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What are Folic Acid, Folate, Methylfolate, and MTHFR, and Why Is Everyone Talking About Them?

What are Folic Acid, Folate, Methylfolate, and MTHFR, and Why Is Everyone Talking About Them?

January 26, 2016
1
0
General Health Tips, Nutrition, Pregnancy

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Most folks have heard by now that women need folate / folic acid, one of the B vitamins, to grow healthy babies.  Women who do not consume adequate folate run a much greater risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (NTD). The neural tube closes very early in pregnancy (28 days from conception), so the folate must be consumed from conception, or, ideally, before conception. For this reason, the United States and other countries require fortification of cereal grains with folic acid (a synthetic, shelf-stable form of folate). Studies show that since the introduction...

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Basal body temperature charting is your chart a crystal ball

Basal Body Temperature Charting – is your chart a crystal ball?

December 17, 2015
0
0
Fertility

So, you're trying to have a baby and decide to start taking your temperature every morning. This common practice is often used to help understand a woman's menstrual cycle and has helped many couples successfully conceive (and avoid conception when used in conjunction with other methods!). As someone who frequently works with couples who are trying to conceive, I often rely on temperature charts to help guide our treatment plan, especially when incorporating the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Basics Basal body temperature charting (BBT) has been around for decades, and used as a method of family planning since the early...

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Where Do Babies Come From? Teaching Kids about Real Life Sex

November 21, 2015
3
0
Adolescents 13-18

How do you teach your kids about real life sex? I was recently horrified by an article I read about the new sexual norm for teenagers: “That sending nude pictures via text or Facebook is the new flirting. That boys their age watch porn regularly, and demand from their girlfriends the sexual menu they see online – hairless, surgically-enhanced bodies, ‘girl-on-girl action’, and much, much more.” (Lost innocence: Why girls are having rough sex at 12) Imagining my two daughters having to deal with the pressure of shaving all their pubic hair before it’s even fully grown in makes me feel nauseous, but...

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Foods to Eat When You or Your Child are Sick

November 5, 2015
0
2
Nutrition

As you may have heard, food is our best medicine. When you or your child are ill you definitely want to get the best foodpossible, but what are these mysterious healthy foods to eat while you’re sick? Go for foods that are easy to eat but pack a good nutritional punch. It is important to stay hydrated while ill, so make sure the patient gets plenty of liquids such as: water, coconut water, broths, soups, watered down organic juices (I suggest half water/half juice). If you are having a hard time getting liquids into your child I suggest having them use a straw...

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Nursing alcohol naturopathic

Will I ever drink again: Alcohol and Nursing

October 25, 2015
1
0
breastfeeding, Postpartum

The baby has arrived, you are home and beginning to think you may have settled a little in to this new parent thing.  You may even dare to think you are developing a bit of a routine.  Your body is healing and your baby is thriving.  Adult beverages have begun to sound appealing again.  But how does drinking affect nursing? Does it show up in breast milk?  What does it do to baby? What does it do to your supply? What problems might arise from drinking and nursing? Does alcohol transfer into the breast milk? Yes.  If there is alcohol in mom’s...

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You CAN get pregnant with PCOS - a naturopathic approach to polycystic ovarian syndrome

You CAN Get Pregnant with PCOS! (A naturopathic approach to polycystic ovarian syndrome)

October 3, 2015
1
1
Fertility

“My hormones are off.” Probably more than 50% of my intake forms for new female patients have this kind of sentence written in the “Reason for Appointment” section. There are a wide variety of hormonal problems that women experience and aside from PMS, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common. What is PCOS actually? Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an inadequately named condition that affects much more than just a woman’s ovaries. Women with PCOS can experience a wide variety of symptoms including those of having high testosterone such as hair growth in abnormal places and acne, symptoms of insulin...

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Naturopathic Pediatrics article: failure to thrive in a breastfed baby.

Failure to Thrive in a Breastfed Baby

September 19, 2015
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1
Babies 0-2, breastfeeding

If your baby has failure to thrive please read the first part of this blog post at: What to do if your child drops on their growth curve or is diagnosed with Failure to Thrive Contact an IBCLC first If your baby is breastfed and is not gaining appropriately I highly recommend working with a lactation consultant (IBCLC).  Click here to find a lactation consultant near you I also highly recommend checking out kellymom.com which is the internet’s best source for reliable breastfeeding information.  Here are some great articles: Kellymom guide to nursing your newborn Kellymom guide to low milk supply When to (not) supplement First -...

