We’ve all heard the recommendation. It’s standard. “Start your baby on a little bit of rice cereal.” Unfortunately, like ‘most everything else about mainstream doctors’ dietary recommendations, this isn’t actually based on anything except that it’s what all the doctors are recommending! So why is it a bad idea?
It has to do with enzymes. Every time we digest something, enzymes are hugely responsible for breaking that food down into its nutrient components. Different types of food require different enzymes. Starchy foods rely primarily on an enzyme called “amylase.”
Now, a small proportion of the amylase the body uses in the process of digesting something starchy – like rice or other grains, or like potatoes – is produced in the saliva. But the bulk of it is produced in the pancreas for use in the intestines. Here’s the thing: babies don’t produce the regular pancreatic amylase at birth.
They do produce some salivary amylase. But it takes a while for their bodies to start producing pancreatic amylase. Studies vary pretty widely in their estimates of how long. Some say that the enzyme levels reach adult-equivalent levels by about 6 months, but others are more in the 18 months range. That upper range seems to be more in line with what doctors used to believe & teach, before the modern era of commercial baby food took hold.
(I’m not including scientific references here, for two reasons. One, most of you don’t care; you want to know the basic concepts, but in plain language. Those of you who do care will go look it up. Two – and more significantly – there’s so little agreement among the studies with regard to details that it seems moot.)
Does that mean babies can’t digest rice at all?
Perhaps not. (I mean, perhaps it doesn’t mean that.) It seems probable that babies can digest very small amounts of rice cereal at around six months or so. “Tasting” sorts of amounts, like you’d give when you just want to introduce a baby to something new. But as a “first food” – especially when starting solids is encouraged by 6-7 months at the latest – we’re giving it to babies in quantities that seem considerably higher than what most of them can probably handle at that age.
Why can’t we tell? Or why is it not obvious that it’s a difficulty? I don’t really know, but I do have an educated guess. At least one of the studies which recently attempted to answer the question of whether babies can digest grains looked for a particular tell-tale sign of mal-digestion: diarrhea. When babies didn’t develop diarrhea, that was assumed to be a good sign. Which seems a safe assumption, but for the fact that it doesn’t match up with historical experience.
Back before all this mass-marketed stuff, doctors were reported diarrhea – regularly (no pun intended) – among wee ones given cereal grains. So what’s changed? We’re now giving iron-fortified cereal. And iron-fortified cereal has a reputation for causing constipation. I think it’s quite possible that the not-so-natural iron that being used to “fortify” the cereal is masking our babies’ difficulty with digesting it.
If we look at God’s design, we see that babies are equipped in the beginning to digest primarily fat, protein, and some simple sugars. That’s what milk is! We think of meat and fats as being “hard to digest” compared to grains, but our babies are born with the necessary enzymes for digesting protein and fat (which, incidentally, are rarely allergenic by comparison). But they are not born with the necessary enzymes for digesting grains. So grain is actually the hard-to-digest food!
A good rule of thumb, then, is to start with fats and proteins, and move on to increasingly complex carbohydrates – almost exactly the opposite order of what’s typically recommended today!
Several years ago my pantry looked very much like the standard American pantry. I started making real food changes after the birth of my first-born son, but I still gave into the notion that little kids needed to snack all day long. For that reason I had a variety of snacks that my 16 month old, at the time, would always be asking me for. I had a little snack cup that he would carry around and oh how he loved his snacks. I tried to pick what I thought were ‘healthy’ snacks like fruit, dried fruit, cheese cubes, crackers, etc. But then I started to notice something.
My child was no longer hungry at meals.
He would pick at his food, taste it, play with it, and then be done. At first I thought he was just becoming a picky eater. I tried to tell myself that little kids don’t eat a lot at meals anyways. But when I really analyzed the situation I realized two things:
The constant snacking was interfering with his meals.
I had an emotional connection to giving him snacks. It made him happy which made me happy. It was almost like my love language to him – in the form of food.
I think reason number 2 was hampering my ability to do anything about reason number 1. I feared that if I stopped giving him his snacks, he would think I didn’t love him. I prayed about it, talked to my husband about it, and realized that this was not healthy (on my part). I decided to do a ‘no snack’ experiment. And by no snacks I mean no mindless snacking. I still gave him one snack between lunch and dinner, but I gave it to him very purposefully. He got it when he woke up from his afternoon nap and had to eat it at the table.
The Experiment – No Mindless Snacking for One Week
I’m not going to lie. The first couple of days were rough. Whenever my son brought up wanting a snack I pulled out a fun activity to distract him. It was exhausting. However, by day two he was eating full meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner again. I couldn’t believe how quickly that changed. By the end of the week he no longer asked for snacks. He got three hearty meals and his snack after nap time. No more roaming around the house with his snack cup mindlessly filling his mouth. And he still loved me!
That was nearly two years ago and we are still a no mindless snacking family. My kids are now 3 years old and 20 months old and both are hearty eaters. Even my husband and I have found that by cutting out the snack foods we are finding other ways to fill that emotional food void that snacking used to fulfill. That little experiment taught me several things:
Contrary to popular belief, our kids don’t NEED to snack constantly throughout the day. Snacks are a WANT, not a need.
Teaching kids to fill up at meals trains their bodies when to desire food. It’s just like us as adults. If we constantly snack on carbs and sugar throughout the day, then we will start craving carbs and sugars throughout the day and probably won’t eat as much at meals. If we fill up on real, whole nourishing foods at meal times and refrain from mindless snacking throughout the day, then we will not crave those carbs and sugars throughout the day.
Sometimes kids go through growth spurts or become genuinely hungry between meals. (I do too lol!) In these instances of course I feed my children. However, I feed them something substantial and make them sit at the table to eat it.
