Cold and Flu help

Ok here comes the season for the colds and flu!
I think that if you are healthy, your body can fight most of anything. The key is being healthy, and staying healthy.

First, you should get what you need from real foods. Supplements should be just that, supplement. If you think that taking a pill or vitamin will always give you what you need, your fooling yourself.

I do think it is ok to increase your intake of vit C during the so called cold and flu season, but again, try to get what you need from real foods and juice.

Taking some extra zinc also helps.

Echinacea-either in tea form or capsules during an illness will give your body a boost for getting healthy.

Try this cough syrup if you need it:
1 cup Honey
1 tsp Garlic (crushed) and yes, it will not taste too good
1 tsp Elecampane root crushed (this acts as a cough suppressant)
(here is a link to see what the flower looks like)
http://images.google.com/images?q=Elecampane&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefo

1 table spoon lemon juice
2 sweet or sour cherries-crushed and juiced or 2 tbs mint for flavor

Mix all together and take 1 tsp as needed.
Remember that if your coughing and bringing up stuff, that is junk you want to continue to cough up and get out of your body. You should use a herbal mix that will help you with that. Do not try to suppress that type of cough. If your cough is not being productive, (that means your not coughing anything up) then you can suppress that type of cough.
here is another one:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Homemade-Cough-Medicine-56268

Lets talk about Vitamins and minerals!

I have always suggested that ladies take a multi vitamin. Even when your not pregnant. But first, you should be receiving your vitamins from the food you eat. A multi vitamin is a supplement, meaning it is filling in the gaps. It should not be a replacement for good nutrition. Hungry babies come out early. If your not feeding your baby healthy foods, it will effect your childs day of birth, perhaps be born early -and that is NOT a good thing ladies! If your child is born way too early it will be in the hospital for a while. Why would you do that to your baby?

So here are some of the vitamins that you need, and the amounts I suggest and where you can get them from with in your natural diet.

Vitamin A: 5,000 IU-don't over do with this one, as it can cause birth defects if you take too large amounts on a regular basis! Needed for growth and repair of the bodies tissues, for your eyes, skin, tooth and bones, helps to destroy carcinogens, helps with killing germs, . If you do not have enough, you may have rough and dry skin, skin that is scaly, you may be tired, find it hard to sleep, have dull dry hair, brittle nails, depression, and getting infections easily. Cod liver oil, liver, butter, egg yolks, whole milk, cream, yellow fruits and vegetables. Dark green fruits and vegetables.

