I assumed for many years that I needed to become a Nutritionist to save my dad’s life. He suffered from colon cancer. I begged him to change his eating habits and cut out meats and coffee, trying to convince him not to go through chemotherapy and resort to natural remedies. Nothing could change his mind since his Oncologist suggested chemotherapy. After painful surgeries and agonizing years of chemotherapy, he passed away in 2005.

I now believe that nothing could have changed his mindset, not even his own daughter.

Do you ever wonder why you have become, what you are? Why does the universe have such riddling ways planed for each one of us?

My digestive health was always questionable, and I did get into health and nutrition way before my father’s diagnoses. Not until, my dad has passed away have I fully committed to a healthy diet. I was desperately trying to figure out what could have caused his cancer in the first place and totally ignoring my own health. He never smoked, had extremely little alcohol and ate home cooked meals at every meal. Where was the problem?

Is cancer hidden in the genes?

Just like my dad, my aunt (my father’s older sister) passed away from cancer. She was quite a large woman my aunt. They never diagnosed her with colon cancer, but they diagnosed her with cancer in all organs and tissues. By the time she went to the doctor, the cancer has spread all over.

This mystery sent me on a seven year quest of more learning, reading and much more research!

Just this year, my Mother in Law got diagnosed with pre-cancerous polyps and badly damaged intestines which needed immediate surgery. She is also a health nut. My Mother in Law eats well, does not smoke, does not drink and prepares her own foods. Where is the culprit for all this madness?

Finally after 7 years all is clear! What I have discovered is, that it was genetic, but not what one would think! Cancer is not genetic. Now one would wonder, what is the underlying cause? This is going to surprise some, but bear with me; the pieces are coming together!

Many family members suffer from food intolerances or food allergies. It was so obvious –Gluten Allergy and Gluten Sensitivity. There is a difference between symptoms of wheat intolerance and gluten intolerance symptoms. Also, it is possible to experience Celiac Disease symptoms but test negative for Celiac Disease. Even adults can develop food allergies, do not neglect the thought that certain conditions can be brought on in adulthood despite not showing any signs in their youth.

I had couple pieces of the puzzle, but the picture did not make sense until my boys, 10 and 6 showed weird symptoms and too many unexplainable infections. My 10 year old suffers from sinus infections and pollen allergies for a couple of years now as does my younger son. Recently my older son got diagnosed with anemia which was specially puzzling to me. I’m a nutritionist. We eat natural beef and foods high in natural iron. What was going on?

Sebastian is the little guy he had trouble with his tooth enamel for years, funny white bumps on his arms and cheeks, just like I used to have when I was little. He suffered from tonsillitis since he was a toddler with frequent ear infections and colds, funny, just like his mommy!

These are all symptoms of a suppressed immune system caused by an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine triggered by gluten! Symptoms of this autoimmune disorder are also vitamin, mineral and a nutrient deficiency!

Important to recognize is that conventional clinical tests can determine Celiac Disease to some degree,  but inconclusive or negative results in these tests do not mean; free from gluten intolerance. Quite frankly, most people experiencing hidden and significant gluten intolerance symptoms, have tested negative for Celiac Disease. These individuals are categorized as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive, or NCGS. The scary part is that, only because individuals are not positively diagnosed with Celiac Disease by doctors, does not mean that they could not suffer the same outcome from your gluten sensitivity – Colon Cancer!

As a now Gluten-Free Family, I do suggest an elimination diet. If one is not familiar with these allergy testing approach, please research: Elimination Diet.

More information on Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease, as well as symptoms, can be found on this site Gluten Intolerance Symptoms.

I’m thanking my dad for paving my way, so I could diagnose my children quite early with this nasty food intolerance. Some children, like me, go undiagnosed for years until they develop symptoms that are extremely hard to pinpoint in adulthood.

My Dad with my son Pierce

My Dad with my son Pierce

Be proactive and research your family”s history. Colon Cancer does not mean cancer it means that the digestive system and immunity are compromised by something!

Wishing your family best health and like always…

Stay Healthy and Keep Juicing … oh, and gluten-free!