We have to be careful as adults of OUR emotional connection to feeding our children food. I know I’m not the only one who gets tied up in the joy that my children express when I present them with something like a cookie or a piece of candy. It THRILLS me to see that huge smile on their face. And that’s OK. It becomes not OK, when I’m feeding my kids treats to make ME feel good for making them feel good. Does that make sense?
I think what it really comes down to is moderation. Snacks and treats are OK in moderation. Please don’t think I’m the mean ol’ lady who never lets her kids enjoy food. Far from it. We love and enjoy food. If anything, that little experiment has finally helped us to develop a healthier relationship with food.
How do you handle the snacking situation in your house? Do you ever feel an emotional connection to feeding your children?
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Original article and pictures take simplelifeabundantlife.com site
It’s everywhere. The idea that children should drink fruit juice regularly.
On a hot summer day at the beach, we’re surrounded by children consuming fruit juice from boxes.
At a family picnic, the squirt juices are on ice waiting for the children to lift the cooler lid and twist off the top.
Restaurants offer apple juice or orange juice without fail, and Grandmaw always has it on hand when we visit.
The idea that fruit juice is a good way to get healthy vitamins and minerals into children while hydrating them is a myth, and here’s why …
Why Juice Isn’t Healthy
1. High in Sugar
Most of the fruit juices you buy in the grocery store are loaded with sugar. Even if you opt for the “no sugar added” options, your child is still consuming sugar.
When you juice a piece of fruit, you’re left with concentrated fructose – naturally occurring sugar. Our bodies treat sugar as sugar whether it’s fructose or sucrose.
The sugar in fruit juices causes your blood sugar to spike giving you a burst of energy, but once the sugar is stored your levels plummet leaving you tired and cranky.
Sound familiar?
When we consume fruit straight from the source, the fiber is there to help slow the absorption of sugar into our bodies. This means that eating an apple is far better for our children’s bodies than drinking apple juice from a box.
2. Filled with Empty Calories
Fruit juices are high in calories, yet they do nothing to nourish the body. Fruit juices are mostly empty calories. Because they contain so many calories, our children grow full quickly and cease to desire real food that will actually aid in the development of their bodies.
In addition, most fruit juices are pasteurized, going through a heating process to ensure all bacteria is eliminated. What nutritional value the fruit juice had has now been cooked out of the juice, which means the manufacturer probably has to add back in vitamins that were stripped, which leads to reason number three.
If you don’t choose 100% fruit juice, then you’re also choosing high fructose corn syrup (or some other artificial sweetener), artificial colors, fake flavorings, and the list goes on – arsenic anyone?
Plus since the juice is pasteurized and devoid of nutrients, the manufacturer adds in synthetic forms of the vitamins that were killed off but required to be in the juice.
Phew. That’s a mouthful!
The bottom line is that when we process anything, we mess with a good thing and end up worse off than when we started.
4. Increases Cravings
Finally, regular fruit juice consumption increases children’s cravings for sweet foods and drinks. It’s just the way sugar works.
Let’s summarize all this really quickly.
What is fruit juice?
Water.
Sugar.
And if you don’t choose the right fruit juice, sometimes chemicals and other unwanted ingredients.
In all truth, fruit juice is liquid candy and should be treated as such when it comes to allowing our children to consume it on a regular basis.
So what do my kids drink instead of juice?
1. Water
It sounds boring, but water is essential to health. Because my kids have always been offered water, they really don’t balk at the option and drink plenty of it throughout the day.
We like to add whole fruit to our water to flavor it and make it a little more interesting, especially in the summer.
Recently we’ve had to turn to nut milks since we suspected that our youngest was having a hard time with dairy. Turns out he wasn’t, so we’ll be sourcing raw milk again.
You can offer milk kefir or water kefir. Both are very good for you!
Oddly enough both of my boys love milk kefir. They drink it plain or flavored with fruit, whatever I have on hand. My husband and I don’t care for it as a drink, but they love it.
Coconut water is a great alternative to fruit juice (or sports drinks). Coconut water is super hydrating and full of vitamins and minerals!
I can almost always convince my boys to choose coconut water over juice at a convenience store stop on long road trips. Just be sure to read your labels.
They do on occasion drink fruit juice. However, they understand that fruit juice is a treat, not a staple.
At home, we only drink fruit juice that we make ourselves in the juicer. Our favorite juice contains carrots, beets, and apples. So good!
The only juice we buy from the store is orange juice, and we only keep it on hand to help make our daily dose of cod liver oil a little more palatable. We only pour a couple of tablespoons into the glass with our cod liver oil.
When we’re out and about, especially with family and friends, we allow our children to drink a juice box every now and then. And then this only applies to our babies once they are weaned. If they are still nursing, it’s just Mama!
Why Leeks are Awesome (+ a Gratinéed Leeks Recipe)
Four years ago, I’m not sure I could have even told you what a leek was. Today, they are one of my absolute favourite fall crops, alongside their better-known counterparts, pumpkins and winter squash.
I started to really appreciate leeks when I began to strive towards more local (and thus seasonal) eating. Thanks to Barbara Kingsolver, I have become convinced that eating locally is a key element in creating a healthier planet and food system.
Seasonal eating also makes food more fun and exciting (and not to mention delicious), in my opinion. Fresh strawberries are more magical because I can only indulge in them a few weeks out of the year. Same with asparagus.
Part of what makes leeks so special is that they’re only available locally after everything else is pretty much done. Aside from a few carrots and cabbages, the rest of the garden is more or less barren by late October. Ah, but leeks. They’re finally just reaching their peak, and can remain standing in their neat little rows until mid-December, waiting to be pulled and enjoyed in a warm soup.
Leeks have an unusually long growing season, meaning you can’t grow them in succession crops the way you can with, say, beets or green beans. They need the whole spring, summer and fall to mature. This is a once-a-year deal.
