Why is There So Much Hate Surrounding Autism?

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

Since everyone is always asking me questions, I thought I would turn it around on my readers for a change. Can you please help me understand something that I am absolutely baffled by?!??!!

Why is there SO Much Hate Around Autism?

When I first thought about hosting “Autism Awareness Month” at the kitchen table, I truly felt honored to have the opportunity to do so. I truly felt if one little tiny thing that I might have to say or contribute in my research and quest to help parents understand their child a little bit better…..that the whole month would be worthwhile.

My heart goes out to autistic children because I am sure I fall somewhere on that spectrum myself, and understand what it feels like to not be able to express that which you are thinking in your mind. I was a very quiet, shy, little toe walker myself once.

So I invited a panel of moms to share their stories.

I nagged a bunch of my colleagues to contribute their own articles and research on autism. I contacted many different professionals in the field of autism and conferred with them over this disease that not only doesn’t have a cure….it doesn’t have a known cause either. We can only begin to speculate at this prudent juncture as to what autism is actually caused by.

I then had the privilege of becoming introduced to many parents that blogged either professionally or through their Facebook accounts and became awe inspired at how truly powerful this thing called “The Internet” actually is.

Look at how easy it is for people to connect with me, to find others fighting their same challenges, to congregate….and what better place to do it than at the kitchen table.

But then things got ugly. I try to avoid negativity when at all possible, and learned on the debate team that the best way to diffuse your competition is to kill them with kindness, but that still didn’t work, and I grew exceedingly depressed by the anti-Jenny McCarthy haters attacking my website (until I learned how to close comments and block IP addresses…he he.)

I don’t necessarily agree with Jenny McCarthy because I don’t necessarily agree with myself half the time, I am sure if you are a doctor you can empathize at the difficult decisions we are forced to make at times.

As much as the attack upset me, I decided to carry on with the rest of autism month, someone told me that “if they aren’t hating you then you aren’t doing anything.” Which was somewhat scary but true….so I have decided that, in spite of all the hate mail, to carry on for the rest of the year with autism research.

My passion is researching nutritional biochemistry and if one little thing that I discover, or help explain…. helps just one little child challenged by this disease….then all the negativity is certainly worth it.

As it says in The Hippocratic Oath that I once raised my right hand to, “I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.”

Maybe the hate mail, the profanity, the discrediting, and the verbal stone throwing got my Tinkerbell down for a bit….but she is back up and ready to fight!!!! Autism Month is now destined to carry on for all of eternity at the Kitchen Table. God brought these families and their children to me, and I will work hard to help them understand all perspectives.

What the people attacking me unfortunately don’t understand is that just because I was kudoing Jenny McCarthy for not taking a back seat to her child’s health care, as well as simply discussing the nutritional hazards of the gluten free casein free diet if you choose to try it on your child, doesn’t mean I was agreeing with every word that has ever come out of her mouth. That was a giant presumption.

However, I learned that there is a whole website dedicated to hating on Jenny McCarthy….wow and I was just upset by a bunch of nasty emails! I learned from this incident and as far as I’m concerned this woman should be applauded for sitting in the hot seat.

Has anyone else famous come forward to advocate for autism?

Does the research prove without a doubt that immunizations play a role in this disease that appears to have a multifactorial etiology?

When and if it does show reasonable proof, Jim Carey and Jenny McCarthy will continue their quest on something else. However, doesn’t every parent and person want greener vaccines?

I know I do. I get my tetanus shot every five to ten years and don’t need the extra aluminum burdening my already “big fat angry liver chi.”

Jenny and Jim should be applauded for coming forward with a disabled child openly…..something that many families are afraid to do.

Whether you agree with her physician’s treatment philosophy or not she is still a role model mother that deserves everyone’s respect.

I would have welcomed a thoughtful “High School Debate Team” level guest post on why these cruel people (probably paid by big pharma) don’t like Jenny McCarthy being an advocate for autism.

When we apply the rules of Mensa (super nerdy organization of high IQ individuals….and Mensa just happens to coincidentally mean “table” in Latin) then we can ALL work together to find a cause….find a cure….or even just find that someone else is fighting our same fight. I don’t mind if you disagree with me, I do mind if you disrespect, or heaven forbid use profanity or name calling at the kitchen table. Elbows off please! (you can kick back and put your feet up though….)

As a former member of the debate team, I have no problem with people disagreeing with my opinion. I often disagree with myself. They say at Mensa that if you have 12 Mensans in the room, you likely have 13 different opinions. The same could be said about physicians.

Related reading:

Autism Awareness Month

Autism: 10 Strategies for Implementing Diet Changes

The Autism Diet Connection

Autism: 10 Tips for Everyone

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Etiquette: Disease and Dating

No, no, no… this is not a nag about STD’s and dating today, people!

This is a guest post from my favorite Relationship Columnist, and dear friend, “Miss Matchmaker” herself.

She has worked as a social worker, therapist, and has been a professional Matchmaker for the largest Matchmaking company on the Gulf Coast for the past 13 years, and her advice is always spot on.

When I heard this story, I was baffled and asked her to share it at the kitchen table.

Frankly, your health condition is no one’s business but your own, and if you are privileged to be privy of someone’s health condition you should never gossip about it, nor scapegoat it.

Please respect confidentiality with the same professionalism that doctors, nurses and HCPs everywhere kindly maintain thanks to The Hippocratic Oath which I highly recommend everyone in need of a little inspiration reads. ~Dr. Nicole

“The Etiquette of Disease and Dating”

By Denise Paravate, Missmatchmaker

Disease is a very serious component in the life of anyone who must deal with it on a daily basis. We have doctors who dictate treatment and therapy, and sometimes there are people who step in to help with the emotional aspects of disease, but how often is there someone at your side explaining to you the social components of disease when it comes to dating?

Several months ago I was involved in a relationship in which I had kept my physical history private. I did so for several reasons. Number one, I don’t look sick. Number two, I didn’t want to scare him away. This being the most popular route for people in the same situation as myself, I felt it worthy of discussion.

After dating for 6 weeks and spending several nights under the same roof, the inevitable happened. We had been out with friends, and previous to our social engagement we had a bit of a tat, so to speak. After a few cocktails, he pipes up with “well at least I don’t have to drug myself down every night before bed.” In front of all of our mutual friends, I explained to him that I had been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis as a child, Fibromyalgia in college, and Peri-Menopause at the age of 35.

I explained that my evening cocktail of medications helps me to function as a “normal” person and that I was the kid who saw Disney for the first time in a wheel chair. I then went on to explain that I may not be able to ever have another child and that without my hormone pills, I would be the psycho woman throwing chairs out windows between hot flashes as I attempt to stand up from my wheelchair (of which I would be in because I didn’t take my RA meds) and I didn’t think that was a person he would enjoy meeting.

Lesson learned, maybe I should have told him sooner. People have preconceived notions about medications and what “sick” really is. As a matchmaker, I preach to my clients to always be honest with their dates, but at what point is too much information just too much information…

When it comes to dating I believe that yes, honesty is the best way, but “TMI” (too much information) can sometimes scare the potential suitor away. So what is the best policy? From my own experiences I must say that it is probably best to keep things on a need to know basis. I don’t necessarily believe that it is something that should be shared on a first or second date. When it gets to the point where you are seeing someone on a regular basis and they are learning your daily routine, then it may be time to fill them in.

I don’t like the idea of keeping secrets and that is not what I am trying to imply. All I am saying is that if you live with chronic disease, life is hard enough and if you plan on sharing your life with someone, they have the right to know just how hard it is. I think now looking back that the best way to handle the situation would be to talk about it first and educate the other person about your particular issues.

Some people may be scared to do so because they would not want to discourage a blooming relationship, but understand that if you try to keep it a secret, chances are it will blow up in your face at some point later anyway. If that person chooses to not be with you because of the challenges you face, then that just means it was not the person for you and maybe it is best you move on.

Dating is hard enough. Disease is even harder. Combining the two can be a challenge!

~Denise Paravate

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Dr. Nicole’s Opinion on Your Kid’s Facebook Profile

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

Since I am a doctor of a younger Facebooking generation, I understand social networking like Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, Twitter and so forth, better than the average bear.

I also use a few of them myself to promote Kitchen Table Medicine.

At a recent family gathering the topic of kids on Facebook came up.

As my sister stated, “I think the age group for Facebook is about 35 and under,” and she is somewhat right.

Since I am on Facebook to promote Kitchen Table Medicine (please become a fan of my group so I can “look cool” to my sponsors…I know - shameless!) I have come across some odd characters…even for me!

For an adult, it is as simple as “X”ing them out of my world or hitting the delete button.
With 800 “friends”, I never hesitate to delete someone who is negative or has possible ill intentions; however, your child should not have these “cyberfriends” - they should only be allowed to be friends with people they know in real life (RLF if you want to sound hip!)

Facebook Do’s:

• Do allow your fourteen year old child to have an account that you monitor until they are 18 years of age. Since “everyone else is doing it” now, being too stringent may cause consequences stemming from over-parenting; try to compromise. Obviously the safest choice is to keep them offline completely. Make sure they understand it is a joint account that you have the right to log in to every day and check out if you wish. The more transparency that exists between you and your child, the safer your child is from internet predators.

• Do ask a friend or family member that spends a lot of time on the site your child wants to be on to request them as a friend and check in on their page every day if it is something you don’t have time to do. For all my little cousins….Dr. Nicole is WATCHING YOU!!!

• Do keep your computer in an open family room area, so that whatever they are doing online is seen by everyone else in the household.

• Do have access to the log in and password to their account. Remember as I stated in “How to Keep Your Kids off Drugs” any illegal actions they commit on the internet, or otherwise, you may be held legally liable for until they are 18. Furthermore, your child may not even be aware they are committing a crime. Common sense rarely sets in before teendom!

• Do check out all their friends and make sure they are the friends you know.

• Do be stylish about it! Coco Chanel, the queen of simple accessories, has it right when it comes to accessorizing your child’s Facebook account. Do not allow for multiple pictures, and definitely do not allow for any personal information, such as the school they go to or the town they live in, on their profile. If they argue about this, settle for allowing their school as their only bit of “info” aside from their “about me” section.

