Spinach Blueberry Muffins -- kid approved

Recipe adapted from Yellow Brick Home

Ingredients

• 3 bananas, mashed
• 1/4 cup olive oil or melted coconut oil
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup milk (almond, coconut or regular)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsps cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 8 oz baby spinach, pulsed or blended 
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries 
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup oat flour

For both the spinach and oat flour, my blender worked great! First I put oats in the blender dry and pulsed until it finely ground into a flour and removed from blender. Then I used it to fine chop the spinach (or use a food processor if you have one). 

Instructions

Our kids loved so much, they snuck a
muffin right while I was taking a picture ;)

• Preheat oven to 350F
• Mash the bananas, add oil and mix together
• Add applesauce, vanilla and milk to the bowl, and mix everything together
• Mix in eggs
• Add cinnamon and baking soda
• Then add the finely chopped spinach and frozen blueberries
• Lastly, add the wheat and oat flour, and stir until combined
• Spoon mixture into lightly greased muffin tins, I used mini muffin tins
• Bake for 20 minutes and check for done with a toothpick

After cooling, I froze in a Stasher silicone bag. They work great as snacks and in lunchboxes! 

5 Tips to Naturally Boost Your Child's Immune System

As the days get shorter and there is less sunshine, our immune systems typically can take a hit causing a "cold and flu season." 

Especially if you have kids in school, follow these tips to keep their immune systems strong. 


1. Wash hands regularly -- when you get home from an outing, before eating and after sneezing or coughing. Do not use an anti-bacterial soap. We like Dr. Bronner's, Honest Company or Method brand soaps. If you are on the go, find a safe hand sanitizer such as Honest Company's hand sanitizer (also available in a convenient spray, available at Kehres Health & Chiropractic, Target or Honest.com).

2. Use Xlear nose spray -- Dr. Elisa Song, MD says "one of the MOST preventive things you can do is to irrigate your and your children’s nasal passages with Xlear nasal spray at the end of every day, and after any potential exposure (work, school, playgroups, plane travel, etc.). This is a saline nasal spray with xylitol and grapefruit seed extract, both of which have antimicrobial properties. After exposure to a virus, the virus tries to invade and multiply in your nasal passages for at least 1-2 days before you develop any symptoms. Nasal irrigation can wash away viral particles before they have the opportunity to take hold, and thereby prevent many infections from happening in the first place!"

3. Take Vitamin D3 supplements -- as we get less sunshine in the fall and winter, it can deplete our immune system. There are many great kids' Vitamin D3 supplements on the market. Make sure they are GMP Certified (Good Manufacturing Process). Read more about the benefits of Vitamin D3 here.

4. Get plenty of sleep -- Sleep is when your body heals. Lack of sleep can cause inflammation, which can cause disease and illness. Do everything you can to reduce light in the bedroom (no tablets or tvs, use blackout curtains).


5. Decrease sugar, increase fruits and vegetables -- holidays, birthday parties, school snacks and more can sneak in more sugar to your child's diet than you would like. It's ok to have treats once in a while, but be sure they eat healthy food before these events and keep only healthy food at home. Kids do not need juice, stop buying it and it is an easy way to reduce sugar in their diets (while saving you money at the grocery store). Veggie shakes are a great way for our kids to get extra fruits and vegetables. 

(These statements are of a general nature, consult your primary care doctor before using any product.)

Healthy Popsicle Recipe

We made another popsicle today that included a few different fruits and no added sugar, dyes or any unhealthy stuff. Our girls like picking out what colors they want their popsicles to be and we make them with whatever fruit and vegetables we have! #healthykids

The Drugging of the American Boy

This is worth a read:

"By the time they reach high school, nearly 20 percent (1 in 5) of all American boys will be diagnosed with ADHD. Millions of those boys will be prescribed a powerful stimulant to "normalize" them.

