Articles on Children
Attention Deficit Disorder Part 1
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a term that covers a wide variety of symptoms. The most common ones are poor attention span, a tendency to be easily distracted, failure to finish a task before moving on to the next idea, and low tolerance to stress resulting in emotional outbreaks.
If symptoms of restlessness, impatience, and short emotional fuses are added to that mix then a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) is given. ADD and ADHD are two different disorders. I am going to discuss these two syndromes separately but it's important to recognize that factors and treatments relevant to one may also apply to the other.
As a physician I have seen the incidence of these two syndromes rise in the last two decades. It is now estimated that five per cent of our children have these syndromes. Boys are afflicted seven times more often than girls.
As with other syndromes whose rate has increased in the last decade, I always look to the environment to try to discover the difference and changes that may be the cause of these conditions.
Many parents and medical researchers have been puzzled by the rise of ADD and ADHD. So what are the factors involved? Well, there have been very few studies on the direct cause. Some postulations include oxygen deprivation in the fetus at birth, food additives, heavy metal toxicity especially lead, food sensitivities, poor nutritional status, and repeated use of antibiotics. Vaccinations also pose a big question mark.
Learning disabilities often have four factors that seem relevant to this syndrome. Often ADD can be a processing problem in children who are using the right side of their brains instead of the left. Our school system is based on left brain learning with an emphasis on logical thinking and auditory and visual learning. Right brain learning is more the tactile kind - learning by the hands. These children are usually very creative and their ability to sing, draw or play an instrument is quite high.
Because these children are often quite bright their learning style differences can be hidden until the fourth or fifth grade when school becomes more linear and paper and the blackboard are used more. Sometimes these children should not be labeled as learning disabled but rather as having learning differences.
Other factors to note with ADD children are that ear infections, heavy metal toxicity, and nutrient deficiency may have a role in the manifestation of this syndrome. Children with moderate to severe hearing loss tend to have poor speech and language development, lowered general intelligence scores, and learning difficulties. Current and frequent ear infections have been reported to be twice as common in learning disabled children as in non-learning disabled.
Naturopaths treat ear infections easily and well. Call the office for an article on the naturopathic treatment of ear infections.
Many studies have shown a strong correlation between childhood learning disabilities and the body's stores of heavy metal. Hair analysis of heavy metal toxicity, though imperfect, is still the best evaluator of high levels of mercury, lead, and copper. Of these three heavy metals lead has the highest correlation to ADD.
Any nutrient deficiency can result in impaired brain function. Iron deficiency is often one of the most common ones and can be associated with decreased attentiveness and attention span. A study in The Lancet showed that supplementation with a multi-vitamin and mineral increased non-verbal intelligence in small children. Our food today, even organic food, tends to be depleted in vitamins and minerals. Vitamins are especially important to brain and nervous system functioning. B6, B12, zinc, iron, calcium, and magnesium are the most important ones. Low levels of these nutrients in the diet will not allow the brain to function properly.
In my next article, I'll write about ADD with hyperactivity.
Attention Deficit Disorder Part 2
In my last column I wrote about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). As with ADD, ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity) is usually seen by age three but it isn't usually diagnosed until the child enters school. It is in school that it becomes very noticeable who can sit still the longest and which child simply can't.
A word of caution: ADHD is a diagnosis with highly subjective symptoms that are determined by individual evaluators. Since the labeling can effect the child's future it's important to choose an evaluator carefully. For example if the child exhibits behaviours that don't interfere with functions at home or at school then this "problem" may not need to be treated.
The three highest factors implicated in ADHD are food additives, the large consumption of sugar, and food sensitivities. A mind boggling 5,000 additives are used in our foods - colourings, flavourings, emulsifiers, preservatives, thickeners, bleaching agents - just look at the number of unpronounceable words added to the list of food ingredients on any processed food! It is estimated that we are consuming nine pounds of food additives a year.
Dr. Ben Feingold in his book, "Why Your Child is Hyperactive" states that 40 to 50 per cent of hyperactive children are sensitive to artificial food colours, flavours, preservatives, and food salicylates (aspirin). Study after study has backed up this hypothesis. For example, in one study 58 out of 78 children responded to the elimination of most of the common additives and allergens from their diet. In descending order the most common that ignite hyperactivity are yellow, red, and blue dyes, dairy, soy, chocolate, wheat, peanuts, corn, and sugar.
