Step 2: Pin-Point to Progress

Find out what is influencing your child's neurotransmitters, detoxification processes, oxidative stress levels and mitochondrial function. Uncover slow-growing, hidden factors like food sensitivities that may be triggering the inflammation that is hindering these processes and making your child's autism symptoms worse.

Who is Pin-Point to Progress for?

• Have you completed Step 1: Nourish to Flourish?
• Have you got your Health Strategy so that we can add to it as we progress through Step 2?
• Is your Mood & Food Journal up-to-date?
  

If the answer to these questions is YES, then you are ready to proceed!

What Is the Pin-Point to Progress  Programme?

This is Step 2 of a 3-Step Programme that lasts approximately 12 months, but will vary from one family to the next. 

The first step is called "Nourish to Flourish" and showed you two main things: whether your child was getting the right nutrients for his or her body systems to function properly, and whether those nutrients could be accessed and used by the body efficiently.

One of the factors we addressed in Step 1 was gut integrity and whether your child is likely to have Leaky Gut Syndrome.  The reason for that is that what appears to be a food intolerance is often due to leaky gut, so now we know that has been addressed, we are ready to move onto the food intolerance test.

The other test we will spend most of our focus on and which will form the backbone of your child's Health Strategy, is the Organic Acids Test.  This is probably the most valuable test you can have done in terms of understanding the root cause of your child's autism symptoms.  It covers neurotransmitter function, detoxification pathways, oxidative stress levels, nutrient levels and much more.  It is a highly specialized test that is complex but extremely informative.  

It is important that you complete this step after Step 1 and before Step 3 to get the most from the programme and give yourself and your child a chance to implement the recommendations at each stage. 

Bespoke Nutritional Advice & Resources

You will have another 3 months' access to our online customizable meal plans that are specific to your child's dietary needs. This may be the Autism Spectrum Disorder Meal Plan, Mitochondrial Support, Core Food Plan etc. 

2 Advanced Functional Tests

We need to know two basic things. Firstly, is your child getting the nutrients they need for core body processes to function. Secondly, if they are getting the right nutrients, are they able to break down, digest, absorb and transport those nutrients to the cells where they are needed.

• Organic Acids Profile to uncover the way your child's body is using the nutrients from his or her food.  Put simply, what is the 'biochemical soup' that your child's genes, neurotransmitters and cells bathing in and what can we do to optimize the beneficial aspects of that 'soup'.
 
• IgG Food Intolerance: Identify foods and food groups that your child is sensitive to.  This is organized on a traffic light system so we will be able to see the 'direction of travel' even if symptoms have not yet arisen.

Expert Guidance & Support

We will have four 1:1 sessions between 60 minutes and 45 minutes long.  This will be either telephone or video call.

1. Review your current Health Strategy, Mood & Food Journal and update on your child's current state of health and wellbeing.
   
2. Review the Organic Acids Test results
3. Review the Food Sensitivities Test
   
4. Update Health Strategy

Client Portal

To keep consultations, advice and information running as smoothly as posible, we use GetHealthie, an electronic health records platform to keep your information secure.

• Download the Healthie App to stay organized
• Schedule video or telephone calls for all your consultations, get appointment reminders, reschedule if you need to.
• Secure Chat feature for clients with quick questions
• Keep all your results together in one place for sharing with your child's healthcare team so you don't have to keep repeating yourself. 
  
• Use the shared journaling feature if you want feedback and encouragement
  
• Set Health Goals & Reminders
• Access Courses, videos, handouts tailored specifically for you.
  
• Access your Online meal plan with meals specifically suited to a gluten-free and casein-free diet, the best starting point for anyone on the autism spectrum.
  

What You Can Expect...

Lets Make a Plan

If you answered 'yes' to any of the questions at the top of the page, then a personalized approach using functional medicine for autism could be the solution you are looking for.

However, functional medicine for autism is new to most people, so before you go any further, I would recommend you find out more for yourself by following these steps.

