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

A scientist in the USA has proposed a new model or theory on the development and progression of Autism in a recent published study.
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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

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

ADHD is a common diagnosis for people to have, but there are many controversies about this condition and diagnosis.

Such as:

• In every condition or diagnosis, there will ALWAYS be causes of the condition, why do doctors or other practitioners never seem to try to find the causes of the ADHD, and just prescribe medications for it, forever?
• If ADHD is a real diagnosis, why are there not any biochemical, physiological or blood pathology tests available to prove you have ADHD? (ADHD is just a diagnosis of observation of behaviours, or ticking symptoms on a checklist, which isn't ideal nor accurate)
• Why are all the other symptoms and conditions which a person with ADHD has (such as anxiety, digestive issues, food intolerances, sleep issues, inflammation, oxidative stress, anaemia and others), ignored in the diagnosis and "treatment"? Or in other words, the ADHD diagnosis is based on analysing the "head" only, and ignoring all the symptoms of the rest of the body
• Why most people would be diagnosed with ADHD if they completed the diagnostic assessment in times of stress
• Many people with ADHD just say this condition is just "normal", and will take ownership of the condition and not treat it. However there are some serious long-term progressions of this condition if not treated
• Why does ADHD seem to run in families or in some ethnicities in many cases, but not in others?

Hence why I would question any ADHD diagnosis, and why I look into finding all the known root causes of this condition, as there are some known causes which can be easily treated to reduce symptoms and improve health, and not depend on long-term use of medications which cause a lot of side effects.

In this webinar, I will be looking into the details of ADHD, including:

• The problems with diagnosing ADHD, and whether ADHD is a real diagnosis or not!
• What is ADHD compared to other ASD or neurological conditions
• Symptoms of ADHD, including the whole body symptoms that are not taken into account in an ADHD diagnosis
• If ADHD isn't a complete diagnosis or a real condition, and cannot be tested, then what is it?
• Testing for ADHD, and the tests which SHOULD be done but are not typically done
• What are the root causes of ADHD. Yes there are known causes
• The complications or risks of not treating ADHD
• Treating ADHD naturally and holistically
• Research and published studies on ADHD
• And much more.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ADHD, this webinar can help to understand the condition better, and help to reduce symptoms, improve health, and give long-term resolution for this controversial diagnosis. If you are a health practitioner (Naturopath, Nutritionist, Doctor, or other), this webinar can help you to better understand this diagnosis and other related conditions, and how to better help clients with ADHD. Please share this event to others you know who could benefit from this information.

Tickets: available through the booking link below, at $79 each, and family members can attend and watch together!

https://app.simpleclinic.net/patient/a#/course/view/MKm

The ADHD webinar was recorded from a recent live event and you can access the approximately 10 hours of education, along with other resources. You will be able to access the course for as long and as often as you need, and with no expiry!
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The details of how to access the ADHD training course will be sent immediately after you purchase your ticket!