Kelly Thomas Health Education

20/01/2022

School Breakfast Programs Work.

We can see from reports an improvement in student attendance, punctuality, engagement with class activities, improvement in social skills, concentration, academic outcomes, and student behavior. Some schools use leadership programs in getting the older students to organise the distribution of breakfasts and be involved in cleaning up, teaching responsibility and life skills.

09/11/2021

For children with Autism, eye contact can be stressful. If children are comfortable we keep encouraging it. Some tips to make it less stressful include engaging them with eye contact while they talk about something they love.
https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/why-it-so-hard-someone-autism-make-eye-contact

Why is it hard for our autistic son to make eye contact? How can we encourage this important social skill?

18/10/2021

We have known for years that probiotics are beneficial in promoting gut health. But particularly in the last few years, strains such as L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 are shown to potentially be beneficial in children with Autism. This strain of probiotics helps to regulate GABA levels (precursor to serotonin) to help calm and comfort children.

Picky eating is also a frequent issue amongst children with Autism and this probiotic helps to keep the intestinal barrier healthy, leading to less inflammation and a healthy brain-gut response.

05/01/2021

I have a particular interest in Autism spectrum disorder and nutrition and found THIS! Incredible chart of the relationships between genetic mutations found in ASD, gut function and brain function.

It is well known, children with ASD often have sleep, digestive and mood disorders too - look at how the gut microbiome affects the brain. Probiotics such as Lactobaccili strains help improve the brain-gut access and prebiotics such as garlic, onions, bananas, barley, oats, cocoa, flaxseed, seaweed and fermented foods feed the gut to create a healthy intestinal layer.

Which foods would your child eat on a regular basis to help improved the brain-gut axis?

01/01/2020

It would be so sad to not see my favourite star

The red giant Betelgeuse is the dimmest seen in years, prompting some speculation that the star is about to explode. Here's what we know.

11/08/2019

If we want children to value relationships over stuff, we have to be intentional about the way we bring it into their lives.

23/07/2019

Fussy eating is one of the most common concerns parents have about their children, with more than 50% of mothers reporting that at least one of their children eats ‘poorly’ and recent estimates that around…

09/07/2019

My beautiful grandad visited me in my dreams last night. He was on an old bike and he biked past me and mouthed "I love you". He's made a few appearances in dreams.. Even though he passed away many years ago now I still miss him.

Does anyone you love and miss visit you in your dreams?

09/06/2019

These podcasts :D About feeling good, or just feeling ... https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts

Podcast landing page

05/06/2019

About self-love. Sometimes you've gotta take yourself by the hand and give the kind words you would give as the loving caring mum, sister or friend. I have loving family and friends that do this... but there is power in healing yourself too.

You are never too young or old to try this ❤️.

31/05/2019

Food as medicine is one of the best ways to fight viruses and keep our lungs strong. Research has shown that a healthy gut microbiome that produces butyrate to help keep our gut mucosa healthy, is still one of the best ways to limit and reduce symptoms of infection.

Our body kindly makes butyrate for us... (but there is NO shortcut) when we feed it VEGES and FRUIT and a high natural fiber diet. So .. lots of soups packed with veges, quiches filled with dark green leafys are the way to go in winter.

07/05/2019

I would change the word 'moms' to 'parents' though. Dads should be included here.

Parenting done right ! We need more moms like her to support kid in right way ! So proud of you vandana

22/02/2019

New research from QBI may explain how vitamin D deficiency leads to a range of cognitive disorders, including depression and schizophrenia.