A great many of those boys will suffer serious side effects from those drugs. The shocking truth is that many of those diagnoses are wrong, and that most of those boys are being drugged for no good reason—simply for being boys. It's time we recognize this as a crisis"

"In 4 years, sales of ADHD drugs have grown by 89%"

Taking young kids (especially boys) out of a play focused routine and putting them into a structured environment where they have to sit and be quiet is a bad combination. Kids need activity and exercise on a regular basis to function normally.

Article: www.esquire.com

Natural Immune Boost for Kids

Our natural immune boost tricks for our kids... we’re pulling out all the stops to try and keep our two toddlers healthy this winter.

•local bee pollen in our shakes
•elderberry syrup daily (I like the Gaia brand better but they were out)
•vitamin D3 daily (gummies for older kids, drops for babies) 
•natural hand sanitizer for when we’re on the go
•Thieves essential oil to diffuse and clean with
•daily veggie shakes
•(not pictured😂) breastmilk for our younger daughter

Other tips: get your kids adjusted regularly and limit grains, sugar and unhealthy dairy.

👉🏼where to buy: bee pollen at City Market, Elderberry kids syrup on Amazon, Honest Company products at Kehres Health & Chiropractic or Target, Thieves essential oil at Kehres Health or your local Young Living rep. 

#healthykids #immuneboost #beepollen #elderberrysyrup #thievesoil#veggieshake #naturalflushot #fluprevention 
(These statements are of a general nature, consult your primary care doctor before using any product.)

Eat greens, every day.

Eat greens, every day.

A study published in the Dec. 20, 2017 issue of Neurology, by researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found some impressive results correlated less cognitive decline with eating more green, leafy vegetables.

People who ate one serving of leafy green vegetables daily performed substantially better on cognitive tests so much so that it would put them at an equivalent of 11 years younger than others their same age who were not eating greens on a regular basis.

We make smoothies on a daily basis and always include mixed greens. My 3.5 and 1.5 year old girls love them, see our go to recipe here. 

Read the complete article Daily Leafy Greens May Slow Cognitive Decline at 

rush.edu.

Our Children Need Us - Autism Rates Rise

What critical health condition is 1 in 28 according to data published by the CDC last month?

Autism. The rate of autism in boys is now 1 in 28. 

This is a national health crisis. We need to dedicate more resources, funding and attention to the prevention, treatment and care of people with autism and developmental disabilities. Help our children. Do your research. They need us.

www.askdrsears.com

Shop with a Hero

Read negative news have negative thoughts, read positive news have positive thoughts! 

79 kids were given $100 gift cards to shop for whatever they wanted at Meijer. To a kid that’s like winning the lotto! 

#GreatLakesBayGoodNews

Full article of this amazing story can be found here at this link www.mlive.com

How to Make a Veggie Shake, by Delaney, age 3

Veggie shakes have been a staple in our house for years, especially for our kids! Delaney, age 3, has been drinking veggie shakes since she could use a straw, it is an easy way to make sure she gets fruits and vegetables daily. 

Start making veggie shakes for your family today, it is so easy a toddler can do it! ;)


 

The Risk of a High Sugar Diet During Pregnancy

Eating a diet high in processed carbohydrates (sugar) during pregnancy is associated with a 100% increased risk for the babies to develop allergic asthma. 

Eating healthy is always important but especially for pregnant mothers. A high sugar diet during pregnancy can greatly impact the babies immune system causing allergies and asthma. 

"High maternal sugar intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of allergy and allergic asthma in the offspring, according to an early study led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) involving almost 9,000 mother-child pairs.

When comparing the 20 per cent of mothers with the highest sugar intake versus the 20 per cent of mothers with the lowest sugar intake, there was an increased risk of 38 per cent for allergy in the offspring (73 per cent for allergy to two or more allergens) and 101 per cent for allergic asthma."

