Welcome to Episode 102 of Autism Parenting Secrets. This week we’re honored to have Dr. David Minkoff on the show to discuss the importance of getting the right protein in the diet.  This applies to everyone but it’s even more critical for a child on the autism spectrum.  So much more is possible when you give the body the essential building blocks it needs to thrive.Dr. David Minkoff is board certified in pediatrics and served as co-director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Palomar Medical Center in San Diego, California. With his wife, Sue, he cofounded LifeWorks Wellness Center in 1997, one of the most successful clinics for complementary medicine in the United StatesIn 2000, he cofounded BodyHealth, a nutrition company that offers a unique range of dietary supplements to the public and medical practitioners. A 43-time IRONMAN finisher, Dr. Minkoff is passionate about fitness and continues to train on a regular basis. He and his wife, reside in Clearwater, Florida.The secret this week is…You’re Missing The ESSENTIALSYou'll Discover:The Three Big Issues WIth Kids On The Spectrum (7:08)What Parents Really Need To Watch Out For? (10:25)Why Your Genes Are Not Your Destiny? (12:46)How To Nourish Picky Eaters? (16:23)A Simple Way Anyone Can Improve Performance (23:35)“The Essentials” That Matter The Most (25:25)The Surprising OTC Medicine That Block Digestion (28:56)How To Enhance Neurotransmitter Production? (32:29)The Thing To Add That Helps And Has No Downside (38:10)An Approach To Reduce Seizure Activity (44:24) About Our GuestDr. David Minkoff graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1974 and was elected to the “Phi Beta Kappa” of medical schools, the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Medical Fraternity for very high academic achievement.  He is board-certified in Pediatrics and has completed a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of California in San Diego, which included research in developing new medicines to fight viral disease. As a clinical faculty member at the University, he also served as co-director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Palomar Medical Center. He worked at the University of California and Children's Hospitals in San Diego as an attending physician in infectious disease while conducting original research on Ribaviron, a broad spectrum anti-viral agent to fight disease. He also was Board eligible in Emergency Medicine and worked for 12 years at Community Hospital of New Port Richey, Florida which ranked in the top 100 hospitals in the U.S.In addition to his traditional medical training, Dr. Minkoff has extensive post-graduate training in Complementary and Alternative Medicine. He is an expert in Functional Medicine, Chelation, Allergy Elimination, European Biological Medicine, Neural Therapy, Longevity/Aging Medicine, Enderlein Therapy, Insulin Potentiated Therapy, Prolozone, Chelation Therapy, Peptide Therapy and more.In 1995, his wife Sue, an RN become interested in nutrition and biochemistry. As her interest increased she brought Dr Minkoff on board and his curiosity bloomed into a passion. Dr. Minkoff went on a search to find the best way to cure the ailing body and improve performance of any body. That led him out of Emergency Medicine into complementary and alternative medicine to find the answers. In the process he gained expertise in Biological medicine, heavy metal detoxification, anti-aging medicine, hormone replacement therapy, functional medicine, energy medicine, neural and prolo therapy, homeopathy and optimum nutrition. He studied under the masters in each of these disciplines until he became an expert in his own right.The answers he found were soon in demand. In response to this, he and his wife, Sue, established LifeWorks Wellness Center in 1997 and it quickly became one of the largest complementary and alternative medicine clinics in the U.S.The demand for the products and protocols he discovered became a catalyst for founding BodyHealth