Baby Reflux, etc...

http://www.mommyser.com/myblog/10-natural-remedies-infant-reflux

I'm trying items on the above list one by one. Wheat's out now.  Then I'll add ginger tea. Today was a 3 poopy diaper day, but I think that's from 2 fast food runs on Friday, a hectic day.

Exercises for Soreness

3 Exercises for When You're Really Freaking Sore

Great pictures and descriptions - tried just readin the descriptions, didn't get it.

Posture: More than Pretty

I loved learning more about this perpetual need in my life!   It makes you feel better in every way.  I also think the 'power postures' are fascinating: how certain posture/body language makes you feel confident.

from http://www.refinery29.com/2013/08/51619/posture

...Taking frequent breaks to notice our posture may seem like a nuisance, but Ken Baldwin, executive director of The National Posture Institute and sport and wellness professor at the State University of New York, also endorses the practice. "You need to think about your posture every 30 minutes you are awake,” he says.

Baldwin has developed a four-step re-alignment sequence that will correct posture (and elevate moods) when sitting, walking and exercising:

1. Stand or sit as tall as you possibly can. If sitting, avoid crisscrossing limbs and ensure that when your feet touch the floor, your body is forming a 90-degree angle with your torso, hips, and legs.

2. Elevate your chest. Elevate the scapula so it becomes level. Position your shoulders so the form a squared-off, 90-degree angle instead of dropping down.

3. Retract shoulder blades and pull them back. To do this, envision holding a pencil between the shoulder blades.This activates the rhomboids and middle trapezius muscle groups, which are weak and distorted in 95% of the population, according to Baldwin. Additionally, to reduce forward head protrusion, use your fingers to press on the chin and push it back, which will better align your neck (and deter lateral deviations in the spine).

4. Isometrically contract your abdominal muscles. To do so, draw the belly button inward, toward the spine, and contract the core muscles to help maintain the position you’ve achieved by following the previous steps.

Dire Diaper Days

Excerpts from :http://ibs.about.com/od/diarrhea/tp/Diarrhea-and-Food.--04.htm

1. Bananas


Bananas also contain a good amount of inulin, another soluble fiber. Inulin is a prebiotic, a substance that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in the intestinal system.

  White Toast and Crackers

  Yogurt [kefir, etc...]

  Dried Blueberries

Herbal Tea

 Two teas in particular are especially good for quieting a diarrhea episode: peppermint and chamomile.
 http://ibs.about.com/od/diarrhea/tp/Diarrhea-and-Food.--04.htm

Applesauce

 Cooking the apples makes them easier on your system to digest, thus allowing you to benefit from the pectin, sugar and other nutrients that lie within.

 White Rice and Mashed Potatoes

  Steamed Chicken [Chicken Soup too, add white rice/potatoes]

Reportedly, dried blueberries have a long history of use in Sweden as a treatment for diarrhea.

Passing the Prenatal Glucose Tolerance Test

I have a number of things I do to pass this pregnancy test to avoid the inconveniences of a false positive diagnosis. I don't have symptoms. While some women who test positive don't feel symptoms (dry mouth, excessive urinating, cravings, sickness after high carb. foods, etc.), they are rarely re-tested to see if it was false positive. Many things can affect your blood sugar during the test: sleep, sickness, stress, etc. I wouldn't be too worried if I tested positive. I wouldn't be too sure it was right! That's my two cents.

For the one hour alternative food test, my medical practice doesn't require a fast, but that doesn't change your recommended protocol.  Which was:

Dinner the night before: just veggies, protein, not high in carbs and fat

Don't eat for 12 hr 

Walk before

If options are available in the one hour test, take just juice, no banana; 

Exercise for the hour/hours, perhaps in the bathroom inconspicuously.

Just needed a womanly booster:

3 1/2 c. water boiled, add 4-6 t. of various herbs.  Steep 4 hours minimum.
or
1 qt. water, 2 handfuls tea.
Miscarriage may be possible:
Shonda Parker said it’s only the Rubeus Idaeus (sp?), not the wild raspberry leaf, and only if you’ve had a prob with miscarriage.

http://sweetbirth101.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/safe-herbs-for-pregnancy/

Source of Less Pasteurized Raw Almonds

Have you ever purchased “raw” almonds in a store to make crispy nuts, taking the time to soak, then carefully dehydrate at a low temperature to preserve the enzymes?

If so, you may feel hoodwinked.

All almonds sold in stores are pasteurized.

Even if the label says “raw.”

All of them.

It’s the law.