They also don’t store well long-term. There’s no great way to preserve them (except to chop, sauté, and freeze them in little baggies). Once they’re out of the ground, you only have a few days (or weeks at best) to use them.
So they’re a special treat. And lucky for you, if you’re in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere, NOW is the time to enjoy them! (We just pulled some of the last ones out of the ground last night. Especially if you’re further south, you might have a little more time). If you try buying (imported) leeks any other time of year, they cost up to $3 a bundle here in Ontario. Jeepers!
Not only are leeks special because they’re elusive, but they’re downright delectable. Below I’m going to share the first recipe that totally won me over (with another to follow tomorrow).
They’re in the same family as onions, but they have a milder, subtler flavor, and an extraordinary texture. They’re also packed with nutrients. Heaps of vitamins (K, A, C, B, folate – you name it), plus manganese, and many of the same health benefits as their allium cousins, onions and garlic. (Check out the details here.)
Have I got you convinced to give them a try? Allow me to share two of my favourite leek recipes that are guaranteed to convert the leek skeptic — one today, and a second one tomorrow.
First: gratineed leeks, which I discovered a few years ago thanks to Donielle. It’s a perfect way to first try this delicious vegetable. Braising makes the leeks super-tender; following that with a quick broil makes the tops golden and crispy. And cheese makes everything wonderful. Mmmm.
Why International Travel with Kids is Worth It (And How to Keep it Simple)
My daughter’s ticket was kicked off our flight.
My son’s bag would arrive a day late.
My toddler was sick. Like, really sick.
My husband and I had dealt with more meltdowns than we could count.
Everyone was exhausted.
And that was all before we left the airport in Paris to start our long anticipated vacation.
Travel with kids is never easy, especially when you visit another country. There will be plenty of tears and tantrums. You and your kids will be exhausted. Your kids might not want to eat the local food or resist visiting a famous landmark and then mope once you get them there.
So I get why people don’t want to travel abroad with their kids. It’s a lot of hard work for the parents and it can seem like kids are getting very little out of their experiences.
But can I get on my soapbox for a minute here? I’m going to grab a megaphone because I want everyone to hear this: INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WITH KIDS IS WORTH IT!
Kids, and adults for that matter, can’t help but be impacted by what they experience outside of their home country’s borders. By exposing our kids to other cultures and different ways of life we give them opportunities to learn empathy, compassion, resilience, confidence, and to be open minded and hearted. And they’ll have a story to boot.
And you don’t have to wait until your kids are able to get themselves through airport security for both them and you to have a great time abroad. The sooner you can get them in the travel frame of mind, the better.
My oldest was five months old when she made her first transatlantic flight and since then I’ve traveled seven more times either transatlantic or transcontinental with at least one child in tow, and almost every time one of my kids has been a baby. So I’ve had my fair share of travel ups and downs but the number of ups overwhelms the downs.
And the profoundly positive impact international travel can have on kids makes every down moment worth it.
It’s amazing to watch a child open to new experiences as she sees the world through a different cultural lens in each country she visits. She can see that other people hold different values and priorities and she can evaluate those differences without judgement or from a place of superiority, just one of curiosity.
When kids are exposed to different styles of dress, food, architecture, behaviours, customs, and languages, much less different value systems and ways of ordering life, they inherently understand that the world is much bigger than their country’s four borders and that everyone is better off when we’re willing to learn from each other.
I’ll let Mark Twain sum up this point for me:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime”
In our ever increasingly globalized, and fearful, world it’s important for our kids to be sensitive to and accepting of people from different backgrounds that their own.
And kids not only get to learn about other people as they travel, they get to learn about other places. The world becomes their classroom and what was once dry information in a textbook becomes vibrant and real.
My kids first learned about D-Day while visiting the battle sites in Normandy, France and when they’re old enough to study it in school they’ll actually know what it’s like to stand where the soldiers fought and how the sea wind felt on their faces as they looked out over the sites. That’s an education that stays with kids and makes them want to keep learning.
International travel doesn’t just impact kids individually, it impacts the whole family. When a family gets out of their comfort zone together they have to depend on each other in ways they don’t when they’re at home. Siblings have to look to each other for companionship and depend on their parents. Parents get to see their kids learn and grow in new ways.
Plus families will have some awesome stories. My husband grew up traveling with his family and it’s so fun to listen to them reminisce about riding camels in Morocco or kayaking off a Scottish island shore. The bonds international travel create are strong and they help weave a unique family story that can hold a family together over time and space.
Okay, I’ve saved the best benefit of international travel for last: it’s fun. It’s fun! My kids loved running through the main square in Skopje, Macedonia, visiting Christmas markets in Hungary, and seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time will be a life highlight for my five-year-old. It’s just a blast to do new things, especially when they’re on a grand scale, and I actually have more fun traveling when I’m with my kids than when it’s just me and my husband (total shocker, I know).
When I ask my kids how their day went after even a hard day traveling they always tell me about the fun things they did and the challenges we faced didn’t even register to them. All they remember is the highlights and that’s what they carry with them after the traveling is done.
But fun as it may be, international travel with kids is a lot of work. I’ve found that keeping it as simple as possible is the best way to make it enjoyable for everyone. Here are the three main areas I focus on:
Simple Packing
I keep things pretty simple at home (read How Our Family of Five Lives in 800 Square Feet) so we take that on the road with us. No matter how long we’re traveling we bring 4-5 outfits per person and we do laundry along the way. Our kids bring a couple books, an activity book, and one or two toys.
They have to be able to carry their own carry-on bags and to at least roll their checked bags through the airport, so that sets a good limit how much ‘stuff’ they can bring. I keep my medicine kit simple, too, and you can read what I bring here.
Packing minimally also makes it easier to pack everything back up when we move locations. I don’t want to spend a lot of time repacking suitcases and searching for stray items. There’s so many better things to do!