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com

Breastmilk Contributes to Babies' Bacteria

Up to 40% of infant's gut bacteria is formed from being breastfed! 80% of our immune system comes from our intestines therefore breastfed babies are going to have a substantially stronger immune system and reduced risk of disease. 

"The study, published Monday (May 8) in JAMA Pediatrics, found that 30 percent of babies’ gut bacteria seem to come from the mother’s breast milk and that another 10 percent can be traced to skin around the mother’s nipple.

“Breast milk is this amazing liquid that, through millions of years of evolution, has evolved to make babies healthy, particularly their immune systems,” UCLA’s Grace Aldrovandi, the study’s lead author, said in a press release. “Our research identifies a new mechanism that contributes to building stronger, healthier babies.”"

Read the full article here: www.the-scientist.com

Neonatal Gut Bacteria Might Promote Asthma

The worse the intestinal flora of babies the higher their chance of asthma later on. High carbohydrate foods (candy, breads, cereal, etc.) and antibiotics increase the amount of bad bacteria in the gut leading to these problems. 

"Abnormal gut microbiota communities present in some 1-month-old children promote inflammation that results in an almost threefold increased risk of developing allergies by age 2, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. More of these kids—who had lower levels of four commensal gut bacteria groups and 
higher relative levels of two types of fungi—developed signs of asthma by age 4."

Source: www.the-scientist.com

Antibiotics Are Not The Solution

There is a time and place for antibiotics but I see people taking them for every little sniffle and cough. Let the body heal naturally and your long term health is going to be substantially better. 

"Monash University study involving mice, published in the April issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, finds that childhood antibiotic use impedes the normal growth and development of gut bacteria. This, in turn, affects the function of the immune system ― around 70 percent of which is contained in the gut.

Previous studies have shown that the use of certain antibiotics can trigger autoimmunity, but now we have a better idea of how this happens."

Read the full article of antibiotic use at www.huffingtonpost.com.

Gift guide for healthy parents

1. Young Living essential oils -- lavender, peace and calming, thieves are just a few of the beneficial essential oils for parents and kids. Kehres Health & Chiropractic carries individual oils for sale, kits and diffusers.

2. Solly Baby Wrap -- there is nothing better than baby wearing. The Solly Wrap is lightweight and comfortable for baby and parent. And it holds the baby in a safe, ergonomic position with supported hips.

3. Beaba Babycook -- a splurge for the kitchen, it steams and purees all in one to make baby food quickly and easily. Check out one of our favorite recipes here for spinach applesauce.

4. Flannel nursing scarf -- made by Michigan company SmartBottoms, these scarves are great for nursing moms.

5. Wooden teething rings -- safer than plastic teething rings, there are a variety of cute shapes that can be personalized. 

Natural Treatment Options for Asthma

There are natural forms of care for asthma for both children and adults, as this recent article on WebMD states: Vitamin D May Cut Risk of Severe Asthma Attacks. 

"Taking vitamin D supplements was associated with fewer hospitalizations or emergency room visits for severe asthma attacks -- from 6% to around 3%.Taking vitamin D supplements also reduced the number of asthma attacks needing steroid treatment.

There was no increase in side effects with the vitamin D doses given."

Besides Vitamin D, other types of treatment for asthma includes chiropractic care. It is a natural treatment that has been shown time and time again to help relieve and prevent asthma in many patients.


The stress from our daily lives puts excess stress on our bodies and our nervous systems. Chiropractic helps to reduce the stress on our bodies, reducing inflammation and increasing joint motion. Proper joint motion in the mid back is especially important for people with asthma as it increases rib motion, allowing more oxygen to be inhaled. With all joints moving and inflammation reduced as much as possible, our nervous systems can function properly which is essential for true health.

“I used to take Advair daily to control my asthma, but after one adjustment, I wouldn’t need to take Advair for at least a month,” Jordan, 28, Kehres Health & Chiropractic patient, said. “Ever since I have been getting adjusted regularly, I haven’t needed to take Advair or any other type of asthma medication.”