Monika Baechler

How involving children in kitchen activities can help them eat healthier.

Even small children can help out in the kitchen. Always remember to tell them about some kitchen safety lesson first.

• Wash your hand with soup before working in the kitchen
• Don’t run with utensils, don’t run in the house! Period.
• Stay away from the hot stove

Cooking with kids can take longer than cooking alone, especially when you just start introducing the basics. Keep in mind the various benefits that children will be developing, from an increase in fine motor skills, to advances in math, measurements and direction taking, as well as a sense of confidence in the kitchen. Cooking together is also a great time to bond for parents and children, take advantage of the fun and the laughs. (7)

Start with simple tasks like mixing and measuring baking ingredients, pouring liquids and washing fruit. Older kids can graduate to harder tasks like chopping fruits, vegetables and preparing salads.

Just remember to be patient with children. Give directions as often as possible and let them know how well they’re doing. Spills can happen if children help in the kitchen and it’s a welcoming opportunity to teach them how to clean up. (7)

Kids who get to touch and prepare foods are more likely to sample it. For that reason, why not let them pick out a new vegetables at the market and figure out a way to cook it together? I bet he or she will be excited to try the weekly vegetable.

Having family meal times can prevent unhealthy eating habits in your children

For many families, eating together has become a lost tradition. The facts are on the table: eating dinner together every night keeps the doors of communication open. It’s the perfect time and place to reconnect and to show your kids that they are your priority. Find out more about your children’s likes, dislikes, and daily life. Having this information can help you guide your children toward positive activities and behavior. (8)

Why are family meal times important?

1. Having sit-down dinners and taking time for your children shows that you care and that your children are important to you
2. Girls who have five or more meals a week with their families are one-third less likely to develop unhealthy eating habits, which can range from skipping meals to full-fledged anorexia (9)
3. Family dinners are a perfect time and place to get involved in your child’s activities and learn more about friends.
4. Parental involvement and influence is an important role in preventing substance abuse (8)

How to put this into a workable plan?

• Limit computer and all media types to 1-2 hours a day
• give them a chance to play outside for at least 30-60 minutes daily
• make sure they get enough exercise 30 – 60 minutes
• monitor their water and fluid intake
• limit their sugar intake
• provide their meal with sufficient whole foods, raw and steamed or broiled
• Let them help in the kitchen

• plan a sit-down meal at least once a day

I wish you and your family good health. If you enjoyed this publications, please don’t forget: Caring means sharing, please share with your friends on Facebook. Keep in touch by subscribing to my eNewsletter.

Stay Healthy and Keep Juicing!

Monika Baechler

1. kidshealth.com
2. Water.org.uk Wise-up Children!
3. Dr. Mercola’s article “This Addictive Commonly Used Food Feeds Cancer Cells, Triggers Weight Gain, and Promotes Premature Aging”
4. Nancy Appleton, PhD, author of the book “Lick the Sugar Habit”
5. Professor Gary Null “Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing”
6. “Enzymes: The Fountain of Life”, by D.A. Lopez
7. National Network for Child Care – NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the National Extension Service
8. American Dietetic Association. Making the Most of Mealtime, last referenced January 31, 2008.
9. The Importance of Family Dinners IV, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, September 2007.

previous 1 2 3

How can I make sure my child drinks enough?

The amount of water we need depends on our body size, physical activity and the weather. Most men and women need about 8-12 cups of water per day. Children need less because they are smaller.

Children’s water requirements vary with age. Recommendations from the US National

Academies Food and Nutrition Board suggest that: (2)

• 1-3 year olds should drink 0.9 liters per day (4 cups)
• 4-8 year olds should drink 1.2 liters per day (5 cups) and
• 9-13 year old girls should drink 1.6 liters per day (6.5 cups), and boys should drink 1.8 liters per day (7.5 cups)
• 14-18 year old girls should drink 1.8 liters per day (7.5 cups), and boys should drink 2.6 liters per day (11 cups)

Water intake should be higher in warm weather or when the child is exercising. A good way to make sure they drink enough is measure out the water they should drink a day and label the water bottles with their names. As soon as they get up in the morning you should offer them water, room temperature with some lemon. Lemon water in the morning stimulates the cleansing process.

