Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial Sweeteners

Most of the public today is familiar with names like NutraSweet, AminoSweet, Sweet-N-Low, Equal, and Splenda. These artificial sweeteners are a popular choice for many Americans for their marketed appeals of “low calorie” and “no sugar” properties. To the uneducated person, this seems like the healthier choice. But are artificial sweeteners really healthful?

Symptoms Associated with Artificial Sweeteners

Neuritis/Sciatica/Shooting Pains
Gastrointestinal Disturbances
Retinal Damage & Blindness
Enlarged Liver and Kidneys
Reduced Growth Rate
Thymus Gland Shrinkage
Behavioral Disturbances
Headaches/Migraines
Buzzing/Ringing in Ears
Blurry or Misty Vision
Dizziness & Vertigo
Memory Lapses
Nerve Damage
Miscarriages
Numbness
Weakness
Diarrhea
Chills

Are you one of the billions of Americans suffering from artificial sweetener toxicity?

NutraSweet … Not So Sweet!

NutraSweet, AminoSweet and Equal are forms of aspartame. Aspartame is used in a wide variety of food products including diet sodas, low fat foods, and even most chewing gum as a sweetener. If you are one of the millions of people grabbing “diet” products off the shelf for health and weight benefits, you may want to enlighten yourself about the highly toxic side effects that come with it. Studies have shown it is extremely difficult for overweight patients to lose weight when they continue to ingest aspartame.

Aspartame accounts for over 75% of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA per year.  I have seen many patients adversely affected by aspartame.  Patients have reported a variety of negative symptoms including headaches, seizures, muscle aches and pains, weight gain, rashes, depression, insomnia, hearing loss, palpitations, vertigo, memory loss, and numbness.

Why do people experience these varied side effects? The chemicals that make up aspartame: Aspartic acid and Phenylalanine, are excitotoxins that act as neurotransmitters in the brain. Excitotoxins actually excite the neurons in the brain to the point of cellular death. Layman terms – your brain becomes so over-stimulated by these chemicals that it begins killing itself.

Research is now showing how detrimental these artificial sweeteners are on the nervous system of the young, middle-aged, elderly – and especially during pregnancy. There are multiple illnesses associated with exposure to excitotoxins including:  multiple sclerosis, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia.  It is crucial to eliminate all aspartame from your diet.

Splenda … Not So Splendid!

Splenda is a form of sucralose. Based on the name and high-dollar marketing, Splenda fools people into thinking sucralose is natural because it is made from sugar. It is true that the first step in making sucralose comes from a sugar molecule. However, they next add a chlorine molecule. It is no secret that consumption of chlorine is toxic to the human body – that is scientific fact.

Let’s take a look at 3 important facts: 1) There have only been six human trials on Splenda to date; 2) The longest trial lasted 3 months; 3) At least 14% of Splenda is not excreted from your body in a timely manner.

Considering Splenda actually shares more chemical characteristics to DDT (a pesticide linked to many diseases) than it does to sugar, are you willing to gamble your health on this data? These toxic elements accumulate in the fat and other tissues of the body and can remain in your fat for decades.

What is in a name …

For would it taste as sweet if it were called methanol-n-formaldehyde?

Sweet-N-Low, Splenda, NutraSweet sound much more inviting than methanol and formaldehyde to the general public. It is amazing what a new name and some marketing dollars can do for a toxic product. Yes, these artificial sweeteners can actually turn into methanol and formaldehyde in the human body when heated and ingested. Scientific research agrees!

Aspartame and sucralose must be completed avoided when heating food or drinks—such as coffee or tea. It changes its chemical structure to a formaldehyde-like product.  Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and deadly neurotoxin.  The body is unable to excrete it quickly enough and toxicity occurs. Now, I don’t want to insult your intelligence, but I would like to refresh your memory on what formaldehyde is – A CHEMICAL AGENT USED TO EMBLAM AND PRESERVE A BODY.

Why should you care? People who are consuming artificial sweeteners found in many “diet” and “no sugar” products are slowly embalming and preserving their body. It may sound like an excellent anti-aging slogan, but that’s not how it works. It’s killing your brain, your nervous system, your body and creating a long, slow agonizing death in the near future. Start reading your food labels and avoid artificial sweeteners!

Want an easy, simple solution to cut back on your health care costs in the future – PLEASE STOP DRINKING POISION and stop feeding it to your children. If you know someone that gives their baby or child Diet Coke, Gatorade, Crystal Light or chewing gum—please pass along this information.

