Stay in Shape During Pregnancy & Ease the Pain of Labor

We all know the importance of staying fit during pregnancy. Your OB or midwife will tell you to eat right, get moderate exercise, and of course drink lots of water. While walking, spinning class, or even prenatal yoga are great ways to maintain prenatal health, one of the best ways to actually prepare your body for birth is through dance.

I grew up attending the prestigious Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Pre-professional program. During these rigorous classes was the first time I learned how to connect with my body and control it. As a dancer you must be in tune with the music and the rhythm of the movement. And after having three children of my own, and supporting women as a birth doula, I believe the same can be said for birth.

Though no two births are exactly the same, there are some commonalities that most women experience: the undeniable change during transition where you have laser-like focus, the moment where you are ready to call it quits and wish someone else could deliver this baby, and if you allow it, the natural ‘figure 8’ like movement that your hips tend to make.

Each of my births took place in different locations (a traditional hospital, birthing center, and tub in my bedroom) but one thing was always consistent, making that swaying hip motion. Maybe it was because of my dance training or maybe it was some innate primal instinct we all possess, either way I knew it felt good.

A few months ago, the connection between birth and dance became so vividly clear that I knew I needed to share what I had learned with other mamas-to-be. Nancey Rosensweig, a certified nurse midwife based in upstate NY, who also happens to be an ex-professional dancer, echoed my sentiments by saying, “Surrendering to the natural movement of dance can be one of the best ways to prepare for labor.”

So I created Ready To POP Prenatal Dance as a safe, fun, and beneficial way for women to exercise during pregnancy and beyond. It incorporates simple ballet techniques for balance, hip-opening steps for stamina, and yoga postures for breath connections, all to music that makes you want to move and groove. As I tell all of my doula clients, “The sassy movements that got you pregnant are the same movements that will get you out of being pregnant.” *wink wink*

During pregnancy, dance helps your body maintain flexibility while toning your muscles. Throughout labor it can help move your baby into position and ease the pain of contractions. As a post-natal workout it can allow a new mommy a much needed hour out of the house and support a faster recovery.

As with any form of exercise, it’s important to work at your own pace and not over extend your ligaments, which are already loosened during pregnancy. Always consult your doctor before beginning any new routine and choose something that you really enjoy, which will help you stick to it.

Here are 3 simple dance moves to stay fit.

Demi-Plié 

How to Move: Start with your legs apart and your feet turned out into second position like in ballet. You can do this in the center of a room or with one hand holding onto a wall or a sturdy chair. Make sure your hips are square and facing forward. Your back should be straight and your core muscles should be engaged to maintain that posture. Now bend your knees stopping half way down, keeping your heels on the floor. Do this for 4 counts bending your knees to plié down, then for 4 counts straightening your legs. With each plié exhale, then inhale as you come up.

How it Helps: Labor is a tiring process. You use every part of your body when it comes times to push. This move allows you to stay in control while strengthening your legs and abdominal muscles. It also does wonders for your butt.

Rock it Out

How to Move: Standing in second position again, slightly bend your knees. Push your right hip out and straighten your legs. Bend your knees again and bring both hips back to center. Push your left hip out and straighten your legs. Now do that back and forth to the beat “1, 2, 1, 2” or to a song like Katy Perry’s “Roar” which is one of my favs.

How it Helps: This kind of hip-opening movement can also relieve lower back pressure during contractions and help align your baby into a proper birthing position.

Pump it Up

How to Move: Put both hands over your head like you are pushing up the ceiling. Do that twice. Now push both hands down on either side of your body towards the floor, twice. So the motion is up, up, down, down. Now as you pump up, slightly bend your right knee twice in front of you. As you push down, bend your left knee twice.

How it Helps: Aerobic exercise can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. It can also increase stamina for before, during, and after labor.

My Ready To Pop Playlist

Timber- Ke$ha & Pit Bull

Dark Horse- Katy Perry

Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips

Treasure – Bruno Mars

Royals – Lorde

Burn- Ellie Goulding

Roar – Katy Perry

Wings – Little Mix

Find out more about Ready to Pop Dance Fitness!

What activity helped you most to stay in shape. Share your comments below!

Crunchy Love, 

6 Foods For Glowing Skin

Whether you're slathering them on your skin or including them in a fresh meal, these 6 foods will have lasting health benefits for your body.

Avocados

Eat em': These buttery fruits are leading the pack of superfoods. With their richness in antioxidants and essential fatty acids they will keep your skin supple and be great source of healthy fats. Spread on a sandwich or diced into a salad they are a delicious addition to many meals.

Wear em': Pureed avocado used as a face mask is said to increase collagen production and skin elasticity. They are also a great source of potassium, which is known as the "youth mineral".

