Sugar, Cancer, Obesity...

Does it seem to you that too many people you love are facing cancer?!? It does to me.

I grew up eating dessert on a regular basis and I didn't see any problem with it. No one in our family is overweight and they definitely seem to work off everything they consume. I equated sweets with fun treats and rewards and thought that since we were getting fat, they weren't really having any effect on us (me!). When I started to learn about the connection between sugar consumption and disease... it startled me. And yet, it made sense.

I still like sweets- evident by my birthday gifts yesterday: homemade truffles and gift wrapped chocolate bars. Yet, I'm more mindful to cut down sugar (especially processed sugar) in other areas where I can. One simple way to do this is to use 1/2 the amount that a recipe calls for; we've never missed it! Another idea is to switch from white sugar to unrefined cane sugar, coconut sugar, or sucanat.

Here is the latest article I read from Dr. Mercola; a great resource on health topics. This little paragraph was my favorite and sums it all up nicely. (There is lots more to read there if you are interested.)


From Dr. Mercola: "The main problem with sugar, and processed fructose in particular, is the fact that your liver has a very limited capacity to metabolize it. According to Dr. Robert Lustig, you can safely use about six teaspoons of added sugar per day unless you are vigorously exercising. But the average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day.
 
All that excess sugar is metabolized into body fat, and leads to all of the chronic metabolic diseases we struggle with, including cancer.
 
Four grams of sugar is equivalent to about one teaspoon, and I strongly recommend limiting your daily fructose intake to 25 grams or less from all sources, including natural ones like fruit. That equates to just over six teaspoons of sugar a day"

Full Time Dr. Mom

What should I do when my 5 year old birthday boy wakes up with a tender and swollen jaw? At The Lawyer's urging, I make this the priority of the day. (It's not that I don't love him, I'm just more of a wait-and-see kind of gal... but it was his birthday and I could hardly stand the thought of him feeling poorly- and looking like a chipmunk.)

I called our Naturopathic friend and left a message. I called the pediatrician, who asked us to come in. We loaded up and drove the 40 minutes there. When we left an hour and a half later, I had a negative strep result, a newly discovered rash (huh. didn't know that was there!), a list of dermatologists (for the other rash that we've been dealing with for three years), a tentative prescription for antibiotics, and orders for four blood draws to confirm their suspicion of MUMPS. We were also supposed to go home and have T suck on lemons to clear up any blocked salivary glands. This sounded like the best news to me, as everyone was cranky and hungry at this point and I did have lemons at home.

I was on the verge of crying as we pulled out of the parking lot. The big boys were asking, "please!" could I stop at the Honda place with all the ATVs, jet skis, and motorcycles. I drove by slowly, trying to explain that if T had mumps that we couldn't really go anywhere for NINE more days because it was contagious and probably they all would have mumps, or at least M since he hadn't been received an MMR. And I knew that it would have been an awesome birthday stop for T. . . as I tried to hold back my tears and the boys practically salivated at the windows.

By the time we got home, made, ate, and cleaned up lunch, and I read books to M, the Naturopath was returning my call. She didn't think this was mumps and she had time for me to come over right then for a quick check of T. So, we loaded up again and drove 20 minutes to her house. I cried and prayed most of the way there- for my boy, for wisdom and answers, for healing.

After an hour there, we left with the good news that this wasn't mumps. I began giving T drops under his tongue to fight off any bad bacteria and help his lymph system clear. He drank lots of water (and managed to still eat birthday tortellini, cake, and ice cream!) and we continued with the other remedies we have been using.

The great thing is that T is the most cheerful child I know. His name means cheerful. He can get second place and cheer "we almost won!" with the same gusto as the child who actually won the game. He says things don't hurt "much" and tells the pediatrician that he isn't "very itchy" even as he obviously scratches at red skin. He's so quick to smile and easy to cheer up. He has taken most everything I've given him with nary a complaint and still seems to delight in telling me, "I'm finished with my drink!"

I feel inept as a mother responsible for the health and well being of these people. Really, after three years of ineffectively dealing with his rash I wonder what else I should be doing. I would say I'm losing hope, except that I always have Hope. We are now one month in to a six month protocol to deal with Lyme's. We have seen multiple pediatricians, nautropaths, herbal practitioners, and chiropractors. I have a cupboard set aside for oils, homeopathic remedies, supplements, and tinctures. I'm learning what I can and yet always feeling that I don't know what to do or how to go about it. And this is just for ONE child. I have four other children (soon to be five!) who have their own sets of issues, from stomach aches to head aches to cuts and bruises. And I'm trying to take care of myself (especially pregnant) and also keep tabs on The Lawyer. Wearing this doctor hat is exhausting.

