Effect of Sugar on Children with Asthma

Hi, A more natural way is best. Try ano organic diet, no-gmo's. Whole Foods is a great place to go for ideas. If he drinks milk, you might want to check out notmilk.com. Milk is very mucous producing, try a 2 week dairy elimination diet, reintroduce after 2 weeks, you will see if he is allergic. Because antibiotics not only kill bad bacteria, but also good bacteria replenish his friendly flora with primadophilis (they make a children's formula). Going green also helps, no spray cans, 7th Generation makes some great products. Hope this helps. C....mybiopro.com/claudia13

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Hi I. -

Sugar - I agree, the less the better but I have had asthma my entire life and never noticed a connection. However, I have a very high metabolism and usually not matter how much sugar I have, it's low in my system, sometimes too low.

Here's something I can tell you though. Water! I have read many reputable studies in the past about not drinking enough water. Especially kids. Here's why - apparently the lungs hold a lot of water and when the body is dehydrated it literally takes water from it's organs and the lungs are the first target.

I saw, as a kid growing up in the 70's if I drank water, sometimes warm or hot water, it would help my asthma - this was before all these inhalers came out. I really think that this helps immensely. To keep hydrated. And, to add to this - sugar often dehydrates kids, just as caffeine does!

I also think your sugar idea makes sense - as it has an "upper" effect and riles kids up. I used to get asthma from exercise and even laughing too hard - i.e. getting riled up. So I think what you are saying makes sense.

You could find some of these studies and get them printed out for proof - no one can argue with that. Lowering sugar or raising intake of water - these are simple things to try and less expensive and better for the body than all the drugs out. I can't imagine a parent not wanting to give it all a try!

Good Luck,
A.

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I highly recommend this book: Healing the New Childhood Epidemics by kenneth Bock, m.d.

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Hi
Since you want to do the natural stuff.
Have you considered or mentioned to the parents, Homeopathic
I know of a good one her name is Orly Bernstein ###-###-####
Call and speak to her if nothing else.

Good luck.

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http://www.feingold.org/pg-overview.html

You should read about the Feingold Diet...
Good information.

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I.,

First let me clarify some of what you may be hearing regarding the link between sugar and asthma. ONE study was done in laboratory mice which suggested that sugar may have an affect on the amount of inflammation (one component of the asthma equation) in the mice that were studied. Also, in the study, the mice were basically given a diet that consisted of nothing but sugar. With that being said, I doubt very seriously that your grandchild is eating sugar and only sugar all day long, like the mice in the study. More studies need to be done before we can know for sure what role sugar plays in asthmatics. Also, please remember that sugar is naturally occuring in many, many things that we eat that are good for us. I believe one person mentioned below that sugar is an "environmental toxin" and that just simply is not true. It is natural substance found in our environment... we humans like to refine it... but it comes from a plant and is not a toxin. It can have toxic "effects" if we eat too much of it, though, just like anything else we might do in excess.

Also, if your grandchilds doctor prescribed antibiotics and steroids, most likely it was because he had an infection that he was trying to clear up (the antibiotic) and also to keep the inflammation under control (the steroid). I'm not a big fan of steroids, but they literally can save a person's life if you need them. It's up to the parents and the doctor to make a uniform and educated decision, weighing the pros and the cons. All that being said, I doubt very seriously that the doctor would have prescribed them unless they were necessary.

To understand asthma, you have to understand that there are two basic components that need to be treated - airway constriction and inflammation. If your grandchild is having frequent asthma attacks, then you might need to look at trying to find a medication that will prevent the asthma attack in the first place. You should also consider testing to find out if the asthma is being exacerbated by allergies (pets, pollen, dust, foods, etc.). If so, you can try to limit his exposure to those things. What you do NOT want to do (and I speak from experience) is blindly think that everything is just fine and not be informed on this subject. Children that grow up with asthma do not know what it is like to breathe normally. They can think they are fine and not have any visible signs of an asthma attack, but underneath the surface, they may have tons of inflammation that will eventually lead to scarring of the lungs (emphysema) if left untreated. At age 25, I found out I only had 40% of my lung function. My parents had great intentions, but they too wanted to go with a more "natural" approach. I now get regular treatment and my lung function is better, but it will never be 100%. This is due to years of not getting proper treatment that led to the scarring.

