Food For Thought

Food For Thought - Recipe for the Month

Mon, 09 May 2011 07:18:10 -0700

Chlorella: Theraputic Profile- A Nutritive micro algae super food rich in chlorophyllins, proteins, anti-oxidants, vitamin B, beta carotene, and zinc. (especially toward neutralizing the Aids virus) A whole body tonic and regenerative.

Primary Use: A revitalizing drink, particularly after illness or surgery, as part of a blood building and liver suppport.

Secondary use: To accelerate tissue cell activity, especially in cases of low red blood cell count, to check and regulate heavy menstrual flow. An aid in sugar balance in cases of hypoglycemia and diabetes.

The Super Simple Guide to Healing Herbs

Mon, 09 May 2011 07:38:26 -0700

The Super Simple Guide to Healing Herbs

Article from Natural Health Magazine – October 2009

Problem: Menstrual Cramps

Solution: Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus)

Dose- Take one to two droppers of tincture in water every two hours as needed.

Proof- This Native American herb is a safe and effective alternative to ibuprofen. “Cramp bark is a uterine sedative,” says author Brigitte mars. “It reduces inflammation, relaxes spasms, and calms an overactive uterus so effectively it’s often used by midwives to halt premature labor.” Studies have shown that cramp bark has an antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle fibers like those found in the uterus and large intestine.

Problem: Hot Flashes

Solution: Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Dose- Make a tea of one tablespoon dried sage steeped in one-cup hot water 15 minute or more; strain and cool. Drink up to three cups a day. If you don’t like the taste, put the tea in a spray bottle (after it has cooled completely) and spritz it on your neck.

Proof- “Sage has been passed down from generation to generation in Western herbal tradition as the sure-fire cure for hot flashes,” explains Bastyr University’s Sheila Kingsbury, N.D. It’s such an effective astringent that it’s been approved in Germany as a treatment for excessive sweating for both men and women. “Sage was also used in Native American cultures to clear negative energy so it may help ease some of the irrational fears that can cycle through your head during menopause,” says herbalist Margi Flint.

Problem: Heavy Periods

Solution: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Dose- Take two droppers of tincture every half hour until bleeding slows

Proof- Yarrow is the go-to herb for heavy menstrual bleeding, says Gladstar. “It slows excessive bleeding, relieves pelvic congestion, reduces cramping, and flushes out the liver so estrogen and progesterone are processed more efficiently,” she says.

Problem: Anemia

Solution: Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Dose: Make a tea of one tablespoon dried nettle herb steeped in a cup of hot water for at least 30 minutes (or overnight); drink warm, three cups a day.

Proof: “Nettle tea is a rich plant-based source of iron, chlorophyll, and folic acid. It also contains vitamin K, which helps blood clot, so it’s great if you tend to get a little anemic because of heavy periods,” says Mars.

Foodology

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:54:58 -0700

Like many moms-to-be, Maria Adcock, 38, fully anticipated breastfeeding her daughter Jasmine, now 16 months. But after an emergency Caesarean section and other complications, breastfeeding didn’t come as naturally as she’d hoped. When a pal mentioned that she had only pumped, “it was like a light bulb went off,” says Adcock, who went on to happily pump and feed Jasmine breast milk exclusively for 11 months. “It was like having the best of both worlds. I was able to give my child breast milk, but also have some of the freedoms associated with formula feeding.”

Adcock is among a burgeoning group of moms who are choosing to exclusively pump. “A frequent reason for women to pump and feed breast milk instead of directly breastfeed is related to difficulties getting the baby to latch and suckle well,” says Joan Meek, M.D., editor-in-chief of American Academy of Pediatrics New Mother’s Guide To Breastfeeding. However, Meek adds, the pump is not an identical replacement for the breast. “The American Academy of Pediatrics states that direct breastfeeding is best and expressed breast milk is next best.” One reason: Some nutrients can be lost during milk storage. For example, fat and fat-soluble vitamins have a tendency to adhere to both bottles and nipples-two “middlemen” not present when a baby nurses directly on mom’s breast. “[But] the biggest drawback is the loss of the emotional component of breastfeeding and the physiologic response of both the mother and baby to being held skin-to-skin,” says Meek.

For Adcock, pumping gave her the opportunity to provide her baby with the health benefits of breast milk, and it made it easy for other family members to help feed Jasmine. “My husband could be involved in a way that would have otherwise excluded him,” says Adcock.

Of course, pumping wasn’t all bliss. “You need to bring the pump wherever you go, and you feel like a cow. I went to Hawaii for my brother’s wedding, and I had to pump on the plane. During our layover, the [electrical] outlet was by a sink. I put a shawl over me, and people were staring at me like I was crazy.”

Although her husband and family were supportive, Adcock says she faced a bevy of disapproval from moms who felt strongly that pumping was no substitute for actual breastfeeding. Support and advice from like-minded women came via online pumping groups. “It made me realize I wasn’t alone in finding a solution that allowed me to do what’s best for both my daughter and myself,” says Adcock.

While pumping exclusively wasn’t Adcock’s initial plan, she’s glad she didn’t give up on breast milk altogether. “What is breastfeeding? Ultimately it’s giving your child milk from your breast. I was able to do that for 11 months.”

Tips to Help Moms Pump:
1. To prompt milk let-down, have a picture of the baby or a blanket that smells like him nearby, especially if she isn’t around when you pump.
2. Invest in a high-quality pump. Visit medelabreastfeedingus.com/bnn to locate hospital-grade pumps available for rent in your area.
3. Hold baby close, stroke him and maintain eye contact when feeding to help maintain an emotional connection.