Ask Dr. Debby

Holistic Health and Wellness

Learn the importance of a healthy diet from Nogürt's very own board certified holistic pediatrician.  Read what Dr. Debby has to say.

I cannot have dairy products due to allergies, is soy a good alternative?

Soy is not a good alternative to dairy for several reasons.  Both dairy and soy products are some of the most common allergens.  If a person is allergic to dairy products it is common for them to be allergic to soy also. Other concerns are that most soy is genetically modified.  This means that they introduced new genes into the soy protein in order for the soy to be more resistant to bugs and disease.  The genetic modification is to help the farmer; it is not done to help our health.  Many researchers have written about the potential health dangers of genetically modified foods.  Soy also has effects that mimic the hormone estrogen.  Because of this practitioners now recommend against using soy formula in infants because of these hormone effects.  Finally soy is high in a plant compound called phytase which makes it difficult to digest and difficult for the body to absorb the vitamins and minerals that are in the soy protein.

Do I need Probiotics on a daily basis and are they safe to have everyday?

Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in our digestive tract.  These good bacteria are very important for both our immune system and our digestive system to function properly.  Therefore we need to have Probiotics everyday for optimal health.  Antibiotics, either as a prescription medicine or in non-organic foods such as dairy and meat, destroy these good bacteria in our intestines.  This can leadto multiple digestive problems and decreased resistance to infections. Therefore it is important to have a source of Probiotics in our diet.  Good sources of Probiotics include foods that are cultured with good bacteria.  Probiotic supplements are another option after natural food choices.

Dr. Debby is a Board Certified Doctor of Pediatric Medicine with an extensive background in both nutrition and reventative medicine.  Dr. Debby is also a Board Certified Holistic Medicine practicioner (AHMA), a certified Defeat Autism Now (DAN) practioner and a Medical Aromatherapist.  To learn more about Dr.Debby's private practice, please visit her Holistic Pediatric website.