Posts by: Kimberly

Cold and Flu Season Is Coming

October 3, 2011 – 5:02 pm

By Kim Corrigan-Oliver, certified holistic nutritionist

Yes, cold and flu season is coming, but with a little bit of thought and care you can strengthen your body and its defences so you can defend yourself against whatever comes calling this winter.

Bugs and germs are often “blamed” for causing the cold and flu, but is the germ or bug really responsible?  Or is it our terrain, our immune system and our body that could not handle the germ or bug?  Our bodies require a ton of resources to mount and sustain an immune response when a pathogen enters our body.  If it has not had enough good nutrition, sleep, love and other important substances the immune response will be weak and the body will not be able to defend itself.  Without a proper defence, we get sick.

During the preconception period and while pregnant, getting sick is something which falls to the bottom of the challenges we want to deal with. The body has enough to worry about without having to do battle against the cold or flu.

So what can you do to support your immune system, here are a few old tricks:

Sleep – rest is important for immune health, the body needs the time to repair, restore and rejuvenate.  If you are feeling particularly tired or stressed this becomes even more important. Ensure you and your family get adequate rest and if you feel yourself or see someone in your family starting to get run down, take time now to rest, if not the body will force you to rest (unfortunately with a cold or the flu).

Drink – plenty of liquids: water, herbal teas (ginger, peppermint, nettle, alfalfa, horsetail, lemon balm, etc) and fresh juices.  Keep in mind caffeine and alcohol dehydrate your body and weaken your immune system – limit or avoid if possible.

Eat real food – eat a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, food with few ingredients, food in its natural state, food that is not packaged and processed.  The body needs quality nutrition from real food to support health and well being.

Avoid sugar – sugar suppresses the immune system for up to six hours after ingestion making the body more vulnerable to pathogens. Sugar requires nutrients for its digestion, the same nutrients that were stripped away during processing, and will steal these from the body – leaving the body depleted and vulnerable.  Sugar also actively competes with vitamin C for entry into your cells.  Your cells need vitamin C, if there is too much sugar in the body competing for entry into the cells, less vitamin C will be allowed into the cell.  When you eat sugar you are slowing the immune system down to a crawl.

Include garlic –it has anti bacterial, anti viral, anti parasitic and anti fungal properties; eat it raw for best results, and include it as much as you can when cooking.  To take it raw, finely chop one clove of garlic, let it sit for a minute or two, then swallow with a mouthful of water.  The key to no garlic breath is not to let it touch your teeth.  Breastfeeding moms if you take raw garlic your baby will get the immune benefits via your breast milk.

Be positive – your thoughts play a role in your health and well being; be positive, think positive, know that your body has the amazing potential to support and defend itself against the many pathogens you come in contact with on a daily basis.  And don’t forget to laugh every day for an easy and fun way to boost immunity J

Be hygienic – the only portals of entry for pathogens – the flu virus or cold germ, are the mucous membranes – mainly nostrils and mouth/throat. It’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with a pathogen in spite of all precautions. Contact with pathogens is not really the problem; proliferation is. To prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, there are some very simple steps you can practice:

  • Frequent hand-washing
  • Hands-off-the-face approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face.
  • Gargle twice a day with warm salt water. Pathogens can take 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive, age-old yet powerful preventative method.
  • Similar to above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, try a nasal irrigation device, found at most drug stores or try blowing your nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with Q-Tips dipped in warm salt water, this is very effective in bringing down viral population.
  • Drink warm or hot liquids. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

You can’t avoid cold and flu season it is here, but you can support the immune system to do what it naturally wants to do – defend itself against foreign invaders.

In my next post I will discuss natural health products which can help to support and strengthen the immune system, along with the recommendations above.

What are you doing to ensure you and your family stay healthy this season?

Kim Corrigan-Oliver is a first time mom and published author. She is a certified holistic nutritionist specializing in nutrition for mom, baby and toddler. She loves good food and to cook. And, she loves to share her passion for all of the above with those interested in learning more about feeding their babies and raising healthy happy children. For more information please check out her website at Your Green Baby.

Other posts by Kim Corrigan-Oliver

Herbs and Fertility

Nutrition Guidelines in the Preconception Period

Cosmetics and Fertility

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How to Choose a Midwife

July 26, 2011 – 12:59 am

By Julie Stockman

Oh how I love those two lines on a pregnancy test stick after months – or years – of trying. With them comes the leaping expectant joy of bringing a whole new person into this world. Those two lines mean hoping against hope for a brand new pair of tiny soft feet, a new voracious nursling, a new snuggler in the rocking chair.

That big fat positive test also brings the responsibility of supporting a new life in every way possible. Time to cut out the caffeine again, try to reduce stress, rest more often, worry over food, and find someone you trust to help you along in this process.

