Sugar in Toddler and Baby Foods

Sugar, Ah, Honey Honey... You are my Candy, Girl, and you got me Lovin YOU! (The Archies)

Nice old song... but not the tune you should be singing if you are wanting to raise healthy children.  Unfortunately, a recent study in Canada showed that over 50% of foods targeted towards toddlers and babies contained an excessive amount of sugar. "Excessive amounts of sugar" was defined as product or food providing more than 20% of its caloric value from sugar or a sugar variant.  According to the the article that I read, 40% of products listed sugar - or some variant, such as corn syrup, cane syrup, brown sugar, or dextrose) - in the first four ingredients on the label. 19% listed sugar (or some variant) as either the 1^st or 2^nd ingredient.

Increased refined sugar consumption is linked with heart disease, hypoglycemia, adult onset diabetes, and weight problems. Some connect excessive sugar consumption to a reduction in immune responses, candidiasis, bowel problems, hyperactivity disorders, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and many other unhealthy conditions.

What I consider as the biggest crime is the fact that we establish and reinforce unhealthy habits in our young that lead to unhealthy practices as adults. What is the point in adding sugar to infant and toddler foods other than to create a demand and craving in the young child? Developing a craving for sweets in children only leads to high sugar food ingestion by adults.

Parents of children must guard against the urge to purchase food products that sound enticing to them, such as banana cream pie puree, or fruit juices that contain added sugars.  READ THE LABEL. There is no need to purchase foods that contain added sugars. Children raised with tastes of healthy foods through their entire lives are more likely to eat healthy as adults. Teaching your children to eat healthy is one of the greatest gifts that you can give them. It will help them to avoid many of the diseases that plague adult Americans.
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Keith E. Biggs, DC

3617 E. Southern, Suite 8
Mesa, AZ  85206
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com
Office:  480-985-3334
Cell:     480-375-0068

Save the Fish!

I was recently looking at health related articles on the internet when I came across this one.  I am always interested in pharmaceuticals and their potential negative effects, but I found it particularly interesting when scientists expressed concern over old drugs being flushed down the toilet. Interesting, considering the fact that these very same drugs are considered "safe" for you and I to ingest, yet dangerous to fish and other aquatic plants and animals!

Drugs are not "safe" for fish, and they are not safe for us either. If relatively small doses in water can damage aquatic life,  how about the higher concentrations of the drugs when taken orally?  Every medication causes the physical affects that we want, and the affects that we don't want. Every medication taken in will exact its costs in some health detrimental way.  You have to "pay the piper". Everyone does.

Do yourself a favor. CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE. If you are ready to do so, but you are unsure of what to do and where to start, give me a call. I can help. It can be done. By changing your diet, exercising, visiting a chiropractor or an acupuncturist, getting massage, etc you can greatly improve your HEALTH, and not merely treat the symptoms of your disease.  The choice is yours.... so save the fish!



Keith E. Biggs, DC

3617 E. Southern, Suite 8
Mesa, AZ  85206
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com
Office:  480-985-3334
Cell:     480-375-0068

I had a patient recently... that was only 6 months old. She was brought to me because she suffered from repetitive chronic ear infections. Sure, the antibiotics would interrupt the ear infections, but as soon as they were gone, the poor thing would start up a new and painful infection.

This might come as a surprise to some, but middle ear infections in infants is not caused by a low blood level of antibiotics.  The antibiotics might be beneficial for killing bacteria, but the question remains: What is causing the baby to get the bacterial infections int he first place?  Here are some thoughts. If you have a child that suffers from middle ear infections, you should pay special attention.

