natural health Archives - Optimal Family Wellness

Natural support for kids with Allergies/Intolerances

AllisonR — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 23:19:05 +0000

So many of our children today suffer from either allergies or intolerance’s, and it can really dampen their quality of life. Recent data in Australia indicates that 10% of children under the age of 1 have a detected food allergy, and this number is only set to grow in the coming years. Today’s article aims to provide you with a basic understanding of allergy vs intolerance and some natural treatment options that can reduce the severity, duration and occurrence of reactions in your little people.

What is an allergy?

An allergy is a severe reaction, called an IgE reaction. It causes anaphylaxis, with very rapid onset. Only a very tiny amount of the allergen needs to be present for your child to react to this, and if anaphylaxis occurs you need an emergency EpiPen.

This kind of response is an immune system reaction, with large amounts of histamine released. This is what causes the common allergy reactions of:

Swelling
Difficulty breathing, wheezing
Hives or red itchy skins
Itchy, red, watery eyes
Vomiting and diarrhoea

What is an intolerance?

A food intolerance is an IgG response and takes up to 48 hours to occur.

So, a child could eat a food, and not experience symptoms for 2 days, which makes this type of reaction hard to pinpoint. Intolerances are not life threatening like allergies, and usually more than a tiny amount of the food needs to be eaten for a reaction to occur.

An intolerance can be immune system related, but is most often digestive system related, and occurs in the gut as a response to foods/substances.

Common intolerance’s symptoms include:
Headaches
Tummy aches
Diarrhea/constipation
Eczema
Mood swings/irrational behaviour
Bloating, tummy pains

How can you support your child through intolerance and allergy?

Firstly, if your child has an IgE allergy, you will need a medical plan from your doctor who can guide you on how to best manage this.

If, however, the allergy in question is something like hay fever, we will discuss ways to manage that below.

Food intolerance testing

If you suspect your child is reaction to foods, with symptoms like diarrhea, cramps, headaches, mood swings, skin rashes etc, then getting a food intolerance test is highly recommended. It will give you a list of foods and substances your child reacts to, which you can then eliminate from their diet.

You can contact me to learn more about this option.

Gut Health

Gut health plays a major role in whether your child will experience food intolerance’s, and in fact poor gut health can cause them to occur. The gut is also intimately linked to the immune system, so if there is a problem in one, chances are a problem will occur in the other.

There are several main area’s that we look at in order to improve your child’s gut health.

These are:

Making sure they have enough enzymes to properly break down food.
Gut bacteria, making sure they have the right balance of bacteria inside their gut, and correct this if not. We also look at making sure your child is having the right foods to feed healthy bacteria in their gut.
Gut lining. We look at making sure your child has optimal gut lining, which will help ensure food particles and proteins cannot get through into the blood stream and cause reactions.
Lastly we look at improving your child’s immune system through improving their gut health, and also through making sure they have the right nutrients present for strong immunity.

Working on your child’s gut health is best done with your Naturopath, and I’m happy to discuss this with you if you feel it’s relevant to you.

Foods rich in Quercetin

Quercetin is an antioxidant flavonoid, which has been shown to reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies by reducing histamine and inflammation. It is also a great immune system support in general.

Eating foods rich in quercetin can easily be achieved by adding any of the following foods into your child’s diet regularly:

Apples
Berries
Broccoli
Grapes
Red onions
Cherries
Kale
Capsicums
The bonus is that many of these foods are also high in Vitamin C.

Add Local honey

Local honey can be a wonderful food for hay fever suffers, as long as it is tolerated. Local honey has a small amount of pollen from the local environment and can help you tolerate it much better, thus reducing symptoms.

Add fermented foods

This is a natural way to increase your child’s internal probiotic count, or good bacteria. Including a small amount daily gives them a natural gut and immune system boost.

The following foods are great fermented foods to try.

Natural yogurt
Kombucha
Kefir
Sauerkraut
Other fermented veggies & fruits

I hope you found this article helpful, and as always, please contact me if you would like to discuss your child’s health needs. I offer free discovery calls, or if you’re ready to book an appointment you can do so here.

The post Natural support for kids with Allergies/Intolerances appeared first on Optimal Family Wellness.