• Do have adequate anti-virus protection on your computer. As I discuss below, these social media sites are filled with pedophiles, internet thieves, phishers and scammers. So watch out. I would use one computer for online banking/purchasing and keep the family computer out in the family room, kitchen, or most popular area for everyone to share. Educate your child on these phishing scams and tell them to ALWAYS check the browser to make sure they are logging in to www.facebook.com and not something that looks very similar to that.

• Do add your own helpful Facebook tip for other parents struggling with these same issues.

Facebook Don’ts:

• Don’t let child under the age of 14 have an account. A seven year old child does NOT need to be social networking, and anytime you post pictures of your children on the internet they are that much more susceptible to pedophiles, freaks, kidnappers, who knows?!?!?!? Call me paranoid but we have to weigh the checks and balances.

• Don’t allow your child to be “friends” with someone they don’t know in real life. If they get such a request, it should be deleted or shown to you promptly. From just ONE message or comment exchange, an internet predator can use your IP address to locate your home and your child….isn’t that terrifying?

• Don’t allow for profile pictures that are too cute, cutesy, seductive, fun, or otherwise. If it were my child, I would not even allow for them to use their photo as their profile photo. The name should be enough for those that actually know them. A flower, favorite food, vacation spot or pic of the family pet is your safest bet.

• Don’t allow your child to bully you on this topic. You are the parent and having these accounts should be always viewed as a privilege. If they don’t like it read through these rules that I have composed. Let them hate me….heck I don’t care! I am on Facebook, and I am just looking out for them. I encounter creepy people all the time because I use Facebook to promote Kitchen Table, and never hesitate to delete anyone negative, stalkerish, or someone who gives me a bad vibe. Better to be safe than sorry right?

• Don’t ever forget that this is your house they live in, you are legally responsible for any problems they create, and worse ye,t emotionally responsible for a bad outcome with Facebook, Myspace, etc as happened with some cyberbullying on Myspace that resulted in a child committing suicide and the other child and parent were sued and held accountable.

• Don’t use passwords used for business related matters. Never ever ever forget that these profiles are perfect ways for ID theft to occur, so tell your child not to click on anything that looks “fishy” ie “phishing scam” where internet thieves are searching for people to log in to a “fake profile page” and once the scammer has your log in password they can then use it to gain credit card, banking, and even IRS information, or just completely hack your computer altogether.

So what other do/don’ts can you recommend to help out other parents challenged by this topic?

Read more: Pediatrics

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Dr. Nicole Needs Fan Mail!!!

Dear Readers,

Thank you for giving me some fan mail to open up at the kitchen table…keep it coming people!

Nothing inspires me to research and write like a reader emailing me to share how a simple tip has changed their life.

Oftentimes I read and research till the wee hours. If you enjoy reading Kitchen Table Medicine please just leave a comment on this page!

Thanks a gazillion!

~Dr. Nicole Sundene

Joe Said:

Always interesting and informative. I constantly find myself forwarding the link to friends and family members. Crotchety Old Man The Joy of Toast

timethief Said:

Dr. Nicole Sundene is a Naturopathic Physician, graduate of Bastyr University, and the author of Kitchen Table Medicine. Her blog is a treasure house richly stocked with naturopathic health and well being information. Her well written conversational style blog posts impart the facts and emphasize conscious living and preventative medicine. Readers are encouraged to ask questions and DocNicole provide spractical advice that gradually coaches readers to live a healthier diet and lifestyle. Some highlights indicative of the range of coverage include: * Healthy Whole Foods Eating * Exercise and daily movement * Time spent outdoors appreciating the beauty of nature * Pure clean fresh water * Sleep * Smoking Cessation * Permanent weight loss through adopting better eating and exercise habits * Giving up sugar or dessert * Adopting a more positive mental attitude * Stress management One Cool Site: WordPress Blogging Tips thistimethisspace.com

Doc KC Said:

Dr. Nicole Sundene from Kitchen Table Medicine is not only an extremely intelligent and professional naturopathic physician, but also a kind, warm, compassionate as well as fun and creative woman. Her “kitchen table” for alternative medicine news and tips on herbal medicine, diet, nutrition, and exercise is extremely well written and informative. If you have any questions as to health, nutrition, or other related topics, this is the place to go! As open minded and non-judgmental as Dr. Nicole is, you’re sure to feel very comfortable confiding in her. Doc KC www.DOCintheBiz.com Dr. KC’s Blog

Benny Greenberg Said:

You got to love this site. A no nonsense approach to being healthier and a lot of tongue in cheek humor from our newest cutest Doc to grace the blog world. All seriousness. Dr. Nicole is great at presenting what she is telling us and all the while making us healthy! Ben http://ya-ttitude.com

Robin Easton Said:

Hi Doc, I just love your site and you. You not only present exciting and highly useful advice but you come across as someone who is full of vitality and life. Nothing could create a better environment for healing. You vivaciousness is contagious and many of your health tips are ones that people can start using right away. I am so glad you are on the internet. You not only help people heal but you make the internet a healthier place just being on it, which I REALLY appreciate. Bless you and thanks. Robin Easton nakedineden.com/nakedinedenblog/ www.nakedineden.com

JD Said:

Gotta love the good Doctor. Her blog is not only informative and good for you! BluntWit.com

rob Said:

Wonderful place to for a tune up. I love your blog. Rob’s Megaphone Blog

ortho Said:

I am afraid I’ll be boring and also give a 10 The blog is just amazing. Excellent writing and the layout is also memorable. From a designer’s point of view and also from an avid reader’s side I can’t do anything but congratulate you for this amazing creation Orthodontics Today WebMaster Blog

Jack Payne Said:

A “Treasure Chest” of health information if ever there was one. There simply are not enough hours in the day. I’ve spotted several pieces in the Archives that I will only have to return to time and again–to read, as time permits. Great job, Doc. The writing is first-rate. You REALLY have a Blog to be proud of. The Con Man’s Blog

Edwin Reyes Said:

a great site. A simple blog but it helps a lot. Congratulation for being on the most popular blog. just continue and you’re helping a lot of people. thanks for this great info

Ange Recchia Said:

I love Doc Nicoles posts and encourage you to read them to. Great practical advice to help anyone who is out of touch with alternative methods and medicines. Thanks for such a great blog!

Loraleigh Vance Said:

Wow! I love the layout and graphics just to start with! And your panel of experts is impressive! Thanks for putting together such a great resource.

Tony Said:

Excellent blog. Contains valuable information explained in a way that makes it easy to grasp.

Keep on doing what you are and you will end up with a major blog publication. You have every skill it takes.

Owner of www.BlogCatalog.com the premier directory for blogs on the internet!

timethief Said:

Having access your blog is like getting the keys to a treasure house richly stocked with naturopathic health and wellbeing information. I have benefited greatly from reading your articles pertaining to fibromyalgia, raynauds and arthritis. In addition, the diet you specifically prepared for people like me is just what my body needed. I love your sunny attitude and admire the way you encourage us to develop better eating and exercise habits and a positive attitude. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise and loving kindness online. It’s a much appreciated blessing. Namaste, Timethief thistimethisspace.com

robin Said:

I love your blog. I believe food and natural occuring things will keep us healthy. I’ll be happy to send readers your way so they can learn and maybe stay healthy. Robin

Erik Johnels Said:

Great site, lots of clear concise and helpful information. A little hard to navigate, but this is clearly a no BS zone!. Keep up the good work.

nardeeisms Said:

Doc, this is great. So colorful, so welcoming and so informative… Where’s the ‘11′ on the rating box?- Nards

Brandi Magill Said:

I love your blog, so informative! Can’t wait to visit again:~)

Anne Said:

This is my new favorite blog! If you want to know why, you’ll just have to go and check it out for yourself

NancyEllyn Said:

Love your blog!

Gibraltar Said:

The tips are very helpful. Great work.

Jubie Said:

Doc! An “A-10″ rating for you! I really like how you simply add natural remedies and health tips to each post! I’m following you too! Great job!

Alexander M Zoltai Said:

Added your blog to my RSS Reader… ~ Alex

Michael de`OZ Said:

Keep up the great work:)

Tricia Said:

I found this site to be very informative. Lots of useful information, well written, and easy to follow. Really good resource if you wish to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Erin Said:

This was a greta site. I especially liked the info on Coca Cola making a softdrink which uses Stevia. My family avoids artificial sweetners and white sugar so most soft drinks are out.

Skip Kanester Said:

Wow, glad I found your blog. A wealth of great info!! The more we can help people take responsibility for their lives, one baby step at a time, the better! Keep up the good work.

Turmoyle Said:

You’ve really got a great blog here…loads of useful information, well organized…I will be visiting often!

Larry Janson Said:

Kitchen Table advice worthy of the whole house!!! I just used your stress management Zen Breathing techniques to blissedful results!!!

Robin Easton Said:

This is a GREAT idea! I’ve been eating and living healthy for years and use herbs and homeopathy as well. It is so good to see someone on the internet making this kind of advice available. Good for you. It’s time for people to take back control of their own health.

Jay O. Said:

Very informative and well-written.

Angie Alaniz Said:

Great info. and well written.

May 2008 Kitchen Table Medicine

is the #1 MOST POPULAR BLOG on Blog Catalog

one of the largest blog directories on the internet!

REVIEW by Daniel at Blog Catalog the premier blog directory on the internet:

“Dr. Nicole Sundene is the author of Kitchen Table Medicine. An easy to read, informative, and down to earth blog about nutrition, health and alternative medicine….It’s easy to see why BlogCatalog members have made this our Blog of the Week. Nicole has created a top notch blog and…read the rest of this review on Kitchen Table Medicine”

REVIEW of Kitchen Table Medicine at “Blogging Without a Blog” by Barbara Swafford

“…tips on what foods to eat, how to reduce stress by knitting, how smiling can prevent heart disease, computer and desk ergonomics, help for seasonal depression , plus numerous other topics written by herself and/or a writer from her “featured writers” page…professionals also engaged in the world of health/fitness Although a website should never replace your family doctor (see her disclaimer), this site is filled with fantastic information on health and fitness…..read the rest of this article about Kitchen Table Medicine”

REVIEW by Sean Rasmussen of Do You Digg It “…What’s great about Kitchen Table Medicine is that it is not another health blog that doesn’t really give advice. This blog (which of course offers its own healthy

dose of disclaimers and advisement for personal professional attention by qualified health professionals) details the foods, diets, practices, and products that you can use to live better.

