Pregnancy Chiropractic

Pregnancy Chiropractic a Great Addition to Pre-Natal Care

Pregnancy is a time of so many changes. The physical changes that a woman’s body undergoes during while carrying a baby are unmatched at any other time in life. Changes in center of gravity, musculoskeletal adjustments, and hormonal shifts often lead to aches and pains. These aches and pains are often caused by malpositions in the skeletal system which directly affects the position of the uterus which affects the position of the baby. Pregnancy chiropractic care throughout the pregnancy can help prevent and treat aches and pains and lead to a safer and easier birth for both Mom and baby.

As a pregnant woman’s belly grows, her center of gravity shifts. The change happens so quickly that it’s often difficult for her low back and pelvis to accommodate the extra weight in front. The stress on these areas result in misalignments (chiropractors call them subluxations) of the bones in the back and pelvis. These misalignments are often the cause of pregnancy aches and pains.

In addition to being painful, these misalignments also affect the position of the uterus. The uterus is tethered inside the pelvis by sets of ligaments. When the bones that these ligaments attach to are out of place it affects these ligaments and causes torsion of the uterus. When the uterus is not sitting properly in the pelvis the baby must alter his position to accommodate. A malpositioned baby can make for a more difficult birth.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is gentle, specific, and safe. To find a chiropractor who treats pregnant women visit the International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association at www.icpa4kids.org.

Written By: Dr. Cristina Ramirez

Dr. Ramirez is a chiropractor who focuses on holistic medicine in her practice.  She is also an active member of the International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association, the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association, the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association, and a leader for the Wisconsin chapter of the Holistic Moms Network.  Her advice is brought to you by My Baby Clothes in an effort to help better the lives of families.  When your little angel arrives, check out their selection of the most affordable and adorable selections of baby headbands, tutus and even newborn hats.

Have you sought Pregnancy Chiropractic care during your pregnancy?

Natural First Finger Foods for Infants

During the finger food stage of feeding your little one my favorites are (Organic):

Puffed Wheat

Puffed Kamut (related to wheat) – larger and easier for little hands to grasp

Puffed Brown Rice

Puffed Corn

Brown Rice Cakes – Unsalted

* Don’t forget the fruits and vegetables.  You can cook and chop into small pieces any vegetable or non soft fruit that you might feed them at meal time.

Earth Day Money Saving Eco Friendly Tips

For Earth Day – I decided to put together a few of my favorite green money saving tips.

You’ve switched out your florescent light bulbs, sealed your drafty windows and bought energy efficient appliances when you updated your kitchen.  What else can you do?  Well the truth is there are countless things you can do.

Paperless Paper Towels

Create a paperless paper towel system – it costs very little to set up and will save many dollars over the course of a year!

Foaming Hand Soap

Make your own foaming hand soap – with hand soap ringing in at $3-5 per bottle – it doesn’t take long for this to pay off – readers will benefit by having a triclosan free hand wash – not using, disposing, transporting and manufacturing of about 50 containers per year and they will save about $180 a year.  Multiply that by the size of your community and you get the idea of the impact this small step would have if every family did this!

Waste Free Lunches

Pack Waste Free Lunches – Send your children to school with waste free lunches and if this seems overwhelming for you to go waste free for your own lunches, take baby steps.  Start with a goal of 2 lunches per week and build from there!

Bonus – BYOB

Bring Your Own Bottle – If you aren’t already doing this – why not?  It’s easy, good for the environment and you’ll save money too!  Don’t like the stainless – try glass.  They are heavier to carry, but extremely durable (think – bounce off concrete) and dishwasher safe.

I selected these things because they require very little investment, and have a quick payback.  Once you get in the habit you’ll be saving a little green and living a little greener.

Nothing on this list is monumental – they are all little things.  Little things that added together and multiplied can grow into a meaningful difference.

Green Your Toddlers: Easy ways to teach your child be green

The toddler years seem to be filled with waste.

I’m saddened by the food that we waste in our home daily. Did you know we throw out enough food to feed 49 million people every year? Not to mention water, supplies, diapers, birthdays and so on…

My children are toddlers, but we have started to teach them, begun to plant seeds of awareness.

Awareness that they shouldn’t be wasteful, awareness that what they do in their home impacts beyond them.

Opportunities for teaching children to conserve are endless and can be implemented throughout our daily lives as they arise and as is appropriate for the age of your child.

As I’ve searched for ideas to “green our toddlers” I’ve found many ideas and lots of cool lists. What I haven’t found as readily is what people are doing in their homes – real life experiences.

So this post talks about things that you can do with your child. When you finish reading the ideas – click through to find out how we work these ideas into our daily lives.

Take what works for you and build from there!

