Here are a few tips to help keep your kids healthy as they head back to school.

First of all, cut back on all sources of sugar, processed foods, fast food and fruit juice.  Sugar has an adverse reaction on the immune system.

Then, supplement, supplement, supplement!  There are many products out there.  Some of them work most of them don’t.  Here a few that are worthwhile.

Fish oil:  Fish oils are beneficial for focus, mood stabilization, and the immune system.  Make sure it’s a good source, as most oils are over processed and as a result spoiled in the process.  If you have questions about what oils are good bring them in and we can test them.  I trust my daughter’s health with tuna oil from Standard Process.  They even come in an orange flavor that she loves.

Congaplex from Standard Process:  This is a great supplement! I have many parents that will testify to the benefits of Congaplex.  They also come in a chewable raspberry flavor if they can’t swallow capsules.  They can be taken daily or just when there are first signs of a cold.  My daughter usually gets a couple every day.

If your child always seems congested or sick then they may need to avoid wheat and or dairy.  If you are not sure if they would benefit from avoiding certain foods then bring them in for a visit and we can test them.

If your child has been on antibiotics then add in a pro-biotic.  Sometimes lactic acid yeast will also be needed.

Finally, chiropractic adjustments are always great for the immune system!  Getting adjusted once a month during school months can be a great advantage for the immune system and well-being in general.

As always, let me know if you have specific questions.

In good health,

Dr. John

Most health issues and diseases that kids are diagnosed with these days are preventable with proper nutrition. Asthma, allergies, chronic ear infections, hyperactivity, ADHD, obesity and most recently diabetes and heart disease are all related to what we are eating and what we avoid eating. The problem is…most parents don’t know what is healthy anymore. There is too much conflicting information out there that’s too difficult to decipher. Almost everyone eats too many grains as cereal, bread, pasta, crackers, cookies, etc. The problem with that is too many grains cause inflammation in the body and they also can lead to problems with diabetes and obesity.

Grains don’t always need to be completely eliminated but the more they are replaced with healthier options the better off we all are. Babies, growing children and even adults need rich sources of fats and protein. Organic butter, cheese, full fat yogurt, eggs, grass fed beef, fish, and nuts and seeds are some of the most nutritionally dense foods we have. These nutritious foods are important for proper brain development; they help control inflammation and are essential for proper hormone development. Most of the body’s hormones are made from fats as cholesterol. Hormone production is one important thing that we use cholesterol for and there are many other reasons why we need cholesterol but I’ll get to that in another blog.
There are three supplements that I would consider an absolute necessity for kids. Catalyn from Standard Process is a whole food based multiple vitamin that no other company can come close to. It’s been around since 1929 and has withstood the test of time. Congaplex from Standard Process for continual support for the immune system . Fish or krill oil for brain and nervous system development. Fish oil also helps promote a healthy mood. Be careful which oils you are buying because all oils can easily go rancid with heat and oxygen. If oil is heated up too much during processing then the oil is already rancid by the time you buy it. Standard Process also makes oils that we know are not altered or destroyed during the processing. Also, store all of your oils in the refrigerator to keep them from going rancid. Rancid oils are toxic oils.

When learning disabilities are involved then B vitamins will also be necessary (Cataplex B or G from Standard Process). Not all B vitamins are created equal. Most all vitamins are nothing more than chemicals put together and sold as nutritional supplements. They are not food and your body does not treat them like food. Therefore, a general multiple B vitamin will not do the same thing as Cataplex B or G from Standard Process.

A note for pregnant women or women who are breast feeding: mother needs to be taking these supplements (and maybe a few more) for proper development of the baby. Mothers who supplement with fish oils when they are pregnant and while they are breast feeding have children with higher IQ scores!

As a side note: absolutely avoid anything that has corn syrup and hydrogenated oils in the ingredients. Any oil that is excessively heated, like deep frying, is hydrogenated. That includes French fries! Avoid sodas like the plague (even if they are diet) and minimize fruit juice consumption. If kids follow these general guidelines and get regular exercise chances are they will grow up strong, healthy and happy.