I think, however, that "doctor" is part of my calling as a mother. I'm responsible to know (to notice!) what is going on with our children, to find solutions and bring relief and comfort. I often find that I don't have answers or that I'm out of something that might be helpful and don't think I can afford to buy anything else this month. And these times, and times like yesterday when I am crying in weariness and desperation, I call upon the Lord.

I'm so thankful for His names. I find comfort in calling on Him:
I call on Elohim (T's Creator).
I call on El Roi (God Who Sees; who can see T's inmost parts and all that mystifies me).
I call on Ezer (LORD our Helper; to help those who are helping me and to help T and I through this).
I call on Jehovah Jireh (The LORD Will Provide; for answers and wisdom and all that we need).
I call on El Elyon (Soverign Over All; who is over every minute bacteria and virus and every cell and system).
And lastly, I call on Jehovah Rapha (The LORD our Healer).

I know He hears and I know He is good and will answer according to His good will.

But I am out of answers and out of energy. After dosing every 15 minutes added to four times daily for the Lyme, added to the oil applications, the reminders to drink water. . . and the schooling and the chores and taking M to the potty, and frosting the birthday cake and, and, and. . .

To the Very Nice Doctor I Saw Today

To the Very Nice Doctor I Saw Today:
Thank you for your concern and interest in my children. I appreciated that you looked my children in the eyes and talked to them during their well-check appointment. I was glad that you weren't as distracted as I was by an 18 month old driving a truck around the floor while the 8 year old regaled you with the stories behind his various mishaps, stitches, etc. You were polite, thorough, and personable. I liked that a lot. As a bonus, we thought your office was well stocked with toys and books and the decor was the best I've ever seen in a medical practice.

You may not have noticed, however, that I was quite nervous, even sweating, as we talked about a few things. I have strong convictions about medicine and food; I'm probably not the kind of mom you want in your office. Yet, I didn't say much to you. You see, I don't like conflict and I really don't like to go against authority figures (you!). On a few issues I did raise my questions but you didn't seem to believe that I could know what I was talking about. I was tense. And we didn't agree. And I'm not sure I can come back into your office knowing how I will feel during each visit when we disagree.

You want my children to drink more cow's milk. They don't drink any right now. You are concerned for their calcium. I'm not; they eat lots of vegetables and I think calcium is more bioavailable in whole food than it is in dairy products. You think they should use calcium supplements. I will not use calcium supplements because they have been shown to actually leach calcium from the very bones they are supposed to be protecting.

You think we should fully vaccinate all of our children and ought to come in as soon as possible to push them through the process. I expressed that we did not want to proceed with the full prescribed battery of vaccines. There were a few vaccines I mentioned not wanting to give to our children. You told me that they were safe vaccines and that I ought to hedge my bets by protecting my children as soon as possible.

We have never given our family flu shots. You think we should. I expressed that the flu shot may not even protect against the flu strain that will be passed around this year. While you did agree that this may be true, you think it is still much safer to get the vaccine than to have the flu ("for a week"). If I had come to the appointment better prepared, I may have shared with you that  "the truth is that flu shots, even in the best case the industry can come up with, really only prevent the flu in 1.5 out of 100 adults." You said it was still better to get the vaccine. I said that we are putting our money and effort into nutrition and prevention.

Today I didn't come to your office armed for combat. I'm just a mom, after all, trying to do what I think is best for our family, seeking wisdom from the Lord and following my husband's leadership.  In so many ways I was pleased with our experience today. I'm not sure, however, that I can feel good about continuing a partnership with you when our values and decisions are easily dismissed and I am hesitant to divulge too much information about what we are/are not doing. In truth, I'm a little scared of you (even though you were very nice). What will you do when I fail to follow your advise?  What will I do when I need a pediatrician and can't find anyone closer/available? Maybe I'll pluck up my courage and gather up my children and compile my resources and visit you again.

The Germ Experiment

It is that time of year again, and you know what I mean. Not only is it the blessed season of Advent, but it also the season when colds, flu, and other bugs seem to come out of hiding. No one wants to be sick or to have sick kids, so it's time to take preventative measures! (I can say this because we've already been sick.)

My friend Sue is a nurse and her blog has some great, practical tips. One of them is HAND WASHING.

Now, in our home, there are about... five people who are averse to washing their hands regularly. This mama is tired of the refrain, "Did you wash your hands?". . . followed by the dubious, "Let me smell." Yes, I've been reduced to this.

ENTER... the Germ Experiment. (I confess that I read something similar on another blog one time.)