As I mentioned in my my last post, for my past two births, this person has been a homebirth midwife. Most of my friends have also chosen to birth their babies with the assistance of a midwife. We often sit at playgroups or potlucks telling snippets of our birth stories and snippets of our experiences with midwives and obstetricians.

Not everyone is happy with their births and their birth attendants. As I’ve listened to their stories and reflected on my own, some common themes have emerged. If you are newly pregnant or thinking of changing your birthing attendant, consider these tips for finding a midwife who is a good fit for you.

Hospital, Birth Center or Homebirth?

If you are considering using a midwife for your birth, the first question is always hospital, birth center, or homebirth? Each has its pros and cons, which are fairly straightforward. On one end of the scale you have the hospital, the place most equipped to handle emergencies but least likely to provide a completely natural and unmedicated birth. On the other end of the scale, you have homebirth. You are ensured to have a natural birth at home, but the emergency equipment is most rudimentary of all the options and might include a transfer. A birth center typically lies in the middle.

The midwives who practice in a hospital or birth center are quite different from those who practice homebirth. In most places in the US, having a homebirth resides in the gray area between legal and illegal. Assisting a homebirth as a provider – such as a homebirth midwife would do – swings toward illegal in most states. For this reason, practicing homebirth midwifery is a risk.

Why do some midwives choose to take this risk? For many, it is a labor of love, or a labor of ideals. Many midwives and their clients find the legal status of homebirth to be an affront to our civil rights. Taking away our right to birth at home takes away our first right as a parent – to bring a child into this world in what we consider the safest and most protective way possible.

Other midwives might choose to practice at home because they truly are less qualified than a birth center or hospital would require them to be. Just as not all doctors are created equal, neither are all midwives.

Midwives that practice at the hospital or a birth center will have the required state certifications for their practice. However, these midwives are likely to only take low risk patients. All high risk patients will be referred to an obstetrician. Remember that the hospital’s definition of high risk could be quite broad compared to your own.

You probably already have a feel for where you are comfortable. If you swing heavily toward the hospital or toward home, always try to find a provider that practices in your comfort zone. Outside of extraordinary circumstances, the number one rule for giving birth is you must be comfortable. You must feel safe and unthreatened.

If you can see yourself comfortable in both environments, consider researching different perspectives on both hospital births and homebirths. A good starting point is the documentary, “The Business of Being Born.”> Some of the most influential books on my decision to birth at home were Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife, by Peggy Vincent, and all of Ina May Gaskin’s books, especially Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth.

Prenatal program

Any midwife you choose must emphasize prenatal nutrition. The sad reality in the US is that most of us are not getting the nutrients we need from our food. To begin with, our farmland has been tapped of its true nutrients due to unsustainable and chemical farming practices, so the food that does grow there is not nearly as nutritious as it should be. Then, as a country, we eat far too much processed foods high in sugar and salt. The processed food is like an anti-nutrient. It depletes our body of what nutrients we do have stored and puts us in a state of starvation while being overfed. This is not the way to grow a baby.

All birth providers, midwives included, should emphasize a whole-foods diet completely free of processed food. They should emphasize a proper protein intake such as that found at Blue Ribbon Baby.. They should guide you to a quality food-based multivitamin, never synthetic vitamins.

Because expectant moms have problems with nausea and food aversions, it is incredibly important that your birth provider help guide you and hold you accountable for your nutrition. This can’t be overstated. Like the rest of the natural world, human beings don’t hold onto their pregnancies and remain fertile if they are malnourished.

Discussion Points

When you find a midwife who you feel might be a good fit for you, here are a few questions you might include in your initial conversation.

• How many of your births end up in a cesarean section?

• What would happen if my pregnancy turned high-risk at some point?

• What would happen in the case of a transfer? Where would we transfer to? Would you stay with me?

• How do you feel about VBACs?

• Do you do water births?

• I like a midwife who is very hands-off at my birth (or very hands-on). How do you feel about that?

Finally, always consider the references of others. If you are involved in a group of moms who have used midwives, pay close attention to their stories. If you aren’t in a group, consider looking for one. And never, ever make your decision based on cost alone. It will be well worth your money to find the right fit, not the right price.

Other Posts by Julie Stockman:

When Mama Really Does Know Best: Why I Love Tandem Nursing

Organic Food Shopping Tips

Ideas for Finding a Good Naturopath or Nutritionist in Your Area

Julie Stockman lives in Farmland, Indiana where she homeschools her children with her husband, Jeff. She spends her days baking, gardening, keeping chickens, exploring the nature around them, practicing gratitude and mindfulness, and writing about it all on her blog, Heirloom Homestead.


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Good Bugs – AKA Probiotics

July 20, 2011 – 12:13 am

By @YourGreenBaby

Probiotics are good bugs or bacteria that live in our digestive tract, and provide us with health benefits beyond belief. Probiotic means “for life” and research continues to discover what else these little “bugs” can do for us.

