Sunday 31 January 2016

My New Vegan Meal Plan Program | So Buddhalicious

Sweet Potato Falafel Buddha Bowl | www.sobuddhalicious.com

Hello!! Today is a beautiful day. I’m in Mexico celebrating my birthday, the anniversary of  Sweet Potato Soul, AND the launch of my brand-new vegan meal plan program, Buddhalicous! Yes, I know how to celebrate :)

Buddhalicious isn’t just any old vegan meal plan program. It is made up of easy, delicious, and balanced Buddha bowls. Buddha bowls, one-bowl meals, have become a “top wellness trend” over the last few years because of their versatility, ease, nutrient density, and wonderful flavors. I eat a simple Buddha bowl almost daily! They take about 5-10 minutes to whip up, and are incredibly nourishing. I also love that the flavor combinations are endless, so I can’t get bored…ever! Buddha bowls are sometimes called macrobiotic bowls (or macro bowl), because they come from the Japanese zen Buddhist monk and macrobiotic traditions. Buddhalicious meal plan recipes draw inspiration from these traditions to bring you delicious wholeness and balance.

Perhaps the most exciting part about Buddhalicious is that we just launched a FREE weekend experience! I hope you’ll join in the fun. Sign up today by visiting the SoBuddhalicious website.

The post My New Vegan Meal Plan Program | So Buddhalicious appeared first on Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne.



from Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne http://sweetpotatosoul.com/2016/02/my-new-vegan-meal-plan-program-so-buddhalicious.html
via Danmeri

Sweet potatoes vs. potatoes: Which are really healthier? [Infographic]

Sweet potatoes vs. potatoes: A nutritional debate fueled by misinformation, baseless ‘superfood’ obsessions, and carbohydrate phobias. Here’s how these tubers compare — and why both deserve a place in your diet.

++++

A few years back, some crazy nutrition enthusiasts decided to figure out whether white or sweet potatoes were “healthier”.

One group compared the glycemic index and load of sweet potatoes vs. potatoes. They suggested that since white potatoes tend to be higher, they should be avoided.

Another group suggested that sweet potatoes are a vitamin A ‘superfood’, putting them way ahead of their white potato competitors.

And, of course, the carbophobes had their own take: All potatoes should be avoided because they’re too high in carbs and all those carbs will mess with your insulin regulation and cause fat gain.

Nonsense, all of it.

Both white and sweet potatoes, when eaten as part of a balanced and intentional diet, provide an fantastic array of nutrients while contributing to the satiety and deliciousness of any meal.

Download this infographic to learn more about white and sweet potatoes, and why you should consider including them in your diet.

precision_nutrition_sweet_vs_regular_potatoes

Want to share this with family, friends, and clients? Click here to download the infographic and print it out, or save it on your tablet.

For an even more comprehensive take on this topic, check out our accompanying article, “Sweet vs. regular potatoes: Which are really healthier?”.

++++

Eat, move, and live… better.

The health and fitness world can sometimes be a confusing place. But it doesn’t have to be.

Let us help you make sense of it all with this free special report.

In it you’ll learn the best eating, exercise, and lifestyle strategies — unique and personal — for you.

Click here to download the special report, for free.

The post Sweet potatoes vs. potatoes: Which are really healthier? [Infographic] appeared first on Precision Nutrition.



from Blog – Precision Nutrition http://www.precisionnutrition.com/sweet-potatoes-vs-potatoes-infographic
via Holistic Clients

On “60 Minutes,” TED Prize winner Charmian Gooch shows how easy it can be to move questionable funds into the US

Charmian Gooch's message on "60 Minutes?" “America came up as the easiest place to set up an anonymous company after Kenya. We thought it can’t be this bad. And unfortunately, it is.”

Charmian Gooch’s message on 60 Minutes: “America came up as the easiest place to set up an anonymous company after Kenya. We thought it can’t be this bad. And unfortunately, it is.”

A corruption investigator walks into a law firm and says he wants to buy a brownstone, a jet and a yacht.

This isn’t the start of a joke. It’s the premise of the latest investigation by Global Witness, the anti-corruption organization co-founded by 2014 TED Prize winner Charmian Gooch.

In an investigation revealed on last night’s 60 Minutes as well as in The New York Times, the nonprofit sent an undercover investigator into 13 prestigious law firms in New York City, posing as an adviser to a government minister in Africa and wearing a hidden camera. The investigator said that his client came from “one of the most mineral-rich countries in West Africa,” and that he wanted to buy a plane, a yacht and a brownstone. The investigator also added that “if his name would appear in connection with buying real estate here, it would look at least very, very embarrassing.”

The story was designed to red flags. And yet, lawyers from 12 of these law firms offered advice on how to hide the questionable money and make these purchases. One suggested setting up a series of shell companies: “Company A owns Company B, which is owned by Company C and D.” Another suggested setting up a bank account in either the Isle of Man, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, then coming to his firm to make the purchases. Another suggested wiring money into the escrow account of the law firm itself, to hide the minister’s identity. Another said the minister needed “a straw man,” and that if the money left his country,  “his name should not be attached. Someone else’s should be.” Yet another suggested doing a test transfer of $1 million, just to make sure the plan would work. Only one lawyer flat-out refused to offer advice, and asked the sketchy investigator to leave his office.

Global Witness contacted 50 law firms in total. Thirteen scheduled face-to-face meetings with the investigator. And twelve gave actual advice. Global Witness stresses that these meetings with the lawyers were preliminary; the firms didn’t actually take on the investigator as a client. And these lawyers didn’t actually break the law, as no money changed hands. But to Global Witness, that’s the point: should lawyers be so willing to answer these types of questions? And should moving questionable funds into the US really be that easy?

Global Witness began this investigation in 2014, just a few weeks after Charmian Gooch revealed her wish at TED2014 to end anonymous companies. Since then, the issue has gotten considerable attention around the world, but it’s still very easy to set up a company anonymously in the US. “In some states, you need less identification to set up a company than to get a library card,” says Gooch. “America comes up as the easiest place to set up an anonymous company after Kenya. We thought it can’t be this bad. And unfortunately, it is.”

Watch the 60 Minutes segment, or read The New York Times‘ take on the story. Below, check out Gooch’s TED Talks, and a TED-Ed lesson that further explains the issue of anonymous companies. And if you’d like to read the full case study on this latest investigation, head to Global Witness’ website.




from TED Blog http://blog.ted.com/ted-prize-winner-charmian-gooch-on-60-minutes/
via Sol Danmeri

One Pot American Goulash + Weekly Menu

Stuffed French Toast

Have fun with your french toast and stuff it with your favorite fruit, nut butter, and everything in between for a filling breakfast packed with nutrition.

Have fun with your French toast and stuff it with your favorite fruit, nut butter, and everything in between for a filling breakfast packed with nutrition. Growing up my sister and I were complete opposites when it came to waking up. You see, there was me who was up at the crack of dawn whistling...

Read More »

The post Stuffed French Toast appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.



from Fit Foodie Finds http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2016/01/stuffed-french-toast/
via Holistic Clients

Saturday 30 January 2016

Garlic Herb Pot Roast Recipe (Instant Pot)

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker: Review + Recipes

Instant Pot Review and Recipes 200x150

Instant Pot Review and Recipes

Over the last few years, I’ve been simplifying and reducing the tools and appliances in our kitchen and only keeping the ones we use often. In fact, our kitchen now has a simple assortment of unusual appliances and tools that we use every day. One appliance that has recently earned its place on the list is the Instant Pot.