I lined up the children in the kitchen this week and explained to them that they were sick because of germs (very untechnical we are); germs that they couldn't see but which got into their bodies and made them feel awful. I gave each of them a drop of olive oil in their palm and asked them to rub their hands together. Then, I put a small pinch of cinnamon in their hands and asked them to rub them together again. Voila- cinnamon germs all over their hands. (This would have been more effective if I had one shake hands and pass the germs to the next child.) Then, I asked them to wash their hands- with water.

Nothing. Germs remain.

Then, they washed with soap and rubbed their hands while they counted to 10 (I think it's supposed to be 15). Voila- clean hands!

They seemed impressed, though it was so simple. Hopefully, I'll have to say less now that they have a picture in their minds and the memory of their physical discomfort.

Notes from Dr. Brown

Went to a wonderful nutrition lecture on Friday night and then another on Saturday morning. Dr. Matt Brown presented powerful information in a fun and persuasive manner. Here are some of my notes from Saturday (Friday night I was pacing with M and didn't take notes). This lecture was "A Message of Hope," mainly about cancer and other diseases.

"It's better to pay your grocer than your doctor."

Nutrition can prevent cancer, and significantly impacts the treatment course and the outcome.

Cancer is highly variable, runs many courses, and is often not fatal. Therefore, it is not a death sentence! (The average life expectancy for a man with prostate cancer that receives NO treatment is 10 years.)

Tissue is the Issue!

"Perhaps 10% of all cancers occur in people who have inherited genes that make them vulnerable." (Robert Weinberg) Weinberg also says (paraphrasing): If we grew thinner, exercised more, avoided diets rich in red meat, ate diets rich in fruits and vegetables. . . we would PREVENT up to 70% of all cancers.

Weinberg's comments fit in with the explanation of epigenetics. You can switch good genes on and bad genes off. This is supported by the WINS study, among others.

A great book to read on an aggressive juicing therapy is A Cancer Therapy by Max Gerson. A really good documentary on the Gerson treatment is called "Dying to have Known."

Other doctors are finding great success with treating cancer with a plant-based diet and exercise. Some of these include Mark Scholz, MD and Dean Ornish.

If an oncologist says "no antioxidents," they really mean that they don't want their patient to consume antioxidents in high dose, isolated form. There is NO controversy about eating color and variety. (JuicePlus+ is color and variety because it is the actual food and not isolated, fragmented vitamins.) Dr. Brown said, "You better eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and protect every healthy cell in your body from that chemo!"

Some powerful anti-cancer foods include: green tea, turmeric, and cumin.

When you think of foods, go from GRAIN to GREEN.

And, as my brain was swimming, Dr. Brown added, "This is more complicated than you thought!"

He is right, and yet I find it so exciting that the answers are often so simple. As more and more people around me have cancer, I'm reassured that God has also given us plants that heal (not always, not for everyone, but generally. . . it is amazing.)

Flu Shots or Nots

"Which would you rather risk experience: a week in bed, drinking hot soup, or a lifetime falling asleep at the most inopportune times; in class, during dinner, at work, in your car…

Narcolepsy, a mysterious, incurable neurological condition that causes you to suddenly fall into a deep sleep, is not something you hear about very often.

Yet Sweden and Finland recently sounded the alarm because young patients suddenly developed this abnormal sleeping disorder after being vaccinated with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine.

France, Germany and Norway have also started counting cases, and the EU has launched an investigation." (from Dr. Mercola's website)


It surprises me that Walgreens and other locations advertise flu shots as if they are a completely common, acceptable part of American culture. I guess I'm just not totally on board with that thinking. To me, it is still a shot, a vaccine, an introduction of another substance (or virus) into one's body. And do we have anything more precious than these bodies we were given to use for a time? (Temporally speaking, I don't think so.) I'm not staunchly opposed to vaccines (see other blog posts), and yet they do give me pause.

Dr. Mercola's thoughts on vaccines are interesting to me. I have a friend with narcolepsy. It is a crazy thing and has definitely impacted her life in many ways. (She shouldn't drive with her four kids in the car because she could fall asleep and crash- which has happened. Her children have to know what to do if she suddenly falls down.) If narcolepsy is a "side-effect" of a vaccine, it stops me in my tracks. Really, is the flu all that bad? (It can be!)

Instead of rushing for the vaccine, we'll emphasize strengthening our immune systems. Eating wholesome, nutritious foods and bolstering our health with the whole food supplement JuicePlus+ are key in our home. I'll have my oils on hand, too, and also some natural remedies and homeopathic remedies if/when we do get ill.

Lemon Water

Next to drinking plain purified water, drinking lemon water daily is a simple, yet important thing you can do for your health. Not only do we use fresh lemons in our water, but I love to use lemon essential oil. No buying, slicing and storing lemons; the oil is in the cupboard above my water pitcher, so it is easy to add a drop or two to the pitcher when it is filled.

