Dr. William Sears, has practiced pediatric medicine for more than 30 years and been a support system for thousands of parents all over the world! He has helped guide us and answer our questions through all those nerve-racking “oh crap what do I do” parenting moments when we just needed a little guidance from an expert. Millions of parents have even sought comfort and knowledge through his more than 40 published books and parenting articles. The doc has a thorough website loaded with great parenting information which is dedicated to his eight children – wow! http://www.askdrsears.com/
As many of you have heard – our family life changed when our little boy developed severe eczema caused by food intolerances as well as food allergies. It’s been a long journey that our family really felt as though we were traveling alone. There was not one doctor in our life who had any concrete answers for us as to how to best help our tiny little baby. His skin itched and bled daily and he could not sleep at night. We tried creams, holistic health professionals who did muscle testing and more, we took him to what people all over the US describe as an Amish healer, a chiropractor oh my gosh the list goes on.
When he ended up at a children’s hospital due to being so weak and ill from steroid dependency we not only never went back to his allergist, but we knew we needed something healthy. Something that could “fix” him from the inside out and not just cover up his symptoms. It was at this moment that we took my step-dad’s advice and put him on Belly Boost children’s chewable probiotic. It was the first time in our son’s life that he was taking something that he actually liked too (waaay better than the chickweed liquid that the Amish healer gave us – eeew!).
…and that is where our story of renewal, our story of relief and our story of our green living adventures all began! The day our prayers were truly answered and our son’s skin not only improved – but gave him back the gift of enjoying food. It’s been our miracle. His skin began to get so much better rather quickly that we could hardly believe what we were seeing. Though, when people in our town began to freak out at the sight of him, asking “WOW, what have you done that he looks so good now” – we knew we were on to something amazing. Not long after we gladly but hesitantly grasped that it was indeed helping him – we began to give him more foods that we once thought to be impossible for his skin. Slowly, we served it up – and QUICKLY, like a ravenous beast he ATE! He ate and ate and ate (poor kid was so deprived of all kinds of foods!) and he continued to improve!
So today – I thought I would round up all of the reasons that one of the world’s leading pediatric doctor’s recommends probiotics for our kids…and maybe then, another little person out there will be changed and helped too. That’s my hope!
Disclaimer: I do not make ANY money AT ALL with sales of Vidazorb. I talk about them because I feel it is my way of saying thank you for helping our baby. Just thought you should know!!
This is the one our E takes!
Probiotics minimize vaccine side effects
A healthy immune system is the key to preventing infectious diseases. We are all exposed to millions of germs every day, and vaccines only cover a tiny fraction of one percent of these germs. So we must rely on our own immune system to fight off most potential infections. Children and adults with healthy immune systems are also less likely to suffer a serious vaccine reaction. Most vaccine side effects involve the immune system reacting poorly to the vaccine, so insuring a healthy immune system is one way parents can decrease their child’s risk of a vaccine reaction. Here’s what you can do:
Probiotics. These are the healthy bacteria that live in our intestines. They play a critical role in regulating both our intestinal immune system and our internal immune system. Antibiotic use, which is a typical part of every infant and child’s early life, destroys all these healthy bacteria, leaving a child more susceptible to a host of illnesses and intestinal problems. Taking probiotics on a continuous basis, but especially for a week before and several weeks after vaccinations, can really do wonders for the immune system, and may help protect from the side effects of vaccines. Also called acidophilus, probiotics can either be mixed into food or liquid as a powder for infants 6 months and older, or swallowed as small capsules or pearls for older kids.
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/boost_your_childs_immune_system.asp
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Probiotics and Antibiotics:
“When I teach parents and older children about intestinal health, one of my lessons is ‘Put the right bugs in your bowels.’ It’s a symbiotic relationship – these bugs reside in the warm environment of the colon and in return they do the following good things for the body:
I always prescribe probiotics to be used during, and for at least two weeks after, antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics kill the bad germs that can cause infections throughout the body, but they also can kill the beneficial bacteria in the bowels. Probiotics replenish the healthful bacteria that may have been killed by the antibiotics and restore the balance between healthful and harmful bacteria in the bowels.
http://www.parenting.com/article/ask-dr-sears-probiotics
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Probiotics and Eczema:
Probiotics have been used in preventive medicine throughout Europe for many years. They are just now gaining more scientific credibility and popularity in the United States. For example, a study done in 2001 showed that giving probiotics to pregnant mothers with high risk for allergies was associated with significantly decreased incidence of eczema in their babies. This is thought to be because probiotics promote the overall health of the immune system.
http://www.parenting.com/article/ask-dr-sears-probiotics
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Probiotics and Boosting Your Child’s Immune System:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t042500.asp
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Probiotics and preventing diarrhea following antibiotic treatment:
Because antibiotics not only kill harmful bacteria but may kill the good bacteria in the gut as well, diarrhea is a common side effect. When I put children with ear or throat infections on antibiotics, I routinely prescribe probiotics too. The probiotics replenish the good bacteria, and the balance in the intestines is restored. The probiotics should be taken at the start of (or preferably a few days before) antibiotic treatment and for at least two weeks afterward. Studies have shown that probiotics also help protect toddlers and preschoolers against outbreaks of infectious diarrhea at daycare.
http://www.parenting.com/article/Ask-Dr-Sears-Probiotics-During-Pregnancy
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Probiotics During Pregnancy:
“Is it safe to take probiotics during pregnancy?”
Yes, it’s quite safe to continue. It sounds as if you are nutritionally savvy and have been taking good care of yourself before, as well as during, pregnancy.
http://www.parenting.com/article/Ask-Dr-Sears-Probiotics-During-Pregnancy
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Probiotics and Yeast:
Yeast also lives in our intestines. The yeast and the bacterial flora are constantly competing for space, and generally they keep each other in check. Sometimes, however, our bacterial flora can get depleted, such as when taking antibiotics. This allows the yeast to overgrow, which can then lead to a variety of problems:
-Thrush
-Yeast diaper rash
-Vaginal yeast infection
-Diarrhea
-Yeast infection of the breast
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T080400.asp
____________________________________________________________________________________________
I know that’s a ton of info right! Whew, but you see – there are so many ways that these can help us that I just really had t share it all. I hope this helps one of you or many of you!
I would love to hear your thoughts on this! Have you thought about taking probiotics? If so, what has stopped you from taking the next step forward in your health journey? Do tell!
Image Credits:
http://www.askdrsears.com
http://www.vidazorb.com
http://www.supereco.com/person/dr-william-sears/
Source Credits:
http://www.askdrsears.com
http://www.parenting.com
That was truly a compelling story, thank you for posting. I’m positive I’ll need to use askdrsears.com sometime. I admire your courage through all of the hardship with your boy. Glad to hear he’s doing well.
Thank you so much
It has been a journey and we are too, so very thankful that he is doing so well!
I too have a dear daughter(6) that suffers from eczema. I begin treating her with natural products (virgin coconut oil, shea butter, vitamin e oil, probiotics, and a kids vitamin). Her skin was doing well until a week ago. She woke up with it worse than ever(inflammed, bleeding and infected). The natural products that I was using didn’t seem to work(well not immediately) and I couldn’t bare the pain or the stress of her not being able to sleep and waking up crying because it itched so bad but was painful from where she had scratched. I ran back to her pediatrician where she was given topical creams and predinsolone. I absolutely hate using these things but they gave her immediate relief. I am interested in discontinuing these things as her condition is somewhat under control now and considering that I know the negative effects of these things. Thanks for sharing this information. I plan on giving these probiaotics a try and pray that b/w that and prayer that I am able to manage her eczema.