Here are 5 ways to promote pool safety

1. LEARN to swim– Swimming is a life saving skill. Teach your child how to swim. Educate them on what to do if they fall in the water, how to doggy paddle, how to blow bubbles when they go under water and how to float. We always taught our girls repetitively to find the wall if they fall in so it becomes a muscle memory. If they get tired from trying to find the wall, we taught them how to float.
2. Learn CPR– The first 4-6 minutes is crucial in regards to irreversible brain damage from drowning. CPR is the most important life saving class you can take when you have kids. Once you’re CPR certified, make sure to keep your certification current for up-to-date skills. CPR classes are usually available through many hospitals, community centers, and/or by the American Red Cross.
3. Provide physical barriers– Walls, fences, barriers, alarms and covers are the first line of defense and can be lifesaving devices. In our area, a fence surrounding the back yard is required. A fence has to be at least 4 feet in hight. Doors should have self-closing, self-latching devices and locks that are too high for children to reach. Also, there should not be any openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through. Pool covers are also a good idea to consider while the pool is not in use. Lastly, alarms are important to utilize for your back door leading out to the pool area. There are also alarms you can purchase for in the pool that sounds when something or someone falls in water. The alarm should sound very distinct from other sounds in the home. They even have alarms now that connect to an app.
4. Drains– Stay away from pool and spa drains that can create underwater suction with enough force to trap even strong swimmers below the surface. Never enter a pool or spa that has a loose, broken or missing drain cover. Most newer pools and community pools should be regulated to have a drain cover; however, some older homes may not have this feature.
5. Provide pool rules for your children such as….Never swim alone, walk dont run, and what to do if someone get hurts and/or falls in.

It is also important to note, always watch children when they’re in or near water, and never leave them unattended.

How do you handle pool safety in your home?

GERMS!!!

In the 1800s, French chemist Louis Pasteur, popularized the Germ theory suggesting that pathogens are the cause of illness. The idea is that germs are bad and they cause disease and sickness. “Killing germs” would be the solution to both treating and preventing a state of disease. This explains the widespread use of vaccinations and antibiotics. This theory paved the way for antibiotics. Don’t’ get me wrong, antibiotics are not all bad; however, they should be used as a last resort because antibiotics kill both good and bad gut bacteria. This theory goes along with the idea that there is a pill for everything. And then there is even a pill to fix that pill.

This theory is accurate in that germs can cause illness. However, can a pathogen truly survive in a host that does not supply an optimal environment? The answer is No. To better explain this, If the AC in your home is not working, do you A) sit inside, endure and/or possibly die from heat stroke or B) Get the heck out of there and find a better environment to thrive in?

Create an environment from within that a pathogen will not survive in, let alone even consider sticking around for long.

Pathogens tend to survive in an acidic environment. I mentioned this before in our SIBO blog. Acidity comes from the foods we eat. Protect your gut microbiome and you will have the tools to maintain a healthy body.

Well balanced body

On the other hand, it was physiologist Claude Bernarnd, that popularized the Terrain theory arguing that if the body is well balanced then germs can’t survive. Germs can only survive if it’s an ideal host of poor health. Microbes can’t cause infection unless conditions within the body encourage their growth and reproduction. When exposed to pathogens, we become ill if our defenses are weakened by deficiencies or toxicities. 

This theory explains why in a pandemic, some recover, some die, and some only have minor symptoms. This is the same idea with the flu. You tend to hear “I felt like I was hit by a bus” while others mention of just having cold like symptoms. The same virus yet each person reacts different.

It is argued that the terrain of the body is more important then the pathogens that infect it. It was Pasteur himself (the guy who originated the germ theory) whom admitted….

“Bernard was right; The pathogen is nothing, the terrain is everything”.

For almost hundreds of years, health experts continue to ignore the terrain theory, focusing on ways to kill-viruses, thus the covid vaccine you see now. Why do we spend so much time, money and effort on creating a vaccine rather than educating and giving the proper tools to promote preventive healthcare? There is very few recommendations on how to strengthen the immune system to protect you from an illness or pandemic. It is very pharmaceutical driven. While some have become paralyzed by fear with the use of masks and social distancing, others have taken this as a wake up call to improve their overall health status. Here are a few ways to strengthen your immune system.

• Eat real food- Changing your eating habits is the hardest challenge because it is more then just saying you want to verse actually doing it. Meal planning has always helped me. I try to have more items from produce in my cart and I stay away from boxed items as much as possible because these tend to have a ton of refined sugar (AKA bad sugar). No one is perfect but here is more info on reading labels and meal planning. I am a big believer in moderation.
• Vitamins, Minerals and botanicals- Antioxidants play a huge role in boosting your immune system. You know how they say the aftermath of covid is the worst for some folks?… This is because of the cytokine storm and oxidative stress. Well, some vitamins are ANTI-oxidants. These eat the bad stuff so-to-speak. I have information on Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, Iron on my blog. Elderberry and Echinacea are considered a botanical. These are excellent examples of supplements to utilize during a virus to boost your immune system. 
• Sleep and exercise- Optimal sleep will allow your body time to heal and exercise reduces stress. This goes without saying but important to mention.
• Oxygen status- The better the air you breathe, the better your blood flows and your heart pumps to optimize your oxygenation status. In other words, people who smoke have a hard time fighting colds compared to non-smokers.
• Balance your nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments help balance your nervous system. The majority of Americans live in a constant state of fight-or-flight causing stress on the body. Stress can reduce your immune response. Here is more information on how chiropractic adjustment can help your health.