Bottom line: Work with your doctor and be informed. If needed, see that your grandchild gets to a physician who specializes in asthma/allergies. Make sure he has regular pulmonary function tests. I would recommend that you go to the doctor visits, also. It will really help you in understanding what you are dealing with.

Hope this helps!

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I.,
First things first. The standards treatment for asthma is not antibiotics and steroids. He needs to be on bronchodilators and asthma maintenance medication. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and the AAAAI (American Allergy Asthma and Immunology) have very specific guidelines on treating and controlling asthma in young patients. If your grandson's pediatrician doesn't follow these guidelines, either a new pediatrician or getting established with a pediatric pulmonologist may be warranted. If not, long term--life long damage to his lungs can occur.
Blessings,
D.

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My son had asthma when he was younger. I'm not sure about sugar but I do know that we had to avoid things such as milk, butter, ice cream and chocolate. Basically, everything that he loved was bad for his asthma. He could have these things in moderation in his off season but when it was time for his asthma to kick in (his was both allergy and stress induced so we had to consider test time as school also) we had to cut them out completely.

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My 4 year old has asthma, too. I have found that the preventive medicine is the most important thing--even when he seems absolutely fine! My child is on Pulmicort Respules breathing treatments daily in the nebulizer (one morning, one bedtime). He also takes a Rhinocort nasal spray daily to help keep the allergies in check that set off his asthma. I was misinformed previously about the differences of the medications (preventive vs. RESCUE for the breathing machine) and had missed many preventive breathing treatments when he seemed fine and then he would have a bad wheezing attack. It's so important to understand the medications and give them as the dr. prescribed. I think it is easy for the doctor to assume the parents/caregivers know to KEEP using the meds as previously prescribed (preventive) and to add the current RX's at an attack appointment--well when you're in the middle of caring for a sick child who is having difficulty breathing it is very easy to misunderstand directions....so I would encourage you to double check with the physician or have the parent double check to make sure the right meds are being given daily or as prescribed, and to make sure the physician is aware of how frequent the attacks are. Also, I recommend to see an asthma/allergist specialist if you are not already. My pediatrician referred me to an allergist right down the hall in the same building. The allergist doesn't mess around with frequent wheezing attacks--ours really wants my child to be well and breathing easy. I hope this helps. (I am also a massage therapist : )...I don't have any answers as far as sugar associated with asthma...haven't done any research on this.) L. : )

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I don't know much about sugars effects on asthma, however I can tell you that sugar effects people a lot more than they realize and that anyone with an ailment is effected a lot worse than some one who is perfectly healthy (as if there were such a thing as perfectly healthy in this country!). any way that said... I have an adrenal disorder and sugar really effects me big time! when I eat a lot of sugar I crash ! especially the next day! I feel horrible all day! sugar is an addiction and up until the late 1940's it was a luxury that few could afford to eat regularly. now it is in everything! foods that you know sugar has no place in...It's in there! Why??? because of it's addictive qualities. Manufacturer's put it in to make you keep coming back to buy that product! Sugar gives you a quick rush of glucose, followed by a rush of insulin. it becomes a cycle and the rise and low of it can not only give you a high and a crash, or diabetes, but I read that it all so impairs your immune system so that you get more colds and such! so if it's bad for your respiratory system then I would think that it would have to be "VERY BAD" for asthma! I teach yoga and we always notice that if a person has had caffeine or sugar that day, their balance is off! not only that but right after any big holiday when everyone has been indulging, we will notice a lot more stiffness and pains that are not usually there on a normal day, when we didn't indulge or at least not so much! sugar is a stimulant, and stimulants are taxing on the body, particularly the adrenals which affect your energy levels and your adrenalin of course. My opinion... sugar is definitely the enemy! it should only be ingested on a special occaision as a treat and avoided the rest of the time. That's my two cents for what it's worth!

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I.,
I would be honored to help with proper nutrition instruction and giving you powerful drug-less tools to use on the spot for asthma attack. Visit www.duvewellnesscenter.com or call my office directly ###-###-####. We only use natural methods. Dr. S. Duve

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What has helped my grandson is the xango-mangosteen juice,
watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX0CSZ23vFk

oly

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Hi I.,
My son had asthma for most of his life, he's 13 now....he's been on albuterol, advair and singulair.....he is no longer on these drugs. I went the natural route with mangosteen juice. It has been proven to be THE MOST powerful natural anti inflammatory. And asthma is an inflammation of the bronchii precipitated by several factors, allergies (food or otherwise), stress, exertion, etc. I'm sure you know the causes. Well after 2 weeks, my son was off all his meds and that was 2 years ago. So I applaud you for wanting to go the natural route, I hope you can convince your son & his family that this is the way to go. If you'd like more info on mangosteen juice, let me know and I'll send you to the website. There are all kinds of copycats out there, but this one brand, which was first, sells more juice in one day than all the copycats put together in one year. That says something about the fact that it works!

