Dr. Mom Online

Just Checking In...

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:02:00 +0000

Well, hello! Long time, no blog!

Just thought I'd check in...

It has been a couple years since I've posted here - I've since moved things over to http://DrMomOnline.com .

But, I just want to see if anyone is over here on Blogger, wondering where on earth I am!

Let me know if you're following here... or if you'd prefer to see me post here.

I might be able to do both... we shall see!

Please leave me a comment, either way. : )

My Blog Has Moved To www.DrMomOnline.com !

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:35:00 +0000

If you're reading this blog, please click on this link, www.DrMomOnline.com , for my current blog. I am no longer actively posting on THIS site.

Thanks for visiting!
Dr. Mom

The Great Breakfast Cereal Battle!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:48:00 +0000

I'm not sure exactly how or when it happened, but somehow I got suckered - hook, line and sinker - into providing breakfast cereal for my children.

I thought I was beyond peer pressure!

Actually, it wasn't really my peers... it was my offspring! Seems as though my school-aged child had been led to believe that, once again, her mother was an awful, unloving, mean person because she didn't provide cereal like all the other mommies of her friends. Where's my barf bag when I need it??

BUT... I fell for it!!!

For most of the past school year, 80% of her school day breakfasts have included cereal. It was always organic, never any high fructose corn syrup, GMOs or trans fats... but insulin-producing CEREAL nonetheless. Thankfully, I've always 'mandated' fruit and protein in the morning as well - apparently to offset the poisonous effects of the cereal I was providing her.

What on earth was wrong with me??!! I KNOW better! Organic or not, it's still useless food that's worse than "empty" calories... it's "negative", "harmful" calories. The grains in sugar (and bread, pastries, bagels, etc.) are broken down to sugar. This stimulates insulin production. This is true even if it's "whole" grains.

And I was wondering where her big attitude was coming from!

Anyhow, fast forward to the last few weeks. I've been back to my heavy-duty nutritional studying and reviewing in preparation for some upcoming books I'm writing. By simply reviewing studies by the godfather of nutrition, Weston A. Price, and several of his followers, I was reminded of what a DORK I've been!

Here I've been serving my kids cereal because they were begging for it, but I wouldn't touch the stuff with a 10-foot pole! Heck, I certainly didn't want the insulin spike! No thank you. I start my day with protein, greens, fruit and fish oil... plain and simple!

I had a very grown-up conversation with my daughter about the dangers of regularly consuming cereal and eating too many grains (we've had this conversation many times before!), and we laid out a game plan for getting rid of cereal at breakfast. Was she happy? Not at all. Was she eager to welcome breakfasts without her beloved cereal? Nope. Oh, well. I'm fully aware of who wears the responsible nutritional pants in our family!

To her credit, she was a very willing and enthusiastic participant in selecting healthier breakfast options at Whole Foods the last time we grocery shopped together. She chose some clean meats and different fruits that we don't normally purchase... and she thoroughly read each and every ingredient in the whole milk and yogurt/kefir products we chose.

So, for the last several days since beginning our new & improved breakfasts (which are pretty much the type of breakfasts we used to eat BEFORE she began school!), we've been doing exceptionally well! Our breakfasts have consisted of organic turkey bacon &/or organic free range eggs, fresh fruit, whole milk organic yogurt or organic kefir and some organic almond butter. Yum!

She has been joking at the breakfast table, "I think I must be in Heaven! This breakfast is SO delicious!" A bit dramatic, I know!

Suddenly, the cereal monster returned this morning!

Holy cow... I wasn't quite sure what hit me! I'm pretty sure what she had is scientifically known as a "hissy fit"! That kid must have been in the middle of a sugar withdrawal... or pre-puberty! Either way, it was UGLY!

I tried to rationally explain that, as a GOOD parent, I simply couldn't knowingly poison her and destroy her health. (Apparently, drama runs in the family!) She retorted that "If poisoning me means I can have cereal this morning, I'll eat poison!"

Did I mention she's only FIVE????

Yes, it was a rather tumultuous morning in our house today! Did I give in and let her have the cereal? No. Was it because I needed to "win" this one? No, not really. It was mostly because I had already prepared her entire breakfast and I cannot stand wasting food... or money... or my time! Will I ever let her have cereal again. Maybe. That's not really my point anyhow.

My point is that we don't NEED it. There are SO many healthier options to choose from. My number one goal with food is always to create more health in the body.

One of these days my kids will get it, too. If not, the stress from trying to provide healthy foods will outweigh the benefits and I'll be back in the loony bin!

I'm including a link to a related article on Dr. Mercola's site. Once again, make sure you read all the way down to Dr. Mercola's comments AND the readers' comments... that's where all the fun is!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/17/why-you-should-be-worried-if-your-kids-cereal-is-widely-known.aspx?source=nl

Dr. Mercola has some fabulous archived articles on grains. I also HIGHLY recommend checking out the Weston A. Price Foundation for superior nutritional information.

http://westonaprice.org/

It's not about "NEVER" having grains. It's about being informed and aware of how they effect your health. That's all!

Been Busy Having a Nervous Breakdown!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:49:00 +0000

Sorry it has been awhile since my last post. I've been quite preoccupied having a complete mental and emotional breakdown for the past week... or two... maybe three!!!

The short version of the story:

The 6 month anniversary of my mom's passing, Mother's Day without my most favorite mommy, my dad having surgery for prostate cancer, my hormones wildly messing with my emotions for several days each month, my 3 year old son has completely losing his mind... as well as any sense of hearing his mother, and my almost-six year old daughter believing that she is indeed the ruler of the free world and must argue each and every syllable spoken between us!!!!

All these things converged in my brain and heart last week. My outlook and mindset were not overly perky, to say the least! I was searching for a dark cave to live in until the storm passed!

My ongoing "life saver" is my little "chunk" of time carved out of each morning WAY before the munchkins get up... my time for mental,emotional and spiritual nurturing and preparation for the day. Even THAT was blown out of the water last week! The kids decided that they needed to get up an hour earlier now... and promptly begin fighting with each other and crying (and whining) to their mother.

So much for preparation for the day!

I have felt very "tested" for the last few weeks. I feel like God has been saying, "OK missy... I know you have the tools to deal with all this. Enough lip service! Let me see you put it all to use!"

I tried several times saying, "No, thank you." Apparently, God's not much better at listening to me than my 3 year old! (just kiddin', God!)

Some of my greatest lessons and blessings (and reminders) from the past few weeks have been to actively search for the good each day. Not always easy when it seems deeply buried in the "crap" of life!

Oh, and none of it is really "crap". It's all a gift from God... some of it just has really ugly wrapping paper!

I've also found that sometimes the "good" is just a split second in time, or a beautiful moment, or one teeny tiny thing... not always a "The kids were fabulous all day today! Isn't life great?!" type of "good". Sometimes it's just the car ride that goes well, or prayer at dinner, or seeing the kids dance together, or a big group hug, or one silly moment where we all crack up, or a sweet smile, or a butterfly kiss, or a soothing moment in the rocking chair, or pointing out the beautiful flowering trees on the way to school and noticing the blooming flowers!