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Failure to thrive in babies and toddlers eating solid foods. Naturopathic Pediatrics article.

Failure to Thrive in Babies/Toddlers Eating Solid Foods

September 13, 2015
0
1
Babies 0-2, Toddlers 2-4

If your baby has failure to thrive please read the first part of this blog post at: What to do if your child drops on their growth curve or is diagnosed with Failure to Thrive Is it normal? First I want to say that dips on the growth curve are extremely common in exclusively breastfed babies who are transitioning to solids, especially around the 9-12 month mark.   It isn’t uncommon for babies this age to have some difficulty wrapping their heads (or mouths) around the fact that they need to start putting some effort into eating.  Some have issues with...

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What to do if your child drops in their growth curve or is diagnosed with failure to thrive

What to do if your child drops in their growth curve or is diagnosed with Failure To Thrive

September 5, 2015
1
3
Babies 0-2, Toddlers 2-4

One of the main purposes of well child visits is to make sure that babies and young children are gaining weight, height and head circumference appropriately.  Babies who do not gain enough are diagnosed with Failure to Thrive.  The Failure to Thrive diagnosis may be made when a baby or child drops below the 2nd percentile more than once, or when their growth drops over more than 2 major percentile lines (90th, 75th, 50th, 25th, 10th, 5th).  For example, a baby that goes from 75th percentile to 25th percentile, or a baby that goes from 25th percentile to under the...

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7 tips to improve your child’s iron status (without supplementation!)

August 28, 2015
0
2
Babies 0-2, Children 5-12

Iron is an essential nutrient, and one that many parents worry about. Current recommendations are to offer iron-rich foods as early as 4-6 months to ensure that there is enough iron available for the rapid period of growth and development that happens in the first year. Babies who are born full-term (37 weeks+) are born with enough iron from Mom to last until 6 months of age.  Breastfed babies are at increased risk for iron deficiency after 6 months as breastmilk provides only a small amount (0.35 mg/L) of an albeit highly bioavailable iron. And, given that iron deficiency is...

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5 Tips for Moms to Beat the Fatigue and Feel Rested

August 21, 2015
1
3
General Health Tips, Naturopathic Tricks and Tips

Alright, you are a new parent, or maybe you are a seasoned parent. Your days are long and your nights (of rest) are short. But the good part is that you can take a few key steps to ensure that when you are awake you have the energy you need to keep up with the little ones. And more importantly for those zzz's you are getting, lets make them count! Your diet is the most foundational, most important, most crucial part of your wellness plan. And for many of you, this may be the furthest thing from your mind. There are...

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Beyond Breastfeeding: Milk options in Toddlerhood

August 9, 2015
0
2
Nutrition

If I had a list of FAQ's (I should!), this would be at the top of the list: What kind, and how much milk should  my toddler drink? And, the answer I always give is that any milk (other than breast milk) after the age of 12 months should be considered a beverage, and not a primary source of nutrition.  It's understandably confusing, given the importance of milk in the Canadian and US Food Guides.  But, is milk, as a food group really necessary for health? Many would say "no", including the Harvard School of Public Health, which deemed dairy an optional food group.  Dairy products provide...

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Naturopathic Approach to Obesity: Ways to Help Children Achieve and Maintain a Healthy Weight

July 23, 2015
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2
General Health Tips, Naturopathic Tricks and Tips, Nutrition

According to research by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) “Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.” Findings from 2012 found that ‘more than one third of children and adolescents {in the United States} were overweight or obese.” Issues with excess weight have long-term implications. It has been found that 30% of obese adults first developed weight problems in childhood. Likely Causes of Childhood Obesity: 1. Lack of healthy food availability or choices: “Many children do not consume a single serving of quality fruit and vegetables in a day.” –Michael Murray, ND With all of...

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Naturopathic Pediatrics - Galactagogues to increase breast milk supply

Herbs to increase milk supply: a guide to galactagogues

July 15, 2015
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1
Babies 0-2, breastfeeding, Postpartum

Worried about low breastmilk supply? This post will cover herbs to increase lactation.  Herbs that increase breast milk production are called “galactagogues.”  (“Galacta” = milk, “-gogue” = producer or supplier) Is your milk supply actually low? But first before we get started - is your milk supply actually low?  Many women mistakenly believe that their breast milk supply is low when it is not.  See this wonderful article from kellymom.com about breastmilk supply issues.  There is no need to supplement with galactagogues if breastmilk supply is normal! (If you need a good introduction to Breastfeeding, including an answer to all your basic questions, check out...

