Articles – Page 5 – Naturopathic Pediatrics

Can drinking more water make your kid smarter?

October 13, 2016

Adolescents 13-18, Babies 0-2, Children 5-12, Naturopathic Tricks and Tips, Nutrition, Toddlers 2-4

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Water intake is critical for many body functions, but it’s especially important for optimal brain health. It’s so important that the human body can’t live more than a few days without it. Water makes up to about 60-65% of your child’s total weight (up to 75% for infants). That’s a lot of water! Children are more likely to become dehydrated than adults because they lose more water through their skin. They also lack awareness of how much fluid they need to consume to stay hydrated. On top of that, they might not take into account all of the...

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Healthy Kids Get Sick Sometimes (Really!)

October 6, 2016

Babies 0-2, Children 5-12, Toddlers 2-4

In my family medicine practice, I make it a point to tell new parents at their baby’s 9-month well visit, “If she hasn’t had a fever yet, there’s a good chance she’ll have one before I see you back for the 12 month checkup.” Although it sounds alarming, getting sick with viral illnesses, colds, and flus is vital to the proper development of a child’s immune system, and it’s usually between the window of 9 and 12 months of age that a baby’s immune system first takes a robust stab at this whole fighting-off-infections-thing. Much like it’s important to exercise the muscles...

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Should Your Child Avoid Gluten?

September 27, 2016

Children 5-12, Nutrition

A few years ago, most of us didn’t even really know what gluten was. But now, almost all of us know someone or have at least heard of someone who avoids gluten, and gluten free options have become mainstream in a lot of places. Gluten gets blamed for all sorts of maladies: constipation and diarrhea, runny noses, rashes, and even behavioral problems. So, is it the gluten? What is gluten? Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in some grains. It IS present in wheat, rye, semolina, spelt / farro, barley, triticale, couscous (which is pasta) and Kamut® khorasan wheat. It is...

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Teen Acne: Why Food Matters and Simple Things You Can Do to Beat Breakouts

September 20, 2016

Adolescents 13-18, Nutrition, Vitamins and Supplements

For teens, acne breakouts can be a huge deal, affecting not just their skin but also their emotional well being. Teens who suffer from acne are more likely to also experience low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.1 And the rates of acne in the U.S. are increasing, with an estimated 50 million people currently affected by the condition.2 What Causes Acne? Acne is often a sign of deeper imbalances in health. Although the exact cause of acne is not entirely understood, it appears that some people’s skin produces excessive levels of oil and protein (called Keratin) that leads to clogged pores. When you...

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My Two Favorite Herbal Medicines for Infertility

September 16, 2016

Fertility

Have you ever consulted Dr. Google? If you have consulted Dr. Google for information regarding herbal medicine for infertility treatment you likely won’t get far (or get pregnant). Many of the herbal medicines recommended can be helpful, but my two favorites have research supporting their use. Licorice root and white peony. The combination of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and white peony (Paeonia lactiflora) has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of infertility. These two herbs have mainly been studied in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which can be a common cause for infertility. PCOS is a...

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Yogurt for your mood….your gut may be influencing how you feel!

August 30, 2016

Nutrition

// // Apparently vanilla yogurt may help improve your mood. Researchers looking at how mood affects your food choices, and how your food choices influence your mood, gave participants various yogurts. Apparently, the low fat vanilla yogurt performed the best for improving mood. But what researchers noticed is that all yogurts had a positive effect on mood. What caused this improvement in mood? Was it the sensory experience...

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Thinking outside the box: packing a healthy lunch your child will eat!

August 23, 2016

Nutrition

Are you looking forward to back to school time, but dreading packing lunches every night or in a rush before your child leaves for school? How about putting children in charge of packing their own lunch? Teaching children how to pack their own lunch is a valuable lesson for a few reasons: it’s a great way to teach them how to create a well-balanced meal, bringing a lunch can save money and make sure they are getting proper nutrition, and putting them in charge of this task also creates more time for you! Ditch the boring PB&J with these helpful resources: 100daysofrealfood.com This...

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What is functional abdominal pain? (A.k.a. tummy aches of unknown cause)

Functional Abdominal Pain – What Is It and What Can We Do About It?

August 16, 2016

Children 5-12

There's nothing like chronic pain to knock you off your feet. Now imagine being just a kid with chronic pain that no one can fully explain. As if you don't have enough going on with growing your body, dealing with hormonal changes, navigating family dynamics and peer pressure, and looking for yourself and your place in the world, now you have unrelenting pain. Fortunately we are learning more and more about it. So just what is this Functional Abdominal Pain? It is...

