Breastfeeding And The Medical Profession, Part Two

By Tiffany Holley

Let me start by briefly reiterating what I explained in my previous post of medical escapades:

I appreciate my doctors. I appreciate the medical system that got me through a variety of health issues. They know a lot about what they were trained in…

…But they do not necessarily know anything about breastfeeding.

It makes me so sad to think of all the babies that lose out on this amazing food (and relationship!) because their mother took the inappropriate advice of an ignorant (on this subject) medical practitioner.

Let me tell you some more of what I went through to learn this lesson…

Sadly, the Emergency Room visit and hospital stay I talked about last time was not the end of my troubles.

Over the next few months I underwent two outpatient procedures to treat my (newly discovered) kidney stones. The machine uses sonic waves to break up the stones from outside the body, so there is no “surgery” involved.

The first time, the doctors fought me tooth and nail about my choice for anesthesia, or lack thereof. Since I am unable to pump (physiologically), their advice to pump and discard my milk for 24 hours after the procedure was simply not an option.

I talked to my La Leche League leader, and consulted my copy of Dr. Hale’s book, but all they could do was confirm that the medications in question were not recommended. Nobody was able to offer an alternative.

So I opted to have a spinal block, but no intravenous sedation.

Although I was warned that it would be painful, their primary concern seemed to be that the thumping noise of the machine was rather loud, and the experience might be traumatic. This seemed really strange, since obviously the medical personnel involved are all in the room with this noise – presumably several times a day!

Over the week between talking to the anesthesiologist and having the procedure, several people from the hospital called me, trying again to talk me into breastfeeding-incompatible sedation. It was exhausting!

In all those conversations, no alternatives were offered – and believe me, I asked everyone!

My choice was either to suffer and be traumatized, or give my baby formula for 24 hours, with the possible consequences to our nursing relationship. I would also risk engorgement and other consequences due to my inability to pump out the accumulated milk. And how would the medicine even get out in 24 hours, since I couldn’t pump enough to “flush it through”? Nobody had an answer.

As a concession to their concern about traumatic noise, I brought earplugs… And the staff in the treatment room all laughed that such a big issue had been made about it.

There were some challenges with the spinal that had me bleeding and in tears before the procedure even started, and it seemed clear would lead to a post-op “spinal headache” as well.

The noise was just annoying. I lay on the table and cried during the entire procedure, however, as the spinal immobilized my legs but “did not come up high enough” to numb the pain in my kidney area.

I managed to hold my torso still, but the doctor and technician still felt they could not work as aggressively as they would have if I was unconscious. There was already a plan for a second procedure, but this cast the unpleasant possibility of a third session being needed.

Later I learned that my husband had spent the whole time walking the halls with an inconsolable screaming baby. (The wild advice he got from passers-by, nurses and patients alike, is probably worthy of a post in itself!)

Having had only the spinal, I was able to nurse Mr. Big Baby in recovery, but it was quite a while before we were able to leave.

Needless to say, we were dreading a repeat. Medically, things made it necessary to go ahead, and we hoped that the two months in between would put the baby in a better place to cope with it.

We were much better cared for the second time, however. The anesthesiologist who happened to be there that day was actually the chief of pediatric anesthesiology for the hospital, and he was shocked when I told him what I wanted to do (and had done the previous time).

He explained that there were plenty of breastfeeding-compatible ways to sedate me! For starters, he would use the medications that they would give my child if he were the one going under anesthesia – that way if things did pass through to the milk, it would still be safe.

I was medicated, and the next thing I knew I was sitting in the recovery room with my husband and children coming around the corner.

It had gone much faster, and the baby was less upset. It had also been much more effective, as the doctor felt free to “pummel me” harder. I even got to go home sooner.

This procedure was the best of everything, for everyone. And, according to the anesthesiologist, the procedures he used were common knowledge.

So why did nobody offer those options to me the first time around? Even if they didn’t know what to do, why didn’t they ask someone when I pressed the issue?