Stress and Your Body

AllisonR — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 03:21:11 +0000

Stress, how do you feel just reading that word?

A tightening in the body and a shallowness to the breath are the first signs you might notice. Stress is so huge in our modern world it’s become part of everyday life for many people. Today we are delving into the consequences that prolonged stress has on your body, and then going into some strategies and tools that you can use to help lessen its effects in your life. Let’s start with an overview of the 3 stages of the stress response.

The 3 Stages of Stress

Firstly, let’s look at what happens to your body when it experiences prolonged states of stress.

In the initial acute stage of stress adrenaline is released in large amounts within your body. This surge is meant to be short lived, however our modern lifestyles with huge workloads, deadlines, over consumption of caffeine, lack of sleep and constantly pinging technology prolongs this acute stage of stress. The effects of adrenaline on your body include increasing your heart rate and blood pressure, diverting your blood away from digestion, causing higher blood sugar levels and heightened alertness. You can imagine the daily dysfunction this can cause when stress is prolonged without reprieve.

The second stage of the stress response occurs when your body experiences high cortisol levels. This can further dysregulate blood sugar, cause muscle wastage and weight gain, high cholesterol and triglycerides and a whole lot more.

In the final stage of stress your body doesn’t produce enough cortisol. It’s been under so much pressure trying to keep up with the cortisol demand, that it just can’t anymore. This is often referred to as adrenal fatigue. In this stage you can experience a deep unrelenting fatigue, muscular stiffness and pain that is especially worse in the morning, and severe brain fog.

The most common symptoms of stress

Outer third of eyebrow falls out
Eyesight worsens
Muscles break down
Body fat increases
Blood glucose is dysregulated
Hair, skin and nails may be poor
Heart rate and blood pressure increase
Immune system dysfunction, frequent infections
Low mood or anxiety
Female cycle changes
Poor fertility
Bloating and digestive upset
IBS symptoms
Insomnia, poor sleep quality
Exhaustion
Brain fog

So far it can seem like prolonged stress is a lot of doom and gloom, however there is good news!

Read on to find out more.

How can I manage my stress levels proactively?

High and prolonged levels of stress are most often lifestyle related, and this means that we have some wonderful lifestyle interventions that can see you recover from high stress loads and go on to thrive. Some of these tools include daily movement, whole foods, lots of laughter, breath work and consciously making time for relaxation. Let’s have a look in a bit more detail at some of these.

Meditation practice

Meditation is a stillness practice that gives you time to relax your mind and find stillness within. It has been rigorously proven to reduce stress levels and soothe an overly busy mind. Some of the known benefits of this practice include:

Improved stress response
Relaxation
Lowered blood pressure
Reduced headaches
Reduction in mood disturbances such as anxiety and depression
Lowered reactivity to everyday life situations
Better attention and more presence and awareness in your daily life
And a whole lot more.

If you’ve never tried meditation before then short, guided sessions are a great entry point. 10 minutes is plenty enough for you to begin noticing a daily difference in the way you respond to stress. You may also notice that it also helps with mental chatter and reactivity.

Deep Diaphragm Breathing

There is only one way that science knows how to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), and that is through deep breathing. The PNS controls your ability to rest, digest and slow down. If you’ve never consciously used your diaphragm to breathe before, here is how you do it:

Place your hands on your belly button. Take a long, slow deep breath in through your nose to the count of 4 and pay attention to your hands. They should move up and outwards as your lungs expand and move your diaphragm muscles. Once your lungs are full, take a pause for a few seconds, and then let your breath out slowly and steadily through your nostrils to the count of 4. You will notice that your belly shrinks back in towards your spine on this exhale.

Once you’ve exhaled, pause again for a few seconds before inhaling once more. Repeat this slow steady breath 10 times and notice how different you feel after this practice. The beauty of this practice is that you can use it anywhere and in any moment that you feel yourself getting tense. It’s also wonderful to do when you get into bed at night, as it prepares you for a restful night’s sleep.

Eat Whole Food

The effect of food on your body and how it experiences stress is profound! By choosing wholefoods that are in the form that nature made them, you give your body the best chance of building resilience against stress. Fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, wholegrains and organic animal products and meats give you all the nutritional building blocks for a robust body and stress response.