Simple Itinerary
Because our kids are still little, we keep our itineraries pared down and build in plenty of free time. For us, one big site or event a day is enough. If the kids are up for more, great, if not, at least we’re not disappointed.
At times we need to let them dictate the pace and take their lead. This can be hard because it can mean that us grown ups don’t get to see and do everything we want to but we operate under the assumption that we can always come back to a place if we really do want to do something we missed.
As our kids get older we plan to pack more into our itineraries but even then the kids will play a major role in deciding what we do.
While this isn’t always possible, we find that the less moving around the better. Most stress in travel comes from packing and getting to a new place so the less you do of that the better. Kids can also get a better sense of the places they visit and feel more connected if they’re not on a whirlwind tour.
Simple Expectations
When I say ‘simple’ I could also say ‘low’.
Flights are going to be rough. Everyone will have a bad attitude at some point. You’ll get lost. Your plans will not happen the way you want them to.
This is all part of travel and it’s only more complicated when you have kids.
So we go into a trip knowing there are going to be rough patches and we won’t enjoy quality R&R. We plan to have a good time, absolutely, but that’s not what we’re going for. We’re giving our kids the opportunity to experience the world. So my trip might not be what I would ideally prefer it to be, but the sacrifices I make are worth it.
My kids are still young so I’m just now starting to see how their experiences impact them. I’m thankful my husband and I have been able to travel with them and I am excited to continue exploring the world a family.
It’s one of the greatest gift I can give my kids – and they give me the priceless gift of seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
P.S. For further reading, check out my friend Steph’s blog, EntreFamily. She and her husband are work-from-home entrepreneurs, and they travel the globe as a family (of 7) quite frequently. She writes tons about her experiences on her site!
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
Okay. Here I go, treading into controversial territory. I feel some fear and shame about announcing to the world that we practice co-sleeping. And that’s partly why I want to write about this.
It’s trendy to joke about our “downfalls” as parents. You don’t have to look far to find a blog or a YouTube channel whose sole focus is just that. Wearing the same yoga pants two days in a row. Turning on cartoons in exchange for some extra sleep. And for the last two and a half years that’s how I’ve explained away what we do. To my friends. To my family.
I say I’m just a frazzled mom who has zero willpower.
Except that’s not entirely true. Sure, I get stressed. And yeah, there are times I compromise my standards when I’m overwhelmed.
But the truth is that I purposely, intentionally, enjoyably co-sleep.
And it started the first week of being a mom.
The things you say you’ll never do
My husband and I struggled with infertility for four years. So we had a lot of time to discuss our parenting philosophies. We knew we were “crunchy” and subscribed to most of what goes along with that. Natural birth. Breastfeeding. Baby wearing.
But co-sleeping? No way. We weren’t doing that. That little baby was going to sleep in a bassinet in our room for a couple of months and then it was off to the crib in his room. We wanted peace. And sleep. And a child who you could lay down in a crib who’d wake up twelve hours later.
We were fortunate enough to have my mother-in-law stay with us for the first few days after I had my son. I labored for 22 hours and our little bundle of joy was born at 4:08 a.m. But between the steady stream of visitors and leftover adrenaline I had no chance of sleeping that day. Thankfully, my husband’s sweet mother stayed up with our baby that night and brought him to me when he needed to nurse.
After that first night I was eager to keep him in our room. I wanted to feel like I was fully capable of caring for him. I had a bassinet set up next to my bed for him to sleep in. But, he didn’t sleep.
Oh, he’d be asleep when I’d lay him down. But ten minutes later he was awake again. So over the next few days I started buying gadgets. Every sleep sack, swaddle thing and bed basket anyone recommended.
No luck.
Image by Andrea Vandiver
I frantically posted in a Facebook group I was in with likeminded moms. They encouraged me and told me about their experiences. The first night I kept our six-pound baby in bed with me I told my husband to stay up and watch me. He was amazed at how I’d adjust the blanket without waking. Or how I’d start to nurse our baby just as he started to stir, before he’d even cry.
Now, I’m a co-sleeping advocate. I actually love it. I wouldn’t change the time I’ve spent doing it. The pros completely outweigh the cons. Before we get into the why of co-sleeping though, let’s cover what it is and how to do it safely.
A Definition
Co-sleeping is a general term that covers any arrangement in which your child sleeps in your room. This can mean a crib in your room, a crib or co-sleeping device (like this one) next to your bed, or bed-sharing.
Most people, however, think of bed-sharing when they hear the term co-sleeping.
Bed-sharing safely
In order to safely bed-share, there are some pretty hard and fast rules. While co-sleeping is natural and instinctual, our sleeping arrangements are much different than that of our ancestors. A few simple steps and little to no money can quickly eliminate hazards and create a cozy, safe space for you and your baby.
Creating a safe environment
Avoid curtains or blinds that might have dangling strings.
Avoid spaces or gaps that could trap baby. This could be between your bed frame and the mattress and/or your bed and the wall.
Consider the height of your bed. A lot of people worry that babies might roll out of bed. That has never happened when my son has been asleep next to me. His instincts keep him right by my side. But if you bed-share, you’ll naturally spend more time in and around your bed – awake. High beds can be very dangerous during those times. We chose to put our mattress on the floor instead of investing in a lower profile frame.
Avoid soft surfaces and bedding. A normal mattress (no water beds or couches) with a simple quilt or blanket works perfectly. Duvet covers and multiple blankets can be a concern with young babies. Babies and infants should not use a pillow (see breastfeeding section below).
Other more personal factors are equally important
Drug, alcohol or tobacco use immediately compromises the safety of bed-sharing. This includes pain or sleep medications.