The "good" is all around us, all the time. Yes, so are the things that drive us loopy! My reminder was that it takes effort to see the good in the midst of the 'bad'. It's a discipline. It takes practice.

Plus, seeing the good is a WHOLE lot more fun and feels WAY better than only seeing the 'bad'!

Surprisingly, it also feels like a graduation of sorts, to a higher level of being human, when you make it through a dark period and are able to more clearly see the beauty in life and all its blessings.

Fully experiencing some dark moments and dark days helps us fully experience the richness, beauty and joy of brighter moments. Although it certainly doesn't always feel nice at the time, I do believe it creates balance in life. There's a flip side to every coin!

Does Forbidding Snacks Create Little Monsters?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:51:00 +0000

I've been on the receiving end of much well-intentioned advice regarding food choices I make on behalf of my children. I've talked about it many times in various blog entries.

I've consistently found that most parents have no challenge with what I do "allow" my kids to eat... but they think I'm downright mean for what I won't allow! For example, for school, I don't pack any sugary snacks or nutrient-void processed foods. My daughter gets water to drink, that's it. No dessert with her lunch. No chips, crackers, 'lunch ables', etc.

Big 'ol meanie. That's me!

She gets "clean" meats, raw nuts, fresh veggies and fruit. Organic and raw dairy products. Homemade soups. Organic pizza on school pizza day.

Oh, I know - what a terrible mother I am!

Other parents have been telling me for years, "You know, if you don't let your kids have sweets and fast foods, they're just going to sneak them when you're not around!" I appreciate the concern.

Along that same line of thinking, should I let them start smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, doing drugs and having sex now too? Just so they don't sneak it later when I'm not around??? C'mon!

And really, what's my option? Feed them sugar and junk on a regular basis and somehow justify that this is better for them? Don't think so. I'll take my chances that they're going to go overboard on cake and cookies every few months rather than than give it to them regularly.

How about, "But they're just kids... lighten up!" It's hard to "lighten up" when you actually know what creates health... and what destroys it. Even harder once you know what's in those "foods".

Regardless of differences in parenting styles, we have to agree upon some basic physiological and health principles. Junk DOES NOT create health. Junk moves us AWAY from health. My job as a parent is to protect my kids, do my best to keep them healthy and teach them how to make great choices.

If you've read anything I've ever written, then you know that I never say "never". I say, "Fill up with Health FIRST"... then your body's better able to handle the toxic choices you may decide to make.

Actually, our little family does quite well with food choices when we're not subjected to overwhelming outside influences. For example, if my kids happen to catch even the tiniest bit of a "kids' show" on television, it isn't long before they're asking for some of the snacks or fast food they see advertised during the commercials. Guess that's why television is strictly limited in our family, too! (I know, I know... mean mother!)

Anyhow, I found it quite amusing that Dr. Mercola recently featured a video clip on this subject. In the video, notice that the "unhealthy" snack is RAISINS!!!! Heck, if that were our biggest junk food challenge, we'd have no problems!

Also, make sure you read the article and scroll down to read the readers' comments... they' shed a little more light, and accuracy, on the "study". They'll also give you some ideas to incorporate into your own family.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/03/does-forbidding-snacks-work.aspx?source=nl

Enjoy!

This Is "Science Fiction Crazy"!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Sun, 04 May 2008 01:27:00 +0000

Ever since I first watched this video and read the accompanying text, I've been trying to figure out how to introduce it... how to get you to read it and not brush it off.

I still don't know! My only suggestion is to create a few quiet minutes for yourself, pour yourself a stiff drink, and sit down to watch this unbelievable story!!!

Here's the link:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/01/this-company-may-be-the-biggest-threat-to-your-future-health.aspx?source=nl

By the way, your "stiff drink" may be a green tea, a cup of organic 'joe' or some pure water.... personally, I needed a hearty glass of a robust red wine to get through this insane article! (but that's just me!)

Frustrated By Not Losing Weight?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:17:00 +0000

Since spring has finally sprung in Michigan, I've witnessed lots of people outside moving their bodies on a regular basis again. It's a beautiful thing!

In the last couple weeks, I've also heard from countless folks, mostly women, who are frustrated with their weight loss efforts. At various speaking events I've done, this is one of the most common questions I'm asked. In the mom's forums I belong to, this is the hot topic of conversation. Even when I take the kids to the park, I overhear other moms expressing their dissatisfaction with their weight.

Now, obviously there's a whole lot to the weight loss issue: nutrition, activity level, type of exercise, stress levels, hormonal balance, etc. So I don't kid myself that I could tackle that hairy beast with one little recommendation!

But, recently, the one thing I've been hearing women discuss, is the type of exercise they do. They describe, with exasperation, the hours they spend walking, swimming, cycling, even jogging... with "no results". I met one young lady who jogs for miles each day, yet struggles with her weight. She jogs the same path every time, week after week, month after month. Another group of moms who do water aerobics several times a week for 40 minutes - walk in a circle one way for awhile, then reverse for awhile. Same story... no results. Another mom at the playground was walking in a circle around the equipment while her children played for 30 minutes. She said that's her exercise a few times a week. In the online forums, it's the same story as well. Countless women wondering WHY they're not shedding pounds as a result of their diligent exercise.

The one detail I don't hear these same ladies talk about is the INTENSITY of their exercise. Remember, if fat burning and weight loss are part of your fitness goals (in addition to the all-important mental and social benefits of it), then you MUST bump it up a few notches in your intensity level.

If you jog, then add some wind sprints or hill sprints to your casual jog. If you walk, add some bursts of speed as well. Or, stop and do jumping jacks or squat jumps or push-ups... anything to challenge your body and force it to work much harder for a short period of time. If you swim, add bursts of challenging resistance moves during your laps (or circles).

Increasing the intensity of your workouts results in an increased Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). This is what burns fat for your, even when you're resting. You can increase your intensity by adding more resistance, adding more speed and adding more variety... all in short periods of time, with rest periods in between. In the case of "working out" you can accomplish this by doing full body workouts, exercise the large muscle groups, use challenging weights, don't dilly-dally in your workout and change it up quite regularly.

So, while a nice steady-paced, low to moderate intensity jog, walk, swim is fabulous for your overall health, in most cases, it's not nearly enough to accomplish effective weight loss and fat loss. You'll burn lots of calories WHILE you're doing the activity, but not for very long afterward. On the other hand, if you include high intensity bursts of activity a few times each week, you'll see the amount of calories you burn OVERALL dramatically increase.

Another great way to accomplish this addition of high intensity bursts to your fitness regime is to take up a sport or class that includes that type of movement. E.g. tennis, kickboxing, spinning, racquetball, soccer, etc.

By the way, one word of caution... don't trip over all that fat as it falls off you!

Is Tyson Chicken Really Antibiotic-Free?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:35:00 +0000

For quite awhile now, when I start talking about the importance of buying (or raising) organic, antibiotic and hormone-free meat - yes, that includes poultry - many people have proudly told me , "my chicken is organic, too... and I buy it at the regular grocery store... WAY less expensive than the health food store, too!" "Awesome!", I say. "I'm SO glad conventional stores are catching on and providing healthier and safer options for the masses."

