5 phases homepage

blog

Preparing for Baby? Lay the Foundation for a Healthy Start.

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

pregnant woman cooking at kitchenWhen preparing for baby there is no better time as a parent to choose wisely about what you eat, breathe, drink and absorb to lay a good foundation assuring the healthiest start for baby. Because the fetus is so small it is  vulnerable to the many toxins which may lead to potentially irreversible side effects. According to a 2005 study done by Environmental Working Group, the chemical exposure to newly born infants from a shared umbilical cord is quite alarming. An average of 200 chemicals commonly found in the home linked  birth defects or abnormal development in animals, were found in the newborns cord blood. Unfortunately this is the price we pay for living in a modern day society. When preparing for baby, there are some simple things we can do to help reduce chemical exposures prior to and during pregnancy to help minimize a child’s body burden giving them the healthiest start possible.

Start by eating intelligently for two. Always consult your obstetrician of course. They will surly advise you to cut out the alcohol, caffeine and smoking. Of course, eating a diet rich in protein with a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains is very important. What your obstetrician may not tell you is to eat a diet low in artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives, and additives. When choosing produce, buy organic, fruits and vegetables grown without chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. By simply avoiding the 12 contaminated fruits and vegetables identified by the Environmental Working Group you can lower your pesticides exposure by 90%! Watch your soy intake. Studies suggest phytoestrogens can be harmful to a developing baby. Always choose organic whenever possible. For fish and meat eaters, lean cuts of meats are best, trimming the fat which can accumulate and harbor dioxins and other chemicals. Smaller fish is preferred since many large fish like tuna, sword fish and king mackerel may contain high levels of mercury. Of course don’t give into the junk food cravings!

Staying hydrated is a must. It helps keep the amniotic fluid levels up and promotes the flow of necessary nutrients to baby. So tap or bottled water? Filtered tap water is preferred, free of lead, chlorine and any other unwanted metals or microbes. Avoid plastic bottled water when possible. Plastics can continually leach chemicals and because it’s less regulated there is no guarantee it’s any cleaner. Choosing glass over plastic when it comes to food contact is always a better alternative.

Not only do you need to watch what goes into your body but what you put on your body as well. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and anything you put on it is carried through the bloodstream and into the placenta which can affect the fetus. The EPA advises pregnant women to reduce their lotion and cosmetic use. I always say if you can’t eat it don’t put it all over your body. I really like coconut oil as a lotion substitute and it smells good too! Avoiding  hair dyes and anything to do with professional manicures and pedicures should be added to “the avoid”  list because of the chemicals used in the dyes and polish. Those relaxing foot baths and sharp tools for a seamlessly harmless pedicure can harbor microbes.

You may be a clean fanatic however the air inside your home may be far more polluted than the air you breathe outside. According to the EPA the air inside our homes can be up to 5 times worse. Lead and pesticides are routinely found in household dust. Carpets, furniture, paints and products used for cleaning our homes give off fumes known as VOCs placing a burden a developing fetus. Using non toxic chemicals to clean your home is a great start. There are a wide variety of green household cleaners available now. Because so much of our time is spent in our homes, ventilating as often as you can by opening windows to allow the release of built up fumes from cleaning products and synthetic materials is a very good idea.

With all the scary things you read you may feel like you are not doing nearly enough. When preparing for baby, choosing foods where pests are managed safely, shopping smart, using non toxic products, cleaning up indoor air, and avoiding plastics when you can assures you are giving your baby the healthiest and best start possible.

For more tips on laying the foundation on a healthy start for your baby read:

“HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD Creating a Cleaner Greener, Safer Home” by Christopher Gavigan.

5 Phases is dedicated to helping families achieve a healthier and organic lifestyle. Starting with baby, we develop products keeping both the environment and health of your family in mind. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @www.5phases.com .

 

Categories: health, organic eating, pregnancy, toxic chemicals
Tags: , , , , ,

Kangaroo care benefits all babies but for some it’s a matter of life or death!

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Thursday, February 28th, 2013

kangaroo care

By the early 1980′s  the mortality rate of a premature infant in Bogota Colombia was about 70%.  Many of these babies were dying from respiratory complications, infections and lack of the parental bonding. Out of necessity, mothers of premature babies were relied upon to hold these sick infants 24 hours a day tucking them under their clothes as if in a kangaroo’s pouch. Doctors started to noticed a significant drop in neonatal mortality. These babies were not only surviving but thriving. Babies born as early as ten weeks were going home within 24 hours pink, able to breathe on their own and suck! This is how “Kangaroo Care” evolved.

