As a mother, I have spent the large part of the last 7 years
worrying. Worrying about my kids before
they were born. Worrying about
labour. Worrying about feeding. Worrying about kids getting hurt. Worrying when they are sick. Worrying, worrying, and worrying.
So when should you worry about your child’s
development? This is a tricky question
for parents who are having children today.
Our children are surrounded by toxins.
Lead, arsenic, aluminum and mercury.
Bisphenol A, dioxins, pesticides and fire retardants. In a world where Gatorade contains fire
retardants that have been linked to ADHD and Autism, and where your average
apple has 42 pesticides on it, we should all worry if our children are meeting
their developmental potential. From a
treatment perspective there are three different ways to look at
development. Prevention, Treatment,
Optimizing
PREVENTING
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS
Preventing developmental concerns is the newest area of
focus as emerging research links toxins, disrupted gut health and nutrient
deficiencies to increased risk of developmental disorders like speech delay,
ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tic disorders, OCD and learning disabilities. Prevention starts as early as pre-pregnancy
detoxification for both partners.
Remember, 80% of unexplained infertility is related to sperm
health. North American men have a
staggeringly low “normal” rate for sperm health. Your average Australian man produces 900
million per sample but many couples are told that 20 million is enough. The presence of toxins is our new reality. The National Institute of Health estimates
that at least 25% of developmental delays are related directly to toxins. In a landmark study, researchers found that
for each 10 miles closer to a landfill a child lived, the rate of special needs
went up. There are countless studies
linking toxicity to our children’s health.
There are also many documented risk factors for having a child with
developmental concerns such as serotonin production, thyroid function, immune
dysregulation, vitamin D deficiency, methylation impairments, elevated toxic
load etc. So as a parent who is
preparing for pregnancy, pregnant or has just had a baby, here are some really
important things to consider.
· Detox your home!
Many substances and materials in your home impact your health and your children’s health
·
Omega 3 fatty acids – North Americans are
extremely deficient. A good omega 3
should be taken before and during pregnancy, during breastfeeding and given to
infants because they have trouble converting essential fatty acids to DHA which
is crucial for brain development. Invest
in a good omega 3 that is cleaned properly to remove metals, pesticides and
chemicals. Ascenta, Nordic Naturals,
Genestra and Nutra Sea are our favourites
· Probiotics are very important to regulate immune
response and inflammation. Probiotics
during pregnancy and from the first day of life are highly recommended to
reduce risk of eczema, allergies, asthma and developmental disorders. Children with ADHD and autism have a
different ecosystem in the gut described as an impaired microbiome. Your child’s gut is 100% responsible for
supporting post-natal development
·
Folate not FOLIC! Folic acid is synthetic. It requires conversion to methyl folate which
helps to make serotonin and dopamine that are crucial for healthy
development. Most pre-natal vitamins
contain FOLIC ACID. The problem is that
40% of the population has trouble converting folic acid to methyl folate. It is essential to supplement with METHYL
FOLATE or FOLATE before and during pregnancy as well as during lactation
TREATMENT OF
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS – 1 in 6 Canadian children experiences developmental
concerns
For many years, developmental disorders were considered to
be a mental health concern. Behavioural
therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and other treatments designed to
optimize a child’s development are beneficial but they can only take a child as
far as that child’s biochemistry will allow.
With new research identifying biochemical impairments in children with
ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, a new way of thinking is emerging. Children
with developmental concerns have MEDICAL ISSUES that can be assessed and
treated resulting in new potential.
Biomedical treatment focuses on individual assessment of a child’s
physiology, biochemistry and immune function.
When underlying issues are treated, children are able to progress more
quickly and further because their body has attained a higher level of health
not held down by a medical concern. For
example, take glutathione. Glutathione
is the RATE LIMITING STEP to your child’s development. Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant
and is responsible for detoxifying harmful substances and hormones. Improving
glutathione production will help with any developmental disorder. Treatment of developmental delays is the
subject of millions of dollars of research.
You can read more about biomedical treatment in the following books:
·
Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Asthma,
Allergies, ADHD and Autism – Dr. Kenneth Bock, MD
·
The Autism Revolution – Dr. Martha Herbert, PhD,
MD
·
Changing the Course of Autism – Dr. Bryan
Jepson, MD
Some of you may be thinking that your child doesn’t have
ADHD or Autism so treatment is not an option but consider what a child with
autism usually deals with:
·
Language delay
·
Social impairment
·
Cognitive delays
·
Behavioural issues
·
Sensory impairment
·
Fine and/or gross motor skill delays
One of the wonderful thing coming out of the research focus
on the medical aspects of autism is that we are learning that any developmental
concern can benefit from individualized assessment and treatment. Take YEAST as an example. A child may have yeast overgrowth in the gut
that is depleting B6 which depletes DOPAMINE. Behaviours and Clinical Signs for
Yeast are http://naturalcareclinic.ca/blog/2013/10/31/signs-of-yeast/
Dopamine is needed
for:
·
Processing of information
·
Perception of change
·
Transitions
·
Attention and Focus
·
Motivation
·
Mood
·
Cognitive function
A typically developing child may have trouble with mood
regulation or transitions because of yeast overgrowth in the gut. A child with autism may have a major issue
with dopamine regulation resulting in many more concerns. The take home message is that ANY DEVELOPMENTAL
CONCERN CAN BE TREATED THROUGH BIOMEDICAL TREATMENT.
OPTIMIZING DEVELOPMENT
The majority of children are developing typically. If your child is meeting all their milestones
and has no developmental concerns, is it worth supporting their
development? I think it is. A study out of the UK a few months ago showed
that our children will have a decreased lifespan because of unhealthy
diet. Thirty-five percent of North
American homes still have lead in them.
Twenty-two percent of those homes have enough lead to impact a child’s
development. Your child is surrounded by
toxins. We have to be proactive in
protecting the brain because even though some children are developing
typically, it is entirely possible they are not meeting their potential because
of toxins.
A few good questions to ask to discern if your child is at risk from toxins are
the following:
1.
Does
your child eat food?
2.
Does
your child breathe?
3.
Does
your child drink water?
If you answered yes
to any of the above questions, your child is exposed to the 90, 000 chemicals
that are in our land, air and water.
The incredible thing about the cells in our body is their
ability to detoxify harmful substances.
You can enhance your child’s protective mechanisms by focusing on:
·
Free range, hormone free meat – Our family
orders meat in bulk to keep the cost down and improve the quality
·
Increase vegetarian sources of protein, reduce
red meat
·
Eat foods with lower amounts of pesticides –
focus on organic or avoiding the “dirty dozen” foods that are highest in
pesticides
·
Omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics and methyl B12
·
Green leafy vegetables – try hiding them in a
smoothie, pancakes, muffins, soups or sauces
·
Make sure your child is getting enough sleep and
exercise
·
Reduce the stress in your child’s life and
expose them to natural environments
·
Canadians need vitamin D3 to stay healthy – make
sure your child is getting the right amount daily
·
Eat foods that raise glutathione like green
leafy vegetables, brazil nuts, mushrooms, avocado and watermelon
Yours in good health,