Also, lets talk coffee for a hot minute. If you are really stressed, it’s time for a coffee break. If you feel your stress is manageable, limit your intake to one coffee in the morning, so that it doesn’t affect your rest at night. This step can be a hard pill to swallow, as many of us are quite addicted to caffeine. Giving it a break though allows your body to recalibrate and will help you manage your stress load much easier.

Nature time

The natural world also has a profound impact on the human body and allows us to release stress and come back into balance with nature. Nothing else does this in quite the same way. When we immerse ourselves in nature and use all our senses to experience the moment, we allow our stress to be laid to rest for a time, and our mind and body to recalibrate. Going for a nature walk, taking an ocean swim, sitting in your garden, even doing some gardening, and enjoying the sunshine; these are all very beneficial in stress reduction and overall wellness.

If this article resonated with you and you are ready to reduce stress in your life for good, you can get in touch with me here:

The post Stress and Your Body appeared first on Optimal Family Wellness.

Is detoxing important for your child?

AllisonR — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 00:34:55 +0000

This is a really important topic, because many of our children today are suffering with some form of chronic disease or condition. Whether it be chronic eczema, an autism or ADHD diagnosis, an autoimmune condition, allergies, anxiety, asthma, the list goes on. It’s estimated that over half of our children are suffering in this way, and one of the main reasons that this occurs is due to toxicity. So today I’m going to break down for you what ‘toxicity’ means, and some safe and simple ways that you can help your child detoxify naturally.

What is toxicity?

When we use this term, it refers to chemicals and toxins in our immediate environment that have the potential to cause harm to our bodies. This includes furniture, carpet and paints, foods and drinks we consume, medications, body products like shampoo and toothpaste, the air we breathe, and the products that we use to clean our homes and clothes. Many of these products contain highly toxic compounds, that have been shown to seriously harm our health in one way or another.

Babies and children are particularly susceptible to these toxins for a number of reasons:

They are smaller than adults, but consume more food and water per weight, giving them more exposure to chemicals within this food and water.
Small children often spend a lot of time on the floor, on carpets, or on grass that may have been sprayed with chemical weed killers and fertilisers.
Their liver and detoxification pathways are not fully mature yet, so they can’t optimally get rid of chemicals.
Brain development is rapid in children. Toxins can seriously impair this development.

On a positive note, our bodies are naturally made to detoxify environmental chemicals and toxins. However, if we have constant exposure at a rate that we can’t detoxify quickly enough from, our bodies become inflamed, and signs of illness start to appear.

Eczema, asthma, behavioural issues, insomnia, frequent sickness, and infections. These are all classic inflammatory signs in our children.

Natural detoxification for children

So, how can you naturally help your child’s body to detoxify efficiently?

The human body is clever, and it has natural means of detoxification that include:

Regular bowel motions
Sweat and other body secretions
Breathing
The lymphatic system, which is stimulated by movement

So, some of the best things we can do for our kids include supporting the above processes.

Regular bowel motions

You can encourage regular bowel motions in your child by making sure they consume lots of fresh fruit and vegetables through their day. A smoothie is a wonderful way to get veggies into kids. Snack platters of chopped fruit and veggies are also a great way to offer kids their fruit and veg.

Hydration

Keeping them hydrated with plenty of fresh filtered water is also important. It will help with regular bowel motions, and also stimulates the lymphatic system, assists efficient breathing, and helps to replenish lost sweat. Water is key!

Get moving

Get the kids outside or down to the park, running, playing, and moving. This really stimulates the lymphatic system and assists detoxification perfectly. One of the best ways to do this is on the trampoline, and most kids won’t say no to lots of fun bouncing and jumping around.

Sunshine

Our sun Vitamin, Vitamin D, is super important for supporting our kids immune and nervous system health. Would you believe it, it’s also necessary for detoxification! So let your kids enjoy some time in the sun without sunscreen. Just 10 to 20 minutes, in the morning before 10am (or after 4pm) is best in sunny Australia.

Leafy greens

These are superb detoxifying wellness agents. Leafy green veggies contain copious amounts of nutrients and antioxidants, which are super important in helping the liver work efficiently. If your child doesn’t like greens, add them to smoothies with banana and mango, or make green juices with apple added in.

