Category: Maternal & Pediatrics

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Functional Medicine Health Concerns Maternal & Pediatrics

A Functional Approach to Infertility

There’s no doubt that infertility is a rising problem in today’s society. The CDC finds that about 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the U.S. ages 15-44 struggle to get pregnant or stay pregnant – and, based on what we see, we would argue the percentage is likely even higher. The reasons are many (and we may never know all of them), but what we do know is that it causes a great deal of added stress on those it affects – physically, emotionally, spiritually, AND financially.

(In fact, when we tried to find accurate info on how much is spent annually on infertility treatments, we kept getting results for ways to finance treatments for infertility.)

The good news is that, in many cases, the body can reverse infertility naturally if given the correct resources.

Getting to the root of infertility

According to the CDC, the term “infertile” is usually applied to a woman who is unable to become pregnant after a year of trying (or 6 months for a woman over 35).

Infertility, like any dis-ease, is simply a sign that something is not right inside the body and needs support. It isn’t a deficiency in fertility drugs or due to a lack of IVF. Fertility is a natural process in the body, but one that the body can turn off if it doesn’t feel it can safely sustain a pregnancy.

Many of us ourselves or know friends who have struggled to conceive and we’ve all witnessed how painful it is to want to have a child and struggle to get pregnant. Thankfully, in almost every case we see, women are eventually able to conceive by focusing on supporting the body with proper diet, supplements, and lifestyle.

There are so many confounding factors that can cause or contribute to infertility, which is why conventional treatment can vary so much in effectiveness — it simply can’t address all the possible causes unique to the individual.

Fertility drugs and artificial hormones of any kind, including birth control, can make the symptoms seem better, but can make the underlying causes even worse and make future fertility more difficult. Hormonal birth control is often prescribed for various hormonal imbalances and their symptoms… but artificial hormones on top of existing hormone problems does NOT make for longterm success.

What Causes Infertility in the First Place?

Infertility can be caused by a huge number of factors: hormone imbalance, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, anovulatory cycles, physical blockage, inadequate hormone production, short luteal phase, lack of luteinizing hormone, high levels of prolactin, and many others.

Poor nutrition often plays a major role, as does exposure to certain chemicals. Age plays less of a role before menopause than was originally thought. While there are many wonderful naturally minded fertility specialists out there, only certain doctors know how to test for and address any of these possible underlying issues. Extreme fertility treatments do work for some, but can be very emotionally and physically exhausting, not to mention very expensive.

The great news is that dietary and lifestyle changes can make a tremendous difference in fertility, and often help with other issues like excess weight, lack of energy, blood sugar problems, skin issues, and insomnia in the process. Even those who choose to undergo conventional fertility treatments can help improve their chance of working by supporting their bodies in natural ways as well.[/vc_column_text]

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How to Reverse Infertility (and Get Pregnant)

This is a simplified overview of the individualized protocols we use when working with women on fertility, but it is also very useful for helping with other hormone issues such as PMS, cramping, fatigue, heavy periods, and other hormone-related problems. It is designed to address all issues that can contribute to infertility aside from a physical inability to conceive.

Dig deep, then zoom out

Step 1: Cycle Mapping

BETTER TESTING MAKES FOR BETTER TREATMENT

When treating women appropriately and effectively with irregular cycles, fertility problems, or who have had an ablation can be challenging because it is difficult to fully ascertain what their hormones are doing and when.

Here at Kingdom, our providers use the DUTCH Cycle MappingTM test, a complete picture of a cycle in graph format that allows for a more accurate and comprehensive treatment program specific to our patient’s situation. We can understand if and when a patient is ovulating, as well as determine why patients are having mid-cycle spotting or hormonal migraines. It helps us get a clear understanding of how our patients’ ovaries are functioning or look further into fertility issues.These answers help us in our goal of individualized, specific medicine!

Step 2: Nutrition & Gut Health

In modern times, many people are undernourished, despite being overweight. The body simply will not allow conception to occur or a pregnancy to continue if it doesn’t have the basic foundation it needs to sustain a pregnancy.

