The recent European outbreak has made 2,400 people in 12 countries ill. Twenty-three people have died. So far the testing for the source has been inconclusive. Original concern was that bacteria may have been spread on tainted cucumbers shipped from Spain. Then it was thought that the bacteria may have come from bean sprouts grown in Germany. It’s still not known where the bacteria originated.

E. Coli From Animal Waste
Food-borne E. coli infections typically cause a bad case of diarrhea, although it’s potentially deadly disease. Almost all E. coli are associated with mammals. That is why undercooked ground beef can be a problem.

E. coli can also come from produce, which has been contaminated with fecal matter. Animal feces can spread E. coli in fields. This is thought to be the case in the spinach outbreak in California.

Most produce is waxed after harvest to withstand the long journey to market. Wax seals in pesticide residues and debris, which make them even more difficult to remove with just water. To reach the contaminants buried beneath the surface of your vegetables and fruits, you need a cleanser that also removes the wax.

Organic Produce
Food isn’t just grown locally it comes from all over the world, which posses a lot of challenges. Even “organic” food can come from places like China. Last June, I wrote “ USDA Organics…from China?” How in the world is it possible to track organic food from China? They use human waste as fertilizer and have their government officials overseeing their crops. Not much hope of really getting organic produce from China. You always want to check the “country of origin” before purchasing produce.

To earn the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s organic certification, the land must be free from prohibited substances such as synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, sewage sludge and other toxins as well as genetically modified organisms for at least three years.

The best solution to preventing food born illnesses is to prevent it at its source. That being said, there are some things you can do in your kitchen to minimize the possibility of a food borne illness.

You Can Minimize Food Borne Illness

• Wash your hands before and after preparing fresh produce.

• Wash all produce under running water. Even wash produce BEFORE you peel it.

• Don’t use the same cutting board for meat and produce.

• Cook meat thoroughly A major source of E. coli poisoning is undercooked ground beef. Don’t serve it medium rare or rare.

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Fertility Diet
It didn’t surprise me in the least that cutting out processed foods is first on the list in a fertility diet. When you do, you will be cutting out trans fat, processed white flour and sugar.

According to Cindy Baiely, author of Fertile Kitchen Cookbook, you should “Ask yourself if this food is good for a baby” before eating it. Sound advice, if you ask me.

Natural Fertility Specialists
Did you know there are Naturopaths who specialize in effective natural fertility methods? I didn’t. Iva Keene, is a Naturopathic Physician and Fertility Specialist.

Even if you have been unsuccessful in getting pregnant and you’re considering IVF or other fertility treatments, there are practical things you can do to ensure a successful pregnancy.

Every baby is a blessing, like my granddaughter Katelyn.

Drugs and surgery aren’t the only options. It’s always wise to get to the root of any problem. Do you know what’s at the root of your problem? By providing the right environment, you’ll enhance the possibility of getting pregnant. Find out more at Natural Fertility Prescription.

Keep Hydrated
Do you keep hydrated with bottled water? The marketing for bottled water has been a huge success. We’ve come to believe that bottled water is purer than water from the tap. Although this isn’t true and most bottled water is someone else’s tap water.

Just as telephone booths are a thing of the past, people don’t use water fountains anymore. If you forgot to bring your water when out and about, plastic bottles of water are available everywhere. It’s so convenient. When you’re finished, just toss the bottle away.

BPA & Infertility
Most water bottles are made from hard plastic with BPA. In fact, hundreds of consumer products are made with BPA. It’s found in the protective lining of soda pop cans and most canned food.

Researchers have found BPA in the urine of nearly everyone tested in a 2004 U.S. analysis. So what’s the big deal? Isn’t that a way for the body to rid itself of toxins?

BPA is an endocrine disruptor that either mimics or blocks body hormones. The glands of the endocrine system and the hormones they release influence almost every cell, organ, and function of your body. It’s instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, as well as sexual function and reproductive processes.

Evidence is showing these chemicals are leading to decreased sperm quality, early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, disrupted reproductive cycles and ovarian dysfunction and other problems such as cancer and heart disease.

In a recent study, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, say the evidence links exposure to the chemical BPA lowers quality eggs retrieved for in vitro fertilization. The study, published online in Fertility and Sterility, found as blood levels of BPA in the women studied doubled, the percentage of eggs fertilized normally declined by 50 percent. This is troubling for women wanting to get pregnant.  Read the last part once again…”The percentage of eggs fertilized declined by 50 percent.”