If the almonds are organic, they’re pasteurized using a burst of steam. Otherwise, most likely chemicals are used in a process called PPO, or Propylene Oxide. It’s FDA and EPA approved. Of course.
The idea behind them still being labeled “raw” is that the treatment is only on the outside and doesn’t really “cook” or (apparently, according to the government) alter or effect the inside or nutritional value.
If you don’t like the idea of chemicals being puffed at your food, whether EPA says it all goes away in a few minutes or not, or you want truly raw almonds, you have to buy directly from the grower.
You can find farms like this one selling online, but the almonds aren’t cheap.

Raw Milk has been consumed for hundred of years.  It's illegal?

I recently tested out some almonds (delicious!) from Just Almonds, a great middle-of-the-road option where they steam pasteurize the almonds and sell at a great price. If you buy 25 pounds of nonpareil almonds, which you’ll want to do when you fall in love with these grain-free pancakes, they’re only $4.12/pound.
You can even buy the broken (aka “ugly”) almonds, which are perfect for grinding recipes like this one and the power bars in Healthy Snacks to Go, starting at $3.55/pound for just 5 pounds, and only $2.98 once you order 25 pounds. As long as you’re not serving fancy guests, why not eat broken ones, too?
Just Almonds shared a coupon code for KS readers to make things an even better deal: use the code “KS” to get 10% off any order!

I hope to work more with Just Almonds, so if you’re interested in their products, definitely give them a visit so they see that the KS audience is the right one for them!

 (By the way, in a little sprouting experiment, the Just Almonds did just as well making little sprouts as the truly raw almonds I bought from the farm…)

Read more at http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2012/08/17/recipe-connection-grain-free-almond-apple-pancakes-a-great-deal-on-almonds/#ovpQUeqgUusvgA47.99

http://www.cheeseslave.com

I loved this blog post regarding the GAPS diet and the book about it, Gut and Psychology Syndrome.

10 Ways to Boost Immunity & 10 Ways to Damage It

by Ann Marie Michaels

Trim Mothers & Daughters

 

This looked fun! http://motherdaughterfitness.com/

http://www.trimhealthymama.com/

Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. David Simone (Part 1 of 5) (+playlist)

I found the website he mentioned and searched in my area, and found 3 doctors 45 minutes away.

http://iaomt.org/find-a-doctor/search-for-dentist-physician/

I plan to read more here: http://www.westonaprice.org/dentistry

Replacing mercury fillings is an important step in reducing continual exposure to toxic mercury vapors released from biting down on amalgams. Mercury, the most toxic substance on earth, according to Dr. Paul Gilbert, graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and long-time master practitioner of the Academy of General Dentistry, plays a role in a plethora of serious diseases effecting almost every system in the body. Many lay people, as well as a growing group of dentists, believe removal of mercury amalgam fillings helps reduce the incidence of side effects, helping the body strengthen to overcome chronic diseases and heal.

Step 1

Check how much experience the dentist has removing mercury amalgams. Use someone who specializes in this procedure.

Step 2

Inquire about the type of materials used to replace your old fillings. They should be biocompatible and have no metals, being made from pure porcelain.

Step 3

Ask whether the dentist will refer you to a clinical kinesiologist to be tested for the specific materials used to make your new fillings and crowns. Tests should include materials for glue used and temporary fillings also.

Step 4

Get references from the dentist and check them. Interview the dentist beforehand to make sure your are comfortable with her.

Step 5

Inquire about the room you will be in and whether it has adequate ventilation. It is important to have a clean air environment in which mercury fumes released during drilling are removed with ion generators and fans.

Step 6

Ask if the dentist will be using a rubber dam to protect you from inhaling or swallowing mercury particles when amalgams are drilled out of your teeth.

Step 7

View all instructional materials in the form of pamphlets and videos ahead of time and ask all questions before starting.

Step 8

Check the office policies for payment plans offered or whether your work will be covered by your insurance company.

Step 9

Arrange a plan of action with the dentist if you need to have more than just a few fillings replaced. Most of the time the dentist will try to work on one quadrant at a time over a period of time.