Studies also show that it is often a combination of food additives and allergens that were causative of ADD and ADHD. Two ways of testing for food sensitivities are the elimination diet and Vega testing.
On the elimination diet potatoes, rice, cabbage family vegetables, lamb, and pears are eaten for 10 days. Then a reading of symptoms is taken. Then, very slowly, new foods are added every second day to see which foods cause symptoms.
A simpler method for children may be the food sensitivity test using the Vega test method. This is a German method of measuring the body's galvanic response to foods in the environment.
Sugar seems to be a culprit here too and it needs special mention for children with ADHD. In one study 74 per cent of children reacted severely to ingesting sugar. Certainly one of my most quoted facts is that at the beginning of the 20th century we consumed 15 pounds of sugar per person per year. At the end of the century that statistic was 150 pounds per person per year. That's approximately a little over half a cup a day - and that's only the average.
Reactions to sugar often include mood swings - first of all the high and then the corresponding grumpy low a few hours later. Also much of our sugar consumption is combined with artificial food dyes in candy - and that's a double whammy.
Conventionally the most common drug used to treat ADHD is Ritalin. Roughly 10 per cent of the boys in North America are on this drug today - and there have been no studies to show the long-term effects of this drug. At this point other drugs like antidepressants and speed-like drugs are being used but I think there is a better way to treat these children.
Stay tuned and next time I'll write about treatments.
Attention Deficit Disorder Part 3
In my last article I wrote that the treatment of ADD and ADHD starts with a diet free of additives, sugar and food allergens. Today I want to talk about other issues and treatments.
In this culture we manufacture and use an amazing variety of toxins that can have a negative effect on the central nervous system. Pesticides, fungicides, and solvents are all linked to abnormalities in behaviours, perception, and cognition. Chemicals in carpets and wall materials, dust, molds, and lead in paint are just some of the toxins that we're exposed to on a daily basis.
It's important to reduce the exposure to many of these substances. Children exposed to lead, arsenic, and mercury can have neurological stress that can lead to attention deficit or emotional upsets. Lead is the most important heavy metal suspect in ADD and ADHD. A hair analysis test can give some indication of the level of heavy metals in the body.
Assessment of ADD and ADHD children often reveals nutrient deficiencies or imbalances, which when corrected can result in considerable behavioral and academic improvement. An easy treatment is to start with a strong bio-available multi-vitamin and mineral. The body needs a broad range of vitamins and improvement can not be expected until all the deficiencies are corrected.
B6, a co-factor in many of the body's biochemical processes and a regulator of the seratonin level (the mood-controlling substance) needs to be taken in addition to the multi. Essential fatty acids are very important to the diet. These fatty acids are a type of fat that our bodies cannot produce and since the brain is 60 per cent fat it needs essential fatty acids to do its job. Flax oil and evening primrose oil are the two most common sources of essential fatty acids.
Many children presenting with mental or behavioral abnormalities can have intestinal bacteria imbalances from antibacterial overuse. Therefore a gut rebalancing program may be necessary, which usually consists of some dietary changes, a yeast killer, and acidophilus.
Constitutional Homeopathy has had good results in the treatment of ADD and ADHD. Dr. Judith Reichenberg-Ullman, author of "Ritalin Free Kids" (worth reading) reports a 70 per cent success rate when children continue with homeopathic treatment for a year.
It's important to use complementary medicine in the treatment of ADD and ADHD. Increasing controversy over the use of Ritalin and its side effects make the search for other treatments necessary.
Correction of nutrient deficiencies commonly found in these children along with dietary changes, allergy treatments, correction of intestinal imbalance, and family counseling can reduce symptoms and allow the child diagnosed with ADD or ADHD to lead a more productive life.
Before wrapping up this column I want to recommend two other books: "Is this Your Child's World?" by Dr. J. Rapp and "No More Ritalin" by Dr. Mary Ann Block.
Asthma
Asthma has become an increasingly serious lung disease affecting more than two million Canadians each year. Every year 20 children and 500 adults die from asthma and it is estimated that 80 per cent of these deaths could be prevented with proper asthma education. One of the most important causes for this increase in asthma is the increase of environmental toxins.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. It increases mucus production and makes the airways hyper-responsive. Major symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. The causes are mostly factorial associated with genetic, allergic, environmental, infectious, emotional and nutritional components. People who have asthma often miss significant numbers of work or school days. Because the disease may affect sleep patterns, it can impair daytime attention, concentration and memory.
