tricky. “Megan, I want us to create a list of suspect foods that may be triggering Sam’s seizures. Then I want you to elimi- nate these foods from Sam's diet. We can develop a unique nutrition program specifically for his health needs. Are you open to that?” “If you really think this will make a difference, let’s do it!” Megan promised. I smiled back at her, sharing her en- thusiasm. “Let’s start by removing foods from his diet that contain the excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate. Foods highest in these stimulating amino acids are soy, grains, legumes, seeds, peanuts and dairy,” I watched for her reaction. With wide eyes, Megan repeated,
“soy, grains, legumes, seeds, peanuts and dairy.” She was taking notes and ex- plained, “I feed both Sam and his sister lots of grains and dairy. Sam’s favorite lunch is peanut butter on white bread! I though soy was good for you?” “Most people don’t realize that 80-
90% of soy foods in this country are now genetically modified and that is a prob- lem we are only beginning to under- stand,” I explained. “In addition, I encour- age you to eliminate processed foods from Sam's diet, products that contain preservatives like MSG, food colorings, and high-fructose corn syrup. High- fructose corn syrup is a sugar substitute found in many processed foods. Mercury is used, too, in the production of high- fructose corn syrup. And now, in all types of food with high-fructose corn syrup, low levels of mercury are being discovered. This is really scary because, even at low levels, mercury can damage a developing brain and nervous system.” “I didn’t realize all of this,” said Me-
gan. “So what can I feed him?” “Let’s create a unique program spe- cifically for Sam. Optimum organic whole food nutrition is the foundation for creating Sam’s true state of health and wellness. Begin by making sure he has nutrient-dense grass-fed animal protein at each meal. There are great local sources of organic beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, and eggs. Seafood such as wild- caught salmon, mackerel, sardines, tila- pia, and mountain trout will help raise his magnesium levels. So will brown rice, corn and rye – make sure you choose non-genetically modified brands, look for a label that says, ‘gmo-free.’ With which-
Natural Triad Magazine March 2011 35
ever meat you choose, serve an array of raw or slightly steamed vegetables: beets and beet greens, collard greens, kale, spinach, bok choy, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, onions, garlic, kelp, pumpkin, celery and antioxidant- rich berries,” I suggested. “Shop at farm- ers’ markets and stay around the perim- eter of your grocery store.” “So, organic grass-fed meats, lots of
vegetables, and avoid soy, peanuts, and high-fructose corn syrup,” Megan was taking lots of notes. I smiled again, and nodded, knowing her notes, along with the packet of information I’d give her before she left, would give her the tools
she needed to make better food choices not only for her son, but her entire fam- ily.
“We all also need a healthy daily dose of essential fats. Great sources are coconut oil, coconut milk, olive oil and ghee. Coconut contains a wide variety of vitamins including B1, B2, B3, B6, C, and E along with folic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc and potassium; growing bodies like Sam’s need the nutrients. The essential fats will help protect his nervous system as his body tries to repair itself on a cellular level. Coconut oil offers a number of benefits from antimicrobial substances,
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