children's health -

May 27, 2019

Growing Pains Treatment & Natural Remedies

If you’re looking for one more reason to love magnesium, here’s one! It makes for a smart and simple growing pains treatment. In this post, we’ll explain what causes growing pains and how to make growing pains go away.

Your kid wakes up in the middle of the night crying in pain and clutching her calf. She’s suffered no injuries that you can think of. What could be going on? Growing pains can strike out of nowhere and can range from a mild to significant pain.

What are growing pains and what do they feel like?

Growing pains are muscle cramps or spasms that growing children may experience, usually in the preschool or pre-teen years.

They tend to show up in the calves and quads, but can also be felt behind the knee or in the groin. Growing pains affect both legs, but may be felt in only one side or the other at a time.

How long do growing pains last?

You might notice growing pains in late afternoon or evening (just in time to disrupt bedtime), but they might also wake a child in the middle of the night. Different children will have different experiences. The pain can range anywhere from a dull ache to sharp and debilitating.

Growing pains tend to come and go and children do not usually experience pain every day.

What causes growing pains?

At this time, no one knows what causes growing pains. There’s also little evidence to link “growing” pains with actual growth spurts.

The prevailing theory is that the muscle cramps/spasms known as growing pains are actually linked to intense levels of activity common to childhood and subsequent over-use of the muscles, leaving them prone to cramping.

Other theories include a connection to restless leg syndrome and the possibility that not all body tissues grow at the same rate causing the body to protest in the form of growing pains.

Are growing pains normal?

An estimated up to 40% of children experience frequent growing pains, while others never experience them.

Most of the time, growing pains are considered “normal,” but they might also be tied to nutritional deficiencies, such as magnesium or vitamin B6 deficiency.

It is important to keep in mind that growing pains can be similar to other, more serious, conditions.

If something seems off, do not hesitate to seek a professional opinion. You should be concerned about growing pains if you or your child:

Experience pain around the clock or notice it in the morning
Show any signs of infection such as fever or a rash
Also feel lethargic, weak, or unusually tired
Experience limping, reduced mobility, swelling, or aching in the joints

While most folks consider growing pains a childhood malady, the pain doesn’t always abate with maturity. It can continue on into adulthood.

The sensation of growing pains in adults is often quite similar to that experienced by children – pain on both sides that shows up in the calves, quads, or behind the knee and that’s worse in the evenings or at night.

Growing pains treatment

Natural remedies for growing pains

So how do you make growing pains go away? Conventional treatments include stretching the legs, massaging the sore areas, and applying heat to affected areas.

The following holistic approaches may help to bring longer-lasting relief.

1. Magnesium. Since growing pains have a connection with linked to restless leg syndrome, magnesium is a good option to try. Using a magnesium lotion, such as this one, when massaging the legs and/or a magnesium supplement, such as this one, are both good options to ensure your child’s pain is not from a lack of magnesium. A warm Epsom salts bath can also be very soothing and a great way to get some extra magnesium.
2. Essential oils. Plant Therapy makes a Grow Ease Kidsafe essential oil blend specifically to help alleviate the symptoms of growing pains and can be added to the above magnesium lotion in place of the sleepy time oil for additional relief. You can also use this pre-made diluted roller on the backs of your child’s knees and bottoms of his feet at night.

Grow Ease KidSafe Essential Oil 10 mL

Homeopathic remedies. Cell salts can be helpful in reducing symptoms of growing pains by helping the body assimilate and send nutrients where they are needed most to reduce the pain. Calcarea phosphorica is a big one for growing pains.
Vitamin B6. Because vitamin B6 helps transport magnesium into the cells and growing pains in children have been linked to a B6 deficiency, a good multi-vitamin or diet may help.
Vitamin D. A 2015 study indicates that there is a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and growing pains, as well, so ensuring your child has adequate vitamin D levels is important to ward off growing pains. Check this one out.

In addition to the above, some parents have also seen an improvement in their child’s growing pains by using CBD oil and chiropractic care.

How can I stop my legs from hurting at night?

In the case of adults with growing pains, rule out other potential causes.

Adults are more likely to have a condition such as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia as the root of their “growing pains.”