Recently a mother brought in her two-year-old, Lisa, because she wanted to avoid the asthma attacks her daughter was experiencing every couple of months. Lisa often had to go on nebulizers to get through these episodes and then she often had a lingering cough for months. While she was in my office I noticed a lot of wheezing and coughing.
I tested her for food sensitivities and found that she was sensitive to dairy and wheat. I prescribed a herbal lung tonic, a calcium/magnesium supplement and some fish oil. At their next visit, the mother mentioned that the coughing and wheezing were greatly reduced.
The next step was to strengthen the immune system to prevent colds and flus. I often use Echinacea and homeopathic remedies for this purpose. Time will tell how often these attacks will occur but now the mother has useful tools to fall back on.
Preventing coughs and colds is important for asthma sufferers because chest infections can quickly change into an asthma presentation. Checking for food allergies is important but so is looking into environmental allergies such as animal dander and dust mites. Air quality inside the home can be controlled so make sure it is free of smoke. Get rid of carpets that could harbour dust mites and avoid using gas appliances. Use environmentally friendly cleaning agents and building materials. People with asthma are often hypersensitive to these products.
The number of chemicals released into our environment is increasing daily and it is the new generation that is suffering the most from this toxic world.
It’s important to know that even though asthma may be a lifelong problem, it can be controlled by using a Naturopathic asthma program, which will also improve the quality of life.
Baby Health
Health for baby starts months before conception. When a woman thinks about getting pregnant it's a good time to start clearing the body of toxins so that the liver works well during pregnancy. This major organ regulates the hormonal changes.
Before conception and during pregnancy, I recommend a prenatal vitamin that contains sufficient levels of calcium, iron and folic acid. A second supplement I recommend is essential fatty acids in the form of omega 3 fish oils.
In the last trimester I often prescribe extra calcium for the formation of the baby's bones. And I prescribe a safe and gentle herbal tonic in the last month of pregnancy and the first month post delivery. Homeopathic remedies such as arnica and hypericum hasten the healing of both mom and baby after delivery.
Colic often occurs in breast-fed babies from food allergens that mom may unknowingly be ingesting and passing to her child through the milk. Gassy foods like chocolate, garlic and the cabbage family can contribute to colic. If a formula fed baby has colic, I often recommend trying the non-dairy formulas such as soy. Chamomile is a homeopathic remedy for colic that is just wonderful. I've treated many colicky babies with this with excellent results.
The number one cause of ear infections among infants is dairy products. If she is breast-feeding, mom may need to eliminate these from her diet. If the child is on formula, I'd suggest switching to a soy formula. There are also some natural herbal eardrops that will speed healing when dropped in the ear canal. Herbal remedies like pulsatilla or belladonna can also speed the healing.
If you are breast-feeding, your baby doesn't need vitamin supplements until it is weaned. Certainly breast-feeding is the best immunization you can share with your child. When you introduce your baby to food it's important to go slowly. Naturopathic doctors believe that allergies are often started if too many new foods are introduced too quickly into the baby's new digestive system. Pureed vegetables such as carrots and yams and fruits such as pears and apples are good starters and make sure they are organic to avoid pesticide reactions. Don't force food introduction before six months of age. Listen to your child they will tell you when they needs food as well as breast milk.
Donít introduce cereal into your child's diet until after 12 months. If you call the office, I have a sheet on correct introduction of infant foods. You're welcome to pick it up.
Colic
James was a colicky baby from birth. By the time his mother, Jackie, brought him in, she was at her wit's end. She hadn't had a good night's sleep for many months.
The first thing I did was examine Jackie's diet. She was breast feeding and supplementing the baby's diet with rice pablum. She was unaware that food allergens can pass through the breast milk and affect the baby. And even though she wasn't aware of the fact, it became clear to me during out clinical discussion that she was intolerant to dairy products. She had no other bothersome symptoms other than nasal congestion. But I find that if patients get colds more than once a year, we need to boost their immune system.