At our office, nutrition is VERY individual to each person, their lifestyle, and current needs. Which is why, oftentimes, it calls for in-depth lab work to see what nutrient deficiencies may be present, food sensitivities that may be causing chronic inflammation, as well as bacteria overgrowths, parasites, or viruses that could be disrupting the patient’s internal ecosystem.

Some basic nutritional ways to help optimize fertility that may or may not be great for you personally, but generally help:

  • Remove processed grains, other processed foods, sugars, and starches from the diet.
  • Obtain more nutrient-dense carbohydrates from vegetables, some fruits, and starchy sources like sweet potatoes and squash.
  • Increase healthy fats in the diet especially from sources like coconuts, coconut oil, olives and olive oil, butter, grass-fed meats, eggs, avocado, and nuts.
  • Get enough protein especially from grass-fed meats, wild fish, pasture eggs, and nuts. This is also important during pregnancy as adequate protein can help minimize the risk of certain pregnancy complications.
  • Eat a lot of vegetables, especially green leafy varieties like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard, chard, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and similar veggies.
  • Drink enough water. Hydration is important for so many functions within the body, including fertility.
  • Get insulin levels under control. Even if you don’t have Type II diabetes, a high carbohydrate diet often goes hand-in-hand with some level of insulin resistance. Optimizing dietary factors with the above methods will help make your body more sensitive to insulin, which will help production of other hormones and proper function of the body.

For some women, nutrition alone can be enough to support the body for fertility. It is very important to continue these things once pregnant and not stop giving yourself proper nutrition, which is even more vital for the growth of an unborn child!

Step 3: Address Lifestyle Factors

Any doctor, or even a Google search, should reveal that habits like smoking, drug use, and high caffeine intake can severely impair fertility. There are many other lifestyle factors that contribute as well:

  • lack of sleep
  • exposure to harmful chemicals
  • lack of exercise (or too much exercise)
  • high stress levels
  • certain medications or supplements

Most lifestyle factors are also easy to fix with a little effort. The most common lifestyle factors that can increase fertility are:

  • Getting enough, high-quality sleep.
  • Check the nervous system through chiropractic adjustments: Many people don’t think about how important communication is in the body – just like all relationships! Checking the spine for subluxation is a great way to increase the body’s ability to work as it was designed.
  • Minimizing exposure to harmful chemicals: This should be a book in itself, but most women notice improvement from limiting exposure to household chemicals, plastic water bottles, and conventional cosmetic and beauty products.
  • Getting the right amount of exercise:Getting adequate exercise is important for fertility, but too much can have the opposite effect. Most women do well with several hours of recreational activity a week (walking, fun sports, or swimming) and a few weight training sessions. Too much moderate/intensive exercise will keep the body from ovulation if done regularly. While weight loss can greatly help fertility, having too little body fat (below 15-18%) can make the body go into an anovulatory state (not ovulate).
  • Limiting stress:Easier said than done, especially for anyone who is going through the emotions of fertility difficulties! You’ve probably been told that if you can relax, you will get pregnant. While this is certainly not true for everyone, reducing stress is a good idea. Often, the ideas above will help with many of the physical causes of stress, leaving you more time to (hopefully) relax.
  • Checking side effects of medications:Check with your doctor to see if any medications you are taking could impair fertility. Steroids and antidepressants have been known to do so, as well as any other hormone containing or affecting medications.

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Step 4: Herbal & Nutrition Support

While diet and lifestyle alone often reverse infertility, some women notice better or faster results with the aid of natural supplements and herbs.

Supplements

You can’t out-supplement a poor diet, but when trying to heal a condition consider taking these:

  • Cod Liver Oil – look for a wild-sourced, virgin oil.
  • Vitamin C – look for a whole food source (not ascorbic acid) with copper at the core.
  • Folate – Folate (not folic acid) is well known as a necessary vitamin in early pregnancy to prevent complications, but it is most beneficial when taken for several month before the pregnancy as well as during. It is important to note that many people have trouble using the synthetic form, folic acid, and do better with folate or methylfolate (this post from Wellness Mama explains more).
  • Zinc – Very important for cell division including sperm production and ovulation. Best when taken in combination with b-vitamins.
  • Selenium – Helps protect the body from free radicals and protects sperm and egg. Known to help cell division and might prevent miscarriage.
  • B-Vitamins – Deficiency of B-vitamins is common in anyone who consumes large amounts of processed foods, grains or sugars. Optimizing B vitamin levels can increase luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone to improve fertility.

