The incidence of allergy has increased significantly over the past two decades. And a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association now shows that living in the United States “significantly” increases your risk of developing allergies.

Between, 1997 and 2002, allergy to peanuts more than doubled.

In the last twenty years, there has been a 400% increase in the rates of allergies in children and a 300% increase in the rates of asthma, with at least a 56% increase in the number of asthma-related deaths.

Approximately 30 million children – more than 1/3 of our kids – are affected by one of the four new childhood epidemics – allergies, asthma, ADHD and autism, earning our children the title of “Generation Rx” and these condition the title “the 4As.”

The official statistic holds that allergies affect millions of Americans, including about 6-8 percent of children below the age of three. That information comes courtesy of U.S. Food and Drug Administration Deputy Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, J., D.V.M., Ph.D., speaking before the Consumer Federation of America on April 22, 2002. It is over ten years old. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control issued a report in 2008 that said that there has been a 265% increase in the rate of hospitalizations related to food allergic reactions.

Since when did a PB&J and a carton of milk become so dangerous?

This begs explanation.

An allergy is basically an overreaction by your immune system to a protein that it perceives as a threat—for example, the proteins in particular types of food, the dust mite protein, or pollen. For people without allergies, these proteins are harmless. But if you’ve got an allergy, your immune system sees these proteins as dangerous invaders.

To drive the invader out, your immune system mobilizes all its resources: mucous, to flush out the intruder; vomiting, to force it out; diarrhea, to expel it quickly. Such conditions may make you feel sick, but they’re actually evidence of your body’s attempts to get well.

A key aspect of the immune response is known as inflammation, characterized by one or more of four classic symptoms: redness, heat, swelling, and pain. Inflammation doesn’t occur only in allergic reactions; it flares up whenever your body feels threatened, in response to a bruise, cut, bacteria, or virus as well as to otherwise harmless pollen, dust, or food. Scientists now believe that much of our immune system is found in our digestive tracts, where many of these inflammatory reactions occur in the form of stomachaches, cramping, nausea, bloating, and vomiting.

Ironically, the immune system’s inflammatory reaction—meant to heal and protect the body—often causes more problems than the initial “invader” in the cases when allergic reactions become life-threatening.

Common Symptoms of Food Allergy: Immediate Reactions

• rash or hives
• nausea
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• itchy skin
• eczema
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• swelling of the airways to the lungs
• anaphylaxis

Food Allergies and Food Sensitivity: Our Immune System Overreacts Again

At first glance, the distinction between “allergies” and “sensitivity” may seem like a meaningless word game. But understanding the relationship between these two conditions is crucial to grasping the true nature of the allergy epidemic—and to seeing how even the supposedly healthy foods in our kitchens may be harmful to our health.

As we’ve seen, allergies are an overreaction of our immune system, a kind of exaggerated response to a perceived danger. When a child comes in contact with these proteins (peanut, egg, wheat, etc.) her immune system “recognizes” the protein as dangerous, just as it would have seen the danger in the bacterium that causes pneumonia or the virus that causes mumps. In response, her immune system creates special “fighter” proteins called antibodies designed to identify and neutralize the “invader.”

These fighter proteins are known as immunoglobulin E, or IgE for short. When they’re released into the bloodstream, their purpose is to “seek and destroy” the invader, which they do by creating one or more of the classic food allergy symptoms, such as the hives, or the diarrhea with which other children respond, or, in more extreme cases, the anaphylactic shock that can kill a child within minutes.

The classic IgE response occurs within minutes or even seconds, because IgE proteins are some of the most aggressive antibodies we know. That immediate IgE response is the defining characteristic of an allergic reaction.

Food sensitivities start out in a similar way. If a “sensitive” child is exposed to a protein that his system perceives as a threat, he’ll manufacture another type of fighter protein, known as Immunglobulin G, or IgG. Although IgE and IgG antibodies play similar roles, they produce somewhat different—though often overlapping—symptoms.

A crucial difference between the two, though, is their reaction time. The less aggressive IgG antibodies typically produce a delayed response that might not appear for hours or even days after the child has consumed the offending food.

So even though food sensitivities and food allergies both produce painful, inflammatory, and potentially dangerous responses, this delayed reaction time has led many doctors to give food sensitivities second-class status. Partly that’s because they don’t present an immediate and obvious threat to children’s lives: only the IgE proteins trigger anaphylactic shock, for example, and in that sense, only the IgE proteins can kill (though the IgG reaction can have serious long-term consequences). Unfortunately, some doctors tend to downplay the importance of nutrition, frequently dismissing the idea that such symptoms as earache, eczema, crankiness, brain fog, and sleep problems might be related to a child’s diet.