Tea

Drink it: Tea has been an herbal remedy for thousands of years. More recently its antioxidant properties have been show to help with cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; encourage weight loss; lower cholesterol; and bring about mental alertness. 

Apply it: Wanna bring out the natural highlights in your hair? Brewed teas like Chamomile and black tea can be used to amp up your locks. Just saturate your hair with 8 ounces of cooled tea, place shower cap over head, wait 15-20 minutes and rinse.

Almonds

Eat em' or Drink em': Rich in vitamin E, calcium, phosphorous, iron and magnesium, they are the most nutrient dense of all the nuts. The tryptophan in them can aid in relaxation before bed and almond milk is a great alternative to cow's milk (my kids love it).

Apply it: To make an invigorating body scrub, grind 1/2 cup almonds in a food processor until fine, combine with 2 tablespoons organic virgin olive oil and mix into a paste. In the shower rub on any rough spots like your feet or elbows and rinse for super smooth skin.

Cocoa

Eat it: Cocoa is made by fermenting and drying the seeds of the cacoa tree. They have a high concentration of flavanols, plant compounds with antioxidant properties (more than tea and red wine) that help protect skin from sun damage and improve blood pressure for coronary artery disease patients.

Apply it:  The flavanols help protect the skin from damaging free radicals from the sun. Get all over protection by adding 1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa powder to your bath water. 

Yogurt

Eat it: Consuming this creamy goodness can actually help brighten your smile. The calcium and phosphorus strengthens tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Non-fat organic yogurts are also high in protein, which is essential for collagen production in your skin. Yogurt also contains lactobacteria, intestines-friendly bacterial cultures that foster a healthy colon, and even lower the risk of colon cancer.

Wear it: Yogurt contains lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy that's great for sloughing away dead skin cells and unclogging pores. A simple plain yogurt facial applied two or three times a week will leave you with soft, supple skin—and save you a load of cash on beauty products.

Strawberries

Eat em': These red berries pack a powerful punch! The have over 100% of the daily recommended dose of Vitamin C, which helps boost your immunity. Their anti-inflammatory properties can fight against many inflammatory disorders, such as osteoarthritis and asthma. Strawberries are also very high in fiber, which can help maintain regular digestion. Just make sure to buy organic as the non-organic ones are on the dirty dozen list.

Apply em': In addition to being a yummy snack when covered in chocolate they also help clear up acne and oiliness, make skin younger and smoother, whiten teeth, reduce under-eye puffiness, leave hair glossy and beautifully conditioned, and so much more!

What's your favorite "double duty" food?

Nourishing my skin in Granolaville,

If you want to GLOW during your pregnancy and beyond, check out my doula services over at Soulfueledmama.com

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DIY Natural Sunscreen

You might be looking at my cartoonishly dorky logo and notice that yes indeed...I am Black. This comes as quite a surprise to many people, especially when they speak to me on the phone (what is a "Black" voice anyway?)

But I digress.

Growing up, because of my cocoa-brown complexion, I was under the impression that getting sunburned was not possible. Red skin, painful to the touch, only plagued my fair-skinned friends, not me. Apparently my crispy black shoulders, from two weeks at summer camp, didn't get that memo. 

Protecting your skin from the sun's UV rays is important, no matter what skin tone or ethnicity you are. Once I began using sunscreen---the highest SPF I could find---I thought my skin was shielded from any possible damage.

I've come to learn that most popular brands of sunscreen can actually cause more harm than good. While they do stop skin from becoming burnt, they do little to nothing to slow down the accelerated aging of skin or prevent cancer causing cells.

In addition, there is even research pointing to an increase in cancer when sunlight hits the synthetic or natural components of sunblock, causing cell mutation. Allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage are also found with the use of sun screens, especially those containing Oxybenzone, which is a chemical that allows other chemicals to penetrate the skin and is in nearly 600 sunscreens sold in the US (even those varieties marked safe for children).

Here is a list of chemicals to check for:

Aminobenzoic acid – carcinogen implicated in cardiovascular disease.
Avobenzone – carcinogen
Cinoxate – evidence of skin toxicity
Dioxybenzone – strong evidence of skin toxicity and carcinogen; hormone disruptor and has been found in waterways, soil and air. Has been shown to have a “gender bender” effect in animals
Diazolidinyl urea – carcinogen, endocrine, central nervous system and brain effects, skin toxicity and compromises the immune system
Ecamsule – carcinogenic
Homosalate – endocrine disruption
Methylparaben – interferes with genes
Octocrylene – found to be persistent and bioaccumulative in wildlife, liver issues and carcinogenic
Octyl methoxycinnamate – accumulates in the body, disrupts liver and is a carcinogen
Octyl salicylate – broad systemic effects in animals at moderate doses
Oxybenzone – carcinogen and contributor to vascular disease, may affect the brain and nervous system in animals
Padimate O – carcinogen
Phenylbenzimidazole – carcinogen
Phenoxyethanol – irritant, carcinogen, endocrine disruption
Sulisobenzone – strong evidence of skin toxicity, affects sense organs in animals
Titanium dioxide – carcinogen when in nanomaterial form
Parabens (butyl-, ethyl-, methyl-, and propyl-): Parabens may mimic estrogen which can disrupt your body's balance of hormones

