Clean Foods by Rebecca

I wish I had known when my kids were little that there were other options out there to treat colds, flu, ear infections and all the other fun stuff that they pick up along the way. My kids’ physicians have always handed out an antibiotic or told me I need to keep the fever down with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a need for antibiotics in certain situations and you must always consult with your physician to make that decision. As a critical care nurse, I was always handing out antibiotics and pain relievers like candy and didn’t think twice. When my children spiked a fever I immediately gave fever-reducing medications. Now I know to wait and watch closely, as a fever is exactly what our bodies are designed to do to kill off a pathogen, and giving medications will just delay the body’s healing time. After years of research, I have learned there can be more harm than good in taking medications that aren’t necessary. My hope is that you gain more knowledge in holistic healthcare so that your child stays healthy, but when they do get an occasional illness you are more informed to make the appropriate treatment decisions along with your child’s pediatrician.

Prevention

An important part of kids wellness begins with being proactive and boosting their immune system so they can easily fight off whatever comes their way. Of course my favorite way to do that is making sure your children are eating whole fruits and vegetables, quality protein cooked with garlic and onions, good fats, complex carbohydrates, and keeping the sugar intake as low as possible. Immune boosting foods include grass-fed beef, salmon, pumpkin seeds, eggs, lentils, sweet potato, strawberries, oranges, kiwi, red pepper and broccoli. Also, limit their dairy, gluten and processed foods. I know this is a struggle at times as kids beat you down for junk food, sugary drinks and fast food runs, but make sure you keep it well balanced. Most days of the week should include the kids sitting down and having a nutritious meal with no sugar involved, especially if they seem like they’re coming down with an illness. Remember, sugar is an immune suppressant and will feed a virus and turn what may have been just a couple days of sniffles into something more severe. I also try to sneak in as many pre- and probiotic-rich foods as possible to feed the good bacteria and improve their gut health, which is the best defense for a strong immune system. An easy way to do this is blending a smoothie every morning that includes veggies (zucchini is a good one that won’t change the taste), berries, good quality protein powder, flax, chia or hemp seeds, bone broth and a yogurt with live active cultures. In addition, we do a non-gummy multivitamin such as Hiya to ensure they are getting their vitamins and minerals. Kids Cod Liver Oil Lemon is also great for boosting their immune health by providing omegas and vitamins A, D, and E. Putting this oil in a raspberry is a fun way for kids to take the supplement. In addition to a well balanced diet, it has been shown in numerous studies that playing outside more can improve the immune system, especially running around barefoot in the grass. Next we will dive into how to support your little one when they do get sick.

Natural Remedies

There are several natural immune supporters I have found to be highly effective when my children have come down with a bug or are just exposed to a great deal of illness:

• Kids Beekeepers Propolis Immune Support Spray supports with antioxidants, vitamin C, zinc, iron, B vitamins and other beneficial properties.
• Kids Xlear Nasal Spray is an amazing product for clearing nasal passages and allowing children to breathe and, most importantly, sleep! This nasal spray does wonders during allergy season for the whole family.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! – think coconut water, bone broth, soups, cold pressed juices and filtered water. Again, I sneak many of these into a smoothie and my picky eaters never notice.
• Epsom salt baths are a wonderful way to improve the immune system with magnesium delivery and gentle detoxification. Also, sitting in a steamy shower with your little one is another good tool to fight congestion.
• Cool mist humidifier in their room at night – moisturizes the nasal and upper respiratory passages when the air is dry allowing you to breathe easier when congested. The low humidity in the winter time makes viruses more likely to adhere inside the nose and mouth and cause illnesses.
• Leefy Organics, makes an Immunity Defense Blend that is great for getting you and your children back on track.
• Raw garlic has amazing healing benefits also – just mince 1/4-1/2 clove, let it sit out 10 minutes, and give to your child mixed with a spoonful of raw unfiltered organic honey.
• More sleep, more fresh air and less screen time are natural healing modalities as well.

Healing Without Antibiotics

For ear infections, The Academy of Pediatrics recommends watchful waiting for 48-72 hours in children over 6 months old who are not very ill, do not have chronic medical conditions, do not have a ruptured tympanic membrane (blood or any fluid coming from the ear) or do not have a clear infection. According to functional health pediatrician Dr. Ana Maria Temple, 80% of ear infections in healthy children resolve without antibiotics within 2-7 days. Children who receive antibiotics have a much higher risk of ear infection recurrence and higher incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, as antibiotics wreak havoc on the gut microbiome. Ear infections can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and reduce swelling in the eustachian tube, which will allow the fluid to drain out and resolve the ear pain. There are several holistic approaches that are highly effective as well. Mullein Garlic Ear Drops inserted in the ear several times daily are very helpful. I’ve used these drops for myself and my children for the last couple years when we feel ear pain coming on, and typically it has been completely resolved within 24 hours! I try to be proactive and start using saline nasal spray or Xlear at the beginning of a cold to make sure their mucus stays thin and moving so we don’t end up with an ear infection. If you do need to give medications, look for cleaner brands, like Genexa which does not add dyes or any other additives.

What antibiotics do to the gut and why we need them at times

The gut is composed of numerous beneficial and harmful bacteria, and our goal is to keep a higher beneficial microbiome ratio. Antibiotic use and an inflammatory diet will disrupt this good ratio and lead to gut dysbiosis or even “leaky gut syndrome,” where the intestine lining becomes permeable and allows harmful substances to enter, causing more damage. Antibiotic use can disrupt the microbiome for up to a year according to the National Institute of Health. The importance of a healthy microbiome is extremely important. Studies have shown that poor microbiome health is directly linked to autoimmune disorders, mental health disease, cardiac disease and pretty much any health issue you can think of. Overuse of antibiotics can also lead to antimicrobial resistance, which is when the bacteria, virus or fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. So in most cases, a careful watch and wait approach with supportive measures is advised as opposed to rushing straight into the doctor and urging them to prescribe an antibiotic. Of course there are certain situations that require antibiotics, such as a streptococcal bacterial infection that could potentially have dangerous complications if left untreated. Most sore throats are viral and will not require antibiotics, but if your child is having sudden severe throat pain, throat redness and fever they should be evaluated by your physician to determine if it is strep. In addition, any other infection that seems like it is worsening instead of improving should be evaluated right away. My hope is that after learning the negative effects of unnecessary antibiotic use and other medications, parents will use caution when choosing meds, investigate ingredients and harmful additives, help children build up strong immune systems and make informed decisions about what goes into their children’s bodies.