It raises all the issues related to living better, including knowing what to use, how to use it and when, and what to change psychologically to incorporate real, lasting, healthy change; and it offers a platform where people can ask and learn of

qualified natural health professionals, and get real responses to questions (and participate in Dr. Nicole’s poll to tell her what you want her to write about)….

Kitchen Table Medicine is an easier way to learn about living better in sync with nature. It’s a way to become more familiar with natural living without being overwhelmed by all there is to learn.

Dr. Nicole and company present the information in small, understandable, digestible pieces, and cover all the bases for successful healthy living….Read the rest of this article about Kitchen Table Medicine”

REVIEW by Melissa Ward author of “Phenomenal Entrepreneurs”

“…The posts are chuck full of tips that range from dealing with skin issues to why you should be eating breakfast (hanging my head). You will even find posts that ask What IS Beauty? and Are you suffering from a terminal case of the “I can’ts”?

I have never been a pill popper and am always looking for natural remedies for various maladies. I consider Dr. Nicole’s blog to be a very valuable resource. I can’t tell you how much time I have saved NOT researching something, as she already had covered the topic. The writing style is delightful, professional, personable and to the point.”

Again, many sincere thanks for leaving an inspiring comment for me to read on a rainy day!

~Dr. Nicole Sundene
CEO KitchenTableMedicine.com

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Doctors Fighting in Washington D.C. to Support H.Con.Res.58!

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

If you want to see health care reform, and if you blog for health care reform, please re-post the following press release on your website, share with friends, family, and well…everyone that will listen! You can even include my introductory spiel, or make your own. Please just share the word!

Doctors are fighting to reform health care in America!!!

We are doing this for YOU! For your children! For your children’s children. We are doing this for the well being of America…the 2nd most unhealthy country only second to Finland….while we just so happen to spend the MOST on health care….hmmmm….why is that?!?!??!

How can you help Dr. Nicole and friends fight the Kitchen Table Medicine fight? Just pass on this info to those that are in Washington D.C. or join them!

Write your congress and let them know that preventive medicine treatments, consultations, and education are IMPORTANT to you. After all, the Latin root for the word “doctor” is “docere” meaning….to teach.

We want to teach you how to be healthy. We want to teach you how to live without unnecessary medications. We want to teach you how to be the best version of you possible.

Thanks so much for passing along the following press release, and helping us fight the fight to offer Americans the finest health care! We want you to have every option available as we revise the current health care system. But we need your input. We need you to write your local congress, to congregate with those in Washington D.C. and let your government officials know that the well being of our nation is important to you and your family.

As a physician, I believe the health care crisis will never be reformed until we fix the crisis at our Kitchen Tables and we need fine doctors, and nurse educators PAID to coach you to a whole food diet and lifestyle. We need acupuncturists, chiropracters, masssage therapists, all working as a team with your MD and naturopathic physician. Why are these “premium” modalities not part of every insurance plan? Why don’t you have access to the information you need? Why is organic food SO expensive but refined crap is readily accessible and CHEAP. Why is the health care crisis I read about in the newspaper at my grandmother’s obituary from 1976 (reporting her as the first female bartender in Olympia) not improved but worsened? We are not headed in the right direction people. We are going the WRONG WAY.

Why are we worried about the Swine Flu so much when 1 in 3 adults will develop adult diabetes, and if the current trends in America continue then 1 in 2 children born TODAY will end up with diabetes. If you have two children that means that statistically one of them could end up with diabetes, unless you model healthy whole food eating and lifestyle NOW.

For every $1 a healthy person costs our health care system a diabetic costs $13….now I am no mathematician….but how are we going to reform health care if we don’t start with a whole foods diet and lifestyle? How are we not going to be in an economic crisis when 50% of Americans have diabetes?

Being healthy really isn’t that hard:

80% Whole Foods + 20% Who Cares = Disease Prevention

You can do it! I believe in you. Thanks for sharing my message and helping improve preventive medicine legislation.

~Dr. Nicole

KitchenTableMedicine.com
************************************************************************************************************************

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Jenna Huntsberger
(202) 237-8150 [email protected]

Naturopathic Medicine Supporters Advocate For Health Care System Based On Wellness, Disease Prevention, And Natural Medicine:

More than 100 naturopathic doctors and supporters will descend on Capitol Hill Monday, May 4, to advocate for an overhaul of the nation’s health care system. Advocates from across the country will ask their Members of Congress to support H.Con.Res.58, a resolution that would transform the health care system from one that manages disease to one rooted in prevention, health promotion, and wellness.

“The health care system must address the underlying factors that lead to chronic disease,” says Karen Howard, Executive Director of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. “Nearly forty percent of all U.S. deaths are from heart disease, and more than two thirds of Americans are overweight. Clearly, the current system doesn’t do enough to prevent these costly health conditions. We need to move past this broken model and create a system that focuses on overall health, wellness, and enabling the body’s natural healing process.”

Naturopathic medicine is based on the belief that the human body has an innate healing ability.

Naturopathic doctors teach their patients to use lifestyle changes and cutting-edge natural therapies to enhance the body’s ability to ward off and combat disease.

Naturopathic doctors craft comprehensive treatment plans that blend the best of modern medical science and traditional natural medical approaches to not only treat disease, but also to restore health.

“Today, our definition of ‘wellness’ is limited to drug screening, vaccinations, and other preventative strategies such as drug therapy,” continues Howard. “But we drastically undervalue how changing behavior can prevent disease. If the nation is to move past the current health care crisis, we must adopt a patient-centered health care model that will restore and maintain optimal health.”

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians is a professional association strives to make naturopathic medicine available to every American, and to increase recognition of naturopathic physicians as the identified authorities on natural medicine. Our members include accredited schools of naturopathy, students, physicians, and individual and corporate supporters, participating independently or though 40 state-level affiliate organizations. Learn more at www.naturopathic.org

Jenna Huntsberger

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

4435 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 403

Washington, D.C. 20016

Phone: (202) 237-8150; Toll-Free: (866) 538-2267; Fax: (202) 237-8152

Email: [email protected]

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Is the Swine Flu Really a “Pandemic?”

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

“Tamiflu!!!! I want Tamiflu NOW NOW NOW!!!!”

~Shouted at a Telephone Triage Nurse Yesterday

For those of you that are new readers to Kitchen Table Medicine, please keep in mind that I have been described to have a “very dry” if not “seriously warped” sense of humor.

So if you want the boring ol’ facts about “The Swine Flu Pandemic” visit my fav site www.CDC.gov, as that is precisely where I ascertained the following medical opinions.

I put the preamble there because I got busted joking around on Twitter by a doctor friend for saying, “it’s just diarrhea people.” On Twitter I follow many nurses, doctors, infection control, the CDC, and so forth.

Everyone has their opinion and the general consensus is that we need to practice standard precautions to prevent this from becoming the “Pandemic” the news is purporting it to be.

I understand the deaths associated with this disease, however, I also understand the disease, and the likelihood that you will get it, and that is what I would like to discuss today- the real non-hyped facts to alleviate panic on this “pandemic.” The news needs news, but what you need are facts. So let’s talk about the facts, educate ourselves on the symptoms, and know what exactly we need to do.

First of all let’s get some perspective on this “Swine Flu National Epidemic,” as 227 people died in America from deer related car crashes in 2007. Also, 1.5 million humans experienced deer related traffic accidents causing an estimated $1.1 billion in vehicle damages. (Source)

Yet are we declaring “Deer a National Epidemic?” Are we slaughtering deer left and right? (Which they are doing with pigs in Egypt unnecessarily!) Is the news reporting every five seconds on the latest person to die from crashing in to a deer?

No.

Because that is just not that interesting, and deer are so cute. Pigs may be filthy, and they may be the original host of this virus, but eating their products will not make you sick according to the CDC.

The news thrives on panic, drive by shootings, celebrity tragedies and similar daunting fear factories.

So far, one child in America has died of the Swine Flu, and my heart goes out to that family.

The very old, the very young, and those that are immunocompromised (will discuss below) are at the highest risk of death from the Swine Flu. Everyone else is just likely going to get a bad stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sweating, chills, and a cough. Spring is always diarrhea season. The Swine Flu may be a new spring antigen, but if you are a HCP that follows health trends you know what I’m talking about.

Now is NOT the perfect time to start maxing out all your credit cards, but if ever it is the perfect day to call in sick to work! If you are symptomatic you should not be in an office setting regardless of the etiology and your doctor will certainly be happy to write you a note excusing you. If your child is symptomatic keep them out of school until they are better. School after all is just formatting their brains to think like everyone else.

As my parents and I watched the initial breaking news on The Swine Flu, I said to my Dad, “Sure seems like this Swine Flu is being over-hyped by the news,” to which he laughed, “Well Nicole isn’t that the goal of the news? To over-hype everything?” Now that all news reporters hate me….

First of all let’s all not panic, second of all let’s do the most important thing and become aware of the facts about The Swine Flu. Educate yourself on the signs and symptoms so that you can obtain the necessary medical care and QUARANTINE YOUR SELF.

Something you should do anyways anytime you are sick.

OF SECOND IMPORTANCE, PLEASE CALL YOUR DOCTOR’S NURSE FIRST AND DISCUSS THE SYMPTOMS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING BEFORE ENTERING A MEDICAL FACILITY CONTAINING SICK, ELDERLY, AND PEDIATRIC PATIENTS THAT CAN POTENTIALLY DIE FROM THE SWINE FLU!!!