There is no pharmaceutical product, supplement or other intervention you can incorporate that will guarantee an infection free life but the above mentioned steps present you with the best defense against pathogens.

So now why mask vs no mask debacle

Now that you know the difference between each theory, this is why we’re seeing people view mask usage differently. People have beliefs that germs are bad and these masks will protect them from germs. A lot of the germ belief is fear driven. You don’t need a mask, antibiotics or a vaccine to be healthy. This is what we are told. They are a bandaid solution to help prevent disease and or illness. Our number one defense is creating a healthy body. How many people do you know that still get sick while wearing a mask, getting their vaccine and social distancing?

To better inform you, masks that protect from respiratory droplets are labeled as N95 and must be fitted by professionals who have the proper equipment. PERIOD. A surgical mask is for during surgeries or coming into contact with certain patients in a hospital. Cloth masks are for environmental hazards such as sun and cold. This is the purpose of each mask. It is important to understand the purpose of each mask and the mode of transmission when considering masks. In other words, it is important to understand how you can become infected by a pathogen to determine effective PPE gear. Most PPE gear are for professional use. Non-medical professionals do not have the education to effectively use a mask or any other PPE gear aseptically.  Medical professionals are trained and checked off on skills of proper PPE usage. The best defense against any virus is to wash your hands, especially prior to eating or handling food.

The covid vaccine is a personal decision but I encourage you to look at my vaccine blog here to do your own research on vaccines in general. The covid vaccine is still an experimental drug that is not fully understood and is still not approved by the FDA.

Now, I am by no means telling you to not do these things. It is your body, your choice. Both theories are in fact important in addressing health and wellness. If our bodies do not have a strong enough immune system to deal with pathogens naturally, then we need assistance to address the situation but again, as a last resort. The problem with the germ theory is overuse and resulting in a first resort response to an illness.

To sum it up, according to some, “Germs bad”; your body, the terrain is everything; antibiotics and vaccines are bandaids; and leave PPE usage to the professionals.

So which theory do you agree with?

Key words

Autonomic nervous system– Controls the automatic functions of the body such as breathing, heart and digestion… Things that occur without thinking. This system is made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

Parasympathetic nervous system- Is your Rest-to-digest response. This allows your body to relax while your stomach does the work to properly digest.

Sympathetic nervous system- Your fight-or-flght response. When you feel stressed, your body reacts. Your heart rate increases and your digestion decreases.

Enteric nervous system– The main controller of digestion. This is the part of the nervous system that controls your gut including peristalsis (moving food) along the digestive tract. Some say this is “the second brain” in the body.

Stay with me here…..

The longest most utilized nerve of the nervous system is the vagus nerve. It plays a major role in your bodily functions by sending signals from your brain down to the digestive system including the heart and lungs. This nerve is a major component in the parasympathetic nervous system. The vagus nerve has many responsibilities, it regulates heart rate, plays a vital role in blood pressure, and can improve gastrointestinal function.

When your body is stressed, your fight-or-flight is always turned on which will not allow for rest-to-digest thus prohibiting proper digestion and optimal nutrients. This is why they say, stress and mental health can affect your physical health. Chronic stress can affect your immune response. Your body’s first response to handling something that is stressed or injured is to repair the body, the location site with inflammation. Temporary inflammation is a normal bodily function. The parasympathetic nervous system kicks in and calms everything down.

However, if the nervous system is not working properly and you enter this cycle of chronic stress and inflammation, this can lead to all types of problems such as decreased immunity (sick often), anxiety, depression, etc. Once the cup is full and over flows, big problems start to occur.

But this is where chiropractic care can help because they can correct that fight-or-flight response. Chiropractors can align the spine and adjust your atlas (in the neck). If the atlas and vertebrae are misaligned, this can cause a lack of blood supply going to the vagus nerve. Remember the vagus nerve is the pathway between your brain and gut. The lack of blood supply can interfere with the proper functioning of the vagus nerve, thus decreasing the communication to the digestive system, resulting in a sluggish response such as decreased peristalsis (digestion).

Chiropractors are able to access the vagus nerve without surgery or medication to balance your nervous system, improve digestion, protecting your microbiome, thus improve your immune system.

Adverse Effects

If your nervous systems are not balanced, and your vagus nerve is not functioning properly, it can cause many types of adverse health conditions and disease associated with chronic inflammation. Some of these conditions include….

• Decreased immune function making you more susceptible to illness/infection
• GI issues such as constipation, acid reflux, IBS
• Skin conditions
• Chronic pain, brain fog
• Heart disease, high blood pressure
• Osteoporosis, arthritis

In addition, chiropractic care is not limited to just adults. We take our children each year before the school year starts. Our chiropractor is the single, most amazing provider I have ever met. Chiropractic care is preventative wholistic care and should be a part of your annual health care practice or as needed.

Causes

SIBO is not yet well understood. Here are a few causes resulting in over growth of bacteria.

• Poor nutrition, diet
• The PH in your gut changes
• Poor immune system
• The muscular function in your intestines are not functioning properly. Also known as slow motility. This can result in bacteria overgrowth from undigested food
• Over use of PPIs (AKA medication for reflux)
• Antibiotic usage- It only takes one course of antibiotics to throw off your gut microbiome.

