host posted on September 05, 2008 13:42
I admit that I’ve been fortunate. I have a four-year old son who has never had an ear infection. He has never taken antibiotics or any other prescription medication. As he gets older, and I reflect on some of the mistakes we’ve made, I realize that this is probably in spite of some of the things we’ve done, rather than because of them. In other words, we’re not perfect by any means, and when you’re dealing with young children, I don’t know too many people who are.
Still, I am thankful that we were able to do a few things well from the beginning, and I’ll share some of them with you this month as we head into back-to-school season. Perhaps some of these things can benefit your children and grandchildren.
DIET
As Carson grows, his tastes have become more finicky. I wish I could tell you that he loves spinach, broccoli, and kale, and that he hates chocolate and ice cream. But I’d be lying if I told you that! But I have found some things that he really likes, and I’ve been able to hide a few things in his food that he doesn’t care for.
For example, each day we’ll make eggs for breakfast. He likes this a lot, and it’s a perfect Phase One food. On many mornings, in addition to the eggs, I’ll juice some green vegetables, like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard. I’ll also throw in a lemon and half of a green apple to sweeten it up a bit. Through trial and error, I’ve gotten the right combination down, and Carson loves the taste. I don’t like the sugary bottled juices that are on the market for lots of reasons, but fresh Phase One juices are a great choice.
I also like to make berry smoothies for the family. I’ll put in some berries, some good protein, and some almond milk as a base. Then I sneak some other things in there, such as “green” powders. These are products that contain wheat grass, barley grass, spirulina, kamut, and other greens. They are incredibly healthy, and have the nutritional equivalent of a large green salad, but when mixed in a smoothie, are hardly detectable to the palate. Believe it or not, sometimes I’ll also throw in some spinach leaves. If there’s no more than a half-cup or so, you usually can’t taste it, but it gives the smoothie a huge nutritional boost.
SUPPLEMENTS
I believe in quality supplements, and the first one I ever gave my son was a probiotic. Nothing could be more important in terms of its ability to help the body absorb nutrients, boost immunity, and inch out harmful yeasts in the gut. Probiotics actually do so much more than that, but those benefits alone make them “must have” supplements for everyone, including young children.
For my son, another everyday supplement is NSC Immunition Beta Glucans. I emphasize the brand because NSC is the only one I believe in. I need my son to have as much immune power as possible, and the research on NSC’s beta glucan is overwhelming. I give him the NSC 24, and just break up the capsule into some liquid or some yogurt.
After his breakfast or lunch, I also give him Nordic Naturals fish oil. The DHA in fish oil is crucial for brain development, and all of the constituents of fish oil create an elixir that overwhelms the body with benefits too lengthy to go into for this article. Suffice it to say, I don’t want him, (or the rest of my family), to be without it, and Nordic Naturals is my favorite brand.
There are other basic supplements, such as vitamin C, colostrum, some basic liquid multi-nutrients, and others. I’m most interested his immunity, his brain, and supplying his body with vital nutrients for growth and development.
WHEN THEY FEEL BAD
When Carson started going to a Mother’s Day Out class last year, I hadn’t started him on beta glucans or many of the other supplements he now takes. And yes, he came home not feeling well after the first week or two. At one point, every child in his class was ill, (but came to class anyway). No question, he felt it, too.
When these things happened, I was aggressive, but safe. I started the beta glucans. I also gave him some liquid herbal products with things like echinacea and sage. For coughs, I like liquid formulas that contain herbs and spices like mullein, ginger, and marshmallow root.
And of course, I’m a true believer in Doug’s antifungal message. (As it turns out, all of the ingredients I’ve mentioned so far are, in fact, antifungal!) I’ll break open a caprylic acid softgel and let Carson swallow it. I’ve even soaked some olive leaf in some warm water, and when it cools, let him sip it.
For kids battling certain symptoms, my favorite category of product is homeopathics. They are by far the safest products to give a child, and in my experience, work consistently. From teething tablets to headache formulas, I am a little surprised by how well these products have worked, and I highly recommend that you investigate them.
Related to homeopathics are the Bach Flower Remedies. These are excellent for relaxation, nervousness, and general psychological symptoms. Like homeopathics, I am nothing short of shocked by the results we’ve gotten from this unusual and hard-to-explain line of products, but we’ve seen the effects first-hand and will continue to use them.
Something I nearly always forget to mention is a good air treatment system. The reason I forget is that if you get a quality brand – one that works with ionic technology instead of fans and filters – you don’t even realize they’re there. Some studies indicate that indoor air is more contaminated than outdoor air. If this is true, you owe it to your whole family to invest in a good air treatment system, and get the airborne contaminants out so that your home becomes a safe haven instead of a source of re-infection.
Of course, your doctor is an important member of your health team, and while I’m not trying to leave him/her out of this discussion, I’m simply not an expert on finding or using the services of a pediatrician. Good luck.
A MISTAKE TO AVOID
One mistake that I’ve seen and experienced is when we wait until our kids are sick before we start implementing some sound nutrition practices at home. I challenge you to find great prevention strategies like those found in Doug’s books – strategies that include diet, supplements, exercise, and most importantly, a bunch of hugs and kisses. These will make going back-to-school easier on your kids, and you!