As we find ourselves in mid-January, we also find ourselves in the middle of cold and flu season. This month we will focus on two supplements that have been researched to help support your kids' immunity during these winter months.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is on my superhero list of vitamins for children. However, vitamin D is actually more closely aligned with being a prohormone than an actual vitamin, as it is needed in many of the body’s processes. It can be synthesized from direct sunlight exposure, or obtained from oily fish, vitamin D fortified foods, or supplementation.

In the northern latitude, where many of us live, children simply cannot get enough vitamin D from the sunlight during the months from late September through early April. In addition, it is difficult to get enough vitamin D from foods alone. Therefore, for those of us living in the northern latitudes, vitamin D supplementation is needed in the cooler months for our children’s optimal health and wellness.

Breastfed infants as well as children one to four years of age are specifically vulnerable to low vitamin D levels. Optimal vitamin D is one of the most important influencers of growing children’s health and immunity. 

Benefits of Optimal Vitamin D:

• Builds a strong immunity and decreases severity and frequency of infectious diseases including ear infections, viral respiratory infections, and influenza
• Decreases rates of autoimmune diseases
• Needful in those with allergies
• Builds strong bones and teeth and prevents rickets
• Needed in healthy muscle development

In my pediatric wellness practice, we test the child’s vitamin D level, and then dosage is determined by age and vitamin D level. In breastfed infants we use vitamin D3, and in children and teens we use vitamin D3 paired with vitamin K2 which facilitates transport of calcium into the bones. FullScript carries a variety of vitamin D3 and D3-K2 supplement options at this link.
​Reference:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7282029/

Beta-Glucan
Wellamune, is a patented form of baker’s yeast beta-glucan (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). It has been clinically shown to decrease upper respiratory tract infections in children by up to 66% as well as fewer reported sick days than placebo in children when taken over a 12 week period. It supports both the innate and adaptive immune responses in children and helps to decrease viral replication.

🎄Concerned about keeping your children and family well to enjoy the celebrations and beauty of this holiday season? This month’s Wellness Tips will focus on tips and supplements to help your children stay healthy during this holiday season.
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1. 💦Adequate water 
1/2 ounce per child’s body weight (filtered water preferred) Keeping well hydrated helps to flush out bacteria, viruses, and toxins from the body.
2. 🛏️Adequate sleep
Sleep is important to sustain a healthy immune system, provides rest for promoting a happy attitude, and allows the body an opportunity for rejuvenation and proper growth.
American Academy of Pediatrics Sleep Guidelines:

• Infants: (4-12 months) 12-16 hours including naps
• Toddlers: (1-2 yrs) 11-14 hours including naps
• Preschoolers: (3-5 yrs) 10-13 hours including naps
• Grade schoolers: (6-12 yrs) 9-12 hours
• Teens: (13-18 yrs) 8-10 hours

3. 🍎Healthy food choices with lots of veggies and fruits
The diversity of fruits and vegetables in the rainbow of colors helps to provide needed vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and many immune and infection fighting properties.
4. ✴️Probiotic rich foods
These super foods include non-sweetened yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and fermented kraut. They provide needed healthy probiotics to provide a healthy intestinal microbiome that supports a resilient immune system. 
5. ❎Low sugar diet
Added refined sugars and artificial sweeteners can negatively impact the infection fighting properties of the immune system and negatively impact a healthy gut microbiome, allowing an increased vulnerability to illness. The American Heart Association recommends children have less than 25g added refined sugar daily.
6. 🏀☀️Adequate exercise and fresh outside air (bundle up warm) 
A good healthy amount of exercise is important for children to have proper immune functioning, proper bone and muscle growth, self regulation, and improved appetite and sleep. Adequate outside healthy air exposure can help the lungs clear toxins, strengthen the immune system, and also improve children’s appetite and sleep.

• Toddlers and preschoolers need 3+ hours of exercise daily
• School age children and teens need 1+ hours of exercise daily

​7. 👩‍💻Limit screen time
Too much screen time can negatively impact children’s behavior and mental health and may contribute to ADHD symptoms.
8. Adequate vitamin D
Vitamin D is very important for overall immune health essential during the cooler months of the year for those of us living in the northern latitude. There simply is not enough sunlight during the cold weather months for adequate vitamin D. 
9. Extra vitamin C 
A little extra vitamin C may help support the immune system during cold and flu season. Several quality options for children’s vitamin C supplements can be found in the children’s health section at this FullScript link.
10. Adequate zinc
A little extra zinc may help to decrease the chances of viral infections or shorten the duration of a viral upper respiratory infection.
11. Beta glucans
Beta glucans are a type of soluble fiber that can strengthen the immune system and help slow down virus replication. My favorite children’s beta glucan supplement is NutriDyn’s Kids Chewable Immune at this NutriDyn link.
12. Elderberry
Research has shown elderberry to have antiviral properties and may be helpful in fighting flu viruses or decreasing the length of influenza viruses.

