Beating Tics, OCD, and Aggression with Food: The Diet Study Every Parent Should Know

What if a personalized diet could unlock healing for your child? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, nutrition expert Julie Matthews dives deep into the power of personalized diets for children with autism, ADHD, PANS, and PANDAS. Backed by research and years of clinical experience, she explains how targeted nutrition can address inflammation, picky eating, gut dysfunction, and behavioral symptoms—one child at a time.

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In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Julie Matthews joins me to share how two decades of working with children on the autism spectrum and those with conditions like PANS and PANDAS, led her to champion personalized nutrition as a foundational therapy. She discusses how therapeutic diets—like gluten-free, casein-free, paleo, and the Feingold diet—can be strategically matched to a child’s unique symptoms, from tics and OCD to anxiety and ADHD. Her recent study with over 800 families showed that dietary interventions often surpassed pharmaceuticals in effectiveness while carrying far fewer side effects.

Julie also shares simple, practical advice for parents navigating restrictive eating and sensory issues. She highlights how nutrient deficiencies (like zinc), food cravings, and even the texture of vegetables can all be clues to deeper biological imbalances. Throughout the episode, Julie emphasizes that nutrition is a journey—one best taken with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to experiment. Her step-by-step plan for nourishing hope offers families a clear, empowering roadmap toward improved health and behavior.

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Julie Matthews is a certified nutrition consultant and globally respected authority on personalized nutrition for children with autism, ADHD, PANS, and PANDAS. With a master's degree in medical nutrition and over two decades of clinical experience, she has helped thousands of families understand the connection between food, gut health, and brain function.

Julie is the author of the groundbreaking books ‘Nourishing Hope for Autism’ and ‘The Personalized Autism Nutrition Plan.’ She is also the co-author of a recent research study evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic diets in improving autism-related symptoms. Through her company, Nourishing Hope, she educates parents and practitioners around the world on how targeted dietary changes can reduce inflammation, support detoxification, and improve behavior, mood, and overall health.

Renowned for her compassionate, science-based approach, she makes complex nutritional concepts simple and actionable, empowering families to become ‘nutrition detectives’ and transform their child's life through food. Her work continues to lead the movement toward root-cause nutrition strategies that heal the body and support neurodevelopment from the inside out.

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Website: https://nourishinghope.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliematthewsnourishinghope/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NourishingHopeForAutism

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-matthews-ms-5673878/

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