Frankenfoods.

Looking forward to an awesome 10 miler today in the HEAT as it is a blazing 50 degrees here already...at 8am. Hello, January in New England.

But first...Frankenfoods. You know, the stuff they sell in the grocery store and pass off as food to us? The foods they are NOW finding out causes cancer, reproductive issues, and a whole host of other issues in lab rats, but no warning label is put on these foods that we unknowingly ingest? Yep, THAT stuff. But here is what triggered my irritation...

Yesterday, JD went up to ski with his friend. His mom works at the mountain, so it is an awesome set-up. The boys can ski alone, and check in with his mom once in a while, plus they come in and have lunch with her. Well, she very nicely and unknowingly got extra stuff for the boys for lunch- pizza and french fries...both favorites of JD. He brought his own lunch, but also had some pizza and fries. By the time he got home, it had already started. He was peckish and short, having trouble with impulse control, he was starting to get irritable, yelling...by the time his friend left, and I found out what happened, we were bordering meltdown. He was in that *crawling out of your skin* stage, which rapidly led to a complete meltdown, hysterical crying, losing of ones sh*t...good times. Meanwhile, we had to go to dog training class, and I am wondering how the hell I am going to fix this. Luckily I was able to get him reeled in, and we were able to talk, he calmed down, ate something safe, took some enzymes and seemed better. The *fixing* took the better part of 2 hours.

*I*almost had a meltdown. I know I am incredibly lucky that his ASD is not worse. He is in fact, high functioning. I am blessed, as I know that others are not as lucky, and have a much harder road to travel. But, that doesn't mean I am still not suffering. I believe ASD have some genetic players...there are definitely people on both side of our family that have had or do have *syndroms* that fall under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorders, so I am not shocked to have a child on the spectrum. Its a big umbrella. I do get a bit irritated when people tell me he is fine, or they don't *see* what is wrong with him, as if I am crazy, making this up, etc. I live with this child, I have watched him for the past 10 years and even if I didn't have a diagnostic report upwards of 15 pages long detailing exactly what is/isn't wrong with him, I would know there was something wrong. When he was a baby, he didn't like to be held. He wanted to be left alone, prefering to sit alone and take it all in as opposed to being snuggled. He didn't cry alot, but when he did there was NO soothing him. The kid could scream for hours(and did). He was a late talker, but EI said he was *too smart* to have services. He was very mechanical from an early age and liked to have things a certian way.  Then the tantrums started. He was probably around 3 or so and this lasted YEARS...full on, uncontrollable meltdowns that would sometimes require a full body restraint for up to 45 mins...no idea what triggered them, as he could not tell us and we could not figure it out. It was usually something mild, something was out of place, off, etc. He obsessed about everything. Asked the same questions over and over and over. We could not stray from the routine without issue. Noises, smells, foods all became an issue. Crowds and certian situations completely overwhelmed him. We became masters at reading him to know when he had become overstimulated so we could get him home before he lost it (and he often did).  But, because people didn't *see* this, they thought he was fine. People had/have NO idea how hard we worked and still do to make sure he has positive social experiences. We do whatever it takes to keep him from losing it in public- Hubby will take him for a walk, we will leave a place, have him go somewhere by himself to regroup, etc...sometimes we can take him off privately so he melts down with us, and we can get him regrouped and go back to wherever we were...we know he can't help it as he just does not have the same coping mechanisms. Things that seem fine to most people completely overstimulate him. This is just a fact. I find myself very resentful of people who try to insinuate otherwise. Until you have walked a mile in our shoes...

We found out he had a bazillion food allergies, autoimmune stuff, possible Lyme exposure, etc...but it wasn't until he was 7 that we finally had him evaluated by a behavior specialist(MD). That is when we found out. I was happy my MIL could go with me as her silent moral support was priceless(I am hoping she can go to the re-eval with me) She diagnosed him with Autistic Disorder. This is a high functioning cross between Aspergers and Autism. He does not have enough traits of either to be one or the other, but has enough traits of BOTH to be *something*. He also has a learning disability with reading, which is very common with kids on the spectrum.

