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A New Non-Dairy Milk Alternative: Hemp Milk

By on April 20, 2009 in health & nutrition, recipes & kitchen tips

Did you know that hemp seed contains more essential fatty acids than any other source? Did you also know that it is second only to soybeans in being a complete protein (although far more digestible for humans)? Hemp milk is a newer addition to your milk choices on the market just over the last two years. It may very well be the best alternative milk choice for the dairy free, but also have an appealing call to others as well, including myself. I originally heard about this product from a reader and began my own research. Come to find out, hemp milk is actually very nutritious for you!

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Guest Post: Three Herbal Healers

By on April 7, 2009 in health & nutrition
Guest post by Kristen at Simply Kristen where she writes on herbs, homesteading and natural living.

Have you ever started researching something new, bought a bunch of supplies just sure it would work out just right, then be disappointed and feel like you spent money carelessly? Well, if you haven’t – I know I have a few too many times! Herbs, just like any hobby or new research area, can be a waste of money in the beginning if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why I’m going to share three Herbal Healers that cost next to nothing and you’ll find easy success with- I know I have!

Two of the three Herbal Healers can be found at most large grocery stores, and one right in your yard! They are: Aloe Vera, Plantain, and Garlic.

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Vaccines: What to do?

By on March 27, 2009 in bellies & babies, health & nutrition

I have received several emails inquiring as to what our family has decided in regards to vaccines. As we prayerfully evaluated which route would be the best for our family, we found the following resources to be extremely helpful. I do not desire to raise a debate, nor am I any sort of doctor, but rather my desire is to share some interesting resources. It is important for each of us to make an informed decision!

The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child by Dr. Sears is a very informative and balanced approach on all the different types of vaccines. The Vaccine Book is divided into 19 chapters. The first 12 chapters are each devoted to a different vaccine. Within each vaccine chapter, Dr. Sears discusses:

  • What the disease is
  • When the vaccine is given
  • How the vaccine is made
  • What ingredients are in the vaccine
  • What are the side effects of the vaccine
  • Should you give your baby the vaccine (including both reasons for and against, as well as travel considerations)
  • The way Dr. Sears sees it

According to Dr. Sears, the main concern currently is the addition of aluminum to certain vaccines. Mercury was removed since 2002 with the exception of the flu shot and trace amounts in a few vaccines, but aluminum and other chemicals (including formaldehyde) remain…

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All the Wonderful Uses of Coconut Oil

By on March 4, 2009 in health & nutrition, recipes & kitchen tips

One product that pretty much does it all for us! Coconut oil!

Coconut oil is a highly saturated tropical oil derived from coconuts of the coconut palm tree. Traditionally it has provided many health benefits to the peoples who live in areas of the tropics and subtropics where coconut palms grow. Many newly discovered health benefits are now being unearthed through careful research and use in clinical practices.

We have been lead to believe that saturated fats are the dietary contributor to heart disease.

According to Sue Gregg, “There is a double reason not to fear coconut oil. First, it is highly debatable that saturated fats cause heart disease. Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD in The Cholesterol Myths (www.NewTrends Publishing.com) presents the facts of exhaustive research over the decades to disprove this theory. Secondly, the saturated fat of coconut oil is different than the long chain fatty acids of meats and also of polyunsaturated fats.” Read the full article here. Read more from Nourishing Traditions and the Weston A. Price Foundation counter-acting the false beliefs about coconut oil here.

Coconut oil has been called the “healthiest dietary oil on earth.”

Health benefits include:

- May help promote weight loss
- Provides an immediate source of energy
- Supplies fewer calories than other fats
- Supplies important nutrients necessary for good health
- Is highly resistant to spoilage (long shelf life)
- Is heat resistant (the healthiest oil for cooking)

According to The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife:

- Protects against heart disease, cancer & diabetes
- Acts as an antioxidant in its resistance to attack by free radicals,
protecting against degenerative diseases, in general.
- Protects from a range of infectious diseases. Fife lists 28 infectious
and degenerative disease conditions that coconut oil can help to relieve,
reduce or prevent.

I thought it would be fun to compile a master list of all the wonderful uses of coconut oil that we have found in our household. Here it goes…

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Water Filters: What do you recommend?

By on February 25, 2009 in health & nutrition

Amy asked: I was wondering if you filter your water, and if so, what filter system you use? I’ve been distilling for 15 years, but am looking to change to a filter in order to keep minerals in our water.  I would be interested in any information you have on the subject.

I simply use the water filtration system that came with my refrigerator, as my area does not have flouride added to the water, so it does filter out the chlorine.

I did come across this Q & A from the Weston A Price Foundation:

Q. I have heard that reverse osmosis filters remove minerals, is that true?

A. Yes, RO filters take out all the minerals, but they also are the only way to take out all the fluoride. So if you have fluoridated water, use an RO filter and then add minerals back in via mineral drops.

I have heard good reviews about the filtration system that Urban Homemaker’s (an excellent Christian natural resource company) sells: Multi-Pure Water Purification. If you subscribe to her e-mail list, it seems like it is always going on sale! Currently, you can get a free shower filter with the purchase of one of these systems.

