When this Mother Earth was a young girl becoming a woman was a bit of a wow.

The joke for my parents was the note I left under my mother’s pillow ” I desperately need a bra ” ( Couldn’t they see that? ) When I got my trainer bra I proceeded to sortof bust ( excuse the pun ) right out it it! My mom exclaimed, “where the heck did those come from?”

Compared to most of my high school girlfriends the only drama I had in relationship to getting my period was the one my mother created when I didn’t rinse out my underpants.  I never had all the pain and suffering my friends had. Thus premenstrual syndrome just wasn’t part of what I knew. In HS, I had a normal cycle, normal period,  no concerns. Tons of my friends lost days from school, took drugs, had flow issues, slept with heating pads, and were on the pill to help regulate.

Until my senior year.

Symptoms of PMS: 

weight gain
tender breasts
mild to severe cramping
lower back pain
moodiness
moderate to severe food cravings - usually in the form of chocolate and salt
periods longer than 3 days
heavy bleeding

My senior year in high school was intense for about six million reasons. Whatever the reasons were I was stressed and it showed up physically. As I continued to be stressed,eat poorly and to start life out on my own, my symptoms increased.

I was nutritionally deficient.  Severely.

Stress pulls nutrients from the body. One nutrient in particular, B Complex regulates hormones, contributes to the brain, helps convert food to energy.

In my child bearing years I had horrific first tri-mesters. With what I know now I can’t help but wonder if all those years of nutrient depletion contributed to that.

When trying to conceive my second child I began to read about ovulation. I began to notice a very specific pattern in the way I felt after I ovulated. The pattern was so specific it was rather frightening. It’s not something I ever talked about with my mom or my sisters OR my friends. We didn’t have the internet to discover that tons of woman had these symptoms too.  I never felt I could ask my friends hey do want to cry all the time? I felt like a freak.

After I ovulated, or two weeks after my last period stopped, I’d get tender very full breasts – I’d have to wear a completely different bra. I’d get indescribable lower back pain, I’d start to gain weight – I’d fluctuate up to 10 lbs,  I’d get so moody and weepy. Just about anything would make me cry. I found my ability to cope limited.  This was often more than I could bare – I at times felt deep despair. I’d start cramping about three days before getting my period and then once it began I’d cramp severely and bleed heavily for about seven days. This pattern was worse after the birth of my first child.  I thought this was the way it was supposed to be – the woes of being female. We all go through this, don’t we? I had heard others complain so I thought to myself – I am just like them.  It’s normal to be so miserable. I at one point remember asking my husband if during these times – during the especially weepy emotional times if he could just be nice to me – I actually begged him.  This was not a particularly good time in our marriage.

In addition to this I had blood sugar issues. I had a horrible habit of skipping breakfast. I ate junk. I’d wake each and every morning trembling – I’d eat, only to get a headache – start trembling again a few hours later.  More headaches.

This Mother Earth was a mess.

By the time I had gotten through my second pregnancy, there was nothing left of me – I gave birth to every healthy living cell.

Several years followed. I was a stay at home mom with two kids. My marriage issues intensified. Stress and fear ruled my universe.

I got scared. I began to shift my focus – I wanted my life to be more positive. I began to investigate healthy living, I started Jazzercising – I started to learn about food choices – I began to question things.  A  very wonderful person encouraged and introduced me to supplementation

She asked me to take 2 high quality multi-vitamins, 3 B Complex and to drink a Soy Protein smoothie each morning. While I purchased these three items I heard like heck about it from my husband. He said, you bought what?? I felt undeserving, he was a skeptic. I wasn’t sure this would help me but I wanted to believe her.  I wanted to feel different.  I only took 1/2 of what she recommended. I noticed a little bit more energy and on the days I had a smoothie in the morning. I had no headaches.  She continued to encourage me. I finally took on the full protocol she suggested. Four months later ALL my PMS symptoms disappeared.  Everything.  I was a completely different person.

The difference in my health is what precipitated my sharing wellness with others, the more I learned the more I wanted to share. With the income potential I also began to see a way out of my first marriage. Courage and boldness followed.