Some of the benefits of lemon, found at naturalhealthezine.com are:

• lemon juice cleans your mouth
• it controls excessive bile flow
• it dislodges phlegm
• it aides in the digestive process
• lemon water helps alleviate constipation
• it helps prevent vomiting
• it helps with throat issues
• cleanses the liver and kidneys
• works as a natural skin cleanser

And Jethro Kloss reported in his book Back To Eden:

“The medicinal value of the lemon is as follows: It is an antiseptic, or is an agent that prevents sepsis [the presence of pathogenic bacteria] or putrefaction [decomposition of tissue]. It is also anti-scorbutic, a term meaning a remedy which will prevent disease and assist in cleansing the system of impurities.”

A Happy, Healthy Realization

In talking with several moms this week, it came to me that our family REALLY IS much healthier than we have been. Since adding JuicePlus nearly four years ago, and changing our diet over time to incorporate more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and much less processed food. . . we REALLY are healthier.

So far this year we have not had the flu (any of us), nor even any colds (except I had a cough for a few days). No trips to the doctor for anything. That really is amazingly good! Not only are we saving money because we are healthier, but we feel good, too! (This has led us to consider other health care options for insurance, because we just don't use the sick care system often enough to justify huge monthly expenses.)

I know this isn't just coincidental. We have seen incremental changes in our health over time because of the changes we have made. The JuicePlus research shows this to be true, as well. One published study was done on law students in FL (we can relate!) and the students eating JuicePlus were sick less often and when they were sick it didn't last as long.

What is the value of health to you? As I realize how much healthier we are today, I am filled with gratitude, not only for JuicePlus, but also for the health education that has come along with that community. I've heard it said that a healthy family is a happy family. . . and I know it to be true for us.

Excited About Elderberries!

Oh my! It may not take much to excite me these days (at least before 4 p.m.!), but I was really enthused by some articles I've been reading about the benefits of elderberries. First of all, it pleases me to praise God for His marvelous creation; how marvelous are the benefits of the plants He created! Secondly, I'm grateful for our Vineyard blend of JuicePlus+, which contains elderberries. We've been consuming this for years, and yet knowing more about elderberries only makes me more grateful that we were eating it before we knew so much (pure grace!).

So, here is some of what I've found (I'm curious to try the tincture, but I think eating Vineyard blend is the simplest way to go, especially because it is daily elderberries):

"Black Elderberry Extract Benefits:
A clinical trial during a severe flu outbreak around 1992-93 in Israel confirmed a perfect cure rate of severe flu victims there. Another study performed in Oslo, Norway more recently, around 2002, also confirmed the amazing efficacy for type A or B flu victims of several different strains. The cures mostly occurred in two days while a few were cured in three days. Tamiflu cures occur normally in 4.5 to 5 days. It took 6 days or more for the flu victims on placebos to recover.

What was used in both Israel and Norway was a Black Elderberry extract product of Israeli origin. There were no side effects from taking this inexpensive flu cure. At the end of this article there is a simple Black Elderberry extract remedy recipe. In other words, you will be empowered with making an abundant supply of this extract cure to have on hand.

Elderberry has a very high ORAC, or oxygen radical absorption capacity: over twice as much as blueberry. In addition, antioxidants called flavonoids stimulate the immune system. Other compounds in elderberry, called anthocyanins, have an anti-inflammatory effect; which would explain the effect on aches, pains, and fever.

SIMPLE ELDERBERRY TINCTURE RECIPE

1) Clean Quart Jar add 1/4 pound dried elderberries (Must be Sambucus nigra)
2) Now fill to top with vodka. Put lid on tight.
3) Store in a dark cupboard and shake once every few days.
4) Label and date your jar. Let it sit for at least 30 days before you strain it. You can use it without straining it too and it will just continue to get stronger
. Dosage: 1 teaspoon four to five times daily during infections. Otherwise once daily."

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/n...
http://www.prlog.org/10038472-elder...
http://femailhealthnews.blogspot.co...

A Note on Antimicrobial

I have been switching us over to natural cleaning products as well as skin and hair care products that are more natural and less toxic.

One of my friends was assuring me that her brand of skincare products was safe and effective and she sent me to a site that many makeup companies use to "prove" the safety of their products and the "need" to include certain chemicals in their composition. I found it interesting because you don't NEED to use chemicals to prevent bacterial growth. Thieves blend is antimicrobial, as are other essential oils, and even coconut oil (which I use in homemade toothpaste). My toothpaste has no chemicals in it and it does not mold. www.cosmeticsdatabase is still a good source for information.

This is just an encouragement that you don't need to use harsh chemicals in order to kill germs or ward off bacteria in your home. There are simple, healthier ways to do the same thing.

