This is a relevant article on the post-Easter chocolate binge time… sorry!

In 2022, I wrote an article about a US investigation finding high levels of heavy metals in some brands of chocolate, mainly being lead and cadmium (Consumer Reports, 2022).

Cadmium and Lead are toxic "heavy metals", tending to increase in levels in the body over time due to poor detoxing of these metals from the body (CDC, 2022a). Cadmium can damage the kidneys to cause kidney disease, done damage and fragile bones, and is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing chemical).

​Lead can be stored in body tissues such as bone, to cause bone conditions, and in the brain to cause headaches, brain fog, mental health conditions, and brain damage. Lead can also damage the kidneys, and can cross the placenta to damage foetuses, or cause stillbirths and infertility. Lead is also a neurotoxin, being damaging to the nervous system, the nerves, and the brain. Nerve damage from lead can cause neuropathy, or loss of nerve function, numbness and tingling of hands and feet. Lead is also suspected of being a carcinogen (CDC, 2022b).

See the link for more details of the Consumer Reports investigation and which US brands and products are affected:
www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/

Heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, but others like mercury, aluminium, arsenic and others, cause many different symptoms and issues in several different ways:

1. These heavy metals are neurotoxic, being damaging to the nervous system and brain function. This can cause mental health symptoms, and can affect brain function and moods and behaviours, including autism disorders
2. Heavy metals cause a lot of oxidative damage to the body’s organs and cells. The brain is the most susceptible part of the body to oxidative damage, leading to a lot of symptoms
3. Heavy metals have antagonistic effects against other nutritional minerals (and some vitamins too), causing increased excretion of these nutrients, and causing nutrient deficiencies. Lead, for example, causes deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, selenium, sulphur, and vitamin C. These deficiencies will cause a LOT of symptoms.

Heavy metals in chocolate were not only found in the cheaper brands, but also in the more expensive and allegedly higher quality brands, including some Swiss chocolate companies such as Lindt.

After these findings in the US, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Lindt chocolate company, when heavy metals were found in their products. Lindt chocolates are typically more expensive and their marketing is based on having quality ingredients and being a better quality brand. Better quality heavy metals than other brands, perhaps?!

Apparently Lindt knew their chocolate contained heavy metals, but didn’t do anything to rectify this. Hence the lawsuit. I wonder if this could be why there was almost no Lindt easter chocolate in my local shops this year? There’s normally a ton of the distinctive Lindt bunny chocolates in various sizes and flavours, but I only saw a small number of one size and type. And they were more than double the price of previous years.
How would you know if you have any heavy metals? You can get a HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) test, to look for heavy metals, and other nutritional minerals, in your hair. This is a service which I offer, including the analysis of the HTMA reports, and making any recommendations if needed.

Heavy metals are a common cause of many conditions and diagnoses, including the autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, mental health conditions, headaches and migraines, brain fog, poor memory and concentration, neuropathy and nerve issues, and more. Hence testing for these heavy metals and implementing a treatment plan to detoxify these heavy metals can reduce the levels and improve health in many ways.

Stay healthy!

References:
Body and Soul. (2025) Retrieved 20th April 2025 from https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/.../4873e3f37de56295b11637...

CDC. (2022a). Cadmium Factsheet. Retrieved 21st December 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Cadmium_FactSheet.html

CDC. (2022b). Lead Factsheet. Retrieved 21st December 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead/health.html

Consumer Reports. (2022). Lead and Cadmium Could Be in Your Dark Chocolate. Retrieved 21st December 2022 from www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/

​A new study published November 2025 investigated the diets and other factors of many people with ADHD in 150 countries over a 28-year period, and found some interesting factors regarding some causes or treatments which can help to reduce ADHD symptoms.

The study acknowledges that food choices and nutrients are critical factors in neurological conditions, and this study looked into the individual macronutrients of protein, carbs and fats with ADHD prevalence and prevalence (Ni, Senior, Raubenheimer, Simpson & Nanan, 2025).

Some of the findings of this study included:
1. Increasing carbohydrates (from sugar, grains, fruits etc) in the diet increases prevalence of ADHD symptoms
2. Increasing dietary fats reduces ADHD symptoms and prevalence, as healthy fats can help with improved nerve function and omega-3 fats can reduce neuro-inflammation which can drive ADHD symptoms
3. Increased plant-based protein actually increased ADHD symptoms and prevalence, probably due to soy protein which is high in phyto-oestrogens which can affect male hormone balance and is known to increase ADHD in other studies. Animal proteins contain a larger range of amino acids which are beneficial in making the neurotransmitters needed for good mental health balance.