While the news is disturbing, the fix is relatively easy: Eat whole foods and refrain from drinking water from plastic bottles and you’ll increase your likelihood of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby.

Genesis 49:25 contains a promise. This my prayer for you: “Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, And by the Almighty, who shall bless thee, With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that coucheth beneath, Blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.”

For more information on natural fertility go to: http://www.natural-fertility-prescription.com/ and http://fertilekitchen.blogspot.com/

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Food poisoning usually occurs because someone prepares food without clean hands, transferring bacteria to the food. It will also happen if the food is not thoroughly cooked.

A person with food poisoning feels like they have a severe case of the flu. Typical symptoms occur within six to 48 hours after consuming a contaminated food or drink. They include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.

Wyatt and Katy do their best to avoid food poisoning.

However, seek medical attention if symptoms last for more than two days or if a child under 3 years old is afflicted,  if a fever presents, if a person becomes dizzy, collapses, or has difficulty breathing, and cramping pains last longer than 10 to 15 minutes. Other cause for concern is a swollen abdomen, skin or eyes turn yellow or dehydration occurs.

What do you do if, despite your best efforts, you or someone in your family gets food poisoning?  There’s a great likelihood that you’ll experience food poisoning symptoms on the weekends or in the evening after doctor’s office hours. Many times food poisoning cases can be taken care of at home, before the symptoms worsen.

Step One: Flush your system out with fluids if you think you have food poisoning. Drink coconut water to replace lost electrolytes. Avoid carbonated drinks, caffeinated drinks,  and dairy products. Drink ginger tea. It’s vital to stay hydrated.

Step Two: Apple cider vinegar is a purifier. It is effective in detoxifying various organs and it helps oxidation of the blood. It promotes digestion, assimilation and elimination. It neutralizes toxic substances taken into the body. Adults take 1 to 2 tablespoons organic apple cider vinegar several times a day (children should take less). It’s most effective on an empty stomach.

Step Three: Eat dark toasted bread or any bread for that matter. Bread will soak up the poison and diminish intestinal irritation. Activated charcoal is an effective treatment for food poisoning, but not many have it on hand.

Step Four: Take probiotics as they will help fight off potential infections and restore intestinal pH.

Step Five: Most importantly REST. Let your body have time to heal itself.

In addition, you may want to try a couple of home remedies for nausea: eat a small amount of grated ginger and another remedy is to hold a clove of garlic between your teeth. As your body begins to heal, begin eating easily digested soft, bland foods. Broth, bananas, yogurt, rice, and applesauce are good foods to introduce first.

How safe is your kitchen? Most food poisoning occurs at home. Click Here for a quick quiz.

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I’m reading Gary Huffnagle’s book The Probiotics Revolution. Huffnagel is Professor of Internal Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical Center.

Miles is smiling because his tummy is happy.

Huffnagle calls probiotics the “new essential food group” because probiotics protect our bodies by killing harmful bacteria in our gut and help the immune system to function properly. He says “probiotics provide nutrients just as important to our health as vitamins and minerals.”

One hundred trillion bacteria (about three pounds) line your intestinal tract. In fact, eighty percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system. It’s no wonder probotics support good health.

Probiotics live in the tube that runs right through the middle of us. It includes our nose, sinuses, mouth, upper airways, lungs, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus. Not surprisingly, our intestinal environment is directly influenced by the food we eat. In the last 50 years, we have changed the way we eat and increased the use of antibiotics, which kill not only bad bacteria, but good. After taking a course of antibiotics the good bacteria grow back, although slowly. We don’t help at all, because we no longer eat a healthy diet with natural foods containing good bacteria, so the bad bacteria proliferate.

Huffnagle relates a study done by Finnish researchers with healthy children in daycare, ages one to six years old. Half of the kids were given probiotics in their milk; the other half drank plain milk. The results were published in the British Medical Journal. The children given probiotics had significantly fewer absences, fewer and less severe respiratory tract infections and fewer antibiotic treatments. Probiotics can help avoid seasonal illness like the flu and cold.

