How We Beat the Ear Infection... Without Antibiotics!

Let me first start of by telling you about my son, Rylan. He is amazing. I know that we have been completely blessed with such an amazingly sweet and smart boy. He was born in July 2012 with a cleft lip and palate. Children with clefts are notorious for ear infections because the Eustachian tubes do not function normally and the last thing I want for my child is to be on antibiotics repeatedly for this issue. Two months ago we resulted to prescription antibiotics for his first infection and it was horrible on his little tummy. For that reason we are committed to trying everything "alternative" that we can get our hands on from here on out. Just last week he began to get a little cranky and started pulling on his ears. Then came the low-grade fever. Dad (affectionately called "Doctor Dad") checked his ears and sure enough he could see they were beginning to become infected. My desire to whoop this thing naturally went into overdrive. I did a few internet searches, requested input form my experienced Facebook  friends and settled on a couple things I kept being told would be helpful and a few things that I knew, from my own upbringing and experience, would work to help boost little man's immune system.

I do want to make something very clear clear before I continue. 1) I am not a doctor. Nothing I say should be taken as medical advice - I'm simply sharing what we did and what the results were. My dad is our pediatrician and he was fine with us using the protocol below to "treat" this most current ear infection. Always clear these types of treatments with your child's doctor.

So let's start with some background -

BACKGROUND on RYLAN
Since Rylan has a cleft lip/palate he is not able to nurse however I am committed to pumping 4x per day so he can have breastmilk daily. I am a firm believe that "Breast is Best!" As a result I use the best supplements possible for my own nutrition and health - Isagenix shakes, C-lyte complex, IsaOmegas, IsaCalcium, etc. etc. For more info on my personal plan you can contact me directly. In addition to mother's milk Rylan also receives a couple ounces of unsweetened coconut milk in his bottle. Coconut milk is high in lauric acid which is the same immunity-builder in breastmilk.

SO WHAT DID WE DO?


1. CARROT JUICE
We are a juicing family and have been since I was in high school. My mom taught us well! There are so many wonderful benefits to juicing and carrots the KING. Each of Rylan's bottles had anywhere from 1-2oz of well-strained, freshly juiced carrot. To save some prep time during the week I froze some carrot juice in ice cube trays and simply added a few cubes before warming the bottles.

2. BARLEY GREEN
    This time around Rylan received a little more Barley Green in his bottles throughout the day. On a regular day I will add about 1/2 tsp 2x per day. During a health crisis I add 1/2 tsp to every bottle except the one prior to bedtime. It's amazing stuff!

3. COLLOIDAL SILVER
    Prior to his bottle I would give Rylan approximately 0.5mL of Colloidal Silver. It naturally promotes the immune system to help fight infections better. It is tasteless and he was very accepting of it.

4. ESSENTIAL OILS
    I found a GREAT website with directions on using specific essential oils to help ear infections in adults. Thankfully it had a note at the bottom about adapting it for infants and children. Whenever essiential oils are used on children they MUST be cut with another oil such as Olive Oil in a 1:1 ratio (1 drop essential oil for every 1 drop of olive oil).
    You can find the website here. The oils used are Eucalyptus and Rosemary. Eucalyptus prepares the ear while Rosemary is known to fight infections and viruses. I found it easiest to mix the olive oil and esseitial oils separately in liquid medicine cups. Once mixed I soaked a Q-tip in the mixtures and applied the oil behind Rylan's ears, down the side of his neck and onto his collar bone area per the instructions shown. I did this nightly for a week.

5. GARLIC EAR DROPS
    Originally I had a hard time bringing myself to do this one. I bought the drops at Earthfare and couldn't wait to use them until I smelled them. Yup. Those are GARLIC drops. I eventually decided that my son's health and comfort was more important than how he smelled. I warmed the container in some warm water and, while Rylan was sleeping at night, gently dropped 1-2 drops in his ear. He smelled like an Italian restaurant for days and I affectionately dubbed him "Garlic-head."

6. INFANT PROBIOTIC
    Lastly, in 2-3 bottles I added approximately 1/8 tsp of the Infant Pro-biotic that I found at Earthfare. Normally I'll just do the probiotic once daily.

Long story short - after about 10 days Doctor Dad confirmed a we were TOTALLY CLEAR of any infection! It's amazing what the body can do when we flood it with proper nutrition and utilize proper immunity-building supplements during a health crisis. I hope this may be helpful for those parents out there who desire a more natural approach to health and, in particular, fighting childhood ailments - such as ear infections - with some other than modern antibiotics. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any questions about this protocol or about my own nutritional program. God bless!

Introducing the NEW Isagenix VEGAN IsaLean Shake!

Natural Berry Harvest 

Dairy-free Shake Alternative

(copied from The Escobar Group) http://www.escobargroup.blogspot.com/2013/04/introducing-isagenix-new-dairy-free.html

IsaLean® Shake Natural Berry Harvest is a premium dairy-free meal replacement shake made from nutritionally complete plant-based protein. Derived from hemp and pea protein, IsaLean Shake in Natural Berry Harvest is loaded with energy-boosting carbohydrates and healthy fats to provide your body with maximum dairy-free nutrition. Ideal for those committed to non-dairy, vegetarian or vegan dietary lifestyles, you'll be on your way to achieving a healthier body while giving it exactly what it needs. Also a great flavor addition to the IsaLean Shake family.

* Highly digestible with quality, bioavailable, plant-based protein 
* Helps maintain and build lean muscle 
* Safe for those with dairy allergies or lactose-intolerance 
* Sensible and effective for those with soy-based allergies 
* Great protein source for vegetarian populations

When John Anderson chose to design a dairy-free, plant-based version of a meal-replacement shake, the Isagenix Founder and Master Formulator would only settle for components that were worthy enough to bear the “IsaLean” name.

