Parents On No Fenol 

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Below are letters from parents on No Fenol.  I also encourage parents to read letters to FEAT from parents... the first letter there is from a doctor who participates on the enzymes and autism message board at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/enzymesandautism/... a board I strongly encourage all parents of autistic children to join.   There are doctors, nurses, lawyers, chemists, educators, and very well informed moms on this board!   This is by far one of the most informative boards on autism.   Persons on this board are very well informed.  As such, one really has to ask:   Who took the "research" out of the Autism "Research" Institute?... because, clearly, this article on No Fenol was completely devoid of any scientific data to support its many claims.  The FEAT article made several unsubstantiated accusations, not only about the No Fenol product itself but about several other key issues and persons.    The "marketer" for No Fenol referred to in the article is no marketer at all, but a mother who started a discussion board... a mother who writes educational software.  This mother was one of the first moms to put her child on No Fenol.   Recently, she wrote a book on what other parents are finding too.   I will provide a link on where to purchase this book once it becomes available.   I myself wrote a book and posted it on my web site.   At the time I wrote my book, my son used only Kirkman Labs products and they worked wonders for him.   Therefore, my book has an entire chapter on Kirkman supplements.   Does that make me a marketer for Kirkman Labs?  No.   It makes me a mother who wanted to share her story - nothing else.  This mother's credentials, business, etc. were obviously "researched" as well as the No Fenol product itself - that is, not at all.  The best way to really get the scoop on No Fenol and what it is doing for so many kids is to see what PARENTS (doctors, lawyers, nurses, educators, chemists, biochemists, moms, dads, etc.) are saying, by either reading this book once available or joining the enzymes and autism message board.    Results are truly amazing for many many children!  Parents and children must demand "better science" than what appeared in this FEAT newsletter.  And when "no research" is passed off as "research" no matter how well known the organization, we need to clearly state that we will not support the dissemination of inaccurate information.   Parents whose children are on No Fenol are not being "taken by an Internet scam".   I personally find that comment very offensive and insulting.    We are intelligent adults who see many many positive changes in our autistic children.   The FEAT/ARI article  provided no substantiation whatsoever for its numerous claims.  As such, parents are asking:  Who is really doing the scamming here?

"What Parents Are Saying" About No Fenol - SEE BELOW

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Subject:  [enzymesandautism] Tyrosine and no-fenol connection-thats us!
Date:  Sun, 05 May 2002 11:32:28 -0000
From:  "tiredmamma18042" <CFRITCH@RCN.COM>
Reply-To: enzymesandautism@yahoogroups.com
To: enzymesandautism@yahoogroups.com

Well after reading all the information on the tyrosine deficiency/no-fenol connection yesterday I had to go back and look through my sons (big as a house) blood work file for our amino acids profile. BINGO! My son is very low in tyrosine. -65.71 to be exact. The range being 50.00-120.00 and his being 39.00. I also wonder if it
is low because he was on the diet for 6 months strictly before getting the blood drawn? At any rate the no-fenol has been the icing on the cake for us. We started with the diet/ ok did help a lot at first but he started to regress again,then pep and zyme/HUGE gains until the yeast took over, HUGE yeast battle and addition of no-fenol and going off the diet have essentially made my son pretty much NT. THANK YOU DEVIN!

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Subject: Re: [enzymesandautism] Re: ENZY: Today's Letter
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 12:50:20 EDT
From: goodnightstar@aol.com
Reply-To: enzymesandautism@yahoogroups.com
To: enzymesandautism@yahoogroups.com


Because the recent brouhaha did scare me, I decided to take both Devin's and Pangborn's explanation of No-fenol to both of my son's doctors ( neurologist and a developmental ped). They both found Pangborn's charges unfounded and ludicrous. I am now doing enzymes with full medical support! I'm glad. I didn't want to stop.

David is using words we've never taught him. I need to order more enzymes!  YES!

He's on half of the zyprexa he was on when we started this. When I looked at my happy boy last night, who at the age of seven and a half wanted to crawl in my lap and hear a story for the first time, I knew I couldn't quit the
enzymes without at least trying to get a medical go ahead.

Liane

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Sat, 04 May 2002 From: "jornmatt" <kjorn@thundersnow.com>
OTl My response to Pangborn letter

The first two paragraphs were just statements of chemistry.

>>In this author's opinion, it is absolutely wrong to provide an enzyme supplement that destroys all dietary phenols. (quote from FEAT article)

Where is it shown that No-Fenol "destroys" enzymes? This seems to be made up out of the blue. Jon Pangborn needs to provide a reference for this, or prove this is even bio-chemically possible. Oh, he is not a biochemist. He is an engineer. This may explain the problem.   Still, he should clean this up or provide references.