If you truly have growing pains, then many of the same natural remedies for growing pains mentioned above will apply to adults, too.

Growing pains treatment: diet

Food is medicine, and the case of growing pains is no exception.

Since vitamin B6 deficiency is linked to growing pains, be sure to include foods rich in vitamin B6, like:

Chicken
Turkey
Beef
Salmon
Spinach
Asparagus
Yams
Broccoli

Bone broth with its high collagen content is beneficial for healthy tissue development and may help to avoid or alleviate growing pains. A hydrolyzed collagen supplement works too.

Some parents have also found that removing dietary inflammatory triggers such as sugar, gluten, and artificial sweeteners from the diet helped reduce their child’s growing pains.

If growing pains are connected to intense physical activity, electrolytes can also help. Coconut water will quickly boost electrolytes.

And on the topic of electrolytes – do bananas help growing pains? They might.

Bananas are high in potassium. So, if low potassium is part of the problem, bananas may help stop growing pains. Some dried fruits such as dates and prunes, cooked spinach, cooked broccoli, and sweet potatoes are also good sources of dietary potassium.

Conclusion

Growing pains are unpredictable. Your child may or may not have them. Ensuring your child is well nourished with all the right vitamins and minerals can help.

So can good nutrition and a few home remedies.

Bonus: Many of the supportive tips to get rid of growing pains will also support your kid’s overall health.

What growing pains treatment options worked for you? Share in the comments below!

November 29, 2018

PANDAS Symptoms Checklist

Obsessive clinginess, aggressive outbursts, repetitive blinking, and new problems popping up at school? If you’re nodding YES and looking for answers, read through this PANDAS symptoms checklist. It will help you figure out whether or not your child has PANDAS. And if so, where to start after a PANDAS diagnosis.

What is PANDAS?

According to Margo Thienemann, MD at Stanford University, PANDAS is defined by the sudden loss of appetite and the onset of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, otherwise known as OCD.

A PANDAS child must also show symptoms from at least two of the following categories:

Anxiety
Mood swings
Irritability or aggression
Poor performance at school
Sensory abnormalities
Sleep disturbances, bed wetting, or needing to pee frequently

One of the things that sets PANDAS apart from other forms of OCD like PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome) is that it’s triggered by an infection.

Specifically, a group A streptococcal infection.

Strep throat is the most notorious type of infection caused by group A strep. But there are other infections that can show up on the skin or along mucous membranes.

When trying to put the pieces together, it may help to know that group A strep can manifest as:

Strep throat: An infection at the back of the throat, including the tonsils. It can show up as fever, sore throat, red tonsils, and enlarged lymph nodes.
Impetigo: And infection of the skin. Shows up as yellowish crusty sores on the face, arms, or legs.
Vaginitis: Inflammation of the vagina. Includes signs like itching, burning, pain, and discharge.
Sinusitis: A sinus infection. Shows up as thick mucus in the nose or a plugged nose. There may also be fever, headaches, and a sore throat.

Note: Group A strep triggers PANDAS. It does not cause it.

Just because your child acquires a group A strep infection, this does not mean that it will automatically lead to PANDAS.

The following symptoms can also manifest in PANS as well, as the symptoms of PANDAS and PANS are generally the same, though the underlying causes are different.

A major hallmark of PANDAS syndrome is a sudden, acute onset of psychiatric symptoms, although it should be noted that some children do experience a slow decline. These psychiatric symptoms most frequently emerge following an illness like strep throat, though keep in mind that other infections and environmental triggers make provoke symptoms.

Your PANDAS symptoms checklist

If your child shows PANDAS symptoms that pose a risk to safety, you may want to seek immediate support. This includes physical violence, aggression, refusal to eat or drink, and suicidal behaviors.

It’s also important to note that no two PANDAS cases are the same. Your child may need very different care than another child.

What’s more, the come-and-go nature of PANDAS symptoms means that you will need to make periodic adjustments as your child gets better and appears to “relapse.” Symptoms might also change from one to another – for example, they might move from severe anxiety to aggression or depression.

This is to be expected. It’s not a failure of PANDAS remedies or of the parent.