I asked where to find this "cleaner" chicken in our local 'regular' store, so I could check it out... and hopefully stock up when it's on sale! My savvy shopper friends told me, "Oh, easy! It's right there with all the other packaged chicken from Tyson."

"Tyson?! Why would organic, antibiotic-free chicken be with Tyson chicken???" When I think of healthy options... Tyson doesn't come to mind! Just a personal issue, that's all! Based on what I've read about this enormous company, and others like it, I've not been impressed with their from-the-farm-to-the-table practices. Again, my issue, I'm sure!

Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, I found that these meats were not organic. The day I actually remembered to look for them in the store, they were out of stock. So I asked one of my devout label-reading friends to check it out more closely for me the next time she purchased some.

We discovered that the chicken was only "antibiotic-free". Funny how so many people had interpreted the label (or the advertising) to mean "organic". Ah well, I thought. At least they've cleaned it up a bit... it's better than nuthin'. Anytime we can reduce the amount of toxicity we add to our lives, the better. Eliminating the antibiotics was a step in the right direction.

I had mentally put that issue to rest for several months. Now, enter Dr. Mercola. Yet again, this police officer of the food industry has shed some light on the shady nature of Tyson's marketing approach.

Looks like Tyson's chicken isn't "antibiotic-free" after all. Just a little misleading in the marketing department! You can read about it in the link below.

Personally, I still think it's a better option than plain 'ol conventional chicken, loaded with every chemical concoction known to man. But I do think it's disturbing and downright nauseating how food companies are so willing to put a 'spin' on the truth in order to increase profits. I know it's completely naive of me, but I just wish they'd all tell us the truth!

Crazy, I know!

Here's the link to the Tyson chicken article.

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Is-Tyson-s-Antibiotic-Free-Chicken-Really-Antibiotic-Free--61196.aspx

Unfortunately, I'm absolutely certain that Tyson is not the only offending food company. I just found it interesting that this happened to be the one example (Tyson chicken) that I kept hearing about from so many people for so many months... guess their marketing works!

Jenny McCarthy's Autism Crusade is a Continued Success

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:44:00 +0000

I just love what Jenny McCarthy is doing these days. She perfectly exemplifies (for me, anyway) the power, tenacity and true grit of a mother who would do anything in the world to protect her child... and to right a wrong.

I see her crusade as an act of love on the grandest scale. Not only for her son, but for children worldwide.

I guess it takes a beautiful, blonde bombshell to finally get people to stand up and take notice of the legal poisoning and deceptive brainwashing of the masses! Hey... whatever it takes! Thank God she's also brilliant and well-researched!

Check out this link to follow along with the story of Evan, her son (and Jim Carrey's). Evan is now 5 years old and is doing remarkably well. Thank God. You can also scroll down to the comments section and click on the link to watch Jenny on the Larry King Show - great segment.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/04/24/how-jim-carrey-and-jenny-mccarthy-s-son-recovered-from-autism.aspx

Are "Organic" Foods and Whole Foods Market Rip-Offs?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:45:00 +0000

A recent article in Dr. Mercola's newsletter got me thinking about organic foods and my favorite grocery store, Whole Foods Market. Here's the link to the article: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/04/17/the-whole-story-about-whole-foods-market.aspx

I've been questioned about the legitimacy of "organic" foods for years. In fact, it seems to be a subject that ruffles many people's feathers! I've often felt under attack because of my support of organic foods. Silly, isn't it?!

Anytime I speak of the benefits of organic foods, there's always a "yeah, but..." in the crowd. Strange.

I like to point out that I have nothing to gain, financially or otherwise, by encouraging my practice members, audiences, clients and friends to eat more nutritious and organic foods whenever possible. (Wish I would've bought stock in Whole Foods Market years ago! Ah, well... hind sight!)

As far as I see it, organic is healthier. Obviously, it has less toxicity and studies show it also has far greater nutrient density.

"How do you know if it's really organic or not? How can I trust those labels?" It's a calculated risk I take! One that I don't lose any sleep over, by the way! I'd rather risk that the broccoli I'm eating, thinking it's organic, maybe isn't organic afterall... rather than eat a bag of Cheeze Its and a Diet Pepsi, knowing full well there's not a shred of health in them! I'll take my chances with the possibly-not-100%-organic-broccoli!

My point is that I don't worry too much about all the politics involved with the organic food industry. Worse case scenario - the "organic" food has now become tainted with some of the toxins found in "conventional" food. I'll suffer through some contamination of my food vs. 100% contaminated!

Is organic healthier? Yes or yes? Of course it is! What on earth is all the whining about???

If some people just don't want to spend the money on it, or don't trust it, fine. Move on. But don't kid yourself that organic isn't any healthier. And why bother picking on the folks that choose organic? Why don't you picket a drive thru lane at the fast food joint!

Next point:

I've always said that no matter where you do your grocery shopping, you can't be an idiot! If you're buying food that comes in a package, then you still have to read the label!

For years, I've talked about doing much of our family's grocery shopping at Whole Foods Market. (enter all the "yeah-but" folks again!) I KNOW that Whole Foods isn't 100% organic. I KNOW that Whole Foods isn't 100% local. I KNOW that Whole Foods isn't 100% free of some of the toxins our governing agencies have approved for our consumption.

I've never, ever once said Whole Foods Market is perfect. I HAVE said many times that it's far better than any other option we have where I live.

Silly to argue that point.

By the way, Whole Foods sells a ton of "less toxic" junk food. It's still junk food. It doesn't create health, it just causes a little less toxicity.

I don't buy everything at Whole Foods anymore. I don't need to... conventional grocery stores are carrying more organic options, often at better prices than Whole Foods.

What I've always looked for is FRESH food, preferably locally grown. That's a little tough in Michigan for several months of the year, but worth the effort.

I understand there are a whole lotta' environmental issues involved when we start buying non-local food. I'm not touching that topic with a 10 foot stick! I'm talking about Nutrition. That's it.

The very best option is always organic AND locally grown. I'd recommend finding a food co-op where you live. Organic one, of course! 'Nuff said about that!

Point 3:

Do I ever purchase non-organic food? Of course! When shopping for my fresh produce, if there's no organic option, or the organic option is wilted or past its prime, or the organic option is insanely priced, then I'll purchase conventional and wash it with a hydrogen peroxide rinse.

When it comes to meat, eggs and dairy, I will NOT buy it unless it's organic (or the cleanest option offered in the marketplace). This, too, I've recommended for years. Just by the very nature of the 'tissue' of meat and eggs, toxins accumulate much more readily in them. It's called bioaccumulation. It's nasty. I gladly pay the price tag for cleaner meats and eggs without a second thought.

While you're at it, if you're already inclined to invest in organic meat and eggs, then you might as well go for it and also make sure your meats (beef and bison) are grass-fed and that your chickens/eggs are free range. Shoot for the stars!

Conventional dairy is just a chemical cocktail of epic proportions! Every single conventional grocery store in my very conservative area has affordable organic dairy options. No more excuses.

So, in order to eat the "cleanest", healthiest foods possible, we should all grow our own produce and raise our own livestock. Year round, I might add.