1. Water – teach them to use less.
2. Teach them to recycle.
3. Teach them not to be wasteful.
4. Buy quality and teach them to take care of what they have.
5. Teach them not to litter.
6. Drink water from a cup or reusable water container.
7. Turn off the lights, unplug the “stuff”
8. Donate – when you are done with something donate to a worthy organization
9. Waste free lunches.
10. Recycle your batteries safely and/or switch to rechargeable batteries.

Other places to look for ideas:

Kids National Geographic
Naturally Savvy

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More Vegetables Please? Getting Your Kids to Eat Vegetables

Do you dream that your children – or in my case husband – will ask this question at the dinner table?

You’re not alone – It’s just a dream in my home too! Do you know that ideally we would consume 9 – 1/2 cup servings of fruits and vegetables a day and should have no less than 5! Some of my friends seem mystified by how many vegetables my children eat, so I’m giving away my secret.

Many people are familiar with hiding puree’s in your food. I do use this technique, but need it less and less as my children eat their vegetables without me having to hide them.

My secret is diced mixed vegetables. Every week I dice up a giant dish full of mixed vegetables – this mix typically contains onions, red pepper, green pepper, zucchini, and celery. Sometimes I will add grated carrot or diced yellow squash. Really you can add almost anything.

Once you have this mix – add it to everything you cook that week at the end of 5-7 days cook up whatever is left and put it in the freezer for use on a day when you are out of the fresh mix.

We use this mix to up the veggie count in spaghetti sauce (1/2 vegetable and 1/2 meat), shepherd’s pie, tuna noodle casseroles and other comfort foods. I put it in mac & cheese, quesidilla, enchilladas, burritos, rice pilaf, soups, ready made spaghetti sauces (my kids never met a noodle they didn’t love!) and eggs. Basically if I’m cooking – there are mixed vegetables going in.

Once the mixed vegetables are in, I also add chopped frozen spinach to most dishes and other vegetables that are part of the dish. For example, in our home peas are part of shepherd’s pie and tuna casserole.

It’s also a good idea to add flax meal to any dish that will hide it’s dark color, 1-2 tablespoons in the sauce. A tablespoon in the pancakes or french toast egg mix. You won’t taste it, but you will amp up the nutritional value.

So there you have it. You are hiding vegetables, but they still know they are there.

Some of you may find your eaters pick around the vegetables (I’m OK with this, they can’t get them all) and in my experience they will eventually give up with most dishes. My daughter used to pick around the vegetables in spaghetti sauce and after enough nights of “you can’t have more noodles until you eat the sauce”… the sauce is now eaten with the noodles.

We just need to be more persistent and consistent than they are.

Drowning In Junk Mail

 

 

 

Is You Mailbox Full Of Junk Mail?

We  all get so much junk mail! It’s such a waste – ending up right directly in the recycling in our home.

How Many Trees Does It take to Produce Junk Mail

Did you know It takes 53 million trees to make the 19 billion catalogs that are sent every year?

Don’t despair – with a few simple steps stem the flow of junk mail to your mailbox and get OFF the dreaded mailing lists that are causing the flow.

It will take about 15 minutes to fill out a few online forms.  These simple steps will  reduce the paper invasion to your home and help stop junk mail!

When filling out the forms – Don’t forget to remove both yourself and your spouse or significant other.

Direct Marketing Association

The Direct Marketing Association will put your name on a “do not mail” list, which all its members must cross-reference before sending you a solicitation. This site represents marketers, so they will get you to jump through a hoop or two. In addition for companies that you have done business with, you will need to contact them directly.

If you are worried about missing special offers, you can always open an email account just for “junk mail”.

Another tip for special offers -  google a vendor before completing a purchase – often you’ll find all there current special offers.

https://www.dmachoice.org

Consumer Credit Reporting Industry

The Consumer Credit Reporting Industry will remove your name from the mailing lists that credit card companies use to send out offers. You will have to provide your SS information, so I went to a few sites that I trusted before I was comfortable proceeding – you can’t be too careful.

https://www.optoutprescreen.com

Phone Books

If you aren’t using them – why receive them. They are bulking take up space and use a lot of paper.

This organization will contact all phone book companies in your area and remove you from their lists!

YellowPagesGoesGreen.org

Or the number for individual companies using the following information:

AT&T  1-866-329-7118

Superpages 1-800-888-8448

Yellow book has made it easy – go to http://corporate.yellowbook.com/products/print-directory-options-opt-out/

When calling to cancel your phone book be sure to tell them they don’t need to call you annually to confirm you still don’t want the phone book! They actually said if they call and don’t reach you, they will resume regular delivery! But after a short conversation the representative was able to set it up so that we receive no phone calls and no phone books. Beautiful!