Common health conditions associated with SIBO include:

• Viral (stomach bug)
• IBS, Celiac, Crohn’s
• Gastroparesis
• Hypochlorhydria
• Nerve damage (Chiropractors are your best friends)
• Cirrhosis and portal hypertension
• Strictures or adhesions

Risk Factors

Chronic health conditions that slow the gut motility are a major risk factor. These include Crohn’s, Parkinsons, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and medications such as narcotics. Heavy alcohol usage will increase your risk as well.

Symptoms

SIBO symptoms mostly affect the gut. However, the more chronic the condition, the more broad the symptoms can be. Initially you may feel digestive issues such as pain especially after eating, bloating, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, gas, and/or feeling full. If you dont address SIBO, this can lead to some if not all of the following symptoms….

• Food allergies/ sensitivities
• Skin issues such as rashes, acne, eczema
• Chronic sinus infections
• Fatigue, brain fog
• Swollen, painful joints
• Hormonal disruptions
• Gallbladder

Diagnosis

The ‘gold standard’ for non-invasive SIBO testing is a hydrogen breath test. This test measures levels of hydrogen and methane gas in your breath.

Positive Intestinal Permeability Test measures the ability of two nonmetabolizing sugar molecules mannitol and lactulose getting through the digestive lining. This is measurable via a urine sample.

Zonulin is another test that can be utilized. Zonulin acts like a patch for holes in the intestinal lining. If zonulin is present or elevated, it indicates the body is producing more to repair the leaky spaces in the small intestines.

Food antibody tests are also utilized and can be indicative of SIBO or leaky gut.

Very often SIBO is missed. Many people can go for years with out a proper diagnosis. At this point, many symptoms are occurring. One common confusion of SIBO is acid reflux. Before you start acid reflux treatments, discuss symptoms of a possible SIBO diagnosis. PPI’s and acid reflux medication can worsen SIBO symptoms. If you’re experiencing symptoms, keep pushing for answers.

Treatments

When addressing any type of symptoms, it is essential to find the root cause that may be contributing to the illness. Whether it is the migrating motor complex, structural issues such as adhesions or any of the above mentioned causes, the root cause needs to be addressed so healing can occur.

However, A good place to start would be an elimination diet of removing irritating substances such as reactive foods or imbalanced gut bacteria.

Keeping a food journal. Sometimes it can take a couple days for your body to react to an aggravating food. Keep an journal of the foods you eat and how you feel after each meal. Also, jot down when you use the bathroom.

The next step would be to look at your nutritional status. A good nutritional guide to utilize during this time is low FODMAP foods, short for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Which is basically high in fiber and low in sugar. Sugar feeds bacteria!

Keeping your gut PH in balance will help keep the good bacteria and rid of the bad. Most common acidic foods include high refined sugar, lactose, Wheat gluten, alcohol, NSAIDs.

Digestive enzymes help break down and absorb foods you eat. There are other forms of digestive enzymes that also help supplement your HCL levels, the acid in your stomach. Remember stomach acid breaks down food. Be cautious on usage because it can be too much causing adverse affects of dumping syndrome leading to malabsorption. Digestive enzymes with added HCL should only be used under a providers supervision.

Support the body with detoxification. When you change your diet, the bad bacteria will not like this and start to die-off. This buildup of toxins needs to be removed from the body. A safe way to detox for any age is to sweat with activity, and/or epsom salt baths. However, some people require more help with detoxing. Keep in mind, detoxing can make you feel a bit worse before you feel better. Seek help from a holistic provider to properly detox at any age.

If you’re experiencing constipation from slow motility, magnesium and vitamin C daily will help keep you regular. Talk to your provider about dosing for treating constipation. Like most supplements, start low and go slow. The main goal of SIBO treatments is to keep the pipes running smoothly and not backed up, slow or sluggish to prohibit more bacteria.

Chiropractor care and applied kinesiology is the single most best thing you can do, aside from nutrition, to help your body heal and be healthy. The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in your body starting from the neck down to the GI system. It’s a major component in the parasympathetic nervous system, affecting every major system and organ in your body. It sends signals in your body controlling your fight-or-flight, and rest-or-digest response… Pretty important! If the nervous system is not balanced, it can wreak havoc on the other systems in your body including your GI system.

Lastly, its time to repopulate the gut with good bacteria. A probiotic will help balance your flora. It is best to avoid general store bought and use refrigerated products only. Some probiotics will aggravate your stomach with SIBO. It is best to start low and go slow to find what works best. Probiotic rich foods can help improve that balance more naturally prior to starting supplements.

Take Away

The key point regarding SIBO is to keep your food moving along the digestive track while eating healthy, hydrating and exercise daily.

What symptoms do you experience? When are they at its worse? Does your child have symptoms of SIBO?

However, the B’s I am actually referring to in this article are the 8 B’s….. B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12. These B’s are water-soluble vitamins that are responsible for making red blood cells, assist in metabolism and are important for optimal neurological functioning.

Health Benefits

Vitamin B complex vitamins helps prevent infections including support for…..