According to Dr. Susan Ludington “separation is not biologically normal.” She has been intimately involved with many research projects and has been most instrumental in introducing Kangaroo Care here in the US. She has helped many families with compromised infants.

Of course all infants benefit from the skin to skin contact of Kangaroo Care; but for some infants it could mean life or death.  NICUs here in the US have adopted Kangaroo Care after seeing  phenomenal results with babies given Kangaroo Care. Neonatal babies who are held in a mostly upright position, skin to skin against their parent’s chest for 2-3 hours per day have a more stable heart rate, regular breathing and improved O2 saturation levels.

So how does Kangaroo Care work? Believe it or not, a mother’s breasts naturally modulate in temperature to keep their babies at an optimal temperature. The maternal breast temperature can rise and fall as much a 2 degrees C in 2 min!

Researchers have gained much knowledge into what actually happens to a premature infant’s brain during skin to skin contact with their mothers. These babies have a difficult time coordinating their breathing and heart rate causing bradycardia and apnea. Their heart rate and breathing tend to be out of sync. Researchers found premature infants who were in skin to skin contact with their mothers synchronized their breathing and heart rates within 10 minutes, something that doesn’t typically happen in premature babies for about 4 weeks of brain development! With Kangaroo Care, apnea decreases four- fold and often disappears altogether. In some cases both problems disappear completely.  When an infant is in rhythm, there is less crying or fussing meaning longer deeper  sleep.  Because crucial brain development happens when an infant is sleeping,  longer sleep periods enable important  neural synapse to occur. With more sleep, there is longer areas of alertness and because they are not burning excess calories from crying and fussing they gain weight faster.

All infants benefit from Kangaroo Care however in some instances infants who are premature, intrauterine growth retardation, low muscle tone or have disabilities, it can mean life or death. For parents who are interested in learning about the many benefits of Kangaroo Care, adding Dr. Ludington’s book “Kangaroo Care” to one’s library is a good first step.

http://www.skintoskincontact.com/susan-ludington.aspx

5Phases is dedicated to helping families achieve a healthier and organic lifestyle. Starting with baby, we develop products keeping both the environment and health of your family in mind. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com.

 

 

 

Categories: health, pregnancy
Tags: , ,

Mother’s milk is best for baby, but RAW goat’s milk comes in a close second!

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Sunday, January 27th, 2013

Asthma, colds, runny noses, ear infections, tonsil and adenoid troubles are a common occurrence in our children today and what is most likely the culprit…….pasteurized cow’s milk. With casein content exceeding 300% of mother’s milk it is one of the most mucus forming foods consumed by our children today. The medical community is finally coming to the realization that a very high percentage of our children are allergic to cow’s milk. According to health and nutrition expert, researcher (almost 70 years worth!) and world renowned author, Dr. Norman W. Walker D. Sc, there is only one kind of milk, other than mother’s milk, that is compatible with the human digestive system….RAW goat’s milk! Used in its RAW state, goat’s milk is non mucus forming.  Keeping it RAW is the key. It should never be heated above 118 F or pasteurized. At temperatures over 130F, enzymes in any milk are destroyed. According to Dr. Walker, mother’s milk is best for baby, but RAW goat’s milk comes in a close second. Next to mother’s milk and unlike cow’s milk, RAW goat’s milk is one of the cleanest foods we can give our babies. Goats are virtually free of tuberculosis, brucellosis and other ailments that can affect cows.  It’s naturally homogenous and its protein is of higher quality. RAW goat’s milk has more non-protein nitrogen and has a higher amount of niacin and thiamine than almost any other food or product.

So if goat’s milk is so much better than cow’s milk why is it not used over cow’s milk? Well it’s purely economics. It would take 500 goats to yield the same amount of milk as a 100 cows. However that is not the only problem, laws restrict the sale of unpasteurized RAW milk…. goats’ or cow, making it very difficult to get!