So, how do you protect your skin from the sun without slathering on a cocktail of toxins? Well first thing is don't be afraid of the sun, just be smart. The benefits of sun rays, which is the only natural way to deliver Vitamin D to our body, are becoming more and more clear. Vitamin D deficiency is a huge issue for many Americans because of the indoor lifestyle many of us have adopted. It has been linked to a variety of issues including, breast cancer, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.

Don't hide from the sun, just don't bake yourself like an oven-stuffer roaster.

When you are exposed normal amounts of sunlight make sure to wear loose fitting clothes, find shade whenever possible, and invest in a good hat. Foods high in Lycopene, like tomatoes have been shown to prevent sun damage, as well as animals who eat algae--- which are high in the antioxidant astaxanthin.

For those days on a beach or boat, when you know you'll be getting more sun than usual, you can make your own natural sunblock from items you can find at any health food store. Here's a great simplified version of a recipe I'm eager to try from Frugally Sustainable:

Ingredients

-1 ounce oil blend (Sesame oil, Coconut Oil, Hemp oil, Avocado oil, Soybean, or Peanut Oil)
-1 ounce beeswax (adds waterproof properties)
-1 ounce butter blend (i.e. Shea butter, mango butter, or cocoa butter)
-1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
-0.36 ounces zinc oxide powder ( you can find it in the diaper aisle of your grocery store)
-30 drops essential oils, optional just make sure not to use anything with citrus, as it could cause burns

1. Gather ingredients and kitchen tools.
2. In a double boiler, over low heat, melt the oils, beeswax, and butters.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly prior to adding the vitamin E oil, zinc oxide powder, and essential oils. Note: Wear a mask when working with zinc oxide, inhaling it can be dangerous.
4. Stir until zinc oxide is dissolved. 
5. Pour into a push-up or roll-up dispenser. This recipe will produce a product similar to a lotion bar or sunscreen stick. You could easily clean out and re-purpose a used deodorant or lip balm container. 
6. Allow to cool and harden on the counter overnight.

If this is too time consuming for your liking, virgin coconut oil has been shown to block the burning radiation from the sun. Try oiling up with that the next time you hit the beach. 

If you aren't into being a cosmetic chemist, you can also find the The Environmental Working Group's 2013 list of the best sunscreens available on the market.

Do you use sunblock on your self or your kids? Have you tried making natural sunblock?

Soaking it up in Granolaville,

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Planning a natural birth and need more info? I can help! Check out Soulfueled Mama for more info!

8 Steps to Growing An Organic Garden

There's something about this time of year that always excites me. I don't know if it's the potential that seems to blossom in the Spring, or the green buds peeking through the ground. Whatever it is I get pumped when I can dig my hands in the dirt, and start planting!

Creating your own organic garden can be a fun weekend project that takes little more than some elbow grease and a plan. Whether you are looking to put in a large plot or want to start out small, organic gardening can be as easy as pie...maybe even sweet potato!

So what is an organic garden? Well, its one that's cultivated without the use of fertilizers or herbicides to promote the growth of fruits and vegetables. Instead sunlight, organic soil, seeds and water can turn your backyard, or apartment balcony into an organic haven. From Organic Gardening:

When you garden organically, you think of your plants as part of a whole system within nature that starts in the soil and includes the water supply, people, wildlife and even insects.

Step 1: Prepare the Soil
Gardening soil isn't just dirt. In order to ensure your plants get all they need to flourish, you must first start with a nutrient rich base. If you need help determining the quality of your soil you can have it tested by your local agricultural office. Be sure to tell them you are planting an organic garden so they can provide the best mix of ingredients to start you off. The best time to test is in the fall, whatever you add in will have time to enrich the soil over the winter, and make for a beautiful harvest.

Step 2: Compost
You'll need to make sure you have a good mixture of organic matter like leaves or grass clippings which can be acquired right from your backyard. Decayed plants, vegetable scrapes from your kitchen and egg shells can provide a good start to your composting bin. Mushroom dirt is also a rich addition to your soil by improving drainage of clay dirt and increasing microbial activity. Stay tuned for our upcoming article on Composting 101.

Step 3: Choose the Right Plants
Picking the right planets for your geographic climate is an important step in planning your garden. While grapes may run wild in the North West, you'll find they are much harder to develop in colder North Eastern states. Choose vegetation that is well suited for the amount of light, moisture, and soil quality your garden will receive. Look for seeds or plants from your local farmers market that were raised without chemical fertilizers, and if possible were not genetically modified. Real food = Real Health.