>>A "no-phenol regimen" invites metabolic disorder, especially for individuals who may have problems with tyrosine adequacy.  (quote from FEAT article)

I agree. A no-phenol regimen would mean that no FOOD could ever be eaten because all FOOD contains phenols. So the only way to accomplish the no phenol regimen he describes is to abandon the eating of all food. I admit that many of the elimination diets parents are encouraged to put their autistic children on do come close to that (casein-free, gluten-free, soy-free, fruit-free, corn-free, etc) and this is not healthy. So Pangborn statement supports using enzymes instead of food-free elimination diets, no?! Because No-Fenol allows people to eat the very fruits and vegetables needed for proper growth and nutrition, this agrument supports the use of
No-Fenol.

>>Many autistics do seem to have a problem in this area. They do not make enough tyrosine from its essential precursor, phenylalanine, and they then depend much more heavily on dietary tyrosine. In fact, individuals with disordered phenylalanine metabolism and deficient tyrosine were among the first to have a metabolic explanation for their autism. (quote from FEAT article)

Excellent. According to the past two posts on No-Fenol making tyrosine more available, Pangborn's reasoning supports the need to take No-Fenol to increase the availability and absorbability of tyrosine to the body. This is a need that many autistic children have.

>>A product that destroys the phenol tyrosine is certain to be harmful or dangerous to such individuals. I emphatically urge that any such product not be used for human consumption. (quote from FEAT article)

We see that there is no product that destroys the phenol tyrosine, nor has any reference that this happens by any current product, so this is not an applicable statement to No-Fenol or other enzyme products on the market. We do see that eliminating dairy and grains from the diet may result in tyrosine deficiency. I wonder if there is any correlation between this early identification of tyrosine deficiency and the big-time push for everyone to be GFCF? This may be a reason that adding casein and gluten back into the diet with enzymes is showing such great improvement (for those that opt to take this route).

That Pangborn and Rimland are consultants to Kirkman should have no bearing on this, even though the DAN manual states that they have a significant financial interest in or affiliation with Kirkmans (page 3). I am more interested in the science is correct and that parents can make the best decisions for their families. I think that parents are not the enemy and are quite capable of sound judgment.

Karen.

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Sat, 4 May 2002 From: Mum231ASD@aol.com
Subject: No Fenol

"So where does Houston say the digested phenols go? In the cells where they are supposed to be. Even mentions how we all need them, they are good things, we don't want to eliminate them, just the problems they cause.
Mandi UK"

WHY ARE PHENOLS A PROBLEM?
One reason why phenolic compounds may be troublesome in children with autism is that the phenols may have attached carbohydrate groups, which could make it less likely to be in a metabolizable state. Normally, glycosidase enzymes cleave off these carbohydrate groups, which then allows the phenol to be
taken up into cells and metabolized. The enzymes in No-Fenol can act to remove these complex carbohydrate groups. Another possibility as to why No-Fenol is beneficial in helping to digest phenolic foods is that it may
promote oxidation of the phenol to a structure more favorable for processing by liver detoxification pathways. Investigations into the mechanism of action of the Zyphenase™ blend in No-Fenol are currently in process.

Polyphenolic compounds are now realized as important components of nutrition. Plant phenolic compounds are anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic. Restriction of these compounds from our diet can deprive our children of the protection they may need later in life to battle disease and environmental  toxins. The use of No-Fenol with phenolic foods may allow these children to obtain the health benefits of nutritious fruits and vegetables without the
negative behavioral and physiological consequences that plague so many.
http://www.houstonni.com/pages/no_fenol_pr_info.html##1


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Date: Sat, 04 May 2002 From: sisdar@attbi.com
Re: Article by Autism Research Institute

I'd also like to add that the stimming was worse BEFORE the NoFenol. My son wet the bed occasionally before the GFCF diet and with the NoFenol has NOT returned. This just makes me mad that they would write this article with nothing more solid than this. What about the regression seen when originally starting the other
enzymes? I didn't see that mentioned in the article!

Darlene
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Sat, 04 May 2002 From: Lisa <lisaf007@comcast.net>
Re: Article by Autism Research Institute

I'm not a professional scientist, but here's a thought.

Hypothesis: If many children with autism also show a deficiency in tyrosine, PERHAPS it is because they are unable to properly digest and utilize tyrosine sources in their diets BECAUSE they have a problem digesting
phenols.

Experience from the mothers on this board indicates that using the No-Fenol enzymes improves many
children's mood and behavior. (Maybe one reason for this is because the enzymes help utilize important amino
acids like tyrosine.)