Because PANDAS symptoms are never stable, be careful not to “chase” the illness and react with new therapies, new drugs, or higher dosages.

1. Sudden loss of appetite

A sudden refusal to eat or drink is a classic sign of PANDAS, even without OCD symptoms.

In this case, it’s important to focus on nutrition while addressing underlying inflammation. A shift in diet is typically necessary.

Click here to find out more about an anti-inflammatory diet for children.

Some PANDAS children may feel afraid of choking or vomiting. If this is the case, breathing and relaxing techniques can help.

2. Tics

As many as 70% of those with PANDAS develop tics. Common tics include eye blinking and throat clearing.

PANDAS children with tics are more likely to have a poorer performance at school, trouble with handwriting, a hard time with memory, and lower self-esteem.

In some cases, a therapy called habit reversal training can help get rid of tics by teaching the child to stare or look up during a blinking tic or practice slow, rhythmic breathing for vocal tics.

3. Anxiety

Anxiety, particularly separation anxiety, is found in most PANDAS patients. According to Dr. Margo Thienemann, over 90% of patients show signs of separation anxiety.

This means excessive anxiety when away from home or when away from a parent.

While entirely normal and healthy for small children ages 6 months to 3 years, separation anxiety in older children or adults raises a red flag.

This anxiety can be so severe that it interferes with you and your child’s day-to-day activities.

4. Mood swings

Mood swings and depression are common in a PANDAS child during the later stages of illness.

Depression can sometimes be the result of ongoing pain.

There are two types of pain in PANDAS children: arthritis and pain due to how the body processes sensations.

When a PANDAS child experiences pain, there’s often an increased sensitivity to light, sound, and smells. There might also be tummy pain, headaches, muscle aches, daytime tiredness, and brain fog.

With touch, you may find areas of tenderness that follow the same distribution as fibromyalgia.

5. Irritability or aggression

Irritability and unprovoked violence can be the most difficult on the PANDAS symptoms checklist because this type of behavior puts you or your child in danger.

As with mood swings and depression, sensory sensitivities, fatigue, and trouble understanding the environment can make a child feel vulnerable and aggressive.

Angry meltdowns can last for 45 minutes to an hour or longer. Typically, once the rage passes, your child is “back.”

Your child might feel remorse or not remember the episode at all.

In the moment, punishment is the last thing that you want to do. The best thing you can do is distract your child – if possible – and wait for the episode to pass.

Keeping a calm home environment without a lot of stimulation or demands can also help.

6. Poor performance at school

In a set of guidelines published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Dr. Margo Thienemann explains that many children with PANDAS need some sort of accommodation at school.

Often these kids feel challenged (and challenge their teacher) with PANDAS symptoms like:

Handwriting difficulties
Trouble paying attention or staying focused
Difficulty with math
Memory issues
Physical pain (more on that below)
Frequent absences

Hyperactivity may be caused by anxiety, a complex tic sequence, feeling tired, sensory overload, or the urge to pee.

The inability to focus in school might be caused by lack of sleep, mood swings, intrusive thoughts, or “brain fog.”

If you suspect PANDAS or have received a PANDAS diagnosis, there are some things that parents and teachers can do together to help a PANDAS child.

Excuse absences and dismiss required makeup work or tests
Allow the parent to be in or near the classroom
Excuse the child from activities and approve alternative methods, like typing rather than writing and erasing or listening to audiobooks
Work with the frequent need to pee and allow the child to leave without asking permission
Have a notetaker in class, enlarge worksheets, use large grid paper, allow a keyboard or voice recorder
Permit the child to use a calculator and times table
Encourage rest periods during the day and less homework

A PANDAS child’s needs change from day-to-day. As PANDAS symptoms improve, parents and teachers can work together to shift the level of support available at school.

Note: many parents to choose to pull their children out of public school in order to homeschool after PANDAS symptoms begin to crop up. This can be an excellent choice for some children if you’re in a position to do so.

7. Trouble sleeping

Trouble sleeping is often interwoven with PANDAS symptoms.

For example, sleep trouble may be the result of separation anxiety or OCD bedtime rituals.

Bed wetting, nightmares, and sleep apnea from enlarged tonsils can also interfere with sleep.

