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.

But, when it comes to incorporating meat into your child’s diet, just how important is it to go with the organic option? The answer to this question is far more serious than you might think.

Conventional farming methods dangerously choose quantity over quality.

Ongoing research reveals that the methods by which animals are bred, housed, and butchered impact the quality of the meat we consume.

Adding to issues of overcrowding and inhumane treatment, conventional farming methods include pumping livestock with antibiotics and medications not just to treat disease but to spur growth.  As a result, according to this Environmental Health News report on poultry farms, overdosing animals with antibiotics leads to the production antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a.k.a. superbugs, which are turning up in packaged meats sold in our grocery stores. Infections caused by new superbugs are dangerous and very difficult to treat because they are impervious to antibiotics.

A serious occurrence of contamination occurred three years ago when tests detected Clostridium difficile, a deadly intestinal germ found in hospitals, in over 40% of meat products in three national grocery chains. Needless to say, consumers of these products unwittingly put their lives at risk.

Also, a review of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book “Eating Animals” mentions an alarming drug industry statistic claiming, “People are prescribed about three million pounds of antibiotics a year. Livestock are fed nearly twenty-eight million pounds…” These alarming figures indicate that the threat of producing and spreading superbugs is sure to increase as conventional farming methods persist.

So, exactly why are organic meats the better option for your child?

In contrast to conventional farming practices, organic farmers produce healthier, non-antibiotic resistant meat by employing methods intended to prevent disease and reduce the need for antibiotics. Examples of these practices include allowing animals to graze and feed in their natural surroundings as well as providing them a balanced organic diet, and ensuring sanitary and humane living conditions, to put it simply.

By choosing organic meats, your baby will avoid exposure to harmful, factory-produced superbugs and the risk of antibiotic resistance. Just as what you eat impacts your child’s health, the same goes for the animals you feed them. The healthier the farming method, the healthier your child will be.

At GetzWell, we’re passionate supporters of going organic as an essential way to arm your child against disease. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of an organic diet you may reach us at 415.826.1701.

We’re all familiar with the old adage ‘you are what you eat’. Well, that’s not all. New studies shed light on just how influenced your baby is by what you eat, too!

This fascinating article from NPR reveals exciting research about how what you eat during your pregnancy can help shape your baby’s taste buds and flavor preferences.

According to Julie Mennella from the Monell Chemical Senses Center, your baby consumes several ounces of amniotic fluid a day, which is flavored by the foods and beverages you ingest. She notes that at about 21 weeks, your baby can actually taste these flavors!

Garlic, vanilla, carrot, anise, and mint are just few examples of the endless flavors your baby can experience in utero.

Expand your baby’s palette before their first bite.

Not only does your baby directly benefit from the nutrients you consume, these studies also indicate that babies develop memories of the flavors they are exposed to prenatally.

As a result, babies whose mothers consume varieties of spices and herbs are likely to prefer these foods and flavors from very early ages. Developing a sophisticated palette before birth can really help set the stage for lifelong healthy eating habits.

The proof really is in the pudding.

We cannot stress enough how important a nutritious diet is to your baby’s overall health. Exposing your child to fresh produce and tasty spices before and after birth really is the first step in preventive health.

To learn more about this topic, check out our previous post on what more you can do to arm your child with a lifetime of healthy eating habits. Additionally, our greening the womb series points out the importance of healthy eating during pregnancy and how it influences your child’s life-long health.

Give us a call and let us help you choose a nutritional plan that’s fit for you and your little one– 415.826.1701.

Just recently I came across this fascinating article “What Does My Baby See?” by Dr. Russell D. Hamer from the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute. Here, Dr. Hamer walks us through the stages of infant eyesight development—from focusing ability to visual acuity—and offers clear-cut answers to these commonly asked questions:

• How Far Can My Baby See?
• How Blurry is Blurry?
• Are Black and White Toys Important For Visual Stimulation?
• When Can My Baby See Colors?
• My Baby’s Eyes Sometimes ‘Cross’ or Don’t Seem To Follow Objects Very Well. Is That Normal?
• When Can My Baby Recognize My Face?

Over the first month or two of life, babies become very interested in facial features and begin to spend significant waking moments studying those around them. They start to smile socially and reciprocate simple expressions and movements of the face (like sticking out their tongue when this is done to them!). New infants during this time also begin to make sing-song like noises that we call “cooing” and will use these sounds when spoken to–very satisfying, indeed, to new parents.

These are the beginnings of babies’ socialization and point out the evolution in their vision and other important early brain changes.

Do you have questions concerning your baby’s vision or development? Give us a call at 415.826.1701.

What is it about breast milk that provides such a boost to babies’ health?  Researchers are still working to answer this question.  We know that newborns take approximately 6 months to develop their immune system, making them incredibly vulnerable to disease.  During the first 10 days of life, a breastfed newborn ingests colostrum, a yellowish fluid known as “first milk,” and breast milk, both of which contain more infection-fighting white cells (also known as leukocytes) per milliliter than there are in the same volume of blood.  Macrophages and neutrophils are types of white blood cells that comprise approximately 90% of the leukocytic load, and their job is to engulf and absorb harmful bacteria.  The remaining 10% of these disease-fighting cells are lymphocytes, primarily T-cells and B-cells, which identify and eliminate invaders while developing antibodies in the newborn.  These lymphocytes produce Secretory IgA, which protect the newborn against environmental exposures and interferon, an antiviral substance.  Mother’s immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM and IgD) are also found in breast milk, and they protect babies from pathogens by coating the superficial layers of the intestines and other mucosal surfaces that serve as points of entry into baby’s body.²

Gut ecology is of special interest to those in the field of functional pediatrics because a healthy gut is typically indicative of over all health.  Research has shown that approximately 75-80% of immune function originates in the gastrointestinal tract.  Breastfed babies receive beneficial bacteria from the bifidus family that produce Gram-positive bacilli in the gut flora and discourage the multiplication of pathogens.  In contrast, babies who consume cow’s milk formula develop Gram-negative (potentially pathogenic) bacilli.  We know that complex sugars in breast milk help to feed the bifidus strains of beneficial bacteria in the infant’s gut.  Just last year researchers at UC Davis revealed that these same complex sugars are not digestible and mimic the surfaces of other cells.  This surface similarity encourages viruses and bacteria to dock with the indigestible complex sugars and not the infant’s gut cells, and this allows babies to flush out viruses and bacteria from their bodies!³

Breast milk has had approximately 200 million years of mammalian evolution to develop systems to protect the most vulnerable members of the species.  GetzWell Pediatrics supports the Surgeon General’s initiative and acknowledges that whenever possible “breast is best.”  We are a Breastfeeding Friendly Business and have a host of resources available to support breastfeeding mothers.  If families are unable to breastfeed, we are also prepared to provide individualized supplement programs to best protect their children.

To learn more about the benefits of breast milk and/or breastfeeding alternatives, give us a call at 415.826.1701. We also invite you to check out our previous post on how breastfeeding reduces risk of fever after vaccines.

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¹ http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/breastfeeding/calltoactiontosupportbreastfeeding.pdf

² Varney, Helen, et al.  Varney’s Midwifery: Fourth Edition.  Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.  2004.

³ Wade, Nicholas.  “Breast Milk Sugars Give Infants a Protective Coat.”  New York Times.  August 2, 2010.

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! **