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Why Am I Always Yelling, Tired, Crying? (Just What Is Postpartum Depression?) From Naturopathic Pediatrics. #PPD #Postpartum #Postpartumprogress

Why Am I Always Yelling / Tired / Crying? (Just What Is Postpartum Depression?)

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Do you find that you can't stop yelling at your family?  That you almost fall asleep driving yourself and baby to the doctor's office?  That you cry all the time?  It's possible you have Postpartum Depression.  Keep reading. I recently wrote an article on my personal blog about my experience with postpartum depression (PPD). I’m out of the woods now, but it lasted until my baby was well over a year old. I write about how I recognized it fairly early on and tried to get help for myself and did not succeed. Luckily for me it...

Gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo spiced persimmon cookies. #YUM! #Glutenfree

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Paleo Spiced Persimmon Cookies

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Paleo Spiced Persimmon Cookies These delicious paleo cookies are a perfect way to celebrate the Fall season! They are soft and chewy with just the right amount of sweetness and spice and since they don't contain any grains or dairy they are a good choice for health-conscious families and families with allergies. You can also make them vegan by substituting the eggs with ground flax or chia seeds. How to Ripen Persimmons In order to make these cookies you will need to locate Hachiya persimmons, which are the tear-dropped shaped variety most often used for baking. It's worth noting...

Magnesium for mental health: is your child getting enough?

Magnesium for mental health: is your child getting enough?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Magnesium is an important mineral for children’s overall health. It’s involved in over 300 types of reactions in the body  including energy production, regulating the functions of the muscles, nerves and heart, regulating blood pressure and blood sugar, and helping to maintain a healthy immune system. (Yes, it’s that important!) Unfortunately, between two and fifteen percent of the general US population has a magnesium deficiency, and only about a third of Americans are consuming the recommended daily intake. With nine out of ten kids not eating enough vegetables, it’s not surprising that they may not be getting...

A naturopathic approach to treating asthma (part I)

A Naturopathic Approach to Treating Asthma: Part I

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Naturopathic doctors use a variety of strategies to treat children with asthma – this includes both conventional asthma medications and natural therapies. Before we talk about natural treatments it is important to know a little bit more about the basics of asthma. What is asthma, anyways? Asthma is a chronic lung condition where the airway becomes inflamed and swollen. The swelling narrows the breathing tubes (called bronchioles), and causes difficulties in breathing. Often certain triggers will irritate the muscles around the airway, causing something called a bronchospasm.  When a bronchospasm occurs the muscles squeeze the airways creating an even smaller...

Does your child have social anxiety? From Naturopathic Pediatrics.

Does Your Child Have Social Anxiety?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Anxiety is a common problem.   Did you know that anxiety disorders affect 1 in 8 children?  Social Anxiety is just one type of anxiety disorder. There are others: panic disorder, selective mutism, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD, specific phobias, and separation anxiety. You can learn more about all of these here. Anxiety is treatable, but most kids are not getting treatment, according to this report. What are the symptoms of social anxiety? Shyness Nervousness Fear (of going out, of new situations, of appearing foolish, etc) Avoidance of certain (social) situations and activities While all of us, especially adolescents, experience...

Can drinking more water make your kid smarter? Dr. Martin from Naturopathic Pediatrics explains

Can drinking more water make your kid smarter?

(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...

Healthy Kids Get Sick Sometimes (Really!) What is the Hygiene Hypothesis?

Healthy Kids Get Sick Sometimes (Really!)

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...

Should Your Child Avoid Gluten? From NaturopathicPediatrics.com

Should Your Child Avoid Gluten?

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...

Teen acne: why food matters and simple things you can do to beat breakouts. From NaturopathicPediatrics.com

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

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...

My Two Favorite Herbal Medicines for Infertility

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...

Yogurt for your mood - your gut may be influencing how you feel! Naturopathic Pediatrics

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

// // 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...

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

  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...

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?

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...

A naturopathic approach to treating headaches in kids. From Naturopathic Pediatrics

A Naturopathic Approach to Treating Headaches in Kids

// // 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...

8 naturopathic approaches to treating your child's anxiety

8 Naturopathic Approaches to Addressing Your Child’s Anxiety

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...

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)

// // 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...

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

// 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...

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

Growing and Glowing: Healthy Weight Gain in 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,...

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

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

[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...

MTHFR: the link between ADD/ADHD, folate and genetics

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

  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...

5 things to know before seeing a naturopathic doctor for #infertility

5 things to know before seeing a Naturopathic Doctor for Infertility

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...