Infections During Pregnancy May Help Autism Develop — and Scientists Are Finally Figuring Out Why

September 14, 2017

Scientists have long suspected that a pregnant mother’s immune system may play a part in triggering a propensity for autism in her developing baby. Now, according to Popular Science, they believe a certain type of bacteria in the gut may play a part in this. While the present studies have only been done in mice and are too early to bridge to humans, researchers say their experiments mimic severe viral infections that can occur in pregnant humans.

These researchers didn’t exactly elaborate on the gut microbiome of humans, but study after study in all fields of medicine are continually pointing toward the gut when it comes to human health. Fortunately, you don’t need a doctor’s prescription to restore and maintain your own gut microbiome. And if you’re pregnant, you can even protect and nourish your baby's microbiome, before and during birth.

For example, one of the worst things you can do during pregnancy is take an antibiotic. Young children also need to be shielded from antibiotics, as they devastate the microbiome. Other medications best avoided include antibacterial products containing triclosan and proton pump inhibitors. Optimizing your vitamin D levels between 40 and 60 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) is also important, as recent studies have shown that 40 to 60 percent of preterm births are prevented by raising pregnant women’s vitamin D to a level of 40 ng/mL.

Sugar also has a profound effect not only on your gut microbiome, but your growing baby’s, as it affects the growth of bacteria in both your guts. Therefore, eliminating excess sugars from your diet should be paramount in your healthy eating plan.

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