Until then, I'm OK with trusting the "organic" label for a while longer while I search for my organic farm to purchase!

Creating a String of Pearls

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:39:00 +0000

Once again, I've just recently finished going through my morning "ME time"... it's the time of day when my mind is at its "loftiest"! I have great insight and clarity both during and immediately after my rituals. It's an absolutely amazing feeling... especially since there are many other moments during the day that I'm convinced I might just be losing my mind! I much prefer my clear, calm and focused morning brain!

Anyhow, I thought I've been focused on for the past 3 or 4 mornings during my rituals is the thought of "creating a string of pearls" with my children. I had been beating myself up with some mommy guilt about 'reacting' too much with the kids - getting upset with the- spending too much time correcting and disciplining and not making their lives fun enough.

But, I also know in my heart that I have many amazing moments with them. I was becoming frustrated, thinking things like, "why can't we just get through a day without..... (fill in the blank) you guys fighting..... somebody hitting..... sassy talk.... whining... etc. etc."

I was taking it very personally that I couldn't seem to create the perfect, unruffled day with them. Unrealistic, I know. Frustrating nonetheless.

Then it came to me a few mornings ago. The thought isn't new to me, but I was different this time around, and ready to 'hear' the thought differently.

I'm really very good at creating "moments" with the kids. You know, those little specs of time when everything's perfect and happy and loving. Those moments when you feel the deepest connection and joy. The moments when it all comes together - "Ahhhh yes, this is what motherhood is all about!" Personally, in those moments, I fully understand my purpose in this world.

So, instead of trying to create the perfect day, I decided to set my sights a little lower! I'll focus on creating those cherished, loving and totally present moments with the kids... and I'll intentionally create more of those throughout the day. Yeah, that's what I'll do! That's more manageable!

I think of those blissful little moments as the "pearls"- my treasured snippets of love and peace and connection. The more of those pearls I can create (or notice as they are happening), the more beautiful of a necklace I can create.

My wish is that as my children grow up and look back upon their lives, overall, they'll see the beautiful necklace.

My pearls are simple and "do-able" things like: greeting the kids with a smile and hugs and a cheerful disposition, regardless of what I may have been preoccupied with a moment earlier; truly feeling and appreciating their hugs; snuggling at least once a day; saying 'yes' more to their innocent, age-appropriate requests; and making eye contact with them and smiling and following along as they tell me all about their imaginary world!

I'm no perfect mom, but these little items even I can master! (at least most of the time!)

I'm sure I'll need to re-read this post at some point down the road to remind myself of this great insight... I know full well that we need to continue affirming thoughts and habits like these, 'cuz the craziness of life tends to take us off track! 'Tis the nature of the beast!

Mom's "ME Time"

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:47:00 +0000

As I sit here typing this post, I'm doing so with much gratitude in my heart. My morning has been calm, peaceful, focused, centered and fulfilling.

That's because my children aren't out of bed yet!!!

Seriously, I recognized many, many months ago, that early morning sleep was a small price to pay in exhange for my personal happiness, emotional balance and spiritual fulfillment.

Some mornings are more of a challenge getting out of bed than others, especially when everyone else is tucked in so comfy and warm, but the return on my investment is incomparable.

Right now, I feel incredibly balanced and complete. I'm perfectly relaxed, yet I have a giddy sense of deep happiness. No, I haven't turned to drugs!

I simply went through my 'list' of morning rituals. I did my affirmations and visualizing. I reviewed my dream board and miracle list. I prayed and asked God to oversee my day and all my wishes. I asked for help where I'm lacking clarity. I gave thanks for all that I have. Then I listened for a 'response'.

This morning I was blessed to have one of those "ah-ha" moments in my quiet time. I turned to my journal and quickly jotted down my new insight. Fabulous!

Now I can't wait for the kids to come downstairs so I can apply my new found wisdom on them!

I just wanted to share a snippet of my morning with you since it's such a vital component of my overall health and happiness. My early morning rituals are my life savers many days! I highly and wholeheartedly recommend that every mom find some "ME time" every single day. Time to think lofty thoughts, pray, listen and plant the mental, emotional and spiritual seeds that you want to see flourish into beautiful things!

(Of course, now my challenge is to maintain this "Zen-like" state when the two nut burgers come loudly racing down the stairs, making all sorts of crazy demands on their mommy! Ah yes, maintaining a state of grace in the midst of chaos is no easy task... but it's a worthy and rewarding challenge!)

Not All Snacks Are Equal!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:10:00 +0000

I think it has become fairly common knowledge that eating healthy snacks throughout the day is a good thing. If you're a person who has previously overlooked the importance of healthy snacking, or has been avoiding snacks in order to "help you lose weight", it's time to re-evaluate.

In fact, small, healthy snacks throughout the day are critically important to maintain a highly efficient metabolism (and to help you burn fat), to maintain stable blood sugar levels, to keep your energy level high and your moods and emotions balanced... the list of benefits of healthy snacks is quite long!

Notice I keep saying "healthy" snacks? Let's talk about that for a minute...

First, let's simply agree that the healthiest food options, snacks or otherwise, are "real" foods - "God-grown" foods. Fresh, not packaged. The purest, cleanest sources, too. You get the idea.

OK, I know that's not always realistic! But we can certainly try to make this a reality for our families... it takes some planning and preparation, but the pay-off is Health. Not a bad return on your investment!

Next, let's talk about what isn't a healthy snack...

Quite often, it's all the convenience foods that come in wrappers or frozen packages. If the goal is to achieve better health, or to lose weight and shed fat, then a great start is to clean all the “bad” snacks out of your kitchen. Toss the cookies, chips, crackers and the cheesecake. Get rid of those chicken nuggets and pizza bagels. It will be much easier to choose healthy snacks if there isn’t the temptation of high-fat and high-sugar snacks lurking around, staring you in the face every time you open your fridge or pantry!

Now that you are staring at your almost-empty pantry and fridge, let's talk about what foods you should stock up on.

'Clean' protein, fresh veggies, fruit and certain nuts are by far your healthiest options. Protein may be meats or eggs - invest in organic, free-range and nitrate-free, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, etc. Whenever possible, choose organic, richly colored and a variety of veggies and fruit. The most nutrient-dense and safest nuts are almonds and walnuts. Choose raw and organic when you can.

Homemade dips, spreads and sauces, like hummus, baba ganoush, salsa, almond butter and guacamole are nutritious and truly healthy choices when you start with the best ingredients. Instead of dipping chips and crackers, try veggies instead. I don't necessarily think that "nature's candy", ie. fruit, needs any dipping... but if the mood strikes, try dipping it in organic yogurt.

One concern I have is the number of times I read and hear "healthy" snack recommendations that are heavily dependent upon grains and dairy. I frequently see foods like whole grain crackers and bread, rice cakes, cereals, milk, cheese, yogurt, hailed as the healthiest choices we could offer our kids, in particular.

This concerns me because our infatuation with grains has directly contributed to the obesity and diabetic epidemics in our society. All grains, whether highly processed and refined or not, affect our blood sugar and insulin levels.