Step 4: Give Your Crops Space
Plants you are harvesting should be grouped together in raised beds that can protect them from foot traffic. Grouping also reduces weeding and water waste. But be aware of the amount of space each plant will need to avoid over crowding and casting too many shadows.

Step 5: Water, Water, Water...but not too much
The best time to water your garden is in the morning when it is still cool, this leads to less evaporation and water consumption. If you water at night the plants may stay too damp and cause fungus growth. Always water the roots to avoid damaging leaves and flowers. Experts recommend substantial infrequent watering---about 1 inch of water per week.

Step 6: Weeding
Probably the least fun step of gardening is getting rid of those pesky plants that steal nutrients, water and sunlight from you beautiful food. But, no matter how time consuming, weeding is a necessary step to promote the full growth of your garden. As you are on your knees just think of all the fresh air and Vitamin D you'll be getting!

Step 7: Protect Your Plants
Whether its deer, ground hogs, or caterpillars, nature’s creatures always seem to find a way to nibble on or even eviscerate lovely gardens. Besides fences, netting, and Marigolds to ward off larger animals, there are some chemical-free ways to keep crawling critters at bay. The Daily Green suggests:

Organic weapons include Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacteria that disrupts the digestion of caterpillars and other leaf-eaters. You can also use horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps and garlic and/or hot pepper sprays.

Step 8: Harvesting
You’ve tilled, planted, watered, and weeded, so now its time to reap the rewards! Your organic fresh fruits and veggies can make mealtime a fun event. Have your kids pick from the garden right before preparing dinner---they'll make the connection that real food can be delicious. Share your harvest by giving a gift basket to family or neighbors. If you have an overabundant crop you can always freeze or can any leftovers until its time for next years batch.

However it's used, your organic garden can be a healthy and delectable labor of love.

Have you started your garden yet? Share your tips in the comments section.

Happy Spring from Granolaville,

 

10 Natural Ways to Ease PMS

Yesterday I was possessed. Not by some mythical creature, alien life form, or demon from the depths of Hell...well maybe it was a demon. (Men keep reading...this information could save your life too)

I should start by saying I've become a pretty patient person, but please don't ask my husband to confirm that. Actually, for a woman living in a household with 4 boys (yes the hubby is included in this count) I should get Sainthood for all the shenanigans I have to put up with.

I deal with never-ending piles of clothes on the bathroom, bedroom, and family room floors. I barely make a peep about the sticks, balls and Legos that I pick up each day, only to have them "mysteriously" reappear in another room minutes later. I've even gotten used to repeating what I just said 4 times without going to my "Black Momma" voice. ("White Mommas" have this voice too, it just requires a little less neck movement)

N-E-WAYS....the point is, I almost never lose my cool, until about 12 hours before my monthly fertility reminder comes to town, and stirs up a whole bunch of shit.

Last night it was like some ranting and raving lunatic had taken over my body and I could barely keep it together. Little things that I would have shrugged off sent me flying into the stratosphere, crashing back down to crazy Bitchville (which is not nearly as zen as Granolaville).

I could see myself being an utter nutcase, but somehow couldn't stop it. PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one who has had these moments? If you haven't experienced the cramps, headaches, bloating, sugary cravings, depression, or high-flying mood swings than consider yourself lucky.

It is estimated that 50% of ALL women experience PMS, or premenstrual syndrome. That's a whole lot of unstable, doughnut eating ladies!

While not everyone shares the same PMS symptoms, it can be difficult for most women to find relief.

NEVER FEAR! I was a Googling freak this morning trying to find easy and natural ways you can deal with this stressful time and hopefully NOT have it end in your kids toys being thrown out, or your husband sleeping on the couch, indefinitely.

10 Secrets to Easing PMS

1.   Steer clear of sugar. Giving in to your sweet tooth could result in hypoglycemia, which is an abnormal drop of sugar in your blood once the tasty treat has left your system, leaving you feeling more irritable and lethargic than before.

2. Avoid alcohol. I know knocking back a glass of wine, or a Baily's Irish Cream with milk (not that I would know) might seem like a good idea to relieve stressful feelings, but since alcohol is a depressant you might end up feeling worse than you did. Also, "it disrupts the liver's ability to metabolize hormones, which can lead to higher-than-normal estrogen levels."

3. Stay away from salt. Eating foods high in sodium can increase water retention, causing bloating and breast tenderness.

4. Move your body. Aerobic exercise causes a release in happy hormones called endorphins that can help elevate your mood.

5. Get some rest. Interrupting your normal sleep pattern can make your fuse shorter than normal. Make sure to get a proper night of rest, some of these tips may help.

