Natural Pediatrics

In these financially strapping times, many parents are looking closely at their budgets and wondering where to make cuts without doing harm to their family. This begs the question “is it really worth spending the extra money on organic food, or can we get by on the cheap stuff?” A tough question for some parents, since there is not a lot of published information on the benefits of organic food over commercially farmed food. Even more discouraging, are some of the studies published lately that seem to contradict what we thought were the health benefits of diets high in fresh fruits and vegetables. While some “organic” foods have been shown to be healthier and safer than their non-organic counterparts, there are plenty of researchers in the field (AKA cynics) who view the “organic” trend as simply a lifestyle choice rather than a movement towards better health. There was even a report published in the UK last year indicating no difference in the health benefits of organic vs. conventionally grown foods, so why, then, spend the extra money on organic foods?

Despite a national advertising campaign aiming to convince consumers that High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a natural sweeter similar to sugar, many parents still have questions about this popular sweetener and whether it is, indeed, safe for their children. While it is true that high fructose corn syrup is naturally derived, it is far from [...]