There are claims RAW milk is “dangerous” and unsafe for human consumption and yes it does seem the risk of becoming ill from drinking RAW milk is about 9 times greater than it is from drinking pasteurized milk. However, the actual risk of developing a serious illness is pretty small: about 1 in 6 million. According to the CSPI outbreak alert report, when you compare illnesses from dairy, compared to other foods this is quite small. Only in the last hundred years or so has the pasteurization of cow’s milk to kill any unwanted bacteria become so wide spread. Approximately 10 million people drink RAW milk. For them the benefits outweigh the risk. The Weston A. Price Foundation conducted an informal survey of over 700 families. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with lactose intolerance no longer suffered from symptoms after switching to RAW milk. It seems when we try to improve what nature has given us we end up changing the food and destroying important nutrients which can affect our health in another way. It’s a trade off. Fortunately, there is a clinical study on raw milk currently being performed at Stanford University. The results have yet to be published but will provide scientific evidence on the claims of many raw milk drinkers.

The important question is however, how is your child reacting to the milk they are drinking? Are they able to tolerate milk or are they constantly being affected by illness. As a parent with a sick child you may have to do some research and do what works for you and your family.

If RAW goat’s milk is an alternative you want to try, how do you go about getting it? It would be well worth finding a local supplier. Contacting the American Dairy Goat Association is a great start. They have an online directory with links to members’ websites and they can point you in the right direction on selecting a reputable supplier.

Because of the organic and RAW food movement, it is slowly becoming easier to find RAW milk suppliers. If these steps don’t bring you success, don’t give up, keep networking and searching, you will eventually find someone who knows someone who sells RAW goat milk or you can buy your own goats and never be without RAW goat’s milk again!

RAW KNOWLEDGE: Raw Goat Milk Benefits (Lela Buttery)

5Phases is dedicated to helping families achieve a healthier and organic lifestyle. Starting with baby, we develop products keeping both the environment and health of your family in mind. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com.

Categories: allergies, breastfeeding, colic, ear infections, health, infant feeding, organic eating
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

What’s the best way to collect, store and prepare my breast milk?

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Friday, September 21st, 2012

Let’s face it when it comes to your newborn and feeding there is no substitute for the nutritional and immunologic benefits of breast milk. It is recognized worldwide in protecting your infant from infections and has been shown to lower the incidence of ear infections, eczema and wheezing especially when there is a family history of allergies. Commercial formulas may meet your infant’s nutritional needs but the unique protective properties of breast milk cannot be duplicated in a laboratory. Unfortunately, not all women are able to breast feed. Many women do not have the luxury of taking  time off from work to accommodate the feeding schedule of their newborn or are unable to breast feed altogether. In this case women turn to commercial formulas or express pump and store their milk. If express pumping you want ensure your infant is getting the most nutrients possible. It is critical to use the proper method for collecting and storing to guarantee the highest quality of anti- infective properties. Because the gastrointestinal tract is a possible portal of entry for pathogenic organisms it is also very important to have stringent guidelines to avoid contamination especially for a preterm infant.

Expressed milk should be free of bacteria other than normal skin flora. Ideally, milk should be expressed before each feeding to guarantee the most protective factors. However, the majority of mothers who pump do it because they aren’t available during their infants feeding schedule. In this case, the method of collection, storage and preparation are critical.

Anti-infective properties of collected breast milk do decline over time. Similarly those same properties are affected by the type of container used for storage. The most commonly used containers are glass, polyethylene bags and rigid polyethylene containers. Which is preferred? According to Susan Orlando’s article, “The Immunologic Significance of Breast milk”, GLASS containers have been found to be the preferred choice for storing expressed milk because there is no absorption of secretory IgA antibodies and other important proteins that benefit the infant. There is also a lower risk of contamination with glass when compared to polyethylene bags.

The methods of thawing frozen breast milk can also affect anti-infective factors of breast milk. The use of microwaves to thaw or warm freshly pumped refrigerated breast milk is not recommended and can be detrimental lowering the activity of anti-infective factors. For optimal results, frozen milk should be thawed in the refrigerator, warmed at a slow steady temperature. Once thawed, expressed milk should be used within 24 hours.

On an ending note, for most infants, breast feeding is the optimal choice for feeding. Express pumping of course would be the next best thing always storing in GLASS to guarantee your infant is getting the most anti-infective properties as possible.

Ref:     http://www.eatsonfeets.com/docs/The_Immunolofic_Significance_of_Breastmilk.pdf

5Phases is dedicated to a healthy and organic lifestyle for babies developing products that help give them the best start possible. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com

Categories: allergies, breast milk storage, breastfeeding, health, infant feeding
Tags: , , , , , ,

Supplement or not to supplement?