Also, experience is showing that for many, prolonged use of enzymes has eliminated food sensitivities to the
point where enzymes are no longer required.

Maybe the No-Fenol is EXACTLY what these children need to help raise their levels of tyrosine (and other
amino acids) in the short term, and allow them to utilize it from their foods without enzymes in the long term.

I myself have a tyrosine deficiency that showed up four years ago right after having four old amalgams replaced
with new, fresh mercury. I also had a systematic candida infection at the time (that I had had since I was 13 -
from tetracyline). The combo of the release of mercury and the yeast made me so tired, confused, emotionally
sensitive and depressed that I could barely function. I also developed tinnitus and large dark circles under my
eyes (that are still there even when my energy is good).

Unable to get any diagnosis from my doctor I began thinking I had a sub-clinical thyroid problem (many of the
same symptoms). Through my research I learned that tyrosine might be able to help hypothyroidism. After
taking tyrosine for 1 week I was a different person. I was still somewhat tired and my memory was still off, but
I could make it through my days without a nap and without crying. No doctor has ever been able to explain
why I need this much tyrosine to function (they didn't try too hard either). If I run out or forget to take it, I am
a basket case again within a week.

I have just learned about mercury and systematic yeast infections in the last 3 months and am beginning to
tackle the problem. I've also had my two boys tested (ADD, CAPD) and found they are mercury toxic and
gluten/casein sensitive.

Anyway, I never thought of this link between tyrosine and phenol problems, but this article has made me
WANT to take No-Fenol to see how it affects my tyrosine situation. I'll let you know if it helps me and my
dark circles.

Like everyone else has said, the writers of the article are not using sound science or logic to support their
statements that No-Phenol is dangerous. But maybe they've indirectly shed light on why No-Phenol works so
well for some...

Just my two cents... or maybe four cents.

Lisa

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Sat, 04 May 2002 From: "madelinemelissa" <madelinemelissa@yahoo.com>
I think Devin should change the name to YES!finally!(No-Phenol)

First I want to say that I believe that everything Devin does for our kids he does with the highest intentions. He has personally helped me through telephone calls and I know I am not the only  one. He should be on all our prayer lists as a praise and a concern. My husband has even said "who is this guy, I think I might be a little jealous!"  Thank you Devin. You endeavor to give us products that will help our children while others sit on the side lines and nay say. You will always be on my list of heroes, Maddie
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Sat, 4 May 2002 From: teresa conrick <redhead60707@yahoo.com>
Re: I GUESS I'M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT...


Dear Devin, You sure are doing something right! Thanks so much for all that you have done for us. My
daughter is doing really great on your enzymes and it has changed our lives so much. Emotionally, she is
happier, more interactive, initiates hugs and kisses, and wants to play with her sister. Behaviorally, she is much
more compliant, has no tantrums (always was due to stomach problems), more focused at school, more
on-task with seat work, and just more "with it". Physically, circles under eyes are gone, eats more "main
meals" rather that "grazing" all day, more normal stool formation (used to have undigested food present/very
loose/yeasty/weird colors, etc.), and a big increase of appropriate urination. We are still GFCF for now, but
she can have special treats and is so happy about it. Regarding the "other guys", they must be pretty
jealous!! Thanks--Teresa
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Date: Sat, 04 May 2002 From: "Sheila Ealey" <sheilaealey@hotmail.com>
Re: DEVIN YES YOU ARE! I GUESS I'M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT...

Devin,

You definitely could be doing something else, but if you were then my child  and countless others like him would still be struggling with intestinal parasites, whole undigested food particles and mal-absorption problems. After
nearly a year of using traditional medicines and Kirkmans many supplements before switching to your enzymes 2 months ago and other supplements by various makers, my son is thriving. He's gained 3 pounds which doesn't seem like a lot but actually is in a child that hadn't gained a pound in 13 months. He no longer holds his ears when entering buildings or passing by the TV. He found his voice and is speaking in sentences when he talks. He
has understanding where he didn't before and he answers to his name. Best of all, he knows who I am now and welcomes and even initiates hugs and kisses. His yeast overgrowth is gone.

I for one am grateful and indebted to your dedication and intelligence! My home will not be without YOUR dietary supplements. I could care less what Rimland and others say. They're probably distressed that they aren't the ones who are marketing your discovery.

MANY, MANY THANKS FROM THE EALEY HOUSEHOLD!!!! YOU HAVE DISCOVERED AN
INSTRUMENT BY WHICH HEALING AND RECOVERY HAS BEGUN FOR MY SON!

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