Some experts suggest only co-sleeping with one baby at a time. While moms come hardwired with instincts that protect baby, a wild, thrashing toddler does not. (You know the kind of which I speak.)
Breastfeeding is a huge safety advantage in bed-sharing. Hear me out. Dear mothers, each of you, you are doing a great job. I’m not shaming formula-feeding mothers. At all. But I want to arm you with the information you need to make the best decision whenever possible. Breastfeeding mothers and babies are more instinctively aware of each other. A breastfeeding baby wants to stay in a position where it can easily latch and unlatch. Try this test. Lay a pillow down on the floor and lay on it like you would in bed. Now place your baby next to you.
No, really. Go try it! (A lovely, wonderful, formula-feeding mom friend of mine tried this experiment with me when my son was little. We had different outcomes.)
Image by Andrea Vandiver
Where did you place your baby?
Most breastfeeding moms lay their baby down where their head is level with their breast, below the pillow. Other moms usually place their baby’s head on the pillow, at eye level. This is a dangerous place for a young baby or infant to sleep.
Sounds like a lot of trouble. Is it worth it?
One hundred times, YES.
There are countless benefits, but here area few of my favorites.
It’s safer
Many well-known physicians believe that co-sleeping, and especially bed-sharing, drastically reduces the risk of SIDS. Dr. James McKenna, author of Sleeping with Your Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Co-sleeping has written about this extensively.
The famous and beloved Dr. Sears is also an advocate of co-sleeping. Some studies have shown that a baby’s breathing pattern will align and sync with its mother when they are near each other. Because the current science behind SIDS points to breathing issues, this seems like nature’s built-in safety mechanism.
More sleep
Especially when we need it most. You know the newborn phase when the baby is hungry all the time and you are so exhausted and you’re pretty sure you’re never going to catch up on sleep and that sweet little cry is waking you every four hours, two hours, 45 minutes?
Yeah, that phase.
Our bodies just conceived, carried and delivered this amazing little thing and it was a lot of work. We need all the sleep we can get in order to recover. And function.
Bed-sharing makes nighttime breastfeeding a piece of cake. No getting up, traipsing across the house, sitting in an uncomfortable chair for an hour and then carefully, quietly putting a baby back in a crib. After the first few nights my son would latch on without either of us waking up. It was glorious.
Better milk supply
I know the golden egg of parenting goals is to get our babies to sleep through the night. But if you struggle with milk supply at all, it helps to nurse your baby through the night. A lot. And that means no more waking up in the morning engorged and uncomfortable.
Bonding
My absolute, number one reason for bed-sharing (and now keeping his toddler bed in our room) is the extra time I’ve been able to spend with my son. Some of my favorite moments have happened right before bed when he’s burned off enough energy to simply lay with me. It’s about this time of day when he’s most affectionate toward me.
And it makes sense – our days are long and sometimes busyness can wear down the parent-child relationship. Lying together at night is one the best ways I’ve found to recharge and rekindle the tenderness between us.
Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and sleeping – these are things we are designed to do. Letting our instincts take over and doing what feels natural is our best practice.
Eventually, bed-sharing started interfering with everyone’s sleep. So we brought the toddler bed into our room and now our son sleeps in it. At first, I put it next to our bed. During the night I’d reach over and hold him like he’s been used to since day two of his life. After a while of that (and some attempts at creeping back into our bed) we moved the bed away from ours.
I’m still near him if he wakes up scared or needs a drink or a trip to the potty. And I love lying in bed and hearing him say “I love you, Mommy” from across the room. Approximately 30 times before he falls asleep.
I know there will come a day when he moves into his own room. But today is not that day. And neither is tomorrow.
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
Why I Went Grain Free and 5 Reasons to Quit Grains
In my own quest for better health I realized that diet was critical to good health. Here’s why I went grain free and 5 reasons to quit grains.
Early in my practice I realized that supplements alone would not help people with serious chronic conditions. like diabetes, autoimmune diseases, arthritis, cancer, etc. These problems have to be evaluated from many angles, with the basic building blocks (or rebuilding blocks I should say) residing with diet overhaul.
Candida Overgrowth
My issues first started with an overgrowth of Candida.
Yeast overgrowth.
I avoided all yeast and foods that support yeast such as sugar, yeasted bread, concentrated sugars in fruit, fruit juices, dried fruits, mushrooms, alcohol – see the Anti-Yeast Diet here.
Back then, it wasn’t as sophisticated and well-explained as it is now and it didn’t insist on being completely grain free. Rice and rice cakes were allowed.
Needless to say, it was very restrictive. But the diet, along with targeted supplements seemed to cure me of the candida overgrowth.
By the way, I’m pretty sure that the reason I developed Candida in the first place was because:
a) I was under a lot of stress in Chiropractic College
b) I was following a vegetarian diet high in carbohydrates and legumes (none properly prepared)
Cured of Candida?
Even though I thought I was cured of the candida, I went on to develop multiple chemical sensitivities, sinus problems, headaches and food allergies.
I was allergic to everything I was eating. This is something I find in patients as well, when we do allergy testing. This clearly indicates leaky gut.
It was shocking at first to think of going off all grains. Patients balk at the thought and so did I. After all, most of us eat a diet chock full of foods that incorporate grains.
What would we eat if not grains?
When I went on the SCD I felt better almost immediately. For folks with serious health issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), autism, thyroid disease and other autoimmune diseases, it can take longer to start to feel better.
However, I have seen astonishing results when patients completely avoid all grains – including the non-gluten grains – and follow the diet to the letter.
5 Reasons to Quit Grains
1 – All grains (nuts and legumes as well) are high in phytic acid or phytates
Phytic acid is an organic acid that is present in the bran or hulls of all seeds (so this includes all grains and nuts) and blocks the uptake of critical minerals like calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc. Phytates have been studied extensively and findings show that phytates contribute to widespread mineral deficiencies in third world countries.
