Summer Survival Tips for PANDAS

Ahh, SUMMER! Finally.

Lazy hazy days at the beach, in parks and even in our own backyards are highlights of this gorgeous season. But are you spending this time safely- more specifically, safely for your child with PANDAS? You might be surprised to find that many of your typical summer staples may actually be worsening your child’s flares.

Now that summer fun is here, I’m noticing some trends for my PANDAS warrior clients that I need to address. Kids and families dealing with PANDAS have my heart-supporting you guys is my purpose. I may get pushback for some of the topics I bring up in this post, but that’s okay. It doesn’t phase me. You can count on me to continue presenting the information that you need to support your child’s health. Unbiased, raw and truthful in form.

When I reflect on my summertime childhood memories, I think of lounging in the sun with the scent of coppertone wafting through the air, popsicle stained tongues and refreshing dips in the local pool. Now, my Mom was incredible at sourcing all natural versions of sunscreen and popsicles, and I was definitely a lake>pool kind of kid, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t exposed to those aforementioned typical summer nasties (yes, nasties! Don’t worry, we’ll dive into why these may not be ideal exposures) from time to time. Looking back, now knowing what I know about the immune system, I’m sure all of these things had a cumulative effect on my health and susceptibility to chronic strep infection, EBV, lyme and irregular immune reactions. Every child has their own threshold which dictates how much they can withstand before symptoms or flares appear. Think of it like a rain bucket. Every time an environmental, food or lifestyle stressor appears, rain drops are added to your child’s bucket. If exposure to stressors is happening repeatedly, without intervention, the bucket eventually will overflow. That overflow presents as your child’s worst flare.

I grew up eating organic food and using mostly natural products, but I also experienced childhood trauma, which manifested as seeking comfort through food. Consequently, I ate my feelings- and not at all in an Organic way. This goes to show that each stressor that can fill a child’s bucket is of equal weight and importance. Trauma, stress and food alI carry equal weight and ability to overflow a child’s bucket. I can’t change my past, but using my knowledge and research I’ve done a major course correction! Now, I can help parents to help their children. The summer months pose some very specific challenges for kids with PANDAS, whose buckets are already pretty full most of the time (wondering how to empty a full bucket showing up as repetitive flares? Connect with me to find out about my program, The Nurture PANDAS Naturally Method!). Usually, their buckets are full because of toxins that you may not even know are effecting them; for instance, plastic toys, tap water, hygiene and personal care products and strawberries! Yup, even strawberries. Just because something is familiar doesn’t make it safe, even if you used/ate it as a child and “turned out fine”. We all have different thresholds and bucket volumes. Let’s go through some common immune system irritants which can lead to summertime flares, as well as simple alternatives and solutions.

“Just because something is familiar doesn’t make it safe”

The Healthful Darling

Let’s just address the strawberries thing right off the hop. You might be tempted to head to a local farm and pick some of these juicy berries, but if this farm is not Organic you may want to skip the idea. Talking to your local farmers to see who is growing pesticide-free is also a great option, as Organic certification is expensive and there are plenty of farms who choose not to certify but still avoid pesticide use. The Environmental Working Group puts out an annual Dirty Dozen report, telling us the top 12 pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables. Strawberries have topped the charts at #1 for years! Alternatively, head north and pick some wild blueberries instead (just leave some for the bears).

“USDA tests found that strawberries were the fresh produce item most likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues, even after they are picked, rinsed in the field and washed before eating. For these reasons, in 2020, strawberries are once again at the top of the Dirty Dozen™ list.”

The Environmental Working Group

This data is based off of USA grown berries, however I do not have evidence to support that Canada is doing any better. After calling 3 farms in my local Sarnia Ontario area, I was disheartened to find out that all of their strawberry crops are heavily sprayed with conventional pesticides. I was grateful for their transparency but also saddened…I do love strawberries! My go-to spot for pesticide-free strawberries did not get a large enough crop this year, so unless I find someone else who is growing these berries responsibly, I guess I’ll have to wait until next year! Good thing blueberry season is approaching, mmm. Based on the available data, perhaps it is better to purchase imported certified Organic strawberries at the supermarket than it is to pick them locally. Now, I’m not saying that Certified Organic is always the answer, as biological insecticides can still be used, but in the case of Strawberries it just may be. Incase you need more reasons to avoid conventional strawberries, many of the kids who come to me for food sensitivity tests end up testing as reactive to strawberries! Just as peanuts and wheat became allergenic when industrial agriculture took over and made food more chemical-filled than nutrient-filled, the same thing is happening with BERRIES. And it is causing ALLERGIES. So please, if you want to go strawberry picking, please find a pesticide-free source. Pack a picnic, take a road trip out to a pesticide-free farm and do what you need to do to avoid potentially toxic immune irritants which can make your child’s flares much worse.