REM sleep behavior disorder is also common in the PANDAS child and is linked to an inflamed brain.

With REM sleep behavior disorder, your sleeping child might act out his or her dreams. This could involve screaming, shouting, laughing, crying, kicking, punching, or getting out of bed.

Sometimes a solid bedtime routine is enough to improve sleep. This includes:

A regular bedtime, even on weekends
A consistent and pleasant set of activities before bed
A cool, dark, and quiet place to sleep
Zero caffeine, high-energy play, or heavy meals before bedtime
No electronic games, television, or screens before bedtime

Each case and each child is different.

Your child may exhibit a combination of the above symptoms, or variations. You may be certain the symptoms emerged following a strep throat infection, or you may be unsure of exactly when or why they began. Regardless of the trigger, if your child exhibits any of the above symptoms, it’s worth further research to see if PANDAS or PANS might be at the root of your child’s behavior. Once you have a better idea of what you’re dealing with, your child will have a much better chance of recovery.

Would you add anything to this PANDAS symptoms checklist? Share in the comments.

September 29, 2018

Arguments Against Vaccination: What Does the Bible Say?

Increasing numbers of parents are finding plenty of arguments against vaccination, including the reality that vaccines go against what the Bible says and what God wants for His creation. In this article, Danielle sheds some light on why Christians may want to rethink vaccines, and why it is essential to protect our religious freedoms.

Most parents don’t even think about questioning the modern medical care system. You have a baby; you get vaccines and whatever treatments your doctor says he needs.

But how about investigating the arguments against vaccination? Is society’s current paradigm what Christians are called to follow? Does the Bible even talk about vaccines?

I would argue that yes, the Bible talks about pharmaceuticals, trusting in man, the holiness of our bodies, keeping our hearts and hands clean, and what happens when God’s creation is altered in depth.

And that, my friends, touches on the issue of vaccines.

How did vaccines get on the scene?

The very basic premise that began the notion of needing vaccines is called “the germ theory.”

In the mid-1800’s, Louis Pasteur developed the “germ theory,” the idea that germs are the cause of all disease. He then developed pasteurization, a way to heat food and kill microbes that may cause illness or disease. But, pasteurization also kills beneficial bacteria and enzymes.

His contemporary, Antione Beauchamp, came out with an opposite theory called the “terrain theory.” This theory highlights that healthy food, hygiene, and lifestyle affect a person’s terrain or immune system.

Interestingly, it’s widely accepted that Pasteur said on his deathbed that Beauchamp was right, “it’s all about the terrain.” However, the germ theory flourished and is still accepted today. It is what our modern medical system, and vaccines, are based on.

What does the Bible say about vaccines? Biblical arguments against vaccination

Aren’t vaccines saving lives? We are only using the wisdom God has given us, right?

The Bible contains stories showing how God’s people relied on their own wisdom to do what was good in their own eyes, only to find out they hadn’t asked their Heavenly Father what He thought.

The golden calf (Exodus 32-34), King David (1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings), and King Solomon (1 Kings) come to mind. But vaccines? Where does it talk about that?

Let’s explore some verses that may bolster the arguments against vaccination for Christians.

God doesn’t make mistakes

“And God saw that it was good.” [Not one but four times] Genesis 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:25

Let’s start at the beginning, when God created the Heavens and the earth, and then he created Adam and Eve.

Did God create Adam and then realize He made a mistake? Did He miss something in the immune system? Do we really think we can improve on His creation?

That sounds more like pride rather than wisdom to me. God stated that His creation was “good” four times, not just one.

His good is just that – entirely good, without blemish.

Human nature is to want to improve on things. We think that we can make things easier and better for ourselves (remember how the tower of Babel turned out?). But the Bible is clear that God has it down – and doesn’t need our help.

Abortion is an integral part of the vaccine industry

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

The Bible makes clear that life begins at conception. It says that every child is a gift from God (Psalm 127:3). If Jesus were here today, I am not sure if He would be carrying a sign, but we can agree He would be pro-life.

Many are surprised to find that in fact, vaccines do contain aborted fetal tissue, including lung and kidney tissue.