Step 10

Inquire about what kind of homeopathic, herbal or other natural products and procedures the dentist recommends for after care and removal of mercury from your system once dental work is complete.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/70475-replace-mercury-fillings/#ixzz2hSDXPphW

A Thumbs Down Review: Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Most Long-Lived Peoples

I skimmed over this review on a book that disagrees with Weston Price's findings.   I particularly would like to read the context of this quote:

"Dr. Price's dietary studies are largely irrelevant today, Robbins tells us, for "[w]e cannot go back to a past that can never be again."
Quote:

In his attempt to convince us that these cultures are largely vegetarian, he omits important information about their consumption of meat and other animal foods—the very foods Dr. Price found most essential in healthy indigenous societies. Robbins spends several pages reviewing Price's work, noting that after the introduction of refined foods, the health of the indigenous populations studied quickly declined. But rather than discussing Price's most central finding—that fat-soluble activators found only in animal fats were absolutely essential in every indigenous culture for providing immunity to disease and the ability to "make perfect babies" generation after generation—Robbins makes this statement about Price: "However, it is also important to recognize the limitations of his views."²⁶
He then goes on to denigrate Price's research and to present a bizarre argument attempting to link meat eating with overaggressive behavior, including torture and human sacrifice.²⁷
In the next chapter it's off to the China Study, and there follow several chapters on how a plant-based diet is the only way to save the planet. Dr. Price's dietary studies are largely irrelevant today, Robbins tells us, for "[w]e cannot go back to a past that can never be again."

Never mind that grassfed animals and their milk, fish from unpolluted waters, and plant foods together sustained life and health for hundreds of generations. Never mind that Dr. Price was unable to locate a vegetarian culture living in perfect health. Never mind that a grass-based agricultural system could replace today's unsustainable corporate, industrial agriculture and feed our people a truly healthy diet. Never mind Price's evidence that nutrient-dense foods rich in fat-soluble activators are vital if human beings are to maintain even the basic ability to reproduce successfully. How is it that Robbins, who appears to mean well, goes so far off the mark?

A Thumbs Down Review: Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Most Long-Lived Peoples;   

The Weston A. Price Foundation


A past that can never be?  It sounds like he believes that traditional practices are unsustainable and therefore he is searching for an alternative. Quote:  

Print Out a Meds Chart

Diet Tip for Bowel Issues

The B.R.A.T Diet : bananas, white rice, applesauce and toast help diarrhea, agitate constipation.  Oatmeal too.

Brown rice and apple juice have the opposite effect (so can extra ripe bananas!)!!  In general, high fiber does that.

Kefir Whey & Kefir Cheese

How to make Kefir Whey & Kefir Cheese

By Donna Schwenk


I checked this out today, after seeing I have too much kefir and no whey!  Perfect. :) 

Eating Produce in Season Guide

Eating Produce in Season Guide copied from :

• In spring, focus on tender, leafy vegetables that represent the fresh new growth of this season. The greening that occurs in springtime should be represented by greens on your plate, including Swiss chard, spinach, Romaine lettuce, fresh parsley, and basil.
• In summer, stick with light, cooling foods in the tradition of traditional Chinese medicine. These foods include fruits like strawberries, apple, pear, and plum; vegetables like summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and corn; and spices and seasonings like peppermint and cilantro.
• In fall, turn toward the more warming, autumn harvest foods, including carrot, sweet potato, onions, and garlic. Also emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings including ginger, peppercorns, and mustard seeds.
• In winter, turn even more exclusively toward warming foods. Remember the principle that foods taking longer to grow are generally more warming than foods that grow quickly. All of the animal foods fall into the warming category including fish, chicken, beef, and lamb. So do most of the root vegetables, including carrot, potato, onions and garlic. Eggs also fit in here, as do corn and nuts. 

 My Quick Guide (Southern region in mind - needs additions):

• Spring, Leafy greens, leeks and onions [ Florida Strawberries]
• 
  
• In summer,  [melons, berries, peach], apple, pear, and plum; summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and corn peppermint cilantro/[Basil]
•  
• In fall, utumn harvest foods roots [winter squash].  ginger, peppercorns, and mustard seeds. 
•  
• In winter, roots, grain, nuts.

  

Saving on the Best: Coconut Milk

Repost of http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2008/10/best-coconut-milk-options.html





I skimmed through all the comments, and learned:

• Organic is unneccesary.
• All coconut milk has to have water as an
• Amazon, www.azurestandard.com
• Natural Value is the only brand in BPA free cans.
•  $1.50 per 14 oz. can is a deal.

DIY options that can cut cost and avoid cans:

• combining equal parts unsweetened, grated coconut and boiling water. Then I let it sit for 10 minutes and strain it into a mason jar. To thin it out I just pour more hot water through the strainer with the coconut.
• Organic Creamed Coconut. This comes in a solid block, which you mix with hot water
• frozen coconut milk from local Asian stores- might have preservatives
• Tropical Traditions has a coconut cream concentrate that they claim you can mix with water to replace coconut milk. 

Bulk sources: Amazon, www.azurestandard.com