a personalized approach to nutrition and supplementation. Precision nutrient therapy—the use of targeted vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—has been shown to improve symptoms and support brain function.
A Personalized Approach Through Diet & Nutrition
Research shows that therapeutic diets and targeted nutrients can significantly impact cognitive ability, digestive function, speech development, social engagement, and emotional regulation in individuals with ASD. Experts such as Julie Matthews, CNC, and Dr. Albert Mensah have dedicated their careers to personalized dietary interventions for autism, focusing on genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors to optimize health outcomes.
Hope & Advocacy: Every Step Counts
While ASD presents challenges, it is also a journey filled with growth, resilience, and discovery. By raising awareness, supporting research, and embracing a personalized approach to health, we can empower individuals with autism to thrive.
On April 2nd, join the movement—wear blue, share knowledge, and advocate for a more inclusive world. Every effort, big or small, contributes to a future where all individuals with autism are valued, supported, and celebrated.
Shine a light on autism this April—because awareness leads to action, and action leads to change.
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LAB TEST
Brain Chemistry Panel
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$374.00
$467.50
Brain Chemistry Panel
This lab panel was developed by nutritional medicine pioneer, Dr. William Walsh, based on his research on over 30,000 individuals with mental health disorders. He identified several common biochemical imbalances that appear to be underlying factors in many mental health conditions, including autism, Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, aggressive/violent behavior, and other mental and emotional conditions.
By carefully evaluating a person’s unique biochemistry, a skilled healthcare practitioner can create a customized nutrient program designed to correct imbalances. Because some people have abnormalities in all areas, while others might only have an imbalance in one, it is important to identify the specific imbalances for better, more focused support.
The nutrient therapies (vitamins, minerals, and amino acids) involved in correcting biochemical imbalances are considered safe to use with most prescription medications commonly used for mood disorders. In some cases, prescription medications may continue to provide added benefits to the nutrient therapies, in which case both can be continued indefinitely.
This Panel Includes:
Kryptopyrrole Urinary Quantitative
Pyrrole disorder is characterized by an elevated urine kryptopyrrole, which results in a dramatic deficiency of zinc and vitamin B6. Pyroluria is frequently identified in behavior disorders, autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, ADD, depression, bipolar disorders, assaultive/aggressive/violent behavior, schizophrenia and other mental and emotional conditions. Pyroluria can create poor tolerance of physical and emotional stress, poor anger control, emotional mood swings, depression, anxiety, poor short-term memory, frequent infections, inability to tan, poor dream recall, abnormal fat distribution, sensitivity to light and sound and tactile sensitivities.
Copper Serum
Copper serum is a highly reliable blood test that directly relates to brain chemistry. Elevated copper levels can alter brain function, specifically lowering dopamine levels and raising norepinephrine levels. Imbalances in these essential brain chemicals have been related to paranoid schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, postpartum depression, ADD, ADHD, autism, and violent aggressive behavior. Copper serum levels can single handedly be the root cause of an individual condition, but elevated copper serum levels are also known to cause zinc levels to deplete and oxidative stress to rise.
Zinc Plasma
More than 90% of people diagnosed with depression, behavioral disorder, ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia exhibit depleted zinc levels. Zinc deficiency has been associated with delayed growth, temper control problems, poor immune function, depression, poor wound healing, epilepsy, anxiety, neurodegenerative disorders, hormone imbalances and learning problems.
Whole Blood Histamine
Whole Blood histamine levels are a marker for methylation, a critical biochemical pathway necessary for the production of neurotransmitters such serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Genetic abnormalities in methylation can result in either the overproduction or underproduction of these important brain neurotransmitters. People that overproduce neurotransmitters (over-methylators) often have high anxiety, panic disorders, and chemical sensitivities. Individuals who under-produce neurotransmitters (under-methylators) often exhibit depression, compulsive behaviors, and perfectionism.
Ceruloplasmin
Ceruloplasmin is blood protein that binds to copper and plays a role in iron metabolism. Measuring ceruloplasmin and copper enables a practitioner to accurately calculate a patient’s free percentage of copper. Free copper is the amount of unbound copper circulating in the blood, unbound to ceruloplasmin. Individuals with more than 25% of their copper not bound to ceruloplasmin are considered to have elevated oxidative stress levels. This condition is common in autism, postpartum depression, ADHD, and certain forms of psychosis.
Test Type:
Urine Collection
A test kit will be mailed to you along with detailed collection instructions from our lab partner, DHA Laboratory.
Blood test*
This test also requires a blood draw. A lab requisition form and necessary instructions will be emailed to you from DHA Laboratory. Take the requisition form to a local LabCorp Patient Service Center. A trained professional will take your blood and mail the blood work directly to the lab.
Results:
Results for this panel can take up to 10-14 days. DHA Laboratory will email your results to you. We strongly recommend that for this particular test, you consult with a practitioner that has specific knowledge of this brain chemistry panel. For a detailed interpretation of your results as well as customized recommendations, please schedule a consultation with a Village Green nutritionist.
Sample Results
Sample Pyrrole Results
Please Note:
All tests are authorized and reviewed by a physician from our partner laboratory.
Questions?
Email a Village Green nutritionist or call 800-869-9159.
*Blood testing services are available only in the continental United States and Anchorage, AK. Not available in New York or New Jersey.
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