Pediatric Ear Infections & The Home Remedy That Works For Us!

Ear infections are one of the most commonly occurring illnesses for children.  With an annual price tag estimated between $3 – 5 Billion, it is worth learning more.

A study out of UCLA has demonstrated a direct correlation between air quality and and the incidence of ear infection in children.

Another study that demonstrates how our health is impacted by our environment.

Home Remedy for Ear Infection

Lil’ Diva recently had an ear infection that we treated using hydrogen peroxide.

This is how my mom treated many of my ear infections, but I couldn’t find any information to  that made me comfortable and my pediatrician advised against it, so I wasn’t sure what to do.  Recently I was watching Dr. Oz and he said this was a home remedy that he used in his home for his children.

We take a the lid of the hydrogen peroxide and fill it with the liquid, saturate a cotton ball and squeeze the contents into the ear.  If there is an infection you will see bubbling in short order.  Lil’ Diva thinks it feels funny.

We then use use a dry cotton ball to absorb the liquid – NO SWABS – ever, ever, ever inside the ear canal!!!

We usually do this 2- 3 times.  Morning, midday and before bed.

I am SUPER sensitive to ear issues, having suffered from chronic ear problems, so I really monitor the children if they have an infection.  If the pain isn’t manageable with Advil or Tylenol I’ll take them in to the doctor pretty quickly.

It’s worth noting that the current evidence suggests that 8 out of 10 ear infections will clear up on their own without the use of Antibiotics.

Read the Full Study here:

Improved Air Quality Linked to Fewer Pediatric Ear Infections.

Remember – I am not a doctor and this post should not substitute the advice of a doctor.  This is just something that has worked in our home for my family!!!

Welcome back to PND. It's good to see you again!Pediatric Ear Infections & The Home Remedy That Works For Us!

The Effect of Heavy Backpacks on Children’s Spines

You see little children carrying large backpacks that seem as big as their little bodies all the time. Do you ever wonder about it’s impact on their little bodies?

Turns out carrying heavy backpacks is bad for a child’s back.  It causes compression of the spinal disk and increased spinal curvature.  Curvature that is likely to be amplified if a backpack is worn over one shoulder.  According to a recent study out of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Carrying heavy backpacks likely has long term implications for the probability of these children experiencing back problems as adults.

This study confirms what common sense should indicate.  The good news is this is preventable!

In the near future:  It’s likely our children will be reading their texts from Kindle or “Kindle Like” devices – This will drastically reduce the weight and the need for lugging around all those texts.

For Now: Make sure they have a backpack with wheels that can be easily rolled without putting pressure on the back!

Read the study:

Heavy Backpacks Affect Children’s Spines.

The Effect of Heavy Backpacks on Children’s Spines

Common Antidepressant Drugs Linked to Lactation Difficulties in Moms

Worth knowing for nursing mothers, or soon to be nursing mothers!

“Breastfeeding benefits both infants and mothers in many ways as breast milk is easy to digest and contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections. The World Health Organization recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. This new study shows that certain common antidepressant drugs may be linked to a common difficulty experienced by new mothers known as delayed secretory activation, defined as a delay in the initiation of full milk secretion.

“The breasts are serotonin-regulated glands, meaning the breasts’ ability to secrete milk at the right time is closely related to the body’s production and regulation of the hormone serotonin,” said Nelson Horseman, PhD, of the University of Cincinnati and co-author of the study. “Common antidepressant drugs like fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs and while they can affect mood, emotion and sleep they may also impact serotonin regulation in the breast, placing new mothers at greater risk of a delay in the establishment of a full milk supply.””

READ THE FULL REPORT:

Common Antidepressant Drugs Linked to Lactation Difficulties in Moms.

Common Antidepressant Drugs Linked to Lactation Difficulties in Moms

Diva Review: Vapour Organic Siren Lipstick

Vapour Beauty is a New Mexico based company that joined forces with renowned make-up artist Erik Sakas.  They created a line of organic beauty products that is made using food grade organic ingredients.

Vapours shares many of the values that we embrace here at PND.  Acknowledging that as our largest organ; care should be taken with what we put on our skin.  Topically applied products will be absorbed into our bodies!  Adding toxins and chemicals will unduly burden our system, contributing to illness and disease.

They recently sent me a sample of their Siren Lipstick to review.

With a Diva Total of 14.8 out of 15 points this product is: Divaliscious!

Click here for review criteria:

8 Points for Skin Deep Low Hazard Rating of 1 - Excellent!
It should be noted that PND input the product ingredients and one item was not found in their database.

2 Points for being Organic – 95% organic content

2 Points for effectiveness – I was concerned that it wouldn’t have very good staying power and while it may not rival those in the extended wear lipstick category it’s certainly surprised me.  It nicely made it through lunch with the girls.  I also enjoyed the conditioning properties in the lipstick.  These days most lipsticks feel very drying on my skin, but the Siren felt hydrating.