In summary, reducing carbohydrates and increasing healthy fats can be protective of ADHD symptoms and can reduce incidences, as can increased animal food based proteins. I have seen similar improvements and reduction of ADHD symptoms in many patients or children who have improved their diets and macronutrient percentages.

Improving the quality and variety of foods can improve nutrient density, reduce nutrient deficiencies, reduce digestive system symptoms which are common in ADHD, reduce food intolerances, reduce inflammation and oxidative damage which can affect brain function, improve sleep, and other health benefits.

Your food choice or nutrition intake isn’t the only driver of ADHD symptoms and mood or emotional dysregulation issues, but it’s a good start! There are many other root causes and factors involved in this complex chronic condition, which can be different in each person, and all root causes and factors need to be identified and addressed in each person in order to get further reduction of symptoms.

If ADHD symptoms can be reduced with changes in your diet, or macronutrient levels, or even with improved levels of vitamins and minerals, then ADHD is not genetic! There can be some genetic predisposition, which this study suggests, but environmental factors such as nutrition, heavy metals, toxins and chemicals, stress and trauma, and more, are modifiable and preventable factors which can be addressed to reduce and even reverse ADHD. There’s a lot which can be done to improve the health and quality of life of people with ADHD (and their families)! This is what I can help you with!

Stay healthy!

References:

​Ni, D., Senior, A., Raubenheimer, D., Simpson, S.J. & Nanan, R. (2025). Food environment with high plant-based fat supply is associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) protection: a global study with more than 150 countries. Frontiers in Nutrition. 12:1658228. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1658228

I’ve come across two published studies which are concerning, but they give some clues and science into the causes and development of Autism conditions (and likely also ADHD).

Both studies looked into the levels of vitamin B12 and folate, being two of the main B-vitamins, in both pregnant women and newborn babies, and the relationship to the development of Autism.

One study (Raghavan et. al., 2018) investigated 1257 mother-child pairs to find out the mother’s multivitamin intake during the pregnancy, and testing blood levels of vitamin B12 and folate in the mother and baby 2-3 days after birth. Approximately 86-90% of women in the study were taking multivitamin supplements. This study found that even low to moderate intake of multivitamin supplementation was associated with an increased risk of Autism development. High blood levels of folate was found to have a 250% increased risk of ASD development. Similarly, very high vitamin B12 levels was also found to be associated with a similar level of ASD development. The highest risk of development of Autism conditions were in mothers who had elevated levels of folate AND vitamin B12.

A second study (Raghavan et. al., 2020) confirmed the previous study’s findings that mothers with high folate levels had a 200% risk of development of Autism and/or ADHD in their babies, but when combined with similarly high vitamin B12 levels, the risk of Autism/ADHD development jumped dramatically to 1,760% compared to mothers with optimal folate and B12 levels. This was confirmed when the baby’s cord blood were analysed, showing when there were high unmetabolised folic acid levels, there was a 200% increase of Autism risk, or 1000% increase in African-American babies. The authors ruled out that the high folate levels were not from natural folate from plant foods, but only from folic acid in supplements and/or fortified or processed foods.

How is this possible, when vitamin B12 and especially folate (as folic acid) are highly recommended and even prescribed by doctors to prevent neural tube defects in babies?

There are a number of reasons for these findings. The main issue is that while vitamin B12 and folate are absolutely essential vitamins for DNA replication, and the growth and development of the foetus and babies, there’s a huge difference between these vitamins in foods vs. in supplements. And some folic acid products being prescribed by doctors contain 10-20 times the normal dose of folate! This can be far too much and exceeds the body’s ability to metabolise the folate and B12, to cause very high and toxic levels of folic acid in the mother’s body (and likely in the foetus too).

Pregnant women, or those trying to conceive, are usually recommended to take a high dose folic acid supplement, either on its own or in a pregnancy multivitamin. But folic acid is not folate!

Folic acid is a completely different and synthetic form of folate, which isn’t found in foods. It’s found in fortified wheat flour by law, and hence in breads and bakery products, processed foods, pasta, and more foods, and often in cheap over the counter multivitamin supplements. Folic acid isn’t metabolised in the same way in your body as natural folate from foods, and is a much slower process. Regular or high doses of folic acid can then build up in the mother and foetus/baby to high levels. This can cause an issue called “Unmetabolised Folic Acid Syndrome”, which can cause a number of symptoms including mental health issues.