Analysis shows that calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc are present in the plant foods eaten in these areas, but the high phytate content of wheat, soy and rice based diets prevents their absorption.
In order to remove the phytic acid in grains (as well as legumes, nuts and seeds) you have to soak and/or sprout the grains in a warm acidic solution. Covering the grains with water with added yogurt, kefir, or even lemon juice, in a warm place over night will help remove this harmful substance.
This procedure will also add value to the grain as it increases B vitamins, carotene and enzymes that aid in digestion, while at the same time it decreases the enzyme inhibitors that are also present in the unsoaked grains.
Since the Sad American Diet is full grains that are not properly prepared and therefore have little available nutrition, we have many people that are over weight but starving for nutrients. This is obvious in the sky rocketing rate of obesity in America today.
Sadly, there are no commercial grain products (with some small exceptions) that are properly prepared so the minerals are not at all available.
2 –Grains feed inflammation
Inflamation is, arguably, the basis of many diseases. Grains have several inflammatory substances such as, phytic acid as mentioned above, as well as gluten, and lectins. Additionally grains promote an acidic pH in the body which is known to be inflammatory.
Lectins may be the next largest area of research. Studies suggests that lectins may play a role in promoting the following conditions: inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, retinitis and cataracts, as well as congenital malformations, infertility, allergies and autoimmune problems.
3 –Grains disrupt proper sugar regulation
Whether they are whole grains or refined grains, they still have a high glycemic index level and are absorbed very rapidly – much like a candy bar. This occurs especially if grains are eaten without any fat or protein.
Many snack foods are pure carbohydrates from grains and these are highly glycemic and cause an insulin spike. Eat like this for years and you are on the way to disregulated blood sugar or diabetes.
4 – Improperly prepared grains may cause damage to the gut lining
Even properly prepared grains can do this to a susceptible person. If the food is not broken down properly, the large food molecules are released into the blood stream. The immune system will react to these large molecules as if they were foreign invaders and initiate an immune reaction.
This is how leaky gut develops. If the offending foods are continuously eaten, this becomes a vicious cycle of immune reactions and damage to the gut lining.
5 –Wheat is no longer the wheat of our ancestors
Grains came on the scene only 10,000 years ago (the blink of an eye in evolutionary standards). Our digestive systems have not adapted to this newcomer. We are much better at eating traditional foods such as meat, fat, vegetables and fruits.
Additionally, wheat has been genetically manipulated (hybridized) over the years and the DNA codes are totally different today. This is a different food and many people have not adapted to it. It is especially clear when we talk about strains of gluten and the processing of gluten to make it more profitable for food manufacturers as I did in a previous post about celiac disease.
Importantly, all non-organically grown wheat is subject to tons of pesticides, specifically Monsanto’s Roundup. This product has the herbicide glyphosate in it which is used to kill weeds. However, it is also heavily sprayed on the wheat the last few days before harvest to dry the wheat and make it more manageable for harvesting.
You must read more about the dangers of glyphosate in order to fully appreciate how devastating it is to the human gut lining, animals feed genetically modified soy and corn and the environment in general.
Conventional wheat products are poison. Avoid them to stay healthy. Better yet, go grain free.
The key to good health is a healthy microbiome. You may be shocked (or surprised) to find out that there are 10 times that amount of bacterial DNA in each and every one of us.
That makes us more microbe than human. Perhaps we are just walking containers for the bacteria – many of whom are essential to human life.
Get the Most Current Information about the Microbiome
Are you as fascinated by the microbiome as I am? Are you hoping for a cure through this new research explosion?
Like this article? Get many more and tons of information and instructions on using grain free flours in my fantastic kindle books. You don’t need a kindle to read them, as Amazon offers a FREE reader for all devices, on the sales page for each book.
These recipes are suitable for Paleo, SCD, GAPS and all grain free eaters.
Original article and pictures take realfoodforager.com site
Is that hypocritical? Actually, I don’t think it is at all.
Is it ever good to take a break from a good thing?
In my book, I talked about how sometimes it is good to take a break from using cloth diapers. I’ve always struggled with being an all-or-nothing gal with a LOT of things in life, but I’ve made a conscience decision that I will keep a balanced view on all things green and “natural”–including my beloved cloth diapers.
Why would you take a break from using cloth diapers?
There could be several reasons, really, including:
Your child has a stomach virus (been there, um, last weekend!).
Your child has a yeast infection. Actually, in my book, I recommend you switch to disposables during a yeast infection because it will be VERY difficult to rid your diapers of yeast if you do not.
You’re traveling: It is completely possible to travel with cloth diapers, and I have taken two 10-day trips with them, but, sometimes, it may be best to take a break from cloth diapering during this time. If your host is squeamish at the thought of tossing poop into her washing machine, it may be best to pull out the sposies.
You’re in the middle of a stressful life season. This could be a move, a major work project, the birth of a new baby, etc.
You’re behind on laundry. Don’t laugh: I think this is a valid reason to take a break! There have been seasons when it seemed the only thing I was washing were cloth diapers. Then I realized it was really sad that my husband had to wear dirty boxers to work since I had washed the diapers instead of his underwear. If you’re that behind on laundry, give the diapers a rest.
Why did I personally take a break from using cloth diapers the summer after I wrote my book? Easy, we were in the middle of a big move. I needed to spend my time packing–not washing diapers. But at one time or another I’ve actually taken a break from using cloth diapers for all of the above reasons.
It doesn’t make me a bad cloth diapering mama. That’s just silly.
How long should you take a break from cloth diapering?
Well, I really hope you don’t give up cloth diapering altogether ;), but only you can know how long of a break you need. Perhaps you just need to take a few days off to catch up on laundry. Or perhaps you just need a 24-hour break while your child has a tummy bug.