Sleep

When kids sleep, their brains work hard to remove toxins. Sleep also allows the body to rest, heal, and recalibrate, which is important for your child’s overall wellness too. Making sure your kids get enough sleep for their age will help them in many areas, including detoxifying efficiently. If you need help in this area, please get in touch with me, as there are many avenues of support available that we can explore together.

Nutrition

Its important to reduce processed foods, flour products and added sugars in your childs diet. These foods are inflammatory, dampen the immune response, and create a lot of hard work for the liver. Instead, focus on feeding your kids fresh whole foods. Loads of fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds, good quality organic yogurt and butter, eggs etc. Things like fruit and veggie smoothies, snack platters with loads of fresh foods, chia puddings, homemade muffins with low sugar and added seeds, gluten free bread with avocado are all wonderful ways to get more nutrition into your kids.

In conclusion, heavy duty detoxification is not usually necessary for children. It’s more about sticking to the above habits, and creating a low toxin environment for our children, that will help their natural detoxification pathways to work efficiently.

If you feel that you need some specific support in this area for your kids, you can get in touch with me HERE.

Until next time,

Allison

The post Is detoxing important for your child? appeared first on Optimal Family Wellness.

Why self care isn’t just a buzzword

AllisonR — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 23:32:29 +0000

Why Self Care isn’t just a Buzzword

By Allison Riehs | Naturopath

With all the competing commitments of everyday life, it can be difficult to make time for ourselves.

In fact we’ve become such a busy and productivity-driven society, many of us feel guilty at the mere thought of ‘me time’.

As a Naturopath, I like to remind clients of the oxygen mask process on aeroplanes.

Before take off, flight attendants remind us to fit our own mask before helping others in the event of an emergency.

And we should apply that same philosophy to life.

We can only help others if we help ourselves first, so the role of self care in our personal and professional lives is vital.

What is Self Care?

Self care is about taking time out of your busy schedule to focus on your mind, body and spirit. And self care looks different for everyone. For some, self care might be a weekly soak in a hot bubble bath, while for others, it might mean getting to the gym. Perhaps it’s as simple as making time to meditate one night a week before bed, or prioritising your health with the help of a naturopath. Self care shouldn’t feel like a chore or something you need to force yourself to do. It should be enjoyable, rejuvenating and pleasurable. Do you have a method of self care in your routine? What does self care look like for you?

Why is Self Care important?

Research has found self care is important for our physical and mental wellbeing and self care is especially important for people in caretaker roles. Our energy reserves are drained by every new commitment we take on, so it’s important to replenish that energy and recharge our batteries by doing something for ourselves. Improving our wellbeing with self care also has a flow on effect, helping us to better manage our commitments and establish a healthier work-life balance. Getting adequate food, sleep, rest and exercise positively impacts our overall health, so it’s important to give ourselves that nurturing to avoid burnout.

When should you practice Self Care?

Ideally, we should always be looking after our mind and body, but it’s especially important to prioritise time for self care when life throws extra challenges our way. Whether work or study is extra busy, you’re juggling multiple commitments at once, or you’ve fallen on hard times financially or healthwise, it is so important to make time for yourself. That’s easier said than done when faced with extra stressful situations, but that is when we need it most. Rather than risk putting it off until you ‘have time’, create time by scheduling self care into your week and sticking to it.

Everyone is unique, so my idea of self care might look very different to your own. It’s important to discover what works for you, and schedule it into your routine to break up those busy days and weeks. Even simple mindfulness or meditation can work wonders for getting more restful sleep, helping you relax and wake feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Practical ways to Practice Self Care

Sleep

While getting enough sleep might sound obvious, ensuring you get enough quality rest is vital to your body’s wellbeing. Experts recommend adults should sleep at least seven to nine hours every night, but very few of us actually do. Scheduling sleep so that you go to bed at an appropriate time will help ensure you receive enough hours of quality rest, giving you the chance to recharge.

Exercise

Exercise isn’t just about getting fit and losing weight. While rigorous workouts are good for your health, even a daily walk or other light activity can stimulate endorphins, reduce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, and boost the immune system.