How sugar can impair your child’s defenses against infectious disease.

In Dr. Mercola’s article “This Addictive Commonly Used Food Feeds Cancer Cells, Triggers Weight Gain, and Promotes Premature Aging” he says that, in addition to limiting your intake of fructose, you should eliminate all sweetened beverages and fruit juices (including all artificial sweeteners) and drink only pure water. (3)

It’s not that high fructose corn syrup is bad for you, but it’s the huge amounts of HFCS that makes it dangerous and overwhelmingly toxic to our bodies. You can find HFCS in all kinds of products. The worst products are sodas/pops. These days high fructose corn syrup is in bread, candy, crackers, soups and juices.

Nancy Appleton, PhD, author of the book “Lick the Sugar Habit”, contributed an extensive list of the many ways sugar can ruin your health from a vast number of medical journals and other scientific publications. (4)

Just to name a few:

• Sugar can suppress your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease (4)
• Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children (4)
• Sugar contributes to obesity (4)
• Sugar can damage the pancreas (4)
• Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines (4)

What is the difference between simple sugars and starches?

Carbohydrates are the body’s most important and readily available source of energy. Even though they’ve gotten a bad rap in the 2000s and are often blamed for the obesity epidemic in America, carbs are a necessary and important part of a healthy diet for both kids and adults.

The two major forms of sugar are:

• simple sugars (simple carbohydrates), such as fructose (from fruit), glucose, and lactose (milk sugar), and also found in nutritious whole fruits
• starches (complex carbohydrates), found in foods such as starchy vegetables (potatoes, corn, beets, carrots and peas), grains (brown rice, millet, quinoa), and breads (whole grain bread)

Where do the healthy carbohydrates come from?

You probably ask yourself, how do I know which one is a good carb and which one is bad. It’s really quite simple. All carbohydrate sources coming from a whole food like fruits, vegetables and whole grains are good for you and your children. Bad carbohydrate coming from sugar, white flour and all processed foods are bad for you and should be limited to small treats once in a while. For more on the worst foods possible, check out my video “The Worst Foods Possible”

There is no need for counting carbohydrate or sugars in whole foods. Whole foods are fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds and meats in its whole – meaning unprocessed. If it’s grown like that, it’s a whole food.

How can dairy harm my child?

To quote Prof. Gary Null “In all respiratory conditions, mucous-forming dairy foods, such as milk and cheese, can exacerbate clogging of the lungs and should be avoided,” writes Professor Gary Null in his Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. It’s quite simple really, when more mucus accumulates in the lungs than can be expelled, inflammation results and asthma attack develops. Many children who suffered from asthma have recovered from frequent attacks just by eliminating dairy from their diet.

Dairy is also linked to lowered immunsysteme, which invites more infectious disease, colds and ear infections.

How living food can save your children from disease.

According to “Enzymes: The Fountain of Life”, by D.A. Lopez. They are a measure of our life and immunity. “The immune system depends heavily on enzymes to conduct its protective functions. When enzyme activity stops, life stops and the person or organism dies!” In other words, enzymes are our supply of the vital energy of life. (6)

Many nutritional studies have shown that a regular diet of cooked, microwaved or canned foods causes the development of chronic degenerative diseases and premature aging followed by early death. How is this possible? Cooking food destroys the important plant enzymes.

They are more heat-sensitive than vitamins and are the first to be destroyed during cooking. They are destroyed by being heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit and are deactivated or destroyed by pasteurizing, canning, and microwaving. (6)

This means that you need to feed your children’s body more raw fruits and vegetables. The easiest way to do this are raw juices and smoothies. Smoothies should be made fresh and not store bought. Fresh smoothies are mode with some kind of raw liquid like fresh raw fruit juice or almond milk, fresh fruit with a handful of spinach, and maybe some raw honey. Start you child’s day with a full glass of vital energy so they can be productive in school. More about enzymes

How can I be a positive role model to my kids?