However, an article in The Lancet, Britain’s most respected medical journal, casts another light on the subject. The article referred to doctors who use elimination diets—diets that begin with a very limited, “safe” array of food choices and then add potentially problematic foods back into the diet, one by one.

When you take a break from eating that problem food, however, and then add it back into your diet, you see how powerful its effects are and how responsible it may be for a seemingly unrelated problem. Foods that you thought were safe for you turn out to be highly problematic, indicating the presence of a previous undiagnosed food sensitivity. As a result, the authors of the Lancet article conclude that the prevalence of food sensitivity (referred to in the article as “food intolerance”) has been seriously underestimated.

Certainly, food allergies are far more dramatic. Whenever you read about a kid who died within minutes of eating at a fast-food joint or after breathing in the peanut dust from a friend’s candy wrapper, that’s an “IgE-mediated” food allergy. They’re fast, they can be deadly, and need the attention they deserve.

But we should be looking at delayed reactions, too, the “IgG-mediated” responses to food sensitivities. And some doctors do look seriously at both. Most conventional doctors, though, tend to focus on IgE immediate reactions. There are lots of reasons why they should view the two types of reactions as part of a larger, single problem.

First, both reactions have the same ultimate cause: the immune system’s overreaction to apparently harmless food. According to internationally acclaimed author and physician Kenneth Bock, M.D., there’s also quite a bit of overlap between IgE and IgG symptoms. Both can contribute to inflammatory responses in multiple body systems.

True, the delayed IgG reactions are less likely to cause hives and are more likely to produce a host of apparently vague symptoms, such as headache, brain fog, sleep problems, joint pain, fatigue, and muscle aches. But both the immediate and the delayed responses are immune system problems triggered by a supposedly “harmless” food.

Conventional doctors’ tendency to separate “IgE-mediated” food allergies and “IgG-mediated” food sensitivities into two separate problems has the effect of minimizing the allergy epidemic. Remember, IgE allergies, IgG sensitivities, and asthma—three similar ways that our immune systems can overreact—are all on the rise. It makes sense to find a doctor who is willing to address all three as symptoms of a greater underlying issue.

Common Symptoms of Food Sensitivity: Delayed Reactions

• fatigue
• gastrointestinal problems, including bloating and gas
• itchy skin and skin rashes like eczema
• brain fog
• muscle or joint aches
• headache
• sleeplessness and sleep disorders
• chronic rhinitis (runny nose), congestion, and post-nasal drip

Four Take-Aways:

1. Even if your kids can’t talk, their skin speaks volumes! Did you know that the skin is a person’s largest organ? Even when your child is too young to tell you how he feels or too used to her symptoms to identify them (when kids hurt all the time, they don’t know they hurt!), you can often read your child’s condition in his or her skin. Does your child have eczema? Does he get rashes around the mouth, especially after he eats a certain food or swallows a certain beverage? Rashes around the knees, elbows, or armpits? Does he have “allergic shiners”—that is, dark circles under the eyes?

   These are all inflammatory reactions, signs that the body is trying to rid itself of what it perceives as “toxic invader.” In your child’s case, that “toxic invader” might be an apparently harmless food, to which your kid is either allergic or “sensitive.” Keeping that invader away from your kid may bring relief from symptoms—and it may clear up other problems, such as brain fog, crankiness, sleep problems, inattention, acne, and mood swings.

2. The toilet bowl has a lot to tell you. Your kids’ bowel movements, not to be too delicate here, also speak volumes. Runny poops are a sign that a person isn’t properly digesting his food. And indeed, as we got the allergens out of some children’s diets, poops tend to firm up.

3. Chronic ear infections are often a sign of dairy allergies. In some cases, milk may have ill effects like eczema, upset stomachs or chronic ear infections for children who are allergic or sensitive to it.

4. Find a doctor who is willing to work with you, test for both IgE and IgG allergies and sensitivities and to address the important role that elimination diets can play in managing allergic symptoms like eczema, ear infections and chronic mucous.

Additional Resources:

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies by Dr. Kenneth Bock
Eat to Live; Disease Proof Your Child by Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Note: Always discuss individual health inquiries and medical issues with a qualified personal physician and/or specialist. Robyn O’Brien, the founder and Executive Director of the AllergyKids Foundation, is an author and analyst but not responsible for medical decisions made by any one person. The professionals who share their knowledge, discussions, minutes, handouts, agendas, and other products do not constitute medical and/or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Always discuss individual health inquiries and medical issues with a qualified personal physician and/or specialist.