Herbs

Herbs are such a beautiful, helping gift! The following herbs are often recommended for getting pregnant naturally:

  • Red Raspberry Leaf – A well know fertility herb that is also good during pregnancy. It has a high nutrient profile and is especially high in calcium and is a uterine tonic.
  • Nettle Leaf – Has a very high mineral content. It contains lots of chlorophyll and is nourishing to the adrenals and kidneys. It helps reduce stress and is a powerful uterine tonic. Once pregnant, it is great for getting enough nutrients during pregnancy and has a high vitamin K content to prevent hemorrhage. I add nettle leaf to a tea that I drink before and during pregnancy.
  • Dandelion – Contains vitamins A and C as well as trace minerals. The root is beneficial to the liver and the leaf is mildly diuretic. Can help cleanse the body and remove toxins.
  • Alfalfa – Has vitamins A, D, E and K and eight digestive enzymes. Contains trace minerals and vitamin K and is often added to commercial vitamins because of its high vitamin profile.
  • Red Clover – Has a very high vitamin content and contains almost every trace mineral. It has been known to help balance hormones and restore fertility.
  • Maca – A hormone balancing herb that is known throughout the world for its fertility and vitality promoting properties. Good for both men and women to increase fertility, though women should only take between menses and ovulation and discontinue to make sure it is not taken during pregnancy. It is a very potent herb that often has very noticeable effects on fertility. It comes in powder form or capsule form.
  • Vitex/Chaste Tree Berry – Nourishes the pituitary gland and helps lengthen the luteal phase. It lowers prolactin and raises progesterone. For some women, this alone will increase fertility.

IMPORTANT: Do not take any of these herbs in combination with fertility drugs, hormone treatments, or hormonal birth control! As with any herbs, supplements, or medication, consult a doctor or health care professional about your specific case and do your own research!

Conclusion: YES, You Can Get Pregnant If You Are Currently Infertile.

Struggles with infertility can be agonizing for women and couples, but there is hope! Proper diet and nutrition can greatly aid the body in conceiving and carrying a healthy baby (and are beneficial in overall health).

While sometimes medical treatment is necessary, couples should at least consider dietary & lifestyle support first. The above system is also helpful for women wanting to relief from symptoms of PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, heavy periods, or other hormonal problems.

While some testing can be expensive, we highly recommend the DUTCH Cycle Mapping test and a team of functional medicine providers who can review your test and can answer any questions you have.

Get A test
Categories
Functional Medicine Maternal & Pediatrics Women's Health

Top 10 Things To Promote Breast Health

Empower yourself and the women in your life with these top 10 ways we can support breast health.

 
This October and going forward, take control of the things you CAN control… because we believe breast cancer doesn’t have to be 1 in 8.?
 

10 Tips for Breast Health from our provider Taylor:

?1. Regular self-breast exams

See our last post for a how-to picture or ask your doctor/mom/trusted friend to teach you! 
You know your body best – don’t forget to check in on it. If we do regular (weekly or bi-weekly) breast exams, we will be able to catch an unfamiliar lump WAY sooner than if we just wait to get an annual breast exam or mammogram by our physician.
 
 

?2. Diet

Whole, real foods. Avoid grains, sugars and vegetable oils. Get food sensitivity testing done if needed!

This focus becomes so important because breast cancer has increased dramatically over the past few decades.

Whereas one in 20 women had it in the 1960s, today that number has risen to one in eight women. According to The American Cancer Society, over 40,000 women will die from breast cancer in 2025.

These and other statistics suggest environmental factors are driving cancer. What we eat, toxins, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and other problems in modern-day society become catalysts to increase breast cancer risk.

Through Functional Medicine, we consider the factors that increase breast cancer risk and then eliminates them. From that perspective, we can literally change the soil in which cancer grows.