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Sneaky Chemical Exposures: the Nursery

July 12, 2015
0
0
General Health Tips

Baby's on the way.  You're busy nesting.  Painting the nursery, buying the crib, the dresser, the glider, the toy chest.  It's an exciting time.  But the hundreds of decisions that have to be made regarding exactly what to buy can be stressful.  Well, add another stressor:  between flame retardants, formaldehyde-laced particle board, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint, you have a lot of chemicals to try to block at the door of baby's room. Paint VOCs are what gives paint that terrible chemical smell.  The EPA lists the following as side effects of exposure to VOCs:  "eye, nose, and throat irritation;...

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Naturopathic Treatment for Infant Eczema

July 2, 2015
0
3
Babies 0-2

Eczema (aka Atopic Dermatitis)  is very common, and it frequently first pops up infancy affecting anywhere from 5-20% of children.  I've seen many babies, some as young as 3-4 weeks with whole body eczema.  By the time I see them, Mom and Dad have often already tried everything - new detergent, more bathing, less bathing and every over the counter cream money can buy.  And, understandably they are hesitant to rely on hydrocortisone cream. What Causes Eczema We know that eczema tends to run in families, and that having a family member with either eczema, asthma or allergies increases the risk. (See...

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Getting baby (and parents!) ready for solids – a case for Baby Led Weaning

June 20, 2015
1
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Babies 0-2, Nutrition

If you're at all familiar with my practice, you'll know that I'm a huge advocate of baby led weaning (BLW).  For the several years I've been offering workshops in addition to counseling patients and families in my office on the ins and out of BLW for the past several years. My interest in BLW was piqued after we my first daughter was born.  We had such success with it that we subsequently used it to introduce food to our twins who were born in 2010  When asked about the benefits of BLW, I tend to be a little emphatic!  I think...

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Detox for kids!

June 20, 2015
1
2
General Health Tips, Naturopathic Tricks and Tips

What do trampolines, lemons and red clovers have in common?  They can all help your kids get rid of chemicals in their bodies.  Pound for pound, children are exposed to more toxins than adults are because they eat more, breathe more, and have a greater skin surface area.  More toxins get into their bodies and their immature organ systems make them more susceptible to damage (infants are 10x more susceptible and children 3x).  Toxins can easily be found in our water, food, air, personal care products, household items and medications.  Regularly supporting detoxification in children is strongly recommended, especially in children who: have...

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What’s In Your Child’s Multivitamin??

June 13, 2015
1
5
Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, General Health Tips, Naturopathic Tricks and Tips, Nutrition

People take multivitamins because they are supposedly healthy. While I regularly prescribe vitamins and supplements for specific reasons, I do not recommend that everybody take a multivitamin. Moreover, I have been shocked at the poor quality of the ingredients in many children’s multivitamins. Children have such delicate, developing neurological systems that it is imperative that if you are giving them vitamins, they must be high quality. Below is the ingredients list for a common multivitamin found at many natural food stores: In case you want a little more information on the above mentioned vitamins: Vitamin A: There is no toxicity associated with the...

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Top 10 Avoidable Physical Dangers for Kids

June 3, 2015
0
0
Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, General Health Tips, Toddlers 2-4

As a naturopathic doctor, I don't see a lot of emergency cases. Parents tend to know when they need to go to the ER, so I generally see kids for their follow-up care. But, as a mom who is also a doctor, I ponder questions such as: what do I worry most about for my child? Here are the physical dangers I worry about most for my baby, his buddies, and my patients, that are preventable, or at least whose damage can be mitigated. 1. Drowning 2. Accidental Gun Shots 3. Unrecognized Respiratory Distress 4. Accidental Marijuana Ingestion 5. Alcohol Poisoning 6. Accidental Over the Counter...

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Natural Home Treatments for Croup

May 22, 2015
0
3
Babies 0-2, Toddlers 2-4

What is Croup? Croup is known for its loud, barking cough and inflammation of the throat, which can cause severe issues with breathing. It is seen almost exclusively in children, the smaller the child the more severe the illness can be. Croup usually starts as a cold or upper respiratory infection and often presents at night as a gasping/barking cough. Most of the time croup can be easily treated at home, but it can sometimes be life threatening. It is usually seen in younger children aged 0 to 3, although older children can also get it. Croup is often caused by parainfluenza...

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