• Cardiovascular health and red blood cells
• Brain function and proper nerve function
• Muscle tone
• Digestion and Appetite
• Energy levels
• Hormones
• Cholesterol
• Eyesight
• Fetal Brain development

Types of B vitamins

Thiamin (B1)– Thiamin helps create energy for brain and neurological function playing a major role in muscle contraction and nerve signals.

Riboflavin (B2)– Riboflavin plays a major role in energy production. it helps convert the food you consume such as carbohydrates into adenosine triphosphate producing energy.

Niacin (B3)- Niacin helps metabolize our food, helps our nervous system to function properly and helps keep our skin healthy. In addition, this vitamin can improve cardiovascular function by supporting cellular energy production thus boosting HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.  

Pantothenic acid (B5)- Pantothenic acid helps break down fats and carbohydrates for energy.

Pyridoxine (B6)– Pyridoxine helps forms hemoglobin build new red blood cells. It also is involved in sleep patterns due to its ability to produce serotonin, melatonin and norepinephrine.

Biotin (B7)– Best known for supporting healthy hair, skin and nails.

Cobalamin (B12)– Vitamin B12 is essential for brain development, cognitive function and neural myelination. B12 deficiancy during pregnancy has been associated with impaired cognitive development in early childhood. B12 helps with synthesizing DNA, red blod cells and nerves. It works with vitamin B9 to produce red blood cells.

Folate (B9)– AKA Folic Acid, AKA Folinic Acid but I like to call this one the Queen B. Folic acid is a synthetic form of Folate. Folate is the naturally occurring form of vitamin B9 and the most active form is known as levomefolic or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF).

Vitamin B9 in most commonly known for fetal health and development, and plays a critical role in the nervous system. It reduces the risk of neural tube defects, like spina bifida. It also helps red blood cell growth. It is essential for DNA production, correct cell division, activating B12, reducing homocysteine levels and supporting the synthesis of SAMe.

Most dietary folate is converted into 5-MTHF in the digestive system before entering your bloodstream. However, when folate/folic acid enters a cell, it needs to be converted into 5-MTHF before the body can utilize it. This conversion can be hindered by a gene variant that some people carry. This gene, MTHFR helps produce an enzyme that coverts folate/folic acid into folinic acid leading to the most active form of methylfolate that is utilized in cells. In other words, if you have the gene that stops you from utilizing folate, you could be compromised with health conditions related to B9 deficiency. If you take B9 and dont know if you carry this gene, you could be over dosing in B9 if your body is not metabolizing this properly. You can read about the MTHFR gene here.

Food Source

• Leafy green vegetables
• Salmon
• Eggs
• Milk, cheese
• Citrus fruit

Risk factors

• Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, and Inflammatory bowel disease
• HIV
• Alcoholism
• Kidney conditions
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Common Side effects

For the most part common side effects for B complex vitamins include upset stomach or flushing may occur. However, higher doses can lead to…

• Vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea
• Nerve damage
• light sensitivity, blurred vision
• Skin rashes
• Bright yellow urine from you body excreting excess vitamin

Concerns of Deficiency

If a deficiency is left untreated, you could be at risk for developing

• Anemia
• Skin conditions
• Digestive issues
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Neuropsychiatric disorders
• Birth defects

Drug Interactions

Like with any new medication or supplement, consult with your practitioner. Just to name a few products that interact with this supplement:

• Some antibiotics
• Anti-seizure medications
• Anti-coagulants
• Cancer medications
• Cholesterol medication
• Kidney medication

History

In 1713, Lemmery and Geofgroy discovered the importance of iron in the body. However, it is believed that during much earlier times, iron was used for therapeutic purposes. At this time, no one was fully aware of iron and its usefulness other than it had “healing powers”.

Health Benefits

Iron has many benefits to our health and wellness. Although, iron is essential for hemoglobin transportation, it is also important for the following….

• Energy Production
• DNA Production/Gene regulation
• Antioxidant Protection
• Immunity- Activation and proliferation of immune cells
• Detoxification Process
• Brain motor function
• Mental clarity and cognitive function
• Sleep
• Synthesis of some hormones- This is important for thyroid patients. Insufficient iron levels can alter and reduce the conversion of T4 to T3. It can also have an affect on cortisol levels.

Forms

Iron is a mineral essential for health. The body can not make iron alone. Iron comes in supplemental and food form. The best source of iron is from animals known as heme. Plant sourced iron (nonheme) is not well absorbed. The body absorbs two to three times more iron from animal sources than from plants. However, eating foods high in vitamin C can facilitate iron absorption which I will get to a bit further down.

Supplement forms

Ferrous/ferric is just the form of iron utilized. The sulfate, gluconate and citrate are the carriers it is bound to, such as salt, or sugar.

• ferrous sulfate
• ferric sulfate
• ferrous gluconate
• ferric citrate

Food forms

• Lean beef
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Eggs
• Peanut butter
• Tofu
• Baked potatoes.
• Cashews
• Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach
• Beans and lentils
• Fruits like banana, apples and pomegranates

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can enhance iron absorption. Eating iron rich foods with also a source of vitamin C will help the body absorb iron into the cells. The following foods are high in vitamin C

• oranges
• broccoli
• red/green peppers
• strawberries
• potatoes

Symptoms of Deficiency

Iron deficiency is one of the most common types of anemia. Symptoms include

• Fatigue
• headaches
• Pale skin
• Weakness, Dizziness
• Glossitis (inflamed tongue)

Risk Factors for Deficiency

The following populations are at a higher risk for developing iron deficiency.