One of my favorite supplements for children for cold/flu season is ViraKid which contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Zinc, and an adequate amount of Elderberry all combined in one kid-friendly chewable supplement. ViraKid is found at this FullScript link at a discounted price in the children’s health section. (You will need to click the request practitioner authorization function to order this supplement.)

There is an assortment of other quality practitioner approved immune strengthening, cold/flu, and elderberry supplements for children available in the children’s health section at a discount at this FullScript link. Fullscript accepts FSA/HSA on eligible supplements.

Does your child struggle with frequent illnesses, recurrent infections, immune struggles, or allergies? Wellness 4 KIDS is here to help for a healthier New Year! Contact us to schedule your FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call.

🕯️May you and your family have a beautiful and blessed Christmas celebrating the reason for the season, and may you have a healthy New Year ahead! 

As we reflect on this season of Thanksgiving, it is more than just merely a season of gratitude. According to John Hopkin’s Medicine, teaching and incorporating an attitude of gratitude in children can have far reaching health benefits.

Children and families that practice gratitude as part of their daily life and routine report decreased stress, less anxiety, lower rates of depression, better sleep, and a more optimistic outlook.

Given the rapidly rising mental health crises and escalating chronic disease rates in children, learning and practicing an attitude of gratitude at a young age has the opportunity to provide lifelong health benefits.

How do we as parents teach our children an attitude of gratitude? It starts with us! A daily mindfulness of the blessings and provisions we often take for granted.

The following are ideas that can be used with children and include:

• The simple art of teaching little ones to say “thank you” and show kindness and appreciation to others🗣️
• Taking a walk in nature and being thankful for their surroundings and what they see, touch, hear, and smell 🌳
• Pausing before each meal to express gratitude for food 🍛
• Counting on 10 fingers and naming one thing to be thankful for on each finger🙌
• Learning to write thank you notes 📝 
• Listing something to be thankful for on a chalkboard or whiteboard👩‍🏫
• Keeping a thankfulness journal📔

In our home the weeks prior to Thanksgiving we have a thankfulness basket or thankful jar with small pieces of paper. Each member of the family records individual things (one item listed per paper) they are grateful for over the past year. On Thanksgiving Eve, we gather as a family and take turns, drawing the slips of paper from the basket, and reading what has been listed on them. We close the evening with a prayer of gratitude for the blessings we have experienced the past year.

May your family experience the blessings of an attitude of gratitude, not only during the upcoming Thanksgiving season, but all year long!

🍁Happy Thanksgiving from Wellness 4 KIDS. 

Interested in natural options for addressing your child’s health challenges? Wellness 4 KIDS is here to help. Contact us for a FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call or learn more at Wellness4KIDS.net

The season between Halloween and New Years is an “extra sweet” time of year. While filled with fun activities, social events, and family togetherness, it can also lend to “sugar overload”. While sugary treats taste so good, children’s developing brains and immune systems can be especially sensitive to excess sugar consumption.

Children with ADHD, Autism, or immune challenges are often even more sensitive to the effects of added sugars. Sugar is the top inflammatory food and may exacerbate inflammatory health conditions and can contribute to brain inflammation and dysregulation in sensitive children. In addition, sugar can negatively impact the infection fighting blood cells of the body lowering resistance to illness. Research has indicated that consuming the sugar content of 1 can of soda pop can decrease the immune properties of the white blood cells for up to 5 hours after consumption.

The American Heart Association recommends children under 2 years of age have 0 grams of added sugar and children over 2 yrs have less than 25 grams of added sugar per day. Pediatricians estimate children are likely consuming 3 times that amount of sugar on a daily basis. How much is 25 grams of sugar? If a child has a bowl of sugar sweetened cereal and a small container of sweetened yogurt for breakfast, they most likely have exceeded the 25 grams of daily sugar. A 20 oz. bottle of Gatorade consumed by teens in sports, contains 36 grams of sugar.

