Bacteria are critical for human survival, living both within and on your body. It may sound unappealing, but having the right types of bacteria in the right balance can help your body function optimally. For every one human cell in your body, there are ten bacterial cells; this means you are about 1% human and 99% bacteria! There are billions of different types of bacteria in your body, all playing different roles to keep your health in check. When these bacteria are out of balance, it can make you susceptible to digestive symptoms and conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome...

  Despite your best efforts at preventing infection through diet, exercise and supplementation, at some stage this winter you may succumb to a cold or flu. This can occur particularly if stress or life events get in the way of maintaining the healthy habits that help keep your immune system strong. The good news is that should you find yourself ‘under the weather’, there are measures you can take to get you back on your feet. Going Viral Both the common cold and influenza (flu) are caused by viruses, most commonly the rhinovirus. What many people may not realise is that antibiotics only...

  Does your child need a nutrient top up? If they have been feeling low in energy, getting frequent colds or finding their stress levels increasing, they may be in need of important vitamins and minerals to function at their best.   Children who experience a decline in their health status are at an increased risk of developing certain health conditions if their nutrient status is low. Those with existing health conditions may also have higher demands for particular vitamins and minerals. The ideal way to replenish these key nutrients is to eat a healthy, balanced diet and take a high quality multivitamin and...

Why Is Something So Simple, So Hard to Get? When we think of Australia and New Zealand, we think of surf, sun and sand, beautiful climates and the great outdoors. With vitamin D readily available from the sun, why are so many people deficient in this important vitamin? An estimated 73% of adults suffer from inadequate vitamin D levels, with almost 60% of women living in southern areas being completely deficient during the winter/spring months. Are we spending too much more time indoors? Are we obsessed with the need to cover up and use sunscreen every time we step outside? With...

Omega-3 fatty acids are a crucial component of a healthy diet. These essential fats are especially important for children, as they play a key role in growth and development and are associated with numerous health benefits. Since EFAs cannot be made in the body, they must be ingested daily, through diet and supplementation. However, many parents are unsure whether omega-3 supplements are necessary — or even safe — for their children.   How can omega-3 essential fatty acids help your child? ✅ EFA levels are often low in children who experience changes in mood and other mood related conditions. It has been shown that those with these...

  Dehydration isn’t something to take lightly. When it happens, your child's body doesn’t have enough fluids and water to function properly. In severe cases, this could lead to brain damage or even death.    Most of the time, a toddler gets enough water from eating and drinking to replace the fluids they lose. But in some cases, kids can lose more water than normal. For example,, fevers, diarrhoea, being out in hot weather, or too much exercise. These may result in too much fluid loss which can lead to dehydration. Toddlers are risk of dehydration Some toddlers become dehydrated because they don’t drink enough...

Asthmatic children have sensitive airways in their lungs which react to triggers causing a ‘flare-up’ where the muscles around the airways squeeze tight.  This causes the airways to swell and become narrow making it harder to breathe.  A children’s asthmatic flare-up can happen slowly, over weeks or very quickly, within minutes.  The sudden or severe asthma flare-up is called a children’s asthma attack. Childhood asthma can cause taxing daily symptoms that interfere with sports, play, school and sleep.  Triggers can include children’s food allergies, inhaling airborne pollen, catching a cold and childhood respiratory infections.  Signs & Symptoms of Children’s Asthma include: ✅ Shortness...

ELIMINATION PHASE To trial the low FODMAP diet, all high-FODMAP foods need to be eliminated or ‘Rested’ from the diet for at least two weeks, until there has been a significant reduction in symptoms. Relevant symptoms should be monitored and recorded using my Food & Symptom Diary on a daily basis. Read What are FODMAPS to get a detailed list of foods in each FODMAP category that should be avoided. Where quantities are given, these foods should be avoided only above the given dose. Many alternative foods can be consumed while following a low FODMAP diet, which I have listed...

“FODMAP” is the acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols, a group of short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols (polyols). These nutrients are ubiquitous in the diet.   The key FODMAPs are: ✅ Oligosaccharides - such as fructans/ fructo-oligosaccharides (found in grains and vegetables) and galactans/galacto-oligosaccharides (found in legumes). ✅ Disaccharides - such as lactose (found in milk). ✅ Monosaccharides - such as fructose (found in fruit). ✅ Polyols - such as sorbitol (found in sweetened products).   WHAT EFFECT DO FODMAPS HAVE IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM? Susceptible children can experience intestinal symptoms from ingestion of FODMAPs for a number of reasons: ✅ The carbohydrates are not well absorbed into...

  A wholesome lunch will ensure they can focus and concentrate in their afternoon lessons. Throwing together a healthy lunch that you know your child will enjoy can be the vain of parent’s life.  It can be easy to fall into the trap of not putting much thought into your child’s lunch especially with the mad rush to get out the door each morning. For a growing child, placing just as much emphasis on what you are going to feed your child for lunch is just as important as the decision you make regarding a wholesome dinner.  You wouldn’t feel happy...

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