Autism and Nutrition

April 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The prevalence of Autism has been increasing for the last ten years, and almost every day there is mention of it in newspapers, TV shows or parent blogs. Specialists around the country are desperately trying to understand why it is increasing, and how to manage it. As a pediatrician who cares for many children with some degree of autism spectrum disorder, I spend a lot of time trying to find a treatment to improve the life of that patient and their family.

Nutritional healing is at the center of the work I do, and there have been several strategies proposed to alter children’s’ diets in order to improve or even cure the disorder. The diets can be organized based on whether they are “restriction diets” that will eliminate potential immune stimuli and allergens; these include yeast-free, gluten free, dairy free and casein free diets, or “supplement” diets that will boost the child’s cognitive and processing potential such as vitamins A, B6, B12 and C, magnesium, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and various minerals.

Despite consistent medical reports that there is no scientific evidence to support dietary treatments, parental anecdotal evidence remains strong. Clearly, the safest and most popular autism diet is the gluten free, and possibly yeast lowering diet.

A gluten free diet excludes the protein gluten, which is found in many grains including:
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Posted by Dr. Natalie Geary MD | Filed Under Dr Geary 

Breast-feeding 101

April 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment

As a new mom, you have heard about the wonderful benefits of breast-feeding, and probably feel overwhelmed by the amount of advice, tips, and pressure to get it right. Oddly, everyone seems to feel they have a right to ask you your plans, ask how the breast-feeding is going, and how long you will keep it up. But breast-feeding can be stressful and you need to have faith that you will get it right- with practice!

Now more than ever, there is pressure to breast feed because of new research reports on the dangers of BPAs leaching from formula cans, the dangers of plastics from nipples and bottles, and the occasional story about contaminated formula. So here are some suggestions for making it a little easier, and more successful.

  • 1. position, position, position:
    When you first start to breast feed, you may need some help learning how you, and your baby, best “fit” together. You may need some help trying different positions until you and the baby form a good team- and she learns how to latch on. The position that works best for you and your newborn may not be the same as the one that worked for your mom, or best friend, or sister. It depends on many factors including your nipple size, the baby’s palate and tongue, and what position feels comfortable. Try different positions until you, and baby, can relax. Ask for help from your pediatrician or the hospital maternity nurses. And be patient.
  • 2. Supply and demand:

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Posted by Dr. Natalie Geary MD | Filed Under Dr Geary 

My guilt free night out…

April 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Last week, I was out for dinner at a neighborhood restaurant here on the Upper West Side (which to the rest of Manhattan (besides the upper East Side) is the “burbs” of New York City, with a college friend of mine. Across from us were two Wall Street Trader types- I kept feeling that one of the men was giving me way too many stares. This was confirmed when my Pasta Bolognese arrived with my second glass of wine and he said to me, “Would you like some help eating your pasta”- I turned to my friend and said, ” And people they wonder why Wall Street is crashing- with lines like that, no wonder these guys can’t close a deal”! She proceeded to choke on her wine with laughter.

Yet, to be honest, even happily married with two children it still feels good to be noticed (though wouldn’t it be great if the guy who noticed me was not so embarrassingly cheesy?) I think it is healthy for a modern mum ego too- but as a mom there really is NEVER any downtime. But no good ego moment goes unpunished. After sharing a great evening out with my friend by talking about her new house, decorating and even gossiping about some of our “old” NYC skeletons (hook-ups, qu-sai boyfriends) that we have run into post marriage and children, I realize I had left my make-up bag in the cab. Must have been the two glasses of Pinot Noir I consumed- I am very out of practice . Then our new babysitter informed me that an entire hamper full of the children’s laundry had been ” mistakenly” taken from our laundry room. So the cost of that evening with wine and “cheese” was replacing all of my make-up, most of my children’s undergarments, and my baby’s FAVORITE Cookie Monster Tee-shirt.

Here are my list of my haves and must dos for the week:

Check out lilipip!Mobile Media for kids. Go to lilipip.com to discover content for your kids that will educate, entertain and inspire them on the go!You can watch their website, or download them to your iPod, Blackberry, Motorola Q or other portable devices.