According to Dr. Hyman, imbalances in seven key systems in your body contribute to breast cancer and every other disease. Among these seven key systems include hormonal imbalances such as high insulin levels that eventually create insulin resistance.

Sugar, along with refined grains, becomes the driver behind high insulin levels. Every time we eat sugar, we raise insulin levels, which make cancer cells grow and promote inflammation – which is made worse with processed vegetable oils. It’s literally like adding fuel to the fire.

High insulin levels also increase estrogen levels. High estrogen levels correlate with increased breast cancer risk.

Sugar, especially as high-fructose corn syrup and other processed carbohydrates, surges our insulin levels, increasing estrogen in the bargain.

Put bluntly: Every time we eat sugar, we increase our risk for breast cancer.

Increased insulin also means our body becomes really good at storing fat, and a vicious cycle ensues as our insulin and estrogen levels stay cranked up. Studies show excess body fat increases our risk for breast cancer.

When someone is deprived of sugar and then injected with radioactive sugar, that sugar goes right to cancer cells, which triggers insulin, inflammation, all while feeding the cancer cells. Cancer cells love sugar.

To become proactive and prevent or reverse breast cancer, you absolutely want to eliminate sugar. For breast cancer patients, we recommend going cold turkey on sugar and processed foods.

 

?3. Avoid estrogen mimicking chemicals

These are found in beauty products, processed canned foods, plastics, commercial soy products, birth control pills, and unfiltered water.

Diet plays a major role in breast cancer, but so do other factors like environmental toxins. The most damaging ones include estrogen and substances that mimic it, which we call xenoestrogens.

Xenoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors that activate estrogen, stimulating cancer pathways. In fact, these estrogen mimickers are 1,000 times more powerful than estrogen, and they react synergistically.

To lessen our exposure to these toxins, choose filtered water and organic food; Always opt for high-quality meat sources like wild salmon and grass-fed beef; Become more aware about how things like household cleaners and cosmetics can increase your toxic load at the EWG.

 

?4. Supplement with antioxidants

such as black seed oil and black cumin!

The amount of healing properties provided by life on this earth will never cease to amaze us! Plants such as herbs, roots, fruits and vegetables are packed with micronutrients, phytonutrients, and essential minerals to aid and repair our bodies.

Antioxidants are plant or phyto-chemicals that protect your cells and tissues from damage caused by electrically charged molecules, a.k.a. free radicals. Cell and DNA damage is at the root of most diseases – including: autoimmune disease, cancer, and chronic inflammation. Antioxidants act like natural sponges, mopping up these free radicals to protect your cells and DNA from damage. This is why it is so vitally important to get as many antioxidants into your body as you can.

Antioxidants can be found in fruits and vegetables as well as herbs. You can ensure you’re getting these cancer preventing photo-chemicals in supplements – our provider Taylor recommends Black Seed Oil or Black Cumin! Talk to us about which brands we love and trust to ensure you are getting a high-quality supplement to aid your body!

 

5. Ditch commercial deodorants

that contain aluminum, parabens, & estrogen mimicking chemicals which increase your risk of breast cancer.

We want to avoid any deodorants with toxins such as aluminum, p-dichlorobenzene, and/or phthalates. We can’t recommend any certain brands – you can also make your own as it is the most effective and affordable. This also ensureds knowing that there are no hidden ingredients and our skin is being protected from toxins.

 

?6. Undergarments

underwire and snuggly bras restrict circulation and lymph flow. Opt for a bralette or wire-free option.

Aside from helping us look good and giving us support, how many of us have thought about how bra wearing affects our breast health?   The fact is women of all breast sizes who wear bras, especially for extended periods of time and especially bras with underwires, are negatively impacting breast health.

Bra wearing confines and constricts the breasts, reducing lymphatic drainage.  It is very important to have optimal lymphatic drainage to remove the toxins from the breasts that contribute to breast congestion and inflammation.  Estrogen is produced in the breasts and fat cells and if the lymph system is clogged, the breast environment becomes stagnant and unhealthy, leading us down a path none of us want to go down.

