As the holidays approach, your child may be exposed to significantly more sugar than usual. And there may be a behavioral consequence!

Parents and teachers have always believed that children who consume excess amounts of sugar become hyperactive, cranky and misbehaved. Pediatricians have long defended the data that shows that blood sugar levels remain within the normal range in most kids, despite the amount they ingest.

So as a parent, what should you believe?

When a person’s blood sugar level drops, there is a natural release of adrenaline. If the blood sugar level falls below normal, the child may experience shakiness, sweating, and altered thinking and behavior.
The problem is that highly refined sugars and carbohydrates enter the bloodstream faster and lead to more rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels. As a result, your wonderful smart, creative, and loving child can suddenly become cranky, inattentive, and irritable.

Furthermore, your child may be sugar sensitive: Sugar sensitivity affects children in many different ways. For example:

• Does your child have lots of allergies?

• Does your child cry very easily at times?

Normally, when you eat carbohydrates (sugars and starches), the body’s blood sugar rises and insulin is released to help process the sugars as metabolic fuel. The sugar-insulin system is normally tightly regulated such that the amount of insulin released is directly proportional to the amount of sugar in your body. However, if you are sugar sensitive, your blood sugar may rise more quickly and a greater amount of insulin is released. As a result, your blood sugar levels drop dramatically leading to irritability, weakness, fatigue or emotional lability. If this cycle happens multiple times in a day, your body is stressed and releases adrenaline.
Serotonin is a chemical that acts to settle or soothe the active brain, and can compensate for adrenaline fatigue. However, insufficient levels of serotonin can lead to potentially impulsive behavior, stress and depression. Some sugar sensitive children may have lower levels of serotonin and may benefit from dietary changes that increase or stabilize serotonin levels.
Children who are sugar sensitive also may have less than normal levels of beta-endorphin. They are easily upset, fearful and sensitive to criticism. They may suffer from lower levels of self-esteem and poor self-confidence. They may feel inadequate, even if they are succeeding in school.

If your child is sugar sensitive, they are at a disadvantage: low serotonin, low endorphins, and rapidly cycling blood sugar levels leave them exhausted, emotional and irritable.

How to help: Giving your child a breakfast that is high in fiber allows the body to digest and process sugars more slowly. Avoid refined sugars found in most commercial cereals and breakfast foods, and offer oatmeal, shredded wheat or fruits instead. Avoiding highly processed foods will keep adrenaline levels steadier and allow your child to manage his school day with a more constant level of energy. If the holidays are filled with cookies and candy, try to encourage your child to save them until late in the day, or eat them in smaller quantities mixed with fruits and high-fiber snacks like whole grains, vegetables and fresh fruits.

With flu season upon us, it’s time again to face that annual question once again: flu shot or no flu shot?

The decision to get a flu shot goes beyond the issue of whether or not the flu shot will “work” from one year to the next: questions remain about whether the flu shot itself is harmful, whether the preservatives used are harmful, and whether the vaccine’s impact on our natural immunity is harmful. And many people who have not actually suffered from the flu minimize its impact on those who are more susceptible.

Making the Decision:

The first step is to collect accurate information. Some flu shots still contain thimerosal, an organic form of mercury used as a preservative. Please be reminded that not all flu formulations are alike: there are flu shots for children over 6 months of age that are preservative free. Ask your doctor about the specific ingredients.

Secondly, if you have a baby, young child or an elderly family member, assess the risk to their health should you get sick, as well as your overall ability to care for them. If you work outside the home, can you afford to miss 5 days of work? For your children, are they old enough to fight the infection effectively on their own? Ask your doctor to review the risks of your child contracting the flu this winter.

Third, consider the alternatives:

Herbal supplements include lime flower (Tilia) for nasal congestion,) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is anti-inflammatory. In addition, elderberry syrup ( Sambucol) helps with fever, muscle pain and respiratory symptoms. It also strengthens cell and mucus membranes to inhibit viral penetration and spread of disease. Numerous studies show Oscillococcinum can reduce the severity and duration of the flu.
Other herbal alternatives to help boost your immune system this winter include Zinc, Western larch (Larix occidentalis), Olive leaf extract (Olea europaea) and Oregano oil (Origanum vulgare). Ask your doctor to review.

Finally, make your decision early:

The flu season is scheduled to peak in January or early February so the ideal time to get the vaccine would be before the end of December.