• Pregnancy- Increased blood volume requires more iron to deliver oxygen to both mom and baby.
• Babies- The first 6 months of life, babies store enough iron to meet their needs. However, after the first six months, iron needs increase.
• Women- blood loss during menstrual cycle and child birth
• Malabsorption- certain conditions such celiac disease, cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis
• Diet
• Cancer
• Elderly
• People on blood thinners
• Kidney failure, on dialysis

Common Side Effects of Iron

• Stomach upset/pain
• constipation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea, vomiting
• Dark stools
• Heartburn

All these side effects are generally correlated to how well your body is absorbing the Iron. Taking plenty of Vitamin C will help with absorption.

Interactions

• Milk, caffeine, antacids or calcium supplement
• levothyroxine and levodopa
• Speak to your provider if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Diabetes- High iron can be correlated with risk of heart disease
• GI- Iron can cause irritation because it can be hard to absorb. This can upset the stomach, ulcers, or any intestinal inflammatory disease such as UC or Crohns
• Neuro- Excess iron can have effect on the development and progression of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

• The nature of the intervention- The patient should understand relevant medical information.
• The Risks and Benefits- All the good, the bad, and the ugly should be disclosed. Ask worst case and best case scenario. Ask for data and their professional experience.
• The alternatives of the intervention- All options should be disclosed. Ask…. Is this my only option? Is there anything else that can be done?
• Assessment of knowledge- It is often difficult to comprehend and recall information given during informed consent. It is so important to not make any decisions until you absorbed the information. When my daughter was initially going through her diagnosis, I brought one of my medical friends with us to help us absorb what was happening. Recall and summarize to the provider to confirm your understanding.

Types of Consent

• Implied Consent- This type of interaction usually occurs during a physical exam. By allowing the exam, you are giving consent.
• Written consent- This type of consent occurs with invasive procedures with more risks involved such as surgery or procedures.
• Emergency Consent- This type of consent occurs when treatment is immediate and a patient surrogate/guardian is not present.

The 4 principles of informed consent

• Decision making- The capacity to understand the options and consequences.
• Disclosure- Providing information regarding the benefits and the risks involved making an informed decision.
• Comprehension- Explained in language or terminology that is understood.
• Voluntarily granting consent- Without coercion or duress. Any patient who is legally competent to be making medical decisions has the right to consent and refuse any and all treatment, even if this may result in serious consequences such as death. Not only is consent freely given, it can also be freely withdrawn at any point during treatment.

Children are an exception

Minors cannot give consent and therefore a parent/legal guardian may do so. However, a pediatric patient should participate in the decision-making process whenever reasonable. It is important to educate the pediatric population on body autonomy. It is crucial to provide disclosure of diagnostics and treatment information allowing choices of care when possible. Children and teens should be a part of any plan of care.

Health Care Surrogate

Having a health care surrogate is so important for patients who are not capable of giving informed consent. It is vital to have the surrogate be apart of the ongoing health care plan so they are readily informed on the patients wishes. Choosing someone that knows you well is always a good idea so they can advocate your wishes.

A BASIC PATIENT RIGHT……..

The right to consent is a basic patient right by providing enough information to make an informed decision. You are your child’s number one advocate. Ask the why and understand all your options before making any health care related decisions.

Why are some people concerned regarding vaccines and why are others not concerned.

Are Vaccines safe

I have my opinions on this. However, as a holistic advocate, I encourage you to research the facts to make the best informed decision possible. I will say there are numerous chemicals in a vaccine. These chemicals are known as DNA disruptors. What does that even mean, a DNA disruptor?!  It means just what it says, the chemical that is injected into your body disrupts the natural makeup that makes up who you are and changes it. Alters it. So what does that mean long term? For some, it means absolutely nothing. For others, it can be minor to life altering changes. And it can also be passed down genetically to your children.

Why are some people “Anti-Vaxx”

First, I don’t like this term “anti-vaxx”. In the beginning of my nursing days, people who didn’t want a flu shot, were not considered anti-vaxx and no one even bat an eye if you declined a vaccine. Hep A was optional. Flu… optional. Rota… didnt even exist. At some point the narrative changed. The flu vaccine became mandated in hospitals for health care workers, and providers were encouraged to push the vaccine on all patients. This was the beginning of the end for forced vaccines. What once was considered a vaccine to protect yourself has now become an idea to protect each other. The notion to hold others accountable for your own health care.

Most people believe anti-vaxxers are anti-science. That is far from the truth. They are very pro-science. They are just pro-science that is not agenda driven to fit a narrative. Ill let you draw your own conclusions as to what I mean by this but I will say that not everything the government suggests has our best interest in mind.

The people who are not for vaccines are generally people who have experienced or know someone close who has experienced a vaccine related injury. They have been stone walled by modern medicine and led down the path of alternative medicine in order to better understand why their child has these symptoms and how to relieve those symptoms. Most importantly, they know and understand the ingredients in a vaccine. You will never meet someone that has truly researched vaccines and still vaccinates.