No matter how old your children are or what their level of fitness is, remember that he or she looks to you for guidance and needs your support and encouragement. Also it’s important to be a great role model, so don’t make negative remarks about your own exercise or weight, and look for chances to be physically active as a family.

It’s also important to teach your child proper eating habits with a whole food diet and home cooked meals without overcrowding the day with treats.

Some fun autumn activities you can try with your own family are:

• hiking
• collect colorful autumn leaves
• walk trough the forest, explore
• visit farms and learn about fall vegetables
• fly a kit
• go to an indoor pool (ask around for a non-chlorinated pool)

previous 1 2 3 next

“The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese.”

Are your children hooked on electronics?

Hours and hours of video games, on the phone with friends, on the computer chatting with friends and too much junk food can lead to overweight children and later overweight adults. You already knew this and it’s no wonder with all the “excess” in this world today.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average child is watching about 3 hours of television a day. And the average kid spends 5½ hours on all screen media combined (TV, videos and DVDs, computer time outside of schoolwork, and video games). (1)

The combination of to much excess and not enough of the healthy components can leave your child lethargic, depressed and unhappy. What follows is craving more of the bad stuff like TV, candy, fast food, and more junk.

How can I get my kids to exercise?

Don’t refer to exercise as exercise. Just ask them if they want to go play outside or ride their bike. Children love to play and run. They don’t know that playing tag and soccer is exercise. Well, not consciously anyway.

Adults usually think of exercise as something negative, a chore, something like a never ending treadmill session. For children, exercise is fun. Remember your school recess? Running after others, being chased by your friends, ( hopefully they were playing a game of tag!), skipping rope and so forth. Remember how much fun you had climbing trees and spending hours outside with classmates monkeying around on play structures?

How important is outside play to children?

You as a parent can provide the happy childhood you had to your children, by replacing the negative habits with positive ones.

Let them play almost everyday outside, even if there is a chill in the air or it’s rainy. I understand how that might not seem like fun to you, but hear me out. Children love to play in wet leaves, in puddles and on forest trails. Why not, how much harm can they get into if it’s a little wet outside. Put them in warm clothing, a pair of rain boots and a hat. Fresh air detoxifies the lungs and body and can clear your mind.

Exercise doesn’t only control obesity, exercise helps them:

• develop stronger muscles and bones (1)
• have a leaner body because exercise helps control body fat (1)
• decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes dramatically (1)
• possibly lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels (1)
• fell positive about themselves (1)
• fit in better with their peers (1)

How to spot dehydration symptoms in my child?

The human body is about 60% water. It is necessary for our health and well-being. Water is part of our cells, blood, digestion, and waste elimination. Water also controls cravings. We can’t live more than a few days without water – water is life.

Too little water can lead to dehydration and the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Dry and itchy eyes
• Muscle weakness
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Lack of concentration
• Overeating

1 2 3 next

Every mother knows the dreading feeling of coming up with a healthy and tasty school lunch kids actually enjoy to eat.

Are you going from turkey sandwich to tuna sandwich and ham and cheese? How can you possibly come up with new ideas for a tasty and imaginative lunch everyday?

A nutritious school lunch should include all the very important building blocks for your children to grow on.  Pack some kind of whole grains, lean protein, vegetables and fruits. Whole grains are vital for energy and slow sugar digestion. By supplying your kid’s lunch bag with 100% whole grains and not whole wheat or white flour you guarantee a slow rise in blood sugar and a longer satiety level. Children need to supply they brains with complex carbohydrates during the day, what you think is healthy for you, like a low carb diet, is not at all healthy for your growing kids.

What is a lean protein? A lean protein is a some kind of meat, fish, chicken or vegetarian option that doesn’t contain more than 8-12% fat.