According to the book Dressed to Kill: The Link Between Bras and Breast Cancer, women who wear bras more than 12 hours a day have a 1 out of 7 risk of developing breast cancer.  While women who wear bras less than 12 hours a day have a 1 out of 52 risk, and women who never wear bras have a 1 out of 162 risk.

Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes (also why it’s not helpful to block this detox pathway with antiperspirants). Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breastbone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow. The nature of the bra, the tightness, and the length of time worn, will all influence the degree of blockage of lymphatic drainage. Thus, wearing a bra can contribute to the development of breast cancer as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast.

Does this mean we should stop wearing bras? Not necessarily. If you do choose to wear a bra, avoid bras with underwires and make sure you get a proper fit! This makes a HUGE difference in circulation and lymph function.

 

? 7. Avoid medications that impact hormone levels

such as HRT (synthetic hormone replacement therapy) or birth control pills. There are other alternatives out there such as cycle mapping! If you use birth control as a method of hormone balance consider a bioidentical option such as BioTE.

Conventional treatments for hormonal imbalances typically include synthetic hormone replacement therapies, birth control pills, insulin injections, thyroid medications and more. Unfortunately, for the majority of people suffering from hormonal disorders, relying on these types of synthetic treatments often does three things:

  1. It makes people dependent on taking prescription drugs for the rest of their lives in order to keep symptoms under control.
  2. It simply masks the patient’s symptoms, but doesn’t solve them, which means that the patient can continue to develop abnormalities in other areas of the body while the disorder progresses.
  3. It potentially causes a higher risk for serious side effects, such as stroke, osteoporosis, anxiety, reproductive problems, cancer and more.

Is it possible to balance hormones naturally? The good news is: yes, in many cases it is. At our office, we address root causes of hormonal problems, as well as provide treatment options to help you balance your hormones naturally.

 

?8. Exercise

daily movement increases circulation and lymph flow. Rebounding!

Regular, moderate exercise supports cellular health and the cellular process of autophagy, which is the recycle and cleanup of old or damaged cells. We CAN NOT recommend daily movement enough! Go for a walk, garden, turn up your favorite music and have a dance party while you clean… just move your body!

A new study adds to existing evidence linking physical activity with longer survival in women diagnosed with high-risk breast cancer.

Women who engaged in regular physical activity before their cancer diagnosis and after treatment were less likely to have their cancer come back (recur) or to die compared with those who were inactive, the study found.

Studies show regular exercise can decrease your breast cancer risk. Exercise improves insulin sensitivity, helping you balance estrogen and maintain a healthy body weight.

Just like in nature, where there is stagnation – there is disease.

Be sure to move everyday!

 

? 9. Decrease & manage stress

we recommend certain adaptogens, prayer/meditation, and other creative, calming outlets.

Studies connect chronic stress levels with increased breast cancer risk. Whether you opt for meditation, stretching, deep breathing, walking barefoot in the grass, or another de-stressor, find something that works for you and do it.

 

? 10. Quality sleep and good sleep hygiene

effects the body’s ability to repair itself and fight off disease!

Studies show an inverse association between sleep duration and breast cancer risk. Listen to your body or aim for eight hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep every night.

Find our top sleep hygiene tips here!

When it comes to cancer – and really, optimal health – we’re all in this together. We can all learn from each other. If you’ve found ways to reduce your breast cancer risk, we want to hear from you. We would love to hear your thoughts below or on our Facebook page.

Categories
Maternal & Pediatrics Women's Health

Female Health & the Topics We Should Be Talking More About

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Excluding basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S. In 2021, there will be an estimated 281,550* new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in women. That is 1 in 8 women.

This CAN change if we DO something about it.

Let’s start by talking about female health.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/CKQn2_9Pf-Y” align=”center”][vc_column_text]

Breast Health

There are things we can do to support our breast health and prevent cancer from developing.

Examinations & Assessments

The first thing we can do is monthly breast exams – YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BEST!

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Another way to exam your breasts is through #thermography.

Without the low-dose radiation and breast compression that come with mammography, A thermography machine uses an infrared camera to detect temperature differences within your breast tissue. During a thermogram screening, the machine never touches your body.