1) Get the child OFF dairy based foods.  Many children (and adults, for that matter) are allergic or sensitive to dairy.  Formulas do not adequately replace mother's milk.
2) Have the baby consume Pro-Biotics.  These healthy organisms are killed off by antibiotic therapy, but they are essential to a healthy immune system. Without them, how can you expect your poor baby to fight off infections? Pro Biotics can be found in powder and at times liquid forms. They should be refrigerated.
3) Breast feed your baby.  Mother's milk helps the baby to fight off infections, and as discussed above, formulas are a sorry imitation of what nature can provide for your baby.
4) Consider using homeopathics remedies for symptom relief and immune system support. Try to avoid treating flare-ups with additional antibiotics. Try healthy options first.
4) Take your baby to a holistic chiropractor familiar with pharyngeal sweeps and infant adjusting. Chiropractic adjustments help to boost the immune system and pharygeal  sweeps in the back of the throat help to open up the drainage tube from the ear to the throat.
5) Follow through! Remember, your child might require holistic care for several months, and relapses are possible. Don't give up if a new infection appears. Treat the infection as needed, and resume your holistic and healthy practices. Your patience will be rewarded.

If you have any questions regarding this article, I can be reached at my office. (480) 985-3334. Also, here is a link to my website where I discuss healthy eating habits for children. It is a wonderful resource.

Vitamin D Prevents Colds and Flu, and Helps in Recovery

Respiratory infections caused by viruses, such as colds and flu, may be helped through an increased blood level of Vitamin D.

During the winter months, blood levels of vitamin D are decreased. This is thought to be due to the decreased exposure to sunlight, which causes vitamin D production in humans. Medical doctors associated with Yale university school of medicine theorized that winter viral infections could at least in part be associated with this decrease of Vitamin D levels.

Researchers evaluated 198 healthy individuals. They found that those with lower blood levels of vitamin D were nearly 3 times more likely to catch a cold or the flu than those with higher blood levels of Vitamin D. Also, for those that did suffer from a viral infection, those with high Vitamin D levels recovered more quickly.

Vitamin D has, for a long time, been associated with a healthy immune system. During the cold and flu seasons, a simple but yet potentially powerful option is to take increase dietary Vitamin D consumption in order to decrease the risks of contracting an infection, and to decrease the duration of the cold or flu.  Most scientists believe that 1000 IU/day is sufficient.

Keith Biggs, DC

Quit Smoking, Save Your Baby!

We all know what smoking does to the smoker. The research is clear that smoking causes lung cancer, throat cancer, cancer in the mouth, heart disease, emphysema, and many other diseases for the smoker.  But if a woman stops smoking before she becomes pregnant, she could be saving the life of her unborn child.

The CDC, or center for disease control, has recently stated that mothers that smoke cause a significant increase in premature births and low birth weight babies.  Many of the premature births result in death or permanent disabilities in the children. Children of smoking mothers suffer a higher incidence of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome.

If you are a woman that smokes, and if you are considering having a child, do the right thing for yourself and for your baby! Quit smoking today! There is overwhelming evidence of tobacco's damaging affects, so it is really a no-brainer. Your baby deserves a fighting chance at survival.

The costs of smoking mothers-to-be, in terms of health care costs, are astronomical. The researchers at the CDC said: "If all women quit smoking during pregnancy, health care costs in the United States could be reduced by about $232 million a year and there would be improved overall health for mothers and babies".

There are many ways to stop smoking, and you don't have to do it alone. In my chiropractic office we have an acupuncture and homeopathic detox program that could help you to quit. Some find that the nicotine gum is helpful. Whatever you decide, make sure that you do it before you get pregnant.

Keith Biggs, DC
Biggs Chiropractic and Acupuncture
biggschiropractic@gmail.com

Headaches in Teenagers

Headaches are a common complaint, and are among the most common of complaints with adolescents. A recent group of German researchers performed a study to determine if smoking, alcoholic beverage consumption, coffee consumption, and inactivity contribute to the suffering of patients that experience migraine headaches and migraines plus tension type headaches.

Over 1200 subjects from 14-20 years old were included in the study. The researchers found that Coffee consuption and inactivity contribute to migraine headaches, while coffee consumption, inactivity, alcohol consumption and smoking all contributed to the suffering of those that have both migraines and tension type headaches.

