Cod liver oil Hi, I am new here, but have read on some interesting diets to help autistic children. I know I should have more info about it. I have read somewhere on line that some doctors are using cod liver oil to help patients with autism. Just google cod liver and autism. Hope it helps even one person   John Hi John,  I also recently posted a question about fish oil.  Specifically Coromega, an omega-3 fish oil supplement but I didn't get many responses.  (I think I accidentally posted it in Diets or something).  Anyway, I think it's worth a shot for our kids.  I've been taking it myself and am thinking about having my 8 yr old NT dd take it as well.  As for Ansley..........she has a "6th sense" about meds or vitamins.  I can't figure out how to get her to take it.  Even if I disguise it in yogurt or something, she can smell it a mile away!!! We did try cod liver oil for a few weeks. At that time DS, was having some major stimming with his peripheral vision and I was hoping it would help. Unfortunately it did not. Some people swear by it though! When chooseing a Cod Liver Oil it's important to choose one made by a good company that removes any residue of mercury. Nordic Naturals is a popular choice. Be sure you do not give you child too much Vitamin A- that can be harmful. DS did not like the Cod liver oil- so I supplement his diet with omega 3 rich eggs and soy milk that's enriched with omega-3 ( by Silk ). I don't know if it's helping but it can't hurt! Maia - Oh I'm so excited about your tips RE eggs and soy milk.  Can you find the eggs at reg. groc. stores or specialty stores?  I always use cage-free eggs anyway -guess I'll need to check the labels!  I don't really want to go through the trouble of administering a supplement if I can add it to their diet naturally.  Again, I'm sure my whole family could benefit from more omega-3 BTW - Tried again w/ Ansley tonight (and I'm pretty tricky) but she said "NNNOOO!!! and flapped her arms and shook her head when the spoon of ice cream w/ the Coromega mixed in was about 3 inches from her mouth!!!   How do they KNOW these things?!? Amy, I get mine from the regular grocery store or whole foods: We buy cage free brown eggs and it usually says on there - "rich in omega-3" or something like that. The enriched soy milk is also at our regular grocery store or whole foods- it's the one in the light blue box. http://www.nordicnaturals.com/direct/Retailproducts.asp Great info about the soymilk.  We use Nordic Naturals, which has a berry flavor that can easily blend into juices.  We have noticed a huge difference in our 3 yr old dd.  She is much more verbal. http://www.cherab.org/information/dietaryeffects/efabasics.h tml#Pro we tried the omega-3 and it was a nightmare to get down him and we saw no real results from him having it so gave up however his older brother who we believe may be mild AS did show a positive response to them and we stopped for awhile (couldn't get hold of it)and saw a differance so we are starting him and Katie back on themLike Jenni, we use Nordic Naturals as well...the berry flavor is VERY easy to hide in juice and we have no probs. getting our son to take it every morning (unless he sees us pouring it in his cup..) We get ours at Whole Foods Market but I would think you could get it at most health food stores. Our doctor did caution us about the brand of fish oil to buy. We were told to buy from a large, reputable dealer because the FDA does not regulate fish oils....someone could claim "mercury free" but they really aren't being regulated so who knows??? Anyway, haven't had a problem with Nordic Naturals. I use a lemon flavored fish oil supplement for my son. He's not wild about it, but he will take it. I do not use CLO for him because of the vitamins A & D in it. He already takes SNT and gets plenty of vitamins A & D that way. We used to use the Coromega, but then found out my son is allergic to eggs, so had to stop using it because it contains egg yolks. I used to chill it and he would take it that way because he said it tasted better cold. Getting essential fatty acids (omega-3s) into our kids is very important. Heck, they are very important as a supplement for us, too. The average American diet is waaaaay too heavy on omega-6s, and this isn't healthy for any of us. We may not always see outwardly what they are doing for our bodies, but the omegas are extremely important in our diet. Like all fats, EFAs provide energy. Their calorific value is similar to other fats and oils but, unlike saturated fats, they have important health roles. In fact, as their name suggest, they are essential and must be consumed regularly as the body has limited storage for them. Both of the important EFA families - omega-6 and omega-3 - are components of nerve cells and cellular membranes. They are converted by the body into eicosanoids, leukotrienes and prostaglandins - all of which are needed on a second-by-second basis by most tissue activities in the body. EFAs are involved in normal physiology, including: regulating pressure in the eye, joints, and blood vessels, and mediating immune response regulating bodily secretions and their viscosity dilating or constricting blood vessels regulating collateral circulation directing endocrine hormones to their target cells regulating smooth muscles and autonomic reflexes being primary constituents of cell membranes regulating the rate of cell division maintaining the fluidity and rigidity of cellular membranes regulating the inflow and outflow of substances to and from cells transporting oxygen from red blood cells to the tissues maintaining proper kidney function and fluid balance keeping saturated fats mobile in the blood stream preventing blood cells from clumping together (blood clots that can be a cause of heart attack and stroke) mediating the release of inflammatory substances from cells that may trigger allergic conditions regulating nerve transmission and communication If the diet is deficient in either omega-6 or omega-3 long-term degenerative illnesses will result. However, because the end product (eg prostaglandin, leukotriene) of EFA metabolism differ slightly but significantly from omega-6 to omega-3, they must be present in balance for optimum health. I take a fish oil supplement everyday and the benefits have been wonderul. My skin is clearer and healthier, my nails and hair are stronger, and my cholesterol has been great (we have a bad family history of high cholesterol). I just feel better and have more energy, too. It didn't happen overnight, or even within a couple of weeks, but after a few months, well....I am amazed at the difference in myself and in my son. For those who can't stomach the stuff, you can sneak some omega-3 into the diet in a 'round about way by using flax seeds and oil in your baking and cooking. The body would need to convert the ALA it gets from the flax into the more desireable EPA and DHA, which isn't exactly efficient, but it is at least something. Ground flax seeds can be added to just about anything and at the most will add a nutty flavor to baked goods and/or cereals. The flax oil can be used to replace the vegetable oil in salad dressings and marinades, on pizza, or in dipping sauces and just about anything else you use oil for, except frying (which isn't good for you anyway). Other excellent sources of ALA are walnuts and walnut oil and dark leafy green vegetables (hide them in soups, stews, meatloafs, and sauces). If your child will eat fish, salmon is an excellent source of omegas, but only if you consume the fat, too. If you buy pre-skinned salmon, usually the gray layer is removed with the skin and that gray layer is the fat layer where all the good stuff is. HTH Vic We also use the nordic naturals Peachy Keen, now we just started the berry keen and he dosen't even notice it in his pear sauce. We did try a Tutti Fruity flavor, oh my goodness you can smell that a mile away. He wouldn't take it.
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