What is an Instant Pot?

In short, it is an electric, programable, pressure cooker with a lot of extra functionality. It definitely isn’t our grandparent’s stove-top pressure cooker!

Although I’ve had one for a while, I haven’t even tried all of the uses for it yet. Our family uses it mostly as a basic pressure cooker and I now make many of my slow-cooker recipes in the Instant Pot instead (…a fast cooker?).

Instant Pot advertises that it is a single kitchen appliance that does the work of seven kitchen gadgets, including a rice-cooker, yogurt-maker, steamer and pressure cooker.

In essence, it is a fancy electric pressure cooker but it does this job exceptionally well.

Pros and Cons of Instant Pot

The Instant Pot met my criteria of being multiple use so I decided to give it a try. It has quickly become one of my favorite kitchen tools and I use it often.

Instant Pot: The Pros

All Stainless Interior: Unlike most electric pressure cookers, the Instant Pot has a fully stainless-steel interior so this is the only part that touches the food. While parts of the exterior are plastic or other materials, these do not come in contact with the food and there is no teflon or non-stick surface.

Multi-Use: As a multi-use gadget it could conceivably replace a slow-cooker, rice-cooker, saute-pan, and steamer. I’ve even had friends tell me that they now use the Instant Pot so often that they rarely use their stove and oven. I certainly can’t see the Instant Pot replacing my oven and stove, but it definitely could if I ever needed it to if one of those appliances broke.

Replace the Slow Cooker: The Instant Pot has largely replaced our slow-cooker and I’m considering even getting rid of the Crockpot completely since the Instant Pot works more quickly and often provides better results. I could see an electric pressure cooker like this one being especially helpful for anyone with a small kitchen as it could replace several other kitchen appliances.

Time Saving: This is perhaps the biggest benefit I noticed right away with the Instant Pot. It can cook a slow-cooker recipe that takes 6-8 hours in just an hour and I can even prepare a roast for dinner in about 40 minutes. This is tremendously helpful on days that we aren’t home during the day and I need to prepare a meal quickly at night (or days that I forget to defrost food until the afternoon or to put food in the slow-cooker in the morning).

Good Price Point: While the Instant Pot does cost more than most single-use kitchen appliances like slow-cookers and rice-cookers, it is cost effective if you use it to replace one or more of these other gadgets. I found mine 50% off on sale here, and it has definitely already paid for itself in space and time savings.

Programmable: This is one advantage of the Instant Pot over regular pressure cookers and most slow-cookers. Since it cooks so quickly, I sometimes don’t need to start cooking a recipe as soon as I put it in the Instant Pot but I want to have it ready to go. The Instant Pot lets you program up to 24-hours in advance and has quite a few options pre-programmed for easy use.

Energy Efficient: Like a slow-cooker the heat source is electric and built in so it doesn’t require a separate gas or electric stove and is more energy efficient. Since it is self-regulated, it is also safer, and easier to use (in my opinion).

Easy to Clean: Since the cooking bowl is all stainless-steel it is easy to clean by hand and can even be placed in the dishwasher.

Instant Pot: The Cons

The Price (Up-front): Like I said, I found the price reasonable considering the other kitchen appliances that it replaced, but it does retail for over $200 (though I found mine for under $100 here). If I’d known about this when we got married and registered for this instead of various other appliances, it definitely would’ve been a cost savings, but if, like me, you already have these other appliances, the cost can seem like a lot up front.

Learning Curve: I’ve always been a little terrified of pressure cookers since a relative once severely burned her face in a pressure-cooker accident, and while the Instant Pot seems easier to use than many pressure-cookers, it is a new style of cooking with a little bit of a learning curve. It only took me a couple of uses to get comfortable using it, but I’d recommend reading the (short) instruction manual first before using the first time. It definitely didn’t feel intuitive the first couple of times I used the Instant Pot, but it was easy to learn.

Lower PSI: Stove top pressure cookers typically operate at around 15 PSI, while electric ones, like the Instant Pot range from 10-12 PSI. This can be both an advantage and disadvantage as electric cookers have built in feedback that makes them more efficient but they do cook *slightly* slower than stove top pressure cookers. I personally prefer the electric pressure cooker because it is easier to use and doesn’t require constant monitoring, but if speed is your main concern, the Instant Pot is slightly (5-10 minutes) slower on some recipes.

Safety: The Instant Pot is much safer than most other types of pressure cookers but it is still a pressure cooker and can release steam and cause severe burns if mis-used. I’ve never had trouble with ours and wasn’t able to find any cases of someone being harmed while using it correctly, but I am still very careful using it around my kids. I make sure it is in a sturdy place in the corner/back of the counter and that there are no chairs or stools that would let kids get to it or tamper with the lid.

Instant Pot Recipes

I’m still pretty new to the Instant Pot but have been using it often because it is so simple to use. I’ve been creating my own recipes (here’s one of our current favorites!) but I’ve also tried some from other bloggers, especially when I was learning how to use the Instant Pot and wanted to make sure I didn’t mess up any meals (hint- I’ve found that it is really hard to screw up a recipe with the Instant Pot!).

Some of my Favorite Instant Pot Recipes are:

A Simplified Kitchen

I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I have a minimalist kitchen (or that I’d even try to when cooking for 7 people three times a day) but I would say that I have finally created a simplified kitchen and it works really well for our needs. In hindsight, I wish I’d known what I know now when selecting items for our wedding registry, since we’ve gotten rid of many of the items we thought we “had to have” when registering.

In the past few years, we’ve:

  • Replaced the coffee pot with a French Press
  • Ditched the vegetable and onion chopper and replaced it with… a knife
  • Replaced plastic and heavy glass dishes with stainless steel ones for the kids (dishwasher & oven safe, and unbreakable)
  • Ditched the juicer (we just make smoothies instead)
  • Replaced the multiple different types of speciality glasses with quart size multi-use mason jars
  • Got rid of the toaster, bread maker and other appliances we just never used

Most of the kitchen appliances we got as wedding gifts have broken or been donated and the ones that remain get used daily:

The Bottom Line

I bought this version of the Instant Pot (the 6-in-1) and I really like it. As I said, I got it on sale and it has more than paid for itself in time savings in the past few months. There is also a 7-in-1 version that also makes yogurt but since we make yogurt in the oven, I didn’t think this extra functionality was needed.

There is also a much-fancier bluetooth enabled version that I wouldn’t personally recommend, since we are trying to reduce our exposure to bluetooth/wi-fi but also because it doesn’t offer much extra functionality (besides being able to program from a smart phone) for the price (almost double).

I was skeptical about the Instant Pot so I put off trying it for a long time. I was surprised how much I really like it (and over 5,000 Amazon reviewers seem to agree!). In hindsight, I wish I’d tried it much earlier and can see this being my go-to wedding gift for friends in the future.

Unlike very basic kitchen tools like knives and quality pans, the Instant Pot is definitely not an absolute kitchen necessity but I would definitely recommend it to friends and family and it is becoming one of my most-used kitchen tools.

Ever tried the Instant Pot? What did you think?