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A Naturopathic Approach to Treating Headaches in Kids

August 9, 2016

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12

// // Looking for a naturopathic approach to treating your child's headache? First make sure to rule out the common causes of headaches, and take a trip to their doctor if necessary. Next, figure out your child's headache triggers. Finally - check out some excellent natural remedies for headaches. Combined this approach can be very effective for treating common headaches in kids. Common causes of headaches in kids Common causes of headache are dehydration, illness, especially fever and stomach bugs, allergies, and stress. Kids may often experience headaches related to constipation. The cause of a headache should be evaluated by a...

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8 naturopathic approaches to treating your child's anxiety

8 Naturopathic Approaches to Addressing Your Child’s Anxiety

August 2, 2016

Anxiety, Children 5-12, Parenting, Toddlers 2-4

Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life. It can act as a motivator to help achieve goals, increase awareness of stressful situations, and even help to protect us from potential danger. But when children feel anxious, is it normal? Anxiety can be a normal part of your child’s development as they move through the different ages and stages of their life. Some fears are natural, and can help your child protect themselves. For example, if your child were playing in a field, and saw a bear approaching, anxiety in that circumstance would be protective, as it would likely...

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Could a special diet help your child's tummy aches? (Low Fodmap diets for IBS) #Naturopathic #NaturalMedicine

Could a special diet help your child’s tummy aches? (Low FODMAP diet for IBS)

July 26, 2016

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, Nutrition

// // Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that affects children and adults. It is estimated that 5-20% of children may develop IBS, with symptoms such as: Tummy pain, Bloating or visible abdominal distension Excessive gas Diarrhea Constipation Many parents are eager to find a dietary solution to IBS, and a low FODMAP diet is worth considering. What are FODMAPs? FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides Disaccharides Monosaccarides and Polyols. Essentially, these are all types of fermentable carbohydrates, meaning that once they reach the lower part of large intestine they are acted upon by the bacteria that live there. For...

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Do your kid’s squeezey food packets have mold in them?

July 19, 2016

Babies 0-2, Nutrition, Toddlers 2-4

// What kid doesn't love a squeezey packet. My 5 year old still asks for them. And I have to remind her that those are for little children (she is a big girl after all). When I first saw those as a new mom, I thought, oh wow, how fun. And of course I also thought, oh wow, how wasteful. Sometimes I am my own pain in the you know what. The reality of being me is that anytime I evaluate something I would like to add into my life, I need to know how "wasteful" it is and how...

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Glowing & Growing: healthy weight gain in #pregnancy. #Naturopathic

Growing and Glowing: Healthy Weight Gain in Pregnancy

July 12, 2016

Pregnancy

I see many pregnant women in my practice, and I love working with moms and dads to-be as they are so inspired to live and eat well. But, inevitably, they’ll come to an appointment upset because they’ve been told (or fear) that they’ve “gained too much weight”. Just recently, a first-time Mom was told that if she didn’t slow down her weight gain (by eating less and exercising more at 30 weeks pregnancy) she’d turn into a “chunky monkey.” Yes, you read that correctly. Her total weight gain was 26 lbs, so far from a concern. How much should you gain? So,...

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Should your family try an anti-inflammatory (AI) diet?

July 5, 2016

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, Nutrition

[pro_ad_display_adzone id="11973" corner_curl="1" corner_small=" 26" corner_big="120" corner_animate="1"] // // While gluten-free and casein-free (dairy-free) are terms that many people are now familiar with, it is not always clear why and when to avoid these foods and even if just these two are enough. The anti-inflammatory (AI) diet (and there are many versions of this) is not just one thing, but really a spectrum of dietary guidelines where the severity of symptoms helps determine how many foods to avoid. The basic AI diet avoids gluten, dairy, soy, corn, alcohol and sugar. More comprehensive versions also eliminate eggs, red meat, peanuts and nightshade...

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MTHFR: The Link Between ADD/ADHD, Folate, and Genetics

June 28, 2016

Adolescents 13-18, Anxiety, Autism, Children 5-12, Vitamins and Supplements

Attention Deficit Disorders: Do Genetics Play a Role? ADD and ADHD are some of the most common health issues in childhood, with ADHD affecting approximately 11% of children. The symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can affect life at home and at school with a significant impact on cognitive, academic, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning. Treatments for ADD and ADHD typically centers around stimulant medications like Ritalin and Adderall, which are associated with potentially serious side effects and don’t address the root cause of the disorders. In fact, there is growing evidence that ADD...

ADHD kids naturopathic medicine nutrition prevention

5 things to know before seeing a Naturopathic Doctor for Infertility

June 21, 2016

Fertility

Taking about infertility can be hard, especially if you’ve already been talking about it for awhile. So, here’s what you can expect at your first appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor. 1. Bring copies of any bloodwork and/or other tests you’ve had done. If you’ve already been worked up by a family doctor or OBGYN, try to bring copies of these to your first appointment. The results of these tests can help us get to the root cause of why you haven’t gotten pregnant. 2. Be prepared to talk about your period. We will ask you about the length of your cycle, whether you experience...