6. Calcium. Women with low levels of calcium have been shown to have a decrease in symptoms when taking this supplement.

7. Chaste Tree Berry. This South East Asian herb is very popular in Europe for reducing breast tenderness

8. Magnesium. This mineral naturally occurring in foods like black beans, peanuts, broccoli, and spinach has been shown to improve mood swings.

9. Evening Primrose Oil. This little flower has many uses, including aiding in ripening the cervix to induce labor, but for PMS it seems to only be backed up by anecdotal evidence of its efficacy. Never the less, many women throughout the world swear by its benefits.

10. St. John's Wort. For centuries, the flowering plant St. John's wort was used as a health remedy in Europe. Today, St. John's wort is best-known as a treatment for depression.

Do you have any secret remedies for easing PMS?

Regaining My Sanity in Granolaville, 

P.S. If you liked this post don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter! 

P.P.S. For personalized support throughout your pregnancy check out Soulfueled Mama!

Granolaville's Best of 2012

Wow! 2012 was a whirlwind. Filled with lots of people joining the Crunchy Revolution! We even survived the overly hyped Mayan Apocalypse. (sorry Mayans)

I look back at all the contributor posts and topics inspired by some of my favorite crunchy peeps and I'm so thankful I got to share all these tidbits with you.

I'll be sharing some BIG news via our next newsletter, so if you aren't a subscriber, get on it!

Sign Up For FREE Weekly Crunch

Just in case you didn't have a chance to peruse all the kick-ass recipes, fresh ideas, spiritual connections, or crunchy videos here's a look back at the Top 10 Crunchy Posts of 2012. 


The Perfect Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I didn't used to be a fan of avocado. Frankly any food that was green and mushy reminded me of baby poop. But when I started introducing solids, to my now 20 month old, avocado topped the list of non-allergenic foods that contained oodles of  healthy fats, with little taste to frighten his forming taste buds.

I figured if he could try something new, so could I. WOW...It was nothing like I imagined. It was smooth and had a buttery quality without the salt. From that day on I was putting avocado on EVERYTHING!...
Read More



9 Tips to Getting Better Sleep

My family and I are on this path to living a more natural and holistic life. We eat better, get moderate amounts of exercise, and try not to put anything in or on our bodies that will knock us off balance mentally, physically, or spiritually.

This morning my husband surprised me by coming home early from work. He said he wasn't feeling well and had gotten little sleep the night before....Read More

Fight the Cellulite, A Starter Guide to Clean Eating

I told my husband after the birth of my first son I refused to have a “Mommy Butt”. You know that flabby, saggy, flat area you see on women who have lost all muscle tone and definition in their once ample behind.

Having gained over 50 lbs (during two pregnancies) it was inevitable that my derriere would get out of place and start heading south...Read More



Do you Need Natural Living to be Easier Than a $10 Hooker?

So here's the deal my crunchy fabulous friends, I love you more than a fat kid loves cake...or in my case organic pumpkin cheesecake.

I also love giving you the BEST and SIMPLEST holistic and naturally living goodies on the inter-webs. The thing is, as with anyone on a journey, sometimes you need to stop right where you are, take a lay of the land and reassess where you want to go and how you want to get there...Read More


The Number One Form of Alternative Care

Chiropractic is the most popular form of alternative medicine, attracting an estimated 280 million visits annually and comprising the third largest profession in health care.  

Derived from Greek words meaning “done from hand,” chiropractic is based on the vital premise that the body has an innate intelligence, or inborn ability to heal.  This ability to heal is regulated through the nervous system, the master control system of the body.... Read More 

I Breast Feed & I Think the Time Magazine Cover Sucks

Finding Acceptance Can Set You Free

I hate being a stay at home mom. Actually, I used to hate it. Two years ago I wanted nothing more than to have the job of my dreams land in my lap (that fantasy usually included a fabulous suit, HUGE pay check, and commuting to NYC where I was appreciated for the amazing work I did).

Reality was quite different....Read More

9 Non-Edible Ways To Use Coconut

Over the last few months coconut oil has replaced all other oils in my pantry, aside from olive oil. When I began using it we had already become accustomed to coconut milk in lieu of cow's milk (though now we are strictly an almond milk family).  My dairy allergic son was even chowing down on coconut yogurt and ice cream. But I had no idea how many uses there were for coconut oil.... Read More

Top 5 Toxic Household Cleaners

You can research the internet until your fingers bleed trying to gather information on which products are safest, and which require a HAZMAT suit. Here's what I've learned: Never Trust Marketing.

Let's face it, companies spend millions, if not BILLIONS of dollars to convince you that THEIR product is the best. At a time when most people have become conscious of the "buzz" words like green, all natural, non-toxic and of course organic....Read More

Charting Your Cycle, How to Get Pregnant (or not) Naturally

Aunt Flo. Dot. My monthly friend or the beast from the East. Most women, from the time they hit puberty, are ruled by the cyclical nature of their bodies.