Continue Reading...Instant Pot Pressure Cooker: Review + Recipes



from Blog – Wellness Mama http://wellnessmama.com/77045/instant-pot-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=instant-pot-review
via SEO Derby

Olympic Snowboarder Jamie Anderson Does Yoga To Stay Top Of Her Game And Battle Her Biggest Critic

Snowboarding isn’t new to yoga (neither is snow for that matter!), and X Games champ Jamie Anderson certainly isn’t new to yoga, either. After winning gold in the first ever Olympic slopestyle event at the 2014 Sochi Games, Anderson spoke about her affinity for yoga. “When you do it, you feel like you’re really overcoming […]

You're reading Olympic Snowboarder Jamie Anderson Does Yoga To Stay Top Of Her Game And Battle Her Biggest Critic by YogaDork. Follow YogaDork on Twitter and Facebook.



from YogaDork http://yogadork.com/2016/01/30/olympic-snowboarder-jamie-anderson-does-yoga-to-stay-top-of-her-game-and-battle-her-biggest-critic/
via SEO Totnes

Book Two Recipe: Coconut and Raspberry Mousse

The post Book Two Recipe: Coconut and Raspberry Mousse appeared first on Deliciously Ella.



from Deliciously Ella http://deliciouslyella.com/book-two-recipe-coconut-and-raspberry-mousse/
via Free Spiritual Marketing

Books to get you ready for TED2016

Blog_Books_for_TED_2016_2

 

With TED2016 quickly approaching, what better way to get ready than with a good book (or two, or three)? Before the conference starts on February 15, explore these reads by some of our speakers.

Life in the future:

Exegesis by Astro Teller. A science-fiction tale of a self-aware, artificially intelligent machine and its creator grappling with questions of existence and responsibility. Teller, who heads up X (the former Google X), kicks off TED, speaking first in Session 1.

The Girl in the Road: A Novel by Monica Byrne. A fantastical novel set in a future world, chronicling the fates of two women fleeing for freedom. Byrne, a science-fiction writer and trained scientist, speaks in Session 11.

Love of language:

The Language Hoax by John McWhorter. Does language shape how we think and perceive the world? Linguist McWhorter takes on this thesis and proposes something new: it is language that reflects culture and thought — not the other way around. He speaks in Session 4; watch his previous TED Talk.

Chineasy: The New Way to Read Chinese by ShaoLan Hsueh. An innovative language guide that turns Chinese characters into pictograms, facilitating easy recall and understanding. ShaoLan speaks during TED University. Watch her TED Talk.
Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris. The longtime New Yorker copy editor shares her three-decades-long accumulation of grammar knowledge, helping readers dodge common — and perplexing — errors. She speaks in Session 6.

Inside a mind:

Birth of a Theorem: a Mathematical Adventure by Cédric Villani. The acclaimed mathematician takes readers on a journey inside cracking physics’ Landau Damping theorem, work that led him to win the 2010 Fields Medal. Villani will speak in Session 2.

Me, Myself, and Us: The Science of Personality and the Art of Well-Being by Brian Little. Psychology professor Little unpacks decades of research in a quest to answer this key question: is personality fixed or is it ever-evolving? He will speak in Session 4.
Just for Fun: The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary by Linus Torvalds. A dedicated coder shares how — and why — he built the groundbreaking free software Linux. Torvalds speaks in Session 6.

Blog_Books_for_TED_2016

Science and Tech:

Satellite Remote Sensing for Archeology by Sarah Parcak. This year’s TED Prize winner literally wrote the textbook on how satellite remote sensing can be used in global field projects, looting prevention and site preservation. Parcak will make her bold wish in Session 5. Watch her TED Talk from TED2012.

Moonshots in Education: Launching Blended Learning in the Classroom by Esther Wojcicki. A teacher’s comprehensive guide for integrating digital and online learning into the classroom. Wojcicki speaks during TED University.

Between Earth and Sky: Our Intimate Connections to Trees by Nalini Nadkarni. A brilliant mix of photography, personal narrative and information fused into a guide about the deep connection between humanity, trees and their rich canopies. Nadkarni will speak at TED University; you can watch her previous TED Talks.

Re-think:

Don’t Go Back to School: A Handbook for Learning Anything by Kio Stark. A guide on learning, minus the school. This survey of more than 100 independent learners shows how to forgo higher education while gaining the skills you need. Stark, a novelist and writer, will speak in Session 4.

Women Who Don’t Wait in Line: Break the Mold, Lead the Way by Reshma Saujani. An honest look into why so many women are still not in top levels of corporations and government — and what we can do about it. Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, speaks in Session 6.

Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant. Packed with studies from politics, business, sports and entertainment, this guide urges readers to go against the grain to make lasting change. Grant, a psychology professor at Wharton, will speak in Session 4.

The Conservative Heart: How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America by Arthur Brooks. A provocative case for a new brand of conservatism — one that adds meaning to life through combating poverty, promoting equality and celebrating success. Brooks will speak in Session 9.

Project Rebirth: Survival and the Strength of the Human Spirit from 9/11 Survivors by Courtney E. Martin. Martin, a writer, partners with psychoanalyst Dr. Robin Stern to document how nine people, whose lives were forever changed by 9/11, move towards resilience and peace in the face of grief. This book was written in conjunction with the documentary Rebirth.  Courtney E. Martin speaks in Session 12. Watch her previous TED Talk.

Across the globe:

How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance by Parag Khanna. It’s time for a new kind of global diplomacy, one that dismantles rigid dichotomies of the past while tackling today’s most pressing problems. Khanna will speak in Session 7; you can watch his previous TED Talk.

Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think by Dalia Mogahed. This six-year Gallup Poll of the Muslim world gives voice to people left out of the conversation on increased discrimination, Islamophobia and terrorist attacks. Mogahed speaks in Session 7; you can watch her previous TED Talk.

The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change by Al Gore. A radical, comprehensive look at six forces, including economic globalization and digital communication, that are ushering in unprecedented change worldwide. Gore will speak in Session 8; watch his previous TED Talks.

Art and narrative:

Hello World: Where Design Meets Life by Alice Rawsthorn. A celebrated design critic walks through the history and impact of visionary contemporary design. Rawsthorn speaks in Session 11.

The Small Backs of Children: A Novel by Lidia Yuknavitch. A gripping novel about how an iconic photograph of a girl in war-torn Eastern Europe changes lives in unexpected ways. Yuknavitch speaks in Session 9.

Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom by Stephen Wilkes. A photographer’s five-year study of an abandoned Ellis Island hospital, where overgrown vines and trees burst through the floorboards. Wilkes will speak in Session 12.

Moving memoirs:

Year of Yes: How to Dance it out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes. In a memoir, this TV powerhouse shares how a year of saying “yes” to everything that scarred allowed her to fully embrace life — and how you can do the same. Shonda Rhimes will speak in Session 1.

Last Night on Earth by Bill T. Jones. A dance icon shares a meditative, stunning memoir that tracks his signature blend of art and activism throughout the decades. Bill T. Jones speaks in Session 1; watch his breathtaking improvisation from TED2015.

Even This I Get to Experience by Norman Lear. The Hollywood heavyweight who created All in the Family, Good Times and The Jeffersons shares his memoir, capturing the life lessons that shaped his legendary career. Lear will speak in Session 5.

 

TED2016 happens February 15-19, 2016, in Vancouver, Canada. Check the TED Blog and the @TEDNews twitter feed for live coverage.

TED2016_BooksPost_Blog




from TED Blog http://blog.ted.com/books-to-get-you-ready-for-ted2016/
via Sol Danmeri

Friday 29 January 2016

Glucola Pregnancy Glucose Test: What I Do

Pregnancy Glucose Testing 200x150

Pregnancy Glucose Testing

In my post about the pregnancy and prenatal care options I chose, I mention that I don’t take the pregnancy glucose test that requires drinking glucola (that syrupy orange or grape drink) and that I use an alternate method of testing. I’ve gotten so many questions about this that I decided it deserved its own post, especially while I am still pregnant and the topic is fresh on my mind.

