I will never talk about supplements as the “cure-all” for any condition. The truth is, we need to pair supplements with a clean diet, frequent weight-bearing exercise, and a generally healthy lifestyle for them to make a serious difference in our health.
Why Are Whole Food Supplements So Important?
According to the research, and what I have observed over twenty years practicing pediatric medicine, most of us (kids and adults) are overfed and undernourished.
Eating the Standard American Diet makes it difficult to consume adequate nutrients, especially for the kids in my practice who are starting from a place of depletion.
In Chapter 8 of my book, Healthy Kids, Happy Moms, I cover some jaw-dropping stats that highlight what we’re up against and why we need supplements to jump-start our road to healing and health:
- 60% of kids don’t eat enough fruit to meet the daily recommendations, and 93% don’t eat enough vegetables.1,2
- Some research suggests that produce grown today has a lower nutrient content than it did seventy years ago.3
- 33% of US children and 36% of adults eat fast food on any given day.4,5
- Our body’s ability to break down and absorb nutrients from food is compromised by inflammation, illness, stress, increasing age, and prescription medications (66% of the US population takes prescription medications).6
As parents, most of you would have to drastically change the way you live as a family–switching to mainly organic fruits and vegetables (or those that you grow at home!), and make almost all your food from scratch, especially condiments and snacks.
If you are able and willing to make these changes, fantastic!
For most of the families in our practice (and for myself and my family), making all of these drastic changes on the daily, are unrealistic. Daunting and time-consuming amidst our already busy lives.
How do I Get Started with Supplements?
Our Foundational Supplement Bundle is where a majority of patients start. There’s 5 supplements and 5 steps in our foundational supplement plan.
When integrated into our routines correctly, these supplements build the foundation our bodies need for absorbing the nutrients we give it and provide it with those key nutrients that are typically missing from our regular diets.
Again, these supplement are not a cure-all solution, but they do give us a strong launch pad for feeling good and being healthy.
Probiotics: HKHM Plantadophilus
HKHM Plantadophilus is a probiotic that supports the gut microbiome and begins decreasing inflammation.
What are probiotics? Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when ingested, improve our health. In fact, we have hundreds of different bacteria species along our GI tracts.
In my practice, we start kids on this particular probiotic species, Lactobacillus plantarum, because it is gentle, soil-based, and has many health benefits that support immune function and help us restore good GI function.
Enzymes: HKHM Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes help the body assimilate food, while also supporting the microbiome and the immune system (remember, 70% of the immune system resides in the gut!).
The HKHM Digest, when combined with HKHM Plantadophilus from the first step, when taken at the start of breakfast and dinner, work synergistically to decrease gut inflammation and decrease the amount of undigested food that otherwise remains in the gut.
Vitamins: HKHM Vitamin D + K2
We have a vitamin D receptor on almost every cell of our body, making it essential to our immune system.
Unfortunately one billion people worldwide suffer from vitamin D deficiency and 50% of the US population is vitamin D deficient.
Adding Vitamin D3 + K2 is a part of the fourth week in the strategic supplement plan I use in my practice. Vitamin D3 + K2 is available in two forms–liquid or capsule.
Fish Oil: HKHM Omega-3
Omega-3 fats impact almost every system of our body because they make up part of our cell walls and are critical for overall health, mood, and immune system.
Signs of omega-3 fat deficiency in children are increased thirst, dry hair, dry skin, keratosis pilaris (bumps on the back of the arms, cheeks, or thighs), or brittle nails. Furthermore, kids with ADHD, in particular boys, have been found to be deficient in omega-3 fats.
Multivitamin: HKHM MultiVite
Adding our HKHM MultiVite is the fifth and final step in our strategic foundational supplement plan. It offers a unique formulation of essential minerals and vitamins that help your family reach the daily recommendations given our current food system.
Our blend is different from other multivitamin formulations. Not only does it contain active B vitamins, but it also has mitochondria-supporting micronutrients for cellular energy production, and it is high in free-radical fighting ingredients.
Even with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, it’s easy to be deficient in the nutrients our bodily systems need to work efficiently. But, with the help of the HKHM Foundational Supplements Bundle, you can overcome that challenge and get you and your family on the right track!
References:
1. “Children1 Eating More Fruit, but Fruit and Vegetable Intake Still too Low.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 5, 2014. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0805-fruits-vegetables.html.
2. “Children Eating More Fruit, but Fruit and Vegetable Intake Still too Low.”
3. Davis, Donald R., Melvin D. Epp, and Hugh D. Riordan. “Changes in USDA Food Composition Data for 43 Garden Crops, 1950 to 1999.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition 23, no. 6 (December 2004): 669–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2004.10719409.
4. “Food Consumption, 2020.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 5, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/visual-gallery/fast-food-
consumption.htm?Sort=Title%3A%3Aasc.
5. “Fast Food Consumption Among Adults in the United States, 2013–2016.” NCCHS Dta Brief no. 322. National Center for Health Statistics. October 2018.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db322.htm#:~:text=In%202013%E2%80%932016%2C%2036.6%,adults%20aged%2060%20and%20over.
6. Research Findings #21: Health Care Expenses in the United States, 2000. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. April 2004. Http://Www.Meps.Ahrq.Gov/Data_files/Publications/Rf21/Rf21.Shtml.