Some of us, for a time, are obsessed with avoiding pregnancy. Then all of a sudden we hit a certain age and ALL we can think about is making babies. But what do any of us really know about working with our bodies to plan a family?...Read More



Have a Happy & Healthy New Year From Granolaville,

6 Ways to Naturally Reduce Your Kid's Fever, FAST!

I don't know anything that makes my heart sink more than seeing my kid sick. Especially when that kid is usually a vibrant ball of energy, bouncing off walls, standing on his head, and practicing ninja moves on his 2- year-old brother.

It's amazing how quickly that cheeky, crazy man can go from that, to this pile of mush:

This was how my poor son spent his Halloween this year. With a 103 fever and not a trick-or-treat to be had.

My heart bled for him, and so did Daddy's wallet after he purchased a truckload of "make-up" candy. It's one of the worst things in the world to see your child go through pain or just feeling crumby.

Bryson has a habit of running unusually high fevers. They don't happen that often, but bet your bottom dollar when they do, they're no where near "low grade".

A couple of years ago when this would happen I would plop him in bed, put on an endless loop of Star Wars and pump him full of whatever over the counter pain-reliever I had on hand.

Which is why both my mom and mother-in-law looked at me like I had 3 heads when I told them, this time, I hadn't given him anything.

Being that both lovely ladies are nurses, their first line of defense is usually some sort of medication. And while I appreciate their knowledge about many things, my approach to health is now a bit different then theirs.

Who's the REAL Culprit?

Here's the thing.....we get a fever for a reason. Our bodies are smart little buggers. They know how to do a plethora of cool stuff including give birth, fight off infection and heal...ALL without intervention! Amazing, I know!

I feel like there is all sorts of anecdotal information about what to do when your child has a fever. "Starve a cold, feed a fever" comes to mind. We treat a rise in our body's temperature as a warning that we must do something to stop it.

But as I said your body is CRAZY smart and has a reason for everything it does.

In the case of a fever, your body is reacting to some sort of invading bacteria or other nasty organisms that can't take the heat, so they get the hell out of the kitchen.

Our internal thermostat, the hypothalmus, senses the impending assault and tries to crank up the temperature so that whatever is trying to mess with our immune system gets met with an inhospitable living environment.

Then once we have reached a high enough temperature, in my son's case dancing around 102.5 and 103, it begins the cooling down process by releasing sweat.

It's very efficient process in most cases, if let to run it's course.

I know our first inclination, especially as parents, is to get our kids out of discomfort, IMMEDIATELY!

But you might actually be causing more harm than good by prematurely ending their sweat session.

High temperature triggers the body’s production of infection-fighting white blood cells and inhibits the growth of viruses and bacteria. “If you lower the fever, you may be affecting the body’s ability to respond to that infection.” ~ Janice Sullivan, a professor of pediatric clinical care and clinical pharmacology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

So, while giving your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen will temporarily relieve them of some discomfort, it could also delay their body's natural defense mechanism and prolong the recovery process.

Even in adults, our biggest concern should not be the number, but staying well hydrated.

“An isolated temperature of 103 or 104 [in an adult] gets everyone nervous because of the number, but fever in and of itself doesn’t hurt us as we get older, and it can be therapeutic,” says Mark Abbruzzese, an infectious-disease specialist.

What Else Can You Do?

So when your spouse or your child is laying in an adorable, but sad blob on the couch, what can you do? I am by no means a licensed professional, but here are some simple and natural ways to cope.

Water, water, water. Staying well hydrated is important for day-to-day health, but becomes even MORE pressing when your body is heated up like a sauna. The concern for most parents is that their child's fever will cause a febrile seizure. But in most cases, the main cause of febrile seizures is dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. 

Monitor it. Call the doctor if:

• For babies younger than 3 months old, if their temp is over 100.4  
• If the fever goes higher than 104 in a child less than 2 
• If it last more than two days for a child older than 2
• ***If they experience a febrile seizure get to the hospital immediately.***

Chill Out. Physically, by applying a cool compress or having them sit in a room temperature bath. And mentally...there's no need to panic.

Get Some Rest. Sometimes kids will miraculously feel better after a few hours of laying around. Their natural inclination is to start running around again, as if suddenly cured. Try your best to keep them still, their body needs that extra energy to fight off whatever might be ailing them.

Keep them Calm. That might mean a soothing lavender and chamomile bath with Shakleebaby Gentle Wash, as one of my crunchy readers suggested. Or by watching the movie Cars on constant loop, as another mama does. Whatever you can do to make them comfortable.

