Chiropractic Nutrition in Children: Set the Stage for Success
PEDIATRICS
Todd Singleton, DC
As chiropractors, we understand the importance of nutrition for our patients. Our patients do best when we take a holistic approach to their health. D.D. Palmer, the father of the chiropractic profession, taught that focusing on all three areas of health (physical, emotional, and chemical) can achieve the best possible results. 1 Nutrition is a key element to the “chemical” side of Palmer’s triad of health.
While focusing on nutrition for our adult patients is vital, there’s a large demographic that many chiropractors are missing: children.
Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential. Poor nutrition increases the risk of illness and is responsible for one third of the estimated 9.5 million deaths that occurred in 2006 in children younger than 5 years old.2
Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980. More than a third of children and adolescents are now overweight or obese, with numbers quickly on the rise.3 For the first time in over 200 years, the current generation of children could potentially live shorter lives than their parents. If childhood obesity rates continue at their current pace, lives may be shortened by as much as five years. These conditions strain an already-troubled health care system and make childhood obesity one of the most pressing health concerns of the 21st century.
As chiropractors, we’re in a position to intervene at a young age and help parents set their children up for success. Let’s discuss a few key areas that we can address with our patients.
Quality Nutrition
Quality nutrition starts in the first moments of a child’s life. Breastfeeding, especially during the first six months of life, plays a key role in establishing the child’s microbiome. This has been shown to have lasting effects throughout childhood and into adulthood. It has also been shown to greatly decrease the long-term risk of diabetes and obesity.4
When breastfeeding isn’t an option, it’s important to know about the drawbacks to using traditional formula. Many traditional formulas lack docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA), which are normally present in breast milk. These essential fatty acids are vital to human physiology by influencing membrane “traffic”. They also serve as precursors to messenger molecules, which regulate diverse physiologic functions such as immune function and muscle contraction.5 Without these essential fatty acids, infants can exhibit colicky behavior due to stomach upset.
As infants progress from breastmilk to solids, it’s time to talk to parents about a plant-based diet. Children raised on a plant-based diet have a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and the list goes on.6 Not only that, but they struggle less with acne and behavioral problems. Because most of the brain’s structure is developed in the first three years of life,7 it’s important to supply it with the proper nutrients. These habits will form a healthy lifestyle that will set these children up for success as they grow up.
Routine Adjustments
While nutrition is important to a child’s growth and development, chiropractic adjustments also play a key role. I always recommend that my patients bring their newborns into the office. I’ve adjusted patients who were as young as two hours old. The trip through the birth canal is very traumatic for an infant, and a proper adjustment to align the spine can improve digestion and reduce discomfort in the first few months.
As children grow, I recommend that they receive adjustments periodically. Proper spine alignment and joint mobilization, along with great nutrition, allows children to thrive.
How Parents Can Help
With early intervention, children can be taught to make healthy choices throughout their lives. As a chiropractor, you can provide nutritional support, lifestyle education, and meaningful supplementation to pediatric patients. Start by making child-friendly supplements and educational materials available in your clinic for parents to peruse. This will help to ensure that your adult clients - many of whom are parents - are aware of the resources available to their children.
Sometimes dietary changes aren’t enough. Chiropractors can offer child-friendly supplements to aid in their patients’ nutrition. Most vitamin capsules on the market are difficult for children to swallow, dosed for adults and easy to forget, but there are alternatives to consider. Many chiropractors are turning to meal-replacement shakes. Many of these shakes come in a variety of fla-
vors and are easy to mix with other healthy foods (fruit smoothies, almond milk, etc.). They’re also a healthier alternative than vitamin gummies, which tend to contain additives like dyes, preservatives, and extra sugar.
Final Thoughts
The decisions made in childhood can dramatically affect individuals for their entire lives. As a chiropractor, you play a critical role in offering holistic health services that aren’t available elsewhere. It’s up to you to ensure that your patients are educated about proper nutrition, know which resources will set their children up for success, and receive the quality of care that they deserve.
References
1. Palmer, DavidD. The chiropractor ,’v adjuster. Atlaxis, 2014.
2. Infant and Young Child Feeding: Model Chapter for Textbooks for Medical Students and Allied Health Professionals. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. SESSION 1, The importance of infant and young child feeding and recommended practices. Available from: https://www.ncbi. nlm. nih. gov books NEK148967/
3. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 20112012. Journal of the American Medical Association 2014; 311(8): 806-814.
4. Ho, Nhan T et al. “Meta-analysis of effects of exclusive breastfeeding on infant gut microbiota across populations. ” Nature communications vol. 9,1 4169. 9 Oct. 2018, doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06473-x
5. Dr. Joseph Debe, Dr. Joseph Debe, 2013, www.drdebe.com articles big-fat-problems-with-american-infant-formulas.
6. “Nutrition for Kids. ” Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition nutrition-for-kids.
7. Cusick, Sarah E, and Michael K Georgieff. “The Role of Nutrition in Brain Development: The Golden Opportunity of the “First 1000 Days”. ” The Journal ofpediatrics vol. 175(2016): 16-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.05.013
8. Harvard Health Publishing. “Diet and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ” Howard Health, www.health.harvard.edu newsletter article Diet-and-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder.
Dr. Todd Singleton, D.C., is an author, speaker, and consultant who has been a practicing doctor for more than 28 years. He ran the largest MD/DC/PT clinics in Utah before switching to an all-cash nutrition model in 2006. He created a very successful cash practice in Salt Lake City and now spends his time speaking, teaching, consulting and visiting other offices all over the United States. For more information on implementing nutritional protocols in your clinic call 801 903-7141 or visit www.ArticlesByDrSingleton. com
