HaleMom.Com

For those of you that know me, I’m no vegetarian, and since I’m breastfeeding, I feel this even bigger need to consume enough protein to sustain a baby that gets an inch bigger every time I look at her.  That being said, I also have to consider the quality of the protein that I put into my body, because after all it’s not only my body that it affects.

One thing that I love about organic, natural meat is that there is a certain care taken of the animals that makes the meat taste just that much better.  I think the part that captivates me is that the animals are fed and cared for to avoid having to give them antibiotics and hormones to beef up their protein content, or to avoid serious infections.

There’s also the fact that most organic meats are raised on farms right in the U.S and are raised on self sustaining farms that are well cared for.  One thing about mass farmed and commercial protein is the conditions that they are raised is actually what leads to contamination risks such as salmonella and e. coli, and with as many recalls as I’ve been reading about, that’s enough to stay on the organic band wagon.

Do you consume organic meats, or produce?  What made you take the plunge and make the extra expense to go organic?  Are there any particular items that you don’t feel the need to buy organically?

If you don’t buy organically, what deters you?  Is it the cost, or is there not enough proof and information to justify the greater expense?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights!

~Hale Mom

*Disclosure-This is a sponsored post and the opinions above are mine and mine alone, and are in NO way influenced by sponsorship.

HAH!  My first Christmas as an adult with a family, and we finally got our tree home just a few hours ago.  In all reality we really shouldn’t have waited so long to get one, because there was only one place that had any left, and it only had about twenty or so left.  I just wanted the house to be clean and arranged accordingly so there wouldn’t be so much hassle with moving the tree around.

After we picked out our tree, we realized that it wasn’t very perfect, but we had more to work with than the others with few to no tree branches.  Earlier in the day my brother suggested a “Charlie Brown Tree,” but I love ornaments and the lights and didn’t feel right with few branches and a tree that looked like it was almost dead.

Anyway, we picked out one that was full, and realized it was far from perfect.  There were too many branches on the bottom, and not enough at the top.  A problem that I felt was not that hard to fix.  I went to Walmart.com and found some floral wire, some floral tape, candy canes, some gum, and some chocolate.  LOL, I know what you’re thinking, but I only used the wire and tape after all was said and done.  The candy canes are to decorate and the gum and chocolate were for my sanity!

We trimmed the tree from the bottom, and used some of the branches and wired them to the top to make the tree look like it was naturally full and had no gaps.  With all the trouble we went through, we almost should have gotten a a fake tree, but it wouldn’t have been as fun, I think.  My daughter decided she was going to stay up (when she normally goes to sleep much earlier) and see us struggle and watched with joy as we tried our hardest to make the tree look as best as it could.

Got the lights strung, and now all that we have left to do is get the ornaments put up.  I’m going to end up getting a new tree topper because the one I got sucks and is not really worth the money I paid for it.  I think an angel is the best bet, or I might end up making one, but I don’t know yet.  Don’t really have much time to do everything I want to do.

Anyway, I have to clean up all the mess that we made and start making the wreath with all the extra branches.

Do you have a Christmas tree up this year?   Have any funny tree/Christmas stories?  I’d love to hear them!

Cheers!

~Hale Mom

There’s nothing I hate more in this world than dieting.  Most people dread the idea of  “dieting,”  I mean, there’s all these fad diets roaming around, I’ve heard of many diets from the “low fat” diet to the “no carb” diet, and even the Atkins diet.  Many of these diets, in some way or another are out to get your money, and to throw you of course from the simplest way of living.  YES, I’ve said it.  It’s true.

There’s a massive industry out there that wants to make you think that there is some magic potion, pill or way to lose the weight you’ve been seeking to lose.  Well, I’m no doctor, and although I have taken nutrition classes, I’m not a nutritionist (yet,) and I am quite certain that it’s pretty simple to lose weight, without jumping on the dieting band wagon.

Most people use the word as though it’s something to dread, and something that you “have to do,” in order to lose weight.  Frankly, the most common use of the word diet is in verb form.  Yes, it can be a verb, because we commonly use it as such, but to change the way you think of the word diet, let’s examine the word as a noun.  Thinking of the word diet as a noun can help you not dread the idea so much, and can even empower you to make wiser decisions about what you put into your body.

Diet simply means the foods and beverages that you put into your body.  Yep, that’s it.  Stop thinking of the word in a verb, as in some sort of action that you MUST do, and start thinking of it in terms of just a thing.  Yeah, it’s just that simple.  I remember when I went through introduction to nutrition and that was the first thing I learned.  It totally rocked my world.  Such a simple definition, and it changed the way I thought about food and the whole dieting nonsense.