Here is a page from the YoungLiving website that I've found very helpful:

"Cleaning with Essential Oils

It can be daunting to live a healthier lifestyle, and one of the last areas you may think to change is your cleaning products. Most modern cleaning products require certain chemicals and surfactants (or cleansing agents) to make them work, and you should know what they are and their potential affects. It’s also important to find ways to limit your exposure to these toxins, and learn about safe, effective alternatives.

Here’s a quick run-down of some common cleaning chemicals, along with some of the many places you may see them:

* DEA (Diethanolamine)—Found in more than 600 home and personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, bubble baths, lotions, cosmetics, soaps, laundry and dishwashing detergents. Suspected of carcinogenic activity (causing or contributing to cancer) or of being potentially dangerous or hazardous to health.
* Propylene Glycol—The main ingredient found in anti-freeze; also common in shampoos, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, toothpastes, processed foods, baby wipes, and many more personal care items. Implicated in contact dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver abnormalities; can inhibit skin cell growth in human tests and can damage cell membranes causing rashes, dry skin, and surface damage.
* Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)—Industrial uses include concrete floor cleaners, engine degreasers, and car wash detergents. Also found in shampoos, liquid soaps, conditioners, cleansers, toothpaste, and children’s personal care products. SLS is found in nearly all toothpastes, and is absorbed through skin contact and retained for up to five days.
* Talc—Chemically similar to asbestos, talc has been inked to ovarian cancer. It’s found in many body and baby powders, as well as many cosmetics.
* Alcohol—Most mouthwash products have a higher alcohol content than most alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, etc). Mouthwash products with alcoholic content greater than 25 percent have been linked to cancers of the mouth, tongue, and throat. Alcohol acts as a solvent inside the mouth, making tissues more vulnerable to carcinogens.

Essential Oil Cleaning Solutions


It may not be possible or cost effective to avoid all of these chemicals in your cleaning and personal care products, but there are plenty of ways to reduce your family’s exposure to them. Using therapeutic-grade essential oils, as a natural household cleaner, is a safe, effective alternative to many store-bought cleaning products. Some of the best essential oils for cleaning include cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, thyme, spruce, lemon, lemongrass, and grapefruit."

Preparing For the Flu

Have you heard tremors of the FLU?

Families around us are getting sick and moms are asking me what to do to protect themselves this flu season. There are great alternatives to shots that can boost your family's immune systems and help them ward off and fight through sickness.

This article is the best place to start. It's titled Fuzzy Math. If you are wondering about the risk/benefit ratio of being vaccinated for the flu... this should clear things up. Mainstream media is tricky to figure out and this puts the numbers out very clearly.

We are preparing for the winter season, too. For us, this means continuing to eat our JuicePlus+. It has been proven in several studies to boost the immune system. (One of my favorite studies was done on law students in FL. Those who were eating JP+ were sick less often than those not eating JP+ and when they did get sick, it didn't last as long as the sickness did in the other students.) I know that we are protecting ourselves every day we eat well and we do even better with JuicePlus+. We are continuing to change our eating habits to include ever more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Protecting our health starts by feeding our cells properly! We keep extra JuicePlus+ on hand, too, so that if we are starting to sense something coming on (or see it going around) we can double up.

Our family has also been using essential oils more and more. I am excited about the antiviral properties found in the plants God created! I love using these natural oils instead of harsh chemical cleaners (which are toxic to my family!) and am only just scratching the surface on understanding the protective and healing power of oils. Here is just a little bit of information on Thieves from my friend, Jaime:

"The use of essential oils for medicinal purposes dates back thousands of years and more recently, through scientific study, we know the power of essential oils on airborne pathogens.

During the 14th century, the plague spread across Europe. It was estimated to have killed a third of Europe's population while spreading to Asia and the Middle East. It was also known as the "Black Death" because one of the symptoms, acral necrosis, caused skin to blacken from sub dermal hemorrhages. So terrorizing was the disease that it killed within a week, usually 3-4 days, wiping out entire families. “The pestilence was so contagious that those who touched the dead or the sick were immediately affected themselves and died".

During this time, there was a group of four thieves who were able to not only go near the dying and dead, but were able to touch them. The thieves robbed the bodies of the inflicted and did not become ill, themselves. They were caught in 1413 in Marseilles, France. When they were tried, the magistrate offered leniency if they exposed their secret to resisting the infection. The thieves disclosed a concoction of aromatic herbs, including cloves and rosemary, which they rubbed on their hands, ears, and temples in order to avoid contracting the plague.

This recipe was recreated in Young Living’s blend, Thieves®, which contains the oils of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, and rosemary. It is highly antimicrobial. When tested at Weber State University, it was found to have a 99.96% kill rate against airborne bacteria.