From manicurist to the stars Deborah Lippmann’s long wear formula,lippmann collection, has less chemicals than regular polishes plus green tea in their formulas I LOVE all of the colors . The polish honestly does not chip /. Check out two of my favs.: “Smile” created with Sarah Jessica Parker and “Kiss From A Rose”.You can find them at: www.lippmanncollection.com, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom

Susan Ciminelli( I use all of her products) this week I am recommending her Hydrating Gel Mask- it is a must( I even sleep with it on some nights) I see the “glow in the morning”. It is great after a cold day outside or a day at the beach. I also HIGHLY recommend Susan’s Book, The Ciminelli Solution: A Seven Day Plan for Radiant Skin which suggest an amazing diet for perfect complection.www.susanciminelli.com or 212-872-2650

It’s spring time- drink Hint Water (hintwater.com)- HINT WATER is a totally sugar free and naturally flavored bottled water. The purified water is accented with a hint of natural fruit flavors.My daughter says it is: “very yummy” . I love the taste too and like knowing there is NO sugar in it.

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

Can the Can

April 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment

According to a new report from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, dangerous levels of the toxic chemical bisphenol A are present in many infant formulas as a result of leaching from the formula cans. The side effects of BPA are linked to changes in testosterone levels and aggressive behavior. “BPA has also been shown to increase cancer-cell growth and affect hormone systems that guide much of the permanent development of infants’ breasts and prostates,” according to the EWG.

According to the International Formula Council, EWG’s report is inaccurate and the IFC stated that the levels of BPA detected were far below those approved by government safety authorities. But the EWG is claiming that those safety limits were defined a decade ago, and research since has called those levels into question.

According to the EWG, all manufacturers of infant formula use BPA as the coating for their cans: “It’s an industry standard, even with naturals, because [the cans] are recyclable,” EWG suggests that parents of infants who are no longer breast fed use powdered formulas that can be diluted with water and therefore contain five to six times less BPA.

Posted by Dr. Natalie Geary MD | Filed Under Dr Geary 

What I learned this week…

April 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment

My firm belief is that I have learned more pediatrics, or at least more child wellness, from raising three- THREE- girls than I ever learned in my residency. So, despite my innate shyness, I have decided that the best way to reach out to YOU, you intelligent caring concerned educated and funny moms, you modern mums, is to start to “chat”- my 17 YEAR old defines chat as somewhat unintelligible code, - my 15 MONTH old defines chat as ‘digga digga MAMA” to which I reply “ I know, I feel the same way”. Here is my version of chat:

What I learned this week-

  • 1. Old versions of Sesame street are so very much better than new versions- not just for us “ elderly gravida types” (my OB/GYN designated me as that during my last delivery…) but also because they actually repeat the same theme over and over again, which is what most child development specialists would say is critical to learning- they are also so so so much funnier
  • 2. Rice cheese is a lot more tolerable than veggie cheese- for all of us- but the poops are also less stinky- and as a dairy critic, I am always looking for substitutes-
  • 3. Bubbles can be lethal- be sure that your child has shoes on- the ground gets slippery
  • 4. TOLO toys are the ultimate- I cant understand why they are so hard to find and I am going to complain to the powers that be…but check out www.kidsurplus.com for TOLO and other great deals
  • 5. HUMMUS- here I go being a pediatrician but frankly every kid should eat hummus because its their only palatable form of ZINC- which is such such an important nutrient but it makes most people- adults included- nauseated to take- so eat hummus!! But the best tasting ones are often full of corn starch so beware if your child has a corn allergy- be sure to get the YoRG0 brand- but…if they don’t have an allergy, SABRA (www.sabra.com) is creamy and fantastic-
  • 6. RECIPE: 2 tablespoons hummus, two tablespoons pureed carrots (organic- EARTHS BEST (www.earthsbest.com) and one quarter crumbled rice cake.

Having just given a lecture to women about their need to integrate wellness and preventive care, I will also say this: mothers take lousy lousy care of themselves while they are busy caring for their young (and their partners)- but if you are feeling down and fatigued and maybe even gaining weight or your skin is dry and your nails are brittle- call your doctor- and insist you get your thyroid properly and carefully evaluated-

Sleep well if not, send me an email-
Natalie

Posted by Dr. Natalie Geary MD | Filed Under Parents