1 Point for Texture – The texture of their lipstick was really nice, not sticky or heavy.

1 Point for Fragrance -  The fragrance is delicate and just a little fruity.

.4 Points for Packaging Appearance – Their lipstick comes in a tube and twirls out, much like chapstick.  Part of me missed the conventional twirl out of a more traditional lipstick.  However, when Lil’ Diva got her hands on the tube and I was able to “save” the tube by compacting all the lipstick back together again, I was VERY grateful!

.4 Points for Packaging Sustainability – Vapour uses wind power for all of their manufacturing.  Packaging is either recyclable or made from recycled materials.  We’d love to see all packaging made from post consumer materials, but they’ve made some great choices and hopefully will strive toward that goal.

Overall:

Vapour delivers a high quality organic lipstick using food grade ingredients.  This is fantastic because we wear it on our lips which means we’ll likely be ingesting a little of it!

Siren lipstick is available in 5 colors, desire, hint, knockout, ravish and tempt and retails for $19.

Ready to try Vapor for yourself… find it on www.ShopNBC.com and www.VapourBeauty.com.

Diva Review: Vapour Organic Siren Lipstick

Diva Review: The Looking Book

We have made a real effort to curtail the amount of Television our children watch.  Or at least I have, Dude and I aren’t exactly on the same page.  He thinks I’m doing it the hard way.  And he’s right, there are many times when turning the TV on would be much easier in the short run.

By leaving the Television off and limiting their exposure, I’m convinced they are developing their creativity and learning to come up with their own activities.

They also REALLY look forward to Saturday mornings with their father when they get to watch TV (and mom get’s to sleep in, so we all win!).

Recently, PND was asked to review The Looking Book by P.K. Hallinan.  P.K. has spent his career writing books that help children and parents alike.  With the  Looking Book he continues on that path.    His other books; Heartprints
and How Do I Love You?
are favorites in our family.

The story follows two brothers that go on a magical adventure in their own backyard.  The Looking Book gently encourages young readers to get outside where they can get lost in nature.

Like other P.K. books I found it easy to get energetic and “into” reading this story.  There were a number of places where it was easy to get excited with the kids, play and have fun.  As they explore it was also easy to segway into a conversation with Lil Diva & Dude about all the things they love to do on their outside adventures.

I love reading stories to my children that reinforce the values that we are working hard to instill.  It’s tough out there in this fast paced media driven world and anything that makes it a little easier to pry our children away from the electronics are  much appreciated!

The book is fun to read, is the right length, and has a sweet message with a timeless feel.  We’ll enjoy it for many a story time.

CLICK HERE to learn more about PK Hallinan.

Diva Review: The Looking Book

The LA Green Expo

By Tania Reuben

We are looking forward to attending the Los Angeles green expo this year January 22-24.  Friday is business to business day, so the general public won’t have access. Anyone is welcome Saturday & Sunday. Adult admission is $10 for the weekend, children under 12 are admitted free.
Look for me wandering the exhibition hall with my Press badge.

This year they will be featuring over 250 exhibitors, keynote speakers Ed Begely Jr, Mariel Hemingway, Ralph Avallone, John Picard & Jen Boulden.

If you live in LA it will be worth checking out! I can already feel my head spinning with new ideas.
Oh boy!

The LA Green Expo

FDA Supports Removing PBA’s From Baby Formula!

Hot Off the Press! From the EWG:

Washington, D.C. – Today’s decision by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse its position over the health risks posed by the chemical, bisphenol A (BPA) could be the Waterloo for the ubiquitous estrogen mimicking substance found in the blood and urine of almost every American.

“Today’s announcement by FDA is the beginning of the end of exposing our children to this toxic, hormone-altering chemical during the earliest stages of life,” said Environmental Working Group Senior VP for Research Jane Houlihan. “It represents a victory for parents and children, and validation of the hundreds of independent studies linking BPA to numerous and serious health problems.”

FDA’s 2008 assertion that BPA presented no health concerns relied on just two industry studies and ignored hundreds of independent studies showing serious hazards at very small exposures. The 2008 assessment was sharply rebuked by the agency’s own Science Advisory Board, which called the scientific basis for FDA’s conclusions “inadequate”.

“This reversal by the new leadership at FDA ends nearly a decade of agency collusion with BPA manufacturers,” added EWG’s co-founder and Senior VP for Policy and Communications, Richard Wiles. “We hope this signals the beginning of a new era for health protections from FDA, based on 21st century science.”

HHS has assembled a number of tips for parents trying to reduce their children’s exposure. The list of tips is available online here: http://www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa/

Related Reading:

Diva Guide: Plastics & Your Baby
BPA’s & Infants
Use Less Plastics in Your Home

FDA Supports Removing PBA’s From Baby Formula!