Other studies have found that folic acid can actually BLOCK the folate receptors on cell walls, to further slow down the metabolism of natural folate from foods. But because metabolism of folic acid is slower and further exacerbated by folic acid blocking the use of natural folate, the high levels of folate when blood is tested, is actually a functional deficiency of folate! Having a deficiency of folate, even with supplementing and especially from folic acid, can then CAUSE neural tube defects and Autism conditions.

If the mother or baby has any of the MTHFR genetic variants, this can reduce the metabolism of folate even more, to cause higher levels of unmetabolized folic acid which can further contribute to a functional deficiency of folate (and B12) and increase the development of Autism and ADHD conditions.
Similarly to folic acid, there are poorly bioavailable synthetic forms of vitamin B12, especially of cyanocobalamin, which as its name suggests is a cyanide form of vitamin B12, where cyanide is a byproduct of the body’s metabolism of this form of B12. Again it’s a slower metabolic process than natural B12 from animal based foods. Cyanocobalamin is used in cheap retail multivitamin supplements, and should be avoided as should folic acid.

Having functional deficiencies of folate and/or vitamin B12 causes reduced methylation functions in the body, which can increase levels of homocysteine, a toxic metabolic byproduct, which can cause high levels of oxidative damage in the body. The brain and nerves are the most sensitive parts of the body to oxidative damage, which can affect moods, behaviours and mental health. Hence this is another mechanism for folate and B12 deficiencies contributing to the development of ASD conditions.

What’s the solution then?

There are a number of things which can be done to reduce the risks of Autism/ASD/ADHD conditions, but the first is the avoid intake of folic acid in supplements, fortified and processed foods, and avoid the cyanocobalamin form of vitamin B12 too. There are other better and safer forms of these B-vitamins, if supplementation is needed or if dietary intake is inadequate or if the digestive system needs support.
As per other articles I’ve written on Autism, ASD conditions and ADHD, having a folate and/or vitamin B12 deficiency isn’t the only cause or factor in the development of these conditions. But these deficiencies ARE a very common cause in ASD conditions, in my clinical experience. It would be very rare for a child, teen or adult with Autism or ASD conditions or ADHD to not be deficient in folate and/or vitamin B12 in their diet, or blood test results showing them as not being deficient in these important B-vitamins, or having very high levels which suggests that their use is being blocked to cause the same symptoms as a deficiency.

If someone has Autism or ADHD, the information and findings from these studies suggests that the incidences of Autism conditions could be reduced and prevented with better forms of these essential B-vitamins, especially in pre-conception or during, or even that symptoms in those with Autism/ADHD conditions could be reduced to improve their mental health and quality of life!

These studies show the importance of getting tested for B-vitamin status prior to trying to conceive and get pregnant, as well as during the pregnancy, and getting good nutritional advice from experts (ie, NOT from doctors), and using better forms of the B-vitamins or pregnancy supplements during these times.
Stay healthy!

References:

Raghavan, R., Riley, A. W., Volk, H., Caruso, D., Hironaka, L., Sices, L., Hong, X., Wang, G., Ji, Y., Brucato, M., Wahl, A., Stivers, T., Pearson, C., Zuckerman, B., Stuart, E. A., Landa, R., Fallin, M. D., & Wang, X. (2018). Maternal Multivitamin Intake, Plasma Folate and Vitamin B12 Levels and Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk in Offspring. Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, 32(1), 100–111. DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12414

​Raghavan, R., Selhub, J., Paul, L., Ji, Y., Wang, G., Hong, X., Zuckerman, B., Fallin, M. D., & Wang, X. (2020). A prospective birth cohort study on cord blood folate subtypes and risk of autism spectrum disorder. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 112(5), 1304–1317. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa208

A scientist in the USA has proposed a new model or theory on the development and progression of Autism in a recent published study.
​
While autism has been studied for a century, no single cause to autism has been found. The operative word here is “single”, as almost all published studies and research into Autism and related conditions, including ADHD, are only trying to find if ONE factor is a cause to Autism. But the studies almost always don’t find that one link is a cause in the majority of people, then the studies conclude that the one factor isn’t related to Autism, and this becomes a public belief. And that possible cause becomes forgotten.

As a result, Autism is believed by many to just be genetic, as a default fallback explanation, as there seems to be no other proven reason.

But like other symptoms and conditions or diagnoses, there is always more than one root cause or factor in contributing to the development and progression of health conditions. But it is very difficult to prove using scientific principles in published studies that more than one factor, or a combination of factors, are the causes of something like autism.