This is because scientists grow live vaccines in living tissue. You can find aborted fetal tissue in 23 total vaccines, including:

MMR
Chickenpox
Shingles
Rabies
DTaP
HiB
Hep A and B
Polio

Today, many pro-vaccine Christians will convince themselves that aborted fetal cells in vaccines is just a sad part of the history of vaccine creation, as these “designer cell lines” (one of the names given to make them sound innocuous) were derived from elective abortions in the 60s. However, there is evidence that this is an ongoing practice.

Even more concerning are the implications of using cells from fetuses, as DNA fragments in vaccines have been implicated in autism spectrum disorders, as well as increasing gender identity disorders.

Vaccines contain DNA from animals too

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” Leviticus 17:11

Consider that God forbade His holy people to drink blood, eat blood, or even mix it with certain other sacrifices.

He explains in Leviticus 17 that the life of the animal is in its blood, and thus is what atones them from their sacrifice, pointing to the ultimate Atonement, Jesus.

Yet, we find that there are animal by-products in vaccines. Not only are vaccines contaminated with DNA fragments from aborted fetuses, but also from animals, as they are grown in things like monkey and dog kidneys.

Vaccines contain ingredients that assault the body God created

“Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?” 1 Corinthians 6:19

These ingredients include carcinogens, neurotoxins, animal viruses, animal blood, allergens, and heavy metals. These ingredients can cause serious harm and even death to the body.

But the vaccine industry gets a free pass to include them in vaccines in the name of “health.”

Vaccines are man-made

“Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” Isaiah 2:22

We all know and have our own stories about how hard it is to trust in God in difficult times.

But, we have to trust Him. As Christians, we believe He is sovereign. He knows all. He sees all.

We have to believe that He has our best in mind (Jeremiah 29:11) because He does. We are called to be in this world, but not of it. And that often means going against the grain, walking the narrow path, and seeking His will alone. This applies to our relationships, our words, our work, our actions, and yes, our health decisions.

We should never make decisions out of fear

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

The fear created by overzealous vaccine campaigns is real. Those advertisements are designed to provoke an emotional response, to make you fear your child becoming sick.

However, when we make decisions due to fear, we miss out on hearing from God about what He wants for our lives. When we instead trust His perfect design, we can make decisions from a place of education, with a sound mind, and empower ourselves to make healthy choices for our kids.

It is essential to protect religious vaccine exemptions

As Christians, there are plenty of arguments against vaccinations that are supported by biblical truth. Sadly, some states have already removed religious exemptions from vaccines, and still others have also removed vaccine exemptions based on philosophical beliefs, leaving parents to rely on doctors willing to support a medical exemption, which are hard to come by.

That means that parental freedoms and choices are limited, and children may not be able to attend public school without receiving vaccines that may violate a parent’s religious beliefs.

Vote your conscience and learn what your representatives believe about parental rights when it comes to vaccines.

What are your arguments against vaccination? Share in the comments below!

April 26, 2018

How To Use Essential Oils – The Right & The Wrong Way

Essentials oils can save you a trip to the doctor’s office and fill your home with a blissful aroma. But they’re not always the safest remedy to use. To get the most benefit, you need to know how to use essential oils. In this post, Lisa shares her tips along with safety precautions to take.

Wondering how to use essential oils and take your health to the next level? The benefits of essential oils are many. Essential oils may help with:

Immunity and infectious illness
Wound healing and pain relief
Sleep, mood, and cognition

What ARE essential oils?

Essential oils are derived from the fragrant essences found in plants.

Oils are the basis for use in aromatherapy. When derived naturally from plants, the use of essential oils provides a high-quality way to support your overall health.

How do you administer essential oils?

Topical Uses

The quickest and easiest way to experience the benefits of essential oils is through topical application. Correctly used, essential oils can uniquely target specific areas of the body to achieve the desired effect. Some topical uses include anointment and gentle massage.

It is important to note that essential oils are powerful. For safety reasons, taking them orally is not recommended. That said, inhaling essential oils can be therapeutic.