For a yeast infection, I recommend staying away from cloth until a full two weeks has past after the rash has cleared. After my baby kept infecting and re-infecting her cloth diapers for several months, I no longer take any chances.
If you are in the midst of a stressful life season, you may want to just put the diapers aside until you finally feel you are in a good groove again.
How I got back on board with using cloth diapers:
During this past break, I told myself that when I felt we were mostly unpacked from our move, I would bring out the cloth diapers once again.
Other ways to get back on board with using cloth diapers include–
limiting yourself to just one pack (or so many packs) of disposable diapers: Once those diapers are gone, your child will go right back into cloth.
setting a time limit: i.e. When my child has been well for an entire week, I will put him back in cloth diapers. When I am all caught up on laundry, I will add cloth diapers back to my rotation .
buying yourself a new diaper: some new fluff might be all you need to motivate you to get your baby back into using them!
giving your diapers a fresh disinfecting strip: Perhaps you stopped because your diapers were leaky or stinky. A good strip should do the trick.
de-stashing:
De-stashing has actually helped me as I have put our youngest back in cloth diapers. I realized that I was using a very large stash for basically one child, and I was just overwhelmed with all of it. It was easier to put off washing them when I had so many!
To boot, some of my inserts really need to be replaced. They have lasted through nearly three children, but no matter how many times I strip those microfiber inserts, they leak.
So I went through all my diapers and picked out the ones that I know do not ever leak. It’s a much smaller but much more manageable stash–and it’s taken us back to cloth diaper bliss once again!
There are a lot of stressful things in life. Cloth diapering shouldn’t be one of them. Don’t let yourself get legalistic about using cloth diapers. If you need a break, then, by all means, take that break, sister!
That’s grace-filled natural living for you. And that’s what we’re all about.
Have you ever taken a break from using cloth diapers? If so, how did you get back on board?
My eBook, Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert, is a 200+-page handbook that will tell you all you need to know to have a successful cloth diapering journey!
Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site
Why I Supplement My Diet with Extra Salt On Purpose (Yes, Really!)
Salt might just be the greatest gift to the culinary arts in the history of the universe.
Scratch that. Not “might”. It definitely is.
Sweets? Chocolate? I mean I guess they’re nice. I do love me a good piece of chocolate cake, especially during my pregnancies. But salty and savoury have always been my first love.
(My husband likes to tell the story about when we went to a steakhouse during one of my pregnancies, and when the waiter came to ask for our drink orders, I ignored the question and asked entirely seriously, “Before I order, I need to know: do you have chocolate cake?” I was fully prepared to find another restaurant if the answer had been no. Pregnancy cravings don’t mess around, y’all.)
When it comes down to it, though: if I was going to a be marooned on an island, I’d send up fervent prayers that it would be with a good book and an all-you-can-eat taco truck. In fact that sounds like a downright vacation. Amen.
You can imagine my sheer delight, then, when I learned that there is actually a medically-indicated rationale for why I SHOULD be consuming EXTRA sea salt in my diet right now.
Ooooooh, lawd a’mercy, hallelujah! Hands in the air like I just don’t care.
(Cue enthusiastic dance moves.)
Extra Salt for Adrenal Fatigue?
Yes, friends, it’s true. It’s important for adrenal fatigue sufferers to consume extra salt in their diet. I’m not talking so salty that it’s gross, of course. I’m talking about the art of tuning in to your body, listening to its cues, and then salting to taste.
Your salt cravings may just be trying to tell you something!
I noticed around two years ago that food tasted bland most of the time. I found myself reaching for the salt shaker a lot. Not one to be worried about government-imposed dietary “advice”, I wasn’t too worried, and salted my food to taste even if I used more than those around me.
It turns out that I was right to listen to my instincts. My body was in the beginning stages of adrenal fatigue.
Adrenal fatigue causes the adrenals to under-produce aldosterone – a steroid hormone crucial to regulating salt and potassium levels in the body. When there isn’t enough aldosterone, the body tends to excrete too much of the important minerals in the urine, such as sodium, which leads to salt cravings.
One of the easiest ways to help this particular adrenal fatigue symptom is to simply consume extra sea salt. Most adrenal fatigue treatment advice includes a recommendation to consume salt in some way – whether it’s salted water, in a smoothie, or just on your food, to taste.
My Happy Adrenal Power Smoothie calls for salt for this reason. (And, since the aldosterone imbalance also causes the body to retain too much potassium, I deliberately didn’t include bananas in the recipe.)
Reminder: Salt Isn’t Bad for You (in fact, it’s required for health!)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: saturated fat isn’t harmful (and doesn’t lead to heart disease), butter is actually super healthy, and you don’t get high cholesterol from eating things like eggs.
And of course, one of my favorites: a low-sodium diet isn’t only pointless, it’s potentially harmful. (Don’t eat low-sodium processed food and think you’re doing yourself any favours.)
Eat unprocessed whole foods, and salt it to taste with a high-quality, unrefined sea salt with minerals, like Redmond Real Salt (which I’ve been using for many years).
A word of warning: it’s extremely important to choose a real, natural salt instead of refined table salt, which is bleached and contains additives – sometimes even sugar!
I always choose Redmond because it is a natural sea salt that contains over sixty trace minerals for our health, is natural and unrefined, and tastes amazing, too.
3 Ways I’m getting Enough Salt
1. Salting food liberally (until it tastes good to me)
2. Drinking salt water every day (add 1/4 tsp to a large glass of water, stir, and drink slowly)
3. Adrenal-friendly smoothie – my own recipe, found here.
This post was sponsored by Redmond Real Salt and contains their affiliate link. I’ve been a loyal fan of their salt for nearly a decade now, and am so grateful that they have partnered with me to have this conversation.