Online Bill Pay

You can also set up many of your bills to be paperless and to pay them online – if you’re worried about missing an important bill you can always set up an email account to be used exclusively for bills.

If there is a “Stop Junk Mail” resource we have missed, please let us know!

Tips for Greener Living

1. Before You Buy – Use What You Have.

Chances are you have a lot of stuff in your closets waiting to be used!  I’ve recently broken a habit of buying bulk.  One of my challenges has been to use what I have before moving on to greener and better options. Don’t we just get excited and want to go shopping!

Dig around. You’ll be surprised at what you have – using what you have is better than a green acquisition. In the PND pantry we still have 3 boxes of plastic Costco cutlery, 1200 paper napkins, ribbon, gift wrap, moisturizers, conditioners, sunscreens… you get the idea.  We’re working on it!

2. Take Care of The Things You Own!

Taking care of your “stuff” values the resources that went into making it!  You’ll keep them longer and reducing  impact by not having to replace it. Your home, cars, clothing, shoes, toys, etc… will all benefit from being well taken care of. And the environment will thank you, if it’s taken care of it’s less likely to be tossed when you are done with it.  It’s more likely that you’ll be able to pass it along to a new home when you’re done with it.

Teaching your children to care for their things will impart values that will last a lifetime.

3. Pick just one area of your life to green!

Wherever you are in your green journey… whether you are just beginning or an ecosavant, pick ONE new area to work on. Once mastered you can add another, another, another… you get the idea. Living a greener, healthier life is a journey that starts with one step.

4. Buy Organic

Start buying organic in a new area of you life.

You may have bought organic food, or this might be new for you.  You may buy organic dairy, but haven’t moved into the produce section yet.  Pick a new area to explore the benefits of organic.

If you’ve never bought organic cotton or denim, next time you’re shopping keep your eyes and mind open. Ask the stores you shop at.  Even if you make a conventional selection, asking the questions will help spread the word that customers care and want to see more options.  You may even find organic options in places you don’t expect.  This last holiday season I was able to buy organic cotton casual clothing for lil’ Diva at Walmart and Organic PJ’s for both the kids at Costco.

Keep your eyes peeled and ASK!

5. Buy Fair Trade

I buy fair trade chocolate. I figure chocolate is something I don’t NEED. It’s a luxury.  I figure, if it’s a luxury I can step up and make sure children aren’t picking the cocoa beans for my chocolate.  It’s been fun, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect fair trade organic fix to my chocolate cravings.

It doesn’t have to be chocolate, you could pick coffee, clothing, bananas, again… sometimes starting in an area of your life that is already a splurge will make it a little easier to spend that little bit extra that fair trade calls for.

You’ll be surprised how it will inspire you!

6. Buy Quality

Can’t find what you are looking for organic or fair trade, buy good quality. It will last and when you’re done you’ll be able to pass it on.  As a country we have become accustomed to buying everything in quantity.  We can take a page out of the Europeans’ book, attempt to retrain our sense of value.  Buy fewer high quality items, moving away from our culture’s more, more, more frame of mind.  Look for items that are made in your country too, supporting your own economy.

5. When You’re Done with Something – Pass It On!

When you are done with something, find a new home for it! We had a rug that our dogs had scratched. I listed it on Craigslist with pictures of the damage, within 30 minutes I had 10 people that wanted it. When we we’re renovating I listed mirrors, sinks, hardware… whatever I thought someone else might find useful…. and they came. These items were destined for the landfill, but with not too much effort were taken away and used by others.

That said – this is one of my areas of weakness. I have a hard time saying goodbye to my stuff. I’m sure it comes from growing up really poor!

6. Reusable Water Bottles

If you don’t have a reusable water bottle and a way to filter your water.  Get one and start using it!

Get in the habit of taking your bottles and the children’s bottles ALL THE TIME.  In particular parties, sporting events and school.  Eventually if host/ess’ start seeing guests arriving equipped with their own beverage containers they won’t feel the need to buy bottled water for their parties.  We put out iced tea, water with glasses.

7. Group you errands into similar geographic regions.

Saves trips, saves gas, saves time!  SCORE!

8. Detox Your Beauty!

When I first began the journey to detox my beauty routine, I started by using up what I had (still doing this of a few things!) and replacing them with safer options!  I encourage everyone to do this.  The next item you are running low on, replace it with something better.  Use PND to help find the replacement that is right for you.  Knowing what I know now, if I was pregnant, I wouldn’t use the “use it up” method.  I would make the switch immediately.

Do this for your children first if you have them!  Their developing systems are more vulnerable to the toxins in their environment.