During the preconception period supporting the digestive tract with goods bugs ensures you are properly digesting and absorbing the nutrients from the nourishing foods you are eating and good bugs also support the immune system.  Better digestion, increased nutrient intake and an immune system which is functioning optimally all means a more conducive environment for conception.

Here are some other wonderful benefits of supporting the digestive tract with probiotics:

  • They improve digestion by stimulating peristalsis, the rhythmic contractions of the large intestine which help to move food through the colon.
  • They act as natural antibiotics helping to fight off bad bacteria in the gut.
  • They are responsible for the manufacturing of B vitamins and vitamin K.  B vitamins are important for energy production and vitamin K for blood clotting.  They also play a role in the absorption of minerals and the elimination of toxins.
  • Using probiotics during pregnancy is linked to a decrease in eczema and other allergies in babies.  A study from The University of Turku in Finland found pregnant women with allergies can reduce the risk of their children becoming sensitized to allergens by regularly taking ‘good’ bacteria.  In a 2008 study pregnant women were given probiotic supplements from the eighth month of pregnancy and their babies were given probiotics for 6 months. The babies were 30% less likely to develop eczema than babies who did not receive probiotic supplements.
  • Probiotics are important for immune health – believe it or not up to 80% of our immune system is located in our digestive tract.
  • Probioitcs have been shown to aid in the elimination of digestive complaints including gassiness, constipation, diarrhea and IBS.
    • Probiotics can also help to reduce symptoms of colic in your baby.  A study published in Pediatrics in January 2007 compared the results of treating colicky babies with simethicone (medication for bloating) and probiotics. The probiotics reduced symptoms in ninety five percent of babies within a week, while only seven percent of the simethicone group had a similar response. Probiotics seem to have a natural pain relieving action on the gut that aids in their usefulness for colic.

Supplementation with a good quality probiotic is suggested to ensure colonization for the digestive tract.  You can find probiotics in some food products including yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh and miso but they will not contain enough to properly colonize your gut and provide maximum benefits.

When looking for a probiotic supplement, it all comes down to numbers; that is the number of bacteria.  For overall health and to support the digestive system look for a supplement providing 9 to 12 billion bacteria per day.  The strains of bacteria you are looking for are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Also look for HMF on the label, this stands for Human Microflora.

If you are new to probiotics, start slowly and build up over a few weeks to a full dose. Taking too much at once can lead to gassiness, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.  Take your probiotics after meals.

Probiotics are live bacteria; they are very sensitive to heat and should be refrigerated. Buy only from a store which keeps them in a fridge and be sure to store them in the fridge once you get them home.

Get your good bugs today!

Kim Corrigan-Oliver is a first time mom and published author. She is a certified holistic nutritionist specializing in nutrition for mom, baby and toddler. She loves good food and to cook. And, she loves to share her passion for all of the above with those interested in learning more about feeding their babies and raising healthy happy children. For more information please check out her website at Your Green Baby.

Other posts by Kim Corrigan-Oliver

Herbs and Fertility

Nutrition Guidelines in the Preconception Period

Cosmetics and Fertility

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Planned Breech Birth

June 23, 2011 – 8:03 am

By Julie Stockman

My first homebirth was a planned breech birth. Yes, you read that right. My midwife, my obstetrician and I knew (via ultrasound) that my daughter had flipped to a breech presentation two weeks before my due date and we chose to continue our homebirth plans in her breech position rather than try to turn her or use a hospital birthing center.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to both have my breech baby at home and to have had the support of my midwife and obstetrician to do it. I know that most expectant mothers in the US don’t have this option.

So why did I? What factors helped me achieve the homebirth I wanted and avoid the c-section that our hospital routinely schedules for breech babies?

For me, it was completely due to having the support of my birth team. I have heard from other moms that most homebirth midwives won’t do a breech birth – that they won’t do any high-risk births, actually. I can understand why. The legislation in most states makes delivering babies at home risky for the midwife, and sometimes even for the parents themselves. If this risk is inherent in the birth from the get-go, avoiding additional risks only makes sense.

My midwife happened to be one who was comfortable and experienced with riskier births. She took many things into consideration when deciding whether or not she was okay with different turns your pregnancy might take, such as your previous birth history, your previous relationships with her and other providers, your body structure, your medical history, your compliance with her prenatal nutrition program, her experience, her many, many research hours on the subject of birth, both academically and personally, and finally – her intuition. The bottom line? There was more to being high or low risk client than a standard checklist of blood pressure numbers, lab results and baby positioning.

I checked out. I had had a previous birth (in a hospital) that was induced cold when I was 37 weeks along due to high blood pressure and a diagnosis of possible pre-eclampsia. My body responded well to the induction and it did not end in a c-section. The hospital birth told her I was able to birth vaginally without a problem, even when induced early.