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The CEO of Happy Family talks about the recent acquisition by Danone, the company’s future, and what it means for her role.

Following reports of the acquisition of Inc. 500 company Happy Family by Danone for hundreds of millions of dollars, Inc. Executive Editor Nicole Marie Richardson reached out to founder, CEO, and Chief Mom Shazi Visram to talk about the deal. Concerning handing over 90 percent in equity to the food giant, Visram says, “I am one Happy Mama.” Here’s what else she had to say about the deal, the future of Happy Family, and her role within the company.

Why was now the right time to consider an acquisition?
We were simply approached by our dream acquirer. We weren’t looking to sell, nor did we have to, but it was impossible not to be honored, flattered, and thrilled by the prospect of continuing our vision under the guidance of such a respected visionary company. Their R&D capabilities are world renown, and their people are as passionate as we are.

Were you considering other major partners or buyers?
Not really, although we have been approached many times. It has always been my intention to do what’s right for our brand, and with Danone I knew Happy Family will leave a lasting legacy for health and wellness in our country and prove to offer parents the most nutritious and personalized products for the specific needs of our babies’ growing bodies. No one I had ever spoken with could offer us that, regardless of the monetary situation.

How did the relationship with Danone come about?
We had an initial call in September on my mother’s birthday and we flirted with the idea of a partnership–it was like dating if you will. But after meeting their team in Amsterdam and understanding their commitment to optimizing nutrition for babies around the globe, I began to fall in love. They proposed in January, and then on May 12, 2013, Mother’s Day, we accepted. It was an auspicious sign for me as it was literally seven years to the day that we launched as a gift to moms, and we signed this deal. Maybe it will close on Father’s Day, who knows!

What made Danone a good fit for Happy Family?
They have a booming global infant nutrition business based on work from the world’s most innovative R&D facilities. They recognize that Jessica Rolph and I continue to be the natural leaders of our business and that our team and our passion is central to our success, so nothing will change. I will remain as CEO and chief mom. I will chair the new board. Jessica will continue as COO and also serve on the new board. Our team will remain and our passion and commitment to our mission will only be bolstered.

In the past, you shunned VC funding for fear that you would lose some control over your business. Is this a concern with this new deal?
Not at all. I shunned them for that reason and also because I never thought they would have much value to add. With Danone, I will still run the company based on my original mission and they will add tremendous value to further those goals of changing the way our children are fed through optional organic nutrition.

What was your previous knowledge of Danone?
The company is one that I have always deeply admired. The CEO is a visionary, and their efforts globally are social responsible in every way. The company had created a wonderful partnership with Stonyfield under the leadership of Gary Hirshberg, a man who has been my role model for 10 years and who is a friend and mentor to me.

What will this new partner allow Happy Family to do in terms of scaling?
We will have access to their R&D for new product development and will be able to expand our reach. Danone will offer continued growth capital to finance the business’s expansion as well as access to the world preeminent thinkers and leaders in the baby nutrition space.

Is there the potential of a 100 percent sale to Danone?
Anything is possible, but that is not something I foresee for our future. Happy Family will continue to be our baby.

What are the new growth targets for Happy Family?
We plan to hit $100 million this year and the future continues to be bright. I’d like to see Happy Family become the leading brand that focuses on the health and wellness of young families.

For full article click here.

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Mother’s Day will always be significant for Shazi Visram. It’s the day the CEO and founder of Happy Family launched her organic food company in 2006, and the day that dream sold for hundreds of millions of dollars nearly a decade later.

This week, Danone announced plans to acquire an equity interest of over 90 percent in Happy Family, which sells a range of organic foods from yogurt to fruit crisps. With presence on five continents, Danone’s name is synonymous with food, and the acquisition has the power to turn Happy Family into the next Gerber.

Happy Family already holds over 4 percent of the market, with gross sales of more than $60 million and high growth projections for 2013. According to the company, its revenue nearly quadrupled in two years from $13.3 million in 2010.

But the future wasn’t always so bright for the fast-growing company. “I was so broke that I remember going down to the High Street Station to catch the C train to go back to Jersey City, and my credit cards were all so maxed out that I could not buy one single swipe on the subway,” Visram told Inc. last year.

