What to say to a "non-natural" momma seeking answers?

[lissybeth74]

I have a friend who has suddenly become open to other suggestions for her children's chronic issues (ear infections, terrible allergies, sick all. the. time.). They are a pro-vaccine, non-trad. food, & 'non' natural-thinking family.

My gut reaction is, gosh, if I give her the information running around my head right now... I'll scare the poor woman away. Lol..
But then my heart just aches for her, and I absolutely know I'm going to share what I've learned that may help her-- even being quite new to it myself.

She's asked for help getting started with investigating food allergies in her children. She said she'd like to hear what I have to say, and she'd like it in email form so she can run it by her husband as well. <gulp>

I'll probably just give her baby steps, so as not to overwhelm.... like starting a food journal, etc. I want to give her some links to good sites to get more than just my experience. Does anyone have anything they can recommend (research, informative, anything helpful) about:

chronic ear infections and food intolerances
environmental allergies and food intolerances
chronic sickness and food allergies

Thanks Mommas... for this and any other advice you can throw at me.

[MountainMamaGC]

Dr Sears has some good information on allergies causing all kinds of health problems. Most people dont find Dr Sears too threatening.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T041800.asp
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t081600.asp

While I dont agree with everything its a lot more natural than what most mainstream parents are doing. I would say cut all dairy for at least 2 weeks. Dairy causes excess mucus production which can lead to both ear infections and respitory infections.

[kjbrown92]

The book "Is This Your Child?" by Dr. Rapp. The first half about food intolerances in general is great. Her elimination diet is sort of good, except she adds in one food per day instead of waiting 4 days between foods. There's actually a chart in there that says what foods are most likely to cause which symptoms. Her way to "treat" them is a little out-there though for newbies. But it was my introduction...

[lissybeth74]

Thank you both so much! I appreciate it.