In this very recent (January 2026) new study, the author suggests that there’s a 3-stage or a “3-hit” model for the development of autism in children (Naviaux, 2025), being:

1. A genetic predisposition – as while there are hundreds of genes linked to Autism, not all children who have these genes will actually develop Autism. Hence it’s not just genetic. These genetic traits make them more susceptible and sensitive to environmental triggers, including a hypersensitivity to stress.
2. Environmental triggers – environmental factors are known to cause health issues and to also trigger genetic issues through the concept of epigenetics. Such environmental factors include pollution and toxicity, metabolic issues and other stressors.
3. Chronic exposure and hypersensitivity to stresses and other environmental factors, including toxicities, which diverts a child’s necessary brain development instead toward having to deal with the chronic stresses and other environmental toxicities.

One of the claims in this study is that up to half of autism/ADHD cases can be reduced or even prevented from supporting the mother prior to and during pregnancy, and supporting the baby in early childhood. The author of the study says “Autism is not the inevitable result of any one gene or exposure, but the outcome of a series of biological interactions, many of which can be modified”.

It might be controversial to some people that autism/ADHD can be prevented, but if we do know what the environmental triggers or toxicities are, we can reduce exposure or even eliminate those triggers, which can in turn reduce or prevent the autism/ADHD symptoms! And we DO know what those environmental triggers and toxicities are! That’s what I look for in my consultations and investigations in children or adults with autism/ADHD.

For more information on how I can help with Autism conditions or ADHD, please check out the rest of my website or use the Bookings link to book a consultation!

Stay healthy!
 
References:
Naviaux, R.K. (2026). A 3-hit metabolic signaling model for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Mitochondrion, 87:102096. DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2025.102096

Have you ever had blood tests done and your doctor/GP said "everything is normal" with your results?!
It's not possible to have "normal" results if you have symptoms or conditions!

​Or have you not had any blood testing recommended or done for Autism/ADHD diagnoses? If you haven’t, then you are majorly missing out on finding key factors which are causing your symptoms and health issues.
As a Clinical Nutritionist and Naturopath specialising in mental health conditions and ASD/ADHD disorders, I know what the possible root causes and factors which can contribute to the development of these conditions.

I recently posted an article on FB about a patient case where I found nutrient deficiencies and other factors in blood pathology testing, which were contributing to the patient’s mental health symptoms (severe depression, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder). A critic wrote sarcastically that it was a new idea that I thought that there was such a thing as getting blood tests for mental health conditions! If you are used to the medical world of doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists for mental health or neurological conditions, it may well be a surprise to see any doctor requesting blood tests for these issues, as their usual go-to would be to just prescribe medications for the particular diagnosis. A good thing I’m not a doctor then! Medications try to just hide the mental health symptoms, but they don’t often do a very good job of that, because they always introduce awful side effects.

My focus as a Nutritionist and Naturopath is to find all the root causes of someone’s symptoms and conditions, to put together a personalised treatment plan to address all the root causes and other factors too. This applies to any symptoms, conditions or diagnoses, or combination of these in each person. Including mental health diagnoses and Autism/ADHD conditions and symptoms.

Blood pathology tests are a great investigative tool to help find nutrient deficiencies which can affect neurotransmitter production, and contribute to mood and behaviour issues, as well as other common ASD/ADHD issues of low energy, digestive symptoms, low immune function, skin rashes or eczema, sensitivities, and more. I’ve never yet seen anyone with Autism/ADHD without one or more nutrient deficiencies, and other factors which are all contributing to the development and progression of these conditions.

Blood tests can also find other metabolic factors which can contribute to Autism/ADHD symptoms including anaemia, low thyroid function, inflammation, oxidative damage.

Finding these nutrient deficiencies, metabolic factors, and heavy metals, can explain your symptoms and conditions, but can all be treated to reduce symptoms, reverse and clear symptoms, and improve quality of life and long-term health!

Contact me to get these tests done, or a second opinion on your test results, using better and more holistic pathology analysis techniques, and a personalised pathology analysis report!

