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Nutritional Support for Infant Reflux

by Margo Gladding | July 18, 2011

More and more infants and young children are being diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is characterized by spitting up, irritability during or after feedings, coughing, wheezing, refusing to eat, poor weight gain, and crying when placed on his or her back, especially after a feeding. The conventional approach to addressing infant GERD involves treating with medications such as Prilosec and Tagamet. However, a natural approach to addressing this health concern involves a more comprehensive view and can be very successful.

First, if breastfeeding, it is important to consider the mother’s health because her health influences the infant’s health. What is her digestive system like? Does she have nutritional deficiencies? Does she have yeast? A poor diet? Toxic load? Inflammation? Does she have an imbalance in her healthy bacteria levels? Or, is her immune system under attack due to allergens? Sometimes eliminating dairy or soy from the mom’s diet can significantly help the infant. (more…)

Tags: babies, GERD, infants, probiotics
Posted in Health Concerns |
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Travel Health During the Holidays

by Paula Gallagher | December 21, 2010

This information was posted back in the summer, but I figure that it applies to this time of year as well. Be well and stay healthy!

It’s a busy time of year for many of us, and while traveling should be relaxing and enjoyable, unfortunately, it can also be hard on your body. Recycled air on flights exposes you to cold and flu germs and jet lag can make you lose valuable days of vacation time. Eating foods that you are not used to can also cause digestive distress. Being prepared before you travel can make the difference between a miserable trip and a memorable one.

Here are some essential products for travel health:

Melatonin

Plane travel may interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycles. This might explain why airplane travel disrupts our sleeping patterns and why it takes a while for us to adjust to a new time zone. Studies suggest that Melatonin doubles the speed at which your body adjusts to the new time zone. (more…)

Tags: melatonin, probiotics, travel health, zinc
Posted in Health Concerns, Nutritional Supplements, Stress Management & Lifestyle |
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Prebiotics (Say What?)

by Paula Gallagher | December 20, 2010

We have heard plenty about probiotics and how important these beneficial bacteria are for your health, but compelling studies show that prebiotics are equally important. Prebiotics are certain types of soluble fiber that help probiotics multiply.

So what to prebiotics do? Well, here are just a few ways that prebiotics keep us healthy.

Intestinal Health: Constipated much? Prebiotics increase bulk in your stools and shorten the transit time in the intestines. They may also help those with Crohn’s and other inflammatory bowel diseases because they reduce inflammation and encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria (lactobacilli and bifidobacteria).

Cholesterol Support: Research suggests that prebiotics enhance the cholesterol lowering actions of probiotics by helping break down cholesterol in the GI tract. And since some prebiotics are forms of fiber, they have the same effect as soluble fiber on lowering cholesterol.

Immune Health: Studies suggest that prebiotics may improve resistance against infection by providing food for probiotics, which makes the immune system function more efficiently. (more…)

Tags: bone health, immune health, intestinal health, prebiotics, probiotics
Posted in Health Concerns, Nutritional Supplements |
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Travel Essentials this Summer

by Paula Gallagher | August 17, 2010

Traveling should be relaxing and enjoyable. Unfortunately, it can also be hard on your body. Recycled air on flights exposes you to cold and flu germs and jet lag can make you lose valuable days of vacation time. And, eating foods that you are not used to can also cause digestive distress. Being prepared before you travel can make the difference between a miserable trip and a memorable one.

Here are some supplements that will make your life a little better while you travel. (more…)

Tags: melatonin, probiotics, relaxation, travel, zinc
Posted in Health Concerns, Nutritional Supplements, Stress Management & Lifestyle |
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Tell the FDA to Save Antibiotics

by Paula Gallagher | July 7, 2010

This is the title of a recent article put out by the Human Health and Industrial Farming Campaign. Apparently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a rule that could weaken already-lenient controls on the use of antibiotics in food animal production. Right now many industrial farmers use antibiotics to compensate for the squalor these poor animals live in. Overcrowded pens and unsanitary conditions lead to overuse of antibiotics already. We all know what overuse of these drugs eventually does – weakens our defenses against certain strains of bacteria and basically makes them pointless.

So, what can we do…

Make your voice heard:  Write a letter.  If you follow the above link it will tell you what to do.

Buy smart:  Buy grass-fed, free range, antibiotic-free poultry, livestock and their respective products, eggs and milk. Yes, they are more expensive, but the benefits outweigh the ingestion of antibiotics on a possible daily basis.

Go Meatless:  You can cut down on your grocery bill, and get extra health benefits, if you have two vegetarian dinners per week.

Take Probiotics:  A good probiotic can provide many health benefits, including digestive support and immune support

Tags: antibiotics, FDA, probiotics
Posted in Health Concerns |
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