Supplements

I have been having a lot of mixed feelings about blogging lately and I am trying to sort them out.  However, I promised a list of our supplements and so I will list the ones that I believed have helped us the most. I am not listing them all for many reasons but if you have a specific question, please feel free to e-mail me. 

I do want to throw out another word of caution though. Eating gluten free is not for everyone.  I do think we could all probably eat healthier (less processed and more organic and fresh foods). But gluten is not bad for everyone.  If you have irritable bowel issue, inflammation, auto immune issues, ADD and perhaps autism (many people with autism do better without gluten and casein) gluten free eating could REALLY help.  But if you have no health issues and you feel great, gluten is probably fine for you.  In any case, please do your own research and talk to your own health professionals before you do anything that I write about.  I am NOT advising here.  I am simply sharing what we do. (Dave is very concerned about me sharing this information).

I will list the supplements that I think are the best for our family and then explain their benefits. Truly, I could list fifty things we have tried over the 3-4 years we have been on this path but I only list our essentials now. PLEASE check with a health professional before you take these supplements!  E-mail me if you have any questions.

1. Added Attention (Buried Treasure)  If I could only buy one supplement for my family this would be it (although only one person takes it one a regular basis) This is a liquid vitamin supplement that helps with focus and attention.  We ran out of it once for a few weeks and I vowed that we would NEVER run out of it again.  I can tell immediately if one of my sons has not had this each day.  Dave and I have taken this supplement when we really need to focus on something and it works!  You need to take it everyday if you have attention issues though and it may take a few weeks before you see results. Iherb sells it the cheapest.  I order 5 bottles at a time.  You refrigerate this liquid and while it doesn't taste great it doesn't taste awful either.

2. Zyflamend.  This is an all natural supplement that I take for inflammation.  I get nerve inflammation in my right arm and leg (especially if I am not eating right or I am under a lot of stress).  When I take Zyflamend, it goes away.  I take it because my nerve inflammation is painful but the effects of the ingredients in this supplement are really purported to have amazing long term benefits.  Dr. Weil even recommends it.  So, if you a have any inflammatory issues like arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, nerve inflammation, etc., look into this.  It really works.

3. Natural Calm  This is a magnesium supplement that does so many things.  It will clam you and or your kids down for sleep but there are so many other benefits as well.  We mix it with hot water just before bedtime and drink it.  I must admit that we have been forgetting it lately but it has helped with a plethora of symptoms we experience.  Please go read the list of symptoms of a magnesium deficiency on the link.  I order this from Iherb also.  I think it is the best price.

4. Unbounded Energy

I found this as a sample at my local health food store and I really have a problem with lack of energy many days.  So, I tried it.  It works.  Plain and simple, if I take this vitamin I have a lot more energy to get through the day but I do not feel hyper or jittery.  It is all natural and the energy is both mental and physical.

5. NDF Plus  Cilantro Drops.  When Kate came home from China she had a very elevated lead level.  Our holistic pediatrician (we go to a traditional one too) suggested these drops.  They are basically highly concentrated cilantro drops (and more) but they pull toxins and heavy metals out of the body. These are very expensive but they worked and we only used a quarter of the bottle and then passed them onto another little girl whose lead levels were super high. Hers came down very quickly too and they had been trying for about a year with little success to lower them on their own.    My traditional pediatrician could not believe how quickly Kate's lead levels came down.  They are super low now (<3).

6. Epsom Salt/Baking Soda baths.  We use these as a detoxification process too.  Again our holistic pediatrician recommended them for the boys and then again for Kate.  I use them too. Basically, you fill a tub with 1 cup of Epsom salts, one cup of baking soda and very warm water. you soak for about 20 minutes and then wash your skin to get the toxins off.  People with high blood pressure, heart conditions, liver and kidney problems should not take these baths. Again, please check with your doctor before doing these.  You can read more about Epsom salt baths here  or here . I also learned recently that Epsom salts are good for eczema (which Kate has)!

7. Correomega (free sample here) There is a kids formula and a regular one.  This site has great information on the benefits of omega 3.  Some of them include brain development, eye development, healthy joints, mental clarity and balance, cardiovascular health, overall growth and development. This helps eczema too.

8. Probiotics.  We use these but there are many good ones out there.  Probiotics help maintain healthy bacteria in the stomach.  Again, I am not a doctor but the benefits of probiotics are well documented and they have helped us immensely.  I think these probably are of benefit to everyone.

9. Prescription for Nutritional Healing.  This book is chock full of really great information about nutritional and healing and holistic health.  I love it and I refer to it constantly.

10. SAM-e

This is a mood booster and good for joint health.  When Kate first came home and the euphoria wore of...she was not sleeping and Dave and I were really overwhelmed, we were moody and snappy with one another.  I had heard of this supplement and we tried it.  It works.  I have read that Nature Made brand is the best formulation of this supplement. You can find it at Target.   SAM-e is something our body already makes but as we age and in times of stress we make less of it and need more of it.  At least this is how it was explained to me.

A holistic pediatrician can be very helpful if you are looking at getting away from processed foods and if medicines have not helped any conditions you have experienced.  We see both regular MD's and a chiropractor and a holistic MD when necessary.  I am open to the best ways of healing my family with the least amount of damage to their bodies.

Now, onto other things.....

A few shots from our family celebration of Will's b-day. He was allowed to pick his dessert. He chose the yummiest Maggie Moo ice cream cupcakes. They are not on our usual eating plan.

Oh, that looks so good!  Kate says chocolate like a New Yorker (chawwwklate). 

 She loves it but it makes her CRAZY!

I love this little outfit on Kate.  It was a gift last year but just fits now.

Isn't it darling?