Healthy Child - UC Davis Health

Healthy Child

Preconception and Pregnancy Recommendations for a Healthy Child

Developed and funded by

Educating and empowering

parents to have healthy children

free of chronic health disorders who realize their full neurological

potential

The Challenge

Today,approximately30%ofchildrenintheU.S.sufferfromseriousneurological, developmental,psychiatricandphysicalhealthproblems,includingADHD,autism, learningdisabilities,asthma,cerebralpalsy,cancerandotherseriousmedicalconditions. Inthepast20years,therehasbeenasubstantialincreaseinchildren'shealthconditions.

THE SOLUTION

The Healthy Child Guide provides an integrated set of recommendations based on over 100 scientific studies on how to:

?Substantiallyreducetheriskofpregnancy/birthcomplications. ?Reducetheriskofmanymentalandphysicalhealthdisorders. ?Improveyourchild'sgrowthanddevelopment.

1) Eat Clean and Drink Pure Water

?Consumepurewater(eitherfilteredorfromapure, naturalsource).

2) Avoid Toxins

?Eatorganicwholerealfoodtoreducepesticideexposure. ?Consumethehighestqualityseafoodfromthecleanest

naturalsource. ?Avoidcannedfoodsinordertoreduceexposuretochemicals

since the interiors of most food cans are coated with a protectiveliningcontainingbisphenol-A(BPA),anendocrine orhormonedisruptor. ?Avoidhouseholdcleaners,gardenpesticides,andherbicides. Considerusingnaturalhouseholdcareproductssuchas lemon,bakingsoda,andvinegar. ?Avoidthechemicals,lead,hormonedisruptorsandtoxins insomepersonalcareproducts.

?Workwithyourmedicalcareprofessionalregardingyour personalnutritionandhealthneeds.

?Seekassessmentforappropriatemedicaltesting andtreatment.

4) Stress Reduction and Appropriate Exercise

?Implementhealthhabitsthatreducedailypsychologicaland physicalstress.

?ExercisedailyasrecommendedbytheAmericanCollegeof ObstetriciansandGynecologists.

5) Cook Clean

?Prepareandcookmealsathome(fromscratch)withwhole, unprocessedingredients(preferablyorganicfoods,as muchaspossible).

?Cookwithfilteredorartesianspringwaterasmuchaspossible. ?Usecookware,foodwareanddrinkwaremadeofsteel,

glassorceramics.

WeinviteyoutoreadandfollowtherecommendationsofThe Healthy Child Guide to increase the probability of having a healthy pregnancyandahealthychild.

Sincerely,

3) Personalized Medical Testing and Treatment

?Consumehighquality,carefullycalibratedprenatal vitamins,seethevitaminsectionofthisguideforalist ofqualityvitaminsources.

?Consumehighqualityprobiotics,withbillionsofcolony formingunits.

ChrisWillhite ChairmanoftheBoard,NeurologicalHealthFoundation(NHF)

2 | The Healthy Child Guide

JamesAdams,Ph.D. ChairoftheScientificAdvisoryBoard,NeurologicalHealthFoundation(NHF)

Watch "Introduction to The Neurological

Health Foundation (Healthy Child Guide)" TheNeurologicalHealthFoundation(NHF)isa501(c)(3)public charity committed to educating and empowering parents to have

healthy children free of chronic health disorders who realize their full neurologicalpotential.Providingresearch-basednutritionandlifestyle guidelinesinTheHealthyChildGuide,NHFaimstoreduceneurological illnessesinchildren.Learnmoreat.

SUPPORT RESEARCH

Buildingonexistingscienceandclinicalpractice,NHFworkswithmedicaldoctors,professorsatmajoruniversities, nutritionists,neuroscientistsandotherresearcherstodevelopspecific,evidence-basedrecommendationsthat women or couples can follow to improve the odds of having a healthy and happy child free of chronic neurological healthdisorders.Tolearnmore,visitNHF'swebsiteat.

The Neurological Health Foundation (NHF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization designated by the Internal Revenue Code. Your taxdeductible donation to NHF will fund programs that educate and empower parents to have healthier children free of chronic neurological illness.

Clickhere:

Donate

Neurological Health Foundation (NHF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to helping parents have healthy and happy

children.

Statement of Scientific Policy ?TheNeurologicalHealthFoundation(NHF)

has developed The Healthy Child Guide to address the concerning increase

in the number of children diagnosed with developmental neurological disabilities(autism,cognitivedisabilities,ADHD,etc.)aswellaschronic healthproblemsanddiseases(diabetes,rheumaticdiseases,asthma, childhoodleukemia,braincancer,foodallergies,etc.).Therecommendations providedbytheNHFScientificAdvisoryBoardinThe Healthy Child Guide

integrate current scientific research findings with an emphasis on behaviors thatleadtobetterhealthoutcomesforparentsandforchildren.NHF recommendswhatis"standardofcare"accordingtotheAmericanAcademy ofPediatrics(AAP)aswellastheAmericanCollegeofObstetriciansand Gynecologists(ACOG)withanemphasisonhealthierchoices.

Disclaimer ?TheinformationprovidedbyNHF,The Healthy Child Guide, TheNHFScientificAdvisoryBoardandourcontributorsisprovidedfor educationalpurposesonly. The information provided on our websites and

in our digital media is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided byyourphysicianorhealthcareprovider. Astheindividualneedsof everypersonvary,itisrecommendedyouconsultwithyourhealthcare providerregardinganypersonalhealthcareissues.Thereisnoguarantee that100%oftheparentswhofollowtheNHFScientificAdvisoryBoard

recommendations will be assured or guaranteed a healthy child without anyhealthissues;thus,workingconsistentlywithyourhealthcare providerisadvised.