Diva Recipes: Tuna Noodle Casserole

By Tania Reuben

Tuna Casserole is a staple in many American kitchens. Comfort food.
Lil’ Diva hasn’t met a noodle she doesn’t like, so this mama has had to master the art of making some American favorites just a little healthier.
We use lots of vegetables, less cheese, whole wheat noodles and flax meal in the topping to increase the nutrients in this staple recipe.

See if this one works for your family!

Ingredients

3 Cups of Diced Mixed Vegetables
1-2 6 oz Cans of Tuna

1-2 Teaspoons of Grapeseed Oil
1 Teaspoons of Italian Seasonings
1 Cup Vegetable Broth
1 Cup of Milk
2 1/2 Tablespoons Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
1 Teaspoon of Onion Powder
3/4 Cup of Frozen Peas
1/2 Cup of Spinach
1/4 Cup of grated Sharp Cheddar

Topping
1/4 Cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1/2 Tablespoon of flax meal
1/2 Teaspoon of salt
1/4 Cup of Parmesan
1/4 Teaspoon of pepper

1 lb Whole Wheat Spiral Noodles

Boil Water – Cook Noodles. Set aside.

Saute Mixed Vegetables in grapeseed oil until the vegetables are soft, add seasonings. Mix in flour. Add broth and allow to simmer and thicken. Add tuna, peas and spinach until they are cooked. Pour in the milk. Once warmed add the Cheddar.

Set oven to broil.

Combine all the topping ingredients.

Put the noodles in a casserole dish, combine with the sauce. Cover casserole with topping. Set under broiler until the topping is toasted.

Diva Recipes: Tuna Noodle Casserole

Diva Review: The Diva Cup

Gentlemen… this one is not for you. We’ll be discussing matters you’d rather know nothing about. I can’t even suggest you forward this to your spouse – she might take it the wrong way.

Ladies – for the duration of our “childbearing years” with varying degrees of regularity we all have to deal with our monthly cycle and all the joy it encompasses.

This monthly joy typically involves an arsenal of bleached feminine hygiene products. I’ve attempted to do some research on the health implications of using bleached tampons inside of our body and if there is information out there I’ve been unable to find it. Switching to unbleached and recycled tampons is no doubt an improvement.

I recently discovered a product called the Diva Cup and while this solution has it’s drawbacks, in my view it’s benefits are outstanding.  The Diva Cup is a small cylindrical silicon cup.  It reminds me a little bit of diaphragm’s I’ve seen (never tried one, so can’t speak to that).

Benefits

Safe, medical grade silicon is known to be non toxic to our bodies.

Correctly placed the Diva Cup is more comfortable than tampons.

No need to keep buying tampons or pads.

No need to carry extra supplies when you travel or are out and about.

Nothing gross to wrap or hide in the wastebasket.

Heavier flow just needs to be emptied more often, no additional products!

No “rip cord” dangling around. Nadda… Nothing… Fabulous! How gross is the rip cord. This reason alone will prevent me from ever going back to the old way!

With the caveat below – no bulky pad. Nadda… Nothing… Fabulous.

Less odor. Seriously! Smelled fresher, felt fresher.

Did I mention how comfortable it was.

What You Need To Know

The Diva Cup is not for the faint of heart. If you would not be comfortable inserting a applicator free tampon chances are you won’t be comfortable with this. It’s only a little bit more involved, but let’s just say there is only one way in.

It did take me a little time to learn how to tell if the Diva Cup was correctly situated. Users will quickly learn that if it doesn’t feel right, it’s not in correctly.  This is not a matter of leakage, rather it will feel a little uncomfortable if it’s not placed correctly.

You will need be rinsing out your cup, again not for the squeamish.

You MUST rotate the Cup one full circle – it says so in the instructions. When you do, it is leek free, comfortable and a delight. If you don’t – you might have a leek. It’s like screwing a lid on a jar… if you don’t turn it all the way the liquid won’t stay where you need it to stay.

You will want to wash the cup with a non toxic safe soap – The Diva Wash is a plant based, petroleum based option.

Environmentally Speaking

If you are looking for an environmental reason to make the switch consider the fact that in the US alone over 55.9 million women are using feminine hygiene products. These products need to be manufactured, disposed of and purchased over and over again. That’s 55.9 million women every month!

Conclusion
There is a learning curve to using this product. I’d suggest the first few times using a panty liner in the event that you have any leakage. Having said that my obligation to The Diva Cup will end when this giveaway is over and I won’t be going back to my old ways!  The Diva Cup is just so much better, so much more comfortable, and you can use it over and over again.

It’s not perfect, but if you took away the environmental benefits and ignored that it’s likely safer than tampons and only judged it as which method was superior – I would pick the Diva Cup.