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Friday, August 17th, 2012

As new parents we count heavily on our pediatrician’s advice for the right protocol to keeping our children healthy. As far as supplementation recommendation, it is important to realize the average pediatrician may only receive an average of two and a half hours of nutritional training during their four years medical school. Many will say supplements aren’t necessary as long as your child maintains a balanced diet. However, with our lifestyles, we know how difficult that can be and eating healthy may not be enough. Nutritional researchers are finding the nutrients in conventional foods are being robbed by our modern agricultural practices with the use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. They are finding foods grown on the same land year after year rob the soil of critical nutrients. Plants tend to become less healthy as they struggle to cope with deficient soil and are becoming susceptible to insects, mold, fungi, viruses, weeds and bacteria requiring more chemicals. It’s a vicious cycle. In our modern world it is virtually impossible to obtain the nutrients we need from diet alone even when we eat healthy. Supplements should be used in addition to eating healthy and are not an invitation to eating a poor diet. However, all supplements are not the same. Many vitamins marketed today are synthetic. They are filled with additives, fillers, binders, lubricants, colors and preservatives. These synthetic forms of vitamins may introduce harmful contaminants and allergens and can interfere with the body’s ability to dissolve and absorb the nutrients. Cost does matter. Cheap ingredients usually suggest the product is not of high quality. Because the supplement market is unregulated it’s important to seek manufacturers who use quality ingredients along with good manufacturing practices.

Move your child’s nutritional pathway in the right direction by having them eat “real” living organic food and taking high quality vitamins. Empower yourself by keeping up with research and talk to your physician before adding nutritional and health supplements. Your child will thank you with the gift of good health.

5Phases is dedicated to a healthy and organic lifestyle for babies. We develop products that minimize harmful exposure to chemicals, giving baby the best start possible. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com.

Categories: health, supplements, uncategorized
Tags: ,

It may be premature to label so called BPA-free plastics as safe

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Today’s consumer knows that they should try to avoid Bisphenol-A in their daily
lives.  Low doses of BPA can lead to a wide range of health problems.   Several states have imposed bans on the use of BPA in baby bottles, and many companies have voluntarily substituted
alternatives for the petroleum-based plasticizer, which research has now linked
with everything from birth defects of the male and female reproductive systems, to cancer, attention deficit disorder, and even asthma.  As evidence continues to mount on the dangers of BPA many of us feel it is imperative to eliminate those products containing BPA, and search out ones without.  But does BPA Free mean Safe?

We can’t be sure any plastic is safe as long as we don’t know what chemicals are in the plastic and as long as those chemicals have not been tested. Overall, some 80,000 chemicals are currently on the market, with only a small portion tested for safety. Even fewer have been evaluated for specific effects, such as the BPA-induced scrambling of hormone signals.

A recent University of Texas study confirms that hormone-disrupting chemicals leach from almost all plastics, even BPA-free plastics.  According to the researchers, one reason BPA concerns us is because it has Estrogenic Activity (EA), meaning it mimics the hormone estrogen in the body.
Researchers concluded almost all commercially available plastic products
sampled, independent of the type of  resin, product, or retail source, leached chemicals having reliably-detectable EA, including those advertised as BPA-free. In some cases, BPA-free products
released chemicals having more EA than BPA-containing products.

The researchers tested baby bottles made from PES (polyethersulfone), a new plastic being used to replace BPA in hard plastic bottles. Many of today’s BPA-FREE baby bottles are made
from PES. What did they find? Some PES baby bottles released more EA chemicals
than those with BPA in them!

According to Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, and the National Toxicology Program in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
The new work simply emphasizes the point that different isn’t always better.”When we move to alternatives,” she said, “I think it’s important that we test the alternatives to make sure we’re not going to do the same thing or something worse than the compound we’re removing.”

Just because a plastic product is labeled BPA-free doesn’t mean it is safe to put
food or beverages inside.  More testing needs to be accomplished and until sufficient data emerges, it may be premature to label so called BPA-free plastics as safe.

5Phases is dedicated to a healthy and organic lifestyle for babies. We develop products that minimize harmful exposure to chemicals, giving baby the best start possible. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com.