Meditation

Switch off the television and put your phone on silent. Taking some time out for mindful grounding and breathing exercises before bed can help with quieting a busy mind and reducing stress. Meditating for just 10 to 20 minutes a day can have profound health benefits, while helping to clear your mind so you can be more focussed where it counts.

Yoga

Setting aside time for a yoga session can work wonders for strengthening your body, improving flexibility, reducing back pain and even lowering blood pressure. There are plenty of online options for doing yoga in the comfort of your own home, or consider attending a class for some professional guidance.

Relaxation

Self care doesn’t always have to involve doing something – maybe for you it’s about doing nothing. Whether you want to catch up on your favourite TV show, read a book or simply lay under a shady tree and watch the world go by, enjoy it!

Get Outdoors

Australia might be the sunburnt country – but many of us aren’t getting enough sun. Almost one third of Australians have inadequate Vitamin D levels and Vitamin D deficiency has become a worldwide health epidemic, exacerbated by indoor jobs and sedentary lifestyles. While it’s important to avoid dangerous and lengthy sun exposure, getting outdoors to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine is important for good health.

Food

Everything we eat plays a pivotal role in our energy levels and overall health. Not only do you need to eat the right amount, you need to choose the right foods too. Busy schedules can make it difficult to prepare healthy meals for you and your family, but taking the time to choose healthy and nutritious wholefoods can be well worth the extra effort.

Naturopathy

Many of us could do with a helping hand when it comes to health and wellness. Consulting a naturopath can be a great way of receiving professional support for your health goals, while staying accountable to your self care commitments.

Music & Podcasts

As the universal language for love and leisure, music can help take your mind off a stressful day. Or, if you want to learn something new while you relax, consider downloading podcasts that discuss and engage with your interests and hobbies.

Ready to prioritise your self-care? Book an appointment with Allison today!

References:

Michael. R, 2018, ‘What self care is – and what it isn’t’, PsychCentral, <https://psychcentral.com/blog/what-self-care-is-and-what-it-isnt-2/>

Halm. A, 2017, ‘The Role of Mindfulness in Enhancing Self-Care for Nurses’, American Journal of Critical Care, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 344-348, <http://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/content/26/4/344>

Davis. T, 2018, ‘Self Care: 12 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself’, Psychology Today, <https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/click-here-happiness/201812/self-care-12-ways-take-better-care-yourself>

Beyond Blue, 2019, ‘Six little things you can do for your wellbeing every day’, <https://www.beyondblue.org.au/personal-best/pillar/wellbeing/six-little-things-you-can-do-for-your-wellbeing-every-day>

Smith. MA, et a, 2019, ‘Sleep Needs’, Help Guide, <https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/sleep-needs-get-the-sleep-you-need.htm>

Harvard Medical School, 2019, ‘Exercising to relax’, Harvard Health Publishing, <https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax>

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2019, ‘Meditation: In Depth’, US Department of Health and Human Services, <https://nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm>

Rapaport. L, 2019, ‘Yoga linked to lowered blood pressure with regular practice’, Reuters, <https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-yoga-blood-pressure/yoga-linked-to-lowered-blood-pressure-with-regular-practice-idUSKCN1QH2MK>

Nowson. C, et al, 2012, ‘Vitamin D and health in adults in Australia and New Zealand: a position statement’, The Medical Journal of Australia, 196 (11), pp 686-687, <https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2012/196/11/vitamin-d-and-health-adults-australia-and-new-zealand-position-statement>

Beyond Blue, ‘Finding the work-life balance sweet spot’, <https://www.beyondblue.org.au/personal-best/pillar/wellbeing/finding-the-work-life-balance-sweet-spot>

The post Why self care isn’t just a buzzword appeared first on Optimal Family Wellness.

5 Ways to Boost your Family’s Immune Systems Naturally

AllisonR — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 00:03:20 +0000

5 Ways to Boost Your Family’s Immune Systems Naturally

By Allison Riehs | Naturopath

What if you could boost your family’s immune system naturally?

Coughs, colds and runny noses are commonplace in Australian households – especially come winter time.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

You can take simple steps to help protect the health of your family naturally, starting with these five immune boosting tips.