Move past any squeamishness. Take the time to read the instructions and make the switch!

CLICK HERE to input your zip/postal code to find a retailer near you.

Congratulations to Heather S!  You’ve won the Diva Cup and full size Diva Wash!

HOW TO ENTER:

There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.

Mandatory:

Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.
– The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
– Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.

Additional Entries

1. Go to The Diva Cup and tell PND what size you would be or share something you learned.

2. Stumble, Digg, Kirsty or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.

3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) & Diva Cup on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.

4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & Diva Cup on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.

5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “Diva Giveaway: Win The Diva Cup http://bit.ly/8kJga, Ladies this is for you! @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.

6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!

This giveaway will run through midnight on Feb 13, 2010 PDT.  The  winner will be announced in the PND newsletter  Feb 15, 2010. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries.  Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S & Canada.

alt=”MckLinky Blog Hop” longdesc=”http://www.mcklinky.com” />

target=”_blank”>Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….

Diva Review: The Diva Cup

The Final 8 – Losing the Last of the Baby Weight!

By Tania Reuben

Lil Dude was born 3 years ago!

I think I’m considered lucky; during my first pregnancy I gained 22 lbs and for my second 17 lbs – ducking to avoid incoming flying objects.  I was nauseous and queasy for all of both of them, but most people still consider me fortunate because I didn’t gain, 30, 40 or more pounds.

However, 3 years later. I’m still carrying 8 of those pounds and had the muffing top to prove it!  My new size 6 frame is just fine, especially since I’ve given birth twice!  I get it.  My self image and esteem is perfectly healthy.  I know I can do better.  I can eat more regularly and step up my exercise.  I don’t need to be a size 4 again, but see no good reason why I can’t get back to my pre baby weight… full disclosure… 128lbs.

I’ve been fortunate in that throughout my life I’ve never  been a dieter.  I’ve eaten carefully with moderation, limit my snacking and whenever the scale creeps up a little – I’d reign it in a little.   That would take care of keeping me trim – ducking again.

Then I had babies!

Pretty much weeks after my delivery I was a few pounds away from my current weight.  I figured that a little exercise and moderation would get me back.  Not so much.  But I was still a size six, so not all was lost.

Last fall I decided I wanted to get back to my pre baby weight, so I started working out  consistently and watching my evening snacking.  Nothing – well almost nothing.  I dropped 1.5 lbs. So… I’m stepping it up.  Not sure where the motivation is coming from.  Perhaps I figure if I head into my forties with this weight… a bad precedent could be set.  Not cool.

I am determined to shed the final 8 lbs.  DETERMINED.

THE PLAN

I’m working out with friends 3 times a week at mommy bootcamp adding

wii Yoga on off days

Stairmaster, with some strengthening exercises if I miss a bootcamp.

I’m being diligent about my diet.  Most notably eating.  Breakfast.  Lunch and Dinner.

The experts seem to agree that if you state a goal and declare it publicly you are statistically more likely to achieve that goal.

I’m keeping  a food diary, but not so much for calorie counting or diet modification… more to make sure I don’t skip meals!  I need to get my metabolism stepped up .  I’m using the free iphone application – www.myfitnesspal.com to track my eating.  I like that it comes with me wherever I go. I’m talking with the folks at at myfitnesspal to see if there is a way I can share my diary on PND.

By the way.  Dr. Oz is really focusing on healthy weight loss on his show.  Tivo it for great whole living advice!

FULL DISCLOSURE:

I weigh 136 pounds and my BMI is 26% (pinch test) or 22% (wii).

My goal weigh is 125 (3lbs less than my 128 pre baby weight) by April 5.

Measurements: Waist 34″ Hips 41″ Arms 12″ Legs 22″

WEIGH IN FEB 2, 2010

I weigh 130 pounds and my BMI is 25.7% (pinch test) or 21% (wii).

Measurements: Waist 31″ Hips 40″ Arms 12″ Legs 21.5″

Down a Total of: 6 lbs and 3.5 inches

WEIGH IN MARCH 4, 2010

I weigh 128 pounds and my BMI is 25.7% (pinch test) or 20.9% (wii).

Measurements: Waist 30.5″ Hips 38″ Arms 12″ Legs 21″

Down a Total of: 8lbs and 7 inches

I figure if I’m going to put some effort into this I might as well bump up my goal a little bit too!  I could have been a few pounds trimmer when I got pregnant the fist time!

Anyone want to join me in their fitness and health goals? 
They always say the last few pounds are the most difficult!

If you want to see exactly what I’m eating my food diary is being posted on: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/PureNaturalDiva
Access using code: PND
When keeping the diary. I’ll choose the food that is closest to what I ate, perhaps not the actual brand. If it’s pasta, I’m eating whole wheat.

MyFitnessPal – Free Calorie Counter

The Final 8 – Losing the Last of the Baby Weight!

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