As most of you know, since GetzWell’s inception Dr. Getzelman has generally discouraged the use of Tylenol/acetaminophen, as even a single dose may deplete glutathione, “the mother of all antioxidants” in the body.

     While only anecdotal, the number of children in the GetzWell practice diagnosed with asthma is less than 0.5%, which is substantially below local and national averages that exceed 9%.

     In many (if not most) pediatric practices it’s been the norm to premedicate infants and children with acetaminophen before administering immunizations. At GetzWell, we have never supported the routine use of Tylenol before, or even after, vaccinations. In the majority of babies, breast milk is protective against post-vaccine fevers (another of breast milk’s myriad benefits!) and there’s solid evidence that Tylenol may blunt the body’s ability to create an adequate immune response to vaccines.

     If you have additional questions about immunizing your child or what to do should your baby/child develop a fever or discomfort, don’t hesitate to give us a call: 826-1701.

A new study reveals that pregnant women with low Vitamin D levels are at risk of having children with developmental language difficulties. This knowledge adds to what we already know about other risks associated with low maternal vitamin D levels, which include intrauterine growth retardation, premature labor, hypertension, low birth weight, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes.

This latest Vitamin D development forces us to re-emphasize something we firmly believe here at GetzWell. It’s called greening the womb, a proactive practice we’ve talked about before with an Intro and a Part 2. (We invite you to read these posts for more information and helpful tips!)

To recap, ‘greening the womb‘ explores the environmental factors that can impact your fertility, as well your baby’s development both before and after birth. To put it simply, it’s about preparing yourself for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby by getting the nutrients that are right for you and by limiting your exposure to harmful toxins.

All of this may sound daunting at first, but once you know what you need and where to start, it becomes less of a process and more of a way of life—-for you and your baby—and we want to partner with you on your journey.

If you are on the path to pregnancy, getting your body in tiptop shape should be your first priority. At GetzWell, we offer prenatal nutrition and ‘greening the womb’ consultations for pregnant women and as well as couples who want to become pregnant.

We’ll take a look at every aspect of you—nutritional needs, toxic exposures, sources of stress, prenatal/perinatal psychology, family health history, exercise, etc.—to make easy-to-follow recommendations that can impact your child’s health for a lifetime.

It’s really amazing what healthful advantages you can give your child before they’re even conceived!

If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, please contact us at GetzWell to schedule your consultation: 415.826.1701 or info@getzwell.com.

What’s frightening is that PFCs are found in everyday household items including nonstick cookware, food packaging, and fabrics. They can even be passed from mother to child through breast milk.

What does this mean for your child’s health?

We are exposed to chemicals all the time and have been since birth. Some are natural. Some synthetic. As explained by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the help of biomonitoring, we can measure the amount of chemical toxins that exist in our bodies. This measurement is known as a person’s “body burden”.

Exposure to harmful toxins like PFCs can increase a child’s body burden, which can impair his or her immune system. The higher the burden level, the more susceptible your child is to disease. This link between PFCs and vaccinations also boosts concerns about the role toxins might play in developmental problems. Although research is still underway in this area, we can’t be too careful.

Take action: Decrease your child’s body burden.

Studies like the PFC findings are calls to action. We’re fortunate to have the opportunity to try to limit our exposure to harmful chemicals. Of course it’s impossible to avoid toxins altogether, but here are some precautionary measures you can take:

• Go organic!  Choose organic produce, meat and dairy products. (Read our past post for more on choosing an organic diet).
• Get clean!  Use environmentally-friendly cleaning/hygiene products, like Seventh Generation.
• Go green!  Say no to harmful pesticides and choose safe alternatives (Click here to for more on pesticides and herbicides).

The informed choices you make really can help your child sustain a healthy immune system. For more information on making your home and life environmentally-friendly, give us a call at 415.826.1701.

Please also visit Safer Chemicals, Safer Families to learn more about toxic chemical legislation.

With the holidays fast approaching and a brand new year just around the corner, now is as good a time as any to get your household on a healthy track.

Eat healthy this during the holidays without missing out.

We understand that holiday traditions are important, and that there are certain not-so-healthy dishes you and your family simply can’t live without. Good news, you don’t have to. There are many ways you can have your festive cake and eat it too. For instance, here are some helpful tips from the Mayo Clinic on how to modify traditional recipes with healthy ingredients. You can also pack in additional vitamins and nutrients by sneaking in pureed vegetables. Click here to learn how.

Another great way to ensure that you and your family stay holiday healthy is to choose organic fruits and vegetables for every dish you make. Also, if you can, make sure the meat you buy comes from an organic farm. As we covered previously, organic farming methods can make all the difference to you and your child’s health.

If you’re in the mood to start new healthy holiday traditions, check out this collection of delicious organic food recipes from Organic Authority.

