Monday, June 28, 2010

Ear Infections and Food Sensitivities

As Naturopaths we have always preached the links between children's diets and the prevalence of ear infections. I typically recommend an IgG food allergy test for my pediatric patients who come to me with a history of recurrent ear infections, eczema, asthma or lowered immunity in general. It's always nice to read a study that supports the link between underlying food sensitivities (typically cow's milk, wheat, dairy, peanut, corn or sugar) This one comes from a clinical journal called the 'Annals of Allergy'. Here are the findings in summary:

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of food allergy in patients with recurrent serous otitis media. METHODS. A total of 104 unselected patients (age range 1.5 to 9 years, mean 4.6 years) with recurrent serous otitis media were evaluated for food allergy by means of skin prick testing, specific IgE tests, and food challenge. Patients who were allergic to food(s) underwent an exclusion diet of the specific offending food(s) for a period of 16 weeks. A non-double blinded food challenge was performed with the suspected offending food(s). Their middle ear effusion was monitored and assessed by tympanometry (Welch Allyn Model 23600) during the pre-elimination, elimination and challenge diet phases. RESULTS. There was a significant statistical association, by chi-square analysis, between food allergy and recurrent serous otitis media in 81/104 patients (78%). The elimination diet led to a significant amelioration of serous otitis media in 70/81 (86%) patients as assessed by clinical evaluation and tympanometry. The challenge diet with the suspected offending food(s) provoked a recurrence of serous otitis media in 66/70 patients (94%). CONCLUSIONS. The possibility of food allergy should be considered in all pediatric patients with recurrent serous otitis media and a diligent search for the putative food allergen made for proper diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

July Specials at the Clinic

For the month of July receive 25% off Olive Baby Skin-saver...great for your beach bag to comfort wind-burn and sun-burned skin!

Also, don't forget to pick up a tube of Badger Sun Screen for the kids!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Are you Happy? It's all in your hands!

I was reading an interesting article yesterday about the fact that happiness is an active process. There is a field of science called 'positive psychology' and they have studied individuals who have ranked themselves as the happiest of the population, and they have gathered the commonalities between these individuals. Turns out, these happy individuals make it happen for themselves with some very concrete and specific actions.
One suggestion made was that we all have a list of the things that make us feel happy inside - a phone call to a friend, playing with the kids, a cup of coffee, a warm bath, listening to happy music. Whenever you're having a bad day, you refer to the list and deliberately take actions to implement one of your 'happy inducing' activities!
Sounds simple enough!

Have a Happy Day!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!