Naturally fermented foods such as yogurt, cheeses, sauerkraut, pickles, etc. not only preserve food but enriches it by adding health-promoting probiotics. Naturally fermented foods are not usually found in a supermarket (except for yogurt and then it’s usually loaded with sugars which feed the bad bacteria). You can find naturally fermented foods in your local natural grocers. If vinegar is on the ingredient label, then it’s not naturally fermented.

If you eat a lot of processed foods, you’ll have a hard time keeping a good balance of bacteria. Not surprisingly, refined carbohydrates (white flour and sugar) give the advantage to harmful bacteria. So when you eat a healthful food such as yogurt, stay away from added sugars. Make your own fruited yogurt by stirring mashed soft fruit like peaches, bananas, strawberries or blueberries into plain yogurt. You can make a yummy snack by adding fruit to little yogurt and topping with crunchy granola.

I take probiotics every day. I used to take them before bed, but I’ve changed to mornings. I learned that there is a greater benefit when probiotics are taken with milk or food, so I add them to my morning fruit smoothie. Also, by opening the capsule and adding them to food or drink allows the probiotics to flourish all the way down the “tube” not just the stomach. To keep your child’s tummy happy, there are powdered probiotics formulated just for infants, babies and children. The dosage is listed on the containers.

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Poor eating habits, including frequent consumption of sugary foods, are among the factors blamed for the increase of asthma in children and teens, says Sonja Kierstein, PhD. She performed the study on sugar’s effects on kids with asthma while at the University of Pennsylvania, and presented her findings at the meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

To test the theory, two groups of mice were studied. One group was given water, the other sugar-water. The sugar-fed mice had more than twice as much airway inflammation as the water-fed mice, making them more susceptible to asthma.

Cassie is one smart cookie, she loves whole foods.

Kierstein and her colleagues hypothesized that a sugar-rich diet may prime the immune system of the airways to allergic inflammation. The inflammation, in turn, can cause a narrowing of the airways and mucus production, resulting in asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breath.

Cutting out sugar takes determination. Initially, you’ll be reading a lot of labels, because sugar is a common ingredient in processed foods. Naturally cookies and pastries have lots of added sugars. You know sodas are loaded with sugars, up to 14 teaspoons per serving! You may be surprised to learn that 6 ounces of low fat yogurt has approximately 7 teaspoons of sugar. Catsup is one-third sugar. One serving of instant oatmeal has two and a half teaspoons of sugar. Sugar has many names. For a list of sugars commonly found in foods, Click Here.

Purchasing whole foods from the produce section of your grocers is an easy way to avoid sugars. Today, kids drink as much soda as milk. Replacing sodas and other sugary drinks with fruit juice, milk, or water, will drastically reduce the amount of sugars your children are ingesting.

Once you eliminate sugar, your family’s taste buds will rediscover how fabulous real food tastes and you’ll all be healthier for it!
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There are two surprising remedies for morning sickness: Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemons.

Why do acidic vinegar and lemons relieve an acidic stomach? Once the body burns both apple cider vinegar and lemon, the remaining ash is alkaline. The alkaline remains or ash help to neutralize the nausea associated with morning sickness.

Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
(Braggs and Spectrum are a good brands)
Mix one tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of room temperature water. If vinegar water is not to your taste, the add up to one tablespoon of raw honey to the mix. Sip before going to bed, upon rising, and throughout the day.

Lemon Water
Squeeze plenty of fresh lemon juice into a glass of room temperature water. Sip before going to bed, upon rising, and throughout the day. Avoid sugar. If you wish to sweeten the lemon water add raw unfiltered honey. Some say even the smell of lemons helps with nausea. Unless you are using organic lemons, keep the rind out of your lemon drink. Pesticides sprayed on the lemon skin may leach into the water.

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What is pH?

Why is pH important?
According to many experts, a healthy body has a balanced alkaline to acid pH level. Your pH levels are directly influenced by the foods you eat.  The Standard American Diet  (S.A.D.) contains more acid-forming foods than alkalizing foods. Picky eaters many times eat mostly acid-forming foods. Unfortunately, too much acid can cause health problems. 

Parker doesn’t know what his pH level is, do you know yours?