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Pregnancy and Constipation – How to get Things Moving!

June 18, 2016

Pregnancy

// // Pregnant and experiencing a change in bowel habits? Just another one of the many wonderful “woes” of pregnancy! Constipation is a frequent complaint amongst pregnant women, even for those who don’t typically experience it! You can thank progesterone for that as it tends to slow everything down a bit! Laxatives may be contraindicated in pregnancy (especially in the 1st trimester), so finding ways to “get things moving” can be a challenge. I like to focus on increasing soluble and insoluble fiber first, so here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know about these two types of fiber, and...

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Food Cravings in Pregnancy – What do they mean?

June 16, 2016

Pregnancy

// // Pregnancy. That time in a woman's life when she feels her body is not her own, and often feels like her food cravings are being driven by something other than her taste buds! We've all heard stories of late night trips to the grocery store, or impromptu stops at a drive-thru. And, in my practice I hear daily accounts of insatiable cravings for fruit (especially citrus) and aversions to foods such as meat, among others. I often joke that the first trimester should be labelled the "bread and cheese" trimester! Sound familiar? And then there are women who don't...

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5 Tips for Naturopathic Pre-Conception Care

June 9, 2016

Fertility

Planning a pregnancy? If you’re thinking about trying to conceive in the next 3-6 months, you may want to think about a few things first. 1. Folic Acid. Most women have heard about taking folic acid, but not all folic acid is created equal. Some people carry a gene that makes it difficult to produce the active form of folic acid (5-MTHF) from supplemental folate. This may be especially important to women over 35, or those who have had one or more miscarriages in the past. Talk to an ND about how best to take folate and consider looking for a prenatal...

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Naturopathic tricks to help your kids eat healthy foods.

Parents of Picky Eaters Unite!

April 24, 2016

Nutrition

We've recently just overcome the "picky eater" stage at our house, and I've also been counseling a number of parents about how to add variety to their child's diet. Here's a typical scenario I hear about: "My child used to be such a great eater. She'd eat anything and everything we gave her. Now, we rotate between a handful of foods, and often end up making something just for her to ensure that she's eaten something. I feel like a short order cook!" Sound familiar? Children often start out as "great eaters" as young toddlers, but become more selective as they get older. It...

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2 simple tricks to ease your baby’s nasal congestion

March 17, 2016

Babies 0-2

The baby boogers. Of all things that are absolutely adorable when you have a baby, the boogers are not. They are the first sign of a cold, and usually the last symptom to leave. Which sometimes means weeks of nasal congestion. Why are babies so boogery? Doesn't it seem like babies and toddlers produce an inordinate amount of mucus? The main reason babies and toddlers seem to have excessive mucus is because they cannot blow their noses or clear it into their throat effectively like adults can. Most children also experience the majority of their colds within the first few years of...

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Nutritional interventions for depression and anxiety in children

I think my child has PANDAS. What do I do next?

Pathological Demand Avoidance: An Unrecognized, Important Subtype of Autism

A naturopathic approach to preventing tick-borne diseases in kids. Part III – Building a Tick-Kit

A naturopathic approach to preventing tick-borne diseases in kids. Part II – preventing tick bites.

A naturopathic approach to preventing tick-borne diseases in kids. Part I – Types of Ticks, Timing, and Geography

Is Your Child Getting Enough Vitamins and Minerals? A Guide to Testing for Nutritional Deficiencies (Part 3 – Iron)

Can drinking more water make your kid smarter?

Healthy Kids Get Sick Sometimes (Really!)

Should Your Child Avoid Gluten?

Teen Acne: Why Food Matters and Simple Things You Can Do to Beat Breakouts

My Two Favorite Herbal Medicines for Infertility

Yogurt for your mood….your gut may be influencing how you feel!

Thinking outside the box: packing a healthy lunch your child will eat!

Functional Abdominal Pain – What Is It and What Can We Do About It?

A Naturopathic Approach to Treating Headaches in Kids

8 Naturopathic Approaches to Addressing Your Child’s Anxiety

Could a special diet help your child’s tummy aches? (Low FODMAP diet for IBS)

Do your kid’s squeezey food packets have mold in them?

Growing and Glowing: Healthy Weight Gain in Pregnancy

Should your family try an anti-inflammatory (AI) diet?

MTHFR: The Link Between ADD/ADHD, Folate, and Genetics

5 things to know before seeing a Naturopathic Doctor for Infertility

Pregnancy and Constipation – How to get Things Moving!

Food Cravings in Pregnancy – What do they mean?

5 Tips for Naturopathic Pre-Conception Care

Parents of Picky Eaters Unite!

2 simple tricks to ease your baby’s nasal congestion

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