The Foundation of Health
Every child is unique, however, there are some basic principles that are shared among all of them. These pillars of health are foundational for children as they strive to launch in the classroom as well as within social settings. Whenever we talk about optimal health, we must begin with the gut. As conveyed previously, a child’s health is the cornerstone of success in the classroom. When the gut flora gets out of balance, the immune system loses some of its guardrails. This can be the result of a poor diet, too much stress, environmental factors or various medications such as steroids or antibiotics. We will be discussing the role of the gut-brain axis and the vagus nerve in both digestive and mental health.
Proper nutrition and gut health work together as a team. Hydration is also an integral part of that team. Many children with special needs have nutritional deficiencies that impact stamina, focus and immune health. Many children have macro and micronutrient deficiencies and would benefit from a thorough analysis of essential foods and supplements that are needed to promote healing. Good quality sleep is another critical pillar of health. We will discuss bedtime rituals and other tips to help establish great sleep hygiene.
Stress management and detoxification help the body maintain balance. We will explore the impact of the “toxic load” on health and healing and the biochemical process called methylation and its effect on various body systems. We will also discuss the importance of movement and exercise with regard to physical and mental health. One last pillar that needs to be addressed is the need for baseline labs to provide measurable data for achieving specific benchmarks for optimal health outcomes.
I love this old adage that bears so much truth; “You may think you have lots of problems but if you don’t have your health, you only have one problem.” I couldn’t agree more! Optimal health is the bridge leading to either open or closed doors in the classroom. I will be focused primarily on helping children attain positive health outcomes before diving into school issues and solutions. We will begin by analyzing the pillars of health and the challenges that these children often encounter along their unique journey to health. Knowledge is really power so I will do my best to give you the roadmap you need to tackle the mountains of chronic and pervasive health issues.
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