I took Jackie off cow's milk and James' colic improved noticeably within days. Other foods that aggravated the baby were chocolate and garlic. It's also important to introduce grains very slowly in a baby's diet. Rice pablum and other grains can be difficult for a baby's immature digestive system to assimilate. It's often better to start babies off with pureed fruits and vegetables.
I would welcome you to come by the office for a complete list of introductory baby foods.
Fruit juices should also be given with caution. Too much fruit juice often creates a sweet tooth. Just think of how many pieces of fruit it takes to create one glass of juice! And even though it's a natural sugar, the fibre has been removed so that the sugar is absorbed into the body far too rapidly. With the alarming increase of type 2 diabetes among children, beginning as early as age 12, it's more important than ever to watch the types of carbohydrates and sugars children consume.
Water and herbal teas are excellent alternatives to juices. Some children like lemon or lime flavoured water while others enjoy flavoured herbal teas, either warm or cold. You can even make Popsicles with them. Snack foods should primarily consist of vegetables, fruits, nuts and proteins, rather than refined carbohydrates.
James also benefited from taking acidophilus to but the healthy bacteria back into his intestines. As James got older he did fine with eggs and goat's milk but had to avoid cow-based dairy products. I gave him a calcium/magnesium supplement for his bones.
I also tried the homeopathic remedies colocynthis and colubrine and as James began teething I gave him the homeopathic remedy, chamomile, which worked wonders. He also learned to enjoy peppermint tea, which settled his stomach whenever he complained of a tummy ache.
It's important to have some alternative treatments on hand that you can give your child as a first line of treatment, especially the homeopathics for quick relief from teething pains and colic.
Ear Infections
The other day a mother brought in Mary, her four-year-old daughter. Mary had a history of earaches, stuffiness, and stomachaches. The mother was distressed because her child had been on repeated antibiotics, which worked for the length of time she was on them. Unfortunately as soon as she came off the antibiotics, her complaints returned. The next recommended treatment was tubes in Mary's ears. Mary was often irritable, restless and complained of pains in her stomach.
You can suspect that a child has an earache by certain behaviours - they will pull on their ears or they will say they have a pain in their ears or they may suffer from fever and chills. It's important to have a physician look in their ears to make a diagnosis.
Earaches are a big problem among children. Fifty per cent of all visits to pediatricians are due to ear infections. Most of these children are under the age of six.
To understand this phenomenon, you have to look at the causes of ear infections. The Eustachian tube, the tube that runs from the ear to the throat, is one factor in the cause of ear infections. The Eustachian tube regulates the pressure in the ear so that secretions from the throat don't go back up into the ear. In smaller children this tube is more horizontal and smaller, making it a good breeding ground for bacteria. As children age this tube becomes more upright, which allows for more drainage.
Bottle-feeding adds to the risk. If a child is lying down, liquid can go back into the ear. If the liquid is juice or milk and the child is sensitive to milk, the risk of infection is greater.
Allergens are also a factor. When you ingest an allergen, it makes the tissues swell and enhances the breeding ground for bacteria and infections. Studies show that children with ear infections suffer from the following common allergens: 38 per cent have dairy allergies, 33 per cent wheat, 25 per cent eggs, 20 per cent peanuts, 17 per cent soy, and 15 per cent have corn allergies.
One study showed that 80 per cent of children with ear infections had an allergic reaction to between two to four of these common items.
The standard treatment for ear infections is antibiotics, painkillers, antihistamines, and ultimately, tubes in the ears. The latest studies show that antibiotics are not beneficial for chronic ear infections. I believe the reason for that is that antibiotics do not get to the root of the problem.
There are things you can do to combat ear infections. You can hold the child's head higher when you're bottle-feeding. Identify and remove any allergies the child may have. Reduce simple sugars, and that includes juices, because sugars reduce the response of the immune system.
Homeopathic remedies work very well for symptom reduction of common earaches. The remedies that are used often are pulsatilla, belladonna, and mercuricus. Then, of course, there's that wonderful immune booster, Echinacea. Echinacea coupled with thymus gland extract and Vitamin C can greatly speed up the healing of the infection.
Hot packs applied externally can relieve the pressure and increase the circulation, which promotes healing.
So work with you naturopathic physician to combat ear infections. After treatment, Mary was much happier. Her mother was thrilled because we had identified the root cause and handled the problem.