W.
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Your leading in the direction of "natural" is right on! Our pediatrician suggested getting all toxic cleaners and bath products out of our home to help combat our 7 year old's allergies, so I had done that for quite some time. She also said to be cautious with things we'd logically trust, like baby shampoo and lotions and soaps. They have chemicals in them that are actually harmful to children if you can imagine!!

Then, I actually found a company I can get all those products from at wholesale cost. Since we cleaned out our entire house of toxic products and went with natural, green alternatives, her allergies have steadily improved. She is no longer on meds and has only had 1 episode recently, which was minor. I've been ecstatic!

Good luck! :-)

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Sugar does compromise your immune system. You immune system fights precessed sugars just like it does an infection. So if he is already sick then you should cut back on his sugars and dairy until he is healed. If he takes a regular inhaler everyday then it is probably a steroid which also does not allow your immune system to defend the body properly. If he is taking antibiotics when he is done with the round you should replenish his friendly flora with a probiotic like acidophilus or bifidophilus, which is another part of his immune system.
He needs lots of natural and vitamin and mineral rich foods. He would greatly benefit from a more whole and organic diet. Hope this helps.
Val

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OK, this may or may not help. My 21 year old son had his first asthma attack at 13 months. I was fortunate enough to live in Tuscon, Az at the time and my allergist was a former pediatrician of 20 years. He had gone into allergies as a sub-speciality based on all the children he had seen. He said that every person has a "stress organ" in their body and that organ takes the brunt of whatever allergies and illness our body fights. In a lot of babies it's ears (multiple infections, tubes, ect)and in a lot of older adults it's sinus (headaches, migraines, ect) His theory was that we have to fight the allergies to strengthen the body. He also felt that if you remove the stress organ (like tonsils) the body will automatically find another stress organ. As it turned out both of my children outgrew their asthma but they both have dreadful migraines. Anyway, both of my children ended up having food allergies as well as pollen allergies. Over all these years when I eliminated their allergic foods and controlled their environments their asthma was next to nothing. However, during the allergy season I could have them under control and a man mowing the yard at school or sitting next to a teacher who was a heavy smoker could trigger an attack instantly. SO I would recommend looking into food allergies and pollens. Neither one of my children had shown any reactions to new foods as we tried them when they were infants but they did and do still have food allergies. This may not help, but it's certainly food for thought. (No pun intended!)

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Whether a child has asthma, some other chronic respiratory condition, or any compromising health issue, sugar can have devistating effects. Unfortunately, it is found in many unlikely sources, so eliminating it entirely is difficult. Rather than placing all the focus on the outside-in, another approach is taking an inside-out perspective. If a child's immune, endocrine, and nervous systems are strengthened, their body's ability to function more normally--even with environmental toxins (like sugar) will be improved. Chiropractic care, during its 100+year history and many clinical trials, has been shown to safely and effectively alleviate the symptoms of asthma in both children and adults. It is especially important, though, that care begins as early as possible because once scarring has occurred in the lungs and bronchioles, relief is more difficult to achieve. Antibiotics are not (usually) appropriate asthma care--first, because bacterial infection is not necessarily present; second, because antibiotic therapy has its own set of negative side-effects, which the already-compromised immune system is forced to resolve. Often, chiropractic is all that is necessary, but numerous homeopathic and herbal botanicals also have a proven track record with NONE of the negative drug side-effects. Find a good pediatric chiropractor and watch the miracle! You'll see a different child.

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He needs to see an allergist and that will control his asthma. I know from experience. Also if he is on antibiotics its because of infection he needs to get rid of that and steriods are to help the inflammation very much needed while he heals. When he gets better he won't need those. The allergist will put him on a diet and see what he needs to avoid. There are things FOODS such as: cows milk, cheese products, soda, and eggs that might be triggering his asthma. Cold also trigger asthma. An allergist will HELP!:)
Oh and sugar is ok for me but too much is not good for anyone it does supress immune system. But we all need a little sugar sometimes:)

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