I thought I had been diligent… I asked the doctors, nurses, and anesthesiologists for breastfeeding friendly options. I refused to take no for an answer. I stood up for my baby and our breastfeeding relationship.

But I still missed it.

I hope other moms can learn the “take away” lesson that I stumbled upon by chance. If I had it to do over again I would call an obstetric anesthesiologist and a pediatric anesthesiologist right off the bat!

If your health care provider says there is no safe option, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one – it only means they don’t know.

Have you had similar experiences with the healthcare profession not knowing about safe, breastfeeding-friendly alternatives? Please leave a comment on this post to share your experiences!

Tiffany Holley has nursed three children (currently 18 mos. – 15 years old) for a total of 8 years – and counting. She and her family live, breastfeed, urban homestead, cloth diaper, homeschool, and write in Southern Florida (but hope to remedy their location situation soon). You can read about their adventures on their blog, As For My House.

Breastfeeding And The Medical Profession – One Mom’s Story

By Tiffany Holley

I appreciate my doctors. I appreciate the medical system that got me through a variety of health issues. They know a lot about what they were trained in…

…But they do not necessarily know anything about breastfeeding.

It makes me so sad to think of all the babies that lose out on this amazing food (and relationship!) because their mother took the inappropriate advice of an ignorant (on this subject) medical practitioner.

Let me tell you what I went through to learn this lesson…

Towards the end of my pregnancy with Mr. Big Baby, I was under close observation for borderline pre-eclampsia. Somehow, still, we missed the fact that I was harboring a bladder infection – did you know they are often asymptomatic during pregnancy?

Untreated, this developed into a kidney infection (pyelonephritis).

When the baby was about five weeks old, I ended up in bed with raging chills and fever from the worsening infection. The next morning I woke up with a bright red, inflamed and streaked breast. I now also had mastitis.

The ER doctor told me I would have to stop nursing so that I could get myself well. Overwhelmed, tearful, I acknowledged that I had been afraid of that, and agreed.

Since I am physiologically unable to pump any meaningful amount of milk, his advice was not helpful: pump and discard my milk, and feed the baby from my frozen stash (of course I had none) or formula. I had already found someone in my LLL group who was willing to wet-nurse Mr. Big Baby if it came to that…

But still, I would be putting myself in danger of worsening the mastitis issues by becoming engorged, and jeopardizing our entire nursing relationship by potentially losing my milk supply.

After sitting there for hours, I had plenty of time to think through the issues more logically. Eventually I began asking to see my children, who were anxiously waiting outside.

Children are not allowed in the ER, period, they said. They have a separate pediatric ER area to treat children, so they keep them out of harm’s (germs’) way in the adult area. And I was not permitted to leave the treatment area because I had an IV placed.

Undeterred, I suggested that they could take me to the pediatric area, and allow me to have a treatment room there, with my family present (as we had all been together when my daughter had an ER visit).

Again I was rebuffed. I was told that my baby would be able to “visit” me once I was admitted and moved up to a regular floor. That would mean, then, the next day during visiting hours – probably some 24 hours of separation.

The more they came up with these reasons, which sounded more and more hollow, the more adamant I became.

Finally, I told the shift nursing supervisor (who had been called in to deal with my “unreasonableness”, I’m sure) that I wanted to sign myself out AMA, so that I could go nurse my baby.

She was shocked – or pretended to be – and asked how I could possibly want to leave without treatment when I was so ill.

I told her that the hospital was making me worse instead of better, and that I would go seek *better* treatment somewhere else.

Whether she gave in because she saw the light, or because she saw a potential lawsuit, I’ll never know… But give in she did.

They wheeled me and my IV pole out to a (relatively) quiet corner of the ER, and my son eagerly nursed – and nursed, and nursed, and nursed. It had been hours by then, which is an eternity if you are 5 weeks old.

