Minerals are essential for growth, healing, bone development, nerve activity, muscle contractions, energy production and many more functions in the body.  Ideally we get all the minerals we need from our diet.  However, food processing, additives, and our stressful lives can mean that we don’t always get enough of these essential nutrients.  It can be even harder when it comes to children who may be fussy about the foods they will eat.

When minerals are depleted they can contribute to some increasingly common childhood conditions.  For example, zinc is essential for brain development, and low levels have been associated with autism.  Low levels of calcium have been associated with hyperactivity in children, and allergies.  Low levels of magnesium have also been associated with allergies.

Toxic metals are part of our modern world and children are particularly susceptible to them.  Kids tend to absorb proportionately more toxic metals than adults because of their smaller size and their bodies aren’t as effective at eliminating them.  Also their body systems are still developing and are more prone to disruption.  High levels of the toxic metals mercury and lead for instance, have been associated with learning difficulties and autism in children.  High levels of aluminium, lead, arsenic and cadmium have been associated with ADHD.

HTMA is a very useful clinical tool for

1. detecting imbalances in essential minerals and
2. identifying high levels of toxic metals in the body.

These are just two factors which may contribute to learning difficulties, ADHD, autism, and allergies.  Your child’s practitioner may recommend an HTMA test to help with your child’s treatment.  You can read more about it on the Interclinical Laboratories website.

References:

Trace Elements and Other Essential Nutrients by Dr David L Watts

Toxins in the 21^st Century, Interclinical Laboratories Seminar Notes 2011

Infertility and Developmental Disorders, Interclinical Laboratories Seminar Notes 2009

Well, while you’re waiting for that momentous day to arrive  have a look at this clip from a chiropractic doctor in the USA.  She explains the case for kids chiropractic care really well.  It’s not a recent piece but the information is still relevant.

We’d appreciate your feedback on this.  So sent us a comment on Twitter or Facebook through the KingsWilliam Natural Health Care site.

Please note: Some of the comments on her particular technique don’t apply to us because all our methods are gentle non manipulative (no cracking) techniques.  Also, she mentions “health payment plans” which don’t fit into our way of practising chiropractic.

ICPA is an American based organisation that promotes a particular type of chiropractic technique.  There are many techniques that really fall into two main categories – manipulative and non manipulative.  It’s up to you to choose what you prefer.

Believe it or not, if your foot isn’t stable then you’ll get bunions.  It’s as simple as that.

Can you do anything about it?  Yes!!!  However, leave it for long enough and the only thing that will help is an operation.

What can you do?

The earlier you pick up the problem, the better.  Start observing your children’s feet.  If their foot rolls in when they walk or even when they stand, then there is probably an issue.  In very young children this happens anyway until they become more surefooted.  However, if your child is in primary school and their foot is still rolling in then they need to be checked out with your chiropractor.

By the way, if your foot rolls in when you walk or when you stand, then you need to be checked out as well.  It may not be too late!

What does your chiro do?

The way to stop bunions progressing is to first ensure that your brain is running your body properly (you know, via your nervous system to your muscles and joints especially those in your foot).  A chiropractic adjustment is designed to take care of that issue.  Then the chiropractor needs to provide some support to that sagging foot.  Sometimes good supportive shoes are enough if the problem isn’t too bad.  If that’s not enough then moulded orthotics will be needed.  These allow the foot to function properly when you walk and run.  Soft orthotics can be moulded in the clinic as part of a long consultation.  If hard orthotics are needed then the chiropractor will refer to a qualified podiatrist.

Some people believe that orthotics, introduced early enough, will actually correct the problem so that they won’t need to be worn later in life.  Other people feel that the orthotic is only a support and doesn’t change the structure of the foot.  Either way, no one denies that they are a tremendous help in stabilising the foot.

So, the moral of the story is to make a point of checking out everyone’s feet.  If you spot an issue then come and get it checked.  If you can’t tell then chat to us about it the next time you’re in.