Why are some people “pro-vaccine“

They prefer to receive a vaccine rather than the disease. It’s a double-edge sword. That’s okay, I can relate to some degree. I mean, I have taken care of elderly patients back in my day who have suffered from Polio. No thank you. These pro-vaxx people have taken vaccines their whole life and have not had a related injury, or perhaps they have and do not even realize it. For those that are pro-vaxx, I am not here to change your mind. I encourage all to research anything that is a part of their medical care plan.

Research, Research, Research…..

We are in a world today where we cant act or even breathe unless it is research driven. You know, “science”. And I agree to an extent because I am a nurse and I love science, especially biology. However, not everything in life is absolute. We also have to really consider where our information, our “science”, is coming from? Who benefits from this information? And is the research unbiased? I don’t want to give off the notion that I am only anti-vaxx, anti-science, or pro-vaxx. To each their own. However, I want to educate others to think and listen before deciding on any type of health care for their family.  Here are some links to help you research vaccines. I think these sites do a pretty good job at being unbiased and just give the facts.

The Ingredients

This link offers a list of ingredients for each vaccine. Take a look at the ingredients and research each item. Some words like “phthalates” are hard to understand but this is a chemical that can affect the liver, kidney, lungs and reproductive system. If you google “phthalates”, you will notice almost every website discussing the chemical as toxic. However, the CDC and FDA seems to find that “there is not enough research” to determine this chemical as toxic to our health.

The Vaccine Guide

This link will provide Scientific and government researched data by toxicologist regarding all vaccine information.

Do Vaccine related injuries exist

Yes. I will not sit here and claim this vaccine gave a child XYZ diagnosis. A vaccine cannot give you a disease. However, a vaccine is a DNA disruptor. It has the ability to turn on genes like a light switch so-to-speak and THAT can cause an illness. It can be a big life altering injury or it can be something that is gradual, leading to chronic illness. Vaccine injuries are real and they do exist. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise or belittle this fact. I am sorry if you disagree, do not understand or refuse to understand. They exist. Period. They exist so much that they have an entire website dedicated to reporting an vaccine related injury. An entire website dedicated to lawsuits related to vaccine injuries. And an entire congressional bill dedicated to protecting corporations that create vaccines. See below a few more links to research.

Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)

This link is a website for reporting adverse reactions from a vaccine.

H.R. 5546- National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986

This Link brings you to the vaccine act basically relieving any vaccine manufacturer/corporation from liability of any vaccine injury.

Compensation for vaccine injuries

This link will direct you to the compensation trust fund program for vaccine related injuries. This program is funded by federal excise taxes rather than holding the corporations accountable to enforce safer standards for better quality vaccines.

Reported lawsuits for injuries

These lawsuits that are occurring around the country that help advocate for informed consent and vaccine injures.

Informed Consent

You can still believe in vaccines but the risk of a vaccine injury is very real. Some kids will have mild side effects such as fever, tired and run down, maybe even a rash. However, some kids will exhibit major neurological symptoms. A doctor is morally and legally obligated to tell you any risks involved with any medication, procedure, or intervention. Ask your doctor about the good, the bad and the ugly. True informed consent explains all the risks, even the scary ones. True informed consent at one point did exist, however, that no longer holds completely true today. Read more about informed consent here.

What can I do to keep the discussion going?

• If you question the decision to get or not get vaccines for your child, do more research until you feel comfortable about your decision.
• Abbreviated or adjusted vaccine schedule is also an option.
• A medical or religious exemption is also an option.
• Titers can be utilized to assess for immunity after initial dose rather than numerous series.
• Own your beliefs with whatever you decide. It is your decision and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
• Don’t parent shame others for the choices they make for their kids. Life is hard enough these days. Remember, not any two people are alike.

Having a pro-vaxx or anti-vaxx stance does not make you right nor wrong. It means everyone comes from different walks of life. Its hard to see another perspective if we do not listen. In the interest of medical freedom, I hope this allows people the opportunity to learn more so they can make the best, most informed decision.

Nutritious food can support a child’s healthy growth and development, and play a major role in boosting the immune function. A major part of the immune system is found in the gut.

Healthy eating starts as soon as your baby can start solid foods. Kids are not born with an aversion to fruits and veggies. If your baby makes a funny face during those first few bites, it is more due to learning and understanding a new taste and texture. Conditioning to healthy foods happens over time as kids are exposed to healthy foods. The sooner you introduce nutritious choices, the easier it is for them to develop a healthy relation with food that will follow them into adult hood.

And it starts with meal planning.

Read further to understand what is considered healthy and ways to encourage kids to eat healthy.

Benefits of a Healthy Meal Plan

Im a big believer in everything in moderation. Maintaining a healthy body and consuming proper nutrients can reduce your risk to many common health conditions such as…..

• Diabetes
• Iron deficiency
• Dental caries (cavities)
• High blood pressure and heart disease
• Obesity
• Cancer

Everything in moderation.

Serving Size

It is hard to determine how many calories your child is consuming each day if you dont follow serving sizes with each meal and snack. However, it truly is NOT necessary to follow your child’s caloric intake unless they are having issues with keeping their weight, are over weight and/or suffer from chronic congenital disorders requiring caloric intake such as cardiac, endocrine, and Gastro pathologies. If your child is a healthy weight, the best way to measure the proportions to serve is to serve each food group according to the size of their fist. Children should consume a diet in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy. Generally, kids need three meals and two snacks per day. Caloric intake varies depending on the age and activity level of the child. Somedays they will literally eat a granola bar all day and other days they may eat more than their weight. Below is a general idea of how many calories children should intake each day.