I'm not saying to never eat grains... the organic, sprouted, multi grain choices cause less severe of an insulin reaction and offer more benefit. We just need to take grains out of the spotlight as the best snack choice. They simply aren't. They aren't part of our innate genetic nutritional requirements.

Conventional dairy comes with a laundry list of health problems. Again, I'm not saying "never"... I'm saying decrease the intake of dairy, and when you do eat it, make sure it's the cleanest source possible. Organic, raw and unpasteurized are the ideal choices. I've seen organic dairy options in the most conventional of grocery stores out there! It's now easier than ever to make this one significant upgrade in our food choices. Also, consider healthier options like goat's milk and kefir.

So here are some easy snacks that you can prepare and store, so they are ready to munch on.

Cut Up Fruit and Veggies
You can have all sorts of healthy veggies and even fruit sitting in your fridge, but your family won’t grab it for a snack because it would involve peeling and cutting. Instead they go for a bag of chips or some other ready to eat snack. Make it easy for everyone by cutting up some of the fruit and veggies and keep it in glass containers ready to eat.

In the summer, when berries are plentiful, I love to keep a huge bowl of fresh berries right front and center in the fridge, with a big serving spoon handy. The kids know they can help themselves... fruit by itself or heaped on top of organic yogurt or kefir.

Trail Mix
Make your own trail mix from organic, naturally sweetened granola, almonds or walnuts, and dried fruit. It’s a great snack to just grab and go, or something to munch on whenever the urge strikes. Make up a batch of trail mix and store it in an airtight, preferably glass, container in your pantry or fridge.

Granola Bars
Homemade granola bars are a great snack alternative to cookies and cake. It’s sweet and crunchy, but by making your own, you control what ingredients go in there. Use organic whole grains and dried fruit. Keep the amount of sugar, honey, brown rice syrup, etc. you use on the low end for a healthier treat.

Cooked Chicken Breast
Keep some cut up cooked organic, free-range chicken breast in the fridge for a quick protein rich snack. Add the chicken to a little lettuce for a quick salad, or wrap it with some fresh veggies and sprouts in a lettuce leaf (for a lettuce wrap) or in a tortilla. Make a quick chicken quesadilla with tortillas and a little organic cheese.

We also love the organic and nitrate-free deli meats from Whole Foods Market. The kids inhale this stuff! They love to snack on it rolled up with fancy toothpicks, or cut up and mixed into their salad.

All it takes is a little planning and preparation, and trying some new foods, to get everyone in the family eating healthier snacks.

The Dreaded Phone Call NO Parent Wants to Receive...

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:41:00 +0000

Yesterday we got a call from our daughter's school... actually I missed the call when it came in, but checked my message immediately. It went like this, "Hi Colleen. This is ____ from school. Jacqueline has been in an accident, has cut open her head and is bleeding pretty badly. She needs you."

Holy crap! There is nothing that compares to the intensity of emotions that a parent feels when their child has been hurt, or is ill.

Thank GOD my husband was home at the time... I think I would have had a heart attack, had he not been there! We woke our son up form his nap (which is always a lovely experience!), stuck him in his car seat, and drove like he** to get to her school at warp speed.

A little background: this is the THIRD time in a year and a half that this kid has split her head open!!! Unbelievable! I swear, anytime I hear a scream or a cry in a room full of children, I automatically assume that it's most likely my daughter!

Anyhow, ultimately, she's fine. This time, they were able to "glue" her. Good thing - I'm sure I would have passed out if I had to watch the whole needle into her forehead and stitches thing again! Not my strong suit!

Some 'funny' things happened during this little adventure with her yesterday.

First, it was her third time at this emergency clinic... and her fourth time at any doctor's office or clinic since birth. She's almost 6.

She was at a family doc we personally know when she was one. We took her in to confirm that she had Rubella... and wanted a 2nd opinion about whether or not we should proceed with our plans to travel to a seminar the following day. He confirmed that it was indeed Rubella... "most likely contracted by exposure to another child who had been recently vaccinated". He agreed with us that she was absolutely fine to travel, as the virus was already passing through her system quite efficiently. No treatment of any sort - more like a visit with a trusted friend.

Interesting, he also commented on how lucky she was to have contracted this... "Now she's immune for life... easy! 3 days from beginning to end for the virus to pass through the body, then you're done! I don't know we vaccinate for this."

So, when we started this little parade of head injury trips to the emergency clinic, we had to deal with the shock, disbelief, disdain and disapproval of everyone involved in the process - from check in to consultation to examination and treatment to check out.

We just laugh now! We're used to it.

The dialogue usually goes something like this:

"Immunizations up to date?"
"No."
"Pardon?"
"No. She has no vaccinations." (The pen goes down, the head comes up. The look of confusion appears! The entire consultation comes to a screeching halt... and we're only 15 seconds into it... this is gonna' be interesting!)

"What, you don't believe in immunizations?"
"Oh, no. We believe vaccinations are real. We choose not to give them to our children."
"Do you care to explain?"
"No."

(Believe me, we could give you a 12 hour scientific dissertation reviewing and dissecting every shred of evidence and research pertaining to vaccines and their entire progression throughout history... but our daughter might bleed to death in the process! We're not trying to pick a fight here ... can we stop talking about this now???)

"Hmm... " (Head goes down. Writing begins.)
"Immunizations are very, very important you know."
"We've done our research and choose not to. We're here to have her injury treated, that's all."
"So, I suppose you don't want a tetanus shot for the open wound she has, either?" (not the most approving tone at this point.)
"No thank you. Just proper wound cleaning, then whatever she needs - stitches or glue."

"OK. What about previous medical history? Any problems?"
"No."
"What medications does she take?"
"None." (Suspicious eyes comes up from the paper again...)
"Any allergies to medications?"
"None that we know of. .. she's never taken any."

(They're now certain that we have stepped right off another planet!! Guess what? We feel the same!)

We add, "She's never needed any." (hoping to make the note taker feel better!)

... the interrogation goes on for awhile... we're pretty sure the note taker has pressed a secret button to have the police and child protective services come and take us away!!!

Fast forward to dismissal instructions. "If she asks for it, or looks mopey, give her Motrin." My daughter begins to question me... I 'shush' her and say "I'll tell you later."

Moments later, when we've been released, she asks, "What's Motrin?" I tell her. She says, "Why would I give my body drugs when it's already injured and working so hard to heal?" I say, "I'm sure there's a time and a place for Motrin honey... I just can't think of it off the top of my head." She asks if we even have any. Nope.

On our way out, we walked by the vending machine in the waiting room. My daughter turns to me and asks, "Mommy, isn't it mostly sick or injured people who come here?" I answer affirmatively. She astutley observes, "Then they shouldn't have all that junk here for those people to eat. How can their bodies heal properly if they're putting all that junk in?"

Well spoken, little Scar Face! I say, "Someday, when you rule the world, you can fix all that!"

You Drank WHAT???

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:52:00 +0000

The other day, my daughter spent a couple of hours playing outside with a friend in the neighborhood. At one point, they went inside her friend's house for a bathroom break. Or, so I thought.

Let me interject a critical piece of background information here....