So let me don my old white Dansko nursing clogs and talk about the facts vs fears. Let’s be sensible. My former hospital co-workers said they are getting really sick of answering all the frantic calls they are receiving in the nursing triage room.

One of the RN’s I used to work with said yesterday, “Honestly Nicole, I think I had a mild case of this last week. I think the news is over-hyping it and scaring our patients, everyone wants Tamiflu and they don’t even need it. We need to save the meds for the people that truly need it. Lack of meds for those that actually need them is my greatest concern at this point.” I couldn’t agree more whole heartedly with nurse Judy.

The following is the Swine Flu FAQ I told my parents at their kitchen table as we watched the news:

AM I GOING TO DIE FROM THE SWINE FLU?

From a personal standpoint as a vibrantly healthy 33 year old woman I could only be so lucky as to die from the Swine Flu, instead I will be working for another 40 years to pay off my FAFSA med student loans and making social security money for my parents and all their friends. *wink*

On a serious note, lets imagine that the Swine Flu is very similar to it’s cousin “Influenza”, 30,000 people die annually from influenza due to secondary complications such as dehydration and pneumonia. It is not really the virus that kills you; it is the development of secondary symptoms.

So, “A stitch in time saves nine,” if you think you have the symptoms of the Swine Flu. Stay at home, rest, rehydrate, and tell people to be nice to you. Call your nurse and review your symptoms to determine if an appointment is prudent.

Remember that anytime you have symptoms that are extreme with the flu, if you are not improving after 24-72 hours (influenza is 7-10 days), if you have blood in your stool or vomit, you need to call your nurse.

Quick test for dehydration: pinch the back of your hand and if the skin stays pinched….you are dehydrated. If it falls back down, you likely are not dehydrated. You can do this on the back of your baby’s neck too.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE SWINE FLU?

Straight from the CDC: The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

SWINE FLU IS IT REALLY AN “EPIDEMIC?”

The first thing my family asks me the second they see something health related on the news is….is this true? Is this really an epidemic? Well actually it is a “pandemic” meaning that it is a global concern. My official answer though is that that news as usual is just hyping things up because, well that is what they do, and they need stories that will scare the heck out of people in order to keep them watching.

President Obama is not a HCP, he is simply conveying messages from the CDC or FDA and demonstrating that he is concerned by this, and that he is ultimately in charge of the welfare of all Americans. Instead of panicking let’s educate ourselves on the signs and symptoms to prevent this now pandemic. Those in third world countries are at far greater risk than those in industrialized nations.

WHAT IS THE SWINE FLU?

Straight from the CDC: “Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.”

Basically, the Swine flu is a mutant form of Influenza A, the virus that some of us get vaccinated from each year. The Swine Flu proves my point that viruses are constantly mutating as discussed by terms such as “antigenic drift” and “antigenic shift” this means that in order to survive and evolve the virus must continue to change it’s DNA or RNA sequence.

This is why we currently don’t have a cure for HIV, because it mutates faster than any other virus and also hides within the very immune system cells that should be killing it. This is also why the influenza vaccine each year is only an “educated guess” at best.

WHO SHOULD REALLY BE WORRIED ABOUT SWINE FLU?

Persons that are immunocompromised or live with those that are immunocompromised. Persons that have recently visited Mexico or have recently interacted with someone that has recently visited Mexico, or another area where outbreaks have been documented.

“Immunocomopromised” means that your immune system is not as healthy as the average bear and thus you are likely to die from something like the Swine Flu: Those with chronic diseases involving the heart and lungs, diabetics, organ transplant patients on immunosuppressants, the very young, the very old, and person’s that are not in exceptional health should take extra precautions as per usual.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK I HAVE THE SWINE FLU?

First call your family practice nurse to review your symptoms and determine if an appointment is prudent, before entering a hospital where immunocompromised individuals congregate.

Our typical nursing telephone triage rule with colds/flus is that we almost NEVER want to see you in the office if you have the stomach flu because #1 there is nothing we can do for you unless you need an IV, and #2 We don’t want our patients exposed to it, nor do we want to be barfed on ourselves (yes I have been barfed on many times.) When you are not improving with self care is when you need to see your doctor. There I just saved everyone $300 dollars!

AM I PROTECTED IF I HAD A FLU SHOT THIS YEAR?

You may in fact be partially protected if you had a flu shot this year, however as I stated in my article questioning the ethics of “Employer Mandated Flu Vaccine Programs,” researchers are only making a highly educated guess on the viral particles included in each year’s flu vaccine, because Influenza rapidly mutates, and eventually YES we will see a PANDEMIC of much greater proportions than the Swine Flu when we see a LARGE shift in viral genetic make up. And I’m not talking about viral cosmetics….but you can think about it that way if it helps you understand how viruses use tactics to “cover up” and evade the immune system.

WHAT SHOULD CLINICIANS DO IF THEY SUSPECT SWINE FLU?

A simple sample can be obtained and sent to the CDC for examination.

HOW CAN I PREVENT MYSELF FROM GETTING ILL FROM SWINE FLU?

Enhance your immune system with supplements such as vitamin A 5000 IU (not for pregnant women, and don’t dose this high without the consent from your naturopathic doctor), zinc (typical adult dose is about 15-30 mg daily), vitamin C 500 mg 3 times daily, The Immune Support Diet, and Immune Support Breakfast.

I would also go to Target and buy some natural Cleanwell antiviral handsoap and handspray for my family (made naturally from thyme and aloe vera and shown to even kill MRSA! The laminaceae family…lavender…oregeno…and so forth rock!) Do your best to avoid infected persons, and PLEASE STAY HOME if you have the aforementioned symptoms to prevent further spread in the community. I’m sure your doctor will be happy to write you a note.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR THE SWINE FLU?

Oral rehydration, oral rehydration, and oral rehydration!!! Electrolytes, electrolytes, electrolytes!!!! REST REST REST!!! Most importantly, tell people to be nice to you. The most important thing to address with this illness is that you do not get dehydrated. If you are throwing up and can’t keep anything down then you need an IV.

My vomiting protocol for oral rehydration is 1 tsp of electrolyte fluid doubled every fifteen minutes (Sports drinks, diluted juices with a pinch of organic sea salt, Recharge, E-mergenc, etc.) If the patient cannot even keep this down….they need an IV STAT. Better to be safe than sorry.

CAN I GET THE SWINE FLU FROM PIGS?

No. Personally I don’t eat pork, but if you want to sausage it up, don’t let the Swine Flu stop you.

And this slaughtering of all pigs in Egypt is simply ridiculous!

Did you know that pigs are smarter than some people? Pigs are the fourth smartest mammals: Humans, primates, whales/dolphins….PIGS!!! It is estimated that they likely have the intelligence of a three year old human being.

SHOULD I WEAR A MASK?

No. A mask likely won’t protect you as transmission is from close contact or “Oral-Fecal Transmission” similar to most causes of gastroenteritis such as adenovirus and rotavirus. We get these types of bugs because people don’t wash their hands after they go potty and then they eat, touch their face, etc.

DO I NEED ANTIVIRAL DRUGS?

PLEASE don’t belabor the point that you need these drugs if your physician does not find it necessary, although laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir.

The CDC has issued interim guidance for the use of these drugs to treat and prevent infection with swine influenza viruses; this does not necessarily mean you need these meds to treat symptoms similar to the Swine Flu such as the common cold, strep throat, allergies, food poisoning, or whatever else you might be sick with this time of year!

Health Care Provider’s are becoming increasingly concerned that we may experience a shortage of these medications if this “pandemic” were to transform in to a true state of emergency.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE ON SWINE FLU

The Swine Flu just proves my point with the “Soil and Seed” model of medicine we talked about with the latest salmonella outbreak. Keep yourself as healthy as possible. The less healthy you are the more severe your flu symptoms will likely be. Most healthy individuals I have consulted with experiencing mild symptoms may in fact have the swine flu and it is best that they quarantine. But they do say that even if the most deathly virus- Ebola became airborne that still 10% of the population would manage to survive. So let’s not panic.

Furthermore, there is nothing really wrong with being sick every now and then.

Think of diarrhea and vomiting as nature’s detox. You can do a Spring Cleaning on your own or wait for nature to give it to you in the form of spring diarrhea.

SHOULD THE SWINE FLU STOP ME FROM TRAVELING TO MEXICO RIGHT NOW?

Personally the last place I would go right now is Mexico. I am scared enough to travel in a country where I don’t speak the language, or am not close to adequate medical care. I live two miles from the hospital, so frankly Dr. Nicole is staying put.

SHOULD THE SWINE FLU STOP ME FROM TRAVELING INSIDE THE US?

Well that is a tougher question, I guess I would decide that on a case by case basis. Personally I wouldn’t go camping or backbacking out in the middle of nowhere right now. I’ve been in situations like that when someone gets extremely sick, and it ruins the trip for everyone. Ask yourself a few questions… Is it necessary for you to travel?

Because airplanes are one of the best places to get infected with the latest thing going around, I wouldn’t travel unless it was necessary (like for vacation *wink*) If I were traveling to a place in the US that is near a hospital for my vacation, I would go. If it were a business meeting type of thing, I would use it as an excuse to get out of it! If I were symptomatic with the aforementioned symptoms, I would do the right thing and quarantine myself regardless.

Here is a Google map tracking the spread of this “swine flu”. For live updates, just click the pic.

Visit the Center for Disease Control for resources sited and for more info: CDC.gov

HAVE A HEALTH TIP TO SHARE IN THE COMMENTS TO PROTECT FROM SWINE FLU?

Please also share your opinions, if you disagree with me you are more than welcome to debate your position as long as it follows standard High School debate team protocol.

Thanks for stopping by my kitchen table!

~Dr. Nicole
Official Anti-News Source for The Swine Flu.

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Autism: A Case Example of Hope

Since it is “Autism Awareness Month” I have gathered together all my favorite autism experts to add their two cents to the topic.

Dr. KC Kelly is a psychotherapist who has many years of experience in helping autistic children and their families.

If you are a stressed parent of a child diagnosed on the autism spectrum, I would highly recommend writing in to Dr. KC for support, or seeking support somewhere, whether it be through a local or online support group.