IMPORTANT: Please note that I am only writing about my own personal experience with this and the decisions I made after consulting with my OB or midwife (depending on which pregnancy it was). The information in this post (or any post I write) is not medical advice in any way… I’m just sharing my experience.  Always consult with your own medical providers before making health decisions, especially during pregnancy, and make sure that you find providers who are willing to work with you to make the best decision for your pregnancy.

All that being said, here’s what I do when it comes to the pregnancy glucose test.

What is the Pregnancy Glucose Test?

This was one of the sections I found in all of the many pregnancy books I read when pregnant with my first child. Current guidelines call for a glucose challenge test somewhere between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy to test for gestational diabetes.

This test typically involves drinking a sweetened drink called Glucola that contains 50, 75, or 100 grams of sugar in different forms. In most cases, the first part of this test is an Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT) that involves drinking the 50 gram solution and having a blood test exactly one hour later to measure blood sugar. If a woman passes this test, she typically won’t be given further testing for gestational diabetes. If a woman does not pass the test, a longer test involving a higher level of glucose consumption may be used.

It is important to note that for this test, it is the amount of glucose present, not the drink itself that is important for measuring blood sugar levels.

Why Test for Gestational Diabetes?

This was one of my original questions and one that I researched in depth. I didn’t have a personal history of diabetes or even a strong family history of it, so I wondered if the test was even necessary. I found that rates of gestational diabetes (a type of glucose intolerance that occurs during pregnancy that often resolves itself once the baby arrives) had risen dramatically in recent decades.

Gestational diabetes (GD) has its fair share of risks and is very important to be aware of and proactive about if a pregnant mom has it. Estimates suggest that 5-10% of pregnant women in the US may have some level of gestational diabetes and since it can increase rates of many pregnancy and birth complications, it is important to correctly identify these women. At the same time, it is important to note that a woman’s body does naturally become slightly more glucose intolerant during pregnancy as the baby needs a steady supply (though not a large supply) of glucose for development.

Gestational diabetes can often be regulated by diet, though insulin is sometimes needed. Untreated GD can lead to serious complications like increased rate of c-section & shoulder dystocia, babies larger than they should be for their gestational age, higher rates of preeclampsia in mom and low blood sugar in baby at birth.

Certainly, gestational diabetes is a serious problem and one that I absolutely wanted to rule out in my pregnancies, I just wondered if there was a more effective way to test for it.

My Concerns with Glucola

While I agree that it is important to test for gestational diabetes, I had concerns with the glucola test itself, mainly that it contained ingredients I would not normally consume while pregnant (or ever!) and that it has a higher amount of sugar than I would consume at any one time. Most women describe this drink as tasting like an un-carbonated and syrupy orange soda. No thanks!

Glucola Ingredients

The ingredients in the pregnancy glucose test vary depending on the specific type of glucose drink consumed, but most that I was able to find a label for contain food dyes, brominated vegetable oil (BVO), dextrose from corn, and other substances that I consciously avoid.

At the very least, I was annoyed about the presence of food dyes (which give me a headache) as they are not needed for the effectiveness of the test and are merely there to make the drink look better (and hint: it doesn’t make it taste better at all!). Some women have allergies to corn and citric acid, so the glucola test is not even an option for them anyway.

The added dyes and BVO are not needed for the effectiveness of the test as there must be a specific amount of sugar and blood tested at a specific time. With my first pregnancy, there was not a dye-free and BVO-free option, although there now is (it is not commonly used yet though).

I was surprised to find that BVO (and many food dyes) are banned in other countries but still consumed here. At a time when I am extremely careful about consuming only whole, natural foods, it seemed counter-intuitive to drink something with such controversial ingredients.

I’m also well-aware of the common objections that women get when they question the ingredients in the Glucola- mainly that a woman should “be no more concerned about this than a can of soda during pregnancy” (which I don’t drink) or any other sugary or dye-containing food (which I don’t eat). Yes, at the end of the day, it is not likely that a mom or baby will have a life-threatening or even life-altering reaction to the Glucola drink, but this test may not be the most effective option either (and certainly not the most pleasant).

The Sugar Content

I also would not consume 50 grams (and certainly not 100 grams!) of processed sugar at any point during pregnancy and certainly not by itself. The test required fasting from midnight the night before the test and drinking minimal water during that time. Then, drinking what would essentially be almost my entire carbohydrate intake for an entire day in one sitting in processed form.

I questioned if this was actually a reliable way to test at all, since my body wasn’t normally dealing with these amounts of sugar. I realize that many people do consume this amount of sugar (and food dyes and dextrose) on a regular basis, but for me personally this test was not an accurate representation of the amount of sugar my body would have to handle normally.

Also, if the 50 grams of sugar was the important part of the test, why did it have to come from an artificially flavored and colored source? Couldn’t it come from another food or drink as long as it contained the same amount? Some research showed that not only was this possible, but it had already been studied. This study showed no difference in outcomes when subjects consumed 28 jelly beans instead of the glucose drink.

Bottom Line About the Glucose Drink & Test

It contains unnecessary additives for color/taste that, while not well studied in the US, have been banned in other countries. In the grand scheme of things, consuming a small amount of these ingredients in a single dose during a glucose test is probably not going to cause long-term health problems and may just result in a mom not feeling well for several hours.

Undiagnosed gestational diabetes is a potentially much bigger problem than the additives in the drink, but considering the additives are unnecessary for the effectiveness of the test, I hope that the medical community will continue to research these ingredients and develop a dye and BVO-free version.

Is the Glucose Challenge Screening Accurate?

I also had questions about the accuracy of the glucose challenge screening for the following reasons:

False Positives

There is a high rate of false positives on the 1-hour glucose challenge test. In fact 15-20% of women will test positive on this test, but only 2-5% of women will test positive on the follow-up test or be diagnosed with gestational diabetes (though a positive on the 1-hour test can be a risk factor it itself). There seems to be a higher rate of this if mom does not normally consume sugar in these amounts.

Additionally, since pregnant women are not advised to fast or restrict water at any other point of pregnancy, this may be part of the problem as the test is often done after a long period of fasting. It is also important to remember that the OGCT is simply a screening test and not a true diagnostic test. A study found sensitivity and specificity of the 1-hour glucose challenge test were 27% and 89%, respectively, with a prevalence rate of 5%.

In fact, as “The Pregnant Mathematician” points out, when the test is evaluated mathematically, there is both a high rate of false positives and false negatives in women who may actually have GD. She breaks down the math:

Let’s assume we give the same 1-hour glucose challenge test to 10,000 pregnant women. With a prevalence rate of 5%, we would expect 500 women to have GDM and 9500 not to have GDM. Of the 500 with GDM, since the sensitivity is 27%, we know 27% of 500 would screen positive, for a total of 135 women. These are women who have GDM and whose screening will come back positive. Meanwhile, of the 9500 women without GDM, since the specificity is 89%, we would expect 89% of 9500 or 8455 women to have a true negative result.

pregnancy glucose test results

According to this table, a total of 135+1045=1180 women would test positive. Of the women who get a positive result, only 135 of them really have GDM; this is the positive predictive value and, in this case, it’s 135/1180 = 11.44%.

Of the women who test negative- Out of 8820 only 8455 would actually not have GD. This gives a negative predictive value of 8455/8820 = 95.86%.

What does that all mean? If you aren’t into the math, it means that there is a decent chance that a woman who doesn’t have GD will receive a false positive and also a chance that a woman may test negative and actually have GD.