One of her grumbled “threats” as she allowed this was that she was going to go get the lactation consultant from the OB department and “have her talk to me.”
My husband and I sat there wondering if it was really possible that they had a lactation consultant who had so totally sold out to the hospital machine that she would support them on this.

Nope.

The lactation consultant was a sensitive, wise, outgoing woman who was as shocked and baffled by the situation as I was. She became something of a liaison for us for the remainder of this ordeal.

Because there was more. Lots more.

Let me try to condense the next few days for you:

The ER staff eventually moved all of us into a big room in the back of the department to await transfer upstairs. Then the next shift came on and tried to kick my family out again.

We got transferred upstairs. The deal was that the baby could be with me as long as there was another adult(ish) present. I accepted this as a reasonable compromise – after all, I actually was too ill to care for him alone very much!

Then there was a shift change, and they tried to kick my family out.

Then a new doctor saw me, and told me that I needed to stop nursing on the affected breast. (Contradicting all medical literature and wisdom on the subject of mastitis).

Then a new shift came on, and they tried to kick my family out…

Since it was across a weekend, we had the same nursing staff only twice in five days (15 shifts). And, I kid you not, at every single shift change we had to argue the situation all over again.

Some went easier than others. Several times I called on our new best friend the lactation consultant.

I had a protracted argument with the infectious diseases doctor who was considered my primary caregiver. He knew nothing about mastitis, and treated it as he would have treated strep on my breast.

He was horrible, and rude, and I was ready to check out AMA again if I could not be assured that I could receive care from someone else.

On two other occasions I had to threaten to check out AMA to keep them from separating me from the baby. I spoke to several different nursing supervisors.

All of us were stressed out and exhausted by the time I was discharged. It was not good medicine.

Thus ends Round One of my adventures in the medical system.

Why do doctors and nurses know so little about breastfeeding?

It’s frightening that so many people are willing to take their word as law, trusting that these medical professionals know what is best for them.

I beg you, as the only advocate your child has, not to mention for yourself, investigate anything that you are told with regards to your nursing relationship.

As in this case – A simple internet search quickly yields dozens of creditable sources explaining that one important step in dealing with mastitis is to nurse frequently, especially on the affected side.

And if you have the opportunity, do a future mother and baby a favor: print it out and show it to your practitioner!

Tiffany Holley has nursed three children (currently 18 mos. – 15 years old) for a total of 8 years – and counting. She and her family live, breastfeed, urban homestead, cloth diaper, homeschool, and write in Southern Florida (but hope to remedy their location situation soon). You can read about their adventures on their blog, As For My House.

Working Pregnant Mama Tips

By Heather Lopez

Being that I worked through both of my pregnancies and my main business focuses on new moms and mommies to be, I felt it would be appropriate for me offer up some tips for managing your pregnancy and your job.

Tip #1: Wear comfortable, flat shoes

Sometimes when us women go to work, we want to wear dress shoes with a heel. Even if you are used to heels, you will not be used to them when you are pregnant. Your feet will swell and can even get permanently bigger, so you might consider purchasing the wide version of a shoe or even one size larger. When your feet swell and you are carrying around all of that weight, you’ll appreciate having a comfy pair of flats for your tootsies. Additionally, when your pregnant body expands, you lose your equilibrium, causing you to lose your balance more easily. I remember once that I wore a low heel while pregnant & I slipped and fell on the ground. You should’ve seen me struggling to get up with my huge belly. Believe me, it wasn’t pretty.

Tip #2: Pack a Snack

Eating several small, healthy snacks throughout the day, helps you to maintain your blood glucose level. You will avoid an energy crash and you will not feel hunger pangs. It’s good to pack some crackers for nausea, carrot sticks & celery make a good treat, sometimes a fruit & nut mix are filling and delicious, and let’s not forget about water. You should drink several glasses of water a day when you’re pregnant. Try to avoid caffeinated beverages or at least limit them to 2 cups a day.