How does a parent minimize their child’s sugar intake? Learning to read labels is a first great step. Reading labels on packaged foods helps to determine how much added sugar is in a food product. Added sugars are hidden in many processed food items. Choosing comparable food items that have less sugar can be a good option. However, be wary of added artificial sweeteners used as a substitute for sugar. Artificial sweeteners can actually have other negative impacts on health, so sugar is actually preferred over artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose.

When home baking, sugar can often be decreased in recipes. In addition applesauce, honey, or molasses may be used. Depending on the recipe, experimenting with decreased sugar or other natural sweeteners can lower the sugar content. There are substitution guides available online for reference.

Fresh Fruits can be used for desserts and snacks, as well as added to plain unsweetened yogurt or smoothies. Choosing unsweetened cereals and adding fresh fruits or homemade granola can be a low sugar alternative. If you are looking for a healthier, lower sugar, electrolyte sports drink replacement, Hydrate from NutriDyn is a great option for athletes when needed.

Finally, while it would be difficult to remove all added sugars from a child’s/teen’s diet, as a parent you can be “parent savvy” in decreasing added sugars by reading labels, choosing food wisely, stocking the fridge and pantry with healthy alternatives, and limiting sugary treats for occasional special times.

Interested in natural options for addressing your child’s health struggles? Wellness 4 KIDS is here to help. Contact us for a FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call or learn more at Wellness4KIDS.net

Image from Pexel

Parents often wonder if their child needs a multivitamin. Currently 90% of children do not get the required amount of vegetables on any given day, and 60% of children do not consume an adequate amount of fruit on any given day. 

According to CDC statistics, children and teens receive approximately 2/3 of their caloric intake in their diet from ultra processed foods and 1/3 of children have a fast food meal on any given day of the week. Ultra processed foods and most fast food meals simply do not contain the essential vitamins and nutrients our children need. 

Our goal as parents is first to provide as healthy of a diet we possibly can for our children using a “food first approach” for their nutrition. However, in our fast paced lifestyle at times that can be a struggle. While a multivitamin does not replace a healthy diet, a multivitamin can help supplement some of the vitamins and minerals our children need to grow, thrive, and stay healthy. 

Very few children’s vitamins on store shelves provide an adequate amount or proper balance of vitamins and minerals that growing children need. They often contain less expensive vitamin or mineral ingredients that are not well absorbed by the body and often do not contain a methylfolate or methylated vitamin B12 form. In addition, they often contain a high amount of added sugars, artificial colors, or ingredients to make them “kid friendly”. So they actually may not be benefiting your child’s health.

A good reputable children’s multivitamin will:

• Contain a powerful blend of ingredients to nourish the body at the cellular level
• Optimize health and development during critical growth phases
• Contain ingredients to enhance cellular and immune function
• Promote, healthy growth and development
• Build strong bones and teeth
• Support muscle, nerve, and cardiovascular health

When I recommend a multivitamin for children, two of my favorites are NutriDyn Kids Chewable Multi or Orthomolecular SuperNutes vitamin. These are two of the best vitamins I personally have found when comparing children’s multivitamins. Each has their distinct advantages, so I recommend based on what best meets that individual child’s particular need. The NutriDyn vitamin has the added benefit of an optimal vitamin D dosage, and is in a whole foods base. The SuperNutes vitamin has the advantage of having a small amount of iron for children that need a bit of extra iron.

With back to school busy schedules, and the need for extra support for your child’s immune system, either of these multivitamins would be a good option for your child of safe chewing age and beyond. Use as directed for age.

The NutriDyn Kids Chewable Multi is available from NutriDyn at this link. The SuperNutes multivitamin is available at this FullScript link. The SuperNutes multivitamin needs provider authorization, so you may request that within the FullScript request authorization function.​

​Wellness 4 KIDS has recommendations for good multivitamins for teens as well, which is especially important for teen girls. Need more help in choosing the right multivitamin for your individual child/teen or furthering your child’s personal wellness journey, contact us for a Free Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call.
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Reminder: For your child's safety, it is recommended to purchase products directly from the manufacturer or a healthcare professional company, not third party e-commerce sites, due to recent research and reports of products being tampered or adulterated on those sites.
Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35947382

References:
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/highly-processed-foods-form-bulk-us-youths-diets

Currently 1 in 10 children suffer from asthma, and 1 in 4 children suffer from allergies or eczema. The month of September has the highest rate of asthma exacerbations of any month in the year. Why? This is likely due to the high pollen counts, high outdoor molds, and grain dust in the air. In addition, children and teens are active in fall sports, many of which are outdoors, which can also trigger exercise induced asthma in some children.