The moral of the story is this: If you are suffering from headaches, you very well might get some benefit by making some healthy choices. First of all, eliminate the usage of all coffee, tobacco, and alcohol. Secondly, increase your physical activity.  Third, increase your physical activities.  Finally, find a chiropractor that you trust. Many headaches can be releaved through chiropractic adjustments of the segments in the neck. Adjustments have been found to be safe and very affective.

Make some changes so that you can take less medication and improve your health. If you know of others that suffer from headaches, pass this along to them!

--
Keith E. Biggs, DC

3617 E. Southern, Suite 8
Mesa, AZ  85206
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com/
biggschiropractic@gmail.com
Office:  480-985-3334
Cell:     480-375-0068

Office Hours Change

Dear Patients,
Our office will be closed on Monday, June 7th.  We will reopen on Tuesday, June 8th at 8:30 AM.  Thank you for your understanding.
Best of health always,
--
Keith E. Biggs, DC

3617 E. Southern, Suite 8
Mesa, AZ  85206
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com
Office:  480-985-3334
Cell:     480-375-0068

Asthma and Kids

I remember long ago hearing the adage that "you are what you eat". Though it is a common phrase, too few of us actually take it to heart.

Another way of looking at it is that if you eat healthy, you are more likely to be healthy. For example.... kids that eat diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables and fish are less likely to develop asthma and wheezing symptoms. Think about it. If we as parents would simply alter our diets and help our children to do the same, we could prevent the development of asthma in those that we love the most, not to mention eliminating the damaging side affects of the long term use of steroids and other pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of SYMPTOMS associated with asthma (medications don't treat asthma. They relieve the symptoms so as to support the unhealthy condition...).

Parents, take a stand! Make a decision to eliminate one unhealthy food today, and replace it with a healthy food choice!  Your kids deserve the life of health that you will be giving them. Think of your grand kids. They will also benefit from the good diet habits that you help to instill in your children. If that is not enough, think of yourself. As you help your children to avoid asthma through healthy eating, you will improve the odds of you not dying from heart disease at a premature age!

If your children already suffer from asthma, do not be discouraged. Change their diets right away. Help them to learn to eat healthy. Also, take them to your chiropractor. Adjustments of the mid back and ribs has been shown to open air passageways and to promote a healthy immune system. The Chiropractor will also have additional information regarding potential alternatives to the long term use of medications. Don't wait for the next miracle drug. It will not cure your child's lack of health. Asthma is NOT the result of a drug deficiency, that is for sure.

Sickness and disease is often the result of choices that we make. Choose wisely!

Dirty Dozen

No, I'm not talking about the movies, though growing up it was one of my favorites.  I am talking, however, about the fruits and vegetables that contain the highest concentration of pesticide chemicals.

According to an article on CNN Health, the list of the non-organic foods with the highest levels of pesticides is as follows:

The Dirty Dozen
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce

Not all non-organic fruits and vegetables have a high pesticide level. Some produce has a strong outer layer that provides a defense against pesticide contamination. The group found a number of non-organic fruits and vegetables dubbed the "Clean 15" that contained little to no pesticides.
The Clean 15
Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions

Whenever possible, when shopping for fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list, it is advisable to purchase those that have been organically grown.  


Pesticides are chemicals used by farmers to help to prevent crop losses to disease and insects. As noted in a prior blog post, a particular type of pesticide, organophosphates, might be linked to neurological disorders such as ADHD.

A common misconception is that simply washing the produce will wash away the chemicals. Although washing of all fruits and vegetables is advisable to remove bacteria and dirt, washing does little to remove pesticides since they are typically easily absorbed through the skin of the produce.  In some cases, peeling can be somewhat helpful.

Kids are the most vulnerable to this chemical attack because their brains and bodies are still growing.  Pesticides, after all, are chemicals designed to kill.  Although the FDA claims that small amounts of pesticides are harmless, there are few long term studies available.

The moral of the story is to purchase organically grown produce when possible. There are some indications that people who eat organically grown foods can reduce their body contamination of pesticides by as much as 95% in just two weeks.

Keith Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide/index.html?eref=rss_health&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_health+%28RSS%3A+Health%29