​The Queensland government, together with Australia’s professional association for General Practitioners (the RACGP), announced in November 2025 that every GP in Qld will be able to diagnose and treat adults with ADHD from 1st December 2025!
This follows from Qld being the first state in Aus to allow GPs to diagnose and treat children and teenagers with ADHD (as opposed to patients previously needing to be referred to a psychologist, psychiatrist or paediatrician for diagnosis and “treatment”.
But is this really a good thing?!
Absolutely NOT, for the following reasons:

1. The GPs get no additional training to be able to diagnose their patients with ADHD!
2. How the hell is a GP going to be properly able to diagnose anyone with ADHD in their usual 5-minute consultations?! Oh, that’s right, they already do… I’ve seen a number of patients who were diagnosed with ADHD (well before the Qld government and RACGP allowed this) within their usual 5-minute sessions. No screening questionnaires were done, no testing was done, no questioning of teachers or others, just an observational diagnosis in less than 5 minutes!
3. What is the GP going to do for ADHD? Just prescribe questionable medications, that’s all! They won’t need to refer patients to more specialist practitioners who DO have more time to diagnose ADHD and recommend therapies other than just medications
4. GPs are already stretched to the limit with the numbers of patients they see each day. Waiting times to see a GP are so long now, that they are booked out now a number of weeks in advance.

I am surprised that the RACGP is in favour of this move, as GPs are “generalist” practitioners and not specialists.
The only benefits I see from this plan, is that the waiting time for diagnosis will be much quicker. But too quick, after no investigations. And cheaper, with many assessment clinics charging thousands of dollars for a diagnosis.
Many GPs and doctors had some interesting and negative opinions of this plan on the RACGP website, with comments such as the following:

1. This is not a good idea without any additional training
2. ADHD is a complex condition which is easy to recognise but difficult to diagnose and treat, especially without additional training
3. I don’t want this. I disagree with the over-diagnosis and over-medication of ADHD, especially in functional and competent adults
4. The threshold for diagnosis and treatment is too low now. Many people want to have ADHD to get access to stimulant medications
5. I do not believe there has been any additional training added as part of medical student or GP training to safely allow this to happen
6. Why are we not more concerned by the “soaring demand for ADHD diagnosis and management”? I think there is a broader issue here than just access to diagnosis, and what is almost invariable pharmacologic intervention. I am concerned that there is an ever increasing number of children and adults requiring an ever increasing range of psychoactive medications to function. I am also concerned that as a GP, I am required to be increasingly complicit in this increasing demand. There is a major problem here.

As I said to a patient today, going from a quick diagnosis to prescribed medications isn’t going to help someone with ADHD to getting their health back. What just doesn’t happen in this medical process is testing and investigations to find what is causing the ADHD in each person.
There are ALWAYS root causes to ADHD in children and adults, and it’s also always a combination of a number of causes and factors, which can be different in each person. To truly reduce ADHD symptoms and its other related symptoms, all the root causes and factors need to be identified and treated! This can reduce the ADHD symptoms, and even reverse the ADHD diagnosis. Without relying on stimulant medications and all their side effects.
This is why I offer a personalised, root-cause focused treatment approach for ADHD and related mental health and neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions. More info on this on my new website – www.adhdnaturopath.com.au
 
Stay healthy!
 
References:
RACGP. (2025). ‘Game changer’: Queensland GPs allowed to diagnose and treat ADHD. Retrieved 2ns January 2025 from https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/game-changer-all-queensland-gps-to-diagnose-and-tr

A lot of people with Autism/ADHD have sensitivity issues which can affect their physical health, mental health, body functions, and quality of life. This is quite a common finding I see in clinical practice. Sometimes health issues like sensitivities can have a very simple explanation and a very simple solution!

A sensitivity, as the name suggests, is related to your senses, such as of smell and taste, and more. People often refer the sensitivities as “intolerances” which is not the same thing. The sensitivities result from internal reactions to external sources, through our senses.

People with Autism/ADHD and related conditions can often have sensitivities to:

- Sight, including of sunlight and bright light – causing watery eyes, irritation, headaches and migraines, and the need to wear sunglasses, which causes even more health issues (but that’s a topic for another article!)
- Smells – of strong smells causing irritation, runny nose, headaches and migraines, and nausea or even vomiting (including morning sickness!)
- Sounds – loud noises causing shock and stress, ear pain, tinnitus (annoying ringing in the ears) and more
- Touch – of physical touching, or irritation to different fabrics, materials and surfaces, tight-fitting clothes, and tags on clothes, shoes etc
- Taste – changes in the taste of foods, of either no taste, or being repulsed by the taste of foods, and even the feeling of textures of foods can be off-putting and causing food restrictions (and nutrient deficiencies)
- Alcohol – having a stronger and quicker response to alcohol than others
- Medications - having a stronger and quicker response to some medications than others
- Emotional sensitivities – responding quickly and excessively to even minor stresses or emotions.