My midwife insisted I follow Dr. Brewer’s Blue Ribbon Baby diet to address the blood pressure issues. I had a history of diet elimination to control chemical sensitivities, so following a specific diet was not a big problem for me. She paid a lot of attention to my liver function at each prenatal visit and near the end, consulted the backup obstetrician to obtain blood pressure medication to see me through the final few weeks.

Wait a minute….the backup obstetrician? How did that happen? So many homebirth mothers either have to hide their homebirth plans if they seek any standard prenatal care or at the least, have to defend them each visit.

The midwife I had chosen put a high priority on authenticating homebirth as a valid choice in the US, which it hasn’t been in decades. To this end, she accompanied her clients to the hospital if a transfer was needed, at definite risk to herself. Through this practice, she had met and developed a professional relationship with a local obstetrician who supported homebirth. And so, a backup ob/gyn became available for our area.

When I went in to the homebirth backup ob/gyn for an ultrasound at 38 weeks and we saw that the baby had flipped breech sometime in the past two weeks, the decision on what to do was left to my husband and me.

We could try to turn her under close ultrasound observation or we could leave her alone and deliver breech if need be. I chose the latter. Sometimes, they explained to me, a baby will turn itself late in the pregnancy due to a cord issue. In these cases, it can make matters worse to try to turn the baby. This weighed heaviest on my decision. It made sense to me, and my mama’s intuition told me not to turn the baby, and I listened.

I can’t say the birth was an easy one. It was a long labor. Early labor went on for a day and a half, then active labor for 6 hours or so. When it came time to push, she seemed in some form of half-in, half-out for 45 minutes. This would surely have sent me to surgery in the hospital, as the waterbirth I had at home kept her skin from touching the air and kept her from trying to breathe.

She was born into my arms, at home, healthy and safely with no surgery. I can thank only my birth team for this.

When I hired my midwife, I didn’t realize how valuable those different traits were. I happened upon her through local lists and thought her personality made her a good fit. She wasn’t the cheapest, she often rescheduled or came late to appointments, and she was blunt and to the point – a conversation style that can upset a hormonal pregnant mama.

But after two successful homebirths with her – one of which only a handful of midwives in the whole country would have touched (“Breech?!” “History of pre-e?!”) – I hope I never have to find another midwife. If I do, she has taught me a great deal in what to look for.

Julie Stockman lives in Farmland, Indiana where she homeschools her children with her husband, Jeff. She spends her days baking, gardening, keeping chickens, exploring the nature around them, practicing gratitude and mindfulness, and writing about it all on her blog, Heirloom Homestead.

Other Posts by Julie Stockman:

When Mama Really Does Know Best: Why I Love Tandem Nursing

Organic Food Shopping Tips

Ideas for Finding a Good Naturopath or Nutritionist in Your Area

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Cleaning Up Your Environment Preconception

June 7, 2011 – 7:21 am

By @YourGreenBaby

The preconception period is such an important time and I wish more women took time to properly prepare their bodies and environment for the journey of pregnancy. During pregnancy you are building a human being from scratch. The food you eat, the environment in which you live, the stress of your daily life, etc can all play a role in the long term health and wellness of your baby. Taking time preconception to clean up your environment – both outside and inside your body, can play a big role in your fertility, a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Here are ten things to consider during your preconception period to help clean up your environment.

1. Reduce chemicals in your home by switching to natural cleaners or even better, make your own. Vinegar, water and a few drop of tea tree oil do an amazing job of cleaning up your home.  Be cautious with the other chemical laden products you bring into your home – paint, new carpets, furniture, dry cleaning, etc. Allow products to off gas outdoors for a day or two before bringing them into your home.

2. Reduce chemicals in your home by switching to more natural skin care products. We use a ton of chemicals daily on our skin, hair, nails, etc. The skin is very absorbent and all of those chemicals do have an effect on our health and well being, including our fertility. Take some time to check how the products you currently use are rated at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep.

3. Reduce chemicals by choosing organic foods. There are a lot of chemicals used in farming today. These chemicals are in our food – meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables are all contaminated with toxic chemicals which also affect our fertility and can have a detrimental effect on our health and well being and the healthy and well being of future children.  Can’t afford to go all organic, I suggest choosing organic meat and dairy and checking out the Environmental Working Group’s dirty dozen. The dirty dozen are the top 12 contaminated fruits and vegetables and ones you should choose organic. http://www.foodnews.org

4. Reduce chemicals by choosing real food over processed food.  Processed foods contain many different chemicals, additives, food colourings, preservatives, etc. Many of these have been shown to have adverse health effects in both adults and children. Make the choice to eat real food which has not been processed and package with harmful chemicals.

5.  Reduce your exposure to other toxins which can affect your health and fertility – smoking, second hand smoke and alcohol. Be cautious with over the counter medications and take some time to research any prescription medications you are taking. Be informed about what you put into your body and the effects it may have on you.