Tip #3: Get your work clothes ready the night before

Lay them out so that they are ready for you to get up in the morning. Many women suffer from “morning sickness” and in my case “all day sickness,” so it can be really helpful to have everything ready to go when you are feeling nauseous. Plus, having things ready, means that you can sleep a little later and take more time getting ready before you go.

Tip #4: Buy Wrap Dresses

These little numbers can look professional, they are very comfortable, and they adjust to your body’s ever-changing shape. Plus, a good wrap dress can be used post pregnancy before you get back to pre-baby weight

Tip #5: Write everything down

When you are pregnant, you might find that you become very forgetful. The trick is to write everything down, so you don’t forget. Carry around a little memo book in your purse to jot down appointments, phone numbers, dates, names, etc.

Tip #6: Try to schedule appointments around work

I know what you’re thinking, “She says it like it’s so easy.” I know it’s not, but you will maintain a better appearance at work and keep on task better if you make your appointments around work. Try finding an ob/gyn open late, extra early, or on the weekends. Trust me, when you are pregnant you will be attending a lot of appointments, especially toward the end, and you do not want to be perceived as slacking. In an ideal world, your boss would understand, but in the real world, you need to show your commitment to your job by trying to maintain your schedule as best as possible. Even if you work for yourself, you still have a boss- your customers and clients.

Tip #7: Do Some Extreme Advance Planning

Many jobs provide for unpaid family leave if you have worked at your job for a year and worked at least 1200 hours. But what if you don’t qualify? You need to discuss your impending birth with your boss to try to keep your job when you return to work. Can you afford to take unpaid maternity leave? If so, more power to you. But, if you are like me, you need some kind of income to survive. Your job might be willing to offer some work from home, so that you can still do some work until you have steady childcare. Many daycare’s require babies to be at least 6 weeks old. Another way to plan for the leave is to put aside a little from each of your checks, so that you have something saved up to draw from when you aren’t working. Trust me, those first few weeks can be extremely expensive with all of the diapers, clothes, baby equipment, etc. you go through. Who am I kidding, for the next 18 years, your baby will be expensive, but hopefully you can save enough for the weeks you will be away from work. Also, you need to plan for how your work will get done while you are away. You don’t want everything to fall apart without you. You need to plan to have another worker or workers cover you until you get back. Some jobs even hire temps, so you need to find out about their policies and what you need to leave for them, such as passwords. You should also have your work e-mails forwarded to someone who will be covering for you. They can kindly respond to all inquiries on your behalf.

Tip #8: Get Shoulder Massages

Work can already be stressful and can be amplified even more when you are going through so many changes. Many people store their tension in their shoulders, and getting a shoulder massage could be quick, easy, effective, & affordable. If you’ve got a good partner, maybe they can massage your shoulders. If you prefer a professional, a simple shoulder massage can be done at a mall kiosk. If you’d like to delve into other massage, like back, and feet, you should hire a licensed massage therapist that has specialization in prenatal massage. For instance, there are actually trigger points in your feet that could lead to contractions and a specialist should have a special table with a cut-out for your stomach.

I hope that these tips have been helpful!

Heather Lopez is a 30 y/o married mom to 2 in diapers. She runs an e-zine , social network, and pamper events for new moms and mommies to be. Check out her next event Happy and Healthy MOM DAY Miami on 2/22 and find out when the next one is your area is.

5 Steps to Deepening Your Family’s Connection

By Tracy Liebmann

1. Communicate clearly, yet compassionately.

• Clearly only comes from your Authentic/True self, you need to be connected with your true self to be communicating clearly. When connected to your true self you are not acting or reacting from ego, inner child or your conditioning. You are communicating clearly because you know it is your truth!
• Compassionately means you are communicating with love and respect. You treat the other person or people the way you would want to be treated.