I would love to hear what recommendations might come from the readers! The floor is open!

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New Year Goals for 2009

By on January 9, 2009 in building the family, health & nutrition

With God, all things are possible! That is my theme this year! By His strength, I desire to make purposeful small steps in the direction of growing in my ability to cook healthy and nourishing meals, to be a better steward of the earth, and most importantly to grow in godliness and Christ-likeness. If it is not first centered on glorifying Christ, than all else is vain! Thank you to Kimi’s motivation in heading up the Nourishing New Year’s Resolutions Carnival, I sat down to purposefully plan out some new healthy goals for the new year.  I am including all my new year goals here as a means of accountability and to share ideas and resources with others. If any of you lovely ladies have any resources to share to help me accomplish these goals, please do! My goal is to accomplish one goal per category per month, with a bit of a break for the baby’s arrival.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31

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Cold Solutions & Energy Booster: Emergen-C

By on January 7, 2009 in health & nutrition

Emergen-C is a great natural product to have around your house, especially during cold season. Drink a glass (one packet mixed with 8 oz of water) a day to keep your immune system built up or increase your intake at the first signs of a cold (which is what we do at our house!). Pumped full of 1000 mg of vitamin C, it also has a good portion of energy boosting B vitamins, in addition to various minerals and electrolytes.  This will keep you healthy or kick out those nasty colds quickly! It is a fun and fizzy drink with a very pleasant taste. Instead of buying the children’s version, which is basically just half the vitamin C mg count, I just give Karis a half pack of this standard product, keeping the cost down. She loves it! Our favorite way of taking it is in combination with orange juice when we have that around. We buy a box for $7.99 at our local Trader Joe’s, which has the best price in my understanding, and lasts us a good few months. Our favorite flavor is raspberry. Other carriers include Fred Meyer Nutrition, or Amazon here: Emergen-C. Your local Safeway or Wal-mart also may carry it. This is definitely far more natural, frugal and effective than all those cold/flu remedies available on the marketplace. In my opinion and experience, this is far more effective than Airborne!

It is definitely worth a try, so sign up for a free sample at Emergen-C!

It works for us!
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Natural Insomnia Help

By on December 20, 2008 in bellies & babies, health & nutrition

Praise the Lord I have been able to sleep well the last two nights, thanks to some helpful tips from some of my readers and my midwife. These are helpful suggestions for those who deal with insomnia in or outside of pregnancy. The top two suggestions are what I have been doing primarily and seeing a vast improvement!

1. Calcium/Magnesium – regulate relaxation, especially with muscle tension and physical restlessness. Take approximately 2000 mg of calcium and 1000 mg of magnesium before going to bed (they are usually balanced properly in a cal/mag supplement). Best in a liquid combination form. If you take in tablets you will have to drink a large glass of water to swallow that many pills which results in an increased amount of times having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night (at least for the pregnant ladies).

Foods rich in magnesium include: legumes and seeds, dark leafy green vegetables, wheat bran, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, brewer’s yeast, and whole grains. Food rich in calcium include: dairy products, canned fish with bones, nuts, fruits, vegetables, dried beans, rice beverages, molasses, and some leafy greens.

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Organic Milk: Is it worth it?

By on November 13, 2008 in health & nutrition, recipes & kitchen tips

“Organic” labeled milk is becoming a huge rage!  It seems that many people are assuming that the word “organic” on milk containers means healthy. Yes, it may very well be better for the environment, and a means of taking better care of the animals, but are the health claims correct? The word “organic” includes a doubled price tag, so it is worthy to consider.

I am convinced that organic milk can only be slightly better than conventional milk. Why?

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Bring in houseplants!

By on November 10, 2008 in health & nutrition, natural & green

Houseplants are a wonderful means of bringing fresh and clean air and oxygen into your home! In fact, they are perhaps the most sophisticated air-purification system available at a more frugal cost! They absorb carbon dioxide and chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene, and provide a healthy level of humidity. Plus they bring a little creation into your home (part of that creative mothering), displaying some of God’s creativity in each unique plant that He created, encouraging a little love of nature when it is not necessarily able to be enjoyed out of doors as in the current winter season. They provide such elegant decorations to our homes as well!

The EPA estimates that indoor air is 2 to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. How is this possible? Contributors include that variety of furniture, carpeting, ply-wood, adhesives, mattresses, and shower curtains.

According to Renee Loux in Easy Green Living: “Two small plants or one medium size plant per 100 square feet will provide fresh air and healthy, mold-free humidity in any room so everyone can breathe deeply with ease.”

What are the most effective plants for completing this task?

Bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen, corn plant (Dracaena massangeana, not edible corn), dragon tree, chrysanthemum, English ivy, peace lily, pothos, philodendron, and snake plant.

I am motivated to start saving my pennies to include a little more creation into my home and provide a more healthy environment at the same time!

This post is part of Works for Me Wednesdays.
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