Renew You Challenge

Let’s start this week off right!

 Weekly challenge (I mean, opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us!

 Many studies have pointed out the health benefits of spending time outdoors. According to University of Illinois environment and behavior researcher Frances Kuo, the science behind these benefits is strong and clear, “In less green environments, we find higher rates of aggression, violence, violent crime, and property crime—even after controlling for income and other differences. We even find more evidence of loneliness and more individuals reporting inadequate social support.”

On the flip side, access to nature and greener environments improves cognitive functioning, self discipline and impulse control, and contributes to greater overall mental health. Greener environments also help recovery from surgery, improve immune function, help diabetics achieve better blood glucose control, and improve functional health status and independent living skills in older adults.

So this week, get outdoors! Find some green space and take it in. Then figure out how you can make it more of a habit so that you too can reap the good health that getting closer to nature can bring you.

While you’re at it, pick up one of the following houseplants, which were found to be the best at reducing indoor formaldehyde levels (formaldehyde is emitted from particle board, carpet, window coverings, paper products, tobacco smoke and more):

• Japanese royal fern
• Spikemoss
• Hare’s foot fern
• Guava
• Sweet lavender
• Spider fern
• Geranium

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The gut-brain connection is fascinating. It involves an intimate communication between the gut and the brain, and it goes in both directions—from the brain to the gut, and from the gut to the brain. I mean, isn’t it cool that what happens in your gut can affect your brain?

Yet another study looking at the gut-brain connection has found that gut bacteria are associated with anxiety. The researchers used an animal model to study this link, as it is easier to work out the details of these connections in animal models. Researchers found that antibiotic treatment altered the normal gut bacterial count, producing a change in behavior—the mice became anxious. They also experienced an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), linked to anxiety and depression. When the antibiotics were stopped, behavior returned to normal.

To take this one step further, the researchers added gut bacteria from mice genetically prone to be passive, to mice prone to be more active and exploratory, and vice versa. They found that by giving the mice a different set of bacteria, the mice began to behave as the mice from which the bacteria were originally isolated. One of the researchers stated, “these results lay the foundation for investigating the therapeutic potential of probiotic bacteria and their products in the treatment of behavioral disorders, particularly those associated with gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.”

Like I said, the gut-brain connection is fascinating.  Did you know your gut had so much power over your health?

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The Standard American Diet (aptly named SAD), also known as the Western diet, is full of processed and fried foods, refined carbohydrates and sugars, and saturated and trans fats. It is low in fiber, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and beneficial fats (like omega-3s).

This diet has been blamed (and rightfully so) for so many different health conditions, most notably, heart disease and diabetes. But cheer up! A change in diet and increase in exercise can reverse both these conditions. 

Another recent study links another condition to SAD. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHC, or as it used to be known ADD) is one of the most common childhood disorders, and may continue into adulthood. It involves difficulty staying focused, difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity. In adolescents, consumption of a Standard American Diet was found to more than double the risk of being diagnosed with ADHD when compared to a diet low in the foods found in the SAD diet.

The suggested reasons for this difference were:

• SAD diet has a less optimal fatty acid profile (too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3)
• SAD diet may not provide essential micronutrients needed for brain function
• SAD diet contains more artificial colors, flavors and additives linked to ADHD symptoms

More studies need to be done to figure out which came first, but I simply can’t wait that long to get the word out about how detrimental the SAD diet is to our children’s health. I know that children and adolescents are picky eaters, but it is essential that they get all the nutrients they need for the best start in life – one that will carry them through the years. The earlier they begin eating well, the more likely they will eat that way for life.

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As it turns out, 3-year-old children who consume a diet high in processed foods are more likely to have a lower IQ by the age of 8 when compared to children who eat either a traditional meat and potatoes diet, or a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, salads, rice and pasta. A recent study tracked almost 4,000 children from age 3 to age 8 ½ to determine effects on IQ of different dietary patterns. Findings in this study reflect those of other dietary studies in children that link behavior and school performance with dietary factors.

So this week, if you know a toddler, begin sharing healthy foods with the child. The brain develops most rapidly during the first three years of life. If you can instill good eating habits at this early age, just imagine the possibilities!

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or ADD as it used to be called, affects 5% of children worldwide. A recent study published in the journal Lancet evaluated the effects of a restrictive elimination diet on ADHD symptoms in children aged 4–8. The diet consisted of rice, meat, vegetables, pears and water for five weeks. Symptoms improved in 78% of the children. If that’s not a gut connection, I don’t know what is!

Certain foods and food additives have been suspected to play a role in the development of ADHD for quite some time now, but it’s a controversial topic. I love that this study was published in such a prominent journal. Though more studies need to be done to determine just what foods should be avoided, and how long a restricted diet can be followed safely, researchers are on the right track. The gut-brain connection is an interesting one, and this study shows us why.

Can it really be that foods we eat affect our behavior? YES!!! Our intestinal tracts are one of our main connections to the outside world. What we put into our bellies will affect the rest of our bodies, especially our brains. 

Remember though, if you suspect food sensitivities may be affecting your child, be sure to work with a holistic-minded doctor. It is essential that children receive enough nutrients from their diets. Even the diet used in this study is only recommended for five weeks. Work with a doctor to find the best options for your child.

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Every time I read about a study like this my heart just breaks. So many kids today are diagnosed with ADHD, and to think that something inside our own homes might be contributing to the problem is really hard to hear.

ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common childhood disorders, and it can seriously impact the health and well being of not just children, but of whole families. Kids with ADHD are often severely hyperactive and have a difficult time concentrating and paying attention, and because they have such a hard time controlling their behavior, many of them have problems in school and at home. For parents of kids with ADHD, the last thing they want to worry about is toxins, but now there’s even more evidence that our increasingly toxic world is taking a toll on American families.

Recently a team of experts from Boston University looked at samples from nearly 600 kids between the ages of 12 and 15, and what they found was that those with higher levels of a type of toxin called PFCs in their bodies were more likely to suffer from ADHD. PFC stands for polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, and research suggests that these chemicals may affect healthy nervous system function. And because they’re used so much in things like food packaging and flame-retardant coatings for furniture and upholstery, it’s probably safe to say that PFCs are in most of our homes every day.

While we’ll never really be able to get rid of all the toxins that are inside our bodies, the best way to stay healthy is just to stay informed and do our best to reduce our toxic exposure. Take a good look at the products you use every day, and whenever you can, try to replace chemical-laden products with safer, natural alternatives. Your health—and the health of your kids—might just depend on it!

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There was a study done recently that got a lot of press, and I have to say it really got under my skin. Researchers looked at the effects of a gluten-free, casein-free diet in kids with autism, and what they said was that it didn’t have any behavioral effects on them. But I thought, “No way—something isn’t right here.” And it looks like I wasn’t the only one.

Nutrition Director Kelly Barnhill from the Autism Research Institute also had some pretty interesting things to say about this particular study. Check it out:

• First, only fourteen children participated in the study…fourteen! Common sense alone says that’s not nearly enough to make such broad conclusions.
• Second, the kids who participated in the study didn’t even have any gastrointestinal complaints. This is a big one, since most autistic children do have digestive problems of some sort—a good sign that gluten and casein (a protein found in milk) sensitivities are involved. But the children in this study were specifically chosen because they did not have digestive complaints. What?!
• Third, the children only followed the prescribed diet for four weeks, even though it takes at least six weeks to really get all of the gluten protein out of the body. Four weeks just isn’t enough time to call this an effective study, folks.
• And finally, the diet the children followed wasn’t even 100% gluten- and casein-free. This is important because some kids are sensitive to even the smallest amounts of gluten, so strict adherence to a gluten- and casein-free diet is absolutely necessary in order to see beneficial results.

Obviously this issue is far from over. So many parents of autistic kids report benefits after removing gluten and casein from the diet. No, it doesn’t cure autism—but it can alleviate the often debilitating digestive symptoms that these children endure, and as a result their behavior often improves. Don’t knock it till you try it!

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We’d all like to think we’re safe from harmful pesticides as long as we wash our fruits and veggies really well, but a recent study featured in the journal Pediatrics brings to light just how harmful pesticide exposure can be…especially for our kids.

Funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the study revealed that children exposed to organophosphate pesticides—the most commonly used pesticides in agriculture—are more likely to develop attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). More than 1,000 U.S. kids ages 8 to 15 were tested for levels of an organophosphate metabolite (breakdown product) in their urine, and results showed that those with higher concentrations were twice as likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. 

Similarly, previous studies have found that children who were exposed to higher blood concentrations of organophosphates in the womb were more likely to have poor mental and motor development by ages two and three, and that postnatal exposure to organophosphates was associated with memory difficulties and problems with attention, motor tasks, behavior and reaction time. 

Because organophosphates are used on most conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, children especially are at risk due to their age, size and developing bodies, so taking steps to reduce their exposure is one of the most important things parents (including expectant moms) can do today to ensure the health of their little ones.

My advice? Opt for organic foods as often as possible, especially when it comes to the top 12 most contaminated foods, otherwise known as the “Dirty Dozen”. Regular total-body cleansing and specialized liver and kidney detox programs are also helpful for supporting the vital organs and organ systems that help eliminate harmful toxins from the body (also called the Seven Channels of Elimination): the liver, lungs, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, blood and bowel, or colon.

Again, I’m glad to see this kind of information making into the hands of mainstream medicine. It means people are finally starting to open their eyes about the dangers of our highly toxic modern world, and it sure is a refreshing change!

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You know how I feel about toxins, right? Right. So when I heard that the FDA had finally updated its warning about one of the most harmful toxic chemicals out there today, I thought to myself, “It’s about time!”

The folks at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been dragging their feet for some time now on the issue of bisphenol A (or BPA for short). BPA, which I’m sure you’ve heard of by now unless you’ve been living under a rock, is one of the most prevalent chemicals in use today, and it’s found in 90% of the population—which means yes, it’s probably inside you right now!

BPA is used in the lining of canned foods and in many hard plastic products like those reusable water bottles you see everywhere. One of the most concerning uses of BPA, however, is its presence in plastic baby bottles and ‘sippy’ cups, as well as in containers for infant formula and food.

Whereas before they said BPA was ‘safe’ for infants, the FDA has since changed its tune. Now when you go on their website and research BPA, you can see that their new statement says they are concerned about the “potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and young children”. So as a result the FDA is now supporting the removal of BPA from containers that are used by infants. Well, thank goodness!

But still, let’s not forget how BPA affects adults too—another study just came out that confirmed the link between high BPA levels and cardiovascular disease, showing that people who have the highest amounts of BPA in their urine also had the highest rates of heart disease. How’s that for a wake-up call? Just something to keep in mind the next time you consider buying canned foods or filling up your water bottle.

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