A balanced pH environment allows normal body function necessary for the body to detoxify. This enables our bodies to resist disease. A healthy body maintains adequate alkaline reserves to meet emergency demands. When excess acids must be neutralized our alkaline reserves are depleted, leaving the body in a weakened condition. Acidosis is an over-acidity in the body tissues and is one of the basic causes of diseases. Acidosis forces the body to take minerals, including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium, from vital organs and bones to buffer (neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of the strain that is put on the body, it can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to high acidity.

“The real problem is one of alkaline deficiency, more than one of too much acid,” states Anthony Sebastian, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco. “People eat plenty of acid-yielding animal protein, dairy products, and grains. The missing piece is an appreciate amount of fruits and vegetables, to produce an alkaline yield. Study after study has shown that most Americans–68 to 91 percent–don’t eat the five recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.”

Test pH Levels at Home
Your pH levels can be tested quickly and easily right at home. In fact, every home should have pH strips to measure alkaline/acid balance in the family medicine chest, right alongside the thermometer. Both offer vital information on the body’s systems. Purchase pH test strips at a local pharmacy, whole foods store, garden nursery, or even pool supply store. Babies are born with a pH level of 7.4. Levels should be slightly alkaline and a healthy pH level is between 7 and 7.5, although 6.5 is considered in the normal range. The best time to test your pH is about one hour before a meal and two hours after a meal. Remember, that pH levels will vary throughout the day.

Green Food Is Yummy
After a glance at the following two lists, it becomes painfully clear why so many children and adults are ill. The first list contains acidic foods: most processed foods, fast foods, dairy, and meat. They are all acid forming, that is the effect they have on the body, not the taste. Some of these foods should be eaten in moderation, some not at all. Fast foods are acidic and are not part of a healthy diet. If your pH level is too acidic, for at time altogether avoid the foods on the acidic list. Dairy, whole grains, and meat are a part of a balanced diet. After pH has been restored, begin adding them back into a healthy diet.

The second list contains alkaline forming foods. Not surprising, most fruit and vegetables are on this list. These are foods to emphasize every day in your diet and to eat exclusively to bring an acidic level back to balance. Vegetables are alkaline and necessary for health. Unless a picky eater learns to eat whole foods, especially veggies, you can expect a lifetime of health challenges. To maintain a healthful alkaline blood pH at least 80 percent of total food intake should be alkaline foods and 20 percent acidic foods. This is always challenge for a picky eater, who avoids whole foods, especially veggies. The good news is you can transform your picky eater into a healthy eater with the Baby Bite steps.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Research is ongoing.

Shift pH balance:
Acidic Forming Foods
Following are foods to avoid with a high acidic pH level.
Once pH has been restored to a proper balance, include meat, dairy, and grains to about 20 percent of your diet.
All Meat
Dairy: except goat’s milk (Dairy products are a part of a healthy diet, but when pH levels are acidic, avoid dairy until your pH levels are normalized.)
Crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, etc.)
Sugar & Condiments
Coffee & Tea
Some Fruit (When pH levels are acidic avoid these fruits until your pH levels are normalized: blueberries, canned or glazed fruits, cranberries, currants, and plums.)
Most Grains: wheat, pasta, rice (although, brown rice is low acid-forming), oatmeal
Nuts: peanuts, cashews, pistachios
Fast foods
Oils: margarine, corn oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil & hydrogenated oils
Vinegar (except for Raw Apple Cider Vinegar*)

Alkaline Forming Foods
These are foods to include, especially when balancing acidic pH levels:
Vegetables
Beans
Nuts & Seeds: almonds, pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, flax, spelt, lentils, sprouted seeds
Sprouts
Oils: flax, avocado, extra virgin olive oil, evening Primrose, borage & coconut oil
Most Fruit: especially citrus (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc.), grapes and raisins, avocado, tomato & melons

*Apple Cider Vinegar causes one’s pH levels to become more alkaline. Apple Cider Vinegar in itself is alkaline because of its ash content. Once the body has burned the apple cider vinegar, what’s left over becomes ash. When you check for the pH of that ash and dissolve it with water, the content is alkaline. For adults the recommended dosage is 1 to 2 tablespoons in an 8 ounce glass of water, several times a day. Adjust your dosage of Apple Cider Vinegar mixed in a glass of water according to your pH level. For more info on Apple Cider Vinegar, Click Here.

