dairy and asthma.

 

this is my experience with dairy. when aidan was about 3 years old his seasonal allergies set in. i thought it was no big deal, until one day he awoke from a nap and was having difficulty breathing. i remember his sternal notch caving in with each inhalation (a sign of severe breathing distress). i rushed him to the pediatrician (i fear hospitals ever since his newborn jaundice experience). he was given steroids to decrease the inflammation and a puffer. it was stressful. at that point i took him off dairy (pizza at bday parties was the exception). i gave him almond milk instead of cow's milk, almond butter instead of cream cheese, sorbet instead of ice cream and used dairy free chocolate chips in baking. i was quite lucky as he did not like yogurt or cheese (unless melted on pizza, of course!) it was around this time that i started this blog and started experimenting with vegan baking. i made my own pancakes, muffins, cakes and easily eliminated dairy. i also gave him acidophilus daily as well as fish oil and vtm D. after a year i starting re-introducing cow milk and more cheese and he was ok. i am still mindful to how much dairy he gets and use alternatives whenever i can. 

there is a well known triad in the naturopathic (and medical) community connecting asthma-allergies-eczema. i know how hard it is for people to eliminate dairy (and wheat, eggs, citrus, soy etc.) from their little ones diets. our culture is so wheat and dairy oriented ie. pizza, grilled cheese, pasta with cheese, cheese and crackers and then there is the cream cheese, yogurt and ice cream. you get my point. but there are so many wonderful and tasty alternatives making it so much easier!

my nephew, A, is 20 months and on the smaller size. they try to "fatten" him up with dairy. he was eating upwards of 2 yogurts per day but has since been decreased or become soy based (another big allergen and one of my next blog posts!). he also gets pediasure daily. it's hard for me to even read the ingredients. it contains dairy (along with sugar, a variety of oils, vtms-which are minimal and food additives). he has been hospitalized for his asthma and it frequently returns. studies show that dairy produces excess mucus, compromising the lungs and that milk may worsen asthma due to an undiagnosed milk allergy. i am certain he is sensitive to dairy. he also has eczema. there is your triad. allergies-asthma-eczema.

kids, especially little ones, eat what we give them. if they choose to not eat their dinner and then are given snack foods ie. goldfish crackers or cheddar bunnies and a yogurt, they will wait to get their snack and push their dinner aside. i stopped giving my kids snack foods. i keep them hungry for dinner and they eat their food. after that they can have a snack, which is typically an apple with almond butter or as of late, almond butter on a spoon.

parents get worried about calcium. here are some excellent sources; tahini, sesame seeds, almonds/almond butter, almond milk, soy milk, green vegetables, seaweeds, molasses, figs, beans (kidney, white, chickpeas), sardines and salmon. we can also get fortified rice milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk and orange juice. give them a try. just because you don't like a certain food does not mean your kids won't. my kids love sardines on toast (bleh to me!) but so good for them!

it's hard to make changes. i get it. i see so many kids in my practice and there is almost always a food sensitivity (dairy, wheat, gluten, eggs, soy) and when we figure it out, they get better. it is wonderful! they grown and thrive and have minimal illnesses. maybe it's dairy for little A. maybe it's not. but something is going on. no harm in trying. worst thing that can happen is he gets better!

"let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food". hippocrates

Xo