Conditions affecting children are some of the toughest things to investigate because many kids have a tough time voicing their feelings and symptoms. Many signs and symptoms go unnoticed until the symptoms have gotten way out of hand. Kids arrive in this world with a very blank slate, no good bugs or bad bugs. As children encounter these bugs in their environment the immune system must “learn” to attack. This is why kids in those first few years at daycares or pre-school will be “constantly sick”, It can be normal for children to have between 6-8 infections per year. Their immune system is learning to mount a defense to each new bug that’s presented to it.
This is a normal and necessary part of life and adapting to the environment. Infections can range from colds and ear infections to bowel inflammation and everything in between. Some other concerns in our pediatric population can be of a chronic nature, like eczema, acne. In many cases our job as functional medicine practitioners is to identify the trigger or the root cause. Many times triggers can be traced back to allergens in the environment or in the diet. Something that is causing the child or teens body to go into “defense mode” triggering body-wide inflammation.
Pediatric Concerns
SUGAR, DIET, EXERCISE
Another problem in our society is that we are getting fatter…and our children are mimicking our behavior. Childhood obesity is at 13.4% for 2-5 year olds, 20.3 for 6-11 year olds and 21.2 for 12-19 year olds. As adults our job is to raise healthy and able children, beginning their early years with good habits is the key to healthy adult habits. What we give them to eat is building the foundation for their eating habits the rest of their life.
Obesity leads to many chronic conditions like Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, high blood pressure and Metabolic Syndrome…and we are beginning to see these chronic conditions in our children. Thousands of studies have linked high sugar intake to many of these chronic diseases we face.
Our society has become more fast-paced, we are always in a hurry and we have STOPPED PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT WE FEED OUR BODIES. We work all day and grab fast food for dinner because it’s easy. We don’t get our children to play outside anymore, they are in the house on Ipads and playstation all day. Diets high in processed foods, saturated fats, chemicals and sugar mixed with no exercise and activity. Ladies and Gentleman, Moms and Dads, that is a recipe for terrible habits that carry over into adulthood. It is setting up your children for chronic illness.
We as adults MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE. Get out of the house with your kids and get moving. Prepare healthy meals together and “Eat The Rainbow”. I can help put you and your family on the right path. If you’ve been going down the wrong path and taking your family with you, there is still time to correct these habits. THE TIME IS NOW.