When you hear about eating a well balanced diet, it simply means to eat a balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.  Yes, there are healthy carbohydrates and fats, and there are also bad ones. Lets briefly analyze proteins, carbs and fats and what they do in your body.

Carbohydrates: good carbohydrates are found in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.  Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, and are used first in providing the body with the fuel it needs to function.  Bad carbohydrates are found in processed foods such as candy, chips, white breads, and other non fresh sources of food.  These are meant to be snacks and treats, but sometimes people end up eating them and get full on them.  Something that has worked for me is to limit snacks to twice a month.  This way, you don’t deprive yourself of your sweet tooth.  Even just cutting back to once a week will do wonders for the waist line.  It is even best to only have one serving based off the nutritional facts on the back of the product that is being consumed, if you are in the habit of eating snacks more than once a week.

Proteins: Proteins can come in many forms and are in legumes and animal meats.  The leanest sources of proteins are in legumes of course, in poultry, and most fishes.  It is best to take heed of recommended daily intake for protein because this tends to be the department that many people consume in large quantities.  Proteins are necessary as they provide the body with amino acids, which are necessary in cellular reproduction.

Fats: There are many types of fats, but it is important to be able to identify which fats are good and which ones are bad.   Good fats are important because they are essential in many biological processes that occur in the body.  The site I’ve linked to is a good source to figure out which are bad and which are good, so head on over there.  What works for me is to combine olive oil and avocados into my diet.  It doesn’t take a whole lot to get the required daily amount, but it’s important to cut out processed foods as many of them contain trans fats, which will wreck any chance you have at losing weight.

Pretty simple, but these things can be a bit intimidating.  Where to start?  Well, the best rule of thumb: Fresh is Best!  Think about all the fruits and veggies you love.  Write them down, because this is going to become your shopping list.  Also note any allergies that anyone has in  your family.  Next think about all the fruits and veggies you see in the grocery store–there are a variety of colors.  The best way to generally get a variety of nutrients that your body needs to subsist, is to try the rainbow of colors.  From yellow to blue/purple and everything in between.

Also, remember to add whole grains into your diet (remember the first ingredient on the list of ingredients should be whole grain, and nothing else, otherwise it’s not truly whole grain.)  You’ll find that you’ll have more energy from whole grains and can dump the white bread and other processed foods.  If you can’t get fresh, get frozen, and lastly is canned, but try to go with fresh, because it actually tends to be the cheapest and you can choose how much you want to buy.

As for proteins, it can get a bit  complicated, but here is a guide that is sure to help you along your way.  I just ran into this site today, and it’s pretty neat.  I hope you get some use out of it.

It’s not really publicized much, but many diseases and illnesses can actually be prevented by just altering your diet (you know, the foods and beverages you put into your body,) to include fresh sources, and eliminate, or at least reduce processed foods.

Also, don’t let me forget to mention water.   Water is what makes everything I’ve just told you work.  If you can cut out sodas, and those sugary juices that aren’t 100% juice, and anything else that isn’t water, you can end up trimming out with very little effort.  In fact, the less water you drink, the more your body retains it.  If you drink more water, the body will release it’s stores, and you will start to see a big difference in the way your clothes fit.

I hope these tips come in handy!

To your health!

~Hale Mom

Disclaimer: The information, is just that information, and should not be used to diagnose or treat any disease, illness or symptoms one may be experiencing.   This information should also not replace advise from a doctor, registered dietitian, or nutritionist.

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Earlier in November, I started a series where I offered daily tips on how to develop healthy habits for the holidays, and have fallen off with many things swirling in my babysphere, so I would like to kick it back up until the end of the year. Can you believe 2009 is almost over? It’s just zoomed by! Moving forward…

Now that November and Thanksgiving have rolled passed, don’t be surprised when some of your friends seem to be grumpy or irritable . We’re about a quarter of the way through the cold months of the year now.  From the months of November to February, the days are shorter and colder, and the nights longer and darker.

As season and climate transitions, many people tend to feel gloomy, miserable, and talk about how much they “hate the holidays.”   Such mood disorder is known as winter depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.), and you may have heard about it.

Based on statistics released by the S.A.D Association, 500,000 people in the United Kingdom have experienced some form of winter depression.  Doctors have estimated that 20% of the population,  approximately 2 million people are affected by the disorder in Sweden.