I have not had PMS symptoms since 1993.  I began menstruating when I was 12 - since 1997 I had PMS symptoms.  16 years!

I have been absolutely free of PMS symptoms now for 18 years!

I am a huge advocate of supplementation for woman.  A simple regime of a Multi-Vitamin, B Complex and Soy Protein could assist your PMS symptoms too.

Perhaps you know of someone who is wondering if their monthly symptoms are normal or who might be questioning their sanity?

It’s so not normal to have PMS symptoms.

flickr image credit

They work, they cook, they clean, they juggle, they shuttle, they worry.

It shows up in stress which takes it’s toll on the body, and it’s now showing up more than ever before.

Moms are tired, maxed out, they can’t sleep, they are overweight.

Woman according to a 2008 survey by the American Pysycholigical Association, are more affected by stress than men. Unhealthy behaviors like comfort eating, poor food choices, smoking and inactivity now shows up in their physical health.  Stressed woman are at risk for serious health concerns down the road

The stress response, also known as flight or flight is a very automatic function of the nervous system. It’s one thing to have it kick in and give you the ability to run like heck when you need it. Yet if the response becomes chronic it can really goof up our hormonal and physical chemistry. This can show up in your heart rate, your blood pressure and your blood sugar. It can actually effect major systems of the body like the immune system, the digestive system, and our reproductive and growth processes.

Normally the stress response is self regulating.  Example: a child gets lost – we go into a full alert panic as we try to find him or her, yet once we find resolve ( and the child ) our bodies become calm again. Balance.
These days everything has become full alert, the body never gets a chance to chill out – it never gets a chance to recharge.

Which are the areas of the body that feel it most?

Digestion - when digestion shuts down it manifests itself physically; a stomach ache, diarrhea, or constipation – if you are stressed and shutting down digestion due to fight or flight responses you are creating a chronic concern. Our digestive system was not meant to be in constant stress. Woman experience Irritable Bowel Syndrome 3 times more than men

Immune Response - suppressed immunity occurs after repeated call to action. The immune system is a very complex balancing act, when it’s in full working order it’s pretty darn miraculous. Yet our full and rigorous lives have us increasing our immunity risk not only to infections but to more serious disorders. Auto-immune diseases are more prevalant in woman.

Cardiovascular Health - if you are constantly stressed you actually raise your heart rate altering your personal chemistry – this chronic acceleration increases risk for heart attack and stroke. Constant fight or flight response can cause an overproduction of cortisol and may have you feeling anxious and depressed

Nervous System - brain cells lose their ability to function and structure when stressed. This shows up in memory function. I thought my classic where is my car parked syndrome was a function of getting older!

Sleep Deprivation- chronic stress and anxiety contributes to sleepless nights, while normally this was thought to be a new mom syndrome, it is now is found in all stages of their lives – woman aren’t getting enough sleep more than ever before. Woman tend to have more insomnia than men. Sleep is what recharges the cortisol connection.

Obesity- the collection of central obesity or the accumulation of abdominal fat is seemingly a direct corralation to the levels of cortisol in the body, this apple type body shape increases the risk of heart disease dramatically.

SIX Ways to Manage MOM Stress

Being a single mom of two has had it’s moments, however parenting by far has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Some of my very roughest times were managed simply by taking care of me first, being a better me – created me as a much better mom

ONE - Identify the stressors, we can not fix what we haven’t identified. Strive to find solutions. Be determined. Besides creating less stress, strident problem solving is a great example for our families

TWO - Schedule personal relaxation times – simply pausing several times a day to breathe, collect and organize your thoughts can recharge even the busiests of moms. Additionally actually scheduling something, anything outside the home regularly can provide just the right relief valve, don’t have the money? A walk with a friend is free. Just do it.

THREE - Eat right. We all know this. I have personally had success with being mindful, eating a variety of foods, and not buying the junk- if it’s around – I’ll eat it!