Is your child:

• Misbehaving more than usual
• Not listening or not paying attention
• More sensitive or emotional than usual
• Clumsy or falling over a lot
• Having dental or orthodontic work, especially braces
• Experiencing symptoms of an allergy or food intolerance
• Recovering from being sick
• Recovering from falling over or bumping their head
• Complaining of stomach pains
• Complaining of aches and pains
• Not quite themselves, often parents have a sense that something’s not quite right
• Asking to be taken to the chiropractor, many kids know when they are out of balance even if they can’t explain exactly how they feel

If you answered yes to any of the above, then it’s a good idea to bring your child in for an adjustment.

Kids don’t usually need adjustments as often as adults do because their young bodies are better at healing and correcting any imbalances that occur. This also means that if they do need some help in the form of an adjustment to correct their imbalances, they return to optimum health very quickly.

So what sort of things can cause a child’s body to be out of balance? Probably the most obvious thing is if they’ve fallen over or bumped their head. This might include toddlers who are still finding their feet, or older kids falling from their bike, or while playing sport. Other causes that are less obvious include allergies or food intolerances, any kind of illness such as a cold or flu or a gastrointestinal upset, and even emotional stress.

At KingsWilliam we recommend children have an adjustment at least every three months. Every school holidays is a good way to remember when it’s time. This means that any imbalances can be corrected before they turn into major problems. Sometimes though, kids might need an extra adjustment if things aren’t quite right.  Keep the list above in mind so that you know when your child needs our help to set them back on the right track.

As chiropractors we always check more than one body system, but………

Let’s just look at what a simple structural check up can do:

There’s nothing to loose and everything to gain, when you think about it.

How do you know if your backpack is overloaded?

Getting your muscles working correctly.

Packing, carrying and lifting a backpack.

What’s a good backpack design?

Classroom learning relies on good reading skills.  Reading in turn, requires fine motor control of eye movement.  There are two main movements to be concerned about.  One is scanning back and forth along a line of print and the second is drawing the eyes in or converging so that attention is focused on a point.

To achieve adequate fine motor control of eye movement, messages need to travel through the nervous system between the brain and the eyes without hindrance.  If a child has retained reflexes; allergies; gut issues; parasites, or even minor structural issues, then this nervous control is being physically hampered.  The role of the chiropractor is to remove the physical block.

Fine motor control is a learned skill.  The visual system in children with learning problems will usually need to be retrained so that both eyes work together to scan and converge.  This is where the behavioural optometrist comes in, using colours and exercises to develop this skill.  Often glasses will be prescribed – not to correct a physical problem but as a temporary crutch to help the eyes converge automatically until the skill is learned and becomes automatic without any help.

The combination of chiropractic adjustment and behavioural optometry will allow for significant improvement in reading and learning.

Feel free to contact us if you want to know more.

With the increase in disorders such as asthma, eczema, behavioural disorders, environmental, food and chemical allergies as well as Chrohn’s disease and Coeliac disease, there has been an increase in research and clinical investigation.  What researchers are discovering is that the nervous system, gastrointestinal and immune systems are intricately linked.

Our nervous system, the body’s computer, depends upon the proper functioning of the intestines to enable digestion and absorption of food nutrients.  Some of these nutrients are essential for optimum functioning of the neurotransmitter pathways that affect mood and cognition.  The immune system also depends on the proper absorption of these nutrients for optimum functioning.  Unfortunately, toxins and dietary allergens can fundamentally affect and overload our digestive systems.

So what does this mean from a day-to day perspective?  When it comes to building our children’s constitution and educating them about health your family can focus on small things that promote “Strong Guts”, “Nerves of Steel” and the “Immune Balloon”.

Strong Guts

Prioritise produce that’s fresh and in-season. 
These are high in nutrients that not only delight our taste buds but act as “Rocket Fuel” for our cells.  Buy organic if you can.