This is why I always ask questions about sensitivity issues in my initial consultations with patients! The more and stronger the sensitivities there are in someone, it gives me big clues as to what might be causing their sensitivities and other symptoms too.

Sensitivities are much more prevalent and severe in people with ASD and ADHD, and often affecting more than one of their senses. Typical sensitivities in ASD/ADHD include being sensitive to the sun or light (and preferring to be in the dark), a poor sense of taste and smell, or hyper-reacting to tastes and smells, sensitive to loud or sudden noises such as in schools or shopping centres, food texture issues preventing eating of many foods, and other reactions.

The over-stimulation of the senses bombards the nerves and the nervous system (Attitude Mag, 2025). This in turn causes so much information being sent to the brain and overloads it, causing an inability to concentrate or focus on important tasks, the person becoming overwhelmed quickly, and having an initial feeling of plenty of energy (seen as hyperactivity) but burning out quickly to fatigue. Combine this hyperstimulation with an inability to calm, and you have many of the characteristics of ASD/ADHD!

The sensory overload to the brain can also contribute to the inability to calm the brain and nervous system, and can often be diagnosed as Sensory Processing Disorder, another common co-morbid diagnosis in many people with Autism/ADHD.

It's not particularly well known that ONE major nutrient deficiency can affect all our senses! This nutrient deficiency can cause dysfunction in our senses, from reduced function to hypersensitivity.

That nutrient deficiency is the essential mineral of zinc!

Of course, zinc isn’t the only nutrient deficiency in ASD/ADHD, but it is extremely common in these conditions, and it has a huge impact on ASD/ADHD symptoms. For example, a zinc deficiency can cause other Autism/ADHD symptoms including:

1. Affecting stomach function – to cause reduced digestion. And leading to reduced nutrient absorption and other nutrient deficiencies. This can also lead to digestive symptoms of reflux, indigestion, heartburn, gas, bloating, and constipation or diarrhoea
2. Anaemia and iron deficiency – zinc is needed for protein metabolism and iron metabolism. Anaemia is extremely common in those with ASD/ADHD in approximately 80% of cases in my experience
3. Neurotransmitter and hormone imbalances – zinc is needed to make the neurotransmitters and other hormones too, therefore low zinc can affect moods and behaviours and mental health
4. Sleep issues – zinc is needed to make melatonin, the sleep hormone, hence a zinc deficiency can affect sleep
5. Skin issues and joint issues– zinc is needed for skin and connective tissue with collagen production. Low zinc can cause poor skin integrity, rashes and lesions, growing pains, hypermobile joints, all common with ASD/ADHD
6. Low immune system function – zinc is needed for production of the white blood cells for your immune system and protection from infections. Low zinc causes reduced immunity and increased or more frequent infections
7. Thyroid function – zinc is needed for optimal thyroid function and to make the thyroid hormones which control your whole body’s metabolic rate and all organ and cell functions. It’s very common to see many people with ASD/ADHD with low functioning thyroid, and this causing a lot of their symptoms.

​Correcting a zinc deficiency can therefore reduce all of these issues, and give other benefits to your health too, and can greatly reduce the Autism/ADHD symptoms.

This should be the biggest shock to people with Autism/ADHD or parents of children with these conditions. Or one of the biggest omissions in testing or treatment for people and children with Autism/ADHD.

But you can’t or shouldn’t just go out and get some zinc if you have ASD or ADHD! You need to get this tested first, along with other blood tests which are related to low zinc levels, such as checking for anaemia and immune function, iron levels, thyroid function, stomach function, and more. This will help with getting a baseline of your zinc levels to check against later, as well as helping with your likely dosing needs.

There are also some tricks with taking zinc, such as the therapeutic doses, the forms or types of zinc (ie zinc oxide, zinc picolinate, zinc citrate, zinc amino acid chelate, or others) and/or from foods, as some of these forms are useless and not bio-available, and some are much better! The timing and dosing of the zinc is very important to reduce possible side effects.

This is where I can help, with recommending specific testing first, and dietary improvements, and improving digestive system function, and recommending the right form of zinc and dosing for each person.
More more info on this website, including the Bookings page, where I can help you in your journey to reducing your symptoms and improving your health!

References:
Attitude Mag. (2025). My Hypersensitivity Is Real: Why Highly Sensitive People Have ADHD. Retrieved 5th November 2025 from

Part 1 of Autism/ADHD and MTHFR:

On the genetics topic again with Autism and ADHD, to explain why these conditions are mostly nothing to do with them being caused by genetics, and why there are always other factors which cause Autism/ADHD or contribute to their presentation and symptoms.