Visram’s company is known best for replacing glass jars with squeeze pouches, that gained traction at Target. Within two weeks Visram said she had one of the store’s most popular products. That selling point enabled her to raise $3 million and then another round of $18 million to produce the 15 million pouches that would ultimately catch Danone’s eye in fall 2012.

Happy Family placed 68th on the Inc. 500 that year, and Visram–who is now 36 and mother to a three-year-old boy–is selling her products across the U.S. in more than 20,000 stores such as Whole Foods, Amazon.com and Target, as well as in Turkey, Trinidad and China, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Visram, who expressed a desire to be acquired by Danone while still a student at Columbia Business School, said she couldn’t be happier. “This agreement will allow us to further our goal of providing organic nutrition to more children, both by making our products more available and by continuing to provide new innovations to the baby and toddler category.”

The transaction is expected to be finalized in the coming months.

For full article click here

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Happy Family, the leading premium, organic baby and toddler food brand founded and operated by moms, is excited to announce an extraordinary partnership with Groupe Danone, a global company whose mission is to bring health through food to people everywhere. Together, the strategic alliance will raise the bar for children’s nutrition in the U.S. combining their shared commitment to social responsibility and innovation. 

Every day operations of Happy Family will remain unchanged, with the original two moms—Shazi Visram, Founder and CEO, and Jessica Rolph, Founding Partner and COO — continuing to oversee all sectors of the business with the same purity of purpose. Groupe Danone will assume the role of parent company providing additional resources allowing Happy Family to pioneer even more new products that deliver positive nutrition to babies and toddlers.

“This collaboration is a huge opportunity for us but also benefits families everywhere,” said Visram. “I started Happy Family because I wanted to change the way children were fed and nourished. For the past seven years, we have put our heart and soul into introducing new and innovative organic options to children and families that provide them with optimal nutrition. Working with Groupe Danone will give us the opportunity to continue on our journey and even help propel it to the next level.”

Happy Family will now have access to the most sophisticated infant nutrition research and development (R&D) facilities in the world, amplifying their efforts to continue to innovate and improve children’s health in the U.S. Danone’s well-established distribution network will also allow for existing products to be more widely available. The powerhouse combination of R&D facilities and distribution channels will help Happy Family to make even more of an impact, while not compromising on their dedication to doing what’s best for the environment. 

“We are a passionate and committed company, looking to leave a lasting legacy of health and wellness for our children” says Visram emphatically. “Our partnership with Groupe Danone allows us the opportunity to do this. We are truly a match made in heaven, as Danone’s fundamental ideals and mission are uncannily similar to ours. They approach product development in the same way that we do: creating products specifically targeted to the children they are feeding; and they are socially responsible like us, both giving back to those in need and minimizing environmental impact at every level possible. It’s a dream come true.” 

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for Children’s Nutrition in the U.S. appeared first on HappyFamily.

Chicago-based KLUTCHclub helps busy moms on the go stay healthy. The monthly subscription service sends a hand-picked box of holistic, health, fitness and wellness products right to your doorstep.

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and dads stay healthy on-the-go appeared first on HappyFamily.

Tip 1: Study and Learn to Grow and Thrive

Tip 2: Help The Kids Settle In

A permanent change in station means picking up roots once again. This may be totally new to you, or your family may be veterans by now. Either way, we can help one another by sharing new ideas, tips and experiences. The military families with whom we spoke offered the following advice. We look forward to yours as well.

1. Anticipate With Enthusiasm

Before you begin the excitement of the new phase of your life, circle back and say thank you. A change in station includes both saying goodbye and saying hello. Take the time to say so-long to friends and neighbors in a meaningful way. Expressing gratitude with homemade gifts, written stories or photos is a loving way to express appreciation and caring for the relationships you carefully cultivated, nurtured and relied on. Danika created a “mobile garden” with all of her plants on wheels so if her family gets orders to relocate she can easily pack up all her plants and take them with her.

Victoria tells us “During our last deployments friends I made during that time are long time friends, you have been through so much together its hard to image PCSing, but it happens, and we are thankful for phone calls and emails to keep in touch. Make the time to call a friend that was there for you, after you move, you have shared so much its so easy to lose touch don’t let that happen!!”

2. Get The Scoop

Enjoy the process of learning about your new station. Be it in your homeland or abroad, get books from the library, visit sites online and check-out your new home on Google Earth. You and your children can enjoy learning about new customs, languages and ways of life in order to anticipate the move with excitement and hope. Wanda tells us, “Before we moved to Korea, we sat down with the children and studied countries in Asia we planned to visit while on tour. Involving the kids made the move exciting and less stressful. We framed it as an adventure.”