Beta Carotene: 3000-5000 mg. This lowers heart problems. It is also important for the nerve system, helps muscles, gastrointestinal tract, hair eyes mouth and liver. If you do not have enough your skin may be dry, rough, hair may be dry or gray early, and be dull, you might be tired Kale, squash, tomatoes, broccoli, and spinach.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 50-100mg Is a brain energizer, helps metabolism, nerves, and muscle tone and growth. If you do not have enough you may experience tiredness, loss of appetite, nerve or heart issues, gastrointestinal issues. Get from natural sources such as Nutritional yeast, brown rice, meats, fish, poultry, eggs esp the yolks, nuts, legumes, whole grains, black strap molasses.
B2 (Riboflavin): 20-50 mg. important for carbohydrate and fat and protein metabolism, antibodies, cell respiration, formation of red blood cells. if you do not have enough you may experience the following: eye issues, sores in the mouth, digestive issues, skin issues. Get from eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, nutritional yeast, whole grains, black strap molasses, egg yolks, legumes.
B3 (Niacin): 25-100mg (gradually increase to 100 mg a day, as it can irritate the liver.) Restores sanity, controls cholesterol, repairs joints, important for carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Important for the skin, and digestive system, also the tongue. If you do not have enough you may have hot flashes and sweating, palpitations of the heart, headaches, bad breath, sore mouth and gums, nausea, even vomiting. Meat, poultry, dairy, nuts, seeds, peanuts, milk and rice bran.
B5 (Pantothenic acid) 25-100 mg This helps your body to release the stored energy from carbohydrates, fats and proteins, also it helps with the formation of some fats, helps with stress too. If you do not have enough, you may experience vomiting, or gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, restlessness, depression, and easily get infections. Get from nutritional yeast, eggs esp the yolks, legumes, whole grains, wheat germ and salmon.
B6 (pyridoxine) 50 mg. This is not-toxic as long as you match its dose with other B vitamins in similar amounts and with a magnesium supplement. Take B6 alone and other B vitamins later in the day. It is important for the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. helps in the formation of antibodies. If you do not have enough you may experience nervousness, muscular weakness, anemia, mouth issues, water retention (helps with sodium balance too!) and dry flaky scalp. Get from meats, whole grains, black strap molasses, wheat germ, legumes, green leafy vegetables.
B12 (cobalamin) 100-300mcg don't take alone, take with other B vitamins. This is important for normal cell building, for metabolism of carbohydrates , fats, and protein. Helps maintain healthy nerves and their function. If you do not have enough you may have pernicious anemia, problem with your nerves. Get from milk, milk products, fish, eggs, soy.
choline 25-100mg. This is a nerve builder and is important for normal function of the nerves. Helps with metabolism and transport of fats, which means helps with the liver and gall bladder. If you do not have enough, you may have a liver problem, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and gall bladder issues. Get from eggs especially the yolks, wheat germ, nutritional yeast, legumes, organ meats (although I do not recommend eating organ meats), dandelion greens, nuts, seeds, soybeans, fish, milk and milk products.
Vitamin C 500-2000mg a day. Well everyone should know this one, but just in case, vit c helps with collagen, healing, blood vessels-strengthens them, stimulates cell activity. It is sooo very important for healing! If you do not have enough, your gums may bleed easily, you may get infections easily or not heal from infections or a common cold very easy. You may have painful joints, and they may even swell. Get from dark green vegetables, lemon's and juice, red peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, citrus fruits, paprika, strawberries, cantaloupe, mustard greens.
Calcium 500-1500mg a day. Is a mineral. Helps with bones, teeth, lowers blood pressure. Helps with muscles. Helps with normal blood clotting. If you do not have enough, your bones may be soft, trouble with teeth, brittle bones, trouble sleeping, be irritable or depressed. Get from dairy, deep green vegetables, molasses, sesame seeds, sea weeds. (don't take with iron) check the pills by placing in vinegar and it should dissolve in 1/2 hour or less. If not, you are not getting a benefit from it.
Chlorine Is a mineral. regulates the acid/base balance in the body. Maintains osmotic pressure, maintains joints and tendons, stimulates production of hydrochloric acid. If you do not have enough you may experience loss of hair, teeth, problems with your digestion, and poor muscle tone. Get from table salt or sea salt (sea salt is best), sea food/meats and kelp, meats, ripe olives (I mean the real ones), rye flour.
Copper 1-2 mg a day. Is a mineral. This helps with formation of red blood cells, works with vitamin C to form elastin. If you do not have enough, you may experience general weakness, loss of hair, skin sores. Take with zinc, it is toxic at high levels. Get from seafood, nuts, legumes, molasses, and raisins.
Vitamin D 400 IU. Do not exceed. Get natural from the sunshine! Improves absorption and utilization of calcium and is needed for your bones (for the formation of bones and teeth), helps maintain the nervous system and normal heart action. If you do not have enough you may experience softening of bones and teeth, in adequate of the absorption of calcium. Get from milk, salmon, sardines, herring, egg yolks.
Vitamin E 400 IU. Prevents tears, protects red blood cells, is important for cell respiration and production, prevents blood from clotting. If you do not have enough you may have problems with your blood cells, muscles, and abnormal fat deposits in the muscles. Take with food or drink that contains fat. Vegetable oils and fats, cold pressed oils, wheat germ, molasses, sweet potatoes, leafy vegetables are best.
Folic Acid-800-2000mcg Lowers birth defects. It is for red blood cell formation, important for all cells in the body. If you do not have enough you may have anemia, poor memory, for the baby neural tube defects are a possibility. Get from Liver, kidney (again I do not recommend that you eat organ meats), beef, broccoli, kale, turnip greens, beets, corn, orange juice, dried beans and peas, root vegetables and leafy green ones.
Inositol 25-100mg Natures sleeping pill. Is important for hair growth, and they thing may be important for metabolism of fats. If you do not have enough you may have hair loss, high blood cholesterol, eczema, constipation. From fresh produce, whole grains, meat and milk, citrus fruits, nutritional yeast, molasses, nuts, lecithin.
Iron 10-30 mg a day. Is a mineral. Don't take too much. Do not take with calcium. Take with vitamin C for better absorption. Important for hemoglobin and all blood cells, If you do not have enough you may be tired, planes of skin, constipation. Get from meats, fish, kelp, liver (again I do not recommend eating organ meats), dandelion greens, nettles, wheat grass juice, yellow dock root, green leafy vegetables, kidney beans, rice, black eyed peas, parsley, tofu, black strap molasses.
Iodine. 150-175 mcg Is a mineral. Is important for preventing goiters. Regulates energy and metabolism, promotes growth. If not enough may have enlarged thyroid gland, dry skin, and dry hair, slow mentally, loss of physical energy, goiter, . Is in salt, sea food, sea salt is best form of salt.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin get from food sources. good for your eyes. Get from kale, spinach, collard greens, leafy green vegetables.
Lycopene -get this from food sources. Get from tomatoes, watermelon. good for protecting LDL from oxidizing and building up on the artery walls.
Magnesium 450-750 mg daily. Is a mineral. Balance this with calcium. Take with calcium. toxic at very high levels. A good soak in epson salts (your feet) will help you absorb what is needed. Get from sea food, whole grains, dark green vegetables, molasses, and nuts.
Manganese 2.5-5 mg Is a mineral. Get from whole grains, green leafy vegetables, nuts, eggs, esp the yolks, legumes, pineapple.

