Children's Health

Ah, to be a child again - full of energy, high metabolism, efficient elimination and detoxification... healthy and pure.

While all this is true, their little immune systems are also susceptible to infection - strep throat, ear infections, fevers, and more. There is evidence to suggest that childhood incidence of obesity, asthma, diabetes and cognitive and developmental disorders like Autism and ADHD are on the rise. The question is how do we best support optimal functioning in our children, naturally treat infection and prevent obesity and disease? Read on...

Ensuring your children are getting all the nutrients they need in a day can be one of the biggest challenges of parenthood. Not only is there NO TIME to meal plan, but most kids are not keen on 'healthy foods' or taking supplements. It's almost impossible to find quick, creative and tasty ways to fill them with all the 'right stuff'. Smoothies are a great breakfast option and an easy way to get some extra nutrients via supplementation of good fats, protein, fibre, greens or a multi vitamin powder. Use a dairy alternative like almond milk and a banana to add flavour and texture to the shakes. These are hard to pack for children on the go, however. Another option is making a yogurt muesli and fruit cup. The great thing about this option is that it can be made the night before. Simply add some raw oats, flax seeds, sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds to plain (sugar free) yogurt (or get creative with other grains, like red river cereal, kamut, spelt, even quinoa flakes). Add a hand full of fresh or frozen berries and a pinch of honey or maple syrup. I like to add cinnamon, too. You can let it sit in the fridge overnight or eat immediately. If needed, you can even add a multi vitamin powder to the mix. Breakfasts like this and the smoothie, will give your children the energy they need to last through the morning, without the spike and crash that comes with high sugar intake.

Lunches and school snacks also need to be high in protein and fibre to help regulate blood sugar. Snacks that are high in sugar, including fruit, can cause associated changes in mood and attention for children who need to perform cognitively well for success in the classroom. High blood sugar can interfere with concentration and cause hyperactivity while the crash from it can also interfere with concentration and cause lethargy and mood disturbances. There is a high rate of peanut allergies in North America, and as a result children must bring lunches and snacks which are peanut free. There are many ways to pack nutritious lunches for children still however while making it a fun experience for all. Leftovers provide a quick packing solution and wraps are incredibly versatile allowing for a variety of veggies and protein sources like eggs, chicken or canned tuna or salmon. Containers that will be used for heating lunches should be made from glass and not plastic to reduce chemicals leaking into the food. Quinoa makes a great cold salad and it is high in both fibre and protein, making it a perfect lunchtime addition. Play around for a mix of veg, oils and flavours that your kids will enjoy. Spend a few minutes with the kids on Sundays and get them to help you with some high fibre muffins, which you can sweeten with blueberries, bananas and/or molasses to skip the sugar. Throw them in the freezer, taking them out as needed. These are great to pack as a snack and because you made them yourself, you can ensure they are nut free.

If you are considering supplementation to fortify a picky diet, don't over do it. Consider some of these basics. A good quality multi for kids, helps to ensure they are getting the essential vitamins and minerals they need each day. There are now sugar free options, sweetened with fruit juices, stevia and xylitol, instead, to keep them tasty. There are also a variety of tasty greens, veggie or fruit powders that can quickly boost the vegetable and fruit servings your children are getting in a day. Probiotics can help support a healthy immune system, regulate digestion and promote regular elimination, preventing 'bouts diarrhea and/or constipation, common in children. They are also essential if you must use antibiotics. Good fats are also integral for healthy cognitive development. Fish oil gets a bad rap, but there are companies now that are making tasty fish oils, in dosages geared toward children. They don't have a fishy taste and you can easily 'sneak' them into cereal or on salad when they aren't looking.

Food sensitivities and food allergies have been associated with a variety of childhood concerns, from ear infections to bed wetting. If you believe that food sensitivities may be at play, try an elimination diet with your child. By eliminating the common triggers, and then reintroducing them individually, you can systematically assess which foods may need to be avoided or kept to a minimum. Milk, soy, corn, wheat and eggs are some of the food groups most often responsible for symptoms.

In the case of infection, don't jump to antibiotics immediately. Depending on the infection, many Naturopaths will try natural remedies for 3 days before suggesting antibiotics. As long as the children are under watchful eye to ensure infections are not progressing, these natural remedies can prevent the over use of antibiotics, which can lead to unwanted side effects. Research is now showing that antibiotic use is more often associated with reoccurring infection, as well. Mullein flower ear drops, vitamin C, echinacea and garlic capsules can all be extremely helpful in the treatment of otitis externa and media (ear infection). Strep throat can have dangerous consequences if left untreated, and there are times when antibiotics are necessary, that being said, if symptomology is mild, try gargling with a tincture of goldenseal, echinacea and calendula.

Xylitol is a very sweet sugar alternative that will please the kiddies taste buds, while helping to prevent throat and ear infections, as well as cavities. It comes in powder form and can be added to the breakfast ideas above. Fever is always a scary symptom in children, and although it may seem second nature it is so important to refrain from giving your children aspirin. Keep in mind that fever is the body's way of killing unwanted viruses and bacteria. To a certain degree, we don't want to suppress a fever at all. If your child seems to be coping, is not vomiting, has some appetite and is still responding, it is generally okay to take a watch and wait approach with fever. Call your doctor for advice on how high or how long to let a fever go on. A neutral bath or cold application can help to naturally reduce fever. It is also important to ensure your child is getting plenty of fluids and lots of support and comfort from you.

Wet socks/Cold socks treatments sound terrible, but they can really effectively stimulate the immune system. These treatments have been used to alleviate upper respiratory conditions, earaches, sinus infections, flu and sore throats. It can take as little as 4 hours or one night's sleep for symptoms to be significantly reduced. First soak only the foot portion of a pair of cotton (they must be cotton) socks in very cold water. Make sure to wring them out thoroughly after soaking. Put your child's feet in a bathtub or foot bath of hot water (as hot as tolerable). Make sure to keep the rest of the body warm, and have the water high enough to cover the ankles. Soak the feet for 5 -10 minutes. Remove feet from water and dry thoroughly. Immediately put on the cold, wet cotton socks, followed by a pair of dry wool socks over top (they must be wool!) Have the patient get into bed and make sure they are warm and covered up completely. Ensure that the feet will remain covered throughout the night. By morning, both pairs of socks should be dry, the immune system should be stronger and symptoms should be gone or improved. The idea is that this treatment stimulates blood and lymph flow away from the affected areas (in this case towards the feet) taking with it the pressure (as in sinus infection) and symptoms and helping to induce a good night's sleep, which helps to further support the body's ability to fight the infection. It works well for adults, too. Give it a try.

With funding for physical education and sport being taken away from many schools, the burden is on the family unit as a whole to ensure that children are getting outside and getting exercise on daily basis. It truly is one of the only ways to truly prevent obesity. Similarly, diabetes is directly related to obesity (lack of exercise) and diets high in refined sugars. Children learn by example, so set a good one. We all need to have fun and indulge from time to time, but try to ensure that your day to day eating habits are promoting healthy habits in your kids, as well. Keep you diet high in vegetables and fruits, lean protein and whole grains and avoid refined sugar and 'empty calorie' refined carbohydrates as much as possible. Stay active, eat healthy and enjoy each others company – some of the best advice for preventing disease and promoting optimal health.