The Centers for Disease Control recently announced that 1 in 68 children in America has an autism spectrum disorder. Now out of every child born, 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls will suffer from autism or autism-like symptoms, a rate that has more than doubled since 2002.

The causes of autism are a controversial subject. Some believe that these children are gifted with emotional clarity and insight that those of us have yet to develop, but others see it as an epidemic, which may be the result of a gamut of different factors.

What are the Causes?

Scientists first thought that autism was simply genetic, but environment has been proven to contribute significantly to the disease, not unlike other health issues that are triggered by toxin exposure, diet, and lifestyle choices.