1. Get outside

The thought of cool winter air might have you hiding under the covers. And Netflix and hot chocolate might sound more tempting than venturing outdoors for a green juice. But low dose sunshine exposure boosts Vitamin D levels and benefits the immune system, in ways scientists still don’t fully understand.¹Sunbathing for hours on end is not recommended, but studies support regular low-dose exposure such as that from enjoying outdoor activities for 30 minutes to an hour each day. Natural sunlight exposure also supports the circadian rhythm or ‘body clock’, stabilising the body’s sleep and wake cycles to support restful and restorative sleep, further strengthening the immune system.²

2. Drink up

Before you get excited, this doesn’t mean more wine. In fact alcohol leads to dehydration and suppresses the immune system, which is the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve.³ We all know water is vital to human survival, but did you know staying well hydrated is one of the easiest ways to support the immune system?⁴ Drinking adequate water each day delivers oxygen to cells, removes toxins from the body, and supports healthy mucous membranes which can be protective against colds and flu. So, another round of waters for the household!

3. Sleep well

It’s easier said than done for busy families, (especially new parents) but the importance of a good night’s sleep cannot be underestimated. Studies show a lack of sleep not only suppresses the immune system, but also contributes to the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.⁵You can help establish healthy sleep habits for the whole household by finishing the evening meal a few hours before bed, cutting back screen time and blue light exposure at night (try good old fashioned books instead), keeping sleeping spaces at a comfortable temperature and clear of clutter, and seeking support for any sleeping issues you or a family member might be experiencing.

4. Eat the rainbow

Some foods are more beneficial than others when it comes to strengthening the immune system and fending off colds and flu. Combining antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals, some of the top performing immune boosting foods are oranges, lemons, limes, red capsicum, broccoli, garlic, ginger, turmeric, spinach, almonds, green tea, papaya, kiwi fruit, sunflower seeds, grapes, berries, onions, carrots and fresh herbs. But if you can’t remember that list, or you’re battling to feed fussy children, just focus on combining fresh foods in as many colours as possible at every meal to ensure you’re all getting the nutrients your bodies need.⁶

5. Love your guts

You might have heard the saying, good health starts in the gut. And it’s true! Supporting and strengthening your gut microbiome has a direct impact on the immune system.⁷ One way to achieve this is with the support of prebiotics, which are fibrous substances humans cannot digest, allowing them to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut instead; and probiotics, which are live bacteria in certain foods and supplements. Prebiotic foods include seaweed, flaxseeds, burdock root, cacao, konjac, apples, bananas, asparagus, leaks, garlic, onion, artichoke, dandelion and chicory root. While great probiotic food options are kombucha, kimchi and fermented vegetables, kefir, tempeh and miso. Consult your natural healthcare practitioner for advice on the right probiotic supplement strain for you and your family.

References:

Maglio. G et al, 2016, ‘Sunlight Effects on Immune System: Is There Something Else in addition to UV-Induced Immunosuppression?’, BioMed Research International, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5187459/>
Stone. J et al, 2018, ‘Temporal dynamics of circadian phase shifting response to consecutive night shifts in healthcare workers: role of light–dark exposure’, The Journal of Physiology, Vol 596, Issue 12, pp 2381–2395 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6002215/>
Szabo-Saha, 2015, ‘Alcohol’s effect on host defense’, Alcohol Research Current Reviews, Volume 37, Issue 2, pp 159-170 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26695755>
Popkin. B et al, ‘Water, hydration and health’, Nutrition Reviews, Oxford Academic, Vol 68, Issue 8, pp 439-458 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954/>
Luyster. F et al, ‘Sleep: A health imperative’, Sleep Research Society, Oxford Academic, Vol 35, Issue 6, pp 727-734 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3353049/>
Benzie-Choi, 2014, ‘Antioxidants in food: content, measurement, significance, action, cautions, caveats, and research needs’, Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, Vol 71, pp 1-53, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24484938>
Markowiak-Śliżewska, 2017, ‘Effects of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics on human health’, Nutrients, MDPI, Vol 9, Issue 9, p 1021 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5622781/>

Ready to learn more about immune health? Book an appointment with Allison today!

The post 5 Ways to Boost your Family’s Immune Systems Naturally appeared first on Optimal Family Wellness.