Aromatherapy uses

Relief from anxiety and depression
Improved quality of life, particularly for people with chronic health conditions
Improved sleep
Increased physical and mental energy

How to use essential oils for aromatherapy

The use of essential oils in aromatherapy works to improve physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Depending on the oil and the time of day, inhalation of specific oils can positively alter brainwaves. The lasting effects can fluctuate between calming and uplifting.

Diffusing

To diffuse essential oils, add a few drops to water and turn on your diffuser, which distributes essential oil molecules in the air. As the vapor is inhaled it comes into contact with the nerves that send them directly to the brain, providing a safe and quick way to put the oils to work for you.

Besides deodorizing and sanitizing a space, diffusing essential oils can promote a calm and stress-free environment.

We like this inexpensive diffuser.

Inhalation

Another common use of essential oils is direct inhalation. This is done by adding a small drop or two to the palms, rubbing them together, cupping the mouth, and inhaling deeply.

Jewelry

Need to diffuse on the go? There are different types of jewelry that help you benefit from essential oil, even when you’re not at home. These include:

Locket style pendants with felt pads like this
Cylindrical silver or gold pendants with wicks
Stone, crystal, and handblown glass vessels with cork stoppers
Terracotta aromatherapy necklaces
Beaded essential oils jewelry
Leather and rope aromatherapy jewelry

Each of these aromatherapy jewelry pieces serves a different purpose. Because they are so close to the skin it is recommended to take caution when applying or reapplying essential oils. This provides the oil lover with a unique and stylish way to enjoy the aroma throughout the day.

We love lava stone necklaces and bracelets, and leather strap jewelry.

What essential oils can do for you

Immunity and infectious illness

The use of therapeutic grade essential oils to combat infection, such as the influenza virus, has proven to show significant positive impacts.

Many essential oils have anti-viral properties. Commercial essential oil blends have been shown to reduce the severity of the influenza virus by decreasing the direct infection of the cells. Other effective uses for essential oils:

Skin and foot fungal treatment
Staph infections
Bacterial infections

We love this organic germ fighter essential oil for applying, diluted, topically and diffusing. You can buy a pre-diluted roller here, or the Kidsafe Germ Destroyer roller here.

Wound healing and pain relief

When it comes to relieving pain, essential oils can provide a natural way to manage pain without unwanted or uncomfortable side effects. With anti-inflammatory, soothing, and pain relieving properties, there are specific essential oils that can help with the following aches and pains:

Back pain
Nerve pain
Neck pain
Shoulder pain
TMJ pain
Knee pain
Foot pain
Kidney pain
Tendon pain
Hip pain
Bone pain
Leg pain

We like Organic Rapid Relief and Muscle Aid essential oils for pain relief.

Wound healing is another topical application of essential oils; essential oils like lavender, rosemary, and myrrh have antibacterial and healing properties.

Other essential oils can support healing as well, just be sure to use the proper handling and application as many of these oils can be potent and vary in strength.

Essential oils safety concerns

When used properly, most essential oils are safe and free of side effects. As with any addition to your health, essential oils do not come without a certain amount of care and intelligent use.

It is recommended that you never eat or drink essential oils. When used in full strength, they are extremely potent and should be treated as medicines that heal rather than casually ingesting them.

To avoid irritation and sensitization, dilute your essential oils. By using dilution methods, you are lessening the potency of the oils by mixing them with what is called a carrier oil, a base for safely “carrying” the essential oil.

Some common carrier oils are:

Sweet almond oil (we like this one)
Fractionated coconut oil (this one is organic!)
Olive oil
Grapeseed oil (try this one)

The quality of the essential oils you use is increasingly important. When researching a high-quality product you want to keep in mind these factors:

Sourcing
Extracting
Testing
Bottling
Application

Essential oils and children

When used safely, there are some essential oils that can support children, depending on age and sensitivity issues.

As a whole, a child’s immune system is not fully equipped to handle concentrated essential oils through diffusion. It is important to thoroughly research which essential oils are safe to use with children, based on their age.

This holds true for topical use as well. Always use a carrier oil and research which essential oils are more irritating than others.

We love these Kidsafe oils, designed specifically with children’s health and safety in mind.

Which essential oil brand is the best?

We get lots of questions about essential oil brands, and the truth is that there are a lot of good ones out there. As we’ve discussed before, we’re not into MLM essential oil hype… or the price tags that come along with it. We think good essential oils can be found at reasonable prices.