You may or may not have heard of the MTHFR gene. This is an acronym for Methylene Tetra Hydro Folate Reductase, which is a gene we all have, and in turn produces a protein/enzyme in the body, also called MTHFR. This enzyme is needed for the metabolism of folate (vitamin B9) from its inactive form in foods into the active form of folate, called methylfolate, so your body can use it.

A large percentage of the population, approximately 40%, have a variant to one or both of the main types of MTHFR genes. This is NOT a genetic mutation at all, as mutations are changes to genes being different to what your parents had, or a genetic change within your lifetime, typically due to viruses, chemical toxicities, or radiation. A genetic variant is often a historical change or difference to a gene which is not “normal”, usually due to a single DNA building block/protein being replaced by another. These variants can be passed onto children and their children.

Two of the main MTHFR gene variants occur to the MTHFR C677T and A1298C genes.

The MTHFR genes are also related to energy production, genetic expression, production of neurotransmitters for good mental health balance, and detoxification. Hence any variant to the MTHFR genes can have a minor, moderate or even a severe impact on these body functions. All of these functions are typically compromised in people with Autism/ADHD.

But why are Autism/ADHD conditions not genetic, if they can be related to genetic variants to the MTHFR genes?!

Because of epigenetics. This is the science of how your environmental factors can interact with your genes to turn them on or turn them off to contribute to your health or to cause disease symptoms and conditions. Hence you may have a genetic predisposition to certain symptoms or health issues, but only if triggered by your epigenetic/environmental factors. These include stress, toxicities, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation and oxidative damage, and more. Or if you do all the right things and reduce these factors, even though you might have the genetic variants and their predisposition to symptoms, you can effectively turn off the genetic variants and reduce or eliminate your risk of their related symptoms and conditions.

Hence your epigenetic/environmental factors are far more responsible for your health (or your symptoms and conditions) than your genetics alone! This is why Autism/ADHD is not normal at all, not caused by genetics alone, and why when the epigenetic/environmental factors or triggers are reduced, avoided or fixed, the symptoms and conditions of Autism/ADHD can reduce, or be cleared and reversed.

You can test for your MTHFR status with a genetic test, which reports on whether you have none, one or both variants of the MTHFR gene, and also whether you have one or both copies of the variation from both your parents. However, there are limitations to getting the MTHFR genetic test, with one being that it’s not the only test which is needed to be done to find the causes or results of the MTHFR variant contributing to your health issues. The tests needed can differ from person to person, depending on your symptoms and conditions. However, this is something that I can help you with.

See my follow up this article on this topic, with part 2 on issues with the MTHFR variants and Autism/ADHD.

This is Part 2 of my article on MTHFR and Autism/ADHD:
​
This article follows on from my previous article on the MTHFR gene and its relationship to Autism and ADHD conditions.

Many published studies show the links between having the MTHFR genetic variants and Autism/ADHD symptoms and conditions, for a number of reasons:

1. Having an MTHFR variant can cause a functional deficiency of folate, which in turn can affect the metabolism of other vitamins such as B12, B6 and others, thus potentially causing a number of nutrient deficiencies and their related deficiency symptoms
2. MTHFR metabolic issues can affect energy levels, to cause weakness, fatigue, brain fog, poor memory and concentration, which are common in Autism/ADHD
3. MTHFR issues affect the production of hormones and neurotransmitters, to cause mood and behaviour changes, and other mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety, anger and violence and more
4. MTHFR variants can affect detoxification functions, and causing increased toxicity, which can affect brain function to affect moods and behaviours and mental health
5. MTHFR variants reduce the ability of the body to metabolise homocysteine, resulting in increased inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, which in turn affects moods and behaviours and mental health
6. Some MTHFR variants, specifically the C677T variant, are associated with the increased risk of Autism disorders, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia (Li et. al., 2020; Meng et. al., 2022), being serious neurological disorders which are commonly seen along with Autism/ADHD
7. The MTHFR A1298C variant is also related to Bipolar Disorder and ADHD, but not Autism disorders
8. Some MTHFR variants can increase the risks of, or worsen, heart and circulation issues.

Studies show that there is a link to having the MTHFR variants with these neurodevelopmental and neurological conditions, which includes Autism and ADHD, and therefore related to the metabolism of folate (and vitamin B12, B6 and others) (Meng et. al., 2022). Folate from foods, which the MTHFR gene metabolises, is needed for the development and function of the nervous system and the brain, hence the importance of your foods and nutrition for preventing and even treating Autism/ADHD! Or on the other hand, poor food choices and nutrient deficiencies can contribute to mental health symptoms and Autism/ADHD. Folate is particularly needed for DNA replication when cells divide and create new cells during periods of growth and development, especially in pregnancy for a foetus, or in the growing childhood years.