6. Leave your shoes at the door. Believe it or not we bring a lot of undesirable germs, bacteria and chemicals into our homes via the bottom of our shoes. Leave your shoes at the door and everything you brought home with you will stay right there.

7.  Open your windows. It has been suggested our indoor home environment is more toxic that the outdoor environment, and with all of the chemicals we bring into our homes, I can understand this. Open the windows to allow the exchange of air in your home, sending the toxic chemicals out and bringing the fresh air in.

8.  Support your body in its detoxification process. Your body has an amazing ability to detoxify chemicals and toxins from your body. The problem, in our society today is we are bombarded by toxins on a regular basis and the natural detoxification pathways of the body (liver, lungs, lymphatic system, kidneys, blood, skin and colon) become burdened.  You can help your body and support these systems with a few easy steps.

  • Start your day with hot water and the juice of half a lemon, which will kick start your digestive system and liver and alkalinize your body.
  • Before you shower each morning, do a dry brush http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniques/dry_brushing_technique.htm to stimulate the lymphatic system and remove dead skin cells.
  • Participate in moderate intensity exercise which works your lungs, allowing you to expel toxins, makes your sweat, allowing your skin to expel toxins and if you choose an impact activity you will also stimulate the lymphatic system.
  • Using homeopathic remedies can help your liver sort and better eliminate toxins from your body.
  • Drinking lots of water, 2L per day, will help the kidneys function optimally and aid in the elimination of toxins. Water will also help to support proper elimination via the colon.
  • Include lots of fruits, vegetables and high fibre grains in your diet to help support the colon in its role and to prevent constipation.

9.  Support your body with as nutrient dense whole foods diet. This type of diet provides you with optimum nutrition to best support health, well being, fertility, a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.  If you are not sure where to begin, hit your local farmers market, before you will be the best foods to support your body and prepare it for the journey ahead. And of course a visit with a nutritionist specializing in preconception care would also be a huge benefit as you take time to prepare for pregnancy.

10. Take time to reduce your stress. Stress plays a large role in our hormonal system and can also be the trigger for unhealthy eating habits, poor sleep habits, and so on. Take time for yourself every day. Use the time to focus on you and the journey you are about to embark on. Go for a walk, mediate, take a yoga class, read, enjoy a bath – do whatever allows you to relax and de-stress on a daily basis.

Nothing in life is guaranteed and nothing is risk free, but by taking time preconception to clean up your environment, you take steps towards achieving optimum fertility, a healthy pregnancy, a wonderful birth experience and a healthy baby. Every pregnancy should begin in an optimum state of well being, it is best for both mom and baby. Take time, take care of yourself and ensure a healthy start to your pregnancy by taking time preconception to clean up your external and internal environment.

Kim Corrigan-Oliver is a first time mom and published author. She is a certified holistic nutritionist specializing in nutrition for mom, baby and toddler. She loves good food and to cook. And, she loves to share her passion for all of the above with those interested in learning more about feeding their babies and raising healthy happy children. For more information please check out her website at Your Green Baby.

Other posts by Kim Corrigan-Oliver

Herbs and Fertility

Nutrition Guidelines in the Preconception Period

Cosmetics and Fertility

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Cosmetics and Your Fertility

May 17, 2011 – 9:08 am

By @YourGreenBaby

Have I got your attention? Never really thought about how your cosmetics or personal care products affect your health and your fertility. Well it is time to think about it.

We use many different personal care products daily, from shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, toothpaste, body lotion, deodorant, make up, hair products, perfume and so on. Most of these you use before you even step out your front door to start your day.

So why are they a problem? Well to put it simply these products are chemical concoctions which are not required to undergo testing before they are put on the shelves for you to buy.  The Environmental Working Group suggests people apply an average of 126 unique ingredients on their skin daily and these chemicals, which are absorbed by our bodies, rinsed down the drain and flushed down the drain in human excretions, are causing big problems not only to human health, but they also impact wildlife, rivers and streams.

So just how do they effect fertility?  When these chemicals are applied to the skin, the body absorbs them and stores them in fatty tissues and organs such as the liver, kidney, brain and reproductive organs.  According to the Environmental Working Group, in August 2005, scientists published a study finding a relationship between plasticizers called phthalates and feminization of U.S. male babies, naming fragrance as a possible culprit. And when estrogenic industrial chemicals called parabens were found in human breast tumor tissue earlier this year, researchers questioned if deodorant was the source. And then, when studies show, again and again, that hormone systems in wildlife are thrown in disarray by common water pollutants, once again the list of culprits include personal care products, rinsing down drains and into rivers.  We cannot ignore this research.  If the hormone systems in wildlife have been thrown off, can you image the effect on our hormones when we apply these chemicals to our bodies on a daily basis?