3. Say Hello!

When you arrive at your new home, be it during a PCS or ETS, you’re going to make new friends and neighbors. Introduce yourself with an invitation for tea or cupcakes. It’s important to develop support networks early. Amber says, “Be open to asking for help.” Ask new friends and neighbors for names of quality physicians, tips on where to buy groceries and how to find local kid’s activities, parks and recreation. Your new base likely has information on baby-sitting, daycare and support groups, so seek it out, sooner rather than later.

Moving can be stressful for every family member, but the kids, in particular, need your guidance and support. Focus on stabilizing the kids first by making their rooms safe, cozy and personal.

1. Pack One Suitcase With Everything You’d Need For A Month

When you first, transition, it’s possible that you’ll be in a hotel for a while. Be sure to pack all your necessities and meaningful items (blankets, lovies) in one suitcase per family member, so you have things on hand before the arrival of household objects and possessions.

2. Let The Kids Create Their Own Special Nests

Nothing calms a hurting heart faster than the a parent who communicates, “I can feel what it’s like to be in your shoes.” So stand in your kid’s shoes and put their needs first.

“We moved every 18 months to four years. In order to help the children feel settled-in, we always unpacked their things first and let them set up their rooms in their own special way,” says Wanda.

3. Embrace the Angst

The easiest way to metabolize and move passed the hurt sometimes associated with moving is to tell your children, “Your feelings matter to me.” “It’s okay to love and miss old friends. It’s also meaningful to make new ones.” Let your children experience their feelings, without argument from you. This way, they can feel their sadness and move forward. Kids who are told they cannot feel the way they do often get stuck or act out.

Sara Dunlap, mom of 2 boys, wife of Army Solider stationed in Alaska

Wanda Hoffs, mom of two, wife of a Career Intelligence Officer, Florida

Amber Sampson, mom of a 3 year old son, wife of a Army Aviation Solider at El Paso TX

Hilori Wastila, mom of three wife of a Marine Infantry Soldier, California

Victoria Smith mom of a toddler boy and wife of an Army Veteran

Danika Ford mom of a toddler girl and wife of a Air Force Airman

You can find more helpful tips to raise your happy family at www.lynnekenney.com

Click here to hear an in-depth exploration for making PCS/ETS a time of peace, happiness and growth in your family. Please join the conversation and send your tips to facebook.com/HAPPYFAM.

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Dallas, TX (May 2, 2013) – The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) today released the sixth ranking of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/led companies in North America in its annual program sponsored by American Express OPEN, the small business division of American Express. The Top 50 generated a combined $3.2 billion in 2012 revenues and collectively employed 24,000 people in 2012.

Happy Family, which offers a complete line of organic meals and snacks for families based in New York, has taken the top spot for 2013. Shazi Visram, founder and chief executive officer saw her 10-year-old company’s revenue quadruple in two years from $13.3 million in 2010 to $62.3 million in 2012.

Strategic Communications, a Louisville-based provider of technology services, tripled her company’s employment within a two year span to take second place this year. Kathy Mills, chief executive officer, has also nearly doubled the company’s revenues from $23.1 million in 2010 to $41.2 million in 2012.

“This year more than half of the companies in the Top 50 are new to the ranking and this trend illustrates how diverse women-owned and led companies are,” said Marsha Firestone, Ph. D., president and founder of WPO. “We are so pleased to continue our partnership with American Express OPEN in honoring these trailblazing women and their amazing accomplishments.”

Research commissioned by American Express OPEN earlier this year shows that the number of women-owned firms pulling in $10 million or more in annual sales has jumped by 57% over 10 years.

“American Express OPEN is honored to support this elite group of women who represent the full spectrum of industries and have become leaders within the women business community,” said Randi Schochet, vice president at American Express OPEN. “Entrepreneurship is an exciting option for women, and the honorees we recognize today are excellent role models for women entrepreneurs, focusing on growth and thereby creating jobs and boosting the economy.”

All submitted companies were ranked according to a sales growth formula that combines percentage and absolute growth. From this list, the 50 Fastest were selected. To be qualified for the ranking, businesses are required to be privately held, woman-owned/led companies in the U.S. or Canada and reached annual revenue of at least $500,000 in 2007 and $2 million in 2012.

More about the 2013 WPO Top 50

• The average revenue grew from $24.9 million in 2008 to $64.5 million in 2012
• Founded the business: 90%
• Average age: 47
• Average number of projected 2013 employees: 641

In order to help the Top 50 continue to seize even more business opportunities, each of the honored business owners will be offered a $500 American Express gift card.