Over at www.DocintheBIZ.com you can write in for professional confidential, caring support anytime. ~Dr. Nicole

“Autism: A Case Example of Hope”

by KC Kelly, Ph.D

Alex’s (name has been changed to protect anonymity) mother sat across from me and cried into her hands. “I just don’t know what to do anymore,” she began.

“From the moment he gets home from school, he races through the door and right to the couch in the living room where he throws all the pillows onto the floor and begins to run back and forth jumping all over both of the couches.

I’ve tried everything to stop him, but he doesn’t even seem to realize that I’m there. He’s in his own world. He climbs on the wall unit, breaking things and one day it almost fell over on him! He will also throw tantrums by screaming and crying at the top of his lungs for hours and I don’t know what he wants!” She stopped talking and continued to cry.

Alex has autism. He is five (5) years old and falls into the lower end of what we call the Autism Spectrum. He does not talk, does not communicate, and exhibits aggressive behaviors such as hitting, biting, pulling hair and scratching when he does not get what he wants.

What is Autism?

The experts define autism, also called autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or autism spectrum conditions (ASC), as a spectrum of psychological brain developmental disorders characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication, and often patterns of highly repetitive behavior(s). Just like with any child, or any person with a disorder, symptoms and behaviors can vary greatly amongst those with autism.

The Bad News:
There is no known cure for autism.

The Good News:
No matter how low functioning the child, autism IS treatable and a child with autism CAN grow, learn and change.

The Scenario:
Alex goes to school in an autistic class and follows a schedule throughout his day with his peers. He works with professionals in the field of autism, so his behaviors ARE controlled to some degree. This is a definite indicator that Alex CAN learn at home.

My Challenge:
To help Mom become an expert, not necessarily on autism, but on her son.

How We Started:
Firstly, Mom and I did a home make-over into a child-proof safety zone. Next, we talked for a while about what needed to be done to help change Alex’s behaviors at home. I explained to Mom what Alex needed: Routine, Consistency, and Repetition as I witnessed a complete absence of all three of these imperative factors for change in the home. Sound simple to do? Well, the idea is simple. The execution of the idea? Not so much.

1. Routine: An autistic child needs a steady, consistent and solid daily routine. They also need to know what the routine is in a very visible, clear and easy to understand way. If an autistic child does not have a daily routine, this could be the reasoning behind exacerbated acting out behavior(s).

I made Alex a picture schedule including his entire day of activities from the moment he woke up in the morning until bedtime. Introducing the schedule to Alex was not easy, but with repetition, he stopped testing us and it became routine. Now the test would be to see if Mom could enforce this consistently everyday.

Note: Schedules can be made using either use words or pictures depending on the academic level of the child. The schedule is usually made from small laminated cut outs containing the words or pictures, and with the use of velcro, are put upon a rectangular shaped piece of colored cardboard. (This is how I do it.)

The activities of the day are all present and flipped over to show completion. A child should never start an activity without checking their schedule, and similarly, he/she should never end an activity without flipping the piece over and seeing what is next on the schedule.

2. Consistency: Never break the routine. I understand that “life happens” and we must leave room for flexibility; however, for the most part, the way a child is going to learn best is through consistency. The best way for an autistic child to learn is when they know what to expect. This also helps to reduce anxiety and increase reliability and a comfort level conducive to learning.

3. Repetition: An autistic child needs repetition. In order to learn, things must be done over and over and over again. It is important to have patience and if your child is not “getting it” right away, try not to get upset. Instead, take a deep breath and DO IT AGAIN. Repeat, repeat, repeat. And then praise.

Important: When introducing something new to an autistic child, you want to do so in a soft and gentle, yet firm manner. It may be very frustrating at times; however, use you must use repetition without losing patience. I promise you will be rewarded when manipulation ceases and learning begins. I also showed Mom how Alex learned that FIRST he will do a task and THEN he will get rewarded. I usually like rewarding with verbal praise or a small healthy snack. It all depends on to what the child responds best.

The Terrible Tantrums:

“Alex will SCREAM and cry for HOURS,” said Mom with exasperation. It was indeed a piercing scream that I witnessed myself on many occasions, and when I think of that noise today, my ears start to ring. I made pictures of basic needs, such as bathroom, hungry, thirsty, pain and demonstrated to Mom how to use these with Alex.

If none of those things were bothering Alex, we knew he was attempting to manipulate Mom for attention or because he was upset that he didn’t get something that he wanted. Mom needed to stay consistent in not giving in to Alex’s tantrums no matter how heart breaking they were to watch. She needed to allow him to “cry it out” until he was willing to either communicate with us using his pictures or give up his manipulating tactic.

Remember: We need to never get upset at a child who has difficulty communicating, but help them the best we can to let us know what they want/need.

After working for approximately 6 weeks, 2x/week with Mom and Alex, Alex changed his behavior at home dramatically. It was a long road. It was a frustrating road. But it paid off. Now that I’m not there anymore in the home to help, I can only hope that Mom (and I DO understand how difficult it is) will remain consistent with Alex’s home routine and use repetition, patience, and love when teaching him new things.

If you are looking to get some specific questions answered about autism or to help you with an autistic child, whether the child is your own or a student of yours, please feel free to write to me at: www.DOCintheBiz.com. I would love to hear from you.

All my best,
KC Kelly, Ph.D.

Related reading:

Autism Awareness Month

Autism: 10 Strategies for Implementing Diet Changes

The Autism Diet Connection

Autism: 10 Tips for Everyone

Click Here to Read More Kitchen Table Medicine Articles

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Autism: Happy 19th Birthday Jake!

By Tanya Dutton

I took my boys to the doctor because my youngest son was sick. After less than five minutes in the exam room, the doctor turned to me and said “Mom, it is your other son you need to be concerned with. I think he may have autism.”

That moment will be embedded in my brain forever. I had known in my heart that something was wrong with Jake after he had his vaccinations at around one year of age.

The milestones he had reached seemed to have been erased, and further development had come to a screeching halt. Prior doctors had brushed off my concerns and told me that every child develops at their own rate, and I was a young mother so what did I know anyway?

For the next 15 years, I read every book I could get my hands on, joined support groups, and prayed every day that God would show me the way to help Jake get better.

I suffered a tremendous amount of guilt, along with sleepless nights, days full of frustration, and emotional breakdowns. Read more

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

It’s Hair Growing Season People!!! Wigs for Kids

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

Spring and summer is the best time to grow hair, and the other day when I asked my normally professional looking friend what was up with his new hippie hairdo I hadn’t seen since college, he said “Wigs for Kids!”

“It’s really tough to still look professional while conducting an important business meeting….but it’s for the kids.” Matt said as we both smiled in our mutual “subvert the dominant paradigm kind of way.”

Matt was really excited about Wigs for Kids because, as we both agreed, getting wigs to kids is much more important than providing wigs for adults with cancer.

I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes….but we all know how much more cruel kids can be than adults with teasing, and having cancer or congenital alopecia is certainly a tough enough problem in itself.

I was really touched by my normally “tough guy” kind of friend growing his hair out, and then when I noticed the Operation Smile t-shirt he was wearing, I realized that we were both pretty hopeless bleeding hearts. Yup, I bought diamond grillz and braces for kids in Africa too…or something like that… *wink*

If you are a hopeless bleeding heart and want to join our hair growing team just visit….Wigs for Kids.….come on, it’s for the kids!

Wigs for Kids is easier for me because it only requires 8” which is great because most adult programs need a full 10” and that extra two inches can make a difference to some of us that refuse to let their hair be cut shorter than their collar bone.

Coming up! I will be talking about how we can grow the strongest and healthiest hair as QUICKLY as possible….

It’s hair growing season people!

Are you ready?

Don’t forget to get a little trim every now and then to prevent split ends. We want to grow pretty wigs.

Now let’s all unleash our inner hippies and grow some wigs for kids!

Drop me a comment if you plan to play along!

~Dr. Nicole

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Autism and Jenny McCarthy

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

I was just reading this article by Jim Carey on vaccines and started thinking….

Wouldn’t you love to be a fly on the wall at Jim Carey and Jenny McCarthy’s house? I have always been a fan of both of theirs and am delighted to see that they found each other.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a celebrity take on a cause that is personal to them. Jenny McCarthy’s son has autism and she wrote a book about it. As a physician, I appreciate celebrities personalizing these causes because I can only imagine how frustrating and alone it would feel to be a mom or dad of a child with Autism.

God bless Jenny McCarthy for writing a candid book on her personal experience. Nothing warms my heart like seeing that someone with a hilarious sense of humor also has a huge heart. On top of that, she is an educated and informed parent.

Jenny did not accept the doctor’s lack of answers for her son’s condition, or the medications that were not helping. She took responsibility for his health by spending hours on the internet researching her son’s condition. Now normally, this kind of parent or patient scares the heck out of most doctors. We don’t like you to know more than us.

After all her research, she then placed her son on a gluten free casein free diet. Is there a whole lot of research out there supporting this? Not really…a little bit. But who cares? It is wheat and dairy! It is not an anti-psychotic medicine that causes Tardive Dyskinesia as a side effect (given off label to boot! Meaning there is no FDA indication or research supporting its efficacy…)

So what is the harm in trying it? After a while, I think, in order to really problem solve conditions, you HAVE to think outside the box, outside the “standard of care” and go back to the basics…like that childhood game of “Hot and Cold”. Are we getting warmer or getting colder? Maybe there isn’t a name for what is wrong with you, so let’s instead play a game to find out what makes it better and what makes it worse.

Ok…then let’s avoid the things that make it worse and only do the things that make it better.

Sorry is that too simple?

Sometimes I think that a preschooler would make the best doctor. We have over-complicated medicine to the point that doctors are so stressed out that half the time they cannot even think clearly or freely. We need our palm pilots and our Merck Manuals and heaven forbid that the internet is down and I can’t look stuff up on FP consult or Google it.

What!??!!??

What is that?

The internet is down today?

I have to THINK!!!

Oh the horror!!!