“Methanol is considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. In the body, methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde and formic acid: both of these metabolites are toxic.”

~Environmental Protective Agency

Healthier Alternatives to Sugar

It is first important to note that sugar—is sugar. Whether you currently consume artificial sweeteners for weight reasons, diabetes, or just the taste, you must weigh the risks to the apparent benefits. Controlling your consumption of refined sugars is something that everyone should be mindful of, but what you substitute it for makes a BIG difference in your long term health.

We suggest that you first cut out refined sugars that are found in candy, sodas, sports drinks, pastries and baked goods, and even most frozen or boxed foods. Second, never consume products with aspartame or sucralose. These neurotoxic chemicals are found in soft drinks, gum, dessert mixes, pudding, yogurt, cheap chewable vitamins, sugar-free cough drops and other no-sugar products. Check labels.

The true natural sweetener that has stood the test of time is stevia. Do NOT use Truvia or PureVia, which has two other additives that claim to be safe & natural but have not been used in combination together ever before and therefore leave the long-term effects of use unknown. Stevia is safe, natural, and has stood the test of time. However, there have been studies linking stevia use to infertility, too.

Other natural sweeteners include organic raw honey and organic Grade B pure maple syrup. Keep in mind, these are still high in sugar—but are a much healthier solution to refined sugar, aspartame, and sucralose.

Fluoride

The Truth About Fluoride

Many people need to avoid fluoride altogether to preserve their health. We know this because scientists in government agencies have documented it extensively. So why do they continue to add it to over 75% of public water supplies in the US? And how can they claim that it is safe and “optimal” when one person may drink 1 cup of water a day and another may drink 1 gallon of water a day?

The U.S. Public Health Service reported in 1991 that people living in cities with “optimal” water fluoridation can easily receive a total daily fluoride exposure exceeding 6.5 mg … more than 600% higher than the “optimal” amount. And water is the first item on the list. Fluoride is also found in:

• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Dental Treatments
• Soft Drinks and Juice
• Commercially raised fruits & vegetables
• Processed and canned food, wine, beer, coffee and tea

And that’s just to name a few—not to mention increasing fluorine pollution in the environment.

Pros and Cons of Fluoride

Fluoride is more toxic than lead and nearly as toxic as arsenic according to the Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products 5th Edition, 1984). It is NOT an essential nutrient. The fluoride added to your drinking water is in fact a chemical waste product that was classified as a toxic waste in this country for years. In fact, not too long ago its only approved uses were as an insecticide and a RAT POISON!

The biological effect of fluoride on living tissue is the disruption of enzyme activity, including the enzymes that maintain life in the cells of the human body. Fluoride is an endocrine disruptor that was used for decades in Europe as a drug to treat overactive thyroid by depressing thyroid function. Alarmingly, the dosage once prescribed to reduce thyroid activity is about the same amount ingested by people in many communities today.

Healthy kidneys are able to clear less than 50% of the fluoride taken into the body, and kidneys are prone to damage in the fluoride-filtering process. Fluoride is bone-seeking, and fluoride that is not excreted by the kidneys accumulates primarily in the bones, never to leave. Does it make any sense to surround the bone marrow, the blood factories of the body, with a toxic element more deadly than lead?
So why is fluoride hyped up to be this life-saving nutrient that we all should get? Dentists have been recommending fluoride treatments, fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwash for years to prevent cavities. Interestingly enough, there are no scientifically-valid tests to prove this theory for safety and effectiveness. Fluoride was never the answer to tooth decay and new testing is proving that the areas of the world without fluoride are showing the same rates of tooth decay as fluoridated areas.

However, all over the world the rate of dental cavities has fallen dramatically in developed countries, even though most have never added fluoride components to their water. The common factor seems to be better nutrition and higher health standards.

Government Alert:
Several Groups at High Risk for Fluoride Toxicity

BABIES: In November 2006, the American Dental Association (ADA) announced that babies up to 1 year of age should avoid fluoridated water because they are at high risk of developing dental fluorosis—a defect of tooth development that can result in staining, pitting, and corrosion of the enamel. In fact, both the ADA and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that infants not receive fluoride due to its toxic nature. The recommendation goes as far as using non-fluoridated water to make formula.

CHILDREN: That same month The Lancet reported that fluoride may damage a child’s development brain. The article described fluoride as an “emerging neurotoxic substance” because of evidence linking fluoride exposure to lower IQs in children and brain damage in animals.