Sadly a common recommendation from doctors is for women who are trying to conceive, or pregnant women, to take high doses of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida, without actually checking the MTHFR genetic status of the woman first. Folic acid is NOT the same as folate from foods!

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate in all non-organic wheat flour based products, processed foods, and in cheap (and nasty) supplements. Metabolising folic acid in the body is a much slower process than from natural folate in foods, which can create a deficiency of methylfolate (the active form the body uses) when it’s needed. If you have any of the MTHFR genetic variants, this will compound the problem of metabolising folic acid (and natural folate), to further slow down the body’s use of methylfolate, creating more of an issue of a deficiency of methylfolate, and leading to its related symptoms. Even worse, is that folic acid from wheat flour products, processed foods and supplements, can actually BLOCK the folate receptors on the cells, to even further slow down the ability of cells to use the methylfolate. Hence folic acid can make MTHFR related symptoms and conditions MUCH worse, including in those with Autism/ADHD and related other conditions.

But what do children and people with Autism/ADHD like to eat?! Lots and lots of beige foods of breads, bakery products, pasta, cereals, wheat flour crumbed chicken nuggets, and processed foods – ALL very high in folic acid! And you wonder why they have mood and behaviour issues, mental health symptoms, and Autism/ADHD.

Folic acid isn’t just a problem in children or people with MTHFR genetic variants, or with Autism/ADHD. Folic acid still slows down the metabolism of natural folate in everyone, but having an MTHFR issue makes it several times worse.

Folic acid must really be avoided by everyone!

There are, of course, other causative factors to Autism/ADHD conditions than someone’s MTHFR status. But having an MTHFR variant can contribute in many ways to the mood and behaviour issues and other symptoms of Autism/ADHD.

Stay healthy!

References:

Li, Y., Qiu, S., Shi, J., Guo, Y., Li, Z., Cheng, Y., & Liu, Y. (2020). Association between MTHFR C677T/A1298C and susceptibility to autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis. BMC Pediatrics, 20, 449. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02330-3

Meng, X., Zheng, J. L., Sun, M. L., Lai, H. Y., Wang, B. J., Yao, J., & Wang, H. (2022). Association between MTHFR (677C>T and 1298A>C) polymorphisms and psychiatric disorder: A meta-analysis. PloS one, 17 (7), e0271170. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271170

While boys and males are more traditionally diagnosed with ADHD, in recent times more females and adult women are now being diagnosed with ADHD. Some people claim that this is because of increased awareness, improved testing and/or reduced stigma of the ADHD diagnosis, but is it really?

If a particular condition or symptom is more common in one gender than the other, it usually suggests that the issue is something to do with sex hormones, at least in part.

With respect to boys with ADHD, due to the larger incidence of ADHD in males, one of the many possible causes is indeed a hormone imbalance. But ironically, it is not due to the higher testosterone hormone in males which is driving the ADHD, but actually lower testosterone and/or higher oestrogen, the female hormone! The opposite sex hormone to what there should be in males.

Males can have a hormone imbalance for a number of different reasons including nutrient deficiencies or excesses, low thyroid function, and environmental toxicities.

Similarly, females with ADHD can have a hormone imbalance too, and the female hormone system is a lot more complicated than for a male! But it’s not higher oestrogen which contributes to ADHD development in females, but again, the opposite sex hormone to what there should be – high testosterone!

Having a high level of the wrong sex hormone in some males and females can be a contributing factor to ADHD in some males and females. Because of questionable diets (of excesses and deficiencies), along with increased stress in the COVID times, and increased use of technology and social media by children and teens, has contributed more to the recent large increase in ADHD incidences in both males and females. In a previous study, which I wrote an article on, found that these were the causes of the increased incidence, and nothing to do with improved awareness or more or better testing that some people believe.

Obviously having a hormone imbalance is not the only cause of ADHD in either males or females, as there are many other known root causes and factors to ADHD development and symptoms. To help reduce ADHD symptoms and conditions, improve mental health and behaviours, improve quality of life, prevent worsening symptoms, and even reverse the condition, the causes and factors in each person with ADHD must be found and treated individually. This is what I can do!

For more information on ADHD or how I can help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in your or your children/family, please see the other pages on this website or book in for a consultation.