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Greetings!
This month, we dedicate our focus to the health of our children. It has become all too common that classrooms declare warnings such as "peanut-free zone." In the same token, other serious allergies and sensitivities have become common-place. We can all most likely name someone with a gluten or dairy allergy. Allergies aren't the only health issues that have become more common. Kids are being diagnosed right and left with ADD/ADHD, autism and Asberger's. Girls are getting their periods earlier and female concerns such as endometriosis are on the rise. We are now seeing adult-onset diabetes in children!
What commonality can be found between all of these separate concerns? It is impossible not to make a correlation between health and our kids' diet. A true health care crisis has been created. The industrialization of farming practices brings us less expensive foods with less nutritional value. Our kids are exposed to pesticides, growth hormones, and antibiotics on a daily basis. Pre-prepared and packaged foods and snacks contain preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colorings and flavorings, and hydrogenated oils. These ingredients are poisonous to our children's immune and nervous systems and have long-term consequences.
So what do we do with all of this knowledge? It is imperative that we take care of our children today to avoid disease later in their lives. Many of the health issues that plague our children today predispose them for the major killers that adults face down the road: cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, obesity. Other avoidable conditions include arthritis and auto-immune disorders, chronic infections, fibromylagia, sleep apnea and infertility to name a few. The World Health Organization now states that 75% of all the major killers are avoidable by lifestyle and diet changes.
For years, case studies have shown that families who get their spines adjusted regularly are healthier overall. New data is being collected all the time that shows that chiropractic also helps prevent many of these big killers when combined with a wholistic health care approach and lifestyle modification. Chemical stresses such as those listed above attack our children's nervous systems. This accumulated stress causes hypersensitivities to our daily environment. Spinal adjustments reprogram the nervous system's response to incoming stresses to protect our system. A computerized spinal scan can measure this accumulated stress to your child's nervous system. This information can then be used to determine the need for early intervention. This month, spinal screenings are free for all children. Before this important diagnostic scan is performed, a consultation will be taken to assess areas where improvements can be made.
This newsletter is filled with tips for how to incorporate healthy eating and lifestyle into your children's lives. It is our hope that knowledge will be power for you and your family.
In good health naturally,
Dr. Kristy Allen |
| Is Your Child "Well-Fed" but Malnourished? Does your child have a tendency for allergies? Low attention span? Moodiness? Some of the more recent "common" childhood complaints are simply symptoms of nutritional deficiencies. Here's a look at some of the vitamins crucial to your growing child's needs:
· Iron - This is by far the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in school-age children. Iron deficiency is associated with markedly decreased attentiveness and lowered activity levels. Dark leafy greens, seafood, beans, nuts and dried fruits are good sources of iron.
· B-Vitamins - Fundamental for maintaining the health of a quickly developing nervous system. Deficiency symptoms include restlessness, insomnia, moodiness, chronic fatigue, and all-over body soreness. Avoid foods with refined flour and sugar while increasing intake of foods such as salmon, avocados, dark leafy greens and whole grains.
· Vitamin D - In 2009, a study in the journal of Pediatrics found that 70% of children are vitamin D deficient, contributing to higher blood pressure and lower levels of good cholesterol. Sources of Vit. D include oily fish, shrimp, yogurt and 10-15 minutes of sun exposure daily.
· Zinc - Boosts immunity, enhances memory and thinking skills. Heals and protects skin. Improves mood and regulates appetite. Zinc rich foods include oysters, yogurt, and wheat germ
· Vitamin A - Although deficiencies are not yet prevalent in developed countries, with increased stress load and environmental toxins, this vitamin is critical for supporting the liver and detoxification system. A wide variety of fruits and vegetables contain carotenoids that can be converted into vitamin A.
The easiest and most surefire way to decrease your child's likelihood for deficiency is regular supplementation. Nutri-West's Total Children's Chewable has a pleasant taste while making up for those days your child won't dare try a vegetable, no matter how much cheese you put on it.
***Because supplementation can be tricky, always check with a natural healthcare practitioner before giving supplements to your children.*** |
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Excitotoxins Hidden in Snacks
Have you ever heard of excitotoxins? They are the preservatives and "added flavors" in most processed and pre-packaged food and the damage they can cause to you and your children's health is gargantuan. Processed and pre-packaged foods are packed with excitotoxins like Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), aspartame, gelatin, yeast extract, "natural flavors" or "hydrolyzed protein."
Here's a simple breakdown of what excitotoxins do: They literally excite your brain cells to death. They cause the neurons to fire so intensely and so rapidly, they die. They also cause inflammation of the brain and can actually cross the Blood Brain Barrier. This inflammation can be incredibly harmful. Look at it this way, when a muscle gets inflamed it has space to swell. When inflammation happens in the brain, our skull does not allow for the space to swell. This is where injury or damage can occur.
Recent studies are linking excitotoxins to such neurological disorders as migraines, Autism, allergies, asthma, obesity, particular disorders of the Endocrine system and abnormal development of the nervous system. These toxins have also been linked to having an increased effect on the development of such diseases as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's Disease and ALS.
Here's a short list of pre-packaged and processed foods that contain these excitotoxins:
Soda Ketchup Food Bars
Juice drinks Cereals Soups Crackers Bread Pasta Mixes
Plastic wrapped snack cakes
How to remove excitotoxins from your pantry and refrigerator: Read labels and teach your kids to do the same. Setting them up with good, solid, real food eating habits now can ensure they live long, healthy lives. Try shopping only in the produce aisle and at the meat, dairy and fish counters. Most foods that come in cans and boxes are off-limits. |
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Get Moving!
Hopefully you're keeping up with your goals and lifestyle changes of 2010. A great way to stay motivated is to include your children. What you teach them today can become a part of their life tomorrow. Here are some easy ways to set good examples that can lead to life long habits.
Looking for some new exercises?
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Happy Anniversary
March 17th marks St. Patricks Day
and our 2nd Anniversary in our new space! |
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Recipes Your kids get home from school or it's the snacking hour, instead of rationing out chips or candy or anything pre-packaged try these:
- Ants on a log. Take some celery, spread some peanut butter (we are fans of the all natural or organic kind as most leading brands are LOADED with sugar) down the tunnel and place a row of raisins on the peanut butter.
- Plain yogurt, walnuts and raw honey: Yogurt has good calcium, the walnuts are an excellent source of fatty acids for good brain development and the raw honey will sweeten it up so they love it and if it's local, it can help prevent seasonal allergies.
- Orange smiles: if there is something funnier than putting an orange wedge in your mouth and smiling at your kids, I want to know about it.
- Mixed nuts and dried fruit. Sweet and salty combined. Perfect for sustained energy and good muscle development.
- A fruit shake: Combine some lowfat, organic milk, frozen strawberries, a banana, a spoon of peanut butter or honey, blend with some ice. Voila! If you can, throw in a handful of raw spinach you'll all really be cooking with gas. It doesn't affect the taste but it will benefit their health and energy. Yes, it kind of looks funny so you may need to get a non see through glass if you're kids are squeamish.
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