Hi Susun
I have two questions, actually 3, the first being, my child is almost two years old and still breastfeeding as well as eating all except meat, chicken and fish... very happy and healthy however low in iron so she is now on supplements although she eats very iron rich and nutritious food.
So my question is what are your thought about iron supplements or deficiency in toddlers... Secondly, what about B-12? I am not vegetarian, but she is (she eats dairy and eggs).
Im getting mixed ideas about giving her B-12 which she might need. One doc says that if I am not vegetarian then she is not deficient. Another health practcitioner says that I should be giving her B12 definately... I'd like to return to vegetarianism... it has been suggested that while Im breastfeeding, I should not be vegetarian but almost two years have passed. Shall I continue to eat meat etc. or can I now go back to vegetarianism?
Outside of that, I have a friend whose son is 37 years old and has been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and just had most of his intestines (both) cut out so he is unable to eat fruit and veggies. He is not strong enough to begin chemotherapy yet but she wants to give him juices to regain strength and energy and help his body heal. My question to you is which juices would be appropriate for someone in his condition.
Hello,
Susun's thoughts on supplements is not to take them... Are you drinking daily infusions? Especially mineral rich nettles? Is your child drinking infusions? She certainly can be incorporating them in her diet and we feel this is much better than the use of supplements. What kind of iron rich foods is she eating? Plenty of dark green leafy veggies - including cooked dandelion greens, beets ... perhaps some blackstrap molasses or yellow dock syrup to help with iron levels.
Of course, you will have to make decisions that you are comfortable with and all I can tell you is the direction that Susun would guide you in... While we do eat mainly vegetarian with emphasis on lots of wild foods, veggies, whole grains, seaweed and fermented foods, Susun does not abstain from meat nor recommend a vegetarian diet and certainly not for young children.
From Susun: "All of life is holy and whole. I eat you and you eat me is the holy rule is this wholeness. Spiritual parenting includes understanding and tending to the special nutritional needs of infants and children. The growing brain requires cholesterol (animal fat) in order to develop properly. The young immune system needs large amounts of vitamin B12 to thrive. Both of these, as well as several dozen other nutrients required for children, are avaliable to us only as gifts from the animals."
You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.aspiremag.net/spiritual-parenting-the-spiral-of-life
At the very least, I would definitely keep incorporating animal products such as full fat yogurt, raw milk, cheese and eggs, which can often get you enough B12 ... add the yellow dock syrup, nettles infusions and molasses to help with iron.
Also for your friend, again, we would recommend infusions - so much more nutrition, vitamins and minerals than juices, especially anything bottled. http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/
blessings,
Kim
Wise Woman Team
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