2. Be an active listener.

• Active listening involves fully listening to the speaker. Often we do not fully listen, we are often half listening or thinking about our reply instead of fully listening.
• Active Listening is a structured form of listening and responding that focuses the attention on the speaker. The listener repeats, in the listeners own words, what they think the speaker has said. The listener does not have to agree with the speaker…he or she must simply state what they think the speaker said.
• This enables the speaker to find out whether the listener really understood. If the listener did not, the speaker can explain some more.

3. Trust that the other person is being honest.

• Trusting the other person (when I say people or person, I am always including children!) is doing the best that they can with what they have to work with.
• Sometimes other people will not have the same tools that you have; the best way to “teach” something is through modeling it! So practice these steps, share what you know in a respectful way and they will follow your lead.
• Trust that they will!

4. Show love in a way the other receives well.

• What I mean by this is that everyone feels loved in different ways. Some people feel loved when touched physically; with a hug or a kiss. Others like to spend time with their loved one. Some people feel loved when they receive gifts and others feel loved through verbal communication.
• If you are interested in finding out what your love language is, here is a test you can take.

5. Have FUN with one another!

• Spend time doing what the other person/people like to do.
• Often in families where people are aloud to be who they really are, there are so many different hobbies and interests it may be hard to keep up – Yet, it is important to try.
• One person may like playing video games, ask to join them, learn how to play that person’s favorite game. Others may love going to parks or playing outside, make sure to take time to do that with them…you get the picture!
• Show that you know them, show that you care about what they like!

Tracy Liebmann is an experienced educator, Certified Family Life Coach, and Author. She believes deeply that great communication is the key to better connection with your loved ones. She mothers her two teenaged children from the heart, knowing that is where the truth lies when it comes to parenting. Her coaching clients describe her using words like; compassionate, caring, understanding, patient, insightful and intuitive. She lives in Charleston, SC with her husband of 19 years, her 2 children and many interesting pets. She enjoys being with her family, cooking, anything outdoors and being with her horses! You can learn more about her and her coaching practice at www.transformingfamily.com or you can get parenting advice with heart at www.asktracy.wordpress.com Tracy is a regular contributor to this blog, so stay tuned for more great parenting articles from her!

Have The Best 2010 Possible – Tips For Moms

By Tracy Liebmann

I want you to start living the Life of your dreams! We are all amazing a divine people, who sometimes get off track or loose sight of our souls purpose. I believe every bit of change starts within us and I’d like to draw your focus back to the source that is within you.

2010 can be the first year of the rest of your life!

As Mothers we work hard 24/7…365! We care for others and sometimes forget ourselves. That strategy does not *really* benefit anyone.

“In trying to satisfy all, I may be able to satisfy none” ~Gandhi

So let’s get the focus back on our very important selves this year, it is not selfish to care for self…it is wise and necessary…especially for Mothers!! Let’s explore things we can do for ourselves as a whole divine person; let’s break it down into three very important parts!

Body ~ Mind ~ Spirit

Body

• Rest! Our bodies need a certain amount of rest to function well. I know for Mothers this can be a challenge, yet it needs to be a top priority! Sleep deprivation can have a serious negative impact on how well we are able to care for ourselves and our family!
• No excuses…look for solutions to your sleep issues and get more REST!!
• Diet/Nutrition. Let’s talk diet first, since this is the time of year that everyone thinks about the great new diet plan they will carry out in 2010. I would like to remind you to come from a place of self love when considering dieting. Dieting from a place of self hatred will never end well. You may lose the weight, but it will be back – Love yourself enough to eat well, not from hating your big butt, but from loving yourself!
• Exercise. Getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine, with your heart pumping and your lungs filling with sweet air is very important not only for your waistline but also for your brain. I will say the same thing I said above…Exercise out of love for Self, not from a place of hatred or punishment. Go out with the kids and play kick ball, take a walk or run with the stroller. Enjoy life…Enjoy your body!
• Water. Drink lots of water! That’s all I’m gonna say on that subject, you know why!
• Massage. This is not just a fabulous way to spend a Saturday afternoon. It is actually good for you. It releases toxins, and keeps your body working well from the inside out! Caring for self is a necessity, not a luxury! OK, I just have to say…I don’t care what your husband thinks (gasp)! Do it for yourself, show yourself love and nurturing…your worth it!!

