Supporting our kids, a couple of basic steps. 🕊️

Whether it's GCSEs, A Levels, or other stressful times for your young ones, here's some tips on how to support our younger people at times of extra pressure, so they can sail through it. 

Take my advice as needed. 

1) Feed them protein in every meal.

Don't worry too much about the quality of that protein, if it has to be a pre-made Southern Fried Chicken from Tesco or a burger from a local chippy - so be it, you'll readjust this back to perfection bit later, when life goes back to normal.

The biggest task right now is to help them not go on a sugary roller coaster.

So stick to what's delicious, desired, and give them their favourites.

Shocking advice from a nutritionist? Maybe. But it comes from experience.

When people are stressed and their tummies are curled up in a tight knot, they are unlikely to crave your amazing green plates of food (file açai bowl under the same tab).

They crave comfort food, quick gratification food - give it to them, whatever it might be in your case.

Just make sure that it has enough protein and there are plenty of protein-rich snacks sitting around the house - nuts, nut bars, protein bars, mini cheeses, delicious fruity yoghurts.

The more protein your teenager consumes during these days, the more stable their blood sugar will stay, and the better equipped their nervous system will be to cope with the rollercoaster of stress and emotions.

Fruit and veg are super important, and offer them by all means, it's just now it's maybe best to choose food battles carefully, peace and fun will do more good at this stage.

2) Help them stay hydrated. 💦

There is nothing worse than a dehydrated brain, even minor dehydration can affect one's ability to concentrate massively. 

So all works here - plain water, water with electrolytes (I love ELETE), water flavoured with some orange juice, coconut water, water infused with slices of fresh fruit and berries.

Don't expect them to remember, they are teenagers and their brain is overloaded even at the best of times, but now especially. 

You may need to take some extra water delivery trips towards those barricaded bedrooms 🤷‍♀️

3) Fresh air ☁️ 

Keep the house and their bedroom (if you are allowed to enter that is!) as well aired as it is possible in your circumstances.

Oxygen is everything for our brain.

If going for a little walk is not a possibility, invent little errands for them to run.

Little breaks are absolutely essential for the young brain, and eye movement that happens during a walk is a fantastic decompression exercise too.

Surely, they can't refuse to fetch some yoghurt and a bag of crisps from a local Co-op for their mamma? 😜

4) Omega-3, any brain's non-negotiable, but especially for a young brain going through a period of intense stimulation.

I would like to say that a daily portion of SMASH fish (salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring) will do the job here, but the chances of implementing it look fairly slim, right?

Consider supplementing, these mini capsules work particularly great with kids and teenagers, and it's a pure, high-quality Omega3 that doesn't give any burps, so usually works really well: OMEGA 3

PS: whatever happens, don't buy your omega 3 supplement in a supermarket or H&B. If you are on a tight budget, stick to omega 3 from foods, it'll do just fine.

5) Support their nervous system. 🍃

Think Magnesium, because right now their adrenals, although young and strong, burn this essential nutrient at a triple speed.

Which in turn puts more pressure on their nervous system and may add up to hormonal symptoms in girls (painful cramps in periods, cravings, etc).

- think almonds, pumpkin seeds and squares of dark chocolate on their revision snacking plate. Or a cup of good quality raw cacao made with creamy coconut or full-fat organic milk?

- think dark leafy green veg, if you can squeeze them in somewhere

- think Epsom salt baths (2 generous cupfuls per bath)

- ideally, supplement for a month or so, 3 capsules every night: MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE

(make sure to stick to the glycinate form of magnesium, it's the one that supports the nervous system)

6) Support their immune system (pre-exam lip sores or mouth ulcers, anyone?).

Nothing complicated needed here, basic vitamin D spray, 2,000-3,000 a day will do the job VITAMIN D spray

And that's quite enough.

If we can squeeze a good cuddle or something resembling it somewhere in between - 10/10 and our job is done here🤟😁

I hope it was helpful.

On a practical note, code OGBND10 will give you 10% off anything you buy on Natural Dispensary*, which is my go-to place to buy the highest quality professional grade supplements.

You just need to register with your email address, it's that simple, and they deliver within 48 hours.

Fom mother to mother - heartfelt wishes of success to your babies on their big journey. 💛

We are always doing our best and that's as much as we can expect from ourselves.

If finding your way through the labyrinth of your health feels overwhelming, and you’d love someone to do all the thinking, planning, and strategising for you — my team and I are here, with our clinical experience, sharp analytical minds and compassionate hearts, ready to support your every health and wellbeing need.

Book your discovery call here