Trust me, I am not poking fun at any particular doctors as I am just as guilty of these mannerisms as the next doctor. I love my PDA and Google is my best friend. I will be the first person to ask you where your double blind randomized controlled trial is to support your treatment choice….

However, do we really need this kind of research for common sense?

If Jenny McCarthy comes in to my office and tells me that her son is better without gluten and casein, instead of acting in shock and disbelief shouldn’t I just rejoice with her that it was as simple as avoiding wheat and dairy? So we make sure her son gets enough fiber, zinc, b vitamins, and calcium somewhere else in their diet while we give it a whirl…why not?

Why must doctors always play the role of the authority figure in the situation? Listen I am happy to step down from my pedestal…I am scared of heights as it is. Why not let the parents play some of this “Hot and Cold?” game. Like the parent’s in the movie “Lorenzo’s Oil” that took curing their son’s rare condition in to their own hands.

If you or your child have a rare disease I highly recommend watching that movie with a BIG box of Kleenex. It may just be the inspiration you need to keep on going, and keep on doing what you are doing.

Now I am not saying that you should ever go against what your doctor says. I am simply suggesting thinking critically for yourself and your family. If something doesn’t feel right, if something doesn’t sound right, then question it.

Participate in your health care, ask questions, keep copies of your own labs, understand when your doctor says “I don’t know,” and allow for that to be an acceptable answer.

Too many doctors think they have to be the know-it-all. Let’s all keep in mind that “I don’t know” is actually a fantastic answer!

Doctors are only human beings, they are not gods (that may be new information to some of my colleagues in Orthopedics…he he.) One of the leading causes of death in America is from “Iatrogenic causes” a fancy way of saying that some medical person seriously messed up and killed you.

Whether you grab the wheel away, or just sit shot gun, whatever you do….don’t take a backseat to your health. Pay attention, take notes, let Jenny McCarthy and her son’s “recovery from autism” remind us that all hope is not lost when the current answer is “I don’t know.”

I believe that for every problem there is a solution it simply is a matter of us taking the time to look for it. Is the treatment that helped Jenny’s son, Evan, going to help your kid? I don’t know….but there is very little harm in trying it when done properly with the guidance of a nutritionist or qualified physician.

Thanks for stopping by my kitchen table,

Dr. Nicole

Related reading:

Autism Awareness Month

Autism: 10 Strategies for Implementing Diet Changes

The Autism Diet Connection

Autism: 10 Tips for Everyone

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Autism: Tara’s Story “My Introduction to Autism”

By Tara McClintick

I’ve always LOVED kids. Unlike most of my friends who weren’t sure what route they wanted to take in life, I was confident in my choice to become an Early Childhood Teacher.

My first post-college position was to teach a preschool class for the County MR/DD program. It was here I was introduced to the diagnosis of “autism.” No one told me about it, I found a list of the symptoms while searching for answers.

Most of the kids in my classroom played and interacted as I expected kids to do. A few of the kids, however, did not play. They did not respond to other people in the usual ways. I was concerned because I knew play and interaction are how kids learn about the world.

Yet, these kids were smart. Little, surprising things they would do demonstrated there was a lot going on in those brains. What was my role as their teacher? Obviously language skills and small motor skills were lacking or far behind, and I wanted to know how to help them. I began seeking any information I could find on the autism.

A Teacher Becomes “Mom” After three years of teaching, I began having my own kids. I have been blessed with two boys –Derek and Jake. Both of my pregnancies went smoothly right up to the delivery. Jake, in fact, was an all natural child birth –as he was born 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital.

Despite my begging for an epidural, there wasn’t time! Jake was 8 lbs. 10 oz, so compared to Derek’s 6 lbs.9 oz, he was quite the solid baby. Derek was born 2 weeks before due date, Jake was 2 days before due date.

Especially with my first child, Derek, I was naively shocked at the intensity of the 24 hour care and millions of parental decisions involved. Like every parent, I wanted to do everything right! So, we got all the immunizations right on schedule. I breastfed both kids their entire first year.

I decided to post-pone teaching a while and do child care in my home. To prepare myself for returning to teaching I began working on my Master’s degree in Special Ed. one evening class at a time. My hope was to learn how to be a better teacher for the kids diagnosed with autism.

The Miracle of Child Development Taking care of babies and preschoolers at home could be quite chaotic at moments, but I loved it. It was fascinating to hear new words popping out, watch new skills develop, and watch those curious eyes and hands explore the world brand-new. Derek’s development was like magic. By 2 he was extremely verbal, and quite the drama child. He literally thought himself as “the king” at times and would demand control, “I do SELF!! I do SELF!!”

Jake’s development also moved along nicely up until slightly past his first year. The only concerns I had were oozing red sores on his cheeks that the doctor called “eczema” or “extremely dry skin.” Ok. Why would he just have extremely dry skin on his cheeks? He also had chronic ear infections. Go to the doctor, antibiotic, infection clears up, a week later after stopping the medicine the infection comes back.

They were pretty constant. I figured that I was being a good mom by doing what the doctor told me to do. You hear about kids getting chronic ear infections all the time, so it didn’t seem alarming in my mind. I had no idea how antibiotics could damage the digestive system.

Later I read that a milk allergy could cause eczema, so I took dairy out of my diet. Jake’s eczema cleared right up. Despite these seemingly minor annoyances, he was walking at 10 months just like his brother did. He seemed aware, active, good-natured, and I was deeply in love with him. He loved his mommy right back.

Jake’s cuteness was undeniable, and our entire family was excited about watching every little step of his development. By one year he was saying single words, keenly observing his big brother’s every move, and playing chase games with another toddler I was caring for at the time.

Hearing the Alarm At 15 months, Jake got his MMR vaccine. The changes came in like the tide. Except unlike the tide, they stayed put.

First I noticed he started constantly leaving the activities of kids I cared for and going off by himself. He’d either look at books alone or pace back and forth. He let me read him books, but any amount of chaos or rambunctiousness from the other kids –he was off by himself again.

The words he was using seem to fade away too. Once he excitedly stood up in his high chair, and was holding out his bib which had a picture of a Christmas tree on it. He struggled to comment “tttrrrEEEeeeee.” He had my full attention, and I remember reassuring him, “That’s right, Jake, that’s a Christmas tree.” He continued to try to say “tree” over and over. It kept coming out in various distorted ways. He sat back down with a defeated look on his face.

Another evening he took my hand and toddled to the fridge with me, and we opened the door. “What you want Jakey?” I asked him. He looked at me, opened his mouth, and jerked his arms wildly. No sounds came out of his mouth. He did this a couple more times, then got the most confused look on his little face, and wandered off. I remember saying to my husband, “it’s like he’s trying to talk, but the words are getting lost in there.”

What’s Going On? Jake became more and more unresponsive. I remember one day watching him pace in his room, totally unaware of my existence anymore. I stood and watched him for a long time. In frustration and fear, I began screaming his name. Not a flinch. Not a glance. It was as if he didn’t even hear me. Thus began my journey for seeking answers that continues to this day….

Jake is 13 years old now. He is nothing less than a miraculous gift in my life. I have learned so much about this condition called autism, more generally known as PDD –Pervasive Development Disorder. It is indeed, pervasive. It effects not only every area of a child’s development, but every level of society in profound ways.

How we live, how we learn, how we treat each other, and what we do daily is shaping the future of our world. It is up to society to open our hearts to what these lives can teach us. The impact each one of us has is significant, whether we know it or not.

The aim right now seems to be to help (or even try to force) these kids to adapt to the real world. What doesn’t make sense is - these kids are our real world now. Why can’t we adapt to them? There are so many things we can all learn from the condition of autism. So many ways we can change for the better. These kids may be here to help us. We may need their help, as much as they need ours.

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”

- Marian Wright Edelman

Related reading:

Autism Awareness Month

Autism: 10 Strategies for Implementing Diet Changes

The Autism Diet Connection

Autism: 10 Tips for Everyone

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Autism: A Brain Under Attack

By Dr. Scott Olson

While the number of children with autism continues to climb, the reason for this devastating disease has remained a mystery.

A central mechanism (or a theory that explains the entire disease) has been elusive, but Russell Blaylock MD, author of Excitotoxins, has recently authored scientific articles that support the notion that autism may be the result of chronic microglial activation.

What exactly is chronic microglial activation? Let’s take a look.

What is in Your Head?

If you were to ask someone what their brains are made out of, their most likely answer would be to say that their brains are made out of nerves. This, it turns out, is not true.

Saying that the brains are made up of nerves is a little like saying that the universe is full of stars (ignoring the immensity of space that surrounds those stars). The trap is obvious: Stars are bright and interesting, and we tend to focus on them because they are shiny; the rest (we assume) is just empty space.

The same has been true of our brains: Nerves only make up 10 percent of the brain, yet have commanded all our attention. While the nerves are interesting and easy to see (just like the stars), it is the other 90 percent of the brain (mostly filled with cells called glial cells) that play a vital role in the brain functioning and development.

Understanding glial cells and how they react to conditions in our environment has lead Dr. Blaylock to his unified theory of brain destruction in general, and specifically to why the brains of autistic patients don’t work well.

Glia Cells

Glia or glial cells make up 90 percent of the brain. The term “glia,” is derived from the Greek word for glue and was coined by Rudolph Virchow, a Polish scientist, who observed the glial cells held the brain together. For many years, these glial cells were thought to be inert and non-functioning; they were simply thought to be the putty holding the whole messy tangle of nerves together in the brain.

In recent years, though, scientists have begun to sit up and notice the glial cells, and – in particular for those interested in autism – the microglial cells.

The microglial cells are a unique type of brain cell that make up 20 percent of the glial cells (or 15 percent of the entire brain mass). These microglial cells act as the immune system for the brain and this is important because when these microglial cells become chronically activated, the end result is destruction of brain cells.

Activated Microglial Cells

Normally the microglial cells are just sitting there in a passive mode, ready to protect the brain. In certain cases, though, these cells go crazy and become “activated.” When microglial cells become activated, it spells disaster for a brain, notably for developing brains.

