Autism · ADHD · Anxiety · Stress · Mood

ASDHelp Deep Dives Podcast

Long conversations about the nutrition and brain chemistry behind autism and ADHD, told through the everyday lens of anxiety, stress and mood. One topic per episode, with the studies named so you can check them yourself.

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Episodes

Episode 2 · 24 min

Picky Eating and Brain Chemistry: Amino Acids, Serotonin and Dopamine in Autism

Why can a short list of safe foods matter for mood, sleep and focus? The hosts follow protein from the plate to the brain: how tryptophan and tyrosine become serotonin and dopamine, why vitamin B6 (P5P) sits at the finishing step, what the tryptophan depletion studies show, and a measure-first approach that starts with a fasting plasma amino acid test.

Spotify YouTube

Correction: at 19:35 the hosts describe lithium orotate as slowing the enzymes that break down dopamine and serotonin. That isn't an established mechanism for low-dose lithium, and human research on lithium orotate is limited. Products named in this episode: MITOboost, SPECTRUM Neurotransmitter Support and Lithium Orotate (ASDHelp sells all three).

Episode 1 · 49 min

Folinic Acid vs Folic Acid: Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Explained

Why can a child's blood test show plenty of folate while the brain runs short? The hosts walk through cerebral folate deficiency, folate receptor autoantibodies and why the form of folate matters, comparing folic acid, food folate and folinic acid (calcium folinate). They also cover the cow's milk research, the clinical trials, the B12, B6 and B2 cofactors, and an open question about ADHD.

Spotify YouTube

Correction: at 29:44 the hosts cite a 2024 trial by Panda and colleagues. That paper was retracted in January 2026, so please set those figures aside. Chapters and study links are in the episode description on YouTube and Spotify.

Short explainers

Explainer · 8 min

Folinic Acid and Speech Delays: Cerebral Folate Deficiency in 8 Minutes

The short version of episode 1. Blood folate can look normal while the brain runs short: this explainer covers cerebral folate deficiency, folate receptor autoantibodies, and why folinic acid (calcium folinate) reaches the brain by a different route than folic acid or food folate. It ends with questions to take to your child's clinician, including the FRAT blood test.

How we make it

The two hosts are AI-generated voices (Google NotebookLM) working from sources we choose: published studies and, at times, documentation for our own products. ASDHelp sells dietary supplements, and some of them come up by name; in episode 1 that's Speech Essentials.

Nothing here is medical advice. Please talk to your doctor or your child's clinician before starting, stopping or changing any supplement.

Education only. Not medical advice.