Potassium- 1875-5675mg. Is a mineral. Get amounts from your daily diet. Is important for heart muscles, nervous system and kidneys. If you do not have enough your heart may have problems, even cardiac arrest, nervous issues, irregular pulse, insomnia, poor reflexes, respiratory failure, constipation. Get from meats, almonds, mushrooms, spinach, nuts, fish, turkey, avacado, chicken breast, sirloin, cantaloupe, whole grains, dried fruits, legumes, sunflower seeds.
Quercetin 500 mg- take on an empty stomach. Promotes proper circulation. Get from apples, green peppers, onions, tomatoes and broccoli.
Zinc-15-28 mg daily. Is a mineral. Makes the membranes stronger. (good for helping to prevent early rupture of membranes) also if you do not have enough, you will increase the risk of low birth weight. This is a part of insulin, helps with digestion and metabolism of phosphorus, aids wound healing. If you do not have enough you may have growth retardation, stretch marks, irregular menses, diabetes, loss of taste and appetite, central nervous system, take longer to heal, and damage to the baby. Get from pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, nutritional yeast, wheat germ, meats, eggs, seafoods, soybeans.

Organization while the children are little...

Ok, being pregnant can make anyone tired. If you're running around chasing other children that can make you tired even if you're not pregnant! Being a mother is a full time, 24 hour a day job. A job that you usually do not get time off! Weekends means you still do the same job, and holidays-well if you celebrate them, you're actually working harder when they occur!

I raised 5 children, and what worked for me may not work for you...but I still think that if you try the following suggestions...I think they may help!
When you're a mother, you should have some kind of schedule. This means that you should not just allow the day to 'happen'. Have a plan every day.
I planned stuff out-even when I would clean certain parts of the house, when the oil needed changed in the car, tires rotated. It did not mean I would be doing all of those jobs, it just would mean a way to keep track of when they needed to be done.

I liked to keep track of this on paper/index cards. Mothers today use the computer. Either way is fine. If using the computer works for you, great, I liked having a list that I could check off the items when done, as that gave me a since of accomplishment.
Cleaning: I divided my chores into daily-weekly-monthly-yearly. To get started you will need the following: a file box; dividers listing at the top the following: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly; file index cards; and about an hour of your time. I listed on a separate piece of paper the jobs that I needed to do,including everything from dusting to painting the porch. Look carefully at the list to be sure you have not left anything out, and then beside everything on the list place how often you need to do that particular chore-everyday, weekly or what. Now transfer this information to an index card. One index card per item. This allows you to place on the card the date you did the chore. (I did not do this for daily and weekly chores) Why do this? It gives you a reference of when the oil was changed in the car, or when the windows were washed last. (sometimes they need done again, due to weather-we all know that)
If your on a tight budget, and you only purchase certain amount of cleaning products each year, it shows you a record of how many you used last year-allowing a more strict budget.
This system also works well for keeping tract of health issues. You can have a file section for the families health keeping tract of dentist appointments etc. This is just one way to get yourself organized.

