Helping Your Child Thrive: Reducing Anxiousness & Frustration
Helping Your Child Thrive: Reducing Anxiousness & Frustration
By Stephanie Ray, ND, BCN
As parents, we all want our children to navigate their emotions with ease and develop healthy ways to cope with anxiousness and frustration. In Traditional Chinese Medicine emotions are linked to the liver, so it's crucial to understand how to maintain a balanced emotional state in our kids Let's delve into some practical approaches that can make a real difference in supporting your child's emotional well-being.
The Liver-Emotion Connection
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is considered a hub for emotions like anxiety, anger, and frustration. Imagine it as a valve – when the liver is overwhelmed, these emotions can build up and lead to outbursts. This can be challenging for us as parents and for teachers. But how does this work?
The liver has two main detoxification pathways: phase I and II. These pathways play a vital role in filtering out every day toxins from the body. Keeping them running smoothly can be the key to a content and engaged child, rather than one prone to meltdowns.
Supporting the Detox Pathways
Certain foods can play a significant role in maintaining healthy liver function and improving your child's mood. Here's how you can incorporate them into your child's diet:
Phase I Detox Pathway Support:
Include fresh fruits and lightly cooked vegetables in your child's diet. Think of dark green, leafy veggies and fruits that are colors of the rainbow, like navel oranges, yellow bananas, purple plums, and red grapes. These foods contain enzymes, fiber, vitamin C, and natural antibiotic substances that can support the phase I detox pathway.
Phase II Detox Pathway Support:
Incorporate sulfurous veggies like broccoli and cabbage. Asparagus, watermelon, and broccoli are excellent sources of glutathione, which supports the phase II detox pathway. Foods like papayas and avocados also help the body produce glutathione, a crucial antioxidant for proper liver function.
Introducing NDF Calm®
NDF Calm® can be considered as food for the liver. It's a blend of medicinal mushrooms and herbs that synergistically support healthy liver function, balance detox pathways, replenish adrenal energy, and remove environmental toxins. Its ingredients have properties that can help decrease grumpiness, frustration, and anxiousness in children.
Recommended Intake:
- Children under 50 lbs: 1 dropper per day in water or juice
- Children over 51 lbs: 2 droppers per day in water or juice
Empowering Your Child Through Nutrition
Include these foods in your child's diet to boost their detox pathways and manage anxiety and frustration:
Phase I Detox Pathway Boosters:
Whole Grain Bread, Oranges, Prunes, Squash, Apples, Tomatoes, Apricots, Broccoli, Beets, Mangos, Cantaloupe, Spinach, Carrots, Watermelon, Pumpkins, Eggs, Red Peppers, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, and Beans (Kidney, Lentil).
Phase II Detox Pathway Boosters:
Arugula, Watercress, Collard Greens, Napa / Chinese Cabbage, Broccoli, Bok Choy, Horseradish, Cauliflower, Turnip, Radishes, Brussels Sprouts, Turnip Greens, Rutabaga, Kohlrabi, Cabbage, Mustard Greens, Daikon, and Kale.
Nurturing Emotional Balance
Every child desires positive relationships and balanced emotions. The liver can play a pivotal role in achieving this balance. By understanding the liver's connection to emotions, incorporating these simple dietary steps, and supporting your child with NDF Calm® you can actively contribute to your child's emotional well-being.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
