acid-blockers

Colic

Does your baby have colic?

  • Colic is often associated with eczema.

  • Colic is an indication of gut inflammation and dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria and other gut problems).

  • Colicky little ones may have fewer Bifidobacilli (a strain of good gut bugs) in their guts.

This isn't a coincidence if your little one is colicky and has skin rashes. Gut health is intimately tied to skin health. If your little one is colicky and doesn't have skin rashes, they may be at greater risk for developing them.

  • Colic is also a sign of possible food allergies and sensitivities.

  • Colic can be associated with reflux.

Here's what you need to know about reflux: ⁠

  • Reflux (and colic) can be a sign of pre-existing gut problems.

  • Reflux medications (acid reducers and acid blockers) aren’t an ideal solution.

    • They are associated with nutrient depletion and the development of osteoporosis, depression, and deficiencies of vitamin B12, and a variety of minerals.

    • Acid suppressors can cause SIBO, IBS, an increased risk of gut pathogens, and other gut problems.⁠

    • Reflux can be due to low stomach, not high. Lowering acid levels further with meds makes the problem worse.⁠

    • These medications do not resolve the root cause of the problem.

Step #1 to addressing colic or reflux in your baby shouldn't be meds. While I do not recommend elimination diets, if there is reflux, it makes sense to explore commonly triggering foods and try removing them from baby's diet, and yours if breastfeeding⁠ to see if it helps:

  • Gluten⁠

  • Dairy⁠

  • Caffeine⁠

  • Alcohol⁠

  • Chocolate⁠

  • Garlic⁠

  • Onions⁠

  • Mint⁠

  • Spicy foods⁠

  • Fried foods⁠

  • Fatty foods⁠

  • Citrus⁠

  • Tomato-based products⁠

  • Highly processed foods⁠

  • Junk food⁠

  • Carbonated beverages, including fizzy water⁠ ⁠

A diet of whole, real foods, rich in plant foods and high in fiber, often can resolve the problem. ⁠ ⁠

Stop the eliminations if you’ve removed foods for 2-3 weeks and there’s no real improvement. Food isn’t the problem.

If that’s the case… Step #2 is exploring what's happening INSIDE the gut (GI Map comprehensive digestive stool testing is my go-to for this) and resolving those microbiome imbalances! ⁠

References

  • https://adc.bmj.com/content/archdischild/84/4/349.full.pdf

  • https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/1175207

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30177353

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30177353

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4377897/