We have an entire arsenal of Thieves essential oil-based products to keep ourselves and our environment healthy such as Thieves Essential Oil, Thieves Cough Drops, Thieves Mouthwash, Thieves Spray, Thieves Hand Soap, Thieves Hand Sanitizer, Thieves Hand Wipes, and Thieves Household Cleaner. In addition, our new supplement, INNER DEFENSE contains the essential oils used in our Thieves blend plus Thyme and Citronella. This is a very powerful supplement for health and wellness support.

Use Thieves in your washing machine, dishwasher, wash down counters and bathrooms, diffuse in your environment, put on cotton balls and stick them in your air ducts at home or in your car. Add lemon essential oil to increase your protection against airborne pathogens."

Flu shots don't make sense to me, but availing myself of the medicines God has created DOES. I am consistently amazed by His creation.

"Early" Toilet Training

This is a post that I should put a lot of time into. There is a wealth of information out there on toilet training. I would like to cite those good articles and sources... but quite frankly, I just don't have the time nor desire to do all that work. I'm busy with other things. . . such as taking my 2 year old to the potty.

T has been wearing underwear successfully for the past 3 weeks (prior to his second birthday). Both of my bigger boys were in underwear between 18 months and 2 years and they were in underwear all of the time- day and night- with rarely a wet accident. (No accidents involving solid waste.)

Most people don't ask me about this, but they do seem surprised. My theory is that people don't really want to know HOW I do this. . . because they are not ready to put forth the effort. I'm convinced that toilet training is mostly about the parents.

I don't like changing dirty diapers (especially after the first 6 months or so). I don't like washing and folding and dealing with the cloth diapers all that much, either. And I love the feel of a little bum in my hand. So, I have incentive.

Then, I read that worldwide, most children are toilet trained by 18 months. I thought about babies in Africa and the Native Americans. I read about the steady increase in the age of children who wear diapers in the U.S.A. and its connection with the ease and availability of disposable diapers. I read the disposable diaper's package and found out that the fecal material was supposed to be dumped in the toilet before disposing of the diaper (and I didn't know anyone who was doing that)... and I thought, "WHY dump the matter there? Why not just HAVE it there and be done with it?"

I have friends who have used infant awareness (or elimination control method) with their babies. I didn't want to do that with my 3 week old babies (the mental picture was wrong for me). Then I had more children and I didn't want to take the time to do it (while the house was falling apart around me). I don't see myself as extreme, but I want to be practical and I see advantages to having my children toilet trained at a young age.

Most of the time, I think the wait for toilet training is connected with a mother who doesn't want to take the time to take the baby to the toilet. I would rather take the time to go to the toilet and save myself the diaper change. I also want going on the toilet to be NORMAL to my children. When we introduce the potty at age 3, I'm not surprised that children balk. Why, all of a sudden, are we changing things on them? They were accustomed to soiling themselves (after all, that's what we allow/train them to do). "Start as you intend to go" is a motto I love, and I think it applies well to toilet training.

So, I came up with my own strategies that seemed to work for our family. Here are some of my tips:

1)Take the baby to the potty whenever you can tell he is going to the bathroom. Then he can continue the process on the toilet. (You can tell when they are grunting and making faces!) As he is on the potty, make a sound to signify using the toilet. We make a psssss sound, like running water. This becomes a verbal cue.

2)Take the baby (I started at 6 months or so) to the potty at regular times. My children would be on the potty first thing in the morning (when I'd change a diaper anyway) and always before their bath (when the water was filling). Not only did I use a verbal cue, but I added a hand gesture.

3)Take the baby (I did this around age 1) potty whenever you would be changing their diaper. This is more often in the morning and less in the afternoon. It doesn't take too much attention to figure out how often or regularly your child needs to use the toilet. Use the verbal cue and gesture.

4)Celebrate when they use the toilet correctly! Words of praise mean a lot to a one year old and your baby LOVES when you clap for him. Later, I used the JuicePlus gummies as a (healthy) reward. Recently, I would reward T for staying dry AND for going on the potty; that seemed effective.

5)Allow the baby's bum to be diaper free sometimes. Not only is this good for air circulation for rashes or eczema, it is just healthy for the skin to breathe. It's also an opportunity to catch them in the act and use the verbal cue and practice walking to the potty.

6)Make it fun! T thinks it's fun if we RUN to the potty. So, when I see him start to fidget or grab at his shorts I make it a game: "Let's run to the potty!" or "Let's race to the potty!"

7)In general, don't ASK if they want to/need to go potty. This is a waste of time because they will (almost) always say "no." But you know, or you can guess when they need to go. Don't ask them; tell them: "It's time to go to the potty now!" I expect obedience in this as I do in all things. They don't have to actually eliminate, but they will sit on the potty when I ask them to.