So, I did what I always do. I researched. I read every book I could get my hands on. And then, we went on. I knew I would still homeschool him despite the Dr. saying he should get into a *program*. I wanted him to have the best shot at a normal life as possible, and for now, I felt like we could give him that. This is not to say we are opposed to any services, its just we don't feel we are at that point yet, and honestly, I know there are people with kids that need those services and monies WAY more than we do and I certinaly do not want to take that from someone who has a higher need. So, for now we manage. I work with him school-wise at whatever level he is at and though he is behind in reading, he is ahead by at least a grade in math, and he is no more difficult to educate than the other 2 kids when he is stable. If he is in a *cycle* yes, it is more of a challenge, but hopefully we are getting a handle on that with diet changes.

Which leads me to my rant...
I am absolutely SEETHING over the fact that our food supply is so f*cked up. I get that MAYBE some peope are not affected by the foods out there(but really, I think they are in denial and unaware...but that is another topic for another day) but for the bulk of people who are predisposed to allergies, who have autoimmune issues(as simple as seasonal allergies, asthma, etc), who are on the spectrum, have MH issues, these frankenfoods we are being fed are making our lives HELL. Does anyone think its odd that the incidence of food allergies has gone up MARKEDLY in the last decade? Why do you think that is? Could it be that our food supply has been altered and now our body does not know what to do with that food? Of course not. Grrr...It pisses me off that a food that SHOULD be safe and harmless, WHEAT for cripes sake, is causing such a severe reaction in my child(and many others). The fact that this is an acceptable practice blows my mind. Do people even realize that genetically modified foods were NEVER tested to see if they were safe for human consumption? And NOW they are finding out that GM corn and wheat by-products cause cancer, reproductive issues, etc? YET PEOPLE CONTINUE TO EAT THEM!!!! Seriously? Are we really that naive? Do you think *it won't happen to me...*...really? When I have to watch my stable child spiral out of control because he had a slice of TOAST....you have NO idea...

Another tidbit about wheat for you...gluten crosses the blood-brain barrier. This means that guten(protien) can get into your brain causing a chemical reaction similar to the effect you would have if you took morphine. For some, this resuts in that *carb coma* you get, or the feel good sensation of eating a bowl of pasta. For others, this will induce a drug-like reaction similar to an addiciton resulting in the need for more and more gluten to feed the need. Hence the *starch and cheese* diet of many kids on the spectrum, and other people who are particularly sensitive. This is scientifically proven, and they took it one step further and gave people Naltrexone to block the opiate receptors in their brains...and the affects of the wheat/gluten was halted. Naltrexone is a drug normally given to people for drug/opiate addiction or when they come into the ER high as kites...it is also the same drug I take. (in a MUCH smaller dose, for my Lyme Disease...interesting.)

But, as long as people continue to choose to ignore the facts, or think this isn't going to affect them, or simply choose to not care, the longer this can go on and the worse it will get. Our food supply will continue to get more and more corrupt until WE stop this. If you don't buy frankenfoods, they can't sell them. If we ONLY buy organic, non-GM, REAL foods, then that is what will be sold. Supply and demand.  Even if you just support companies that don't use GM foods! I am not saying everyone has to jump on the vegan raw food bandwagon(though it wouldn't hurt, lol) but just don't support companies that use GM products. Don't buy non-organic milk or eggs. Don't buy commercial meat. The more people who demand real food, the more companies will have to step up to the plate and supply it.

I get that Monsanto and the like are huge companies. Clearly they do not have children on the spectrum, someone suffering from cancer, autoimmune disease, allergies, etc. if they did, maybe they would care more about the harm they are causing than the  money in their pockets. I hope I am not ever left alone in a room with any one of them. I fear the police would be involved. I am not kidding. Altering a food supply is akin to terrorism in my book. Call me over the top, but years from now when we have a  nation full of people sick from preventable cancers, and autoimmune diseases, food allergies and reactions it could be too late. Oh, but then the big pharma could come in with drugs to save us all! Oh, they things we have to look forwards to. Not.

Here is a list of NON-GM food companies. Print it and take it with you when you go to the store. ONLY buy these products. Also, organic products which are labeled as such cannot knowingly use a GM ingredient so those can be considered genrally safe...though we know even organic wheat is NOT non-GM, under MOST circumstances, org = non-GM. Peaceful protest.

http://www.NonGMOShoppingGuide.com


/end rant...for now.