by Dr. Katie Greeley D.C.

Your Kids – Feeding Them the Healthy Way

As parents, when we think about feeding our children in a healthy way, we tend to think of that wonderful food pyramid guide we were raised on. We want to make sure our children are eating their fruits and vegetables as well as getting enough dairy for healthy bones. In theory, this is great.

However, if the food you are feeding your children is plagued with pesticides, preservatives and dyes, how on earth can your child be healthy? The old saying, “you are what you eat” has never rung so true.

If we expect our children to fight off the common cold or ailment, they need to have a diet that will help them accomplish that. Even big business is starting to realize that our children are not as healthy as they once were. In fact, we can’t watch TV without an ad for childhood obesity or juvenile diabetes reminding us of the current state of children’s health and nutrition.

Differences between organically grown verses conventionally-grown foods:

Organic produce is grown in its natural environment and without toxic chemicals. Conventionally-grown produce averages a journey of 1500 to 2500 miles to get to your supermarket, is usually grown with pesticides, and is often picked green and then chemically ripened at its final destination.

In fact, in 1995 and again in 2002, the USDA found that the 12 most commonly eaten produce items and wheat samples were contaminated by pesticides, even after washing and peeling. The EPA and the US Department of Health and Human Services have determined that of the 25 most commonly used agricultural pesticides:

• Five are toxic to the nervous system.
• 18 are harmful to the skin, eyes and lungs.
• About half are comprised of cancer-causing chemicals.
• 17 cause genetic damage.
• 10 are harmful to reproductive organs.
• 16 disrupt the normal functioning of hormones.

In other scientific journals and publications, pesticides have also been linked with numerous cases of cancer, birth defects, allergies and other disorders of the nervous, neurological, behavioral, hormonal, reproductive, endocrine and immune systems.

Even the World Health Organization believes that using antibiotics in our meat supply “enables microbes to build up defenses against drugs and attack human immune systems.”

So the use of antibiotics in our meat is causing human “super-bugs” that can no longer be treated with current medicines. Unfortunately, at this time there is still no regulated “sustainable” or “organic” certification on a state or federal level for seafood.

Food dye and Red Dye #40

A food dye that we must be aware of is known as Red #40 and is in most of our gelatins, puddings, dairy products, confections, beverages and condiments. It can also be known as Azo dyes or Allura Red.

This particular family of dyes is banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, and Norway because it takes less than 10g/kg to be a lethal dose in lab animals. Most Azo dyes cause allergy reactions in aspirin sensitive people. It has also been implicated in cases of hyperactivity in young children.

So next time you go to your grocery store, look at the label on the back of your children’s snacks. Make sure they do not contain Red Dye #40, aspartame or nutra-sweet (which is a neurotoxin), or even Splenda or sucralose.

Splenda and Sucralose

Pre-approval research has concluded that years or decades of using Splenda or sucralose may contribute to serious chronic immunological or neurological disorders.

Now that we have determined what not to feed our children, how do we make sure they are getting the proper vitamins and minerals, and do we need to provide supplements? Keep in mind that Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA’s) were developed to determine the smallest amount of a particular nutrient that must be consumed in order to prevent a specific disease from developing.

Since we all live in different environments with different stressors, each of us will have different vitamin or mineral deficiencies. This means that your child might be lacking a nutrient that is necessary for optimal functioning.

Health and Food Supplements

You may be thinking, “Who needs to take a supplement? Our grandparents seemed fine with out them.” However, frequent and early-onset degenerative diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer are much more common among the U.S. population than they were several generations ago.

Modern agricultural practices such as over-fertilization and heavy pesticide use diminish soil quality and harvesting foods before they are ripe also affects nutritional value.

Human cells need a constant, abundant supply of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates and fats. Substances such as heavy metals in tap water, pesticides in our soils, mercury in dental fillings or aluminum in cookware and antiperspirants are bombarding our bodies with an unhealthy array of toxins. Exposure to these toxins taxes the body’s detoxification system which relies on specific vitamins and minerals for proper functioning.

Supplements such as antioxidants and Vitamins A, C and E can all help control damage from the toxins we are exposed to. However, supplements can be confusing.

Here are some simple steps for choosing supplements especially geared towards children.

• Keep it simple and find a multi-vitamin specialized for children. Try to avoid the vitamins containing too many sugar and dyes.
• Most kids are not big fish eaters. As parents, we also limit fish consumption as too much can lead to elevated mercury levels. Consequently, most children are lacking essential fatty acids, which are important for brain growth. A child’s brain will continue to grow in size until about 8 years of age.
• Find a practitioner who specializes in children’s nutrition. Usually the purest supplements are only available through licensed practitioners such as a DC, MD or ND.
• Remember that supplements do not cure or prevent diseases. They merely help the body fight them as much as possible.
• Try to give the supplements in the morning and/or evening and in most cases with food.

With the proper knowledge about how to feed your children, they are sure to grow up healthy and strong. It is up to you to make the best decisions.

About the Author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a chiropractor and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has taken extra courses on pediatrics above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Dr. Greeley is the owner of the practice United Family Chiropractic is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Dr. West #D Simi Valley, Ca. Her office can be reached at 805-522-2324 for further questions.