In 1993, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) listed several groups of people at high risk for fluoride toxicity. Below are excerpts from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, April 1993:
“Existing data indicate that subsets of the population may be unusually susceptible to the toxic effects of fluoride and its compounds. These populations include the elderly, people with deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, and/or vitamin C, and people with cardiovascular and kidney problems. Because fluoride is excreted through the kidney, people with renal insufficiency would have impaired renal clearance of fluoride (renal clearance means how well the kidneys are able to do their job and filter the body’s blood).

“Impaired renal clearance of fluoride has also been found in people with diabetes mellitus and cardiac insufficiency …People over the age of 50 often have decreased renal fluoride clearance…Postmenopausal women and elderly men in fluoridated communities may also be at increased risk of fractures.”

Healthy Alternatives to Avoid Fluoride Toxicity:

Try these safe, natural alternatives that can be found at Optimal Wellness Center.

• Use toothpaste free of fluoride—especially kids!  We love SPRY!

• Use fluoride-free/non-alcohol based mouthwash … SPRY makes a fantastic mouth wash, too!

• Never drink tap water—Invest in a water purification system for your home.

• Removing fluoride from tap water at home is not simple. Investing in a reverse osmosis, distiller, or alkalizing filter is highly recommended for all and a requirement for those on the high risk list. Most bottled water and inexpensive filters (Brita) do not remove fluoride from the water.

• Eat organic foods and juices.

• Organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides that contain fluoride.

• Avoid processed foods and sugar to avoid cavaties and decay.  They cause high acidity in the body and break down bone (in the teeth and the skeleton!) Especially sodas, juices, and chewy, sticky candy.

Organic Produce

Organic and conventional produce vary drastically in many ways. Where traditional farmers apply chemical fertilizers to the soil to grow their crops, organic farmers maintain a strict standard in which they feed and build soil with natural fertilizer. Traditional farmers use insecticides to get rid of insects and disease, while organic farmers use natural methods such as insect predators and barriers for this purpose. Traditional farmers control weed growth by applying synthetic herbicides, but organic farmers use crop rotation, tillage, hand weeding, cover crops and mulches to control weeds.

During production, organic foods are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, additives, preservatives or irradiation to maintain product integrity. In animals, organic products are raised without the use of growth hormones, antibiotics and other toxic chemicals. These animals have not been genetically engineered or cloned. Conventional meat and dairy production commonly uses a combination of these unnatural processes.

Health Benefits of Organic Foods

Higher Nutrient Levels

Many tests have been done to determine if organic food really has more nutrients than the conventional food we find in every grocery store. One study revealed that the mineral level in fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy have declined substantially in conventional foods. If you combine this with earlier picking (pre-ripening), longer storage, and more processing of crops it’s not that surprising that the nutritional value in the conventional grocery store food is depleting. Artificial fertilization associated with conventional crops produces lush growth by swelling produce with more water. On a pound for pound basis, organic food has more “dry matter” which is the actual food which contain more nutrients.

In a 1993 study by the International Academy of Nutrition and Preventative Medicine, they compared the difference between organic foods to commercially store bought foods. They compared apples, pears, potatoes and corn for over 2 years. The organic foods had, on average, over 90% more nutritional elements than the store bought foods!

Lower Pesticide Residue

Consuming organic food certainly isn’t the only way to improve ones nutrient intake, but is one of the safest. In monitoring programs, the tests have shown that around one in three non-organic food samples contain a variety of pesticide residues, with far lower levels being found in and on organic produce. While thoroughly washing your produce helps, it does not remove all pesticide residues.

An Israeli researcher has also linked symptoms such as headaches, tremors, lack of energy, depression, anxiety, poor memory, convulsions, nausea, indigestion and diarrhea with dietary intakes of pesticides. Belgian research had found that women diagnosed with breast cancer are six to nine times more likely to have pesticides DDT or hexachlorobenzene in their bloodstream compared to women without the cancer. Hawaiian researchers following 8,000 people for 34 years have found that increasing consumption of conventional fruit juice (fruit grown with the chemicals) raises the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

No Food Additives

Artificial colorings and preservatives in food and drink are thought to contribute to hyperactivity in pre-school children, and while many still contest this issue, a recent study in UK found that the proportion of hyperactive children was halved when additives were removed from their diets. Many additives- such as preservative, artificial sweeteners, coloring and flavorings, MSG, hydrogenated fat and phosphoric acid are prohibited in organic food production.