On a thermogram image, “hot spots” appear red compared to surrounding tissue that appears yellow, green or blue. Anything that is causing an inflammatory response from the body will show up on a thermogram image as hot.

Currently, there are no quality standards for thermography. In fact, the FDA has stated explicitly that thermography should not be used in place of other screening tools like mammography to detect breast cancer or any other disease. We encourage our members & patients to trust their instincts first and foremost and use an integration of the tools we have been provided with full awareness of the pros & cons of each.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1926″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]

Ditch the wire!

Starting from adolescence, girls and women are bombarded with the message that sexiness requires push up bras, boosting cleavage, and making our breasts look and feel as unnatural as possible. However, with the rise of the bralette, the standard for beauty is shifting and focusing more on natural beauty and comfort, and in turn, better health as well.

Another way you can support your breasts health is by ditching the underwire in bras and getting rid of any bra that cuts off lymphatic flow.

Holistic health pioneer Dr. Joseph Mercola and other documented studies warn that restrictive bra usage may be correlated with increased breast cancer risk. When worn all the time, underwire bras can prevent the drainage of lymph fluid from the lymph nodes, which are along the breast bone and by the arm pits. Without adequate flow of lymph fluid, our bodies cannot properly get rid of toxins, which may contribute to a higher risk of cancer. Wirefree bras do not contain the hard metal lining that sits beneath the breasts and constricts the flow of lymph fluid. Allow your body to detox as it should by taking your underwire bra off as soon as you get home from a long day at work and wearing a wireless bra more often.

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Choose non-toxic deodorant.

The aluminum found in many deodorants could contribute to diseases such as breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. Consider more natural options instead!

Aluminum is the active ingredient in most antiperspirants, and it functions by forming a precipitate that physically blocks sweat glands (1).

Do you really absorb aluminum from your deodorant?

A case study of a woman who had used an aluminum-containing antiperspirant for 4 years had toxic blood levels of aluminum, which resolved 8 months after discontinuing use of the antiperspirant (2). Her symptoms of severe bone pain and fatigue also ceased.

Aluminum is also regularly detected in both normal and cancerous breast tissue (3). This suggests that aluminum indeed can be absorbed by the skin as well as into the breast tissue.

We know that estrogen plays a key role in the development of breast cancer, and one study demonstrated that aluminum can interact with estrogen receptors on human breast cancer cells (4). Additional preliminary research indicates that aluminum might promote breast cancer growth in other ways as well, though more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn (5,6).

Human mammary epithelial cells grown in media with aluminum concentrations around 100-300µm (which is around 100,000 times lower than aluminum concentrations in antiperspirants, and comparable to aluminum concentrations found in breast tissue), resulted in DNA double strand breaks and loss of contact inhibition, two occurrences that often precede cancer (7). Aluminum might also contribute to oxidative damage in breast tissue and increase breast cancer cells’ invasive and migratory tendencies (8).

What to Use Instead?

When you can, go deodorant fee!

Or, try using one of these products instead:

There are also lots of more conventional “aluminum-free” deodorants on the market right now if these traditional options do not work for you & your lifestyle.

Be aware that these deodorants tend to be antiperspirant – and your body needs to perspire! Also, deodorants made with “crystals” are referring to magnesium alum, which is a compound made up of aluminum sulfate bonded to either potassium or ammonium (plus a bunch of water molecules). On the one hand, this compound is larger than the aluminum compounds found in conventional deodorant, and is therefore unlikely to be absorbed through the skin, but I haven’t been able to find any actual data on dermal absorption of alum. So while crystal deodorants are a better choice than conventional deodorants, you might be better off forgoing aluminum altogether and trying a baking soda or clay-based deodorant.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1928″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]

Female Hygiene Products

It’s time to talk about tampons.

Tampons (and pads) are made from cotton.

