Open Discussion

Lets open a discussion parents! :)

This is a place where we can share tips for parenting, favorite recipes, advice, natural home remedies and so much more.

Each kid is different and each family is different. Knowing how other kids behave and what was done to help a tough situation can give insight to our own children.

Please feel free to ask questions, start a discussion, or leave a tid bit on your own parenting skills. :)

I look forward to hearing from you!

A new blog with helpful tips!

Check out The Recipes, Helpful links, and Hot topics on this blog!
http://childrenshealthnaturally.wordpress.com/


I welcome your feedback and look forward to hearing your stories!

Ms. Ellen Fredrickson

Questions and Comments are welcome!

Please feel free to ask any question you may have. Also please leave comments on what has worked for you in raising your children, whether it be temper tantrum cures or home remedies for sicknesses.

Lets share some stories to help each other out and give any new mom out there some tips on how we do it! :)

Feel free to check out my other blogspot at "Childrens Health Naturally" on Wordpress

I look forward to talking to you and hearing your stories!

Ms Fredrickson

Vitamin D3 "Why take it?"

Vitamin D3 "Why take it?" its simple really. Each time we go to the vitamin section of our local grocery store or health food store we always ponder the longest at the vitamins. I know I do. What do they need? What is the most complete vitamin out there for my children and what more can I do for them so they get the proper amount daily. I am all about the natural way when it comes to my children's vitamins.

I am all about the natural way when it comes to my children's vitamins. I want them to get the most out of the vitamins they are taking. Everything from the purest vitamin C, Vitamin D, and multiple vitamins.

According to the Encyclopedia nutritional supplements,Vitamin D is best known for its ability to stimulate the absorption of calcium. Vitamin D also exerts many anticancer properties, especially against breast and colon cancer. The incidence of both colon and breast cancer is higher in areas where people are exposed to the least amount of light.

Vitamin D2 and D3 are the most common of the supplement form. The difference between them is that Vitamin D2 potency is less than one-third that of D3's. My children take one 400 I.U of a D3 supplement every day. It supports the teeth, bones, and immune system. I read up on this supplement and paid very close attention to the amount they should consume and took into consideration our northern location, cloud cover, and sun exposure.

According to the National Institutes of Health, complete cloud cover reduces UV energy by 50%; shade (including that produced by severe pollution) reduces it by 60%. UV radiation does not penetrate glass, so exposure to sunshine indoors through a window does not produce vitamin D.

Sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 8 or more appear to block vitamin D-producing UV rays, although in practice people generally do not apply sufficient amounts, cover all sun-exposed skin, or reapply sunscreen regularly. Therefore, skin likely synthesizes some vitamin D even when it is protected by sunscreen as typically applied.

Season, time of day, length of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content, and sunscreen are among the factors that affect UV radiation exposure and vitamin D synthesis.

Always do some research before taking a supplement and check out what dose the best for you and each one of your family members. Take into consideration age, environment, physical activity and nutritional intake from foods. Check and see what you are getting from your foods and if it is reaching the required amount.

For example, if you notice that you are not eating enough foods with iron in it, as a woman this is very important, than you may need to take an iron supplement, or a multivitamin with iron in it. I myself was diagnosed with an iron deficiency last year and was very anemic, my percentage was down to 12%. I had to start taking an iron supplement, with orange juice to aid in absorbtion, for a few months to get my levels up again.

Research and speaking with supplement professionals is always the best place to start when you are considering adding a new vitamin to your daily nutritional needs.

Get Suggestions from the Supplement Advisor!

Sugar Consumption

Sugar consumption is a serious issue these days. If you look at the ingredients on the back of your food products, pop cans, cereals, and even granola bars you will see the large amounts of sugars in everything we eat. If you have a scale measure out 10grams of sugar and compare it to whats in your pantry. You will be amazed at how much sugar is in the foods we think are healthy. Consuming to much sugar can lead to a variety of nutritional and health problems.
Most of us are consuming about 20 teaspoons of sugar and more each day. If we were to measure out that much sugar than sit down and eat it none of us would feel very good.



According to a statement by Bridging the Gap, a research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, studies have shown that about 13 percent of the average teenagers’ total daily calories come from sugary drinks.