Not only is eating organic providing you with substantially more nutrients but it also eliminates many of the toxic chemicals that may produce illness. It’s an obvious choice for you and your family, eat organic.

Cost Effectiveness of Organic Foods

It’s a myth that eating organic is more expensive – both short term and long term. Colleen Huber’s article, Your Family Could be Eating Organic Food for the Same Price as Processed Foods – or Less, demonstrated that you would save $1.22 per person per week eating a healthy organic diet as compared to a typical processed diet. Add up the amount of money you will save in a lifetime without chronic disease – a healthy body is priceless.

Certain foods tend to have higher or lower amounts of pesticides. Visit www.FoodNews.org for more information. Pesticides are extremely important to monitor and consider, especially in kids. Buying organic produce lowers pesticide levels in kids. Please remember that it is still better to eat non-organic vegetables than none at all. If you cannot afford organic or if your only organic options are wilted and rotten, it is better to buy fresh and non-organic.

Top 12 Foods to Buy Organic

Peaches	Apples
Bell Peppers	Celery
Nectarines	Strawberries
Cherries	Kale/Spinach/Lettuce
Grapes (Imported)	Carrots
Pears	Red Raspberries

Cleaner Non-Organic Foods

These foods are lower in pesticides and are safer to buy non-organic

Onions	Avocados
Sweet Corn	Pineapple
Mangos	Asparagus
Sweet Peas	Kiwi
Cabbage	Eggplant
Papaya	Watermelon
Broccoli	Tomato
Sweet Potatoes	Brussels Sprouts

5 Easy Ways to Be More Organic

1. Remember this rule of thumb: Fresh food is always better than frozen, but frozen is better than canned.  Buy lots of fresh veggies, they’re usually less expensive than canned versions.  If you have the space, grow your own fresh veggies such as greens, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, string beans, etc.  Be sure to use them soon after  picking before they go bad!
2. Attend a Farmer’s Market: Buy directly from your local organic farmers and produce sellers. Many communities have a “farmer’s market” where vendors gather daily or weekly to sell freshly grown organic produce.  If they don’t have “organic” foods, you are still better off choosing local foods over store bought produce.  Often, locally grown foods are raised according to organic standards at a more affordable price.  If all that’s available or affordable is fresh, conventionally  grown (store bought) produce … buy it and wash it well!
3. Ask organic at your local store The rising demand has created an organic trend and most grocery stores. If you have a specific food that they don’t carry, they will usually provide it for you. All you have to do ask. We prefer to support local, family owned natural food stores like Georgetown Market where the staff is knowledgeable and helpful and can be an excellent resource to expand your healthy lifestyle.
4. Talk with local chefs who use organic ingredients Ask the chef at your favorite restaurant to offer organic options. If they already do, ask the chef where they purchase their organic foods. Sometimes you can buy directly from the restaurant.
5. Grow your own: Growing your own organic garden may be easier than you think. There are many resources available to help you get started. Check out websites on the subject like www.gardenswebsite.com
6. Join a co-op or buy on-line:

• www.walnutacres.com
• www.healthyfoodmall.com
• www.organickingdom.com

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pH Balance

Acidity and alkalinity are measured according to the pH (potential of hydrogen) scale. Water, with a pH of 7.0, is considered neutral. Any substance with a pH below 7.0 is acid, while anything with a pH above 7.0 is alkaline.

The body functions best when the pH of most of its fluids range between 6.8 to 7.0 pH. Within the body, different systems have their own optimum pH, with the stomach, for instance, being highly acidic with a pH around 4; the upper portion of the small intestine being an alkaline environment; and the large intestines and colon again being acidic.

All organs and fluids will fluctuate in their pH range in order to keep the blood at a strict pH of 7.35 to 7.45, even if it destroys “less important” body systems. This is the reason that saliva and urine pH levels are used to test the overall health of the acid/alkali system. If there is an imbalance within the body, excess levels can be detected in these bodily fluids as they are rushed to or away from the blood. Proper balance is the key to health.

Cause & Effect of pH Imbalance

When our eating choices are too high in fat, protein, and simple sugars, excessive acid may be produced in the body. To reduce the acid burden, the body links these acids with alkaline minerals (like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and others) and excretes them. Over time this can deplete the body of needed minerals and lead to a build-up of excess acids in your cells. This reduces the efficiency and effectiveness of your cells and tissues, not to mention explains bone loss and osteoporosis! Is it really due to a lack of calcium or too much acidity in the body that steals the calcium to stay balanced?