Differences Depending on When Test is Taken

Another study showed that results varied noticeably depending on when the glucose challenge test was given. Since glucose rises naturally as pregnancy advances, it is possible for a women to pass the OGCT if taken earlier (23-25 weeks) but fail if taken later in pregnancy (28-30 weeks).

Screening, Not Diagnostic

As this is just a screening test with room for error that is testing for a problem with the potential for big complications, I decided to find out if there was a more accurate alternative that could be used instead of or in addition to the 1-hour glucose challenge test.

Are There More Effective Alternatives?

Food and Drink Alternatives to Glucola

As I mentioned, there are dye-free and BVO-free alternatives to the drink, though they can be difficult to find and it seems that many doctors are not aware of them.

Some doctors provide alternatives to glucola and I have friends who (at the advice of their doctor) instead consumed things like:

  • 6 ounces organic grape juice + a banana
  • 1 cup milk + 1.5 cups cereal
  • Pancakes with 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 28 dye-free jelly beans
  • Natural soda with 50 grams total sugar
  • 16-ounces orange juice

These options are not as well-studied as the glucose drink but are often much more palatable to a pregnant mom. It is important to note that these options are not straight glucose but contain a mixture of glucose and fructose (and other starches/sugars).

Even if effective, these options will also have the same statistical problems as glucola for the screening test and may miss women who have GD or falsely identify women as positive who actually do not have GD.

Blood Sugar Monitoring

After much researching and talking to my doctor and midwives, I eventually chose what I found to be a more effective and accurate way to test my blood sugar: blood sugar monitoring.

In fact, this is considered so effective that it is part of a regular monitoring program for people who have diabetes and women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes are often required to monitor their blood glucose anyway.

At-home glucose monitoring is also used to help identify if a woman has GD after receiving a positive on the OGCT, so I skipped the screening and went straight to the diagnostic/monitoring with blood glucose testing.

Sure, the finger stick isn’t fun (though I’d argue it is more fun than drinking syrup), but it provides a much more accurate look at the body’s response to glucose on a daily basis. Additionally, this option can be easily done at home and once I received the “ok” from my doctor/midwives, I was able to get the supplies for at-home monitoring for less than the price of the OGCT with our insurance.

Here’s Why I Chose Blood Sugar Monitoring

It provided a more long-term view of what my glucose levels were doing and more insight into how individual foods affected by blood sugar on a daily basis. Additionally, it let me monitor throughout pregnancy, not just in a one-hour window at 28 weeks, and adjust my diet based on my personal readings.

In fact, after talking with my doctor, this is an option I would personally choose in addition to taking the 1-hour glucose challenge test if I was going to take it. Given the high rate of false positives and negatives on the OGCT, actually monitoring blood sugar is a more accurate way to keep an eye on blood glucose levels throughout pregnancy.

Many women who do have GD are able to manage their condition with diet alone under the guidance of a doctor and nutritionist by consuming whole foods and reducing processed carbohydrate intake. I already consume a real-food diet and limit all processed foods, so I found that monitoring my blood sugar at home was a fascinating glance into how my body handled different foods.

In fact, I was surprised to find that white rice didn’t affect my blood sugar as much as I expected, but certain fruits did.

I used this monitor and these strips because they are inexpensive and readily available, but any reliable monitor should work.

What I Did

At around the 28-week mark of pregnancy, I always tested my blood sugar for about a week at the following times:

  • Fasting reading as soon as I woke up
  • 1-hour after each meal
  • 2-hours after each meal if reading was not below 120 at 1-hour
  • Several times after purposefully consuming a really high-carb meal
  • At other times just out of curiosity, including a few times after purposefully eating about 50g sugar just to see how I would have done on the OGCT

At my doctors recommendation, these were the ranges I was looking for to make sure my blood glucose was in a healthy range:

  • Fasting blood glucose (first thing in the morning) of 86 or lower (Mine ranged from 81-85)
  • 1 hour after eating= 140 or lower (mine was always below 120)
  • 2 hours after eating= 120 or lower (mine was usually around 100)
  • 3 hours after eating= back to fasting level (yep)

There can be some variation in this, but the majority of my readings should be in these ranges. I do this at 28 weeks and 33 weeks (my preference) and also throughout the last trimester to make sure my levels are good.

Hemoglobin A1C Test

I should also note that in regular blood testing and monitoring with my doctor for my thyroid during this pregnancy, I also had my Hemoglobin A1C tested at several points. This test is run as part of the regular panel at my local lab and it is also a test used in monitoring and controlling diabetes as it measures average blood glucose over a period of 3-months. It has been used as an alternative to oral glucose testing in some patients and is routinely used for patients with regular (non gestational) diabetes. I didn’t specifically use this test as an alternative to other forms of GD testing but considered it good insurance since my levels were well within normal.

Bottom Line: My Hope for The Future of GD Testing

I share this information just as a mom who has been through it six times and not as a medical professional of any kind. Any pregnant woman should absolutely work with her doctor or midwife to determine the safest and most effective form of testing for her and her baby.

My hope is that as more women question the need for unnecessary ingredients in the glucose drink, dye and preservative free options will become more common and easy to find. Yes, the levels of dyes and preservatives in current options are pretty low, especially if it is only consumed one time, but this drink is routinely given to all pregnant women and there is absolutely no medical reason for the additives and no reason to expose unborn babies to them, no matter how small the risk!

There are also some concerns with the rates of false positives and negatives with the 1-hour oral screening test, and it is simply that: a screening test and not a diagnostic one. As I said, I don’t think that women should refuse the test and do nothing, but I have my doubts about the accuracy of the test and think that there are potentially much better options to a one-hour glance of blood glucose at 28-weeks.

I hope that more women will question the presence of these additives in the glucose drink and take a more active role in working with their healthcare providers to decide if the current OGCT is the best option for them. Many doctors and midwives seem to be open to alternative testing measures like dye-free glucola and at-home blood sugar monitoring.

My personal choice, after consulting with my own health practitioners, is to focus on a very nutrient-dense whole-food diet that contains enough protein, healthy fats and vegetables throughout my pregnancy (which is similar to the diet recommended for a woman with gestational diabetes anyway) and to test my blood glucose at home throughout pregnancy as a more accurate way of accessing my risk of GD.

I didn’t “refuse” the OGCT (as I wasn’t asked to take it) but chose a more involved method of testing and monitoring that I felt provided a more accurate picture of blood glucose levels and actual risk of gestational diabetes. (And my results were normal with all of my pregnancies and my babies ranged in weight from 6.5 to 7.5 pounds).

Did you drink the glucola? What were your results?

Pregnant and considering a natural childbirth?

Check out my friend Genevieve’s free webinar on the keys to help you achieve your best and most natural birth! This free, 45-minute class is taught Mama Natural and a registered nurse (RN) doula.

Click the image below to register!

Free Natural Childbirth Webinar - Mama Natural - relaxing baby

Continue Reading...Glucola Pregnancy Glucose Test: What I Do



from Blog – Wellness Mama http://wellnessmama.com/77012/pregnancy-glucose-test/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pregnancy-glucose-test
via SEO Derby

Family Friday (vol. 4): Daycare Enhances My Parenting

15 months Shea

As Shea currently screams bloody murder in her crib, passionately fighting nap time, I sit here and think how this isn’t the case when she’s at daycare. According to her teachers, she finishes lunch, gets cleaned up, and walks to her mat. She lays down and waits to be covered up with a blanket. She will sleep about 2 hours and wake-up rested and happy.