It seems like these days we as Americans can't shovel enough sugar into our mouths, and are always looking for the sweetest of treats to indulge in. It is one of the leading causes of diabetes in our youth today. I remember when diabetes was only something adults suffered from. Now it is not uncommon for teens and even adolescents to have to take insulin shots and make sure their blood sugar is at the proper levels. How can we help stop this epidemic? Read our labels, investigate our foods, and question if we really need that extra cookie. We can find all kinds of sweet healthy fruits out there to curb those sugar cravings. Not to mention in doing that we are eating the fruits we are supposed to be eating each day. There is more satisfaction to putting healthy items in our cart, pantry and on our table than all the unhealthy foods that are loaded with unnecessary sugars in it.

Adding color to your plate with veggies and fruits will make a huge difference in how you eat. Have a variety of foods at dinner not just one or two things. I learned a long time ago when my children were young that when they had three or 4 different items on their plates they were much more satisfied and full by the end of the meal. They love asking whats for dinner and are always excited when there are different items introduced at meal times.

Recently, I found my children grazing far to much, so I have also limited how many snacks they consume a day. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner. In between each meal they are allowed a nutritional snack such as carrots & apples, nuts & dried fruit, pretzels & grapes, or popcorn (no butter) & pears. This has taught them that food isn't something that is packed around with you all day, there is a time and place to eat. Furthermore, this encourages healthy eating, not over eating or over indulging when ever food is available.

We were all raised much differently than our children are being raised today. Lets not forget the simplicity in cooking and eating healthy. I remember never complaining about what was in front of me at meal times. I find my daughter complaining because she doesn't want to eat broccoli or other cooked veggies. She is learning a very important and necessary lesson about nutritious foods, plus vitamins, and how good they are for her. Even if she doesn't like them now she will thank me when she's older.

We as parents need to remember that we are in charge of how our children view the world, the food around them, and themselves as individuals. Our influence on them is substantial. It's very important that the health lessons we teach them stick with them for a lifetime. Just think that someday they will be teaching their children a healthy way of living. Our goal as parents is to send them out into the world with all the tools they need emotionally, physically, and mentally to succeed. We know it isn't easy out there, and growing up is hard at times. So lets make sure our children are prepared and strong enough to carve their own path to a long, healthy, and independent life.

Get Suggestions from the Supplement Advisor!

Children and Obesity

In our country today between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. There are over 300,000 deaths a year due to unhealthy weight gain, poor diet and lack of exercise. Consuming fast food on a daily basis, not eating enough fruits and vegetables, and not drinking the proper amount of water effects each and everyone of us on a negative level. I know this is a sensitive topic for many, but it is heart breaking to see so many children and teens struggle with obesity at such young ages. It is a cruel world out there for an overweight child. All of us know that in grade school and high school those children will get teased at the expense of their weight. Last year while my daughter was attending Kindergarten, I saw a lot of little kids that were overweight. The children were all running around the grass in front of the school. They were waiting for the doors to open so they could go in and play on the playground. As I looked around at the little beautiful faces, I couldn't help but notice this one little girl. She was smiling and laughing while running with the other kids. After about the second lap around the lawn she had to stop and bend over to catch her breath. She was overweight and couldn't keep up with the other kids. My heart went out to her. Here she was only 5 years old and unable to keep pace with her piers. We as adults influence our children daily and their habits. Whether it be language, talents, health awareness, nutrition, eating habits, or confidence. There are many good and bad habits/qualities we teach our children repeatedly each day. They are like little sponges and will absorb all that is around them. If what they see is food from a window handed into a car all the time they are going to think that it is the healthy way of life. Families that sit down and eat a healthy dinner together at least 4 nights a week are more likely to have children who stay out of trouble, and respect what they have. Not to mention it shows them proper nutrition, how to cook fresh foods and encourages communication. Many children have not experienced fresh veggies from the farm, or produce section, where and how they grow, or the value of proper nutrition. It is up to us to teach our kids about healthy eating and a healthy life style. My kids participated in the community garden this summer and were given the opportunity to see where their carrots, lettuce, spices, and berries came from. It gave them a great respect for vegetables and eating healthy . Not to mention witnessing the hard work it was to keep up on the garden all summer long to produce the veggetables. There are many tools and a vast amount of knowledge for parents to prevent their children from becoming obese. It takes time and dedication for us to make sure that they are getting all they need on a daily basis. If we look at our own eating habits, are we eating 4 fruits and veggies a day? Is there color on your plates? Are you eating enough protien and healthy snacks? It is a simple change in our daily life to make sure we are giving our loved ones what their bodies need and are made for...fresh healthy foods, proper vitamins and supplements.

Get Suggestions from the Supplement Advisor!