When microglial cells become active, especially when they become chronically activated, they dump neurotoxins (or nerve toxins) into the brain. These toxins called excitotoxins (mostly glutamate and quinolinic acid) excite nerves to fire. When microglial cells continuously dump glutamate and quinolinic acid into the brain, the result – over the long term – is nerve cell death.

The blessing and problem with human brains is that they develop over a long period of time. The brain begins developing in the womb and continues largely until the child is around four years old. While this type of brain development has its advantages (it may be why we are as smart as we are), is also means that there are almost five years when childrens brains especially need to be protected from attack from excitotoxins.

Excitotoxins

The question that is probably running around in your head by now is how do you stop these excitotoxins?

Good question.

To understand how to stop excitotoxins from harming the brain, you have to take a detour to a scientific lab where excitotoxins were discovered. In 1969, John Olney, a scientist, discovered that the brains of experimental animals could be destroyed by giving them monosodium glutamate or MSG during key stages in development.

There are two things you should notice about what Olney discovered. The first is that monosodium glutamate is a substance that contains the exact same chemical (glutamate, an excitotoxin) that the microglial cells secrete when they become chronically activated.

The second thing you want to notice is that MSG is a food additive.

Now you can understand that there are two ways that brains can be destroyed by excitotoxins. The first is that excitotoxins can show up in our environment (in the foods we eat, the chemicals we are exposed to, the air we breathe…) and the second is excitotoxins can be released by chronically stimulating microglial cells.

These two ways, while different, are actually closely related. Many toxins in our environment can actually stimulate the microglial cells to become “primed” or ready for activation or act directly as excitotoxins.

Excitotoxicity

The toxins that tend to lead to chronic microglial activation or act as excitotoxins directly are these:
• Mercury: Mercury, a heavy metal, gets special mention because not only has it shown up in vaccines, but it is also used in dentistry, and is present in some foods (mainly fish and seafood).
• Other Heavy metals: fluoride, lead, cadmium, and aluminum and others.
• Gluten: a protein found in wheat and other grains.
• Casein: a protein found in milk products.
• Food Additives: The food additives that cause the most problems are those that contain glutamate and aspartate.

There are also some thoughts that gut dysbiosis may also lead to microglial activation. Gut dysbiosis is a general term for an imbalanced gut ecology and is often marked by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida.

What to do?

The simply answer is to protect our children’s brains for chemical and environmental insults.
• Avoid vaccinations: I know this is controversial and many people won’t agree, but there are many unknowns about the long-term health of children taking so many vaccinations. The upsurge in autism occurred somewhere in the 1990s, which coincided with an increase in the number of vaccines our children are receiving (the number of suggested vaccines increased from 10 to around 36).

You have two strategies if you don’t want to avoid vaccines altogether. The first is to wait until children are older; this allows their brains and immune systems to develop more before introducing vaccines. The other strategy is to pick-and-choose; you don’t have to have every vaccination, despite what some authorities are suggesting.

• Avoid food additives: While you might think it is easy to avoid MSG, it is not. MSG, or something like it, can be found it almost every prepared food you eat (notice I didn’t say all the food you eat, but almost every prepared food you eat). The foods with the most MSG-like food additives are soups, gravies, diet anything, including diet soft drinks, most frozen foods, sauces, salad dressing, and more. These food additives have names such as yeast extract, textured protein, soy protein extract, MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vegetable protein, sodium or calcium caseinate and more. And, yes, these food additives show up in baby food as well. If you pick up a package and it has more than four ingredients, set it down and move to the next one.

• Avoid artificial sweeteners: NutraSweet® and Equal® contain aspartate (an excitotoxin) and should be avoided. Other artificial sweeteners are just as bad for your health and the health of our children.

• Keep your house clean: It goes without saying that you should avoid as many chemicals as possible and the house is a major source of many toxic exposures. There are many natural solutions to using chemical cleaners in your home.

Most of what I have suggested is for people who want to avoid the damage done by excitotoxins and is a good preventative. If you child already has autism, then following the above suggestions are likely to help, although some damage may be irreversible. Reports on the removal of gluten and dairy from the diet are encouraging, but need more study. A gluten and dairy free diet is certainly worth a trial to determine if dietary interventions will help.

Works consulted:

1. Millward C, Ferriter M, Calver S, Connell-Jones G. Gluten- and casein-free diets for autistic spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD003498.
2. Blaylock RL. A possible central mechanism in autism spectrum disorders, part 3: the role of excitotoxin food additives and the synergistic effects of other environmental toxins. Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Mar-Apr;15(2):56-60.
3. Blaylock RL. A possible central mechanism in autism spectrum disorders, part 2: immunoexcitotoxicity. Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Jan-Feb;15(1):60-7.
4. Blaylock RL. A possible central mechanism in autism spectrum disorders, part 1. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Nov-Dec;14(6):46-53.
5. Whitehouse CR, Boullata J, McCauley LA. The potential toxicity of artificial sweeteners. AAOHN J. 2008 Jun;56(6):251-9; quiz 260-1.

Related reading:

Autism Awareness Month

Autism: 10 Strategies for Implementing Diet Changes

The Autism Diet Connection

Autism: 10 Tips for Everyone

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Autism Awareness Month

By Trécera Lee

April is Autism Awareness Month.

Sad that we have to have special “days” in order for the world to recognize that autism is EVERYWHERE!

Today, I’m asking, “What do YOU want the world to know about autism?”

What information are you willing to share in the hope that others may learn from you?

It can be:

• How do you feel about autism?

• How do you feel your child is affected?

• How is your family/life affected?

• Struggles of autism?

• Joys of autism?

• ANYTHING

Here’s what I want the world to know: Read more

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Naturopathic Medicine Series Airs Tonight on PBS! April 8th

Press Release: For Immediate Release

On April 8, 2009 the country’s first series on naturopathic medicine will air on southern California’s KOCE, the sixth-largest PBS station in the country.

Produced by the award-winning American Health Journal in conjunction with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), the series will educate the public about the practices and philosophy of naturopathic medicine.

“The public is hungry for a system of health care that is patient-centered, wellness focused, cost-effective, and which uses natural remedies without side effects,” said Karen Howard, AANP’s Executive Director. “Naturopathic medicine is what the public wants and needs. We’re excited about this opportunity to educate the public about naturopathic medicine.”

The program will cover a broad range of topics, including the training and education of naturopathic physicians, environmental health and cancer, naturopathic approaches to chronic disease, family medicine, preventing heart disease and diabetes, mental health, allergies, and chronic pain.

The six-part series (with a seventh “best of” episode) will begin airing April 8, 2009.

Naturopathic physicians combine the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science. Steeped in traditional healing methods, principles and practices, naturopathic medicine focuses on holistic, proactive prevention and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Naturopathic medicine embraces the medical oath “first do no harm.”

By using protocols that minimize the risk of harm, naturopathic physicians help facilitate the body’s inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health. It is the naturopathic physician’s role to identify and remove barriers to good health by helping to create a healing internal and external environment.

Currently, 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, postgraduate naturopathic medical school and to pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license.

Please Repost this Press Release to Your Website or Newsletter

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Depression Tip: Mark Your Calendar

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

Did you take your anti-depressant today?

Did you take it yesterday and the day before that?

Can you even remember?

Depression can create such a fog that we can’t remember what we did yesterday, let alone if we took our anti-depressant.

Oftentimes patients are having unnecessary mood swings because they either:

A. Are so depressed they can’t even take it for whatever reason.

Or

B. “I’m feeling better, so I just take it when I feel like I need it.”

Now both of these scenarios can be improved upon with a little organization. Let’s mark our calenders!

First of all, if you fall in category A, you need to talk to your doctor about a more aggressive treatment plan. If you fall in to category B, you need to remember that regardless if you are taking natural or prescription meds for depression, that overall you will feel better with consistency, and consistency means marking the calendar and taking the prescribed supplements or drugs DAILY.

The problem with this inconsistent paradigm of thinking is that most antidepressants have a half life of several days, so they tend to stay in your system even if you aren’t taking them. If you feel fine one day and decide to skip it, it this choice likely won’t have a significant impact until the drug cycles out of your system several days later, when you are depressed, taking your anti-depressant, and waiting for it to “kick in” again.

If you are feeling better, you can talk to your doctor about decreasing your prescription meds. Maybe you just need a half dose. Or maybe it is time to titrate off them and try some natural medicines for depression as I discussed in my article “The Nine Best Natural Medicines for Depression” to help provide simple depression prevention, aka daily maintenance.

St.John’s Wort was shown to be just as efficacious as standard anti-depressants, yet with fewer side effects (be cautious when combining with MANY prescription drugs though, as the drug metabolizes them at a faster rate…esp birth control pills, be careful unless you want to name your kid John.)

I know you are depressed, so give yourself a sticker for sticking to your regime consistently, everything feels like a chore when depressed.

Mark it on the calendar, or find your own system, but by all means make sure you are taking a second to keep track of your depression meds. The best way to stay out of the hole is to make sure there is not a hole in your preventive plan for depression.

Read More: Depression Category.

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Brand New! Cranberry Orange Zing Bars

Just thought I would give a shout out for my favorite whole food Zing Bars.

I was at a conference this weekend and had the opportunity to try the latest cran-orange flavor and it is fabulous!

As an athlete, I appreciate some non-chocolate flavored bars and am happy to see this new one. The new cranberry orange flavor is absolutely delicious. If you are concerned with food allergies, here are the ingredients:

INGREDIENTS: Rice Protein Concentrate, Cranberries (with Apple Juice Concentrate and Sunflower Oil), Organic Agave Syrup, Organic Raw Cashew Butter, Cashews (with canola oil and sea salt), Fruitrim(R) (Fruit Juices, Natural Gluten Free Dextrins), Organic Brown Rice Crisp (Organic Brown Rice, Sea Salt, Organic Brown Rice Syrup), Inulin (from Chicory Root), Brown Rice Flour, Vanilla Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Vitamin E), Organic Orange Oil.

Allergens: Cashews (tree nuts).