It’s that time of year again when the government health agencies are telling you and your child to get this years annual flu shot. What they aren’t telling you though is that flu vaccines are not effective at protecting you from the flu. Studies by the Centers for Disease Control show that each year roughly the same percentage of people suffer from flu-like illnessess, whether they are vaccinated or not. Even though more people are getting vaccinated annually, the percentage stays the same when one would think the percentage would go down if the vaccines were protecting the people who receive them. You are also not informed of the contaminants and poisons contained in these and other vaccines: formaldehyde, a carcinogenic enbalming fluid, ethelyn glycol (radiator fluid) ,aluminum (a very dangerous neuro toxin), mercury in the form of thermerisol, and other preservatives you wouldn’t normally want to put in your body. Real experts, not the CDC, say flu vaccines don’t reduce the number of working days lost, they don’t reduce flu-related complications, deaths or hospitalizations and they don’t stop the spread of the flu. They also state that there is no evidence that seasonal flu vaccines have any effect, especially in the elderly and young children.

What should you do instead? Increase your immune system! A strong healthy immune system is your defense against viruses, bacteria or anything else that invades your body. Start with a whole food diet and cut back on sugar, processed grains and packaged foods. Exercise, drink clean water, not sodas, get sun exposure without the use of sunblock and take immune supporting supplements. You need to feed your thymus gland, spleen, adrenal gland, and other organs involved in the immune system.

I use: Immuplex- everyday support for the whole immune system. Take 3 to 6 a day for maintenance and 9 a day if sick. Thymex- the heavy hitter when people around you are sick or if you are fighting off a cold or the flu. Take 6 to 12 a day at the first sign of a cold or flu. Congaplex- this supplement is 1/3 thymex, 1/3 calcium lactate and 1/3 vitamin A and C from carrots, alfalfa, mushrooms, and echinacea. Take 1 every half hour at the onset of cold or flu symptoms and then 1 an hour until symptoms decrease. Congaplex Chewable for kids who can’t swallow pills is raspberry flavored for palatability. Take 2 to 4 every day for maintenance and 1 an hour if your kids are battling an illness.
Taking a heavy dose of these supplements will usually stop a cold or flu before it really kicks in. If you do get sick, it will shorten the severity and duration of these illnesses. The key to staying health this winter is to eat nutrious foods instead of processed foods, keep sugar consumption to a minimum, excercise, get plenty of sleep and boost your immune system with the right supplements. Here’s to a healthly fall and winter season.

Dr. John Doucette

Soy is often thought of as a health food. On the contrary, it can be quite dangerous! Soy is a heavily processed food which leaves behind many carcinogenic (cancer causing) residues due to the high temperature used to process it. Therefore, it is linked to cancer especially breast cancer. Soy is also high on the list when it comes to food allergies. Gluten, dairy, corn and soy along with peanuts and eggs are the most allergen prone foods. I have taken many patients off soy when digestive problems are relevant and I have taken many kids off soy when learning disabilities are involved. Symptoms of food allergies can be anything from brain fog in adults to learning and behavioral disabilities in children. These foods can also cause all sorts of digestive problems and lower the immune system.

Another issue with soy is it mimics estrogen in the body and can throw off the delicate hormone balance in the body. This can lead to developmental issues in children such as premature pubescence (children developing too early in life). There is also a connection between soy intake and antibiotic use in children. The more soy they consume the more antibiotics they usually need. If you have a baby on soy formula, stop immediately! Go to westinaprice.org for more information on formulas.

In adults soy can be linked to reproductive issues and other hormone imbalances. There is definitely a connection between soy consumption and thyroid problems. If you are on thyroid medication stop soy immediately.

If this isn’t already enough information to stop you eating soy then here is a little more concerning info. Soy is a heavily genetically modified crop. Close to 95% of soy is GM soy. More info on that issue later.

There are some exceptions when it comes to soy. Fermented soy has some benefits and is not so detrimental to health. Miso, natto, tempeh and soy sauce are all fermented. If you are going to eat soy make sure it is fermented. The fermentation of foods has some health benefits to it but I myself would prefer other sources of fermented food. Sauerkraut, Greek olives and kimchee are all fermented.