FOUR - When is bed time? We establish that routine for our kids perhaps it would benefit us as moms too. If our child doesn’t get their nap are they cranky? fatigued? Why would we think anything less for us as moms – go to bed!

FIVE - Movement stimulates all the systems of the body. 10 minutes each and every day is better than nothing. Start with 10 minutes of anything after a big glass of water each and every day and see what a difference that makes for you

SIX - Oh my goodness — Take your vitamins!! Nutritional gaps are inevitable, a really good multi-vitamin is a great start, often we need more. Not sure what you need ? I’d love to help.

Choose high quality nutritional supplements that can assist your stress free path.

Moms don’t forget that a sense of humor goes a long way too!

retro flickr image credit

It’s very important to me to speak to as many families as possible who may be looking for safer more natural approaches to dealing with seasonal allergies or asthma.

testimony:   a mother shared how her children had been on serious allergy medications and asthma steroids,  she enthusiastically reported that her children have now been completely off all the meds since she made three changes:

1.  She removed all her cleaning products and replaced them with the Non-Toxic Green Cleaning Products.  She noticed an improvement in her children’s symptoms within a week, especially, she mentioned, with the laundry products … AND …. you’ll love this part … She talked about how much money she saved from switching brands.

2.  Second, she put her daughter on a simple nutritional supplement program to build her immune system ( Vita C, Natural interferon, a quality probiotic and a superior children’s multi-vitamin )

And

3.   She started making changes in her daughter’s diet …which had been loaded with sugar, carbs, crackers and snacks …. and added more of all things — vegetables … .the goal was towards six vegetables a day.

Please let me know of anyone who comes to mind who may want to know about this safer more natural approach to keeping their children healthy,  reducing or eliminating the medications and all their side effects…
( oh and and save some money, too )

Auto-ship saves you money in two ways,  we have certain products that when placed on auto-ship are an additional 10% off member price.  That’s a 25% discount off of retail pricing!

If you place a larger order and put the auto-ship on an every other month rotation – you save on shipping!!   It’s 8.99 to ship up to 9lbs of product.  I think saving on shipping is a great idea!!  Also less shipments means less packaging!

Conveniently you set up a standard what you need order, but if you ever need to add or delete an item it’s as easy as a click or a phone call away.

Auto-ship is self managed program.  I adore working with each of you individually but sometimes the convenience of auto-ship is a win/win for both of us!

Here is a sample email that a customer gets

(note: i played with the language a bit)

Subject: Your Next AutoShip Order Is Going To Ship 

Dear Super Duper Wellness customer,

This message is to remind you that your Product Order AutoShip,  is scheduled for processing in a week

You may view or edit the item(s) shipping in this order at ( specific link is inserted here)  You will need your Member ID and password to access this secure transaction page. You may update your Order AutoShip at any time BEFORE the scheduled processing date of ….

For assistance with your AutoShip, you may call 1-800 – the best wellness company ever, M-F 6AM – 7PM Pacific, or email us…

Thank you for using AutoShip!

She wrote because she noticed some indulging behavior. especially on the weekends.

Specifically she wrote:  I have made the mistake of overindulging Fri & Sat night and gaining back a few pounds, then losing later in week…keeps me a bit plateaued,  so I need to stop that. Figuring it would be better to ”reward” myself with a lemon bar.

I think the key phrases in her sharing are indulging and reward.   The answer, as it often is…is choices.

The good thing is the observation.   Noticing the behavior patterns.   I hope the thoughts below are helpful …

I’ve learned that if I buy foods that I indulge in too much of, that perhaps that food purchase is not a good choice for me.    Cookies are an example of that.   I will stand in the store and stare at that bag of Matt’s oatmeal cookies,  are you familiar with them? loaded with cranberry and walnuts oh my gosh.  I also know that if I buy them. I will eat them.  ALL.  Too many “all” because if they are in my house they tempt me. So I drool over them in the store instead,  probably longer than I should and walk away from purchasing them. ( i swear I was just drooling over one of these bags of cookies the other day!!)