Honestly, it has so much to do with the child. "They" say that girls are generally easier to train, but my L will STILL be the one to willfully choose not to use the toilet. She knew the same things as the boys knew at age 2, but had a defiant streak.

It also has everything to do with me. Can I be encouraging and excited? Do I huff and puff when there is an accident? Does it bother me to change wet clothes, or do I see the value in moving toward toilet training? Do I have the time and energy it takes to pursue toilet training? Do I have the money and energy not to toilet train? Will it bother me to get up (several times) during dinner when I hear, "Mommy, need go pee-pee!" Am I willing to even get up in the NIGHT again if that same little voice calls to me from the darkened room beside mine? Can I stay the course? (This is the question in SO MUCH of what I do!)

I tell you, it IS so rewarding and fun when your two year old wears unders. It IS so much easier and cheaper and cleaner (kind of!). I love it and it's worth it to me, and so I'm celebrating T's success.

How Do You Measure?

Trying on swimsuits is one of my least favorite things. That, and trying on jeans. That, and trying on anything in front of many mirrors. It is for this reason that I wear swimming suits much longer than I probably should.

At my mother's urging yesterday, I tried on a few swimming suits, looking for one to replace the suit I bought 2 years ago when I was pregnant with T. It lasted through my entire pregnancy. . . and I'm still wearing it. (Two pieces are very forgiving and this one had good elastic!)

It used to be that I was a size 10 or even a 12 in swimwear, back in my high school days. And my body shape hasn't changed all that much. Though I've had four children, my weight is not much different that it has ever been. It's dispersed a little differently, but I still have the same body type. I say this without pride or boasting; I'm just striving for an honest evaluation.

Yesterday I was trying on size 8 and 6 swimsuits. My mom wondered how I could be so skinny. . . but I know that I'm not "skinny" and that I haven't gotten slimmer in my parenting years. The only thing that has REALLY changed is that our country has gotten fatter. What used to be a 10 is now an 8 (or something like that!), and the size of the average woman has increased so much that what is "normal" is much different than it was 10 or 20 years ago. All of a sudden I am on the small end of all the sizes.

With over 60% of Americans obese or overweight, how we MEASURE is a very real concern to me.

Parting Thoughts On "In Defense of Food"

Wow. This was a great book. (Yes, it took me a long time to read it. I do have four children and not much discretionary time to read!) I would love to reprint so many good nuggets of information here for you to digest. (I'm so funny today.) BUT... it's a book, so you can read it yourself. I highly recommend it. And I was happy to see that Michael Pollan mentioned Joel Salatin at the end of the book. (I linked these two names in a previous post when I heard Mr. Salatin speak at Liberty.)

Overall, what I loved best was Mr. Pollan's defense of food as food; stripping away the nutritionism and exposing the way we look at foods (high fat, low fat, low calorie, protein, starch, etc.). Good food is just FOOD. This is so simple we miss it. It is also why so many traditional diets work so well, despite the fact that they don't follow the rules that nutritionists tell us to follow. I'm fascinated by looking at traditional diets and recognizing that God has always provided for His people. He provided different things for different people, but He sustained them well. (Eskimos eat whale and are healthy; Japanese eat sushi and are healthy; Greeks eat goat cheeses and saturated fats and are healthy...) This is linked with Weston Price's findings.

I also enjoyed Mr. Pollan's discussion of industrialization of food. Exposing what has happened to our food sources, to our grocers and growers and processors is intensely helpful to me in shaping my views of food.

The book included a call to buy locally, to know where your food comes, to grow your own foods, to cook and to eat as a family. This is what our family has embraced.

I hear so many people lamenting that it is "so expensive" to eat healthfully. I'm not very sympathetic, for while I agree that it does cost money to eat well and that it may, in some instances, seem more expensive than choosing the cheaper, processed, on-sale food items. . . in the long run, eating healthfully is vastly less expensive. On this, Mr. Pollan states: "Is it just coincidence that as the portion of our income spent on food has declined, spending on health care has soared? In 1960 Americans spent 17.5 percent of their income on food and 5.2 percent of national income on health care. Since then, those numbers have flipped: Spending on food has fallen to 9.9 percent, while spending on health care has climbed to 16 percent of national income. I have to think that by spending a little more on healthier food we could reduce the amount we have to spend on healthcare." (p 187-188)

Mr. Pollan in his final chapter, states: "To reclaim this much control over one's food, to take it back from industry and science, is no small thing; indeed, in our time cooking from scratch and growing any of your own food qualify as subversive acts" (p. 200).

I find myself so subversive these days.

Biceps

I was dismayed to see my biceps in the graduation pictures! "Surely," I said to B, "my arms don't really look that BIG, do they?" (BIG is vastly different than strong and shapely!)

