More on trans-generational effects

When will we finally connect the dots? The trans-generational effects of modern diets, lifestyles and environments (include current vaccination schedules in this last category) are clear for anyone with half a brain to see. They’re all around is in the epidemic of chronic degenerative conditions, but also in the plethora of metabolic, immune, digestive and neurological disturbances that are affecting our children. A recent edition of The Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry tells us that 6.4 million US children aged between four and seventeen have been diagnosed with ADHD (attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorder). What’s even more concerning is the fact that more than 70 percent of those children are taking Ritalin - a powerful stimulant whose long-term effects on mental and emotional function are really unknown. 

I will accept that a lot of these diagnoses are probably little more than busy, preoccupied parents wanting a label on a particularly exuberant or boisterous child, one who might need nothing more than plenty of time running free in fresh air and sunshine rather than being cooped up in a classroom or in front of a computer screen. But even if half of those diagnoses are for real, the prognoses for those to successfully complete education and career training and then to enjoy gainful employment and relationships, not to mention true health and wellbeing are far from ideal.

Reversing this dismal picture will take generations, even if everyone who might ever become a Mum or a Dad were to get with the Healthy Parents, Healthy Baby program right now. But I firmly believe in that it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness! You can help by lighting your own candle. Starts here...

        

Getting with the program

I’ve always said that my Healthy Parents, Healthy Baby preconception program is about exactly that ... truly healthy parents and truly healthy babies! In other words it’s about a great deal more than fertility. Sadly, when there’s so much publicity given to those increasing numbers TTC (trying to conceive) in vain, when marketing of ART (assisted reproductive technology) as the answer to the baby prayers of anyone over thirty floods the media, it’s a wonderful endorsement of my work when the preconception workup works, just like it’s supposed to.

There’s nothing to beat the wonderful excitement of an easy conception and a first trimester free of morning sickness! Add to that a GP who advises no scan until post 16 weeks (of course I’d ask why scan at all if everything is proceeding normally, but hooray for a medical voice of caution) and I like the chances of a normal, unmedicated birth and successful breastfeeding.  Just as exciting are the words and actions of a young mum in my local wholefood market this morning, endorsing baby-wearing and co-sleeping as the reasons for her secure, confident, adventurous toddler! Hooray for another sane voice and may there be more of you...

Look beyond obesity, the problem is more fundamental

Professor Robert Lustig says it’s time to change the conversation about obesity and to focus on all the metabolic syndromes that the world now suffers from. Hear, hear Prof Lustig! But let’s look beyond sugar as the poison that I agree it is, and get down to the basis of undoing the  effects of several generations eating “white” foods (sugar, refined flour etc.)

It’s almost eighty years since Dr. Weston Price’s studies of native communities around the world resulted in the publication of his seminal work -  Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. It’s eighty years since this enlightened dentist demonstrated the direct link between compromised reproductive outcomes and a host of chronic conditions (including diabetes), to the change from a traditional wholefood diet to one containing refined sugars and flour and hydrogenated fats. 

Sadly, only a few were listening to Weston Price’s message, so it’s now been a long time and a lot of generations. As he predicted, we now have massively compromised reproductive health (beginning with infertility and going all the way through to the epidemic of kids with metabolic, immune, neurological and digestive disorders) and chronic degenerative disease that occurs at younger and younger ages. 

By all means move away from the obesity focus, it’s just the tip of a massive iceberg. But let’s move to where the most effective solution can be found - with the health of prospective parents before conception. Then, even if every prospective parent were to modify their diet and lifestyle right now, it will be many generations before we have a hope of redressing the damage. But begin we must ... it’s entirely in our hands! The next generation deserves a whole lot better than their current unhealthy legacy!

 

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