We have gone over and over the "food and drink" ground rules for visiting a friend's house. Real simple, it's something like this: "Sweetie, you will be offered food and drinks that we don't have at home. As long as you have filled up with health first (eaten clean protein, veggies, fruit and water), then you may try a bit of what is offered, if you choose. EXCEPT when it comes to drinks. ONLY water, unless you know for certain that it's organic 'real' juice, then you may have that. Absolutely no milk, pop, sports drinks or juice drinks."

When she came home from the friend's house, she told me that, while inside their home, she had eaten a few homemade cookies that her friend's mom had just made. OK. Not the healthiest choice, but totally understandable, I thought.

It wasn't until much later that night, in the bathtub actually, that my daughter 'slipped' and told me that she actually had at least 6 cookies!! OK, I can still understand. Afterall, they sounded like really yummy cookies! But, I did remind her that the more toxins you put in, the less health is created.

Then it occurred to me, all those cookies must have made her really thirsty. That's when she dropped the bomb!!

She had 2 or 3 glasses of MILK!!!!

YOU DRANK WHAT???

Oh my goodness... you would have thought she had just confessed to smoking pot with her friends!!! I couldn't believe she would put that stuff in her little body! I was horrified!!!

I'll make the very long version of this story much shorter...

We obviously had three issues:

1) we needed to review making healthy choices even when mommy and daddy aren't around;
2) we needed to have a frank conversation about MILK.

My daughter's eyes just about popped out of her little head when I told her that the milk she had chugged was loaded with drugs! (I had to get her attention!) We talked about the steroids, hormones and antibiotics it's loaded with.

I know she just about threw it up when she heard this!

3) finally, we needed to discuss the contradictory nature of "healthy" food. She was very confused (again) by other people in her life saying that milk is very healthy for her (her friends, other parents, teachers, etc.) and that having cookies, cake and other sweets really isn't so bad.

She looked at me, wondering why her father and I are the only two grown-ups on the planet that disagree! I told her that, unfortunately for her, this was something she'd have to get used to! I told her she could choose whatever she wanted to when she is a grown-up... but for now, it's MY responsibility to protect and enhance her health. Period.

I am absolutely certain that this is only the beginning of our healthy choice journey with our kids! I'm sure we'll be re-visiting this quite often!

Poor kid. I think she's rather have parents that own a candy store!

What Type Of Physical Activity Are We Really "Wired" For?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:45:00 +0000

Earlier this afternoon, my daughter and I took off for one of our adventure walks. It has been such a beautiful spring day here, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to spend some 'girl' time with her, as well as get some exercise in the warm sunshine.

About half way into our journey, I realized how differently a 5 year old and a grown-up approach "exercise"! For years I've read that our hunter/gatherer ancestors moved their bodies in an incredibly varied way... sometimes it was full-out running, either for food or for sake of not becoming someone's food, sometimes climbing, balancing, walking, squatting, jumping, throwing, etc.

It has been said that the average adult 'back in the day' was in the same condition as our modern day elite, Olympic decathletes. Wow, how far we've strayed from our innate movement patterns!

So today, I saw first hand how truly amazing kids are! Left to their own devices, without the distraction of a pesky television or video game, they naturally move their bodies in a much more holistic way than us fuddy-duddy grown-ups tend to.

For a solid hour, this child of mine was performing an entertaining, energetic combination of sprints, skipping, walking, throwing rocks, climbing a tree, rolling down a hill, dancing the "booty-shake", balancing on and walking effortlessly along a fallen tree, puddle jumping, more sprints and WAY more skipping!

It was some of the best and definitely the most fun interval training I've ever done! I couldn't help but think, "no wonder this kid has such a lean, toned body with hardly an ounce of fat on her!"

I think exercise programs should be designed by 5 year olds! We'd all be more carefree, definitely more fit... and we'd certainly smile a LOT more since we'd all be skipping everywhere we go!

Can You Calculate Your Real Age By The Number Of Times You Eat Out Each Week?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Check this out...

Do you enjoy eating out in restaurants? I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoy the idea of a nice dinner in a restaurant... someone else preparing it, setting the table, and doing all the dishes! Aaaahhhh, how relaxing...

BUT, it doesn't really work like that in my real life because I can't effectively come to terms with the amount of toxic, nutrient-lacking "food" served in our local restaurants. It just seems like empty, dead food. Oh sure, some of it tastes totally fabulous... but that has nothing to do with health!

I know this is very much a geographic issue as well. I'm in the wrong town... probably the wrong state to expect wholesome, pure, sufficient, fresh foods!

As I've said before, when our family is headed out to a resturant, I feel the need to plan ahead and make sure the kids and I (my husband is on his own!) have filled up with health first! We have a healthy source of protein and some fresh greens... relieves some mommy guilt!

Plenty of times, I'll pack our own purified water (especially in one particular local town where the city tap water has very high levels of arsenic) and fresh veggies for the kids to munch on while waiting for their meal. I couldn't care less about some of the glares I get from waitstaff... MY kids... their health is MY responsibility.

So, can you actually calculate your real age based upon how often you eat out? The theory, of course, would be that the more you eat out, the less healthy you are, the more accelerated your aging process would be.

Check out this Dr. Mercola link to find out how this is done... and be sure to read his comments after the article!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/04/01/can-you-calculate-your-age-by-how-often-you-eat-out.aspx

Get Your FREE DRUGS Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:18:00 +0000

I was just about to check my emails a few minutes ago. Usually, I don't even notice the banner ads along the top of the page... I purposely block them out because I can't stand being constantly inundated with marketing messages.

This time I noticed. The ad says:

"Try a prescription sleep aid to see why it's different from the rest. Click here for a FREE 7 day trial."

(pardon me... I just threw up!)

How can drugs just be given away on the internet? Especially prescription strength drugs... these are more "potent" (ie. dangerous).

Last I heard about several of these sleep drugs, they were causing all sorts of completely abnormal and scary side-effects in people... seriously strange stuff. If we're going to experiment with sleep aid drugs, shouldn't we at least do so under the supervision of a licensed doctor? (Not that that makes the drugs any safer...)

Better yet, why don't we just figure out why we're having troubles sleeping in the first place?!! Oh, that's too far-fetched, I know!

On the street, drug dealers know that if they can get us to try their drug JUST ONCE, we'll be hooked.

Apparently, drug pushing is absolutely legal on the world wide web! God help us all!

If I were a street drug pusher, I'd seriously consider getting into online marketing, just like the 'legal' drug pushers have. I'm sure they could reach more people and increase their revenue substantially.

Innate Nutritional Requirements and Food Allergies

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:14:00 +0000

The other night, I was watching a documentary about children with severe food allergies.

FIRST, I want to make it perfectly clear that I don't point the finger at any one parent or family... I fully trust that each family makes the best choices they can with the information they currently have at their disposal. I completely understand that if you knew your child could die within minutes of coming into contact with a certain food, you'd make whatever nutritional choices you were forced to make in the moment.

That being said, I sat there shaking my head in disbelief once again.

What this program demonstrated was that the nutritional decision making became heavily focused on the short term survival of these kids, rather than long term health and wellness.