The connections are there, so it is time to sit up and take notice. So just what should you be looking to avoid when you look at an ingredient list on a cosmetic product? Here are some of the chemicals you want to avoid:

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) – human carcinogen, causes brain and liver tumors in animals at low doses, endocrine disruptor, causes contact dermatitis and skin depigmentation, persistent environmental toxin.

Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) – endocrine disruptor, skin and lung toxicant at low doses, causes death, liver and stomach cancers, thrombosis, fibrosis and liver and brain damage in animals, strong, skin and eye irritant.

Dibutyl phthalate – neurotoxin, linked to impaired fertility and urinary abnormalities, linked to breast and ovarian cancer, contaminates wildlife.

EDTA – neurotoxin linked to brain damage in animals, caused liver changed and endocrine damage in animals, caused fetal death and birth abnormalities in animals, made from formaldehyde and the kicker, approved for use in cosmetics and baby food.

Oxybenzone – endocrine disruptor, produces free radicals that can increase skin aging, environmental toxicant.

Parabens – all of them including butyl, ethyl, isobutyl, methyl, propyl, are skin and eye irritants, endocrine disruptors linked to breast and ovarian cancer, environmental contaminant.

Padimate O (Octyl Dimethyl PABA/PABA Ester) – has estrogenic activity, releases free radicals which damage DNA when exposed to sunlight, causes allergic reactions.

PEG (with any number after it) – often contaminated with 1,4-Dioxine, which may cause cancer, suspected endocrine disruptor, linked to cancer in animals, skin and eye irritant.

Phthlates (commonly hiding under the word “fragrance”) – reproductive toxins

Triclosan – endocrine disruptor, affects thyroid hormone, caused fetal death in animals, strong skin irritant, environmental toxicant.

These are just a few of the chemicals from The Green Beauty Guides 100 Toxic Chemicals You Don’t Want in Your Beauty Products.  Yes, that is correct 100 toxic chemicals.

So just how do you avoid them? You read labels, if you can’t pronounce it, if you don’t know what it is, if it looks like only a scientist would know what it is or if you wouldn’t eat it, it is better left on the shelf.

There are products out there without these chemicals; you just need to look for them. And many times you can turn to your kitchen for alternatives. Coconut oil, almond oil and even olive oil, all make great moisturizers for face and body. You can make you own body scrubs, soothing eye masks, and so on. You can find easy recipes by doing an online search.

For more information on cosmetics and to see the test results of more than 65 000 products check out the Cosmetics Database at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Resources

The Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org

The Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel

Kim Corrigan-Oliver is a first time mom and published author. She is a certified holistic nutritionist specializing in nutrition for mom, baby and toddler. She loves good food and to cook. And, she loves to share her passion for all of the above with those interested in learning more about feeding their babies and raising healthy happy children. For more information please check out her website at Your Green Baby.

Other posts by Kim Corrigan-Oliver

Herbs and Fertility

Nutrition Guidelines in the Preconception Period

The Importance of Preparing For The Journey

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Charting Tip: Charting After Giving Birth

May 6, 2011 – 9:19 am

By @FertilityFlower

While you observe dry vaginal sensation and dry (meaning ‘no’) cervical fluid during the postpartum period, you don’t need to chart. Ah….I actually said it! I’ll say it again – you don’t need to chart as long as you have no cervical fluid and have ‘dry’ vaginal sensation. New mothers who are nursing on demand day-and-night, babywearing, etc., and otherwise following the 7-standards of ecological breastfeeding (a stricter form of the Lactational Amenorrhea Method) find that this infertile state can last for quite a while. Shiela Kippley (Founder of the Couple to Couple League with her husband, John) states that ˝the average return of menstruation for ecological breastfeeding mothers is between 14 and 15 months˝ but it can range anywhere from 8 to 30 months (Sheila Kippley, CCL Family Foundations, May-June 1999).

However, once you notice wetness either in terms of cervical fluid or as a sensation of wetness of any kind, you need to begin charting again. And, certainly if you experience a postpartum period (meaning, bleeding that occurs past the first 56 postpartum days), you need to start charting again. However, you should be aware that bleeding in the postpartum stage does not necessarily mean a return to fertility. You can experience several months of anovulatory bleeding (no ovulation) in which case you are not fertile. Whether your cycles are ovulatory or anovulatory will be easily discerned by charting.

With that said, charting during the postpartum period is a special case. The mantra for this period should be: when in doubt, DON’T. Meaning, the postpartum period is fraught with hormonal changes that can result in some ambiguity in terms of your fertility signals. Charting your waking temperature will not help you determine when you are fertile during this period (or any period) but it will help you figure out if you’re ovulating. If your other fertility signals (such as cervical fluid, cervical position, vaginal sensation, etc…) don’t match up nicely, for the sake of safety abide by the one that keeps you waiting. For example, if your cervix is soft, high or open (indicating potential fertility) on a day that you experience dry vaginal sensation and no cervical fluid, your cervical position overrides the signals from your cervical fluid/sensation. Meaning, you are potentially fertile. Therefore, postpone intercourse until you can confirm ovulation (via a temperature shift) or the return of your cervix to a position of infertility.