Food Sensitivities
I'm always surprised at how many of my patients have some sort of food allergy or sensitivity as part of their health profile. Dr. James Breneman, a well-known allergist, writes, "The incidence of diet-related problems is greater than the incidence of any other kind of illness affecting humankind."
He estimates that 60 - 80 per cent of the population has unknown food allergies or intolerances. My clinical experiences concur with his opinion. Many people say, "I don't have an allergen," and are then pleasantly surprised at how much better they feel when they eliminate a particular food from their diet.
It is important that people increase their awareness of the scope of allergy as a possible cause of illness. Any symptom can be caused by allergens. The most common are skin conditions, ear or nose problems, arthritis, digestive problems, both acute and chronic inflammations, mood disorders, sleep disturbances, confusion and fatigue.
There are a few ways to test for allergens. In our office I have used a German scientific machine called a Vega machine to test for food allergens. But another way to test your body to see if there is an allergen is to try what I call the "no fun diet" for five days. If at the end of five days you feel better and/or some symptoms decrease, then you'll need to do more testing to find which of the omitted foods is the suspect allergen.
Here it is: the allowed food list for five days: brown rice in any form such as bread crackers and pasta, all vegetables (unless you know you have an allergy to a certain one), fruit (limit to two a day), fish of any kind, extra virgin olive oil and any kind of green herb (oregano, basil, etc.).
If you know that you have an allergy to any of these, you'll naturally want to eliminate it. If the food is not on this list, don't eat it for five days. If at the end of five days you don't feel any better, you've ruled out food allergies as a causative factor for your condition. However, if you do feel better, re-introduce foods one at a time. For example, have two eggs one day and see if you feel okay. If you do, perhaps add chicken the next day and so on. If you felt good on the five-day "no fun diet" and you start re-introducing foods and start feeling worse, go backwards - start to eliminate again.
The idea behind this method is to use your body as a scientific subject. When you don't feel well, what is it? What is the particular food that is making you feel worse?
If you have food allergies or sensitivities, then work with a naturopathic physician to diagnose the allergen and help you decrease your allergic profile.
Post Partum Depression
In the six to eight weeks after giving birth, women go through enormous hormonal, physical and psychological changes. Dr. Northrup, the well-known women's doctor, calls this period the fourth trimester. Symptoms such as sweating, hot flashes, hair loss and vaginal dryness are not uncommon. Usually these symptoms normalize about two months after delivery.
However, approximately 10 - 15 per cent of women will experience some sort of mood disorder after this time ranging from major depression to anxiety and if a woman has had a history of depression she is at greater risk.
Christine, age 35, came to see me four months after the delivery of her second child. She complained of extreme fatigue and depression but she wanted to avoid anti-depressants. She had never previously been depressed and although she was tired after her first delivery three years previously, this set of symptoms was far worse.
She was a nurse and felt ashamed of her symptoms and felt she couldn't talk about her depression. I evaluated her CBC (complete blood cell count), Ferritin to assess her iron status, and T4 and TSH to evaluate thyroid activity.
Christine did in fact have a low thyroid function at this time and I prescribed naturopathic remedies to support her thyroid as well as selenium, iodine and a thyroid glandular. I also gave her extra doses of B12 to increase her energy and I assed her vitamins to make sure she was getting enough iron, zinc, vitamin A and calcium. Sepia is an excellent homeopathic for post partum depression.
I assured Christine that her depression had a definite physiological cause. I also suggested she do two things to help alleviate the stress of having two small children. First, she should consider having a house cleaner come in once a week to do the heavy work and then, to pump her breast milk and have her partner feed the baby and let her sleep through the night once a week.
Christine returned three weeks later with a big, bright smile on her face. She was grateful to be out of her doldrums.
I also want to mention an excellent support group called the Pacific Post Partum Support Society in Vancouver. They can be reached at 604-255-7999 or at www.postpartum.org.
Pregnancy Health
If you are pregnant and experiencing nausea and vomiting, the best remedies are a high B-complex supplement with a high B6 content and ginger pills or tea. A good Omega3 Essential Fatty Acid supplement will ensure the health of the woman as well as the brain and eye health of the newborn. Clinical experiences show that women who are taking a good dose of evening primrose oil will have shorter labour.
