What is Vitamin B6? Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin known as pyridoxine. The active coenzyme forms of vitamin B6 are called pyridoxal 5 phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxamine 5 phosphate (PMP). Vitamin B6 performs a wide variety of functions throughout the body in these active coenzyme forms. It is involved...
The "Standard American Diet" The classic American kids’ menu is generally the same at all restaurants: grilled cheese sandwich, chicken nuggets and fries, macaroni and cheese, or pizza, and a juice box. In far fewer restaurants, kids’ menus may provide apple slices or carrots. This is now becoming more common even...
A note from your editor: here at Naturopathic Pediatrics we strongly support breastfeeding as the optimal way to nourish infants. When breastfeeding is not possible and donor milk is not available we want to give families accurate information to help them choose the right breastmilk substitute. This article below is...
As a naturopathic doctor specializing in pediatrics, I run a lot of food panels that test for food sensitivities. Why? Because I know that health starts with food, first and foremost, and more times than not, the symptoms I see most commonly arise because of an imbalance in the gut....
The first part of this series talked about WHY EATING BREAKFAST IS SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS. Eating the most important meal not only improves concentration and academic performance, it reduces the risk of weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. If you have a child struggling with ADHD you may also...
For a lot of my patients, eating breakfast can be a real challenge. Many people say they aren’t hungry until later in the day. Others say they don’t have time to fit in breakfast on top of getting ready, packing lunches, feeding pets, and getting out the door. Kids –...
Could your child have a B vitamin deficiency? This article is the second in a series all about nutritional deficiencies. In these articles I will discuss some of the most common vitamin and mineral deficiencies seen in children and adolescents. I will also explain the lab tests that can be used...
A healthy summertime treat your kids will LOVE! Blueberry lemon popsicles make a cool treat for hot summer days, plus they're full of Vitamin C and antioxidants! To make, combine the following ingredients in your blender: 1 cup blueberries fresh juice from 5 lemons, be sure to strain out the seeds 1/4...
Editors note: A big thanks to Dr. Cori Burke for tackling the incredibly broad topic of nutritional deficiencies in children. This is a huge topic, and she has wisely split it into multiple sections. Stay tuned for more in this series! A quick note and comment: Naturopathic Physicians are sometimes criticized for...
I recently saw a video shared social media that praised a mother for strictly keeping her kids away from sugar. I won’t post it here, but it labelled her as the “Anti-Fat Mom” and the person that...
What is Celiac Disease? Celiac disease (also called Celiac Sprue and Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy) is an autoimmune condition that is triggered by contact with gluten, a protein found in some grains like wheat, rye, and barley. Autoimmune conditions...
We have a policy in our house: if a banana turns spotty or brown, it gets peeled and put in a glass container in the freezer. These frozen bananas come in handy for smoothies and peanut butter banana ice cream, an all time favorite among kids and adults alike. Ingredients: 4 ripe bananas 2...