Include power foods as often as possible.
Power foods include garlic (the vegetable antibiotic), vitamin C, iron and zinc rich foods.
Garlic rids the body of bugs and with regular consumption, helps protect us from viruses.
Vitamin C carries oxygen and assists with the proper absorption of iron which is the mineral vital for burning off waste.  Vitamin C also helps us to bounce back from physical and emotional traumas.  Good sources of Vitamin C include green and red peppers, green vegetables, berry fruits and tropical fruits.  In fact any fresh fruit will help you along with your vitamin C quota.
Iron is very important.  If you haven’t enough iron then you probably frequently suffer with colds, tonsillitis, conjunctivitis and many other types of infection.  Without iron your body will be challenged by waste removal which is essential for regeneration.  The richest source of iron is liver.  Try purchasing one organic lamb’s liver each winter.  Divide it into small portions.  Blend one portion and add it to any casserole that you’re making.  Your kids will be none the wiser!  Freeze the other portions until you need them.  There is also an abundance of iron in green leafy vegetables, especially ones with darker leaves.  Sesame seeds and seaweed such as Nori are also high in iron.
Zinc and iron can be found in pumpkin seeds, both fresh and dried.  Oysters win hands down when it comes to zinc while wheat germ, liver and beef are also high in this mineral.  Zinc plays an important role in enabling healthy growth and development.  It’s an important part of many chemical reactions in the body.

Focus on buying foods that are as close to their natural food state as possible.

The closer the food is to its natural state, the better it is for us.  There are large numbers of processed food items that not only lack most of their original nutrients but also offer us a cocktail of additives.  For instance, choose “real butter” rather than margarine or spreadable butters and enjoy fresh fish rather than fish fingers.  In doing so we are more likely to benefit from nutrient dense foods and minimise our chemical load.

Encourage your children to consistently drink water.

Water flushes away toxins and keeps our brain and body hydrated enabling it to function efficiently.

Nerves of steel

Have your child’s nervous system assessed.

The nervous system functions as the body’s master computer.  This computer coordinates the human body.  Instructions are sent via your nervous system to the cells and organs of the body which direct things like our breathing, immune responses, digestion, personality and ability to concentrate.  Physical stressors such as the birth process, knocks and falls, and chemical or emotional stressors can result in nerve irritation.  Left unchecked or unresolved this irritation can alter your child’s natural state  A child’s body may be resilient but your child’s nervous system requires care just like any machine or engine requiring maintenance and service to help it run smoothly.

Encourage your child’s neurological development.

It has been shown that carefully spinning your child on an office chair and teaching them to bounce on trampolines encourages their development neurologically.  As does teaching them to cross crawl, walk on their tippy toes and on their heels and encouraging them to balance on one leg or a beam.

Include essential fatty acids in your child’s diet.

One of the most critical deficiencies amongst children today is dietary depletion of essential fatty acids (EFAs).  Very few parents realise the EFAs play a crucial role in the health of the nervous and immune systems.  Several studies have demonstrated greater attention and reduction in behavioural problems in school children when they are given Omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 and 6 EFAs are found in many of our oils including sunflower, safflower and cod liver.  They are also found in evening primrose oils, olive oil, flaxseed oil and peanut oil. The important EFAs can be found in cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, bluefish, herring and sardines.  Ideally, purchase these fish fresh as processing can destroy the EFAs.  Dried beans such as kidney beans also contain EFAs as do pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and walnuts.  In fact, walnuts contain the highest amounts of omega-3 of any nuts and are a really smart idea for kid’s snacks.

Immune balloon

When the digestive and immune systems are strong, so too generally speaking will be the immune system.  Keep the immune balloon impenetrable with good old fashioned common sense.  This includes refraining from the overuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, early to bed when we are tired, and keeping warm in cold weather.  Using “good old know how” we encourage our children to learn about and discuss best methods of care.

We are also mindful about promoting “how clever their bodies are” and focus our children on wellness behaviours.

Hopefully these tips have given you a few ideas on how to build your child’s constitution and make them into happy, healthy kids!  Look in the “downloads” section on “Remember your kids” if you want to download this article.

This is an edited article by Jennifer Barnham-Floreani, the author of “Well adjusted Babies”