A Roundup Of Cotton Pesticide Statistics

As a quick reference, here is a selection of cotton pesticide statistics from quality sources:

  • Cotton consumes a staggering 16% of all the insecticides sold worldwide.
  • In developing countries , around 50% of all pesticides used are for cotton cultivation.
  • Conventional cotton is the fourth-largest consumer of chemicals for agricultural use.
  • Over one thousand different chemicals have been used as pesticides.
  • Glyphosate is used on about 80% of genetically modified crops.
  • Insecticide use has declined in Australia by 89% over the past two decades.
  • Occupational poisoning levels are high with as many as 42% of farmers reporting signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning.
  • A study of six Central American countries found “only between 1% and 20% of the cases of acute pesticide poisoning are officially reported.”
  • A study in India , undertaken as part of the FAO IPM programme in 2003, identified 383 occurrences of cotton pesticide poisoning in three villages, with 10% of those people experiencing a severe neurological disorder.
  • A study showed that washing protective clothing worn by workers during the use of pesticides did not remove cotton pesticide residue, even with six washes, with between 1 and 42% remaining.

When we insert tampons, we are putting these toxins on our cervix each month.

Time to Un-plug

Tampons are essentially a plug that prevents your body from shedding everything it needs to. By interfering with this natural elimination process, the waste builds up and is either re-absorbed by the body and/or can lead to cramping, cysts, endometriosis, and other period “symptoms.”

Better Options for Us & the Earth

Thankfully, there are a growing number of companies on a mission to make better feminine hygiene products. There are tons of other options that are more sustainable and less toxic than your run-of-the-mill pads and tampons.

Yes, they even make period pants now!

With all the options out there now created by women who care about women, take a deep breath and have fun exploring what works best for you![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We know this can be a lot of changes at once – just remember, it starts with your mindset. If you WANT to do something different so 1 in 8 does not continue (or worse, become 1 in 4… 1 in 3… 1 in 2…). If you want to teach your children and those around you how to help the body and prevent this toxic cycle, start small and watch the wonders of God’s healing powers!

Don’t give up – we are here for you every step of the way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Maternal & Pediatrics

Pediatrics: Cardiomyopathy

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Why is Cardiomyopathy the Number One Cause for Pediatric Cardiac Arrest & Heart Transplants?

Pediatric heart transplantation (pHTx) represents a small (14%) but very important and particular part in the field of cardiac transplantation.
Approximately 600-700 pediatric heart transplantation procedures are performed worldwide each year, representing about 12% of the total number of heart transplants performed.
The main cause of both of these? Cardiomyopathy
Although there’s not a lot of research behind the real why’s of it, we asked our providers to share some things that are known & information that can hopefully help prevent this pediatric heart issue from continuing to rise!

The Heart and Iron

Our hearts could not function without iron. This mineral is needed to make hemoglobin, which delivers oxygen to the body, and myoglobin in muscles. The most significant muscle in the body is the heart.

Much of what we know about iron in the heart comes from research that centers on people with iron overload at a young age, such as individuals with thalassemia, sickle cell disease, or juvenile hemochromatosis. The most significant research specific to adult onset hemochromatosis and cardiac iron comes from the US National Institutes of Health Hemochromatosis Protocol led by Dr. Susan Leitman and from Professor Dudley Pennell, Director of the National Institutes of Health Research Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit at Royal Brompton Hospital, London.

Over Recommended, Unnatural Sources of Iron

70% of pregnant women report using iron-containing prenatal supplements that are often prescribed by their physicians (4), despite the current debate over whether a recommendation of supplemental iron is necessary in iron-replete pregnant women in the US (5–7). Prenatal supplements are products typically intended for use before, during, and after pregnancy, unless otherwise specified on the product label. We compared the forms and amounts of iron used in formulating prenatal supplements with the forms and am

Misleading information on supplement labels is the most common reason for confusion about these ingredients. Consuming these potentially dangerous chemicals is much more serious than once thought.

Synthetic vitamins and minerals are processed in a laboratory, while natural vitamins and minerals are derived from plants. Your body can tell the difference, even if a microscope can’t. Synthetic supplements contain little or no natural ingredients. Some claim to contain 10% natural vitamins, but the rest of the ingredients will have come from a lab. The “ingredients” of synthetic supplements are chemicals that are constructed in a lab. They may look, feel and taste natural, but your body may not—probably does not—absorb synthetic supplements in the same way that your body would absorb natural supplements.

