In 2005, there was a US study done that found 200 chemicals in newborn baby's cord blood. Granted, this was years ago, but I do not believe we have taken measures to change these numbers and...
CORD BLOOD!? Come on!
287 different chemicals were found and EVERY baby tested in the study had over 200 of these chemicals
180 chemicals cause cancer in humans or animals
217 chemicals are toxic to the brain and nervous system
208 chemicals cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal testing
This means before these babies even saw light they were bombarded with toxins.
Then you add more toxins like...
soaps and lotions that are full of chemicals
clothing made and washed with chemicals
vaccines with adjuvants that load their immune system and detoxification system which isn't fully developed yet
antibiotics that can damage gut and immune function
These poor babies don't stand a chance.
No wonder we have children with...
Allergies
Asthma
Autism
Anxiety
And these are just the issues that start with the letter A!
This is why I am in this line of work.
This, right here, is why I quit every thing I knew and began a lifelong pursuit to help change families with functional medicine and nutrition.
What's my story?...
When Josh and I were adopting Max, we knew his birth mother had an opioid addiction.
We accepted that during the duration of her pregnancy she would be on Methadone, which is a narcotic used to treat drug addiction.
I took workshops to learn everything I could. I even went to my local methadone clinic to meet with a social worker on the subject. I did everything in my power to gain knowledge to help provide for our future baby.
When Max was born, so much was out of our control. Max was born addicted to methadone. He was under the care of his birth mother, nurses and staff.
Choices felt like gifts most new parents received. Josh and I waited for our time.
When we took Max home from the hospital, that June day (Josh and my anniversary to be exact) we couldn't wait to make choices for our future.
I knew providing a healing environment would help with Max's withdrawals.
We had chiropractors come to the house
We chose not to overload his system with vaccines
We used breast milk as a form of withdrawal support
Knowing what I know now, I would have done so much more.
But I take pride in... When you know better, you do better!
As a parent, you realize very quickly that there are few things you CAN control.
I decided nutrition for Max was my way.
I read book after book and made every meal for him from scratch.
Keeping grains, sugar and processed foods out for the first year of solid foods.
I fed him raw dairy, which I had to join a co-op to legally buy in NJ.
Today, he is healthy and happy and eats adventurously healthy foods.
Of course, he is still a kid. I let him have cake and pizza, but keep the basis of his diet real, unprocessed, whole foods.
Max is not your typical chicken tender kid.
I knew I was passionate about this subject and decided one day at Wegmans to make it my career.
I was shopping like any normal day and ran into a friend of mine.
She was stressed about what to feed her two year old twins and I offered her some of my time and suggestions. In that exact moment I knew... this is what I want to do for my life.
I want to help children and their parents thrive.
Sometimes I am super excited about positive change in our world.
Some days it is depressing to know so much needs to change.
I have my good days, I have my hard days.
Right now, as I write this blog, Max is having an epic meltdown about some toothbrush catastrophe.
I breathe and accept that I can't control everything.
I can't fix everything.
I can't help everyone...sometimes, even my own kid.