Too much B6 can suppress lactation so the high doses are reduced once the nausea and vomiting have passed, usually after the first trimester. Nausea can also arise due to a gall bladder problem so it's best to detox before pregnancy to clear this organ out. However, if the gall bladder is a problem there are remedies containing beets and milk thistle that are safe to take during pregnancy. The rule of thumb is not to take too many herbal remedies during pregnancy, as there are too many contra-indications. The herbs that are considered safe include raspberry leaf, peppermint, nettles, ginger, ginkgo, milk thistle and echinacea.
A good pre and postnatal vitamin will contain at least 500 mg of calcium, 15 mg of iron and 3 mg of folic acid as well as the full range of other vitamins. All you'll have to take in addition to this multi is the Omega 3. Good supplementation will ensure the health of the placenta, prevent fatigue, provide healthy breast milk and help produce a healthy baby.
Sometimes B vitamins will help with swollen ankles because B6 acts as a diuretic. Herbal suppositories made from horse chestnut can help reduce those itchy and painful hemorrhoids.
You can help avoid high blood pressure during pregnancy by making sure you eat enough protein. I recommend 60 grams per day until the end of the fourth month and 100 grams a day after that until delivery. Sometimes extra magnesium can also help but your physician should monitor this.
Sarah, age 35, was experiencing abdominal and leg cramps so I increased her calcium and magnesium with good effects. The herbs I recommended to her in the last month and in the first month post partum are collectively called the mother's cordial and include viburnum, caulophylum, helonias and mitchella. These herbs prepare the uterus for vaginal delivery and help it return to normal afterwards.
I always recommend Arnica 200 for mom during delivery and for mom and baby after delivery. This wonderful homeopathic remedy will help reduce swelling and bruising and speed healing.
Sugar
I hope you had a great summer - I certainly did. Paddling in the Haida Gwais was an amazing adventure - all that pristine nature and the ancient Haida culture. But it was the observation of the eating habits of my fellow paddlers that provided the impetus for this article.
I've known these people for a long time and thought of them as very healthy and health-conscious. But on the trip I was surprised at how much sugar seemed to be the norm in their diets. After some discussion I realized how little this group of people and most people know about the effects sugar has on the body. One woman reported back to me how surprised she was after she took my challenge to take sugar out of her diet for two weeks. Her moods were more even and she didn't have her old highs and lows of energy. She had mentioned that she had complained to many health practitioners over the last few years about her fluctuating energy and they had all dismissed her concerns by saying she was healthy.
Why is sugar so bad for you? First, a small amount - two teaspoons a day - is probably fine for the healthy, energized person. This is the amount the average person ingested in 1900. But by the time 2000 rolled around the amount had increased to 150 pounds per year - 10 times that amount, or 22 teaspoons a day.
If it's sweet, it's sugar. Many people fool themselves that honey or maple syrup or a handful of raisins is not sugar. The amount of sugar in packaged foods has increased dramatically. I've even observed that many of the processed health food store products contain sugar. And I've noticed that even hardware and stationary stores sell candy at the checkouts.
Why do people consume so much sugar? Have you noticed that when you have a chocolate bar or a soda you feel good for about 30 minutes to an hour later? Our bodies remember that high. I've always said that one of our body's few shortcomings is that we forget how bad we feel one-and-half to two hours after we have ingested sugar. It's at this low time that we want to get back to that high. We have this positive association with sugar. And because nutritional counseling is part of my job I’ve often heard my patients explain that this is one of their greatest joys.
I explain to them that they need to broaden their sources of pleasure and find out how to have fun without consuming a lot of sugar. I have also heard people report that they're not hungry – they just want sugar. That need comes from the sugar in the blood being too low. They are hungry but the body has translated it into a need for sugar. Our cravings for sugar always need to be addressed but not with refined sugar - with healthful snacks like nuts, cheese or other sources of protein.
How do we remove the sugar cravings? Graze over the day - have three small meals and three snacks. Limit your sugar treats to two or three times a week - but recognize that if you have it one day you may want to have it the next day too. So have another kind of snack to work through that craving. Recognize that sugar gives us a false and temporary sense of well-being, not an ongoing one.
In my next article I'll write about the medical information about how sugar increases hypoglycemia, diabetes and inflammation in the body and also how it decreases the immune system.
My challenge to you is the challenge I gave my fellow kayakers: try giving up sugar for two weeks. Two pieces of fruit a day are okay. See how you feel and report to me at my office. Let me know how it goes.