| Kids can need detox help too! Like the rest of us, they encounter toxins from ordinary routines, activities, water, food, poor air quality, and more. The body has many mechanisms to manage day to day toxic exposures. But unlike adults, kids – and especially babies – are more vulnerable due to their smaller size. Toxins and their effects can build up and make it harder for a child to stay well. Behavior changes or agitation, sensory processing glitches, gut symptoms, rashes, or more serious concerns like cough, unexplained fever, or even seizures can result from slowly built up toxic burdens or from an abrupt large exposure. Some circumstances that burden their bodies and make it harder to detoxify are… - Wildfire – including proximity to leftover dust and burnt debris – has especially toxic and lingering effects. Watch this video to learn more.
- Poor air quality from car exhaust, industrial pollutants, fracking, ozone
- Regularly eating processed foods with additives, colorings, artificial ingredients, glyphosate and other pesticides (organic foods help minimize this)
- Well check visits where multiple vaccines are administered at once (check here for more detail on detoxifying vaccines)
- Shampoos, fabrics, bedding, soaps, toiletries and anything used topically can contain parabens, fragrances, formaldehyde, aluminum, titanium, bisphenol-A (BPA), talc, flame retardants – these and many more toxins are in products our children put on their skin every day.
- Excessive heavy metals from air, water, medications, food, or even toothpaste – which can give your child too much fluoride if they swallow some every day (avoid that with a fluoride free toothpaste).
And a new twist on toxins for children concerns covid vaccines. Learn more about these concerns here. At Flatiron Functional Medicine, where my office and practice are embedded, Jill Carnahan MD has suggested supportive supplements to help mitigate possible negative effects of a covid vaccine dose. We recommend doing this for 4-6 weeks following a vaccine dose. These are items I have safely and effectively used over the years in my pediatric nutrition practice. Children can use these items. Check with your doctor if your child uses medications for other conditions or if you’re not sure whether these options are right for your child. Any of these products can be found in my FullScript platform. Set up your own account from here to view any of these products and choose the format (chewable, liquid, powder, capsule) that best suits your child. Browse any of these below by setting up your own access to my secure FullScript platform. Click here to set up your own access to these items below. Circulation Support – Myocarditis and cardiovascular events including stroke have emerged as a potential negative effect of covid vaccines, especially in teens and children. These functional foods and compounds can reduce inflammation and help prevent clots: - High potency DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids – at least 500 mg DHA and 500 mg EPA. Use a pure and clean brand that allows independent product testing for heavy metals and toxins. My favorites for kids:
- Nordic Naturals Pro Omega 2000 Junior 2 softgels daily (chew or swallow)
- Pharmax Finest Pure Fish Oil 1 teaspoon daily (good option for high potency with low volume of liquid)
- Barlean’s High Potency Omega 3 Key Lime (pudding like texture)
If your child can swallow capsules: - Pycnogenol Douglas Labs 25 mg capsule daily. Pycnogenol has been shown to lower inflammation in children with asthma, to reduce asthma medication needed, and to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. If your child uses a medication for behavior or seizures, check with your doctor before using pycnogenol. Pycnogenol may lower blood pressure.
- Allergy Research Group Nattokinase 36 mg capsule – Nattokinase is an enzyme with capability to reduce arterial plaques and lower blood lipids.
Anti-oxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Support – - DaVinci Labs CoEnzyme Q10 ChewMelt – 1/2 chewable daily
- ReadiSorb Glutathione 1/2 to 1 teaspoon daily
- Empirical Labs Liposomal Curcumin / Reseveratrol 1/2 – 1 teaspoon daily
- D-Hist Junior chewables – 2 (smaller children) or up to 6 chewables (kids over 50 lbs) daily
- Seeking Health Optimal Vitamin D drops 2000 IU per drop – get a baseline vitamin D level at your pediatrician to discern if more than 4 drops weekly are needed.
Gut and Overall Immune Support – - SBI Protect 1 scoop daily in soft food or liquid
- Probiotics – Allergy Research Group Lactobacillus or ProFlora 4R Spore Probiotic
- Animal sources of vitamin A: Cod liver oil 1/2 teaspoon daily for children <50 lbs and 1-2 teaspoons daily for larger children. This gives the form of vitamin A (14 hydroxy retro-retinol) that turns on T cells. Synthetic vitamin A supplements (retinyl palmitate) don’t do this and neither do plant carotenoids (at least not without some metabolic transitions first). You can also use vitamin A rich foods like grass fed organic full fat dairy foods including butter, pastured egg yolks, and liver.
- Cats claw – capsules or drops available:
- QuickSilver Scientific Cats Claw Elite – 1 pump daily
- Pure Encapsulations Cats Claw capsule 1 daily (children over 70 lbs)
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Are the above supplements you mentioned, things I could start with my 20 month old? Or is he too young?
In my pediatric nutrition practice, I have used all of these in children as young as 20 months old, where indicated based on nutrition assessment. I can’t say what your son needs, but you might check with a local naturopathic doctor for guidance on using non-pharmaceutical helps like these in your toddler.
I started a detox for my son which consisted of 3 drops of concentrated Cilantro. He has been running a fever for 12 hours. Tylenol twice to manage it I’m worried. Is this normal?
This may be unrelated to the cilantro. If your child had recent shots or exposures to anyone sick, all bets are off about the cilantro being a trigger. If no recent shots or exposures, this may simply be an excellent response. Cilantro is gentle chelator. Microbes and viruses thrive in an environment with heavy metals, so chelation may help the immune system manage a background infection burden. A fever is a helpful way to get rid of those old infections. Please see my blog on the dangers of Tylenol and natural alternatives. Tylenol lowers the body’s ability to fight infection by lowering white blood cells, burdening the liver, and reducing fever. If the fever is below 105 then let it run, using the tips for natural supports in my post. Be sure to let your doctor know your child has a fever.
I’d like to request access to your detox support products, or anything that can help support my sons health as he is so experience eczema food allergies, bloated tummy, and speech delays
Hi Bernice, visit my home page here and click on the box that says “Hard Working Allergy Helpers” – those are useful for allergies – or on the Kids Gut Health Superstars – useful for gut health. Either way, you will be landed in to my FullScript access. Set up your own log in, and you will then be able to view both protocols and see what’s in them. You can order from there too if you like.