*Speaking of pesticides, if you live rurally like I do, please invest in a high-quality home air filtration system to run 24/7 during the summer months. As local farmers spray their crops, you and your family are exposed to them, even indoors. Currently, I suggest Molekule (click for discount code) systems, as these use nanotechnology- which is now thought to be the next leader in air filtration beyond HEPA. This specific system has been given medical device clearance as it destroys viruses and bacteria.

Now that we’ve got strawberry season covered, let’s move onto another common summertime immune stressor, swimming pools…

Chlorine added to most public pools is a stressor for kids with PANDAS, as chlorine doesn’t have to be ingested to absorb into the system! Simply wading or swimming in a pool with chlorine means it is soaking through the pores and into the bloodstream. The detoxification of chlorine requires specific nutrients and good functioning from organs and body systems involved in these processes. Kids with PANDAS may experience high incidences of flares after spending time in chlorinated pools. If you live near a body of fresh water, head to the beach for your next dip or seek out a salt water pool local to you.

*Did you know this can be an issue with bath water too? Tap water of all kinds, really, but the chlorine exposure from sitting in the bathtub can contribute to flares for the same reason as pools. I always suggest home water filtration, but if this is out of budget right now simply add 1 cup of epsom salts and 1 cup of baking soda to your child’s bath water to help neutralize chlorine and enhance the body’s natural detoxification processes.

If you’re heading to the beach to avoid public pools, I want to challenge the conventional thought process on sun protection. Yes, many of us realize that there are loads of toxins in conventional sunscreens, but did you know that using sunscreen at all (even natural) can block out nutrients that are very important for health & well being? Sunscreen blocks the production of vitamin D, which is an incredibly immune-system supportive vitamin. I highly suggest that you check out Meghan Telpner’s post on the matter by clicking here , where Meghan outlines why sun is not the problem here.

If you are planning a beach outing, spend most of your time in the sun during off-peak hours (before 10am or after 4pm). You still go out of these hours but plan to stay shaded- use this as an opportunity to eat a sun-protective lunch with foods like goji berries and blueberries! Cooked tomatoes are also quite sun-protective; I know, cooked tomatoes don’t exactly sound like picnic food…as an idea, you could make some gluten free english muffin pizzas in advance and pack them as a cold lunch.

Above all, be sure to pack an umbrella, have your child wear thin long clothing (or a wetsuit) as well as a hat. This will prevent sunburns and still allow your child to soak up the benefits of the sun!

Sunscreen and bug-spray use tend to go hand in hand. I remember both being on the list of essentials when I went to overnight camp, eek. This is a tough one, as some kids with PANDAS also have other diagnosed immune issues, like Lyme disease- that is a post for another time. But for now, as certain tick bites are correlated with lyme infections, areas that are densely populated with ticks should be avoided- sadly, this doesn’t leave many options where I live! When I walk my dog, we both use an essential oil based spray which I purchased locally. You can also head on Google or Pinterest to find a relatively easy recipe for such things, or find someone who makes them. I do not have research to back up any specific natural bug-spray recipes, however I have not been bitten by a tick. Coincidence or not, I believe in the stuff. Health Canada does mention the use lemon, eucalyptus, pine needle, geranium and camphor essential oils to repel mosquitos, though! However, not for children under the age of 2.

As a strep, EBV and mold toxicity warrior myself, I heavily react to conventional bug sprays. This could be from the active ingredient DEET, the ethanol or even the fragrance used. When we go camping, I use a bug jacket! These are typically available at camp stores and can be found in all sizes for the whole family.