Mind

How do you care for your mind? How do you “clear your head?” Caring for your mental health is *very* important and needs to be done on a daily basis!

• Quiet. Everyday find a way to quiet your mind. I know quiet is a valuable commodity for a Mother! Every valuable commodity is worth seeking right?! It can look different for everyone. Some people take 15 minutes to meditate; others may break their quiet time down to 5 minutes in morning, noon and night. Some may breathe deep, close their eyes and relax while a child is nursing. It’s all good – Find a way to quiet your mind daily!
• Support. Mothers need loving support! Find other Moms that you have a lot in common with; with similar parenting styles and plan weekly meet ups. Hire a Life Coach that has similar philosophy about family and children as you do. However and whereever you can, look for and find loving support. Again that is an act of self care and you are important enough to receive it!
• Ask For Help. We really don’t have to do it all!! We can ask for help. If you are feeling like you have no one to ask…start looking for solutions. Find a babysitter you can trust, hire a cleaning person, even ask the kids and Husband where they would be willing to help.
• Body. If you take good care of your body; getting enough rest, exercise and nutrition your mind will be functioning at its best, so revisit that subject and ask yourself what your mind needs to feel better.

Spirit

To me spirit is about heart and soul; for Mothers this is a very powerful part of the body, mind, and spirit paradigm! Taking good care, listening to and honoring our spirit is extremely important!

• Spirituality. For some this means religion and church going; for others it means we are all connected and one with source and lots of in between! So I am writing this in a general way. Honor your beliefs, even if they are different than others that are close to you. Life is an individual journey that is connected to others for the reasons of love, support and growth. Make time for yourself to honor your beliefs; go to church, join a group, meditate and/or pray. Care for your spiritual side.
• Authentic Self. *Knowing* ourselves at the deepest level and honoring who we are is especially important to feeling our best. If we are not following our inner voice or true selves we will feel unhappy and out of sorts because we are going against our highest good. Often through years of societal conditioning we lose sight of who we really are. We have lost our Authentic (true) Selves. If this is striking a cord for you, and you are feeling like; yes this is what is happening to me. Following the suggestions already mentioned here in this article will help…yet you may also desire some extra support. This is my *passion* to help women find their Authentic Selves, please e-mail me and I can send you more articles and information that will help you uncover what the layers of life have buried.

Tracy Liebmann is an experienced educator, Certified Family Life Coach, and Author. She believes deeply that great communication is the key to better connection with your loved ones. She mothers her two teenaged children from the heart, knowing that is where the truth lies when it comes to parenting. Her coaching clients describe her using words like; compassionate, caring, understanding, patient, insightful and intuitive. She lives in Charleston, SC with her husband of 19 years, her 2 children and many interesting pets. She enjoys being with her family, cooking, anything outdoors and being with her horses! You can learn more about her and her coaching practice at www.transformingfamily.com or you can get parenting advice with heart at www.asktracy.wordpress.com Tracy is a regular contributor to this blog, so stay tuned for more great parenting articles from her! To receive A Special Tool, Gifts and to be entered in a drawing to win a Coaching Package with Tracy worth over $750! Click here.

Green Fridays

By Beth Egan

A lot of the joy of the holiday season comes from giving wonderful gifts to family, friends, and those we wish to thank. As “Black Friday” is behind us, we hope you will put some thought into making the remaining Friday’s in December – December 11 and 18 – into “Green Fridays”! Changing elements of the gift or how it is wrapped can make a wonderful difference – reduce, reuse and recycle.

Wrapping

One way to turn a gift into a wonderful gift is to present it in a unique or beautiful way.

Reduce

Giving a gift in a box? Why not use a pretty ribbon to wrap the box. Add an embellishment on top or a fancy tag and voila! No need for wrapping paper.