He gently reminded me of a conversation we had several weeks ago, wherein he asked the innocuous question: "Have you been lifting heavy weights?"

I have been going to the YMCA about three times a week since January. Two of the early morning classes I enjoy involve strength-training. I've always loved strength-training. Strong muscles feel so good! And I know myself enough to know that I don't have to use heavy weights to accomplish toning; just consistency. I've been noticing the effects of my gym visits, too: I feel stronger, my triceps have tightened back up, my legs feel firmer... but I hadn't noticed these BICEPS.

In retrospect I hear my husband loud and clear. I need to back off a bit. The big arm look is not for me.

DataBase for Health

Here is a better link for help with your products. I am SO excited to have access to this kind of database. This is an easier link. I looked up some of the products I'm currently using (with shock) and some alternatives I'll be switching to soon. I'd prefer not to be alarmist, but I also want to make responsible, informed decisions for our family's health... and often I feel in the dark as to what is actually IN things. This helps me.

Notes from Four Doctors

I am having a wonderful time in CA (even though it isn't sunny today!). My trip has been full and it has been refreshing and exciting and fun. I haven't laughed so much in a long time! The women I am with are such dear friends that we have had both significant conversations and serious fun.

Thursday night's Prevention Plus lecture sponsored by JuicePlus was four doctors: Dr. Bill Sears, Dr. Delia Garcia, Dr. Mitra Ray, and Dr. Rick Dubois. I took over a page of notes of things that struck me and things that I wanted to be able to share with you. Here are some of those notes:

From pediatrician Dr. Sears:
It is good to be a Fathead! Our brains are 60% fat and are MOST affected by nutrition.

Don't talk about "healthy" foods with your kids. Call them things like "grow foods" or "soccer foods" or "tall foods" or "dance foods."

Give your child an oil change. (From animal fats to plant fats)

Healthcare= Selfcare. (WE are responsible for our family's health.)

From oncologist Delia Garcia:
Obesity has replaced tobacco as our leading cause of sickness and death.

Obesity is linked to many other diseases, such as: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, sleep apnea, and depression.

Even 20% above your idea weight increases your risk of breast cancer by 70%.

Most bankruptcies in our country are because of medical costs- and most of these people had medical insurance. (I would add that our sicknesses are bankrupting us!)

From retired infectious disease doctor, Dr. Dubois:
Vitality is to be desired. Vitality encompasses health, fitness, and happiness.

From biochemist Dr. Mitra Ray
(see link at bottom of page for more from this Dr.):
Longevity: health, ripe old age, long vital life (see the vitality theme again?)

There are 195,000 plants with edible parts. Less than 300 of these are used for food. 90% of our food supply comes from just 17 plants. (I note that we are missing the kind of variety that our bodies need. And how great is our Creator for giving us all of the seed-bearing plants for food! see Genesis.)

We should consume 90% of our calories from plants.

Dare We Dairy?

Out of the blue my husband announced, "I think I have fewer sinus issues since we changed our milk-drinking habits."

Wow; I was surprised. First, because even though I've read about a connection between dairy and allergies and dairy and mucus, I was still skeptical as to whether it was having an effect on our family. Granted, I'm fairly certain I see a link between Rhyle's ear fluid and our milk consumption. (In the past year we have switched from purely cow's milk to mainly rice and almond milk.) Now B is stating that he can breathe better and has less phlegm and congestion. Really?! I guess I need to remain open to the possibility that what seemed like a minor change could have had significant implications.

Relatively Relevant Revelation

I saw my cousin Joshua today. Haven't seen him for a very long time. It was good to see him (despite the circumstances), and he looks good.

At one point today, as we walked together, Josh divulged to me something I find relevant to everyone's wellness (and this blog). I'll try to quote him, roughly:

"I used to eat hotdogs or hamburgers every day for lunch. It was quick and easy. When I stopped that I lost 20 pounds in six months."

No wonder he looks good.

Notes on Nutrition

Last week's nutrition lecture here in Lynchburg was wonderful. Sherri Ann Bennett was more than competent in conveying her important information. Here are some of the notes I took:

1 in 3 children will get cancer.
1 in 3 children will become diabetic (30% of type 2 diabetics are under age 20)
1 in 4 are obese (by 2010 it will be 1 in 2!)

Food either builds us up or tears us down.

Our stomachs are full, but our cells are starving. 70% of disease is preventable through good nutrition.

The average American consumes in one year:
756 donuts
71 pounds of chips
22 pounds of candy
37 gallons of soda
90 pounds of fat
134 pounds of sugar

Dr. Joseph Cannazarro says that "the first five years of life determine QUALITY of life." (in regards to nutrition)