I have also learned that I have a taste for something sweet after a meal “habit”.  I grew up with dessert after dinner every single day!!  I have to decide in my healthy lifestyle what choices will I give myself.   This is a forever lifestyle. Not,  I am on a weight loss program now and I get to eat whatever I want later program.

It’s a bit like a declaration.  I eat well because I choose to.

This isn’t easy.

What are my healthy choices?

In the sweet department, I keep a good dark chocolate around.  In my mind I allow myself one square – cut into 4. This gives me 4 lovely bits of chocolate burst in my mouth.  It’s a lot like eating more than one square.   Have I ever ever had more than one square??   I have!!   The former me however would have eaten the entire bar!

I adore dates or prunes.   gosh, 4 of those and I am very sweet tooth satisfied.

I have been known to also have a bit of yogurt with fruit, nuts and raisens on top as a food reward.  small serving, but enough to feel like it’s a treat, especially if i use a pretty glass to put it in.

Apples and peanut butter, or a portion controlled bit of cheese…are all also choices for  something to eat that feels like a celebration!!  What ideas do you have??  Make sure to have a variety of combinations of grab and enjoy snacks around.

If the weekend indulgence is too many pieces of pizza ( uh – easy to do!!)  My personal strategy is to eat a huge huge salad before having pizza.    I simply don’t want as many pieces then!!  I think this strategy works well for all kinds of second helping temptations.  I also have pizza seriously loaded with veggies.

Perhaps the over doing is empty calorie consumption like a second or third glass of wine.  My policy on that is when I drink, I have one drink and two waters,   I just keep the ratio like that, If I have more than one drink that’s a choice I make, but I keep myself actively drinking other things as well.  This especially works at a party!

If your workout regime is regimented during the week and not so on the weekend, take a look at that.  Perhaps the weekend is family activity full, or too many errands or maybe you do nothing for an entire day ( which in my mind is called relaxing – and equally good for you!)   I apply the 10 minute daily “do something”  rule.  I wake up, drink a huge glass of water and do “something”.  Might be a quick walk around the block, might be a dance in my pajama’s to the Beatles, it might be a nice stretch routine.   I do this each and every day no matter what. I feel better about myself, it’s more than doing nothing, and if its the best I can do that day.  I don’t sweat it.

The “don’t sweat it”  part is to remind yourself that you are doing the very best you can.  If you are not doing, then by all means be hard on yourself, but if the efforts are there and consistant – that’s important to acknowledge.

The point of all this commentary is that this is lifestyle.    Weight management is a life long job.  It’s really not a temporary project.   The choices you make now are life long rewarding.  I thank myself for the resilience our body human offers us.  I was not so good to mine in my younger years.   I took my well being for granted.   As we get older the it doesn’t really matter attitude all of a sudden matters.

I wish for you… happy choices.  Choices that you make for you and your well being!

Lastly, I personally have stopped watching the scale for the ups and down reminders.  If I am truly committed to my well being, the long term result of that will be continued and or maintained weight loss.

If you are at risk for heart disease,  use antibiotics regulary,  have diarrhea or flatulance,  any bacterial,  fungal,  or viral infection,  low immunity,  arthritis,  sore throat,  toothache,  asthma,  allergies,  pneumonia,  cancer,  meningitis, colds or flu,  tuberculosis,  fever blisters,  athlete’s foot,  common warts,  genital herpes,  sinus infections,  whooping cough or high blood pressure then garlic may be useful for you!

Garlic, to eat may taste wonderful, but does not maintain Allicin, it’s medicinal properties , once it’s been cooked or smashed.

In other words you can cook with it all you want. Yum, but if you cook it or smash it you need to take it in supplement form too.

Having Garlic in pill form secures it’s medicinal validity especially when the product isn’t produced at extreme temperatures, is dried very slowly, and combined with rosemary and spearmint for odor control.

Should you add a high quality Garlic supplement to your health building protocol you will notice these benefits:

Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke
lower serum cholesterol readings
lower tryglycerides
raised HDL, good cholesterol
increased blood fluidity
stops free radicals

Garlic is anti-inflammatory, bacterial, fungal and viral – sometimes referred to as a natural antibiotic.