Why do this? Well, for those weekly, monthly and yearly jobs I found scheduling them into my plans allowed more freedom and less stress. I knew such and such job would be done, I knew I would have the supplies together by then and I also knew that I would not schedule too much on the day I was doing those big jobs. And if the little children needed special child care on the day of the larger jobs, it allowed time for me and for the family who I would send them to for that day-for planning ahead.

Well, lets talk about how bad for you sugar is and don't try to tell me it is natural! In this country we consume so much sugar daily! I know, I use to be a pop addict drinking on the average 3 to 6 sodas a day. I loved my pepsi! Now I struggle with problems in my personal health that I can trace back to soda. Oh I know that the pop was not the only cause of my weight and diabetes, yes having PSOS is a major cause too, and doctors who refused to listen to me when I was 30 and not having periods...yes, other issues contributed too. But consuming that much sugar on a daily basis is not healthy.

The following is from the web site http://www.mercola.com/article/sugar/dangers_of_sugar.htm
and I suggest that you sign up for their free newsletters and begin to make a change in your life!
Go ahead and check out their web site for the full article.

Basically the article list the following problems with consuming too much sugar: (I have listed all that apply to problems that can effect your pregnancy-there are many more listed on the site)

1. Sugar can suppress your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease.^1,2
   

2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in your body: causes chromium and copper deficiencies and interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium. ^3,4,5,6
   

3. Sugar can produce a significant rise in total cholesterol, triglycerides and bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol.^9,10,11,12
   

4. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function.¹³
   

5. Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, biliary tract, lung, gallbladder and stomach.^{14,15,16,17,18,19,20}
   

6. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose and can cause reactive hypoglycemia.^21,22
   

7. Sugar can weaken eyesight.²³
   

8. Sugar can cause many problems with the gastrointestinal tract including: an acidic digestive tract, indigestion, malabsorption in patients with functional bowel disease, increased risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.^{24,25,26,27,28}
   

9. Sugar can cause your saliva to become acidic, tooth decay, and periodontal disease.^31,32,33
   

10. Sugar contributes to obesity.³⁴
    

11. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections)³⁸
    

12. Sugar can cause gallstones.³⁹
    

13. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.⁴¹

14. Sugar can cause varicose veins.⁴²
    

15. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.⁴³

16. Sugar can cause a decrease in your insulin sensitivity thereby causing an abnormally high insulin levels and eventually diabetes.^45,46,47
    

17. Sugar can lower your Vitamin E levels.⁴⁸

18. Sugar can increase your systolic blood pressure.⁴⁹
    

19. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs)(Sugar molecules attaching to and thereby damaging proteins in the body).⁵¹

20. Sugar can interfere with your absorption of protein.⁵²

21. Sugar causes food allergies.⁵³

22. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.⁵⁴
    

23. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.⁵⁵

24. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.^56,57

25. Sugar can impair the structure of your DNA.⁵⁸

26. Sugar can change the structure of protein and cause a permanent alteration of the way the proteins act in your body.^59,60

27. Sugar can make your skin age by changing the structure of collagen.⁶¹

28. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in your body.⁶⁵

29. Sugar lowers the ability of enzymes to function.⁶⁶

30. Sugar can increase the size of your liver by making your liver cells divide and it can increase the amount of liver fat.^68,69

31. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney such as the formation of kidney stones.^70,71

32. Sugar can damage your pancreas.⁷²

33. Sugar can increase your body's fluid retention.⁷³

34. Sugar is enemy #1 of your bowel movement.⁷⁴

35. Sugar can compromise the lining of your capillaries.⁷⁵

36. Sugar can make your tendons more brittle.⁷⁶

37. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.⁷⁷

38. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves which can alter your mind's ability to think clearly.⁸⁰

