Q: What common and not-so-common childhood ailments and developmental problems do you attribute to nutrient deficiencies?

A: Poor diet is behind many immune system problems, evidenced in frequent infections. It can cause developmental delays in walking and talking, delayed growth, learning difficulties and poor physical fitness performance.

Q: Have you seen a rise in adverse health conditions in children during your years as a naturopath and midwife?

A: I’m fortunate that in my practice I get to deliver children and can start preventative measures from the start, so I work with a highly healthy population of children. In the larger population, however, one in six children under allopathic medical care now cope with a chronic health problem. So much has changed in the world the past 50 years. I believe current crises are due to a cumulative effect of toxic influences.

Throughout their short lives, children are early being exposed to processed foods, little exercise or fresh air and chemical pollutants along with an ever-increasing complexity of life. Compounding the challenge, we subject them to an increasing number of vaccines and overuse of prescription drugs ranging from antibiotics to cold, cough, allergy and sinus medicines.

It is a complex soup with many ingredients. I perceive the problem as a "total load" issue. Once the child reaches the threshold of all their little body can handle, their physical being starts to break down. Good nutrition is their best defense. 

Q: What are the most common nutrients lacking in children’s diets, and what foods and supplements do you recommend to compensate?

A: The main deficiencies I see in children's diet are calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, iron, essential fatty acids and vitamin C. To correct this deficiency, I recommend Kinderlove, a German children's multi-vitamin-and-mineral supplement for growth and development of bones and teeth. Kinderlove focuses on calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C and magnesium.

Note that failure to amass normal bone mass is not something one can fix later in life. Ninety percent of necessary bone structure forms during childhood.When bones stop growing, it’s impossible to add more than another 10 percent to bone mass.

I also recommend including 1 teaspoon of Udo's oil and cod liver oil into a child’s daily diet to supply essential fatty acids. It goes down easily in smoothies or mixed into steamed veggies or cooked pasta. 

The other main supplement I recommend is acidophilus. Many studies have shown that it helps prevent eczema and asthma in children. I further supplement with iron if a little one’s hemoglobin count or ferritin is low. I use 1 to 2 teaspoons a day of Floradix, so that they don’t get too much iron. I also make sure children in my care eats lots of dark pigmented berries for their vitamin C, bioflavanoids and antioxidant content.

Q: Do you prefer a high potency "complete" supplement, which is a smaller version of an adult multi-vitamin-and-mineral, or one specifically designed to support a child’s development?

A: I recommend supplements designed for children. I prefer liquids as they don’t contribute to dental decay like chewables do. In the case of an adult formula, choose one in a liquid or powder form, so that doses are easily adjusted to children.

Children have smaller, growing bodies, so their needs are different from adults’. Neither can their immature liver and digestive tract handle a large intake of supplements. Parents I work with have good success providing their children supplements focused on growth and development as well as those that build a healthy immune system. 

Q: If you were to state your kid nutrition Rx in a nutshell, what would it be?

A: My five-step protocol for a healthy child is: 1)  Kinderlove multi-vitamin-and-mineral liquid; 2) essential fatty acids in the form of Udo's plant oil and cod liver oil; 3) acidophilus in an infant and children's brand; and rosehip and berry concentrate; plus 5) iron if needed.

Q: Which nutrients are most vital for a child’s health and development, and can a good diet alone suffice?

A: Growth nutrients are essential. These are calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C and D. Since even well-fed children often lack calcium, diet alone is rarely enough. Consider that in Canada just 52 percent of boys and 19 percent of girls get enough calcium from foods. 

Worse, this generation of children is eating the highest amount of processed foods in the history of our race, calories bereft of nutrients. We should be appalled that processed foods have become a mainstay of children’s lives today, so much so that consuming such foods seems normal to them. Young people can rarely recognize the difference between a real food and gut filler. But their body knows the difference. 

Q: How do parameters like immunity, disposition and astuteness differ in breastfed children versus those raised on bottled formula?

A: Only a small percentage of my clients’ children have received formula. In my family practice, the breastfeeding rate averages about 18 months. I’ve found that breastfeeding is an essential cornerstone of prevention. The children cared for by myself in tandem with cooperative parents consistently grow up having healthy immune systems and extremely low occurrence of ear infections, eczema or asthma. They also enjoy great digestive systems.

Did you know that the number one reason for a visit to a pediatric physician is for treatement for an ear infection? Even though 40 percent of my patients are younger than 5 years, I see only five infections a year. Generally, we make an appointment for their well baby exam, and sometimes an occasional acute infection. They always respond well to treatment, and that's it.

Q: Do vaccinated or non-vaccinated children appear to have the better chance at leading a generally healthful life?

A:  The answer is complex and has to do with the total load of unhealthy factors a child encounters. Things like junk foods, synthetic chemicals and polluted air influence health, especially when present on a regular basis.

If a child is breastfed while good foods are carefully introduced into the mother’s and child’s diet, including foods known to ward off allergies, and the family avoids frequent use of antibiotics, Tylenol and other treatments that suppress the immune system, I will rarely see reaction to a vaccine.

I have noticed, however, that non-vaccinated children surmount fevers and resolve common acute illnesses more readily than those who are vaccinated. I don't see non-vaccinated children any more frequently for infections than those who are vaccinated. But I also make sure they’re on a good program of immune boosters, including Kinderlove, which includes the full spectrum of carotenes, vitamins C, D and E. Recently, vitamin D has been shown to be a factor in regulating the immune system and may prove helpful in preventing autoimmune diseases.

Q: What do you consider the primary benefit of taking a naturopathic rather than an allopathic approach to children’s health care?

A: A doctor of naturopathy promotes ongoing health by focusing on prevention. I know we’ve staved of many of the problems I see develop with children not under my care.  I also find natural treatments gentler and easier for the children to handle.

It’s a common occurrence for a naturopath to be called on to do repair work after a child has taken an allopathic drug. Antibiotics, for example, disrupt helpful digestive bacteria known as gut flora. If these are not repopulated with beneficial flora, the bacterial imbalance continues to develop, usually followed by gut inflammation and food sensitivities. Here the immune system is trying to deal with these gut issues and so becomes overworked and less effectual. So infections increase all over again.

Active promotion of health through proper nutrition has a huge positive impact on every aspect of our system.

Dr. Cathy Carlson-Rink also serves as a health expert on women’s and children’s health issues for Flora Health. For helpful nutritional resources visit FloraHealth.com.

Source: Originally published in Natural Awakenings West Michigan August 2007 Children's Health issue.