It kills parasites
protects the liver from toxins
protects against radiation
is used to treat excess perspiration
lower blood glucose in diabetics
is a blood cleanser, traps heavy metals
used in treatment for colic
increases while blood cell levels, even in AIDS patients

sourced from nutrition and you

I did more net surfing and found this article, which led to more articles and I found myself rather mortified

A CHEWABLE Lipitor??   Really?

Lipitor is the BIGGEST selling drug in the world.

A comment was made on one of the above blog posts that said,

parents who medicate a child on predatory marketing and virtually no science should be investigated for child abuse.

 

I thought, I have to agree.

high cholesterol is not a disease.

side effects of lipitor include:

muscle problems, some of which can be extreme

anemia

acidosis

sexual dysfunction

immune depression

liver dysfunction

not to mention:  cognitive problems and memory loss

and we give that drug to 10 year olds?

Statin drugs commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol reduces levels of the nutrient CoQ10 by 50%.  Think of CoQ10 as the much needed energizer bunny for each and every one of your cells. Reduced cell energy can actually compromise the function of your heart.

Remind me again how Statin Drugs are good for heart health?

If someone is choosing to be on the medication Lipitor it’s my role to at least offer a quality CoQ10.

Our CoQ10 has tripled its dosage after preliminary research shows that 100 mg of CoQ10 reduces muscle aches, often associated with statin drug users by 40%.

Our product also offers anti-oxidant protection and an olive oil based delivery system.

Order retail here.

Just a thought,  a membership saves you 15%

and keep in mind that one can put this product on auto-ship and save an additional 10%.

We also offer a three pronged heart health solution that includes CoQ10, Fish OIl and a product that can reduce cholesterol naturally.   One can do this lower their cholesterol thing with medication.

Who do you know that is taking statin drugs?  Will you share the above information with them?

The once in a blue moon event is going to rock “the burger’s sweet 16th”, offer photobooth fun, and more, all in an effort to bring awareness of childhood obesity to the blono area – join us, bring the kids, share this flyer, the details of this event and help support the BloNo isfit campaign!!

Best of Mother Earth and the burger are friends to the Bateman Team:

the Illinois State University’s PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) Bateman team is participating in the annual Bateman Case Study Competition. The Bateman Case Study Competition is PRSSA’s premier national case study competition for public relations students, and gives members an opportunity to apply their classroom education and internship experiences to create and implement a full public relations campaign.

The 2012 Bateman Case Study Competition is about raising community awareness about childhood obesity in the local schools. Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. Today, one in three children are obese. This issue has become a significant public health problem in the United States; many health officials and experts consider childhood obesity an epidemic.

The ISU PRSSA Bateman team is promoting childhood obesity awareness in the Bloomington-Normal community by creating the “isfit” campaign. The campaign aims to change the way children and adolescents think about their healthy eating, lifestyle and fitness choices. The goal of our “isfit” campaign is to increase awareness among children, teenagers and their parents of the serious short and long-term consequences of obesity, inform them of the steps they can take to adopt a healthier lifestyle and provide incentives to take action now.

I love her vibe, her soft chatter, her warm heart, the beauty she surrounds herself, either handmade or naturally, and I admire her authenticity.  Simply by being herself she’s created a wonderful brand.  She is deeply committed and when she sets out to do something you experience the meaning tried and true.  I’ve been with her, her blog and family through two of her pregnancies, watched her move to their dream farm, publish two additional books, welcome fearfully, beekeeping to her daily tasks ( which i found sooooo fascinating) and always always find myself in a chuckle when she writes that she made popcorn for dinner…yet again.  I treasure the personality of her kids, the sweet posts written by her husband, and I am deeply envious of her talents in textiles.