Caloric Intake

American heart association recommends:

1-3 years of age 900-1000kcal/day

4-8 years of age 1200-1400kcal/day

9-13 years of age 1600-1800kcal/day

14-18 years of age 1800-2200kcal/day

Example: 1 medium sized banana is about 100 calories of the daily intake

Daily Dietary Requirements

• Grains: 3 servings
• Veggies: 3-4 servings
• Fruits: 2-3 servings
• Dairy: 3 servings
• Protein: 3 servings
• Fats: Seldom

Good Sources for Vitamins

• Vitamin A– A good source comes from Fish and eggs or plant based such as yellow/orange foods.
• Vitamin C– A good source comes from citrus fruits but also green veggies like broccoli and spinach.
• Vitamin D– A good source comes from fish and eggs but also the sun. Most people are deficient in D and would benefit to supplementation because not a huge amount comes from food.
• Iron– Tofu, leafy green veggies and beans are a great source of iron.
• Zinc– Mushrooms offer a great source of zinc if you can get your child to eat these. However, red/white meat, seafood, eggs, beans, chick peas, seeds and nuts are a great source as well.

*You can follow each link for more food sources and other information regarding each vitamin/mineral.

Read Your Labels

Here are four simple steps to follow when looking at package labels. Click here to read more in depth about nutritional labels.

Step 1: Claims on the front

Step 2: Serving Size, Total Calories, Percent Daily Values

Step 3: Nutritional Facts/Terms

Step 4: The additives

SNACKING

Some children get hungry when they are bored. This is why kids snack so much during the summer. A good rule of thumb is to offer an apple or a banana. Snacking is perfectly fine but provide healthy snacks for good eating habits. I am all about survival and so not a pintrest worthy mom so here are a few ideas that can easily be a grab-and-go

• Fresh or dried fruits
• Veggies with dip such as ranch or hummus
• Cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, milk
• Crackers or pretzels with peanut butter or hummus

Hydration

Below are general guidelines. A good rule for hydration is a cup for each age. So a two year old should drink about 2 cups a day. However, keep in mind children require more fluids with increased activity.

• Toddlers: 2 to 4 cups
• 4-8 years: 5 cups
• 9 -13 years: 7 to 8 cups
• 14 and up: 8 to 11 cups (depending on age)

Special Age Considerations

Infants–

• Breast-feeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development. Try to maintain breast-feeding for 12 months. It is perfectly fine to breastfeed beyond 12 months. There is no right or wrong, it is a personal choice between mom and infant. We are huge breast-feeding advocates! However, we support all moms and believe fed is best if that is your choice for your family.
• Transition to other sources of nutrients can begin at about 6 months of age to ensure sufficient micronutrients in the diet. Keep in mind, formula/breast milk is the major source of nutrients. Table feeding is more for developmental learning the first year of life.
• Delay introducing 100 percent juice until at least 6 months of age and limit to no more than 4 oz/day. Juice should only be fed from a cup and cut in half. What I mean by cut in half is 2oz of juice mixed with 2oz of water.
• Don’t overfeed infants and young children — they can usually self-regulate the amount of calories they need each day.

Children–

Foods to Avoid Choking Risk in Toddlers

• Raw carrots, celery, green beans
• Large pieces of hot dog
• Cherries or anything with pits
• Whole grapes
• Round, hard candy
• Peanuts, other nuts
• Large globs of peanut butter or large marshmallows
• Popcorn
• Gum

Picky Eaters- It is very normal for toddlers to be picky eaters and I dislike even labeling kids as “picky eaters”. They may prefer one or two very specific foods and then refuse to eat anything else. Favorite foods might change on a daily basis and those changes can be unpredictable. They may eat more on some days than others. Try not to focus on these changes, instead focus on finding healthy food choices and just accept that their food preferences will change. Children shouldn’t be forced to finish meals if they aren’t hungry. As time goes on, your kid’s eating habits will stabilize. If your child is not receiving the proper nutrition from the foods they eat, supplements may be considered. You can consider a multi-vitamin. We see typical deficiencies in iron and Vitamin D. Children utilize a lot of energy and require more frequent meals which is why healthy snacking is important for in between meals.

Over Eating-

I know a lot of parents can get stuck on how much their child eats. There is no reason you should force your child to eat or stop eating. This can create a bad relationship with food. Children need to learn to listen to their own body and self-regulate the amount of calories they need each day. If your child eats their entire meal at dinner and walks in the kitchen asking for a snack, you have two ways this can go…… offer them a fruit snack such as an apple or suggest they come back in twenty minutes for that apple. Some kids can eat fast that their brain doesn’t have time to catch up with their belly. In other words, give them some time to digest their food before you offer a healthy snack option. I by no means suggest you dont feed your baby if they are hungry. Feed that belly! But, there are ways to understand where that hunger is coming from if they are eating all day long. Diabetes and obesity is very prevalent in our society and the number one way to combat this is healthy food habits. Here is a link to assist with ways to educate our children on how to form a healthy relationship with food and nutrition.

Adolescents–

• Sports nutrition- Make sure your sports player is consuming enough calories to meet up with supply and demand. Generally a sports player can consume almost twice the normal amount of calories than a non-athlete. If your child is heavily into sports, make sure you speak with his/her health provider and/or coach to discuss a nutritional plan.
• Junk food- New drivers can access junk food much easier.
• Late night eating- Try to encourage a “closed kitchen” after late hours.