That’s why we use and recommend Plant Therapy. Not only is Plant Therapy super affordable, they offer:

- lab-tested, quality essential oils backed by research
- high standards for essential oil development and creation
- a large selection of organic essential oils (check these out)
- a large selection of Kidsafe oils that we feel good about using on and around our kids
- Plant Therapy offers fast, free shipping (in today’s Amazon Prime world, you know that is important!)

(Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial)

Regardless of the brand you choose to use, please know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to get high quality essential oils for your family.

The use of essential oils as part of a holistic lifestyle has many benefits. Essential oils can mean less trips to the doctor’s office and less use of pharmaceutical drugs.

However, it’s important to educate yourself and use the quality essential oils. Also, make sure that you monitor any and all effects, whether they are positive or negative. This will help you put the powerful benefits of essential oils to work for you daily.

What are your favorite essential oils and how do you use them?

April 17, 2018

Learn Why the GFCF Diet is a Must for Autism

Have you thought about trying a GFCF diet for your child with autism? If you haven’t you should, and in the guest post below, Dave from I’m Simply a Dad, will tell you why!

No parent likes to see their child struggle. For autism parents, it seems like we have to watch our kids endure one obstacle after another. Sometimes, we are able to help them through it, but many times their hardships are deeply rooted in their biology. This is why the GFCF diet is a must for autism because it provides the building blocks for healing. If we provide them with the support they need, the body will heal, behaviors improve, and symptoms can disappear.

Why try the GFCF diet for autism

The GFCF diet seeks to heal the gut and calm down the immune system. By doing these two things, digestion and cognition improve, aggression and anxiety decrease, and you’ll even notice improvements in sleep quality. The child starts to feel better, and it will seem as if the fog has been lifted from their brain.

Now, of course, this does not happen overnight. However, after a few weeks on the GFCF diet, you will begin to see progress. There are some lucky parents that do see immediate results. One parent even told me they heard their nonverbal child’s first words after just 3 days on the diet.

What is the GFCF diet for autism?

The GFCF diet is the removal of gluten, casein, and all food ingredients derived from them. Soy is often removed as well due to its similar molecular structure. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains.

Casein is a protein found in dairy, which is why some people refer to this as the GFDF diet or the gluten free, dairy free diet. Soy is, of course, anything derived from soybeans.

Why is gluten free casein free good for autism?

Kids with autism and even ADHD tend to have overactive immune systems, which is what contributes to the severity of their symptoms. When we eat foods containing gluten, casein, and soy, it causes an immune response in many of us including our kids on the spectrum.

These 3 ingredients are quite inflammatory, and they are responsible for a large portion of food allergies and food sensitivities. If we eat these foods several times a day, then this can lead to chronic inflammation.

The gut-brain connection

The gut and the brain are connected by the vagus nerve. This means that the brain can “talk” to the gut, and the gut can “talk” to the brain. Each has the power to influence the other, so if we want to help our kids with autism think more clearly and stabilize their emotional state, then we must heal their gut.

Leaky gut is a condition that has been repeatedly linked to the autism and autoimmune population. Essentially, someone with leaky gut has cracks in their gut lining allowing things to leak into the bloodstream. This can be toxins, microbes, or undigested food. Obviously, we don’t want toxins and infectious microbes to be floating around in our bloodstream, but what about undigested food?

Molecular mimicry

When the body sees partially digested gluten and casein proteins floating around, it tags them as foreign invaders. The immune system then mounts an attack against them, which leads to inflammation. Even worse, these partially digested proteins can resemble our body’s own tissues.

An overworked immune system can inadvertently tag the tissues of things like our thyroid, and start eating away at it. (This is called molecular mimicry.) Eventually, this leads to autoimmunity, which is why I encourage parents to adopt the GFCF diet with their children. If the diet can help your kids, then chances are you can benefit too.

Opiates

In an unhealthy gut, gluten and casein may be broken down into molecules resembling that of opium. These gluteomorphin and casomorphin peptides can trigger the same receptors in the brain as heroin and other opiate drugs.

