Vitamin D and Our Children

We have talked about the benefits of receiving daily sunlight in order to receive ample Vitamin D. Now the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending children receive an increase in Vitamin D supplements in their report on Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Apparently, our children are not receiving adequate amounts of this necessary nutrient.

Children are not exposed to sunlight as much as children in past generations. There are many reasons for this: schools removing outside recess and PE from their schedule, children home alone after school staying inside, children performing more sedentary inside activities like watching TV and playing video games, and using excessive amounts of sunscreen to avoid burning and skin cancer. This is having an impact on our children's current and future health. Lack of Vitamin D affects the immune system and is linked to Type 1 Diabetes, as well as a condition known as rickets.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending more Vitamin D supplements for infants, children and adolescents, in order to offset any future health problems. Children who live in colder climates and who have darker skin are more at risk for Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D aids the body in absorbing Calcium from foods, which is important for proper bone development.

Babies, children and adults alike would benefit from 15 minutes of sunlight per day, in order to acquire the needed amount of Vitamin D. If needed, supplements may be taken or eating foods high in Vitamin D, such as Salmon and Cod Liver Oil is helpful.

Now we have another reason to encourage our children to go outside and play, they need their daily dose of Vitamin D and its organic! Model the beneficial behavior and get outside yourself, your body will thank you by maintaining healthy bones and immune system.

Here's to your continued health!
ClearSkies

The Versatile Cucumber

The other night I had a dream about cucumbers. I was being served a huge plate of delicious, juicy sliced organic cucumbers--yes, I even dream organic! I am a huge follower of dreams, both in the sleep state and otherwise, and that being said, I pay attention when a food comes up in my dreams. Upon waking I ate sliced organic cucumbers and I dined on them again this morning.

When researching their many benefits, I was amazed at what cucumbers bring to the table in terms of health and vitamins. Cucumbers are rich in Vitamin C and have been used for centuries to bring down inflammation and fevers in the body. They have cooling properties, as well as cleansing, and work well to assist the body in ridding the skin of disorders. Naturally a diuretic, cucumbers act as a tonic to the kidneys. They can also be used to treat arthritis and gout. Drinking fresh organic cucumber juice daily works exceptionally well for those who are suffering from arthritis. The versatile cucumber will further assist those with lung and chest conditions. The digestive tract also benefits from this wonderful vegetable that hails from the squash and melon families, and individuals with ulcers, acid or heartburn will see relief when adding organic cucumber juice to their diet.

As many have seen in fashion magazines, cucumbers are also useful for bringing down inflammation in the eyes or relieving tired, strained eyes. Simply place cucumber slices over eyes, sit back and relax for a few minutes. When applied to skin, cucumber juice or fresh cucumber can also relieve sunburns. Juicing fresh organic cucumbers and drinking daily will assist the body with maintaining a healthy system. I have even heard that dried cucumber seeds will rid the body of tapeworm, good news for those who travel abroad.

For those still not sold on organic being better, here are the results of a study on the increased nutritional value of organic cucumbers as opposed to conventionally raised cucumbers. Going organic is the only way for me and my family!

Here's to your continued health and nutrition!
ClearSkies
photo compliments of: http://www.pdphoto.org/index.php
source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Natural Remedies by C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph. D.

Congress Doing Its Part

Congress has voted to ban 6 chemicals from the market in order to protect consumers from harmful toxins such as phthalates. Three of the chemicals will be permanently removed from the market place and the other three will stay removed until manufacturers can prove them to be safe. In the past, the chemicals had to be proven unsafe in order to be removed, but now it will be in the hands of the manufacturers to determine safety.

The article on this progress points out the dangers associated with the chemicals that are commonly used in plastics and the disastrous effects on consumers, especially infants and young children. Leo Trasande, a pediatrician and environmental health specialist at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, states: "We're engaged in a giant, uncontrolled experiment on America's children. Based on the evidence we have to date, a stronger approach is needed."