Asthma is triggered by allergies in 60-70% of individuals. While there are a number of medications to help control allergy and asthma symptoms, they don’t address the underlying root cause of allergies that so often trigger asthma exacerbations. Allergy immunotherapy addresses the underlying triggers of allergies that can cause asthma. Treating allergies helps improve control, reduce ER visits, and may prevent asthma from developing in young children.

Affordable and convenient sublingual immunotherapy has been clinically researched to safely and efficaciously treat allergies in individuals with asthma. It may also be used in young children with allergies, the goal being early intervention to address the possibility of further progression into asthma. 

Wellness 4 KIDS utilizes IgE allergy blood testing to identify specific allergies and collaborates with Allergychoices to provide Sublingual Immunotherapy to address children’s and teen’s allergies and allergy induced asthma. Contact Us to learn more and begin your child’s allergy and sublingual immunotherapy consultation.

Learn more about Sublingual Allergy Treatment at Wellness 4 KIDS.

Reference and bibliography of studies:
https://www.allergychoices.com/research/bibliography/
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Interested in learning more about addressing your child’s allergies/asthma utilizing sublingual immunotherapy? Contact Us to schedule a FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call.

Is your child or teen struggling with miserable allergies during this time of year? Sneezing stuffy noses, itchy watery eyes and just feeling miserable. Or does your child experience allergies all year round that negatively impact their health leading to ear infections, eczema, coughs, and asthma?

I remember well as a child starting back to school with miserable fall pollen allergies. While, I enjoyed school and liked my teachers, I dreaded going back to school. Why… because I would sit at my desk with my new colors, notebooks, and a box of kleenexes… sneezing and blowing my nose constantly. My eyes were itchy, red, and watery. At lunchtime, I was embarrassed because I would have to take allergy medicine. Instead of enjoying the excitement of back to school like the other children. I was miserable!!

Fast forward a few years and as a junior higher I was able to begin allergy shots as my allergies had then developed into asthma issues. It was no fun making multiple doctor visits to get frequent allergy shots. However, I was grateful that they did provide some relief from the miserable allergies. Fast-forward a few years later, and I had a bad reaction to the allergy injections, requiring epinephrine. My physician at the University of Iowa Health Care recommended that I be treated with sublingual immunotherapy through Allergy Associates of LaCrosse due to its safety and efficacy.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) utilizing The LaCrosse Method Protocol has been used safely and effectively for more than 50 years in the U.S. with no reported life-threatening reactions. More than 275,000 patients around the country have benefited from the most widely used published U.S. protocol that treats food and environmental allergies. The protocol was developed by internationally regarded allergy specialists through decades of clinical experience and research.

It is the researched and clinically proven, simple and effective way of treating allergies at home without the shots. Sublingual Immunonotherapy (SLIT) is affordable and takes just 1 drop of allergy extract under the tongue 3 times daily. The goal of allergy drops is to train your child/teen’s immune system to stop reacting to what it is allergic to. Sublingual immunotherapy addresses the underlying causes of allergies, not just treating symptoms.

It has been shown clinically and in research to be a safe alternative for treating allergies especially for:

• Young children through the teen years
• Asthmatics
• Conditions such as ear infections, eczema, and sinusitis
• Food and mold allergies
• Multiple allergies including dust mites, pollen, and animals

It has been supported by clinical research to:

• Reduce or eliminate need for allergy medications
• Reduce or eliminate related medical visits and procedures
• Provide more feeling better days to participate in life and activities with less lost time from work and play.

As a provider working with children with allergies and immune struggles, Wellness 4 KIDS is now privileged to be an approved and trained provider to offer Allergychoices prescription sublingual immunotherapy to their qualifying pediatric clients within the state of Iowa.

In collaboration with Allergychoices, Wellness 4 KIDS utilizes the researched and clinically proven LaCrosse Method for sublingual immunotherapy. (Allergychoices is the partner of Allergy Associates of LaCrosse, providing the FDA approved allergy extract for sublingual immunotherapy).