The result is a real addiction to these foods. It’s no wonder that our kids can’t focus or are stimming and bouncing off the walls shortly after snack time. (Jaclyn’s note: it also explains why kids on the spectrum refuse to eat anything but starchy, sugary foods, cheese, milk, and bread!)

The critical first step in autism treatment

The purpose of the GFCF diet is to take away many sources of inflammation and help the immune system to throttle down. When the immune system is not overworked, it is less likely to mistake our own tissues as foreign invaders.

Diet is the foundation for all healing. Progress in other areas may be slow if you do not first clean up the diet. Remember, the brain is only as healthy as the gut. If you want to help your child become the best they can possibly be, you have to heal the gut.

Eliminating gluten, casein, and soy is the critical first step that will allow our kids to progress in school or through other therapies and treatments.

What foods can I eat on the GFCF diet?

I’m sure the question you’ve been asking for a while now is “What CAN I feed my family on this diet?!” You actually have a variety of foods you can eat. Fresh fruits and veggies are always okay.

All 100% meat is GFCF, but double check labels for processed or cured meats like sausage, bacon, hot dogs, pepperoni, and other processed meats & meat products.

There are a number of gluten-free flours and grains for you to choose from, and you can offer different milk alternatives like coconut or almond milk. There are even vegan cheese options that are gluten and dairy free too.

If you would like to learn more about what you can eat, I have a beginner’s GFCF food list that includes several specific brands and meal ideas to help get you started.

Want to dive deeper into the GFCF diet?

For anyone wanting to take a much deeper dive into the science behind the GFCF diet, I have an in-depth GFCF Diet Guide on my site. This free guide will help you fully understand why adopting a GFCF diet is the critical first step in any treatment for autism.

We are all scared in the beginning

I believe the GFCF diet should be the starting point for any autism treatment. Unfortunately, many parents are paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of such a dramatic change in their lives. When we started our son on the GFCF diet, it was so overwhelming. I remember nearly crying after our first trip to Whole Foods. Everything was so expensive, and I remember thinking how can we possibly afford this?

Fast forward 8 years, and the diet is easy. We’ve been able to tweak the diet here and there with relative ease to fit my son’s needs. I guess you could call me a GFCF pro now. It’s one of my greatest successes as an autism Dad.

Our family is healing together

It took us a little longer to see positive results, but we did see progress with our son. Our biggest gains were with sleep and a stronger immune system. He no longer gets sick all the time, the constant skin rashes diminished, and his sleep quality improved drastically.

A few years after starting our son on the diet, the rest of the family has joined him on the diet. My wife’s once severe asthma is nearly cured. She has been inhaler free for years now. I personally lost almost 100 pounds, and our healing diet has helped improve my mental well-being significantly.

In our kids, inflammation can manifest as sleep struggles, attention difficulties, hyperactivity, behavior problems, and gut issues like constipation, bloating, or diarrhea.

The goal of the GFCF diet is to reduce the burden on the body by removing foods that can trigger this inflammation. However, the true purpose of the GFCF diet is to help our kids feel better.

Adopting a GFCF diet will allow the body to heal. As their body heals, they will start to feel good. When our kids feel good, then, they can really begin to progress and thrive.

Start your healing today

If you are ready to help your child start healing through the GFCF diet, I have a free jump start kit over on my website, ImSimplyaDad.com.

It includes:

A copy of My Ebook: “A Parent’s Complete Guide to the GFCF Diet”
1-week meal plan
Printable Cheat Sheet: List of ingredients containing gluten, casein, and soy
Printable Cheat Sheet: List of foods you can eat on the GFCF diet.

This jumpstart kit is my gift to you. Simply head over to ImSimplyaDad.com/subscribe, and sign up to get yours today!

Standard disclaimer:

Remember, I’m simply a Dad sharing the knowledge and experience I’ve learned over the past 8 years. The content presented is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice.

My name is Dave, and I’m Simply a Dad. My son’s autism diagnosis opened my eyes and taught me how to better care for myself, my family, and truly appreciate the important things in life. Our family has made great strides in our healing journey. It is my mission to share our experience and the lessons we’ve learned as we work towards health, hope, and happiness.