Categories: BPA, toxic chemicals
Tags: , , , , , ,

One Doctor’s Quest for Knowledge on What Causes Ill-Health in Children

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

In the last 40 years there has been a global epidemic rise
in children suffering from poor health and chronic conditions from allergies,
autism, asthma, ear infections, colds, flues and ADD/ADHD. Sadly most of us
have accepted this as the norm instead of asking ourselves “what are the
underlying causes of all these chronic disorders”.  Our polluted environment, unhealthy foods,
sedentary lifestyle are the real issues facing our children today.

According to Dr. Murray Clarke ND., D. Hom., M Hom., L.Ac,  founder of ChildLife Essentials and author of Natural Baby-Healthy Child, forty years ago 1 in 50 children in the United States was compromised with some
type of chronic illness. That number now is 1 in 5. In Russia 50% of children are now born with some form of birth defect or physical developmental disorder. One of the biggest contributing factors points to environmental pollutants and
toxins.

Parents in American are aware that their children are suffering and are looking for alternative solutions. Dr. Murray Clarke’s book Natural Baby-Healthy Child provides a step by step presentation of solutions that all parents can apply to enhance their child’s health starting with preconception preparation  by the mother into pregnancy, the baby’s first year and on throughout childhood. These options include diet environmental
detoxification, nutritional supplementation and holistic modalities including homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture.  Parents will gain an intimate understanding of how to select and apply these methods for their child’s benefit and good health.

I’ve read Dr. Clarke’s book. His passion, dedication and quest for knowledge in what causes ill-health in children are apparent.  With a reputation that continues to grow in the community, even local MD pediatricians find themselves referring some of their own patients when they are unable to help them with the standard pharmaceutical treatments. It is clearly understandable why he is one of the most sought after homeopathic pediatricians in the Los Angeles area.

5Phases is dedicated to a healthy and organic lifestyle for babies. We develop products that minimize harmful exposure to chemicals, giving baby the best start possible. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com.

Categories: allergies, autism, health, supplements, toxic chemicals
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Bottled or tap water for your baby’s formula?

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Saturday, December 10th, 2011

Which is safer, bottled water, or water from the tap for your baby’s formula?  Well according to Dr. Sarah Janssen, science fellow with the Natural Resources Defense Council in San Francisco, which conducted an extensive analysis of bottled water back in 1999, “Bottled water isn’t any safer or purer than what comes out of the tap. In fact, it’s less well-regulated, and you’re more likely to know what’s in tap water.”(1) Actually, because tap water is regulated by the EPA rather than the FDA, which regulates bottled water, it is subject to very different standards for purity.  The EPA regulates the levels of roughly 90 different contaminants, including germs such as giardia, heavy metals such as lead and dozens of industrial chemicals in tap water.(2)  These guidelines, however, do vary from state to state.  But for the most part, “If a utility is doing its job and it’s well funded, they can take all this stuff out,” says Elizabeth Royte, author of “Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It.”(3)  On the other hand bottled water, which is not subject to these guidelines, does not have to be filtered, disinfected, or even tested, and therefore can possibly contain much higher levels of bacteria.

And what about the environment?  Bottled water requires lots of energy to pump bottle and transport.  True plastic water bottles are recyclable, but statistics show that only around 20-25 percent actually make it the recycling station.  Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. According to Food and Water Watch, that plastic requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce. (4)  That assumes empty bottles actually make it to a garbage can. Plastic waste is now at such a volume that vast eddies of current-bound plastic trash now spin endlessly in the world’s major oceans. This represents a great risk to marine life, killing birds and fish which mistake our garbage for food. (5)

And what about harmful chemicals leaching from plastic? Plastic bottles pose a health risk. Studies have shown that
chemicals called phthalates, which are known to disrupt testosterone and other hormones, can leach into bottled water over time. One study found that water that had been stored for 10 weeks in plastic and in glass bottles contained phthalates, suggesting that the chemicals could be coming from the plastic cap or liner. Although there are regulatory standards limiting phthalates in tap water, there are no legal limits for phthalates in bottled water — the bottled water industry waged a successful campaign opposing the FDA proposal to set a legal limit for these chemicals!(6)

What can you do? There’s a simple alternative to bottled water: bring your own filtered tap water for your baby’s formula, store it in a glass or  stainless steel container and feel good about your positive impact on the environment!