Special diet considerations

• Vegetarian, Etc. Living in a household with special dietary needs can have great health benefits. However, this can sometimes present a challenge to meet nutritional demands. Be mindful of what your child is missing. Supplement instead with plenty of beans, avocado, nuts and nut butter, seeds, dried fruits, coconut oil, eggs, soy, and dairy products. A good idea is to consult a nutritionist to ensure your child is receiving the proper nutrients missing from the average dietary food group.
• Gluten free- A lot of products have gluten. This is hard to stay clear from and still receive adequate nutritional requirements. Read your labels and find substitutes to meet the average dietary requirements.

Example Meal plan

Some quick ideas to get you started with a meal plan for your children. These are pretty average meals for the average family. When you can, buy organic products. The most important Organic foods are meats and fruits/veggies without hard skins (think avocados hard skin).

Breakfast:

• Smoothies! My go-to for my kids. you can add everything in there. Just add an apple or a banana to give it a better flavor. Here is a link to our favorite smoothies recipe.
• Yogurt with granola and berries, whole grain toast with nut butter and banana
• Oatmeal with fruit and honey drizzle
• Hard-boiled eggs on hand for an easy source of protein at breakfast.

Snack 1:

• Granola bar, lara bars are great for school snacks
• Apple
• Orange

Lunch:

• Peanut butter with banana on a wrap to make a pinwheel, carrots, strawberries,
• Quesadilla, tomato/cucumber with dipping sauce, applesauce
• Turkey pinwheels (honey mustard for dipping), edamame, dried apricots

*The best sauces for dipping are mustard base or oil based so honey mustard, avocado dressing, balsamic vinaigrette

Snack 2:

• Banana, strawberries, blueberries and yogurt based dip
• pretzels, popcorn, nuts, raisins, dried fruit

Dinner:

• Tacos- beef, lettuce, mashed avocado, salsa on a tortilla wrap
• Grilled chicken, broccoli, rice, applesauce

What type of meal plan do you use? Tried and true recipes your child loves? Where are my allergy babies at…. please share these recipes too.

We have to start some where.

Shopping and Cooking

Engage your children in grocery shopping and cooking. If they are old enough, they can search for a recipe, write down the ingredients and help prepare the meal. For younger kids, they can help write down ingredients for shopping and they can help with the meal prep. I am a worrier around the hot stove top or oven for my youngest two kids but they do help chop, pour and mix. While shopping, teach your kids to read labels. Simple items on labels such as….What does organic mean. What item is high in vitamins and minerals. What are vitamins and minerals. Here you can learn more about product labels and nutritional facts. I might add, and I cant say this enough, but eat at the dinner table together. Its important to make dinner or eating a positive experience.

Intuitive Eating and Self awareness

Intuitive eating allows a person to make food choices without experiencing guilt and enjoys the pleasure of eating. It creates self awareness by allowing your child to understand his/her own hunger and fullness cues. It also encourages a mindful relationship with food, by understanding how foods make you feel. Its never a good idea to teach your children to eat everything on their plate because you’re teaching your child to ignore their own internal cues for hunger vs fullness. Instead, we are teaching kids to eat even if they are full and finish eating until your plate is empty. Also, when your kids want to snack all day, ask yourself, is it because they are hungry or perhaps bored. A good way to determine this is too offer a nutritious snack like a banana. My kids do this some evenings at bedtime. They generally don’t want the banana but sometimes, they eat the banana. Honor real hunger cues otherwise, you can trigger a tendency to overeat.

Everything in Moderation

Obsessing over diets or clean eating can do more harm then good if you are not enjoying the foods you eat. It is a much healthier approach to sustain good eating habits by enjoying all foods in moderation. What I mean by moderation is having a healthy rounded whole food diet but also having allowing yourself to have that glass of wine or allowing your child to eat that small bowl of ice cream.

Life is too short, so go ahead and have your cookie too.

Don’t Punish or Reward with Food

Giving sweets and soda as a reward can lead to over eating. These behaviors negate the healthy relationship with food. I too am so guilty of this at times. The, “if you eat all your dinner, we can get some ice cream later”.  Saying things like this can associate food as a negative and the ice cream as a positive causing a distorted view on eating for a reward and/or comfort.

Lead by Example

Children look to their parents/guardians as role models. They are ALWAYS watching. Set an example to be a great role model for mindful eating and nutrition and also having a positive mindset about your body image. Show your kids that nutritious foods are enjoyable and that you can enjoy all foods in moderation. What you set on the table each night is the precedence of how they will define nutrition. Also, don’t let your kids see you criticize your body, their body or any other body. If you feel uncomfortable in your own skin, don’t pass that down to your children by calling yourself too fat, too skinny, too anything that shows you dislike your body. All bodies come in different shapes and forms. Teach your children to embrace who they are and that their body is a “healthy body”.

I know all this stuff can be overwhelming especially if you are just starting to change the way you look at food. Am I eating too much or too little? The right foods or the wrong foods? If you take anything away from this, is to just eat healthy foods that are grown from the earth that are colorful but also to just enjoy life and have that damn cookie!

What are some fun recipes you and your family cook together?