A recent blog post shared an exciting project she is involved in that I felt I wanted to share.  It’s a stunning new magazine called Taproot.  In her post she writes, as only she can, about wanting to be part of something that is shifting to less. less stuff, less noise, a slower, and more mindful place.   As the editor of what looks like a deeply rooted concept, she lovingly shares images of the proofs of the first issue coming to print in March.   In my mind it looks like a magazine that I’d love to have.  It strikes me as thoughtful, arty and very resourceful.  AND a beautiful reminder of less.   Which I think is needed today.

http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2012/02/introducing-taproot.html

The soluble and insoluble fibers found in oatmeal are part of a terrific heart healthy diet and a great breakfast option!  I love oatmeal!  Kids love oatmeal too.   

This morning I soaked my oats in almond milk, simmered for 5 minutes and topped with pecans, dried cranberries, flax seeds, and diced apple – I topped all of that with very small bit of maple syrup. soaking the oats reduces the cooking time. a bit of honey is good too.

sometimes I add yogurt, or a scoop of soy protein. one can shift the nuts or fruit options,  grate a bit of fresh nutmeg,  use soy milk, top with a bit of cream

tons of options!

I love oat flour also, take thick rolled oats and toss it in the blender, mix it with your other whole flours for your baking!! Or use as a thickening agent.

In the paper was this little article about all the different cuts of oat.

Who knew!!

The term oatmeal typically refers to the whole oat groat or hulled grain steel cut oats which is the inside part of the hulled grain cut into pieces.

thick rolled – groats are steamed and rolled into flakes, this is the longest to cook because the flakes are so thick

old-fashioned - are also steamed, but rolled into thinner flakes, cooking time is less and the texture is mushier

quick oats - are made from steal cut oats into even smaller pieces – cooking time is even more less with a instant oat – this is

instant oats are quick oats gone through one more layer of processing,  it’s steamed to a pre-cooked point, so that all one has to do is add water

Seems to me that if you want the least processed and most whole grain source of  oatmeal you’d want to go for the thick rolled oats.

10 reasons oatmeal is good for you:

1. Over 40 studies show that eating oatmeal may help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. According to the leading oatmeal companies, all it takes is 3/4 cup of oatmeal each day to help lower cholesterol. The soluble fiber in oats helps remove LDL or “bad” cholesterol, while maintaining the good cholesterol that your body needs. In January 1997, the Food and Drug Administration announced that oatmeal could carry a label claiming it may reduce the risk of heart disease when combined with a low-fat diet.
2. The soluble fiber in oatmeal absorbs a considerable amount of water which significantly slows down your digestive process. This result is that you’ll feel full longer, i.e. oatmeal can help you control your weight.
3. You probably already have oats in your kitchen. It’s estimated that eighty percent of U.S. households currently have oats in their cupboards.
4. New research suggests that eating oatmeal may reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. In fact, the American Diabetes Association already recommends that people with diabetes eat grains like oats. The soluble fiber in these foods help to control blood glucose levels.
5. With the exception of certain flavored varieties, the oats found in your grocery store are 100% natural. If you look at the ingredients on a canister of rolled oats, you will usually see only one ingredient… rolled oats.
6. According to recent studies, a diet that includes oatmeal may help reduce high blood pressure. The reduction is linked to the increase in soluble fiber provided by oatmeal. Oats contain more soluble fiber than whole wheat, rice or corn.
7. Oatmeal contains a wide array of vitamins, minerals and antioxidantsand is a good source of protein, complex carbohydrates and iron.
8. The fiber and other nutrients found in oatmeal may actually reduce the risk for certain cancers.
9. Oatmeal is quick and convenient. Every type of oatmeal can be prepared in a microwave oven. Even when cooked on the stovetop, both old-fashioned and quick oats can usually be made in less than 10 minutes. And what about instant oatmeal… a hot breakfast in under a minute… incredible!
10. Oatmeal can be absolutely delicious! Whether instant, cooked on the stove or baked in the oven, the combination of flavors you can fit into a serving of oatmeal is limited only by the imagination.

above 10 reasons sourced from Mr. Breakfast .   I do not endorse his sugar laden toppings for oatmeal though – ice cream?  I don’t think so.

image by karen hanrahan