As asthma becomes more prevalent so does the use of asthma drugs. Unfortunately, these medications don’t come without a cost both physically and financially. Many asthma medications seem to reduce asthma at first, but ultimately mask the underlying problem while potentially causing life threatening conditions.

In 2010, due to safety concerns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required changes in four of the major asthma medications; Advair, Serevent, Foradil and Symbicort because of their potential life threatening side effects.

It is estimated that 22 million Americans have asthma, and more than 6 million Americans use one of the four medications mentioned above.

Elimination of dairy and inflammatory processed food has also been shown to greatly reduce asthma symptoms.

Consider chiropractic, Vitamin D and other types of natural treatment for asthma, to avoid the risk of potential life threatening side effects, especially with children.

Contact us at Kehres Health & Chiropractic in Saginaw or Midland to set up an appointment as we offer chiropractic care for all ages, Vitamin D blood testing and Vitamin D3 supplements. 

Saginaw breastfeeding resources

Breastfeeding offers a variety of health benefits for both the mom and baby, it can be a challenge but we are fortunate to have great resources in the Great Lakes Bay region to help. 

Covenant HealthCare hosts a weekly Breastfeeding Support Group Mondays at 6:30 pm and they are a designated Baby-Friendly hospital (only 1 of 12 in Michigan) which is a global initiative to support breastfeeding. If you live outside of Michigan, look for your local La Leche League USA for resources.

Healthy kids get adjusted

At Kehres Health & Chiropractic we regularly adjust kids and babies. It is safe, gentle and helps keep kids healthy. 

Babies and toddlers can't easily communicate to tell us they are in pain. Chiropractic adjustments is a way to reduce and prevent pain naturally. 

Recipe: Spinach Applesauce

By: Jen Kehres

One of our toddler's favorite foods right now is spinach applesauce. It tastes great, has less sugar than store bought applesauce and is easy to make!

I use the Beaba baby food maker, it steams and purees making cooking and clean up easy and quick.

I peel and chop four apples and put in the Beaba, then I fill the rest of it with organic spinach and mixed greens (approximately 3 cups). After it steams, I drain the excess water, add a slab of Kerrygold butter, a few dashes of cinnamon and blend.

If you don't have an all in one baby food maker, here is a recipe:

• 4 apples, peeled and chopped into large chunks
• 3 cups of organic spinach and/or mixed greens
• Cook apples with a little bit of water for 15 minutes, or until soft. Add spinach the last few minutes until wilted. 
• Use blender or food processor to puree apples and spinach with 1 tsp. cinnamon and a slice of grass-fed butter.

Delaney loves it warm or cold! This food is great for older children and adults too. 

Find more healthy recipes here: http://www.drkehres.com/search/label/recipes

Delaney in the garden

Delaney working with her Grandpa, Al Thieme, in the garden learning where real food comes from. She's even doing a little barefoot grounding while she's at it.

She doesn't look too excited about it yet, but she will appreciate it later in life!

#barefootbaby #nofreerides

Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids

"But my kids won't eat healthy foods." 

Oh really, does your 3 year old drive to the store to get their own junk food? 

The only way kids are going to eat healthy is if the parents eat healthy too. If you have a lot of snacks and junk food in the house then all your kids are going to want to eat is junk food. 

My 17 month old daughter eats almost anything that you put in front of her because she doesn't have any other options. We were on a trip recently and I gave her a tiny bite of chocolate ice cream, for the next 30 minutes all she did was ask for "more, more, more, more!"

If she saw us eating this sort of food around the house on a regular basis, then all she would want to eat would be junk food! But she sees us eating fresh fruits and vegetables, smoothies and other healthy foods so she wants to eat what we are eating.

I'm sure we will have our challenges with healthy eating, but we work hard to set a good example for her as much as possible.

If you want your kids to eat healthy, you need to lead the way and eat healthy too.