I know full well that television edits the heck out of shows... but what I failed to see was any attempt to focus on BOTH short term survival AND lifetime health and wellness.

A large part of the program focused on how parents of these kids have to make an incredibly difficult decision about whether or not to even send their children with severe food allergies to school. Coming into contact with an offending allergen could be deadly. The parents have to basically inform every person dealing with their child, and sweeping changes must be made in order to insure the child's safety.

One clip showed parents in the school cafeteria with their children who have these severe allergies. It showed them walking down the line of available lunch options for the day. If the food had nuts (or been exposed to nuts) or had milk in it, the food was off-limits.

Point #1
Our innate nutritional requirements do not include peanuts or dairy anyway. Our hunter/gatherer ancestors did not consume these foods. Essentially, our genes haven't changed in 40,000 years... therefore, neither have our nutritional requirements. We still don't need these foods in order to be healthy. Perhaps that's why so many people have "allergies" to dairy and grains (gluten, wheat, etc.)... we're not genetically designed to require them in the first place. Peanuts, even the organic ones, are loaded with toxic molds and known carcinogens. No wonder so many bodies out there reject them so obviously.

OK, now this is where my head really started to shake...

When they showed what these kids finally ended up choosing in the cafeteria, with the direct assistance of their parents, the plates were filled with CRAP! At least on this program, they didn't show one, single child with any vegetables on their plate! The plates had spaghetti, french fries, pizza, potato 'tots', bread...

What on earth???

Point #2
Just because someone is labelled with a certain affliction, no matter how serious, we simply can't overlook the bigger picture. There are certain irrefutable requirements for health and wellness. We innately require Purity and Sufficiency in our nutritional choices. Toxicity and Deficiency moves us away from optimal health.

On this show, I saw "sick" children with plates full of processed foods that were toxic and deficient of nutritional value.

This is what burns my buttocks about all the labels placed on people. It seems like we end up focusing on the label at the expense of overall wellness. Can't see the forest for the trees...

At the very least, if a person's body is loudly expressing the rejection of certain foods, that individual needs to adhere to the common sense of wellness-based nutrition more than anyone - their body is already telling them it's in crisis. Ideally, we should ALL be eating this way... but that's not how our society seems to work, unfortunately.

I can't tell you how many individuals (or their parents) I've counselled that have a challenge with this. I see 'gluten-sensitive' kids munching down M&M's, Pez candies, candy canes, ice cream and cake because "it's gluten-free". I've heard more than enough folks tell me they can't eat vegetables because their doctor told them they have a digestive disorder. They'll eat a loaf of bread a day, cookies, chips, fast food and drink gallons of milk... but no veggies., "'cuz it's bad for their digestive system".

I could give you many more examples, but I'd start to cry... out of sadness AND sheer frustration!

We absolutely must remember to give the body what it needs in order to create health. Without these essentials, the body can't possibly ever fully heal and function at its optimal levels. Then you're stuck taking drugs that alter your function - but DON'T produce health.

... oh, but wait. That's a whole lot more profitable than teaching people how to make healthy choices for life, isn't it? Don't get me started!

Grain-Fed Vs. Grass-Fed

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:22:00 +0000

Yesterday, we took the kids on a field trip as we continue to celebrate our ‘staying-at-home-this-year' spring break. We made the trek over to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the day to visit the Children’s Hands-On Museum. What a blast! The kids loved it!

After the museum, we stopped by a great little local brew pub for a bite to eat. It was a great spot – plenty of healthier options on the menu, as well as some excellent micro-brews for my husband and dad to sample!

I was thrilled to see that I had the choice of broccoli, asparagus or green beans for the kids’ side dishes, as well as the usual baby carrots. I’m a happy mom when I can get some quality greens into those little bodies at a restaurant!

The menu also did a great job of highlighting the “clean” meats they use in all their dishes: the chicken was promoted as being free-range, from a local Amish farm, raised without any antibiotics, hormones, steroids, etc. Nice! The beef was also from a local farm, from cattle raised without the usual chemical cocktail.

The one thing that caught my eye about the beef description (because it stuck out like a sore thumb!), was that they proudly announced that it was exclusively grain-fed. I thought, “Now why would you go to such lengths describing how ‘clean’ the meat is, then end up feeding it grains?” Cows need grass. That’s what they naturally eat. Not grains.

Cows only eat grains when farmers provide grains as their only source of food. It’s unnatural.

Grass-fed beef is far superior to grain-fed for many reasons. Think about why farmers started feeding cows grains in the first place… it was to fatten them up. Any guesses what happens to the people who eat the grain-fed beef? Grass-fed beef is leaner. Grass-fed beef is also high in omega-3 fatty acids. Grain-fed is absolutely not.

Anyhow, the choice is clear. It just seemed like such an odd contradiction on the menu. Unbeknownst to me, our daughter was listening intently as the grown-ups were discussing this inconsistency on the menu.

Later in the evening, she wanted to play “restaurant”. As she came to our table to present the ‘featured selections of the day’, she pointed out that one of our options was “cow’s meat tacos”! I asked her if it was ‘clean’ meat and she proudly declared, “Oh, yes! We take the meat and rinse it off in pure water, then lay it out in the sun to get it all heated up and burn off the toxins!” Hilarious!

Then she was quick to add, “Oh, and before they became meat, the cows ate what they were supposed to. They didn’t eat any grains at all. They ate only grass and all green vegetables. They’re really healthy cows – you’ll like them a lot!”

Funny, funny kid! I’m not sure if she was selling me a taco or a new pet!

Interesting Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:55:00 +0000

"If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health."

~ Hippocrates
(460 B.C. - 370 B.C.)

... so what's taking us so long to follow "The Father of Medicine's" advice?!

Television and Movie Rules of the House

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:22:00 +0000

Today marks the first day of the first full week of my daughter's spring break. This is the first year we're not travelling during the break... we're home bound! That meant we had to sit down as a family and create a new set of house "agreements" to circumvent any potential 'boredom-related' troubles before they even got started. At least that's the plan!

One particular bud I wanted to nip before it even began to bloom was the notion of watching television and movies. Although, having two children wrapped up in the drama and intrigue of a great show would certainly allow me to 'accomplish' more, I also recognize the inherent dangers of getting into this pattern.

Once in awhile, if it's educational, or thought-provoking, or gets them up and moving, I don't too much mind. But there was no way I was going to let this happen with any regularity for the next 2 weeks. Nuh-uh. Our family plan is to read tons, create, color and draw, cook yummy things, go outside and play, explore, ride bikes, dance, take a few family field trips and interact with each other. No time for one-way communication from the boob tube.

I've added a link to a recent article about this subject from Dr. Mercola. The initial article discusses the negative consequences of having a television in a child's bedroom. Not an issue here. We're a one television family, and most times I think it's one television too many!

Dr. Mercola goes on to comment on television, movies and computers as they all relate to childhood development. It's a great article and certainly makes you re-think allowing the casual use of any of these modalities with our kids. The reader comments are interesting, as usual.