More work needs to be done in the way of researching the safety of DEET. One study has questioned the safety of DEET after finding that it inhibits an important nervous system enzyme in insects and mammals. My red flags go up due to the nervous system connection in PANDAS- much of the work I do in The Nurture PANDAS Naturally Method helps to reduce nervous system stress. In Canada, our Government permits the use of DEET in bug sprays, but states “For children younger than 12 years old, do not use a DEET product on a daily basis for more than a month”. I would like to know why, as this doesn’t sit well with me. Of course, you need to weigh your options based on your own situation, risk factors and geographical location. Nobody else can make this decision for you. If you are interested in seeing what Health Canada has to say about the effectiveness of insect repellents, click here.

When it comes to summertime food, BBQing is a common favourite! There is just something about that BBQ taste and aroma- which largely comes from something called AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products). You may have heard that BBQing meat is linked to carcinogenic by-products; this is partly due to those AGEs, a class of toxic chemicals released when meat or cheese is cooked at high temperatures. AGEs are known to contribute to oxidation and inflammation in the body (a fitting acronym, as oxidation and inflammation are two factors which contribute to premature aging!).

Many kids with PANDAS already have trouble detoxifying, which contributes to higher levels of oxidation in the body. This influences the inflammatory process and subsequent symptoms. Now, I’m not saying avoid BBQs entirely, that wouldn’t be realistic for most. I’m saying it’s probably not wise to let your kids swim in a chlorinated pool all day, lather them up in conventional sunscreen, feed them sugar-filled popsicles and then have a BBQ to top it all off. Remember that thing about thresholds! The body is resilient but can only handle so much. There is nothing wrong with the occasional BBQ meal, but there are some safe tips that you can implement to reduce those pesky AGEs:

1. Marinade meats in acid, like lemon juice and vinegar.

2. Cook low & slow instead of quick & high.

3. Add antioxidant-rich herbs to marinades, like basil, oregano and sage!

4. Pair grilled meats with a dark leafy green salad, including antioxidant-rich blueberries!

Before I even dive into healthy “treats”, I want to address the word “treat” in and of itself! I am a big believer in food neutrality. This makes my approach to food-based symptom reduction a bit different than the conventional approach. When I work with kids who have PANDAS, we take out gluten and refined sugar. That’s no secret. But HOW we go about doing it, well, that’s what you find out if you work with me! A big part of this is emphasizing a family approach to eating (no separate meals, no restrictions for one and not others) and food neutrality.

Yes, there are sweet foods and salty foods and savoury foods, but none of these are “treats” in my book. The word “treat” add novelty, and is attached to feelings of being good or bad, based on how they are offered and framed. So, parents, instead of making “healthy treats”, just make real food and present it as such. Real food can taste sweet, rich, creamy and delicious. It can also be warming, savoury and crunchy. No food rules! This means that if your child behaved well today, they can have a popsicle, but guess what, they also get a popsicle if they weren’t at their best. Detach food from morality and improve your child’s relationship with food, setting them up for a lifetime of healthy habits!

Now, on the subject of real food that tastes darn delicious and is a great option to offer your family any-time, anywhere, check out my summery, refreshing cashew cheesecake! Those wild blueberries are sun protective, antioxidant-rich and are a true seasonal delicacy.

Aaaand thats a wrap! Thanks for reading folks. As always, feel free to comment here with any questions, or contact me directly!

Important Note:

As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, it is my duty to deliver the evidence about all things food and nutrition related. I do this to be in service to you. I recognize that food insecurity is a massive issue on a global scale, which is why I am donating my summer crops to a local charity, why I donate to food centres in Ontario and why I became a Holistic Nutritionist and Child & Youth Care Practitioner in the first place. This does not change my stance or duty to provide you with information about the toxins found in our food system. It is also my duty to keep my online spaces free of harassment to provide the best experience for my community; any disrespectful comments pertaining to my intent are not welcome here.

Medical Disclaimer:

The Healthful Darling content is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Information delivered on this site is not to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment and is not a substitute for professional medical care for yourself or your family. Consult you and/or your child’s professional healthcare provider(s) before beginning or stopping any prescribed treatment(s), supplement(s) or prescribed program(s). The Healthful Darling holds no responsibility or liability for any consequence resulting directly or indirectly from any action or inaction you take, for you and/or your child, based on the information given on this site. By using, reading and participating in the content of this site, you acknowledge that The Healthful Darling does not guarantee the outcome of following any suggestions provided. Any information or suggestions from this site that you choose to follow are done at your own risk.