1-3.”Safety of Bottled Water, by Elona Conis, The Los
Angeles Times, October 13, 2008

4-5.”5 Reason’s not to drink bottled water”, by Chris
Baskind, The Mother Nature Network, March 15, 2010

6.”Plastic Bottle Facts”, Nubiusorganics.com

5Phases is dedicated to a healthy and organic lifestyle for babies. We develop products that minimize harmful exposure to chemicals, giving baby the best start possible. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com

Categories: health, toxic chemicals, uncategorized
Tags: , , , ,

Temperature Taking…A Challenge For Any New Parent

By Christine • Comments: (0)
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

As a new parent getting an accurate temperature reading for your child can be a challenge. How do you determine what method is the best and at what temperature reading should you be concerned? There is a much wider range than previously thought. The normal body temperature of 98.6F is no longer considered standard. A child’s temperature can change though out the day. Certain things can also alter temperature like if your child has just eaten or drank something warm or has been active or dressed warmly. To make sure you get an accurate reading wait thirty minutes before taking their temperature.

Here are three of the most common temperature reading methods:

ORAL METHOD

Use this method if a child is older than 5 years old. Have them place the thermometer under the tongue for 3 minutes.

RECTAL METHOD

This method is usually used for babies and children that cannot hold a thermometer in their mouth. This method may be the best option. Rectal temperatures usually read about 0.8F higher than oral temperatures.

UNDERARM

This method is the most unreliable method of the three but can be used if your child is unable to hold a thermometer in their mouth. An underarm reading yields a temperature of 1F lower than a child’s oral temperature and is best only used as a general indicator. To get the best reading place the thermometer under a dry armpit for 2 minutes.

Having a temperature is your own body’s natural way of fighting an infection. Any temperature over 101F is considered elevated however it is not usually necessary to treat a temperature under 102F. Nevertheless, it is always best to consult your pediatrician about what method they recommend and if your child’s temperature requires a visit to the office.

5Phases is dedicated to a healthy and organic lifestyle for babies. We develop products that minimize harmful exposure to chemicals, giving baby the best start possible. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com

Categories: health, uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Remedies for your childs cold, naturally!

By Christine • Comments: (1)
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

With the dreaded cold season upon us its nice to have some ammunition to be prepared. If your child has a cough, encourage him or her to drink plenty of water to thin and expel the mucus.  Eliminate foods that create mucus such as dairy, sugar, junk food, and processed foods.  Homemade organic soups are always a good idea when treating a cold. Chicken soup made with onions, garlic and ginger help raise immunity and decrease inflammation and hot barley soup reduces phlegm. Once your child is hydrated with all that nutritious homemade soup, chest and back percussions with a cupped hand helps loosen phlegm so it can be expelled from lungs.

It’s a good idea to keep the bedroom moist at night with a humidifier. However, not all humidifiers are the same.   According to Kathleen Ward Brown, ScD, research fellow with Harvard University’s Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk program, cool mist humidifiers essentially create acid rain by sending mineral water droplets into the air where as the steam humidifiers send gas by boiling the water leaving behind the heaviest mineral particles.

Who wants acid rain in their child’s room? Go with the steam humidifier.

Some basic supplements and herbal remedies can help as well:

*Vitamin C enhances immune function and has anti- inflammatory properties.

*Carotenoids (beta carotene) is a potent antioxidant, and helps with

immune function. It also helps with growth and repair of tissues in the lungs.

*Zinc based lozenges help reduce infection and inflammation.

*N-acetylcysteine (NAC) thins phlegm to make it easier to expectorate.

*Eucalyptus or tea tree oil can be added to vaporizer or warm mist humidifier for a calming effect on the respiratory track.

*Licorice tea has antibacterial properties.

*Menthol lozenges made from peppermint can be used as a cough suppressant.

*Garlic has natural antibacterial properties.

*Echinacea/Goldenseal combination enhances immune function and dries up mucus.

*Elderberry helps boost immune system and shortens life of cold.

*Saline mist up each nostril 3x a day can loosen mucus

Always consult a trained physician in the field

Hope this helps!!!

5Phases is dedicated to a healthy and organic lifestyle for babies. We develop products that minimize harmful exposure to chemicals, giving baby the best start possible. For more information, visit our Facebook page or online @ www.5phases.com

Categories: health, organic eating, supplements, uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

shop 5 phases >

Subscribe to the blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Bookmark and Share

About Me

After the birth of my 1 lb 7oz micro preemie son I became educated on the benefits of Alternative Medicine and Organic living. My job as a commercial airline pilot gives me plenty of free time on layovers for reading. I find myself constantly wanting to talk about my newest revelation. My desire to help and educate others is what inspires me to create this blog.