However the bars are designed to be hypoallergenic and are high protein, vegan, as well as gluten, soy, and dairy free, so an excellent choice for athletes with sensitive stomachs!

For more information visit www.ZingBars.com!

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Salmonella Outbreak: The Soil and Seed Model of Medicine

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

With all the FDA warning notices flooding my email box about the FDA recalling this product and that product for possible salmonella contamination, I am reminded of Stephen Paget’s wonderful theory in nature cure medicine called “Soil and Seed.”

The theory is that if the soil is not fertile, the seed will not plant.

Anyone who has spent some time in a microbiology lab knows that certain organisms thrive on certain mediums, while other organisms will die in that same petrie dish setting.

When we keep our bodies healthy, we become that petrie dish that only good bacteria should flourish in.

Typically, we think of fertile soil as something healthy but in the case of the seed and soil model, salmonella would be the “seed” and the fertile soil for it to flourish in would be an unhealthy body.

Think about it - why do some people get sick with salmonella and others don’t, even when we have an outbreak of such proportions that I get an hourly email from the FDA about the latest peanut product to avoid?

It all boils down to seed and soil, really.

Straight from the FDA.gov site, “Salmonella is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more serious illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.”

Sure there are microorganisms such as Shigella sonei that will make just about anyone deathly sick if they ingest just ten of them, but for the most part, if we maintain a healthy diet full of whole foods, fruits and veggies, a positive mental attitude, exercise and other healthy lifestyle choices our “soil” suddenly becomes much less “fertile” to the latest proverbial nasty germ or “seed” such as in this Salmonella outbreak case.

Actually many germs such as acidophilus are the kinds of seeds that should grow in our so called “soil,” and make our soil less optimal for pathogenic organisms such as salmonella.

Think of acidophilus vs salmonella as good cops vs bad cops. Whenever you travel, take probiotics such as Sach boulardii before, during, and after. Nothing ruins your vacation like a bad case of diarrhea.

On one of our trips to Hawaii, I was the only one not to get really sick from the rotavirus, and I was the only one eating yogurt every day. Yogurt and other cultured foods such as Kim Chee, Sauerkraut and Kefir are excellent sources of these friendly flora, aka probiotics, the good cops.

It is all about the seed and soil when it comes to salmonella for the most part.

Thanks for stopping by my kitchen table,

Dr. Nicole

Related Reading:
What is acidophilus
The Five Best Brands of Acidophilus
Preventing Traveler’s Diarrhea with S. Boulardii

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Why Pomegranate Juice is Wonderful

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

When the Pomwonderful people asked me if they could send me some of their juice to taste and report on, I was thrilled because I am already a huge fan, as I mentioned in my articles on “How to Make Your Own Sports Drinks” and “Healthy Herbal Cocktails.”

Plus all my readers know how I shamelessly love free stuff.

Heck even Oprah loves free stuff.

Although I don’t typically recommend any juice in lieu of whole fruits, a few juices such as pure pomegranate, blueberry, and cranberry and such are my exceptions to that rule.

The reason is that they are magical juices chock full of antioxidants. Now, be sure to read the labels and make sure they are PURE and not diluted with apple juice or grape juice, or even worse, the evil High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Pomwonderful is 100% pomegranate juice and thus does not contain the evil HFCS.

As I discussed in my article, “Trifecta of Red Wine, Tea, and Chocolate Shown to Improve Cognitive Function in the Elderly,” we need as many flavonoids in our diets as possible because these antioxidants fight the daily damage caused by free radicals that age us.

Although I was aware that pomegranates were a potent inhibitor of cardiovascular disease and a therapeutic food for gingivitis through its antioxidant mechanism (more potent than red wine or green tea according to the ORAC). After reading the literature, I learned that it also is important in prostate health and erectile dysfunction.

Antioxidants are the key to men’s health as I stated in my diatribe, “Chocolate Chips Better than Viagra?” The key to preventing disease is drinking pomegranate juice, and eating a diet rich in whole foods and other antioxidants.

When I asked my “normie tester” aka “normal person that doesn’t typically like ‘Bastyr Fear Factor’ healthy stuff I eat”, to taste the juice for me he said, “It tasted healthy and refreshing, but still had some sweetness to it. It didn’t have that “bitter” taste to it that other pure juices sometimes have. The bottle could be bigger though.”

I informed him that eight ounces was the therapeutic dose stated in the research trials was all he needed daily to prevent cardiovascular disease, prostate problems, and erectile dysfunction he said, “Give me 16 ounces a day!”

Try my PomWonderful challenge: 30 days of 8 oz of pomegranate juice daily and let me know how you feel.

PomWonderful is the only juice company that has invested $25 million in medical research. You may find the juice to be a bit expensive but it is really worth every cent. And if you are already paying $40 a bottle for Mangosteen Juice, you should switch to Pomegranate or blueberry to save you money.

They actually make a pomegranate blueberry blend that is my personal fav.

My only complaint with Pomwonderful is that I can’t seem to find the green tea/pomegranate juice glass jars anywhere anymore and those make for the best travel jars for hot beverages, soups, and such.

My mom even came over and said, “Where did you get these great glasses?” And I replied, “Free with my Pomwonderful Iced tea!”

Pomwonderful juice is available in nearly every grocery store, and if you are looking for the fountain of youth I suggest you pick some up. This is one of my favorite healthy indulgences to recommend! It is 150 calories per 8 oz so keep in mind that this healthy “vice” doesn’t come without calories, but in my weight loss lifestyle plan I use it as the rewarding healthy indulgence that it is.

For more information about the research discussed visit: Pomwonderful.com
If you have a healthy product you would like me to taste and report on please contact us to make arrangements.

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Parental Alienation

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

I am sure that many of us have witnessed parental alienation first-hand, and it wasn’t until Dr. Phil’s expert labeled it as “child abuse” did I realize it is my obligation to be a “mandated reporter” when I witness an ugly divorce battle between two parents.

Much of what I do as a naturopath is counsel and work to “undo” that which happened during a divorce or other childhood trauma.

Recently, I have been following the story of David Goldman, a man who has been estranged from his son for the past four years, and it got me thinking about the core wound that parental alienation can create in a child.

Children experience the world much differently than adults do, and I would like to invite all parents to consider how important it is to allow both parents be involved in the child’s life, regardless of whether he is a “worthless bum” or she is a “cheating lying witch.” Really, I have heard it all. Divorce is tough enough but the delicate emotions of the children should always be the prime directive.

Nothing makes me more sick to my stomach than parental alienation. This is when one parent uses the court system to push another parent out of that child’s life in an ugly custody situation. Occasionally these acts are necessary and done out of safety, but mostly they are done by one parent, whether consciously or unconsciously, to punish the other parent for cheating, giving up on the marriage, or whatever other reason.

Taking a child away from their parent is the cruelest of punishments of course, but who is suffering the most? The child. The child is suffering, and parental alienation without good cause is emotional child abuse.

If you are doing this, or if you see someone doing this, what you are witnessing is, technically, child abuse. Physicians and teachers are “mandated reporters” which means that it is our duty to report child abuse to CPS when we see it happening.

Of course it is always best to try to talk to the parent that is instigating the alienation first, if possible. But if you don’t feel comfortable doing that then you should make a call to CPS so that your information can be added to the court’s custody decisions. Many states automatically favor the mother and give fathers little to no rights. Being a parent is more than just one Wednesday a week and every other weekend.

The court may set the schedule, but the real decision should be made by your own children. If they need more time with a specific parent then that is what they should get. A child’s mind sees parental alienation as abandonment. “My daddy left me, he doesn’t love me or care about me,” is the typical thought process of the alienated child.

After working with kids and babies for eight years, my advice for new parents when asked is always the same thing, “this baby was born perfect and you are going to mess it up. Every parent messes up. Sometimes trying too hard to be such a perfect parent messes your kid up more than anything, so just relax and enjoy the process.”

But, parental alienation is a preventable mistake. If you are doing it, if you see a friend or family doing it, try to talk some reason in to them. If there are concerns about the parent and they are under investigation, or a restraining order is present, then the visitation can and should still be conducted supervised. The child should be allowed to see the estranged parent at least twice a week, or as often as they need.

If a child is being beaten or sexually molested, they should of course be alienated from the abusive parent; however, a child needs both a mom and a dad if not “a village,” in order to be healthy, and I can guarantee that the worst thing you can ever do to a child is alienate it from either it’s mother or father.

I don’t care how crappy a parent they are. I don’t care if they are a “useless unemployed alcoholic bum,”all parents are perfect in their child’s eyes (well until they become teens.) The interesting psychological aspect of parental alienation is that the child notoriously bonds with the parent they were alienated from and secretly holds a grudge or becomes estranged from the parent that did the alienating. Karmic retribution perhaps.

We need to always be thinking about what is best for our kids, not for ourselves.

Sorry, tough love today, maybe some of you don’t want to hear this from me, but children everywhere are being abused by our court system and all I can do is speak up and encourage parents to open their hearts to what is the absolute best thing for their children.

For more information on parental alienation visit: DivorceSource.com

~Dr. Nicole

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Pesticides: The New Dirty Dozen

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

There is a new dirty dozen out by the Environemental Working Group.

Check out the top 12 dirtiest most pesticide ridden foods we should buy organic and the “Clean Fifteen” that we don’t have to worry about so much.

Although we should always take a spin around the organic foods section even if we are on a budget, it is nice to know what foods are safe to eat non-organic.

Still organic foods are not always pricier than the pesticide grown alternatives. Pesticide free is good for the environment as well as our health.

I know everyone is strapped during these tough economic times, but remember that your money counts as ballots and the more you spend on organic, the more you support organic farmers, and the cheaper organic food will inevitably become, if not the standard.

And along with everyone else, organic farmers are likely suffering more than anyone because no one can afford pricier food.

Stop by http://www.foodnews.org/ to download the latest guide. And if you make a donation to the efforts of this group of scientists who are independently working to tell us what the FDA, and EPA won’t…you get a groovy magnet of the Dirty Dozen to put on your fridge.

You can download the guide for free.

Or just bookmark this page!

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

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