  • Iron overload can occur from certain things that pregnant women take such as medications, and synthetic high dose supplements (ie. iron and folic acid) play a role in baby’s heart development.

Magnesium & Iron Together

Although magnesium and iron are not cofactors, which are nutrients that help other nutrients function, they appear together in foods. Just as you’ll find iron in meats, fish, nuts, leafy greens, grains, cereals, fruits, vegetables and other foods, you will find magnesium in these foods as well. Therefore, a deficiency in one likely predicates the other, unless there is a specific cause for either condition. Strict vegetarians are at particular risk for both deficiencies.

But, what happens if you are magnesium deficient but are supplementing iron?

Excess iron intake reinforces the iron accumulation in liver and spleen of people who are magnesium deficient. The saturation of iron binding capacity can be enormously elevated when we are magnesium deficient and loaded with excess iron. Dietary iron deprivation can also diminish the degree of calcium deposition in the kidney of magnesium deficient people. So, magnesium-deprived people have abnormal iron metabolism losing homeostatic regulation of plasma iron, and magnesium deficient people with dietary iron overload may be hemochromatosis – which can cause serious damage to your body, including to your heart, liver and pancreas.

Magnesium deficiency and iron overload together can have a BIG impact on the heart of both you and your baby.

Viral Infections

Pregnancy comprises a unique immunological condition, to allow fetal development and to protect the host from pathogenic infections. Viral infections during pregnancy can disrupt immunological tolerance and may generate deleterious effects on the fetus.

A range of viral infections in pregnancy are associated with specific placental findings, including lymphoplasmacytic villitis with associated enlargement of villi and intravillous hemosiderin deposition in the setting of maternal cytomegalovirus infection (40), as well as rare reports of intervillositis in the setting of Zika virus (41) and Dengue virus (42), among others.

Viral infections, especially streps, can greatly impact a baby’s heart development.

Genetic Predispositions

Like most common diseases, heart failure develops as a result of complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Early studies identified variants in genes in the adrenergic and renin-angiotensin pathways that influence the likelihood of developing heart failure and response to evidence-based therapies. These polymorphisms confer relatively minor increases in risk and manifestation of clinically evident HF in patients who carry these alleles likely requires other genetic and environmental insults.

In contrast, mutations in single genes can cause dilated cardiomyopathy independently and typically are heritable in an autosomal dominant fashion. Diagnosis of familial dilated cardiomyopathy requires a careful family history and confirmatory genetic testing, and can have significant impact on the health of the patient’s family members. Though such testing ideally is undertaken in consultation with a genetics professional, numerous resources are available to guide the cardiologist through the process (Table ​22). If you have a genetic predisposition component, it’s okay! There still needs to be a trigger – which we can work together to prevent.

Taking Action

Here’s what you can do to:

  • Be sure to either get your nutrients from whole, mineral-rich, naturally grown foods or take high quality, whole food supplements while pregnant such as folate and avoiding folic acid.
  • If iron is truly needed then making sure it’s the correct form that doesn’t get stuck in the organs/tissues.
  • PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY. It’s intelligent. If you feel sick, see if you have a virus.
Coxsackievirus B (CVB) is the most common cause of viral myocarditis. It targets cardiomyocytes through coxsackie and adenovirus receptor, which is highly expressed in the fetal heart.
But many viruses are commonly associated with myocarditis, including the viruses that cause the common cold (adenovirus); CMV, hepatitis B and C; parvovirus, which causes a mild rash, usually in children (fifth disease); and herpes simplex virus.
Fever, rash, fatigue and general sick symptoms would be what to watch for but would be very hard to prevent as most of that stuff isn’t screened for in pregnancy, just like STDs and such.
Specifically ask for a viral panel that directly correlates with myocarditis (if your doctor doesn’t know what to run, check with other doctors)
You can also specifically ask for CVB to be checked!
If you are pregnant or have concerns for your child, do not hesitate to reach out! We are here to help in any way we can.

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