Make your 2012 resolution a healthy one.

Don’t let leave these tips behind–bring them with you into the New Year! Resolve to make more informed choices about what your child eats, and create a healthy household by making organic meals at home. After all, establishing a nutritious diet early on will set your child up for a lifetime of healthy eating for many New Years to come.

From all of us at Getzwell Pediatrics, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!

Please call us at 415.826.1701 to discuss how to improve your family’s health through eating healthy and other preventive strategies we specialize in.

How does genetic engineering impact our food?

To put it plainly, genetically engineered (GE) foods, aka Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), are produced by using biotechnology to change the DNA of plants and animals by adding genes that are meant to accelerate and modify physical growth. Other ways our food becomes genetically altered is by overexposing crops to harmful pesticides and herbicides, and also by injecting animals with growth hormones.

As we pointed out last time, an obvious sign of genetic alteration is the antibiotic-resistant superbugs produced from over treating animals with antibiotics. And recent studies reveal an increase in super weeds, weeds that have grown resistant to commonly used herbicides and pesticides. In reaction, farmers are forced to use even more herbicides to combat the resistant weeds.

Extensive research reveals that harmful bacteria, chemicals and hormones are present in our food supply. Just Label It, an organization petitioning for the mandatory labeling of GE foods, estimates “…that 60%-70% of processed foods in U.S. grocery stores likely contain some GE material.”

What health risks does GE food pose to your child?

According to an excellent article in KIWI Magazine, Jeffrey Smith, author of Genetic Roulette, asserts that GMOs may greatly increase a child’s susceptibility to food allergies and autoimmune disorders because of children’s rapid growth and vulnerable immune systems. Children (compared to adults) are also likely to consume more GE foods like, corn and soy-based products, which puts them at even greater risk.

The author even touches on studies concerning babies who suffered negative reactions to breast milk. The possibility of a mother passing along GE molecules through her break milk is not a far-fetched concept, having recently reported on how what you eat greatly impacts your baby’s dietary tastes.

With ongoing research consistently drawing connections between diet and well-being, it is difficult to deny that we are only as healthy as the quality of food we put into our bodies. Additionally, the rise of superbugs and super weeds and the steep increase in childhood diagnoses like asthma, allergies and even autism makes it nearly impossible to turn a blind eye  to the potential dangers of genetically modified food.

How do you really know what you’re eating?

Maintaining a healthy diet for your child isn’t about filling them full of just any old fruits and vegetables. Knowing where your food comes from and how it is produced is critical.

The tricky thing about GMOs is that you don’t always know that you’re buying them, and the terms used on labels can be misleading. This is why organizations like Just Label It are fighting to have all GE foods labeled for accurate identification. A report from the Environmental Working Group helps to clarify some of the terms distributors use to promote sales, rather than awareness:

•            “Free range” doesn’t always mean animals were allowed to roam about freely

•            “Organic” = 95% of the ingredients are organic

•            “Made with organic ingredients” =  70% of the ingredients are organic

•            “100 percent organic” = must entirely contain organic ingredients

How can you protect your child from GMOs?

As KIWI Magazine details, there are ways you can limit your child’s exposure to GMOs.  Choose foods that are labeled as “100 percent organic”, “GMO-free”, and “USDA-certified organic.” You can also buy local; get to know organic farmers in your region to ensure you know where your food is coming from.

Overall, knowledge is the key. Stay up to date on the foods that are safe for you and your children to eat. Check out The True Food Shopper’s Guide to Avoiding GMOs published for FREE by the Center for Food Safety.

Please call us at 415.826.1701 to learn more about how to keep your child and family healthy.

Barker, D.J.P. “Fetal Origins of Coronary Heart Disease.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2550226/pdf/bmj00601-0037.pdf

Giscombe, C. L. & Lobel, M. (2005). Explaining disproportionately high rates of adverse birth outcomes among African-Americans: The impact of stress, racism, and related factors in pregnancy. Psychological Bulletin, 131(5), 662-683. Retrieved from PubMed database.

Glynn, L. M., Hobel, C. J., Sandman, C. A., Schetter, C. D. (2008). Pattern of perceived stress and anxiety in pregnancy predicts preterm birth. Health Psychology, 27(1), 43-51. Retrieved from PubMed database.