1. Watch this video about Functional Nutrition for Autism.  It is a 40-minute talk I (Simone Buehner) gave a The Autism Show, Cardiff in 2024.
2. Read this blog post about the CHARGE Study.  CHARGE stands for Childhood Autism Risk from Genetics and Environment.  The study found that up to 40% of autism symptoms are due to environmental causes rather than genetic.  This means that if we can identify and address the environmental causes (diet, environemntal toxins, detoxification pathways etc) then we can potentially improve autism symtpoms very significantly. 
3. If you are still unsure or have more questions, you can  Book a FREE Discovery Call with Simone, otherwise you can click below to get started right away!
   

Our D.A.R.I.N.G. Approach

At Barefoot Medicine Ltd. we have a trademarked protocol known as the D.A.R.I.N.G. Approach, which we use to get to the root cause of any health condition.  Unlike convventional medicine, we focus on body systems, not symptoms, which is why we get lasting results, rather than a quick fix that suppresses symptoms.

Discover

4 In-Depth 1:1 Consultations

Roots to Radiance Consultation: A deep dive into your child's health history     and current challenges.

Metabolic Health Review: Learn how to tailor your child's meals and snacks to meet the nutritional deficiencies that have been identified by the laboratory. If your child is a 'picky eater' (as most are) we will cover strategies for short, medium and long-term benefit, which may include supplementation so we can 'break the cycle' of malnutrition and picky eating. You will also be offered in-depth advice on addressing sensory sensitivities around food.

Gut Health Review: We will discuss the findings from the lab results and add actionalbe steps to your childs health strategy to address the findings.  However, this is a very detailed topic, so there will be additional resources for you in your Healthie portal to refer to as and when you are ready  Consultations will cover what you 'need' to know only, so as not to overwhelm you.

Health Strategy Call: A customized plan to address your child's unique needs, including dietary recommendations, targeted supplementation and lifestyle adjustments.  The goal of the strategy is for it to be realistic and achievable foor your whole family.  This is a long term solution, not a quick fix, so the important thing will be to tackle everything in order, one step at a time. 

Analyze

Advanced Functional Testing

• Organic Acids Profile to uncover the biochemical influences on your child's neurotransmitters, oxidative stress levels, detoxification processes and other body systems that influence mood and behaviour.

• IgG Food Intolerance: Identify food groups and individual foods that your child is not digesting well.  These results alongside the gut function test you have already done will show us which are likely to be able to be reintroduced gradually and which are best avoided altogether. 

Report

Personalized Health Strategy

This is a living document that we began in Step 1, so you will be given advice and information to update this strategy with more in-depth knowledge as we get the next set of results in.  

Integrate

Pacing & Patience!

Journaling: As yiou saw in Step 1, the Mood & Food Journal is extremly helpful in identifying what is working and what we need to prioritize going forward. 

Nourish

Food As Medicine

• Core Supplements included: anything in the 'red' zone is regarded as crucial in the improvement of your child's health, so 1 month of supplements to address this area are included. 
• Online Meal Plan: When you get your results back, you may wish to change to a different meal plan such as anti-inflammatory, detoxification, mitochondrial support etc.  Throughout the programme, you will be given 3 months' free access to our online meal plans and you are welcome to try out different ones as your results come through. 
• Herbal Remedies May be useful to aid digestion, boost energy, calm the mind etc. 
• Nutraceuticals: I use a company that specializes in supplements for neurodiversity, and although they only deal with healthcare professionals, I can create an account for my clients to order supplements as and when needed, without you coming through me each time. 

Guide

Client Portal

Healthie App: Your Health Strategy will be available on your portal for step-by-step guidance. You will also be able to refer to handouts, online courses, videos and your lab reports or any documents we share.  If you get 'stuck' there is also the secure chat facility on there so you can reach out to Simone, or if you are a client you will have credits to access Simone's calendar so you can book a telephone or video call for a longer discussion. 

Memberships and Accreditations 

So You Know You Are in Good Hands

Barefoot Medicine Ltd.

Phone: +44 7715 239 999

www.BarefootMedicine.co.uk