Since vaginal sensation and cervical fluid will ultimately herald the return of your fertility. Here are some guidelines to internalize:

  • If you have one or two days of any kind of wetness (sensation or cervical fluid) and the next two days are dry, consider yourself potentially fertile on the wet days. You would be safe for intercourse on the second evening that you’ve been dry all day.
  • If your wet cervical fluid lasts for three days, you’re potentially fertile on those days. Count four days of dryness after your last day of wetness and you’re safe to resume intercourse on the fourth evening.

The more of these peak days (your last day of wet vaginal sensation or wet cervical fluid) that you experience, the more likely that you are approaching a return to fertility.

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Spring Tonics

May 5, 2011 – 5:16 am

By Julie Stockman

As the weather in our area continues to warm, we are finding evidence of all kinds of renewed life. Bare trees have become full of fresh green leaves and showy blossoms. Daffodils and tulips have pushed their way up into the light and are beginning to show off their beauties. And signs at the edge of driveways are beginning to advertise Asparagus and Rhubarb.

I find myself thinking of renewed life too and especially this year, renewed vitality. Two close pregnancies and then two little tandem nurslings to keep up with gave me the justification I needed to reach for the not-so-good foods this winter. At times, I think I ran on coffee and sugar alone.

Now those road signs for asparagus and rhubarb are calling me back. It’s time to get back on track, my body seems to be saying. It’s time to cleanse yourself again. The world outside responds by offering just the things I might need to do that.

Here are some of my favorite Spring tonics. They are perfect for shedding the winter blahs and capturing some of the renewed life around you.

Nettle Tea

I began drinking nettle tea during my second pregnancy and consider it a multi-vitamin in a tea. Not only do nettles contain Vitamins A and C, calcium, chlorophyll, iodine, iron, magnesium, and potassium, but the tea seems to have a magical healing effect on my adrenals. I like to make a big batch in my half-gallon pitchers as soon as I start to feel run down or overwhelmed.

My process is simple: add 1/4 cup of the leaves of the stinging nettle plant (dried or fresh) to a pot containing a quart of boiling water. Add flavors that you like, such as a pinch of mint, lemongrass or cloves. Remove the boiling pot from the heat, cover, and let it steep for as little as 30 minutes or as long as 12 hours. Add honey or other sweetener if desired and dilute with another quart of ice cold water before storing in the refrigerator.

As you can see, the process is much like making any other iced tea. The big difference is in the steeping time. Often, I will make mine right before bed and leave it steeping on the stovetop overnight.

Red Clover Tea

I added red clover tea to my arsenal on the advice of my midwife last summer. We are blessed with many red clovers throughout our pastures. Red clovers are said to have Vitamins A, C, and all the Bs, choline, copper, biotin, folic acid, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc. I find them to be a pick me up when I am feeling constantly fatigued – when I never feel well-rested no matter how much I am sleeping.

My process for the red clover tea is nearly identical to that of the nettle tea. I boil and steep the flowers of the red clover plant for 30 minutes minimum or up to 12 hours maximum. If you are making a batch of red clover tea with no nettles added, you might find that you don’t need to add any mint or other herbs for flavor. The red clover flowers also have a subtle sweetness on their own, making a sweetener optional.

The color of this tea is beautiful and it is a big hit at potlucks and parties.

Beet Kvass

Beet kvass is to me what kombucha is to many of my friends. I cannot tolerate kombucha well – I do poorly with almost all fungi in excess – but I make big batches of beet kvass to fill the same niche.

Beet kvass is basically just naturally fermented beet juice, but made in a way that doesn’t allow the beet juice to become alcohol upon fermentation (which would be an easy mistake since beets have such a high sugar content). I use it as a blood builder, such as right around my monthly cycle or for several weeks after giving birth, and as an immune booster. Beets are said to have a wide range of vitamin and mineral content, including Vitamins A, C and the B-complex, as well as iron, copper, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, and trace minerals.

To make beet kvass, you must first find a source of organic beets. It is absolutely essential that the beets are grown organically because genetically modified beets or beets grown on conventionally farmed soil will not have the beneficial bacteria present to ferment into kvass.

I use the beet kvass recipe straight from the Nourishing Traditions cookbook by Sally Fallon. Although I adamantly disagree with her opinions about breastfeeding, her information on soaking grains and naturally fermenting vegetables made this book a worthwhile purchase.