Here's the link:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/22/a-one-eyed-invader-in-the-bedroom.aspx

In our home, we have a few Leap Frog educational videos, some Spanish and French videos as well as yoga and dance for kids... these are the ones I'll usually approve of in my "I-can't-do-everything-I-need-to-do" mothering moments! I also let them watch Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and School House Rock (OK, that one's mostly for me!).

The kids know they can't just sit there like blobs during movie time. They get up and dance during every song, or they get up and move every 5 or so minutes if there aren't any songs. Sedentary living begins in childhood.

I can't stand "kids' shows", primarily because of all the subconscious programming of my children that the commercials attempt. If anyone's gonna' program my kids, it's going to be ME!

In my opinion, kids' shows require direct supervision from a caring, knowledegable adult. But hey - if that adult has time to sit down and watch a kid show, maybe they'd have time to read with, play with or converse with the child instead! Just a thought.

Oh relax... I'm not pointing the finger at anyone! I know how challenging it can be to set aside everything that needs to get done to pay 100% attention to your children. I also know how easy it is to turn on the tube and to 'entertain' them. We all just need to be aware of the consequences, that's all.

The Spring Break Agreements in our home regarding television and movies go something like this: not everyday; only one movie per day; read 5 books first; take your fish oil; eat healthy snacks and drink water during the movie. Oh, and be nice to your mommy and each other during the movie or it gets shut off immediately.

Now go unplug your television, read a book or run around outside!

Wow, Mom! You're SO Cool!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:43:00 +0000

A few days ago, my 5 year old daughter and I shared some "big girl" time as we went out for a long walk/jog/adventure together. She was thrilled to have me all to herself, and to finally be big enough to keep up with me during 'grown-up' exercise, as she calls it. She did great - 2 and 1/2 miles! Although, we did have to stop a few times to investigate deer tracks, walk in the mud and throw the stick for our dog!

We shared several precious moments during our adventure. One of my favorites was the conversation that caused her to see me in a whole new light... to reach a new level of understanding of each other. And it all had to do with nutrition... hard to imagine, I know!

It was such a beautiful, sunny day, that it made her think of ice cream. She said, "Wouldn't it be great to have ice cream on a day like today? I mean the organic, no hormone kind, of course." I quickly and enthusiastically added, "YEAH! The super chocolately kind with chocolate chunks and caramel... mmmmmm!!!" Her eyes got as big as saucers! I'm pretty sure she thought my body had been taken over by some intruder!

I said, "What? I love ice cream!!" She incredulously said, "You do?! No way!" I continued to explain that I most certainly do love ice cream. And cookies. And cake, muffins, Pringles, brownies, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! She was now certain I was possessed. She simply couldn't believe these words were coming out of her own mother's mouth!

Of course, I followed up with, "But just because I like how all those foods taste doesn't mean I'll eat them. That wouldn't be a very good choice for my body's health." She honestly couldn't even believe that I liked how they tasted!!! It was hilarious! A new-found respect for me was instantly born! "Wow, mom! You're SO cool! I had no idea that you actually like those junky foods!! And it's so awesome that, even though you like them, you can still say 'no thank you'! That's cool mom!"

Again, I reinforced that although I do 'like' them, the way they taste, I really dislike what they do to my body. We talked about making the healthiest choices possible, even when the taste of something makes you absolutely drool!

She commented that she thought it would be much easier for her to make healthier choices (when presented with sweets in school, at parties...), now that she knew somebody else who felt the same way about sweets as her... her super cool sweet-loving-but-healthy-choice-making MOM!

What a crack up!

"Organic" Doesn't Always Mean "Healthy"

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:34:00 +0000

This is just something I've been thinking about since my last grocery shopping adventure with my 2 year old. I'm already finding myself answering his food and nutrition questions - interrogation, is more like it - as he tries to negotiate for the foods he sees on the shelves!

I remember having the same conversation with my daughter a few times in the last couple of years, as well as countless practice members.

The conversation begins when I hear, "but it's organic, so it's OK to have it... ", or "it's organic, so it must be good for me!"

Keeping this real simple, sure... if it's organic, it's automatically less toxic to your body. BUT, just because it's organic doesn't necessarily mean that it will create health for you!

Imagine a dynamic "scale" of Health. On one end is Optimal Health. The other end is chronic illness and Death. The direction we're moving on this scale in any given day depends on the choices we make (how we eat, move, think, rest).

Pure and sufficient choices move us toward Optimal Health. Toxic and deficient ones move us toward illness and death.

I guaranatee you that if you munch down a box of organic 'oreos' or a bag of organic cheese curls, they won't do a thing to move you toward Optimal Health! I don't care how organic they are! They fit into the classification of Deficient (lacking the nutrition we innately require to create Optimal Health). Therefore, these processed, nutrient -lacking foods move you the opposite direction on the scale.

Now, if you had the choice between the organic 'oreos' and the conventional ones.... organic wins, hands down! They'll move you the wrong way on the scale, but not as much and not as quickly. I'm OK with making that choice once in awhile!

The same basic Wellness principles apply to all food choices, organic or not. REAL, God-grown food is always the healthiest choice.

Hey, I live in the real world too! I know that's not always possible and certainly not always convenient. Just know that if you choose more foods that don't even come with a label (eg. fresh produce), then you're most likely moving the right direction on the Scale of Health.

OK, gotta' go get some organic 'oreos'!

The "Deadly" Flu... or the Deadly Flu Drugs?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Mom Online) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:27:00 +0000

I'm sure that many of you already subscribe to Dr. Mercola's superb newsletter. If not, here's another excellent example of why you really should consider it... it keeps you "in the loop" with current health research, reports and events. AND it gives you the 'other' side of the story - not just the side that media presents.

Here's the link to start receiving these free newsletters:

http://www.mercola.com/forms/subscribe.htm?bid=25&aid=CD25&opt=

The story I wanted to make sure you knew about today is that of a young girl, with signs of the flu, dying shortly after being given Tylenol and sent to bed.

Please read all the way down to Dr. Mercola's comments. He makes a critically important point - how predictable it has become for events like this to serve as the catalyst for drug companies and federal agencies to push mass vaccines and drug use on us.

They take advantage of our vulnerablilty and fear resulting from a story like this one.

No one stops to ask WHY or what other factors contributed to this girl's death. Maybe a flu vaccine would have prevented this. Maybe not. I know what I believe. None of it matters to her family, by the way. None of it.

But don't push toxic chemicals on MY family because on this.

Most of us will not develop the flu in any given year. Those of us that DO develop the flu will NOT do so because we have a shortage of flu vaccine chemicals in our bodies. Many that choose to be vaccinated will still develop the flu.

Once again, I'm confused. Disappointed. Saddened. Disturbed. Ticked off.

Will we ever see an end to the lies and greed-driven "system" that runs our healthcare??? I feel sorry for our children. Imagine what it's going to be like for them.

Click here to read the article:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/18/girl-s-flu-death-happened-within-hours.aspx

By the way, remember, if you're healthy, you CAN'T "catch" the flu. The notion itself is ridiculous. It removes the burden of responsibility from many people.

To get healthy, you've got to consistently Move Well, Eat Well, Think Well and Rest Well. If you don't, you're susceptible to the flu and a whole lot more.