January Support Group Meeting
(Held: 1/16/08)
Meeting Minutes written by: Karen Baumann

Guest Speaker:
Barbara Ann Grova, CHHC, AADP
Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor
Nutritional Healing
nutritionheals@optonline.net
www.nutritionalhealingweb.com
631-428-2427
"Preserve Wellness ~ Prevent Illness"

The speaker at PAK's meeting was Barbara Ann Grova, CHHC, AADP. She is a holistic nutritionist. She started the meeting with meditation and guided imagery. Although she has a financial background, her daughter started early puberty at age 6. The doctors wanted to put her daughter on Lupron. She and her family became vegetarians for four years and still uses only organic. By eliminating pesticides and growth hormones she slowed her daughter's puberty down until age 9. Cow's milk, beef, pork and poultry are full of pesticides and growth hormones and there is estrogen in most plastic bottles.

In nutrition amino acids and protein play a huge role. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein mostly supplied by meat and dairy. There are 22 amino acids. Amino acids are made from the food that you put into your body. A complete protein is one that contains all of the essential amino acids such as meat, fish, eggs, poultry, soybeans and dairy. There are incomplete proteins which means the body does not get enough amino acids such as dried beans, peas, lentils, seeds, tree nuts, grains and vegetables. When you remove meat and dairy from your diet your body will lack important sources of calcium, protein and essential amino acids.  Meat is also the best source of Vitamin B 12.  The best source of Vitamin D is ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure. Sunscreen prevents vitamin D from entering the body.

Canned vegetables are in aluminum cans with no expiration date. Aluminum is not good for you. A better option for vegetables is frozen. Spinach is a good source of iron but too much can be constipating. Food allergies, such as dairy, tomatoes and wheat can cause eczema.

When asked about vitamins. Barbara Ann Grova suggested Animal Parade Vitamins which contain DHA and EPA. Nordic Naturals was also a good source of EPA's. It is not as potent as some other brands which usually have to be purchased through practitioners. Children should also be taking probiotics to protect and build their immune system. Vitamin caplets or hard tablets are not a good choice because your body cannot break them down and they come out the same way they went in. Liquid or capsule vitamins are a better choice for absorption.

The two worst ingredients in packaged foods are High Fructose Corn Syrup and Partially Hydrogenated Oil/Trans Fat. There are currently 22 different names for sugar.

Symptoms of food allergy include: colic, vomiting, diarrhea, runny or stuffy nose, hives, wheezing, constant diaper rash, poor sleeping, repeat ear infections and irritability. Dark circles under eyes "allergic shiners" can indicate a wheat allergy. Most food allergies are misdiagnosed as GERD or acid reflux because they both have similar symptoms.

The best way of testing for food allergies is by the elimination diet. You remove the eight most common allergens for a week and then gradually add them back in one at a time. Ige testing is not always accurate. Patch testing can help with delayed reactions however delayed reactions are difficult to pinpoint and can react hours to days afterwards.

Milk alternatives are rice milk, hemp milk (whole source protein), multi grain milk and almond milk provided you are not also allergic to any of those ingredients. Egg substitutes can be store bought egg replacers, applesauce and mashed bananas.

Non toxic cleaning alternatives are Borax for laundry, baking soda and vinegar for cleaning sinks and tiles, hydrogen peroxide can replace bleach, olive oil for furniture, salt as a abrasive, thyme is a good antiseptic, white vinegar as a grease cutter, Bonami and essential oils are also used.

Food allergies can cause ADD, ADHD and behavioral problems. Children are being overloaded by dyes, environmental toxins, pesticides and hormones  in foods and can become hyperactive. Yellow and red dyes are the worst offenders. Toxins include BHA, BHT, MSG, VOC's, fiber glass. Even your dryer throws off an electromagnetic field.

Barbara Ann Grova ended the meeting by saying an apple a day is great if you are not allergic to it. She also recommended the book "Is This Your Child?" by Doris Rapp.

Disclaimer: The opinions and stories on this site are not necessarily those of Protect Allergic Kids.  Our site is intended to offer a means for people to share their ideas and views.  PAK is not a professional or medical organization.  It is a group of parents sharing information and supporting each other.  The discussions, meeting minutes, handouts, guest speakers, agendas, and other products of our support group do not constitute medical/legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.  Always discuss individual health questions and medical issues with a qualified personal physician.
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