Mommy Goes Green

This winter, parents can’t help but to be focused on keeping their kids healthy.  Mommy Goes Green had the chance to talk to Dr. Bob Sears about staying healthy this winter.  Let’s talk about some options that parents have – vaccinations, food and vitamins.

Vaccinations

MGG:  Do you recommend the standard flu vaccine or the H1N1 vaccine?

Dr. Sears:  The seasonal flu kills about 100 children each year, several hundred young adults, and thousands of elderly people. The H1N1 flu has killed about 140 children so far, over a thousand young adults, and it has spared the elderly. So these diseases do pose a healthy threat to people.  I do think the flu shots are important, but people don’t need to panic over the H1N1 – it’s really no more serious than the regular flu. 

I do have some worries about both flu shots though: 

First, infants will need 4 flu shots this year – 2 of the H1N1 and 2 of the seasonal – that’s unprecedented.  We’ve never done that before, and we have no idea how babies will react to so many doses.  I suggest parents chose one or the other (it’s really a toss-up between the two, since they have about the same level of severity).  Older kids will only need 1 dose of the regular flu shot, but 2 of the H1N1 – so that’s three doses – that’s also more than usual, and again I’d suggest parents pick one or the other.  

For families who’ve never thought the flu shots were important and haven’t been getting them year by year, then there’s no particular reason they should jump on the bandwagon and get an H1N1 shot this year. 

MGG:  Right now, parents are having a hard time finding ANY H1N1 vaccine for their child, why is finding a mercury-free version imperative?

Dr. Sears: The nasal spray version of the vaccines don’t have mercury, so that’s a good choice.  I just don’t trust mercury – it isn’t good for a developing brain.  Companies are making very few doses of the mercury-free shots, but I believe it’s a worthwhile precaution. 

As far as pregnant women go, the H1N1 has killed about 35 pregnant women.  While this is very tragic, realize that there are about 5 million pregnant women in our country every year – so the risk for each individual woman is very low.  No flu vaccines have ever been tested for safety in pregnant women.  So anyone getting the vaccine should be aware of that fact, and make every effort to find a mercury-free version if you can. 

Healthy Eating

MGG: Are there certain foods or groups of food that support our immune system?

Dr. Sears: Apples, apricots, bell peppers, blueberries, bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, chili peppers, cinnamon, eggplant, flax seeds, garlic, green peas, green tea, guava, kale, legumes, mangoes, melons, nuts, olive oil, onions, oranges, papaya, pink grapefruit, pomegranates, radishes, red grapes, snow peas, spinach, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, tumeric.

MGG:  Are there certain foods or groups of food that suppress our immune system?

Dr. Sears: Sugar and sweets.  Sugar lowers the immune system, and kids tend to get more than they should around Halloween, Christmas, and Easter – it’s best to spread the basket or stocking-full of treats out over a couple months instead of letting kids overdose on their hoard.  The rule in our house is “one junk a day.”  And keep the candy out of site, such as on top of the refrigerator or in a cabinet. Out of site, out of mind, and most days the kids will forget to have their treat. 

Vitamins

MGG:  Do you have a standard recommendation for vitamins that we can give our children?

Dr. Sears: I’m not a big fan of these, especially for kids that eat well.  However, for picky eaters, a natural multivitamin and mineral supplement is a nice little bit of insurance.  Avoid ones with sugar and artificial sweeteners.  If using a chewable or gummy form, give them before a meal so the food can grind the sticky stuff out of the teeth.  Or give them right before tooth-brushing time.

MGG:  Personally, I have found that I’ve been healthier since starting Vitamin D over a year ago. Is Vitamin D safe for kids and how much is recommended?

Dr. Sears:  This has become a recently recognized health concern – much of our population is deficient and don’t know it. The only way to know is to get a blood test from your doctor.  While classical deficiency is thought to be any level below 30, for optimum health the level should really be between 60 and 90.  

In order to correct a deficiency, kids need to take 1000 IU (international units) of vitamin D each day for every 25 pounds that they weigh.  So, a 25 pound two-year-old would take that much.  A 50 pound five-year-old would take 2000 IU daily.  Adults should take about 5000 IU.  About 6 months of these high doses are needed to correct a deficiency.  Your doctor can re-check your levels. Do not take these higher doses for more than 6 months without having your level rechecked.  

For those with normal vitamin D levels, the recommended daily requirement that is needed to maintain those levels is at least 400 IU daily.

About Dr. Sears:

Dr. Bob Sears, MD, is a father of three, board-certified in Pediatrics, and a co-author in the Sears Parenting Library.

Dr. Bob enjoys a very unique approach to pediatrics by providing a combination of alternative and traditional medical care. He has a passion for healthy natural living and incorporates this knowledge into a style of disease treatment and prevention that you won’t find in most doctors offices. By limiting antibiotic use, using science-based natural treatment approaches whenever possible, and focusing on good nutrition and immune system health, Dr. Bob takes preventative medicine to a whole new level. His commitment to breastfeeding success for all his patients also helps babies get a right start in life.

Dr. Bob has a particular passion for helping parents understand childhood vaccines and the options open to them in choosing the safest possible vaccine schedule for their child. As the solo author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, his in-depth knowledge of vaccines and the diseases they prevent has helped parents nationwide get a better understanding of this complex and confusing issue.