Water and Goat’s Milk are neutral

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Some natural remedies we’ve heard about, such as ginger root for motion sickness. I can remember as a child my dad patting apple cider vinegar on a sunburn to soothe and to keep it from peeling. Some have gained respect. Dr. Oz mentioned using a Neti Nasal Pot with water, baking soda, and salt to clear sinuses on Oprah’s TV program. The next day you couldn’t find a Neti Nasal Pot to save you life in any store.

There are three kitchen items that I wouldn’t want to go without. These three items have a thousand uses and will keep for a very long time in storage. I use them every day and they are inexpensive. It doesn’t take a degree in natural therapies to understand how to use them either. These remedies are not FDA approved. After all they aren’t sold as prescriptions.

Joshua is happy to help me illustrate home remedies.

Drug companies aren’t interested in doing studies when there’s no profit involved. Many of the accounts helping and even curing illnesses are anecdotal. The only thing that really matters is if it works for you.

1) Hydrogen Peroxide
That’s right just plain ol’ peroxide purchased at any drug store. It costs about two dollars for a quart. I also have a small 16 ounce bottle that I’ve replaced the cap with a spray top. Hydrogen peroxide needs to be protected from light or it loses its effectiveness, so I keep it in its light-proof bottle with the new top. You’ll find this small bottle by my kitchen sink.

Peroxide is disinfectant, antiseptic, and an oxidizer. It kills bacteria, viruses, and mold. You can spray it on cuts to kill germs that might cause an infection. I spray it on my fruit and veggies and then scrub them to kill bacteria. I also spray it on my sinks and wood cutting board to kill germs.

When you feel a cold or sore throat coming on, gargle peroxide several times a day. It will kill the virus. Same for an ear ache. Lay on your side, sore ear up, with a dropper put a few drops of Hydrogen Peroxide in the sore ear. Wait a few minutes. You’ll feel and hear the peroxide bubbling. It’s doing it’s thing, killing germs and viruses. 

I give my little dogs each a double spray in their mouths. It works as a mouth wash killing germs causing doggie breath. Hey, people can gargle with it and soak their tooth brushes in it, so it’s good for dogs, too. You can spray it on your hands to sanitize them. You can use it to clean out animal cages, litter boxes, and animal food dishes.

2) Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
I stock up on coconut oil when it’s on sale and keep it stored in the cool of my basement. I use coconut oil for cooking. It takes the heat better than olive oil. Dick, my husband, loves omelets and grilled cheese sandwiches cooked in a dab of coconut oil. I use it in all my baking. It gives food a mildly sweet taste. It has anti-bacterial properties helping with digestion. It also helps to control parasites and fungi.

Don’t need hair conditioners, ‘cause coconut oil works just fine. In fact, it’ll even get rid of dandruff. Applied topically, it will relieve the pain of hemorrhoids. I regularly use it to remove make up and as a moisturizer. Coconut oil is a natural treatment for healing eczema and dermatitis.

A kindergarten teacher says she kills head lice by saturating her head with coconut oil. She then covers her head with a shower cap and leaves it on overnight. The next morning she washes it out. If the infestation is severe, she repeats the process the following night. This sounds like a much safer way to get rid of head lice than the store-bought chemical treatment. It’d be worth a try.

3) Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Organic Apple Cider Vinegar has been used to cure and prevent a variety of ailments for centuries. As early as the time of Hippocrates, vinegar was used to treat patients. There are hundreds of uses for Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), it could fill volumes. I’ll just hit the highlights.

ACV is a naturally fermented food with antibiotic and antiseptic qualities that fights germs, bacteria, mold, and viruses. It’s rich in enzymes and potassium, naturally supporting a healthy immune system. ACV contains over forty vitamins and minerals, including potassium.

There are studies confirming that ACV helps with weight loss and lowering blood sugar levels. Many of the accounts of ACV helping and even curing illnesses are anecdotal. For me, thousands of anecdotes equal data. In my experience, ACV stopped my acid stomach, stopped the effects of food poisoning for my daughter and again for a son-in-law. ACV stopped my 12-year-old granddaughter’s asthma cough in only two days. To our surprise, she began to have regular bowl movement’s shortly after including ACV in her daily routine. Seems this is another benefit.