All 50 companies will be honored at a special event hosted by American Express OPEN at the 2013 WPO Annual Conference in Dallas, TX on May 2, 2013. The awards reception will take place from 6 – 9PM at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel.

Click here for The WPO’s 2013 Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies.

About the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO)

The WPO is the premier peer advisory organization connecting women who own multi-million dollar companies. In monthly meetings across four continents (North America, South America, Europe, and Africa) chapters of 20 women presidents – from diverse industries– invest time and energy in themselves and their businesses to drive their corporations to the next level. Local WPO chapters are coordinated by a professional facilitator and meet monthly to share business expertise and experience in a confidential setting. For more information, call 212-688-4114 or visit www.womenpresidentsorg.com.

About American Express OPEN

American Express OPEN is the leading payment card issuer for small businesses in the United States and supports business owners and entrepreneurs with products and services to help them run and grow their businesses. This includes business charge and credit cards that deliver purchasing power, flexibility, rewards, savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners and online tools and services designed to help improve profitability. Learn more at www.OPEN.com and connect with us at openforum.com and twitter.com/openforum.

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook, foursquare, linkedin, twitter, and youtube.

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Pregnancy is a great time to choose organic foods, grown and produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, genetically modified organisms, and artificial hormones. Developing babies are particularly vulnerable to the effects of exposure to chemicals like pesticides given how small their bodies are and their rapid rate of growth. That’s why experts believe that the benefits of organic food are greatest for pregnant women and babies.

Eating organic is not the whole story, though, because the fact that a food is organic doesn’t automatically make it healthy. Plenty of organic foods lack essential nutrients that you and your baby need. And, foods made from organic ingredients may still be highly processed and full of too much sugar or saturated fat.

So yes, choose organic, but also choose foods that give you even more. Look for foods that contain the following key nutrients needed during pregnancy and lactation:

• Choline – Needed in higher amounts during pregnancy and breastfeeding; an essential vitamin that plays a key role in baby’s brain development. Found in eggs, meats, and fortified foods.

• DHA and other Omega-3 fats – Essential healthy fats are the building block of baby’s brain and eyes. DHA is found in algae, fish (e.g., wild salmon), and may be found in fortified foods. Other sources of omega-3s include flaxseed oil and walnuts.

• Vitamin D – Crucial for your bone health and your baby’s bone development. Unfortunately, nature’s best source is the ultraviolet rays of the sun, which of course are not safe for your skin. Found in eggs, fortified dairy products, and other fortified foods.

• Folic Acid – Prevents neural tube defects like spina bifida. The body doesn’t store folic acid so you need to get it every day. Found in fortified grains and cereals, broccoli, oranges, beans, peas, peanuts, and leafy greens like kale.

• Iron – Produces hemoglobin for healthy oxygenation of the blood. A deficiency causes anemia (you should be tested during your second trimester). You need at least 15-30 mg per day, and this may be hard to get through food alone. Eat iron-rich foods like whole grains, beef, lentils, dark green leafy vegetables. Take an iron-fortified prenatal supplement, if recommended by your healthcare provider.

• Supergrains – Go beyond whole wheat and try grains like quinoa, amaranth, chia seed, and millet. These provide healthy complex carbohydrates, essential amino acids, fiber, B vitamins, iron, and in some cases omega-3 fats.

For more tips on eating for a healthy pregnancy, check out our Prenatal Nutrition Guide here.

In support of Pregnancy Awareness Month, here is a list of events Happy Family will be exhibiting at.

Amy Marlow, MPH RD CDN

Nutrition Advisor, HAPPYFAMILY

A registered dietitian (RD), Amy also has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Maryland. She worked as a pediatric dietitian at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, where she provided nutrition care in the pediatric oncology unit, high-risk obstetrics ward, and the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. In addition to her work with Happy Family, she manages the wellness program for a Fortune 500 company. Amy is the proud mother of Noah, Alana and Jonah.

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Moms must be ready for anything. From changing diapers to fixing knee scrapes, preparation is key. …And as any experienced parent knows you have to have everything at the ready. Momtrends.com editor Nicole Feliciano gave advice to PIX11 Morning News anchor and mom-to-be Sukanya Krishnan on what should be packed in a diaper bag for a baby and what essentials are needed for a small child.

For the new mom

Snacks — the coolest snacks from Happy Baby — fun packaging that doubles as a you.

Read more

Youtube Video

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on the go appeared first on HappyFamily.