Meet Jennifer, a soon to be 34-year-old mom living in the town of Mariefred, Sweden. She and her partner Erwin, originally from the Netherlands, are raising their two young children while navigating various health challenges. The family is now participating in Alba’s Prevent study with their youngest child. She shares her story with us, along with her practical and thoughtful approach to managing her family's well-being.
The family’s eldest daughter, Silje, will turn 4 this autumn. Silje faces the challenges of an autoimmune disease known as alopecia, which causes hair loss. Currently, she has short stubble on her head, though it tends to shed in cycles. Silje also contends with cold-induced asthma and various allergies, which add to the family's daily hurdles. Their second child, Birk, was born in October and is now almost 9 months old. Birk has a mild case of eczema, which today is being managed with creams and cortisone.
“I asked the healthcare professionals at BVC if there was anything I could do about Birk’s eczema through diet. Their answer was a clear no. They seemed certain, just as they were about Silje’s alopecia. We’ve tested Silje’s blood for nutritional deficiencies and allergies, hoping to find something that might help. Despite everything, I have a gut feeling that there’s a solution out there – we don’t want to give up hope. However, what we’ve consistently heard from Swedish healthcare is that conditions like eczema, alopecia, and asthma are mostly beyond our control. The advice is simply to wait and see, and to keep applying creams. I often feel powerless and frustrated by the lack of tools and options”, Jennifer says.
The family used to have a beloved dog, Laika, who was with them for nine years before they made the heart-wrenching decision to return her to the breeder. This decision was fueled by the struggles brought on by the health issues within the family. Jennifer herself deals with asthma and allergies, adding another layer to their daily challenges. Despite these obstacles, she remains resilient and hopeful.
“I believe we have a lot to influence when it comes to our health. Both mental and physical health – I see them as a common factor. Health is the fundamental thing, it provides the conditions to be able to live an exciting and fun life. I want to be able to live a long life and give my children a good foundation. It’s important in our family.”
“It feels good to contribute to research in the Swedish population”
When Jennifer first heard about Alba on social media, she says she thought it sounded too good to be true. Curious, she signed up for the waiting list and later received an email about the study. She submitted her application and shared her experience with her mothers' group, where another mom from the group decided to join the study too.
“We are both super excited. I see it as a chance to learn about the importance and the impact of the gut flora for health, but also a chance to do something valuable for my family. It feels good to contribute to research in the Swedish population. It’s nice that it’s local – you become a little proud. It’s both fun, important and I feel grateful”, Jennifer says.
Before joining the study, Jennifer knew that gut flora impacts overall health. She was aware that certain factors, like living in the countryside, could help protect against asthma and allergies. However, the study has taught her much more.
"I've learned a lot from being in this study, including the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child's life. This was new to me. I also used to think my gut health didn't affect my child's gut health, but now I know it does!"
As the study progresses, Jennifer hopes to continue learning.
"I want to understand more about gut health and how we can influence it. We know it plays a crucial role in our overall well-being. It's exciting to discover practical tips for making everyday lifestyle changes. I'm aiming to implement positive changes before the final test, including what we feed our children and improving my own gut health to enhance breast milk quality. It's encouraging to think these changes could be beneficial and potentially reflected in the test results."
“I believe it is important to take care of yourself first”
Being a parent and managing your child's health isn't always easy. Discussing the topic, Jennifer shares her thoughts on some of the challenges involved.
"Honestly, everything is difficult! But I believe it's important to take care of yourself first so you have the energy to be a good role model. If we buy food and keep things at home that we don't want our children to eat, like chips and soft drinks, and only adults consume them, it's not helpful. The real challenge is being the role model you want your children to see. How can we find more positive ways to enjoy and relax in the evening without negatively affecting our children?"
Navigating dietary preferences and health considerations can also present challenges, she says:
"It can be challenging when our children have dietary restrictions, and we strive to ensure they feel included and positive about their food choices. When you already have an illness, you don't want to feel different, for example when it comes to eating at parties or preschool. As an example, our daughter eats a vegetarian diet at preschool, which is different from many of her peers. It's important to feel part of the community, and we want her to feel that".
Jennifer continues to explain how she prefers to find reliable support and advice, blending traditional healthcare with alternative resources:
“I would say I primarily trust and turn to the Swedish healthcare system. I also have friends who are nurses and pediatricians, and we follow the recommendations from The Swedish Food Agency. However, sometimes it feels like this isn't the whole picture. I often look directly at scientific databases like PubMed and join Facebook groups for autoimmune diseases to gather more information. I'm also considering exploring alternative medicine, although it feels like a big step coming from the traditional Swedish healthcare system. There's so much information out there, and I want to make informed decisions based on science, but always with caution.”
“It's all about creating an unpressured and enjoyable eating environment”
To foster her children’s physical well-being and their sense of curiosity, Jennifer has found creative ways to engage her children in healthy eating and outdoor activities.
“My oldest child is quite particular about not mixing foods on her plate at the moment. Birk, my younger one, has started picking and eating on his own. It can be a bit challenging, but offering a variety of foods for them to choose from is beneficial. Not everything needs to be cooked and hot. Having various cans and bowls on the table allows them to pick what they want without any pressure. I introduced sauerkraut to my oldest, and she enjoys the crunch, saying, 'Hold your ears!'. For them, it's more about the experience around the food than the taste. It's all about creating an unpressured and enjoyable eating environment”, she says and continues:
“Another thing we enjoy is gardening. We have allotments and grow plants in pots on our balcony. It's great fun for my older daughter, who loves to help with watering and digging. My youngest even tasted the soil once – at first, I got a bit scared, but after doing some research it didn't seem harmful. Being out in nature and growing our own food is so positive. Plus, trying berries is not only fun but also beneficial for their guts”
Jennifer has recently discovered a passion for fermented foods, which she believes can greatly benefit gut health. She encourages others to explore this nutritious and tasty addition to their diets. Here’s her advice on getting started:
"I'm thinking, dare to try. Try making your own sourdough bread and experimenting with different ways to ferment foods at home. I know it can feel intimidating with sterilizing and figuring out which bacteria will grow, but there are excellent books available for support! You can also find plenty of instructional videos on YouTube, like tutorials on making kombucha. A quote that resonates with me is 'Your gut bacteria will ask you to eat what they want.' Since I started consuming fermented foods regularly, I've noticed that I naturally crave them more," she explains.
Concluding the interview, Jennifer offers a final tip:
"Here's a tip with sauerkraut: I personally don't find it very tasty on its own, but when I add it to a stew or soup, it often transforms into an unexpected and delicious dish! Dare to experiment with adding unfamiliar ingredients to your meals. I'm frequently surprised by how well it turns out!"