Since she started daycare at 3 months, I was never 100% in love with dropping off my baby for the day. She was over-stimulated and often cried. I’d pick her up only to have her in complete meltdown mode, riddled with exhaustion. I hated that I couldn’t provide a quiet time for her to sleep or just decompress during the day. A room full of screaming babies is just not my idea of fun and I know she felt the same.

However, her transition to the toddler room (12-30 months) was as smooth as could be. I can’t get her coat and shoes off fast enough. She walks into the room with her lunch bag and never looks back. I find myself standing there, blowing kisses that are never reciprocated. I find myself observing her for a few moments each morning, amazed by how well-mannered and independent she is. She will join circle time for a puzzle work (Montessori curriculum) or for reading, unprompted. She just seamlessly slides in to the activities of the classroom and I leave for work feeling a little sad that I’m clearly not missed, but over the moon that she’s so happy and engaged.

This past week, it was shared that Shea began POTTY TRAINING. What the what? I was thinking we were a solid 6 months away from any of that, but the very next day, I got a note saying Shea went potty in the potty. My parenting has got to catch up. I need to reinforce these behaviors at home, especially since she’s with me on Fridays and all weekend.

I get other little glimpses into her day-to-day activities at daycare and have witnessed her walking with her friends while they each hold on to a rope. It amazed me. When she’s with me, she refuses to walk independently and will plop herself onto the ground and cry, wanting to be held and carried. This includes walking in and out of daycare. Any pointers, parents?

Also this week, her daily report card said she loves reading a book before nap time. I think this is something new and while we’ve tried incorporating reading before bed, it’s as though we always run out of time. Between dinner and baths and LIFE, it’s 7pm (bedtime) before we know it and she’s all but begging for her crib. I need to, and want to, make time for more reading at night.

We’ll see if the whole potty thing was a fluke – I’m certainly not under the impression that my child is a bodily function prodigy, but I’m very intrigued as to how this process will pan out.

And lastly, that cute little Shea photo was from last weekend. The photographer was holding a Valentine’s Day mini shoot and so yeah, a little teaser was posted the next day for us to oogle over. I just want to nibble on those arms (that are finally no longer flailing and are folded and tucked under one side of her chin as she lays still and angelic in her crib…sleeping).

Have a wonderful weekend!

Be well,

sig4



from Prevention RD http://preventionrd.com/2016/01/family-friday-vol-4-daycare-enhances-my-parenting/
via Heart Based Marketing

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD: Calories tell you nothing, Monsanto sues California, and how to stay motivated

For the Love of Food

For the Love of Food

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup. 

This week calories tell you nothing, Monsanto sues California, and how to stay motivated.

Too busy to read them all? Try this awesome free speed reading app I just discovered to read at 300+ wpm. So neat!

Want to see all my favorite links? (There’s lots more). Be sure to follow me on Delicious. I also share links on Twitter @summertomato and the Summer Tomato Facebook page. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

What inspired you this week?



from Summer Tomato http://summertomato.com/for-the-love-of-food-calories-tell-you-nothing-monsanto-sues-california-and-how-to-stay-motivated/
via Holistic Clients

Bringing Best Practices To Yoga In Schools — An Interview With Jennifer Cohen Harper and Traci Childress (Part 1)

The Best Practices for Yoga in Schools is the first book of its kind. It was recently released by the Yoga Service Council as a guide for yoga in schools, and is the first volume in their series of Best Practices guides (next up - yoga for veterans!).

You're reading Bringing Best Practices To Yoga In Schools — An Interview With Jennifer Cohen Harper and Traci Childress (Part 1) by YogaDork. Follow YogaDork on Twitter and Facebook.



from YogaDork http://yogadork.com/2016/01/29/bringing-best-practices-to-yoga-in-schools-an-interview-with-jennifer-cohen-harper-and-traci-childress-part-1/
via SEO Totnes

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Looking for a dairy-free dessert that the whole family will love? Whip up this Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding with just a few clean ingredients and no refined sugar!

Looking for a dairy-free dessert that the whole family will love? Whip up this Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding with just a few clean ingredients and no refined sugar!  So I was in Milwaukee the other weekend and I got together with one of my favorite bloggers- Erin, from Well Plated. We have a crazy history of...

Read More »

The post Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.



from Fit Foodie Finds http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2016/01/chocolate-chia-seed-pudding/
via Holistic Clients

Thursday 28 January 2016

How to Reduce Plastic Use in the Home

How to reduce plastic use in your home with simple baby setps 200x150

How to reduce plastic use in your home with simple baby setps

As you’re reading this article, chances are you will find several plastic items within your reach, your computer or phone, a pen, maybe an old food container lingering on your desk. Today, plastic is everywhere in our lives. Light and durable, it has become an icon of convenience culture, a symbol of the on-the-go mentality that dominates our modern lives.

Yet for a substance that we interact with daily, we know surprisingly little about it and as we learn more, we become more and more aware of just how bad plastic is. Even now, with the flurry of BPA-free plastic products hitting the market, there are many concerns about plastic that have remained unaddressed.

A History of Modern Plastic

The term “plastic” refers broadly to any material that can be shaped or molded into a specific form. Before synthetic plastics were created, glass and clay were considered the primary “plastics,” alongside a few other naturally occurring substances like tree-gums and rubber.

Around 1907 however, a Belgian chemist by the name of Dr Leo Baekeland, introduced a unique substance called “Bakelite.” It was the first entirely man-made plastic material and it was created with phenol, an acid derived from coal tar. This new material was lightweight, strong, heat-resistant and all-the-rage at the time. Soon telephones, radios, kitchenware, jewelry, and children’s toys were all being manufactured using this newfangled substance.

Between the years 1929 and 1935, a slew of different synthetic-plastics were developed for use in industry. This list includes familiar substances such as polyester, PVC, and nylon, which are now used in merchandise as diverse as clothing and plumbing parts. Production of these compounds was vastly accelerated by mid-century war efforts, where quick-to-manufacture plastics were helpful for replacing other materials such as natural rubber, which was in short supply at the time.

When demand for plastic tapered at the end of World War II in 1945, companies scrambled to find other uses for their plastic surplus. Tupperware, the beloved food storage containers, were among the first all-plastic goods to hit the mass-consumer market when released in 1948.

Today, plastic has become the main packing material when it comes to food and product storage. There are many more types of plastic available now, all of which are produced in unique ways to fill assorted purposes. A classification system has been developed to identify the most common types of plastic used in household products. You may recognize this system as the tiny number and recycling symbol imprinted on the bottom of almost any plastic item you pick up at the store.

Common Plastic Classifications

  • #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) – Products: Soft drink bottles, water bottles, condiments
  • #2 high density polyethylene (HDPE) – Products: Milk and water jugs, detergent, shampoo, grocery bags, cereal box liners
  • #3 polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) – Products: Piping, shower curtains, plastic toys, table cloths, medication blister packs, wrapping films
  • #4 low density polyethylene (LDPE) – Products: Wrapping films, grocery bags, paper milk cartons, hot/cold beverage cups
  • #5 polypropylene (PP) – Products: Yogurt cups, food packaging, take-out containers, bottle caps
  • #6 polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam) – Products: Single-use cups, plates, bowls, take-out containers, meat trays
  • #7 other (can include polycarbonate or others like compostable plastics) – Products: Utensils, food storage containers

Health Concerns of Plastic

I think it is fair to say that synthetic plastics were created with a focus on industry, not on health. Over the past 50 years of plastic use, evidence has accumulated to suggest that some of the chemicals used in its manufacturing are problematic. I’ve written about this in depth before, but some of the biggest concerns are:

BPA and Alternatives

It has been well-documented that certain chemicals create hormone imbalances which produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune effects in humans. One of the most famous substances of this kind is Bisphenol A or BPA.