Great lunch options for lean protein are:

• Eggs: Hot days are over and you could without a doubt pack a nice egg lunch. Try some deviled eggs with low fat mayo or hummus or avocado base. Egg salad wraps are a welcoming treat for any child.
• Dairy: I’m not a big fan of dairy, but children love cheese. If the cheese is natural and without any antibiotics and hormones – why not? You can include cheese once in a while in their lunch boxes without any worries.
• Fish: Tuna is not the best choice for children because of its high mercury content. Choose a fish lower on the food chain for its lower mercury content, the smaller the fish the lower it is on the food chain. Simply poach the fish, let it cool and prepare as fish salad, like you wood a tuna salad. Find some healthy and low mercury fish options here.
• Chicken: Natural grilled whole chickens are very healthy for children and they need the low fat protein to grow and play. Think of chicken wraps, chicken strips for dipping, chicken kebabs and chicken salads.
• Lean Meats: Lean natural deli meats are a little more expensive, but what’s more important then the health of your children? Depending on their age, you wont need more than 2-3 slices of deli meats. Choose turkey, ham and chicken. Sunday is a great day to hang out with family and talk about the next week. Plan the lunch menus together. Older children can also help in the kitchen with the preparations. Try a tasty home made chicken noodle soup for the colder days.  Canned soups are very low on nutrients and contain way to much sodium and too little lean protein and vegetables. Take the time to prepare your soups at home. Cook the noodle separately from the chicken soup to prevent it from going soggy. Let them add the cold noodles to the warm soup at lunch for a tasty and nutritious meal for any autumn day.
• Beans: Beans are a wonderful addition to any lunch box. Bean dips, bean soups or even mixed bean salads are tasty, colorful and fun for children all ages.

Vegetables are loaded with vitamins. Even better than any vegetables are raw vegetables for their high enzyme and high vitamin and mineral content.  Think of cucumber slices with bean dip or hummus. Tomato, cucumber, pepper slices in wraps and sandwiches. Instead of carrot sticks or baby carrots try carrots chips. Just cut carrots on an angle 2-3 mm thin. Children love to be surprised and it keeps them trying new foods.

Cater to the adventurous mind of your child. Keep them guessing – What did mom make me today? Once or twice a week pack them their favorite snack or make them a tasty and healthy oatmeal cookie from scratch. Show them how important they are. Show your children how important health is. They wont understand now, but they will appreciate it later in life.

Children love sweet foods. You wont have any problems convincing them to eat some ripe cut up fruits. Children love little bites, cut the apple in discs instead of slices for a change. Core the apple and slice in little discs. To keep the apple from turning brown, squeeze some orange or pineapple juice over them and serve it with fresh natural yogurt sweetened with some honey. Fruit kebabs are also to much fun to pass down. Stay away from fruit cups in syrup or jello. Always choose fresh fruit over canned and juice boxes.

Have a great school year and see school lunches as an adventure and challenge not a chore, even thou it can seem as a never ending task! Smile – and challenge yourself! What can you come up with next?

Do you have any tips or questions? I would love to hear from you!

Stay Healthy and have a great school year!

Monika Baechler

P.S. Explore new recipes with your children and let them make suggestions for lunch ideas.

Peanut butter: Children can be allergic to peanuts or develop reactions like skin disorders. Don’t give peanut butter to small children under 2. Peanuts are heavily sprayed with chemicals and are grown on land saturated with synthetic fertilizers and it might also have a carcinogenic fungus aflatoxin. Only use organic peanut products sparingly or avoid all together to be safe.

Keep your children safe and…

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler

The boys help me all the time preparing food in the kitchen, they can chop and wash the ingredients. Even the 5 year old can help with things, I usually give him plastic knife for cutting mushrooms or tomatoes. Children are more likely to eat what they make themselves. I know dinner will obviously take a little more time preparing, but it’s really worth your time. Children will remember times like these for ever, I usually take pictures of the kids cooking with me and we remember what we cooked that day!

Sometimes the children tell me what they would like to put in the dish. Salads are always fun for kids, the colors are great and children love the crunchy stuff!

So, just have fun in the kitchen and your kids will too.

Monika

If this or an other article helped you and you enjoyed it, please donate to monikabaechler.com, thank you!