Try some Herbs. Several herbs have diaphoretic, or sweat-inducing, properties. By increasing perspiration they can help speed up the process and flush out whatever toxins that might be making them ill. Some of these include angelica, elderberry, rosemary, and yarrow.

As always, I want to hear from your, my crunchy friends! What's your favorite fever remedy? Do you let it run it's course or have some top secret natural concoction? Share in the comments section below!

Keeping it Hot in Granolaville,

 

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Fresh Idea Friday: 5 Surprisingly Delicious Pinterest Recipes

I've been trying to expand my food vocabulary. A few years ago if it didn't come in a box with a name brand logo on it I didn't cook it.

I've definitely opened my eyes to the beautiful rainbow of tastes, colors, textures, and smells that real food has to offer. It can be scary trying new things, but think about the deliciousness (in food and life) you may be missing out on by saying, "I'll pass."

So as I sit here and snack on my organic almonds and dried cranberries let me share with you some daring food finds from Pinterest.

They all have a fresh twist on your favorite meals. Take a peek they just might rock your taste buds!

Roasted Veggie and Black Bean Burrito

Kale Chips with Miso Dipping Sauce

 Creamy Avocado Pasta

 

5 Spice Turkey & Lettuce Wraps

Apple Cheddar Grilled Cheese

If you like these recipes and want to see more, follow Granolaville on Pinterest! Have a happy and healthy Friday! 

What are your favorite meals that put a new twist on a old dish?

Happily Chewing in Granolaville, 

   

Natural Mom Monday: Holistic Fertility Healing

Conceiving a child is one of the most miraculous and exciting events to occur in many couples' lives. But for  6.1 million women in the US facing infertility issues, the process can be emotionally and physically trying.

In an age where you can determine the gender of your child through sperm manipulation, have a woman be the vessel of your already fertilized egg, and the term "too posh to push" has become a part of the collective zeitgeist, it would not be unfounded to conclude that conceiving a child has become the first stop on a train of unnecessary medical interventions.

Couples are willing to do just about anything to have a "natural" child. However, it becomes painfully ironic when they seek treatments, injections, and hormonal manipulations-- conceiving their child is anything but natural.

IVF, or in-vitro fertilization, has become the immediate answer for those facing difficulty getting pregnant, or maintaining a pregnancy. But with success rates only around 30-35% in women under the age of 35 and a recent study published in the journal Human Reproduction showing that women who received IVF treatment were 2 times more likely to have ovarian cancer, perhaps we need to reevaluate our approach.

Julia Indichova is doing just that.

Nearly 20 years ago, after being diagnosed with an "untreatable" hormonal condition, 42-year-old Julia Indichova was told by doctors that she would never have a child of her own. Refusing to believe that this was the end of her journey she began to look outside the medical community to find a way to have the child she dreamed of. Not only was she able to have a healthy pregnancy and baby, but today she is a sought after author and leads workshops in Woodstock, NY,  helping hundreds of couples achieve their own impossible dream through a Fertile Heart.

 Your first book Inconceivable was based on your own personal experiences?

Yes, in 1992, at the age of forty two, I was diagnosed with an allegedly “untreatable” hormonal problem,  At the time I went to see a number of reproductive endocrinologists and pretty much all of them agreed that my that my last good egg was gone, and there was nothing I could do about it.  I think the most upsetting part was that they said it with such certainty; it paralyzed me for along time. But looking back, in many ways the fact that the medical world pronounced me untreatable, was really my saving grace.

How so?

It was the first time in my life that I dared to have an opinion on a medical condition that was different from that of the authority figures, experts and even more importantly, I followed through on that opinion by acting on it. In some way it feels as though that was the first time I really started to do my own thinking. And soon enough I was immersed in the most exciting research project in which I was the lab and the subject of the experiment, and the head of the project. In Inconceivable I wanted to take the reader through that experience with me--the progression from total despair to a place where I started to trust myself, and how that eventually led to conceiving my daughter without medical intervention.

Could you describe some of the things you did that helped you conceive?

It began with experimenting with food. Pretty much overnight I went from being a sugar and caffeine addict to juicing every morning. I started to become more and more aware of what I was putting in my mouth, and why, whether the food on my plate was going to help my body get stronger, or was it something that will deplete me of energy.  That part was easier than I would’ve thought, mostly because I could see changes almost instantly. 

The emotional and spiritual piece of the work took a lot more courage.  It meant admitting to myself that as much as I longed for another child, I had a lot of “inner orphans” that didn’t think I deserved to have what I longed for, orphans that I later realized have been stopping me from moving forward in my life for as long as I could remember. I did a great deal of soul searching and later developed specific imagery and body work,  that helped me change those self-defeating inner images I’ve lived with for so much of my life. And gradually I changed my views on what was possible.  I realized that I had a lot of power to create changes in my body and in my life.  And amazingly later I found that the same tools helped hundreds of other women to work through their inner obstacles. 