Research has linked long-term BPA exposure to serious conditions including birth defects and cancer. After years of campaigning, BPA is finally being removed from many plastic items. Unfortunately, recent studies are showing that the the chemicals being used to replace it are no better. Substitutes Bisphenol S and F (known as BPS and BPF) have remarkably similar structures and potencies.

One study concentrating on BPA-free plastic baby bottles and water bottles found that each item studied released detectable amounts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Some even had more dangerous activity than products containing BPA itself.

Phthalates

This group of chemicals, another class of endocrine disruptors, is used to increase the flexibility of certain plastics such as PVC. One specific compound, known as Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP, is listed as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” in the Thirteenth Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program.

Furthermore, high levels of exposure to this di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate through the use of medical tubing and other plastic devices for feeding and medicating newborn infants has been predicted to affect the development of the male reproductive system, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Manufacturers began to remove DEHP from consumer plastics about 10 years ago, but new research is suggesting that the two stand-in chemicals, DINP and DIDP, are just as harmful.

Pollution

The health of the environment is closely intertwined with our own health. As the use of plastic has increased, so has its burden on the environment.Global plastic production has doubled every 11 years since the 1950s and currently hovers around 300 million tons per year. Processing plastic uses a significant amount of resources including electricity and fossil fuels. Moreover, unlike naturally-derived products, synthetic plastics do not biodegrade. This means that once plastic items are flung down a conveyor belt and churned out into the world they remain there, unless recycled or incinerated.

Improper disposal of solid plastic waste through techniques like incineration can lead to the release of dioxins. These highly toxic chemicals have been linked to reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system and the formation of cancer. The World Health Organization has advocated for strict control over industrial and waste management processes to reduce dioxin formation.

What Can We Do?

As impactful as it would be, it is probably not realistic to say that everyone should get rid of all plastic items immediately and forever. The transition towards greener manufacturing materials will likely take time. What we can do however, is start with some simple steps to reduce the negative consequences that plastic has on the health of our families and communities. As smart consumers we can help drive the change through well-planned baby steps.

1. Opt for Reusable Alternatives

A big part of the solution is limiting the amount of plastic you bring into your home. Reusable water bottles and food storage containers are a great alternative as they do not leach questionable chemicals. Reusable stainless steel items such as plates, bowls, and containers are also non-reactive, and are 100% recyclable, light and inexpensive. Try making your own personal care items and store in mason jars or violet glassware rather than purchasing varieties that come in disposable packaging.

Over the past several years, our family has transitioned away from plastic almost completely by taking these baby steps. Our most-used and best-value plastic-free items are:

  • Stainless Steel plates: Hands down the best option I’ve found for our kids. They are lightweight, food grade stainless steel that is dishwasher safe, oven safe and unbreakable! We have enough for a whole day of use for our family. They also store very compactly.
  • Stainless Steel cups: Like the plates, I love that these are unbreakable and they are a great size for our kids. TIP: store in a low cabinet so kids can get their own water.
  • Stainless Steel bowls: Just like plates and cups, these unbreakable bowls are some of the most used items in our kitchen.
  • Stainless Steel Latch Containers: These are my favorite for freezer storage since they are non-breakable and fit a lot.
  • Glass Mason Jars: Quart and half-gallon size jars work great for storing things like soups, sauces, broth, and even leftover casseroles and sides. We also use them as drinking glasses (bonus- it is an easy way to keep track of your daily water intake!)
  • Silicon Food Storage: I love my collapsible fridge storage containers from Xtrema since they don’t take up much room in the cabinets when not in use and are easy to stack in the fridge.
  • Glass and Silicon Storage: Lifeactory makes some great all-glass food storage containers that have a silicon cover to help avoid breakage
  • Pyrex Glass Containers with Lids: These do have plastic lids but they are pretty inexpensive and some of the first containers I got when I made the switch.
  • Glasslock Oven Safe Food Storage: I also have this set and use it all the time to store almost everything
  • Other reusable items: We also have a good supply of reusable grocery bags, produce bags,  and plastic bags that we use often.
  • Bottles: Each family member has a metal or glass water bottle that we use, especially when on the go or traveling.

2. Shop Local When Possible

It can be difficult to find plastic-free packaging at major stores as even many fruits and vegetables are pre-packaged in plastic bags. Shopping locally has many advantages and is also helpful for trying to avoid plastic. Bring your own bags, baskets or containers to avoid the need for disposable plastic bags. Your local economy and our planet will thank you!

3. Source Safer Types of Plastic & Always Recycle

Check to see what types of plastic are accepted for recycling in your community. #1 PET and #2 HDPE are known for high levels of recyclability. #4 LDPE and #5 PP plastics, although not as widely recycled, are thought to leach fewer chemicals than some other varieties. Discard any scratched and worn-out plastics and never heat food in plastic containers as this increases the likelihood of chemical release.

4. Avoid Plastics in Your Clothes

Many types of synthetic fiber clothing also contain plastics and plastic chemicals. When possible, opt for natural fiber clothing (like cotton, wool, hemp, linen, etc) over synthetics like polyester, lycra, etc. If you can, choose organic clothing when possible, especially for babies and kids.

What do you do to reduce the use of plastic in your home?

Continue Reading...How to Reduce Plastic Use in the Home



from Blog – Wellness Mama http://wellnessmama.com/76990/reduce-plastic-use/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reduce-plastic-use
via SEO Derby

Mercury Toxicity, Kids & Fish Consumption

kid with salmon

I pay special attention to any research that concerns health risks to children. As a parent and a clinician, there are few things more important to me than protecting the well-being of our future generations. There’s no shortage of studies indicating that mercury is toxic to both adults and children. Thus far, however, virtually all environmental policy in the US regarding exposure to mercury (and other toxins) has been based on risk to the “average adult.” Policy makers have paid little attention to the unique risks that toxins pose to infants, children, and other vulnerable populations. This is a serious mistake because there are at least four differences between children and adults that suggest children are far more vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals:
  1. Children have greater exposures to chemicals for a given body weight. Kids drink seven times more water, eat three to four times more calories, and breathe twice as much air per pound of body weight than adults. Studies have shown that both low weight and short stature increase the toxicity of mercury and other compounds.
  2. Children’s ability to metabolize and eliminate toxic compounds is significantly lower than that of adults, because they lack the enzymes needed to break down and remove these chemicals from the body.
  3. Children’s early developmental processes are easily disrupted. We now understand that children have “windows of vulnerability” where exposures to even minute doses of toxins can disrupt organ function and cause lifelong dysfunction.
  4. Children have more time to develop chronic disease. Some diseases, like cancer and neurodegenerative conditions, can take decades to develop. This makes causality less obvious and difficult to track in studies. For example, at Minamata Bay in Japan, impaired cognition and dysfunctions in mood and behavior were found in adults who did not exhibit any clinical effects as children following developmental, early-life exposures. (1, 2, 3)

Fish consumption and mercury toxicity in kids: a growing concern?