In her beet kvass recipe, you peel and roughly chop 3 medium-sized organic beets into one-inch squares, give or take. Divide the chopped beets into two 1-quart jars. To each jar add 1/8 cup whey and 1 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt (non-iodized). Fill the jars with filtered water, leaving one inch of space at the top of each jar. Loosely screw on the lids (it is very important to loosely screw on the lids, as the carbon dioxide created during the fermentation process needs to escape or it might bust the jar). Leave at room temperature for two days, then transfer to the refrigerator.

The whey you need for fermenting can be hard to find in the U.S. If you have a milk share or access to unpasteurized milk, you can make your own whey by letting a small jar of milk sit out until it separates into curds and whey. I have used 1/8 cup of liquid from other fermented things such as fermented sauerkraut or kimchi in place of the whey. As a last resort, you can try pouring off whey from the highest quality yogurt you can find, then increasing the sea salt to 2 teaspoons per jar.

I usually drink somewhere around 1/2 cup of the beet kvass a day when I have some on hand. My children also like it and ask for it. When the juice is all used up, I usually add the beets to the compost pile, although some people have success with reusing them for one more batch before discarding them.

All naturally fermented vegetables have a cleansing and healing effect on the body and are incredibly beneficial to enjoy on a regular basis. Sourcing the starters and learning the basic process can feel like a steep learning curve and is a deterrent for many people. A good place to ask questions and find sources for starters is your local Weston A. Price meeting. You can visit wapf.org to find a meeting in your area.

Julie Stockman lives in Farmland, Indiana where she homeschools her children with her husband, Jeff. She spends her days baking, gardening, keeping chickens, exploring the nature around them, practicing gratitude and mindfulness, and writing about it all on her blog, Heirloom Homestead.

Other Posts by Julie Stockman:

When Mama Really Does Know Best: Why I Love Tandem Nursing

Organic Food Shopping Tips

Ideas for Finding a Good Naturopath or Nutritionist in Your Area

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Charting Tip: Spotting Before Menstruation

May 4, 2011 – 5:10 pm

By Kimberly Racic, fertility educator and Founder of FertilityFlower.com

Day 1 of your cycle is always the first day of red blood (actual menstrual flow) as opposed to brown (or even pinkish) spotting. Meaning, a pad would be required on Day 1 of your cycle because the bleeding would heavy enough to require it whereas spotting is often just noted when you use the restroom.

Does spotting a few days before your period mean anything? Unfortunately, it’s hard to make grand proclamations. Spotting of a day or two leading up to a true menstrual period (meaning ovulation occurred 12-16 days prior) would typically be considered nothing concerning. If your pre-menstrual spotting lasts more than that, it could be an indication that the corpus luteum is breaking down too soon. Assuming that disorders like endometriosis and fibroids are ruled out, this doesn’t pose a problem for women who are charting to avoid a pregnancy. However, for women who are trying to conceive, the issue with premature breakdown of the corpus luteum is that even if the egg is fertilized, the uterine lining would be shed too early to allow for proper implantation.

The likely culprit behind prematurely dissolving corpus luteum cysts (leading to several days of premenstrual spotting) are levels of progesterone that are too low. Some signals to look for are regular patterns where:

  • Temperatures zigzag up and down around ovulation (meaning, peaks and valleys that oscillate between your pre-ovulatory lows and your post-ovulatory temperatures)
  • Luteal phases are regularly less than 11 days
  • The transition from the follicular phase (the pre-ovulatory phase of your cycle) to the luteal phase (the post-ovulatory phase) takes more than 3 days
  • The transition from the luteal phase to the follicular phase takes more than 3 days
  • Temperatures dip onto or below the coverline during the luteal phase (notice the usuage of the plural…temperatures)

If this sounds like you, cutting out estrogen disruptors (like soy products), eating healthy fats and getting plenty of rest can do wonders. If the problem persists, seeking out qualified help (via a naturopath or a doctor) might be required to correct the situation.

Other charting tips that might be of interest:

How to Deal with Ambiguous Fertility Signs

Treating Seasonal Allergies While Trying to Conceive

Charting in the Postpartum Period

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Charting Tip: How to Deal With Ambiguous Fertility Signs

May 3, 2011 – 2:25 pm

By @FertilityFlower

Women who have ambiguous symptoms leading up to ovulation and are trying to avoid a pregnancy – the best advise is to go with the symptom that keeps you waiting. This is particularly true for women who are lactating, coming off The Pill or some other birth control. Meaning: if you’re cervical fluid is inconsistent but your cervical position says ‘fertile’ – you’re potentially fertile. Wait until ovulation is either confirmed by a temperature shift OR a few days after the fertile (cervical position, cervical fluid, vaginal sensation, etc) goes away to resume intercourse.

Other charting tips that might be of interest:

Spotting Before Menstruation

Treating Seasonal Allergies While Trying to Conceive

Charting in the Postpartum Period

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