What prompted you to write the Fertile Female?

After Inconceivable was published, women from around the world – Australia, South Africa, Denmark – began to write to me.  Many of them used Inconceivable as a guide and now had miracles of their own and many others were asking for more guidance. The Fertile Female documents the work that emerged in response to those letters. It’s an in depth exploration of the tools I teach in the Fertile Heart ™ Conceptions workshops and weaved into the narrative are the many stories of the women I worked with. The book also has a detailed practice section with recipes, imagery exercises, guidance for dream reading, and movement sequences.

Could you give us an example of working with some of these tools?

Fertile Heart ™ Imagery is a very specific way of working with images, quite different from the popular "visualization" techniques, many of which are focused on relaxation. It is is about using images to identify the inner obstacles that contribute to our difficulties.  It’s an effective way to change our inner reality, to recognize destructive behavior and self-defeating beliefs that so many of us live with without realizing it. For example, there is an exercise I call The Room of Fear, which helps people access hidden fears of pregnancy, or parenting. One of my clients who was adopted at birth, found that she had a lot of unresolved painful feelings about her own birth. As she allowed herself to move through those feelings and started changing her inner reality she conceived naturally after five years of unsuccessful medical treatment.

Body Truth ™ is also about physicalizing inconvenient feelings of anger, frustration, hopelessness, because it takes a great deal of energy to keep such emotions from surfacing.  Sometimes we need to experiment with the movement before we can access the feeling. We’ve been conditioned, many of us, to view anger or rage as an unacceptable feeling. As they get expressed and released, a great deal of energy becomes available to create new life.


The idea of the mind body connection, of staying positive and reducing stress has become more widely accepted. How does the Fertile Heart work incorporate those principles? 

There seems to be a great deal of confusion around the principles of mind body connection, and positive thinking. The term itself is confusing. There really is no mind body connection because there’s never been a mind body separation. So many people I meet say, I know I’m suppose to be positive  but I can’t help feeling this treatment isn’t going to work and  it’s going to be my fault. Real healing happens when we create a safe space to hear whatever truth rises up in us at any moment.  Labeling our feelings as positive and negative means that is some way we are going to stop ourselves; that we will censor what we feel.  

The Fertile Heart work is about allowing ourselves to be as truthful as we can and then choosing to act in our own best interests, to be militantly on our own side no matter what. When we don’t do that, the Truth will find expression through our dreams, or through physical symptom, or through events that will suddenly present themselves.  And the treatment might fail in part because we become so “clenched” and spend so much energy on pretending that we’re “positive” thinkers. It’s true that we have enormous power as co-creators, and it’s important to harness our co-creative ability, but it’s a much deeper and more mysterious process than just “being positive.”

 What are your thoughts on the fertility industry?

Technology is an immensely powerful tool, but like any tool, it depends on how we use it. In what I call the “Infertility Industrial Complex” the line between medicine and business is obscured.  Almost daily there is some new “breakthrough” procedure that lures people into thinking that it will save them. The promise of a ‘quick fix’ from an outside powerful authority figure, and the panic of the racing biological clock drives women toward desperate action. 

They’re reaching for a miracle cure, without truly understanding the myriad of causes that can delay conception. And when the first treatment fails, what they walk away with is “wow, if I couldn’t get pregnant with all this help, there must be something really wrong with me. 

Very often it’s a message that’s reiterated by their physicians, and gradually it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I see women taking hormone stimulants for as many as seven, ten, even twenty treatment cycles. They keep thinking the next one will work. The long term effect of these drugs is still largely unknown.

How do you explain the fact that so many of the women you’ve worked with conceived naturally after years of failed high tech treatment?

A desire for a child is also an immensely powerful motivator. The baby is for many of us that one shiny apple we will do anything to reach.  What I aim to do is encourage people to directly experience and observe how much power they have to create change in their bodies, and how much the hidden images they carry, influence their hormone levels and biology. 

Once they begin to really see it for themselves, they become inspired to do more. And many of them overcome incredible odds, often after years of failed treatment.  But as wonderful as it is for me to see women conceive, the essence of the work is to make sure that this challenge doesn’t leave them feeling victimized, or bitter. 

The central piece of my work is to inspire people to discover that they can turn this difficulty into the absolutely best thing that ever happened to them, regardless of the outcome.

It sounds like the tools you describe can be used to birth not only a child but anything ?

Absolutely, these were the same tools that helped me birth the two books, and the website, and pretty much everything else in my life.  A few years ago, I’ve begun to teach workshops that are about other creative endeavors. We humans are the greatest untapped resource  on earth, and this is the time when we can no longer allow it to remain untapped. 

For more information about Julia Indichova and her Fertile Heart workshops visit her website.