The Healthy Child Guide | 3

Preface

InmytwentyyearsasaPediatrician,Ihaveseenmanychanges inthehealthofourchildren.EarlyinmycareerasaPediatrician,

my patient appointments were primarily for school physicals andcoldsandflus.Thesechildrenweregenerallyhealthyand recoveredquicklyfromtheirillnesses.Butchildren'shealthstatus hasdeclinedovertime.Now,Ihaveaspecialtyclinicfullofchildren withchronicneurologicalandphysicalhealthproblems.These childrensufferthroughouttheirliveswithillnessessuchasautism, ADHD,asthma,allergies,andchronicpain.Manyparentsgrowing

up had not seen children with these chronic health problems and neverexpectedtoparentachildwithone.

Reducing Toxic Exposures

Ourworldisfilledwithmanychemicalsinourfood,ourwater,andin productsthatwecomeintocontactwitheveryday.Whileavoiding alltoxicexposuresmaybedifficult,therearemanystepsthatyou cantaketoavoidsomeofthemoretoxicchemicals.Educationis thekey.Knowingwhichchemicalstoavoidisalearningprocess.

HavingtherecommendationsinThe Healthy Child Guide as a resourcemakesthiseducationmucheasier.Allyouhavetodois followTheGuide,avoidthedangerouschemicals,andfindhealthier alternativeswhicharebecomingincreasinglyavailable.

Becauseofthedeclininghealthofourchildren,Ibeganresearching preventionoftheseillnesses.Repeatedlytheresearchsteeredme towardriskfactorsfromthemotherthatinfluencedthehealthof herchild.FromthereIbeganwritingandteachingwomenabout theseriskfactorstotheirhealthbeforeconception.Ithasbeen wonderful to see healthy pregnancies and healthy children come fromthiseducation.Bytakingchargeoftheirownhealth,Ihave seenwomenbecomeempoweredknowingthattheyaredoing theirbestforthehealthoftheirfuturechild.

The Healthy Child Guide is based on the research and the clinical experienceoftheNeurologicalHealthFoundationScientificAdvisory Board,includingmanyhighlyregardedmedicalphysicians,nutritionists,andresearchscientists.TheGuideisastep-by-stepplanyou andyourpartnercanfollowtoimprovethehealthofyourchild. Thekeyisinthetiming.Beforeconceptionistheperfecttimeto improveyourhealth.Betterpreconceptionhealthhasbeenshown bymultipleresearchstudiestogreatlyimprovethehealthofachild.

Improving Nutrition

TheGuidefocusesonrecommendationsinseveralspecificareas. One of the recommendations focuses on nutrition which is the cornerstoneofhealthforallpeople.Allpeopleneedtohaveanatural sourceofallthevitamins,minerals,andothernutrientstobehealthy. Ifyouaretryingtohaveahealthychild,youhavetofeedthischild healthyfoodfromthebeginning.Manywomenarenothealthy themselvesandoftenhaveundiagnosednutritiondeficiencies. These may not cause overt health problems in an adult but can be devastatingtoagrowingchild.Manykeyorgansareformedearlyin pregnancybeforemostwomenknowtheyarepregnantsoawoman needstohaveadequatestoresofalltheessentialnutrients.

Personalized Medical Testing and Treatment

Sinceallwomencomeintopregnancywithdifferenthealth issues,identifyingtheseissuesonanindividualbasisisimportant. Personalizedmedicaltestingisanotheroneoftherecommendations in The Healthy Child Guide.Specializedtestingcanidentifyproblems toaddressbeforepregnancy.Findingissuesbeforepregnancyhelps toavoidproblemsduringpregnancyandwiththebabyafterbirth.

Reducing Stress and Appropriate Exercise

IdentifyingareasofstressisanothercomponentoftheGuide. Pregnancyisabiglifechangeandaphysicalstressonyourbody. Reducingstressandimprovingfitnessgoesalongwaytoward improvingthehealthofyourpregnancy,whichnaturallyleadstoa saferdeliveryandahealthierchild.

Ultimatelyyourhealthasawomandeterminesthehealthofyour child.The Healthy Child Guidetakesawaythefearanduncertainty ofhowtobestaccomplishthis.Youcanimproveyourhealthby improvingyournutrition,identifyingspecifichealthproblems, reducingyourstress,andreducingyourtoxicexposures.I encourageallwomentoimprovetheirhealthbeforepregnancy. Amother'sfirstgiftisthegiftofhealthtoherchild.Allchildren deservethispreciousgift.

Sincerely,

DebbyHamilton,MD,MSPH,Pediatrician

Authorof"PreventingAutism&ADHD:ControllingRisk

FactorsBefore,During&AfterPregnancy"

NHFScientificAdvisoryBoard

4 | The Healthy Child Guide

How the first nine months shape the rest of your life

The new science of fetal origins

Time,August2010 Author:AnnieMurphyPaul Cover:MerrickMorton/Columbia

"We now have 5.5+ million children who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the U.S. That is nearly one in ten school age children with an ADHD diagnosis--a million more children than in 2003."

--National Center for Health Statistics,

"Food allergies among children increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011."

--CDC 2013 Study

"Following the recommendations in The Healthy Child Guide will optimize the chances of your child being healthy at birth and throughout childhood so your family and your child can be well and healthy and have an excellent life."

--Child Neurologist and Chief Scientist, Prof. Richard Frye, MD, Ph.D. NHF Scientific Advisory Board

The Healthy Child Guide | 5

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