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
Why I Stopped Using Coconut Oil as a Skin Moisturizer
Every winter without fail, I get terribly dry skin on my face. The day after the we turn on the furnace for the first time in the fall, it starts. My face – especially in my T-zone – gets itchy, dry, and flaky. After my shower, it feels tight and awful, like that feeling you get when wearing a face mask that has dried and is ready to wash off. I do not appreciate this facet of my undeniably otherwise-flawless beauty. Not cool, face, not cool at all.
So what’s a natural living, crunchy mama to do?
[Enter, stage left, hero character]
Coconut oil is the darling of the natural living crunchy community. Every real food blogger worth their (unrefined sea) salt will tell you that there are literally hundreds of ways to use the stuff, from eating it on toast to lubricating your guitar strings to lubricating your something else.
Ever seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Remember how Windex is the cure-all? Same idea, less hilarious and more natural.
It is often touted as the Awesomest! Moisturizer! Ever! For the last couple of years I’ve kept some in a little sealed container in my bathroom, carried it in my purse, and even packed it for trips, just so I could swipe a little out with my finger to help moisturize my dry skin. It worked… sorta. I also tried jojoba oil for a while (holy expensive, batman). It was better, but still not awesome.
My life was forever changed when an email landed in my inbox from Hannah at Wilder Supply Co. (Update September 2016: Wilder was formerly called Taproot Farms. Same great company, different name.)
I am totally not kidding, friends! This completely blew my mind.
Wilder Supply Co. is a family-owned business located on an off-grid modern day homestead in Chickaloon, Alaska. They offer a variety of products including lip balm, face/body oils, shea butter, perfume, and goat milk soap (made from fresh goat milk from the family homestead – how cool is that?!)
[annnd… now cue the dramatic music]
She wanted me to review some skin care products from their shop. I was all like, OK, sure, sounds fun. Little did I know that my face moisturizing routine as I knew it was about to be forever changed.
I tried a few different products: a peach lip balm which works beautifully, and a sandalwood goat milk handcrafted soap – smells incredible, feels totally luxurious in the shower. I LOVE the silky smooth feel of it.
Then… I tried the Moroccan Argan Oil. (Check out the special discount you can get as a Red & Honey reader here.)
Backstory: when Hannah asked me what I’d like to try from their shop, I mentioned that the Argan Oil looked interesting (I had never heard of it before) because I had suffered from dry, itchy skin on my face for so long, and my current routine was not really cutting it.
This was followed by a discussion of the various oils and some brilliant explanations from her which pretty much explained everything as to why the other oils hadn’t worked for me. Here’s what I learned that blew my mind:
Jojoba oil isn’t actually an oil. It’s a wax that is very similar to the skin’s natural sebum. So, while it feels really nice on the skin, it can’t soak in and moisturize as deeply as an oil like Argan.
Coconut oil is a very light moisturizer that sinks in quickly, which appeals to a lot of people. It works well for some, but not those with very dry skin as it does not moisturize deeply enough.
Argan is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores, but it also moisturizes.
Conversely, coconut oil is considered to be fairly comedogenic. That doesn’t bother many people, but if you have a tendency to get clogged pores (blackheads, etc), coconut oil might exacerbate that problem.
So while coconut oil might work well for people who have skin in the middle of the spectrum, it doesn’t usually work great for those of us who tend to have dry or oily skin issues.
So, I started using the Argan Oil every morning, especially after a shower (I don’t shower every day.)
I dab a few drops on my driest areas (right between my eyebrows, forehead, around the base of my nose) and massage it in. It literally only takes a few drops, and my skin drinks it up thirstily.
It is especially effective if I give my face a quick, gentle exfoliation first. In the shower, I just gently scrub my face with a washcloth and it works great. I don’t feel a need to buy special products, or to be particularly harsh with scrubbing.
Since using the argan oil, I have noticed an absolute 100% improvement in the way the skin on my face feels on a daily basis. As far as I can tell, the results are long-lasting too, because on the days I don’t shower, I sometimes don’t even use the oil because my skin is still happily moisturized from the day before.
It’s incredibly effective (this is about as close to defining something as a miracle product as I’ve ever gotten) and it’s frugal too, considering how little of it you need at a time. At the risk of overstating my case, to be honest, I am utterly blown away and thrilled with this product. Truly.
Now, not only does it work well and not cost me an arm and a leg, but consider these amazing factors as well:
Some fascinating facts* about the origins and production of Argan Oil:
Argan oil is one of the rarest, most highly valued oils in the world. It is a plant-based oil that comes from the Argan tree, which is exclusive to Morocco. It is called the “tree of life” there, and it has been used by locals for centuries.
Every part of the plant is utilized: the fruit and leaves are used to feed livestock, the oil is used on skin and for cooking, and the nut shells are even used as fuel! Incredible.
The process of extraction and selling this oil is done in a sustainable fashion. Almost all Argan oil is distributed by local co-operatives of women in Morocco. To this day, the most efficient method of extraction is hand-pressing the kernels, which provides valuable jobs to women in the country.
Argan oil’s composition is quite remarkable as well. It contains nearly 80% fatty acids and is extremely high in vitamin E, which are both traits held in high regard in the beauty industry. The industry often adds synthetic versions of these things to products to be able to market them as anti-aging and healing, but of course, the natural (non-synthetic) version is far superior.
Argan also contains active ingredients called phytosterols, which may have anti-tumor effects, reduce inflammation, and which also have cell stimulation properties.”
Wilder Supply Co. (<– get a special discount through that link) is a small family business that prides itself on offering natural, affordable products of exceptional quality. They also value sustainability and top-notch service, which pretty well makes them my ideal company.
Disclosure: All opinions expressed are my own. I honestly use and love these products. This post is sponsored by Wilder Supply Co (formerly Taproot Farms), because it would have been downright wrong to keep this kind of info to myself.
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