These differences may explain the findings in a study called “Fish consumption, low-level mercury, lipids, and inflammatory markers in children.” (4) Researchers studied 100 kids in Oswego County, New York, between the ages of nine and eleven. Not surprisingly, they found that the kids who ate fish had better lipid profiles, with higher levels of HDL cholesterol and lower levels of triglycerides. This is consistent with a large body of evidence linking fish consumption with improved cardiovascular health. Less expected was the finding that the fish-eating children had a blunted cortisol response and higher levels of inflammatory markers. Cortisol is a hormone that plays a crucial role in our ability to respond to and tolerate stress. The researchers speculated that mercury from the fish increased the production of inflammatory proteins, which in turn eventually suppressed cortisol levels. This was the first study to document an association between blood mercury levels, systemic inflammation, and endocrine disruption in children.
Kids may experience toxic effects of mercury at doses lower than previously thought.
Disturbingly, these harmful effects were observed at blood mercury levels far below the current safe limit of 5.8 μg/dL established by the WHO and the US National Academy of Sciences and National Research Center. The kids in this study had an average mercury level in the blood of 0.77 μg/dL, and, with one exception, all affected kids had a mercury level below 3.27 μg/dL. This is not the first study to show that mercury can have toxic effects in children at levels that are below the current safety threshold. Researchers in Granada, Spain, found declines in cognitive function, memory, and verbal processing in preschool age children at levels below the conventional limits. (5)

Not so fast! Other studies show that kids benefit from fish consumption

After reading that last section, you might be ready to pull fish and seafood out of your children’s diet entirely. But before you do that, consider the following:
  • Fish consumption may only make up about 7 percent of the mercury levels in the body, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. (6)
  • A large body of evidence suggests that maternal consumption of seafood during pregnancy protects against mercury-associated impairments in cognitive function, attention, and behavior. (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
  • Fish and seafood contain nutrients that are vital to proper brain development in children, including the long-chain omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, selenium, zinc, and highly absorbable protein. (13)
  • Studies on the impact of public health advisories to limit fish consumption suggest that they may mask the nutritional value of fish and lead to a greater reduction in fish intake than is desirable. (14, 15)

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to fish consumption and mercury!

So far we’ve reviewed studies suggesting that mercury may be toxic in children at levels much lower than the established cutoffs, as well as studies that consistently indicate benefits from consumption of seafood by pregnant mothers and during early childhood. How do we resolve this apparent contradiction? There are two primary answers. First, mercury content is highly variable across different species of freshwater and ocean fish and shellfish. Not surprisingly, many studies suggest that consumption of seafood species that are lower in mercury (and higher in selenium) leads to better outcomes than consuming those that are higher in mercury. (16, 17, 18) Second, we now know that there are a variety of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that collectively determine susceptibility to mercury toxicity in a given individual. For example:
  • Several genes have been identified that affect the toxicokinetics of mercury. These include genes that affect mercury uptake (LAT1, LAT2, OAT1, OAT2), biotransformation (particularly glutathione-related genes like GS, GCL, GR, GPx, GGT, GST), distribution (SEPP1, GPX1, GPX4, MT1A, MT1E), and elimination (MRP1, MRP2, MDR1). (19, 20) Our current understanding is that genes account for about 30 percent of the variability observed in mercury levels in individuals with similar exposure.
  • Research indicates that polymorphisms in other genes, such as BDNF, COMT, and 5-HTTLPR can amplify the toxic effects of mercury. (21, 22, 23)
  • Epigenetic markers such as urinary porphyrin excretion, MMP-9 and MMP-2 protein levels, nitric oxide production, and low birth weight have been shown to modify the effects of mercury exposure. (24)
  • Males appear to be more adversely affected by mercury than females, possibly because of greater retention in tissues and organs and lower excretion via urine and stool. (25, 26, 27)
  • Methyl mercury, the primary form found in fish, is eliminated in the bile as a glutathione conjugate. This means that anything that affects glutathione will affect mercury clearance. A wide variety of genetic and environmental factors influence glutathione levels, including polymorphisms (aka SNPs) in glutathione-related genes, diet (glutathione itself is present in foods, as are glutathione precursor nutrients like selenium, copper, zinc, magnesium, B6, B12, folate, and vitamin E), chronic stress, chronic disease, physical activity, advanced age, toxins, and oxidative stress—to name a few!
This is just a partial list; there are many other factors, both known and likely unknown, that influence mercury’s effect on both children and adults. The important takeaway is that we can no longer simply designate a particular blood level of mercury as “harmful” or “safe.” That is far too simplistic. As the authors of a review of the genetic influences on mercury toxicity stated: These reports acknowledge that tremendous interindividual and interspecies variation exists in exposure and hazard and that complex gene-environment interactions may underlie such variation but as yet remain unresolved. With no resolution to such variability, decision-making is hampered and uncertain. (28) In other words, it’s hard for policy makers and clinicians to make recommendations about mercury exposure when there’s so much variability in how people respond to it.

What this means for your children

In the not-too-distant future, we’ll be able to run a battery of tests that quickly determine individual susceptibility to mercury (and other toxins) and make customized diet and lifestyle recommendations based on those results. In fact, we’ve been working to create a diagnostic algorithm with exactly that purpose at California Center for Functional Medicine. Unfortunately, this approach is in its infancy and we still have a lot to learn. Another challenge is that the amount of testing that is required to identify all of the factors that influence how an individual responds to mercury is extensive—and expensive. In the meantime, here are the recommendations that I can make based on my current understanding of the science:
  • Give your children seafood at least twice a week, but restrict to species that are lowest in mercury. These include anchovies, sardines, clams, North Atlantic mackerel, herring, and salmon. Conveniently, many of these species are also highest in the beneficial omega-3 fats EPA and DHA. Another option is to avoid seafood but give your children cod liver oil or fish oil. However, although the marine oils do contain EPA and DHA (and vitamins A & D in the case of cod liver oil), they do not contain other beneficial nutrients found in seafood, such as selenium, zinc, and copper. This may not be an issue if your children are eating a diet that is nutrient-dense overall (see below).
  • Have your kids avoid or significantly limit consumption of species that are higher in mercury. These include yellowfin and canned albacore tuna, Spanish and king mackerel, Chilean sea bass, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, and bigeye/ahi tuna.
  • If your children develop cavities, take them to a dentist that uses composite resin fillings instead of mercury amalgams. Dental amalgams have consistently been shown to be a source of mercury exposure in both children and adults. (29) Mercury from amalgams readily crosses the blood brain and placental barriers, where it is oxidized to inorganic mercury. Many experts in mercury toxicity believe that inorganic mercury presents a greater challenge to the body than methyl mercury from fish.
  • Feed your children a nutrient-dense diet with plenty of glutathione, selenium, copper, zinc, magnesium, B6, B12, folate, and vitamin E.
  • Ensure that your children are doing other things that support glutathione pathways, such as getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly, and minimizing exposure to other environmental toxins.
If you’re working with a functional medicine provider, another step you can take is to have your children tested to determine how much mercury they are absorbing from fish consumption. In our clinic, we prefer and use the Quicksilver Mercury Tri-Test. I recently interviewed Dr. Christopher Shade, the director of Quicksilver Scientific, about the various test methods available for mercury and the shortcomings of the “mercury challenge tests” that have been popular in the alternative medicine community. Check that out if you haven’t already. I would also recommend reading a guest post entitled “Could Mercury Toxicity Be Causing Your Symptoms?” by my staff physician, Dr. Amy Nett. This may help you to recognize potential effects of mercury exposure in your children (and yourself). I’ll continue to review new research on this topic as it is published and report back with any important developments. Happy safe fish eating!

from Chris Kresser http://chriskresser.com/mercury-toxicity-kids-fish-consumption/
via Holistic Clients