The Natural Berry Harvest Shake is a marvel—by any shake’s standards, plant-based or not—for the careful attention paid to its excellent nutritional profile:

• Your body’s needs for protein are met with a total of 22 grams of protein from hemp and pea, which together boast a complete amino acid profile similar to that of the other IsaLean Shakes.
• Your heart and blood vessels will thank you for the 8 grams of healthy fats from sources including extra virgin olive oil and sunflower oil (monounsaturated fats), flax and chia seed (omega-3s, -6s, and -9s), and coconut-derived medium-chain triglycerides.
• Your gut will benefit from 8 grams of dietary fiber that includes a mix of chia seed and gut-healthy prebiotics like inulin and oligosaccharides.
• Lastly, your senses will be rewarded by the natural flavor of berries within a low-glycemic profile comprising of only 7 grams of sugar from natural, mineral-rich molasses.

That’s not all. John made sure the completely vegetarian meal alternative also possessed its own “whole foods” base of micronutrients contained within a blend of pulps, low-temp spray-dried powders (to retain vitamins and phytochemicals), and juice powders from natural foods. These include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts such as pumpkin, kale, quinoa, broccoli, almonds, carrots, and beets.

“Sprouts, vegetables, and the fruits are the source for naturally occurring vitamins,” John says. “We wanted to create an all-natural, whole food shake as nutritious as possible. Our methods of low temperature spray drying ensure we have unprocessed foods containing all their natural vitamins and phytochemicals.”

No artificial ingredients, no GMOs, no soy

It is hard to appreciate the wonder that is the quality of this plant-based shake without understanding what’s not in it: John did not include any artificial colors or flavors, did not include ingredients from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and absolutely did not include any soy ingredients of any kind.

“These sources of protein are non-GMO, natural plant sources and have a great amino acid profile when combined. There are so many companies using soy protein and that’s just not acceptable for Isagenix,” John says. In his 33 years as a formulator, John explains he has never used soy protein in any product even prior to its bad publicity.

“We want our products to be 100 percent safe, all natural, and deliver the best nutrition,” he says.

Not just for dairy sensitive individuals and vegetarians

Given the record numbers of people who have sensitivities to different foods such as dairy, soy, or egg, the shake offers a fantastic alternative. The dairy-free alternative is ideal for those with sensitivity to dairy because of lactose intolerance or a milk allergy. Being plant-based, it also suits the lifestyles of those who avoid animal products altogether.

But is the Natural Berry Harvest IsaLean Shake only for those avoiding dairy or animal products? John makes the point that the shake shouldn’t be limited to any subset of the population.

John says, “I believe in full-spectrum nutrition.”

He explains further adding that our ancestral past as hunters and gatherers suggests that as humans we should be incorporating a wide variety of foods including nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. “It’s because there are vital micronutrients contained in these whole foods we need to maintain a healthy body and support all the building blocks we need,” he says.

“Natural Berry Harvest is not just for vegetarians and vegans, but also designed for those who consume whey as an added source of protein and alternative meal,” he says. “Everyone (not just vegetarians) should incorporate this shake in their nutritional arsenal of food supplementation.”

A “full-spectrum” of healthy fats, fiber, and natural sweetness

The Natural Berry Harvest has John’s principle for “full-spectrum nutrition” at its core. The evidence is found not just within the protein and the fruit-vegetable-sprout blends, but also in the sources for healthy fats, carbohydrate, and dietary fiber.

Consider its healthy fats—a mix of sunflower oil, extra virgin olive oil, flax, coconut—offering monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega-3s, omega-6s, omega-9), as well as medium-chain triglycerides. Most other shakes on the market only supply soy oil comprising of mainly omega-6s.

The dietary fiber includes prebiotic soluble oligosaccharides and inulin to promote growth of good bacteria in the intestine. John says his choice for including prebiotics are because they are the “preferred fuel source for the primary good bacteria in the gut” and this, in turn, can help reduce the growth of bad bacteria. In addition, it includes insoluble fiber from flax and chia seed for bulk and regularity.

The natural sweetness of the shakes is created through a complex mix of mineral-rich molasses, fruit powders, and stevia. The flavor is rounded out with tapioca maltodextrin giving the shake the smoothness of taste not often found in plant-based shakes.

One of the questions that Isagenix customers’ may have is about Natural Berry Harvest’s apparent lack of additional digestive enzymes, which are prominent features of the dairy-based IsaLean Shake flavors. John says there is a reason for this and it has to do with pudding and ice cream for kids.

“Parents have asked if their children can have their shakes like ice cream and the answer has always been ‘no’ until now. The other shakes should not be frozen because of the enzymes. The new Natural Berry Harvest IsaLean Shake can be frozen as a berry ice cream or as popsicles, or it can be mixed with less water to enjoy as a berry pudding.”

In just listening to John discuss each of the shake’s many attributes, you can recognize the sense of pride a master has for a truly unique accomplishment. The Master Formulator sums it up this way, “The Natural Berry Harvest IsaLean Shake is a great-tasting new flavor and a nutritious, balanced dairy-free alternative to our cornerstone whey protein-based meal replacement IsaLean Shake.”

More on the Shake:  http://www.isagenix.com/us/en/natural_berry_harvest_shake.html

Supplemental Facts:  http://www.isagenix.com/us/en/natural_berry_harvest_shake.html

New Shake Flier:  https://media01.isagenix.com/corporate/ww/pdfs/IsaLean-Shake-Natural-Berry-Harvest-PIS.pdf

How John Anderson Created the New Shake:  https://media01.isagenix.com/corporate/ww/pdfs/IsaNews_Whole_Food_Shake.pdf