In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial involving 1,062 children under the age of 5 years, supplementation with Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus (200 million colony forming units/d) was found to control bacterial, viral (18% reduction), and respiratory infections (17% reduction), a probiotic containing multiple species (12 bacterial strains, including 7 species of Lactobacillus, 3 types of bifidobacteria, 1 type of Streptococcus, 1 type of Enterococcus) significantly reduced gastrointestinal disease (42% decrease in short-term and 44% decrease in long-term), and long-term consumption of L.rhamnosus T cell-1 (10 billion cfu) decreased the incidence of bacterial infection.

Source: Vitasearch.com

It is important for women planning to conceive to be in good physical shape in order to support the pregnancy and health of their offspring. Women should have their nutritional status and diet analyzed to make sure they are not deficient in nutrients such as Vitamin D nor anemic which can lead to postpartum depression.

I’m a strong believer that taking a high quality multivitamin during pregnancy as well as fish oil and Vitamin D can have lasting benefits for the offspring.   Read the rest of this entry

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