39. Sugar can cause depression.⁸¹

40. Sugar can increase your risk of gout.⁸²

41. Sugar can lead to dizziness.⁸⁸

42. Diets high in sugar will increase free radicals and oxidative stress.⁸⁹

43. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.⁹⁰

44. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration and is associated with a twofold increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.^91,92

45. Sugar is an addictive substance.⁹³

46. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.⁹⁴

47. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.⁹⁵

48. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.⁹⁶

49. Your body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.⁹⁷

50. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.⁹⁸

51. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.¹⁰⁰

52. Sugar can slow down the ability of your adrenal glands to function.¹⁰¹

53. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases.¹⁰²

54. I.V.s (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to your brain.¹⁰³

55. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.¹⁰⁵

56. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.¹⁰⁶

57. Sugar may induce cell death.¹⁰⁸

58. Sugar dehydrates newborns.¹¹⁰

59. Sugar can cause gum disease.¹¹¹

EARLY PREGNANCY NAUSEA...and HEARTBURN

In the first 3 months, some women can experience nausea. For most women, it is usually mild, and does not cause too much of a problem in their daily lives. For the few, it can disrupt their whole day, even to the point of affecting how much they eat. That can be dangerous to the little baby and to you, the mother. If you are not eating or drinking, due to nausea, you need to contact your care provider immediately!

The following things will help the 'normal' mild nausea. This information is not meant to replace your care givers advice.

Although it is called morning sickness, it can actually happen anytime of the day. Greasy foods can increase the feeling of nausea. If you are experiencing blood sugar problems, blood pressure (esp low blood pressure) problems, they can also increase the problem. Foods that are especially spicy, like Indian, Mexican, stuff like that, can also create and increase in the feelings of nausea.


The following are all things that you can try to reduce the feelings of nausea.
*Deep breathing and relaxation exercises
*Get up out of bed slowly, sit on the side of the bed for a second to see how you feel...
*Increase your vitamin B6 as a deficiency can increase the feelings of nausea
*Increase your Iron, as a deficiency can increase the feelings of nausea
*Increase the amounts of foods you eat that are high in Iron
*Go for a walk, exercise often helps
*Eat a protein snack before you go to bed at night, (not right before) to help
increase your blood sugar in the morning
*HERBS: to use as a tea: Anise, Fennel, Ginger, Mint, or Red Raspberry
*HERBS: to use as an Inhalant on a tissue or use as a massage oil: Lavender, or Ginger
*Chew on Fennel Seeds
*Slippery Elm tablets take 2 before each meal
*Papaya enzymes -take as needed
*A teaspoon of cider vinegar in a cup of warm water. (cold water can upset the stomach)

This is caused by the sphincter located above the stomach, softening during the pregnancy which is caused by the hormones your body is making. This allows food, and acid from the stomach to be 'ejected' out of the stomach, and up into your esophagus. The stomach acid, being so strong will burn. Heart burn!
You will need to eat smaller meals and eat more often. No more eating of 3 large meals, instead 'graze' through out the day, smaller portions. For some women, they find that milk, ice cream or yogurt will help the feeling of the burning. Remember to avoid spicy and greasy foods. Also, do not eat just before going to bed as lying down will often increase the problem.

This little treat can help replace your electrolytes. I call it the 'oral IV'.
1/2 cup lemon juice (from real lemons is best)
1/3 cup honey (local to your area and raw honey is best)
1/4 tsp to 1 tsp salt (sea salt is best)
1 calcium tablet, crushed to powder. (do not use bone meal or dolomite)
add enough water to make one quart. Do not use ice water as very cold water onto a stomach that is feeling ill, does not settle as well as warm water. Try to finish this is about a half an hour. this is also great for when your outside gardening in the hot sun, keeps you feeling ok, or when you or your family has the flu, it will help you feel better.

beginning blogging (again) finally!

Well, it is clear that I have not kept this blog up to date! One blog a year is not really blogging! I was just not too computer ...whats the word.....hummm...busy!

It is where you-will be able to share your birth stories with me to be placed on this blog. That is finally gonna happen!!

I will be adding information -latest studies and stuff like that. Stuff to do with childbirth, infant and child care. So stay tuned!

By the way, this is me pregnant with baby number 2 back in 1984. Thought some of you whom I have served would like to see what I looked like pregnant!