What do Ronnie's blood results actually mean? A functional medicine deep dive

Most parents of autistic children have heard the same thing from their GP: "The results are normal. There's nothing to worry about."

But what if normal isn't the same as healthy?

In this episode, Joe sits down with Alan Lee, functional medicine practitioner and Ronnie's own clinician, to walk through Ronnie's blood panel in real time. Alan trained in osteopathic medicine before spending decades studying functional neurology and the neurochemistry of autism, including at the Carrick Institute of Neurological Sciences in America. His approach couldn't be more different from mainstream medicine.

They cover:

• Why NHS reference ranges are far too wide, and what "normal" actually hides
• What Ronnie's protein markers, cholesterol levels, and iron results reveal about his gut and brain health
• Hypochlorhydria: the little-known digestive issue that could be driving everything downstream
• The gut-brain connection, secretory IgA, leaky gut, and why endotoxemia matters for behaviour and mood
• Why brain health requires stabilising oxygen delivery and blood sugar above everything else
• The Greggs story that will change how you think about ultra-processed food forever
• Supplements that are making a real difference for Ronnie right now
• Alan's take on melatonin dosing, and why the NHS guidelines may be wildly off

This one is full of practical insight for any parent trying to understand what's really going on beneath the surface.