I read information on the dangers of these plastics ten years ago and removed all plastic toys from my home. We don't use plastic ware, plates or cups either due to the problem of the plastic leaching toxic chemicals into the food and beverages. Yes, my children actually learned how to drink out of a glass or stainless steel cup. I found wonderful websites that sell natural toys made from fibers such as wool or cotton and wood. Magic Cabin Dolls has a fantastic selection, as does Rosie Hippos. Honestly, there are so many sites now that cater to natural toys and products that are safe and well-made. For drinking bottles, we use Klean Kanteen, which are stainless steel and fabulous.

Although it has taken well over a decade for Congress to take some action, I am impressed and pleased that the effects of harmful plastics is being made public and the general public is starting to be protected. If you need more helpful suggestions to steer clear of toxins, read this article on "Nine Ways to Avoid Household Toxins".

Here's to your Health!
ClearSkies

Invisible Mothers

I came across this email and thought I would share with you all. For those who do not know, I am a single mother of three beautiful children and I am currently in graduate school to attain a Master's in Psychology. I have been under quite a bit of schoolwork lately and plan on posting more this week.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did:

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible, the invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,’ What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and
the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum
laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to
be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return
of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous
trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I
was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after
which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave
their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made
great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building
was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a
tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that
will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman
replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.
As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see
finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The
writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever
be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to
sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4
in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes
a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if
we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world
will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has
been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Here's to all the Invisible Mothers, thank you for your hard work in shaping our future!
ClearSkies

Cranberries-not just for Thanksgiving Turkey!

Cranberries pack a powerful infection fighting ingredient. Best served as a juice or cooked for a sauce or jelly, cranberries are plentiful in Vitamins A and C. They also contain significant amounts of Oxalic Acid, which aid in preventing kidney stones. Other properties of the cranberry includes: controlling asthma, improving circulatory health, treating prostate problems and aiding the urinary system. The ingredients in cranberries actually act a bactericide and change the acidity of the urine, which treats urinary tract infections. For asthma attacks, crush cranberries, boil in distilled water and skin them. Add the concoction to warm water and drink to control asthma.

Fresh organic cranberry juice is best, and a glass of cranberry juice per day will greatly benefit your health. Due to containing high levels of Oxalic Acid, cranberries should not be eaten raw. When purchasing cranberry juice, it better to pick a brand that does not contain sugar. Cranberries can also be taken in concentrate form like CranActin, which has a tasty chewable. The chewables work well for children or those who cannot handle the juice form.

I often purchase fresh, organic cranberries at my local health food store and make a lovely sauce for any poultry dish. It offers a beautiful color and flavor to our succulent dishes. I enjoy the tartness and texture of fresh cranberry sauce, so much better than the canned gelatinous mass from Grandma's turkey day table. So, go ahead and enjoy your cranberries year round, not just for the holidays!

Here's to your health!
ClearSkies

FDA Stepping Up?

Pediatricians urge the FDA to recall cold medicines for young ones, but will the FDA side with the manufacturers of cold medicines or with the recommendations of pediatricians? Apparently, no studies were ever conducted on cold medicines for children and the risks and effects on a child's immature system. The industry, of course, states they are safe, but the doctors aren't buying it and are demanding a recall. Cold medicines are a big business for manufacturers, who market to the parent's need to fix the symptoms of a cold.

Parents must educate themselves and remember that the symptoms of a cold are just that symptoms. They are the body's natural defense against an invader. Doctors recommend rest and lots of fluids for a reason. Most colds cycle out within 2 weeks without any medications. The runny nose and coughing is the body's way of purging the foreign virus and should not be stopped with medications. Symptom relief does not mean that it is beneficial or healthy for the body. It would be more beneficial to boost the immune system with Vitamin C, echinacea, astragulus, raw honey, or oil of oregano. Make sure that you follow dosages set for children which is usually 1/4 of an adult dosage. Always research the supplement before administering.

For a proactive immune builder during cold season, I give my children Ester C, Kyolic garlic tablets, acidolphilus and EFA's in the form of fish oil chewables. If the children do get sick, they stay home, rest, drink lots of water and herbal teas with raw honey and eat raw foods. It is helpful to avoid dairy and wheat as well during a cold since they tend to produce more mucous in the body.

Here's to your children's health!
ClearSkies