Package items for the same person in one box or bag or package. A lot less wrapping paper will be used, and less gift tags as well.

Are you able to use part of the gift as the wrapping? How about using a dishtowel with ribbons at either end to wrap a kitchen-type gift. Maybe some PJ’s to wrap a few new books, or a stocking to wrap some holiday ornaments?

Reuse

Baskets, tins, containers and reusable gift bags can be very attractive. Paper gift bags and containers are available at most retailers. However fabric gift bags are as easy as making a pillowcase! Here is the link to learn how. Not up for sewing? There are many options available online. You can purchase reusable bags. We personally like the drawstring sling bags – and we have heard nothing but positive comments from the recipients!

Fold up this year’s tissue paper and ribbon and store in a bin or tote bag. This can be used all year long – to top gift bags, as the wrapping paper, for craft projects or for next year’s boxes.

Why not invest in some festive cloth napkins to use at your holiday gatherings. While you are at it, purchase some for everyday use as well! This cuts back on the cost and waste of paper napkins.

Reusable snack bags and lunch bags are great gifts. There are many varieties available online. It cuts down on bulky containers (save those for the softer foods) and cuts way down on plastic sandwich bag use. The styles are fun and easy to clean!

Recycle

Save this year’s holiday cards. They can be used to create unique gift tags next year!

Recycle the wrapping paper, tissue paper and cardboard that comes in to the house. Local churches and schools collect paper as a fundraiser, look for the yellow recycle bins in their parking lots – perhaps your city even collects it?

Recycle all of the cans and bottles that will be used in your celebrations and cooking as well!

Happy Holidays!
Beth Egan

Beth Egan is a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 4. As a former teacher, Beth enjoys educating others on the importance of living green and removing the toxins from your home and the environment. She does this through articles, guest blogging, volunteering for the Healthy Child Healthy World Organization and her business with Shaklee. As a supporter of the Healthy Child Healthy World organization Beth will be posting articles frequently to this blog to alert you to current news on this topic and give ideas and information about making changes that will benefit all of us but most importantly the future, Our Children.

What steps are you taking to help reduce the amount of waste this holiday? Please leave a comment on this post to share your tips and tricks!

Three Steps to Better Health

by Beth Egan

As we approach the holiday season, keep these three simple steps in mind – your heart and your body will thank you!

1. Proper Nutrition: a diet of whole, organic foods is essential to good health. Plenty of foods rich in antioxidants, healthy beverages, nutritious, brightly colored vegetables, and a balance of the right fats, proteins, complex carbohydrates, and oils for whole body health. Limit or eliminate processed foods, saturated fats, and meat consumption. Definitely eliminate artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup from your family’s diet.

2. Hydration: drinking enough water is essential for the health of your digestive system, kidneys, liver, and skin. Dehydration causes headache, fatigue, weakness, and a variety of other symptoms. If you drink water and it tastes sweet, or you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Consider purchasing some sort of filtration system for the water you use for drinking and cooking. Even purchasing a pitcher that filters your water is helpful in removing some chemicals and contaminants. Stop buying bottled water, it often contains impurities, plus the plastic bottles cause environmental issues.

3. Exercise: exercise should happen on a near-daily basis. The best ways to exercise are whole-body holistic models, such as yoga and tai-chi, both of which include meditation and personal/spiritual aspects. But a brisk walk of 30 minutes or more 3 times per week has great benefits as well.

Beth Egan is a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 4. As a former teacher, Beth enjoys educating others on the importance of living green and removing the toxins from your home and the environment. She does this through articles, guest blogging, volunteering for the Healthy Child Healthy World Organization and her business with Shaklee. As a supporter of the Healthy Child Healthy World organization Beth will be posting articles frequently to this blog to alert you to current news on this topic and give ideas and information about making changes that will benefit all of us but most importantly the future, Our Children.

What are you doing to stay healthy? Please share your tips and tricks by leaving a comment on this post.

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