Among other things, cider vinegar is very effective in detoxifying various organs, kidneys, bladder, liver etc., by keeping a proper alkaline/acidic balance in the body. It is a purifier, as it has a means of breaking down fatty, mucous, and phlegm deposits within the body. Cider vinegar also helps oxidate the blood which consequently prevents the blood from becoming too thick and gluey, which gives rise to a strained heart and blood vessels resulting in high blood pressure.

ACV promotes digestion and pH balance, it’s said to help soothe dry throats, helps remove body sludge toxins, helps maintain healthy skin, soothes sunburned skin, and relieves muscle pain from exercise. It’s said to kill yeast and fungus infections. ACV releases toxins from the liver and is reported to help numerous ailments including arthritis, high blood pressure, skin conditions, high cholesterol, insomnia, fatigue, liver and kidney problems, asthma, allergies, weight loss, indigestion, and acid stomach. ACV even is even a remedy for  morning sickness.

This wonder food costs just over four dollars for a quart. It’s recommended to take 1 tablespoon in eight glasses of water at meals and before bed. The recommendation for children is one teaspoon in a glass of water. Vinegar has a strong taste, so some people may want to add it to apple or orange juice. If you purchase pH strips at a whole foods store, you can easily track your pH levels (7 to 7.5 is optimal).  Less than seven is acidic and higher is alkaline. Then adjust the amount of ACV you take: more if too acidic, less if too alkaline.

The cheaper white vinegar is a fantastic cleaning solution. Use it on pots and pans, dishes, cutting boards, full strength with baking soda for unclogging drains, diluted for windows. When my dogs leave a yellow spot on my rug, I dilute it in water, pour it on the spot, and wet vac away the spot and the odor. I’ve heard that sprayed on the ground, it will kill ants.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only. It’s not intended for medical advice or other professional services and shouldn’t be considered a substitute for the advice of your personal physician or other medical professional. If your child has a medical or behavioral problem, or you suspect that such a possibility exists, consult your health care provider.

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A mom from San Francisco asks for advice on MamaPedia.com for her 5-year-old daughter, who often complains of a tummy ache. The doctor doesn’t find anything wrong and suggests she keep a food diary.

Even when we attempt to eat a healthy diet, illness, and chemicals in our food and water can easily tip our systems out of a healthy balance. Often stomach aches are the first sign that things aren’t right in the digestive track.

Jada and Jamie know happy tummies make for happy children.

The child’s pediatrician has done his due diligence. Food allergies, celiac disease, constipation, stress, and even worms have all been ruled out. So what now?

Children can have a difficult time describing their pains. This little girl often says she says she has a tummy ache. Other times she tells her mom she’s hungry, even shortly after a meal. Perhaps she’s experiencing a light pressure or burning in her stomach after eating. That might feel like hunger pains to a child. These symptoms may indicate an acid/alkali imbalance or acid stomach. Antacids are usually prescribed, but they don’t always work and you certainly wouldn’t want a child to take antacids for the rest of her life.

Acidosis is when the body chemistry becomes imbalanced and acidic. The easiest way to test this is to purchase pH strips at a whole foods store. First thing in the morning snip a piece from the roll and hold it in the urine stream. You can also test pH levels with saliva, before eating breakfast. The ideal pH range is 6.4 to 6.8. For the body, values below pH 6.3 are considered acidic and above pH 6.8 alkaline. You’ll find a code on the strip container.

The Good News
The good news is that your body’s pH level is directly related to what you eat. And there are foods which will reverse an acid stomach. A healthy diet is vital and to maintain pH balance.

If your child’s pH is off and has frequent tummy aches, forget about the food pyramid, at least until her pH is normalized. She should eat 50 percent raw foods, although, ALL vegetables and particularly citrus fruits are beneficial. You’ll want her to eat a mostly vegetarian diet. Grains, meat, and dairy all produce acid, so for the time being, these should be limited. Obviously, she must avoid ALL processed foods, especially sugar.

Goodbye Tummy Aches—Hello Veggies
Fresh vegetables and fruit are essential for proper pH balance. In addition, you’ll want to include as many Alkaline-forming foods in her diet each day as you can: apples, avocados, broccoli, corn, coconut, lemons, oranges, raisins, peppermint, and sprouts. Citrus fruits and vegetables reduce acidosis. Small amounts of organic apple cider vinegar mixed in a glass of water can help with heartburn and indigestion. If you have a high performance juicer or a food processor, juice an organic apple, a squeeze of lemon juice and a little fresh ginger. This drink will also soothe an acidic stomach.

