Many studies have shown that breastfeeding appears to reduce the chance of children developing asthma. But a newly published study led by a University of Alberta professor has found that eating fast food more than once or twice a week negated the beneficial effects that breastfeeding has in protecting children from the respiratory disease.
The article appears online in the international journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy based in London, England. A number of different findings led the researchers to their conclusion – showing links between fast food and asthma, breastfeeding and asthma, and all three together. Read the rest of this entry

There are so many natural options available for the majority of cases known as acid reflux, GERD (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease ), heartburn, or whatever you want to call that it is appalling how these are indiscriminately handed out given their potential deleterious effects. There are certainly times when someone may need a Proton Pump Inhibitor (i.e. Prilosec) or H2 Antagonists (i.e. Ranitidine).  However those cases are when there is concern about esophogeal cancer, throat cancer, ulcers etc. where  the symptoms have become more severe or there is concern about it getting that severe.

During pregnancy almost 9 out of every 10 women have acid reflux symptoms and often they are prescribed these medication to treat the symptoms.  However, many women find that acupuncture and/or abdominal massage offers outstanding results for eliminating acid reflux or at least reducing it to a tolerable level so that medications aren’t required.   A study to be published next month out of Children’s Hospital in Boston determined that pregnant women who take acid medication increase their child’s risk of asthma by nearly 50% if the mother had no prior allergy history. Read the rest of this entry

There have been several studies over the past few years that suggest taking fish oil during pregnancy is a must. Any acupuncture or nutrition patient I see that is pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant I always suggest that they get a good fish oil supplement. Now another study was just released that began in 1990 with 533 pregnant women at week 30 who were assigned to 3 groups. Read the rest of this entry