Our bodies can also produce excessive amounts of acid by being exposed to foreign elements by way of infection, pollution, and improper digestion. This burdens the immune system. When the burden exceeds the body’s reserves, a continuous state of distress can emerge. As a consequence, the chemical messengers associated with stress, like cortisol, adrenaline, and insulin, increase. Chronic elevated levels of stress hormones can be devastating to health.

With excess acid load, the delicate machinery of your body does not work very well. This cellular machinery is delicately balanced to work best within a narrow, slightly alkaline range. The efficiency of energy production in the cells reduce with even slight excess of cell acid. This induces loss of resilience and repair mechanisms, and you become more susceptible to fatigue, illness, and pain. While your body tries to remove excess acid, even more critical minerals are lost as well.

The Dangers of Chronic Acidity

To be too acidic in the body can have far reaching consequences that can wreck the body until blood pH is stabilized. Your body goes through many steps:

1. It takes alkaline elements from the enzymes in the small intestine to stay balanced which leaves the intestines too acidic to digest food optimally. The pancreas, liver, and gallbladder are forced to make up for this deficiency. This has a direct bearing on enzyme production, which is literally involved in every biochemical reaction in the body. The result is lowered immune function, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, absorption and digestive problems.
2. The bones will leach calcium, the most alkaline mineral. This can lead to reduced absorption of supplemental minerals and bone density problems.
3. Insulin levels increase and fat is stored instead of being metabolized. When malnutrition or starvation sets in, the body becomes acidic and as a safety, insulin is over produced so that all available calories are stored as fat for future use. As a result, weight gain is common and weight loss becomes more difficult.
4. Electrolyte imbalances occur which have a direct bearing on the “fluid transport system”. Electrolytes are important because they are what the cells, especially the nerve, heart and muscle cells use to maintain voltages across cell membranes. This further stresses the kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, and other organs.

Eating Raw: The 80/20 Rule

A basic rule of thumb to follow to achieve and maintain pH balance is to eat 80 percent alkaline-forming foods and drinks and 20 percent acid-forming foods and drinks each day. If a pH test indicates that your body is too acidic, you should eat more alkaline-forming foods and omit acid-forming foods from your diet until another pH test shows you have returned to normal. Conversely, if your body is too alkaline, eat more acid-forming foods and omit alkaline-forming foods.

A self test is easy to perform using litmus paper—which can be picked up in our office or at Georgetown Market. We also have a step-by-step instruction sheet on how to properly take your saliva and urine pH that can be downloaded BY CLICKING HERE . Monitoring your pH gives you an indication of how well or how hard your body is working to survive your lifestyle.

***For a list of acidic and alkaline-forming foods please reference our

Acid & Alkaline Food Chart***

Tips to Maintain A Healthy pH Balance

1. Chew your food slowly to fully soak and mix your food with saliva and do not overindulge.
2. Do not drink fluids during meals, especially cold drinks.
3. Eat a diet of 50% raw foods. Raw foods not only maintain the correct acid/alkaline balance within the body, but they are richer in nutrients that are easily assimilated into the body and neutralize the acidity to reduce acidosis. Check out our Acid & Alkaline Food Chart!
   
4. Do not overcook vegetables, as this makes them lose not only their flavor, but also their nutritional value.
5. Eat processed foods in moderation. They are low in nutrients, often contain lots of sodium, trans-fats, and preservatives, and overtax the digestive system.
6. Avoid eating late at night, as this makes the body spend its energy on digestion instead of restoration and healing.
7. Take digestive enzymes with meals, especially if indigestion is a chronic problem. Heartburn and indigestion are often the result of poorly digested food putrefying in the stomach. If you suffer from heartburn, take 1-2 teaspoons of natural apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. If the vinegar method works, this may indicate that you lack sufficient acid in your stomach.
8. Practice deep breathing, especially before sitting down to a meal; postpone eating if you are angry, upset or overly stressed until you have taken time to calm yourself.
9. Do a series of Ionic Footbaths to boost pH balance throughout your entire body & help purge unwanted, harmful toxins that keep your body acidic. Contact us for our Specials & Pricing!
10. Check your pH levels regularly, especially if you are dealing with a chronic condition.