The Picky Eater & Veggies
While getting kids to eat a healthy diet may be challenging, a mom with a picky eater has a greater challenge. Picky eaters love the very foods which are making them ill. Fast food, junk food, and processed food all contribute to the problem.

If you have a picky eater experiencing stomach pains, the first thing you must do is rid the house of junk foods and as many processed foods as you can. Now, how do you get her to eat those dreaded veggies? It may seem counter-intuitive, before you child will accept veggies, she must become familiar and comfortable with them using all her senses. Multi-sensory learning is vital for transforming a picky eater into a healthy eater.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only. It’s not intended for medical advice or other professional services and shouldn’t be considered a substitute for the advice of your personal physician or other medical professional. If your child has a medical or behavioral problem, or you suspect that such a possibility exists, consult your health care provider.

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Ouch! Constipation hurts. Constipation is a common and frustrating problem in children. Constipation is defined as hard and painful stools or going several days without a bowel movement. People (kids, too) should have at least one soft bowel movement a day.

A mom on mamapedia.com asks for advice about her toddler’s pooping. “My 23 month old son is withholding his poop. What the heck! He does have a history of constipation…so I’ve added lots of fiber to his diet…more fruit, veggies etc. I’m thinking that he had some painful bowel movements and is now afraid to go number two.”

Sophia doesn’t like being blocked up.

When kids experience painful bowel movements, they sometimes begin to “hold,” making the problem worse. The more your child holds it, the harder and bigger the stools become. The problem worsens, because painful movements can cause fissures or splits in the anal area.

Kids (even preschool children), who eat a fast food diet with altered fats, white flour, and processed sugar, are candidates for constipation. The best defense is a good offense. Once a child is constipated call your pediatrician. Often pediatricians recommend stool softeners, enemas, and sometimes even laxatives. Obviously, you must get things moving along.

Constipation is not a normal state for anyone, much less for a child. It indicates an imbalance in your child’s system. Poor diet and lack of fluid are the most common causes of constipation. High fiber foods and fluid makes stools soft and passable. Most of the time, constipation in children is due to a diet lacking fiber and water. Fiber is found in all fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. 

Picky eaters self-limit the types of food they eat. High fiber vegetables, like broccoli, are usually the first foods to be refused. It’s vital to teach your child how to appreciate the tastes of various foods, especially vegetables. Multi-sensory learning is vital when transforming a picky eater’s limited diet to include veggies. Click Here for more information about the Baby Bite Steps to healthy eating.

Get Things Moving With…
1) A HIGH FIBER DIET and WATER should get your kid going number two. Fiber is found in fruit (especially prunes, raisins, and organic apples with the skin), vegetables, and whole grains.

2) FLAX OIL is a sure-fire way to get things moving when your child is still blocked up, even after the inclusion of produce and whole grains. The flax seed is tiny, but mighty, and its oil is especially high in fiber. Flax seeds and its oil turns rancid quickly, so always purchase it from the refrigerator case in your whole foods store. For the best taste, mix it in a little juice or in a fruit smoothie. Because flax oil is high in fiber it will naturally keep bowels soft, as long as your child is drinking plenty of water. Follow the recommendations for how much to take. It’s best to start with a small amount and slowly increase. If you give your child too much, a side effect is loose bowels; then decrease the amount given.

3) PROBIOTICS improve gut flora. Another common factor often overlooked is the health of your child’s gut flora. Gut flora can become unbalanced by illness, stress, and drugs. Poor eating habits (junk foods), chlorinated drinking water, and especially antibiotics damage the intestinal flora. It just makes plain sense, that a drug called an “anti” biotic will kill even the helpful bacteria in the gut. When there is an unbalance in your child’s gut, it often results in constipation. Probiotics are a natural preventative and remedy for the many stomach and bowel issues kids experience. Probiotics can also be purchased at a whole foods store and some are especially made for infants and children.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only. It’s not intended for medical advice or other professional services and shouldn’t be considered a substitute for the advice of your personal physician or other medical professional. If your child has a medical or behavioral problem, or you suspect that such a possibility exists, consult your health care provider.

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For a synopsis of Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater, Click Here.