PVC shower curtains:  http://www.chej.org/showercurtainreport/documents/VV%20national%20final.pdf

Paul, Anne Murphy.  Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives. www.anniemurphypaul.com/

Steingraber, Sandra.  Having Faith, An Ecologist’s Journey To Motherhood. www.steingraber.com

Center for Environmental Health: www.ceh.org

Making Our Milk Safe: www.safemilk.org

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: www.safecosmetics.org

Physicians for Social Responsibility[SF chapter]: www.sfbaypsr.org

Breast Cancer Fund: www.breastcancerfund.org

Pesticide Action Network: www.panna.org

Childbirth Connection: www.childbirthconnection.org

Children’s Environmental Health Network: www.cehn.org

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services: www.motherfriendly.org

Collaborative on Health and the Environment: www.healthandenvironment.org

TEDx The Endocrine Disruption Exchange: www.endocrinedisruption.com

Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org

Healthy Child Healthy World: www.healthychild.org

Natural Resources Defense Council: www.nrdc.org/breastmilk

Science and Environmental Health Network: www.sehn.org

Sandra Steingraber: www.steingraber.com

UCSF Report: Shaping Our Legacy: www.prhe.ucsf.edu/prhe/pubs/shapingourlegacy.pdf

Women to Women Discussion on Endocrine Disruptors: www.womentowomen.com/detoxification/endocrinedisruptors.aspx

Washington Toxics Coalition’s Early Exposure Study: www.watoxics.org/publications/earliest-exposures

Dr. Mark Hyman: www.drhyman.com

Institute for Functional Medicine: www.functionalmedicine.org

** A special thanks to EcoBirth for helping to compile resource links! **

For those who have been following GetzWell’s Facebook posts, you know we have been delving more deeply into how human health is inextricably linked to the health of our food supply and the sustainability of our planet.  As Dr. Hyman tells us, “The ecology of eating — the importance of what you put on your fork — has never been more critical to our survival as a nation or as a species.”  I couldn’t agree more.

Let’s harness the power of our forks and “vote” by purchasing local, sustainable and organic food whenever possible.  The “extraordinary thing is that we have the ability to move large corporations and create social change by our collective choices,” says Dr. Hyman.

In Health,

Julia Getzelman, MD

Over the last fifty years, increasing numbers of children in the US and other developed countries have been diagnosed with asthma, diabetes, obesity, autism and many other health conditions that were once rare in children.  The typical medical explanation for this trend has been that our genetic make up, lifestyle choices and environmental exposures after we are born are the principal contributors.  However, recent research provides significant evidence that the intrauterine milieu and our 9 months of fetal life play a vital role in determining an individual’s lifelong health.

Recognizing the impact of this research and the importance of the fetal environment, many parents-to-be want to know what steps they can take during pregnancy to optimize both the physical and emotional well being of their baby.

Studies have demonstrated the “power of your plate” in pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of prenatal nutrition.  For example, women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy tend to have heavier toddlers, and lower birth weight babies have an increased risk of diabetes in adulthood.(2)  In addition, exposure to pesticides, antibiotics and hormones (used to grow animal and plant foods), and bisphenol-A (from canned foods) may disrupt the developing endocrine and immune systems of babies.

A recent study involving public health data derived from more than 650,000 children born in California from 1992 – 2002 suggests that the closer two siblings are born together, the higher the risk for autism in the second child.  The data showed that siblings born fewer than 12 months after the first child are much more likely to develop autism compared to those born 25 or more months after the first baby.(3)  A likely explanation is maternal nutrition and fatty acid deficiencies as a result of the first pregnancy.

Scientists are also exploring the possibility that conditions in utero not only impact the physical health of the fetus but also emotional and mental well being.  Catherine Monk, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, reports that even before birth a mother’s moods may affect her child’s development.  There are measurable signs of stress in the fetuses of women who are depressed or anxious during pregnancy.  In addition, there have been increased rates of premature delivery and low birth weight among babies born to depressed women, suggesting there are links between a mother’s mood and an infant’s sensitivity to stress, and perhaps even temperament, after birth.(4)

Unfortunately, environmental toxins play a significant role in fetal development in today’s world.  As an example, on a daily basis most of us are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pollutants that come from burning fossil fuels, among other things.  Pregnant women pass this chemical to their developing babies, and significant DNA damage due to PAHs has been found in the cord blood of newborns.  PAH pollution during pregnancy is also linked to adverse birth outcomes including low birth weight, premature delivery, and heart malformations.

Although there are many things as we cannot control about our environment, we can and must take proactive steps to reduce toxic exposures, eat wisely and minimize stress during pregnancy.  See Greening the Womb Intro for practical steps you can take to make a difference in your baby’s health.  Additionally, Dr. Getzelman offers prenatal nutrition and greening the womb consultations for pregnant women and couples who want to become pregnant.  Please contact us at GetzWell for additional information and to make an appointment: 415.826.1701 or reception@getzwell.com.

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1. Paul, Annie Murphy. “Time” 4 October 2010: 50-55.

2. Paul, Annie Murphy. “Time” 4 October 2010: 50-55.

3. Cheslack-Postava K. Pediatrics. 2011; doi:10.1542/peds.2010-2371.

4. Paul, Annie Murphy. “Time” 4 October 2010: 50-55.