After struggling during my growing years with miserable allergies, I found allergy relief utilizing sublingual immunotherapy.  I want to provide children  a better health option in treating the underlying causes of their allergies, not just taking more medication. 

​For more information on Allergychoices Sublingual Allergy Treatment with Wellness 4 KIDS or to start your child’s health journey with sublingual immunotherapy to address their allergies click the button below.

With back to school just around the corner, now is the time to start easing into the back to school bedtime routine. Children may be accustomed to a more relaxed bedtime schedule during the summer months, but with back-to-school, bedtime routines may need to be reestablished.

​The transition is easiest if the routine is eased into approximately two weeks before the first day of school. A 15 minute earlier bedtime every few days the two weeks prior to school starting, helps the transition go smoother. In addition, the week or two prior is a great time to work on preparing clothing each evening that will be worn the next day. If preparing clothing and belongings needed for the next day is done the night before, the routine will go much smoother In the mornings for off to school timeframes.

Bedtime routines should be handled with a matter-of-fact approach with your child and should be consistent. It is important to set a time preceding the actual bedtime to accomplish the bedtime routine activities so that the actual bedtime can be accomplished without delay. Working with your child to develop a consistent bedtime routine that meets your child’s individual needs and assures adequate sleep on a nightly basis is important. 

Adequate sleep is essential for optimizing children’s physical and mental health. Lack of sleep can affect children’s normal growth and development including brain development and neurocognitive development. Too little sleep can impact a child or teen’s social and behavioral health. Lack of sleep has been implicated in poor school performance, behavioral disorders, and as a contributing factor in ADHD. In addition, sleep is essential to a healthy functioning immune system providing resiliency in fighting colds, flu, and infections. 

Children should spend approximately 40% of their time asleep during childhood. The AAP recommends the following sleep guidelines for children:
Infants: (4-12 months) 12-16 hours including naps
Toddlers: (1-2 yrs) 11-14 hours including naps
Preschoolers: (3-5 yrs) 10-13 hours including naps
Grade schoolers: (6-12 yrs) 9-12 hours
Teens: (13-18 yrs) 8-10 hours

Guidelines for Bedtime Routines:

• Turn OFF screens at least 1-2 hours before bedtime.
• If screens are needed for homework in the evening use amber blue-light blocking glasses.
• Keep TV, phones, and screens out of the bedroom.
• Avoid wearable devices with wi-fi during sleep.
• Avoid caffeine and sugar in the evening.
• Establish a consistent bedtime routine.
• Snuggle, cuddle, and have storytime for children before bed.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom.

If your child experiences back-to-school sleep struggles, Wellness 4 KIDS is here to help. Contact us for a FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call or learn more at Wellness4KIDS.net

If you have daughters in the tweens and teens age, you are likely aware of the popular marketing of skin care and cosmetic products to this population. However, pediatricians and dermatologists are becoming increasingly concerned in regards to a number of these marketed products and the potential health risks they pose for our tween and teen girls.

The pediatric population has a more delicate skin structure than adults making them much more sensitive to the chemical composition of many of these products. They are also more likely to develop a contact dermatitis from products. In addition, many of these products contain fragrances and endocrine disrupting ingredients that may be harmful.

Things to avoid in Tweens & Teens skin care products:

• Acids
• Harsh chemicals
• Exfoliators
• Retinols
• Scrubs (bead or seed products)
• Fragrances
• Phthalates
• Parabens

Instead focus on a gentle fragrance free cleanser and moisturizer and use a zinc oxide containing pediatric friendly sunscreen when needed.

References: https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/edcs

Interested in natural options for addressing your child’s health struggles? Wellness 4 KIDS is here to help. Contact us for a FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call or learn more at Wellness4KIDS.net

The active ingredient in Active Skin Repair Kids is used in hospitals’ burn and wound care centers and is backed by clinical research studies. It contains a natural ingredient molecule that has natural antibiotic and antifungal properties. It is safe and nontoxic and may be even used around the head and near eyes, mouth, and ears. (But do not spray directly in the eyes, ears, or mouth.)

😎Active Skin Repair Kids can be taken on your outdoor hiking adventures, backyard barbecues, camping trips, and beach outings. It is available at this Fullscript link in the First Aid Favorites or Children’s Favorite Sections.

Interested in natural options for addressing your child’s health struggles? Wellness 4 KIDS is here to help. Contact us for a FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call or learn more at Wellness4KIDS.net