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Probiotics and Antibiotics: The Good and The Bad

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to fight bacterial infections and illnesses. These prescriptions are written at an alarming rate for both adults and children for varying symptoms. In some cases, antibiotics are completely necessary. In many, they are doing more harm than good and are sacrificing the health of our society.

The immune system is the body’s natural defense. When our immunity is compromised for whatever reason, our body’s natural army is not able to ward off intruding agents. When the intruding bacteria, fungus or virus win the battle, illness and dis-ease often occur. This is when antibiotics are commonly prescribed, especially in children. However, antibiotics are ONLY effective in killing bacteria. This is why antibiotics should never be taken for a common cold or flu which is caused by a virus.

Contrary to popular belief, not all bacteria is bad. In fact, you cannot have proper health without certain kinds of good bacteria. You must have high amounts of the good bacteria for proper digestion, immunity and many other processes in your body.

Unfortunately, when people take antibiotics (and many medications) it wipes out the good bacteria with the bad, leaving your body at risk for a number of future health problems.

Think of it this way: Look at your window. Hopefully you can see some beautiful green grass. Those that have tended to a yard are well aware of what dandelions are. When they begin to flourish, you can call in Chem-lawn to wipe them out to allow the pretty grass to thrive. However, in the process, say they spray too much. Then you are left with nothing. What is usually the first thing that starts re-growing after an event like this? Weeds. Dandelions.  In this analogy, the “dandelions” are bad bacteria, the “grass” is the good bacteria, and “Chem-lawn” are the antibiotics.

This is the same concept as bacteria and your body. The bad can flourish. Antibiotics wipe out the bad AND the good. Without the good being replaced, the bad bacteria flourish again. And we get recurring infections. At times like this, it is extremely important to replenish the good bacteria known as probiotics.

The word probiotics means “for life,” and they are the beneficial or “good bacteria” that help promote health. The word antibiotics means “against life.”

So what can you do to avoid potential health problems from this bacteria war? Enhance your immunity and increase the good bacteria in your body. Both of these will allow your body to do what it was made to do, heal itself. Probiotics support the body’s natural immune function among many other things.

The good news? This means there are natural ways to fight bacterial infections. First, get adjusted regularly to ensure proper function of the nervous system which seriously gives a large boost to natural immunity (yes, it is even safe for kids!). Next, outnumber the bad bacteria with the good. How?

Large yogurt companies have made claims that their products are high in probiotics. It is true that most yogurts contain natural, good bacteria. Unfortunately, many name brand yogurts such as Activia and Yoplait are so loaded with refined sugars that by the time it enters your mouth, all the good bacteria has been destroyed. Probiotics are much more potent and complete in supplement form in most cases.

If you, or especially your child, must take antibiotics, a probiotic is highly recommended to replenish the good bacteria. The two can and should be taken together but at different times. If you or your doctor is uncomfortable with taking them at the same time, begin the probiotics immediately after the antibiotics. Different products work for different people. Be sure to speak with a knowledgeable practitioner who can recommend one that is right for you.

OWC Recommendations

If you or your child is currently on antibiotics, it important to take them at least 6 hours apart from each other. A way to keep this simple is to give the probiotic in the morning, and the antibiotic with dinner.

- Most probiotics should be taken on an empty stomach (unless they have enteric coating) to ensure full absorption and use of the friendly bacteria.  Always take probiotics away from milk and dairy products.

- It is extremely important to find a high quality, reliable supplement that contains the right strands and potency. Dosing will vary based on the individual condition and health status of your child

- The child’s age will play a role in choosing the right supplement for your kiddo. The main options are chewable tablets, powdered drink mix, or tablets that can be swallowed.

- Many probiotics need to be refrigerated to keep the good bacteria alive and more potent.  Others are “shelf-stable” and do not require refrigeration.  It is important to follow refrigerating directions to ensure full potency when taking them.

- Avoid products that are treated with antibiotics and hormones (many store bought animal products and especially milk). There are many reasons why milk is not good for you, but if you just cannot kick the habit, spend the extra buck or two and buy organic.

- Eat foods high in probiotics to get the most natural form including:

+Yogurt (plain and organic are best – look for “live and active cultures” on the label)

+Kefir

+Naturally fermented sauerkraut

AVOID

Yogurts with fruit and syrup (very high in sugar with little to no benefit)

Milk and dairy products that have been previously treated with antibiotics and hormones

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