9. Pay attention to Preservatives and Additives.

While you are shopping, get in the habit of reading labels!  If you can’t read the name of the ingredient, chances are you’d be better off with a different option.  You’ll be surprised – pick up pickle relish and 2 brands will contain HFCS, one will not… easy healthier switch.

10.  Use Less Canned Foods.

Chances are you’ve heard about BPA’s in the news, in particular concern over plastics and baby bottles.  But did you know how we ingest the most BPA’s – Canned Food.  Opt for glass packaging over canned to minimize your families exposure!

11. Green Your Parties!

Parties can be a huge source of waste.  We opt for convenience, buy a lot of pre packaged, convenient entertainment foods.  We serve foods on paper or plastic plates, drink from countless paper & plastic cups.  Start adding up the cost of all that convenience and not only are you throwing a lot of hard earned money in the landfill, but that plastic will live there forever.

One year we were getting ready for a super bowl party and did the math.  For the cost of buying paper goods, we were able to purchase inexpensive white plates, glasses and wine glasses from IKEA.  We use these for our parties -  including the parties for the little ones.  It may take a little extra effort, but I never have to run out to the store for cups and plates last minute!  Next on the list is to get party flatware.

You can also find reasonably priced “catering” sets at Pottery Barn, Cost Plus, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

The pre-packaged food options.  Sometimes it’s easy to succumb to the ease of this ready to go food, but for so much less money you can buy really nice, high quality foods,  fruits and vegetables.

You might even find with all the money you’re saving on prepared foods and paper goods that you can spend your savings on getting an extra set of hands to help you at the party!

If you can’t bear the thought of these suggestions buy eco friendly disposables.  You can find them at Smart & Final, Whole Foods and such.  You are looking for plastics that can be Compostable.  This typically means they will biodegrade in a few weeks.  Compostable plastics can be placed in our “green” garbage bins in Los Angeles.  With a little research you can find out if you can compost with your yard waste in your area (in the event you don’t have one in your yard)!

12. Clean Green

Start cleaning your home with green cleaners or make your own formulas using some of our easy recipes.  You’ll reduce the toxins you are breathing in your home after you’ve cleaned it.

I’ll never forget an Oprah “ah ha” moment for me… “CLEAN DOESN’T HAVE A SMELL“!

Extra Credit: Use less plastic!

Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Choose products with less plastic packaging. Choose items packaged in glass. Store your leftovers in glass.

You Can Do It!

I know, I know… I missed so many things… you can do those things too!

I hope these tips inspire you to find new things you can do to have a healthier, happier, greener life!

SHARE WHAT YOU PLAN TO GREEN IN YOUR LIFE!

The Twinkie Report: 12 Preservatives to Avoid

PND recently found an article on MSN Health and Fitness 12 Preservative to Avoid, it seemed worth sharing.  The article briefly lists MSN Healths picks for the top 12 additives and preservatives to avoid and briefly explains why.  This list has inspired PND to create a new series.

We’re calling it ~ The Twinkie Report.

The 12 preservatives to avoid:

Sodium Nitrate

Propyl Gallateu usually used in conjunction with BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydrozyttoluene)

Propyl gallate

MSG – Monosodium glutamate – AKA Natural Flavorings

Trans fats

Aspartame

Acesulfame-K – Another Sweetener

Food colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; and Yellow 6

Olestra

Potassium bromate

White sugar

Sodium chloride

In future installments PND plans on going through each preservative on the list to learn even more about why we should be avoiding them.

Some questions we’ll ask:

• What is it?
• Why Should we avoid it?
• Where is it used/Which Foods?
• What can we do/use instead?

We’re not sure exactly why we’re picking on the Twinkie – except when thinking about the ultimate in non food, preservative laden food ~ The Twinkie comes to mind first!  Then we found this picture, which keeps making us laugh.

On side note I don’t think we’ll be doing any hostess giveaways in the near future.  Apologies to our readers.

What exactly is in the Twinkie – not much that can be considered real food from our research.

Digging a little deeper the top twinkie ingredients are:

1. Enriched Wheat Flour – enriched with ferrous sulphate (iron), B vitamins (niacin, thiamine mononitrate [B1],ribofavin [B12] and folic acid).
2. Sugar
3. Corn syrup
4. Water
5. High fructose corn syrup
6. Vegetable and/or animal shortening – containing one or more of partially hydrogenated soybean, cottonseed or canola oil, and beef fat.
7. Dextrose
8. Whole eggs

According to Steve Ettlinger’s book, Twinkie Deconstructed, five ingredients come from rocks and other ingredients like cellulose gum, Polysorbate 60, and calcium sulfate… These ingredients are also used in sheet rock, shampoo, and rocket fuel.

We’re looking forward to learning more and sharing with you over the coming weeks.

First up: Sodium Nitrate.