Norman E. Rosenthal, a US doctor, coined the term S.A.D in 1984.  Winter depression is a sound medical basis that involves changes in the body’s mood centers evoked by shorter daylight hours and a lack of sunlight in comparison to the spring and summer months.

Some people suffering from this depressive illness experience a sense of unrelenting isolation and inconsolable loneliness. The only consolation to most suffering this condition is the fact that many people go through the same grumpiness during this time of the year; it provides a sense of comfort and assurance that sufferers are not alone.

Light therapy, proven to be the most effective and clinically proven treatments for S.A.D, has shown to benefit some 80-85 percent of S.A.D cases.   It may sound very simple but the process involves more than just turning on a light and twiddling your thumbs as you wait for that renewed energy to power up your whole well-being.

Since most spend most of their time at home or the office, these lights only emits a feeble 200-500 Lux (a Lux is a unit of illumination,) yet a minimum of 2,500 lux is required to alleviate the symptoms of S.A.D.  In comparison, a clear Summer’s day may reach an intensity of 100,000 Lux.

It may have something to do with the lack of Vitamin D, or maybe the sun provides a healthy dose of liveliness, but light therapy, such as making sure to be in sunlight for at least thirty minutes to about an hour and a half, depending on your tone of skin.  There are even light boxes to provide just enough light, based off of illumination measurements, that will combat the symptoms of S.A.D.

When it comes to treatment of S.A.D symptoms, light therapy could be the best approach to consider.  However, those with severe symptoms, addressing the root causes of the condition may involve the use of both anti-depressant drugs and psychotherapy treatments.

Additionally, according to statistics, cases of S.A.D increases dramatically traveling 30 degrees of latitude further north or south.  In fact, the condition is virtually unheard of in the tropics, speaking volumes for how big of a role sun plays in the condition.  As impractical it may sound, a movement or vacation trip to countries near the equator can definitely improve ones mood and well-being.

Another good way to combat the symptoms of S.A.D would be through movie therapy. Bundle up with you favorite movie buddy, and watch movies that feature warm, sunny, summery climates and see marked improvements in mood. A film with clear blue cloudless skies, palm trees, and absolutely an absence of snow may qualify as movie therapy.

Watching outdoor sports may also produce the same mood-enhancing effect.   Furthermore, overexposure to many indoor sports have been found to bring on a state of depression and trance-like catatonia that, in severe cases, resulting in complete mental health breakdown.

So for your health, and the health of your friends and family, make sure everyone bathes in the sun around an hour of sun a day, or consider a light therapy box, especially if you live in an area where the sun doesn’t make it’s appearance for periods at a time.  Vitamin D may also be something to consult a doctor about, if you are not able to be exposed to enough light, and are not consuming enough foods that contain the nutrient.

To your holiday health!

~Hale Mom

Disclaimer: This article is solely for informational purposes, and should not be replaced for a proper diagnosis or treatment from a doctor.

With the most recent pandemic facing the nation, and with the rush to make vaccines, it is no wonder most concerned citizens are questioning the efficacy of vaccines.  The general idea behind vaccines is the herd effect where if all the people in a group should be vaccinated, even though the vaccine might not “take” on a few individuals, they would still be protected because the rest of the group is inoculated.  The problems arise when others in the group are not inoculated, and the ones that were not protected even though having taken a vaccine, are put at risk and no longer protected.

Perhaps it is the case in this outbreak of mumps in a New Jersey town where a boy traveled to Britain and contracted the mumps and infected others at a camp trip.

I find it interesting that such a situation could arise, especially when 75% of the people infected had taken the vaccine.  Although they thought they would be protected, and did not fear the mumps, the vaccine would only protect 90% of the time.  If we take a closer look, it may be the herd immunity at work, where even though most of the group was vaccinated, not all of them were, leaving the whole group at risk for contracting the infection.

It scares me to think that even though I take my daughter to her scheduled vaccinations , that she may still be at risk for contracting illness that have been nearly wiped out because others decide not to take their scheduled vaccines.  To me it’s like me deciding way before I gave birth that I would not any anesthesia and have a natural birth, but when encountering the intense pain, begging for relief.  The same concept could apply here as even though some people would like to avoid taking vaccinations, they risk serious illness and complications, but having to go through the full course of infection is much worse than getting the vaccine. I hope that analogy made sense.  Take a deeper look and do more research when you decide to vaccinate your child to common illnesses or not.  It may not be just an individual choice, but a group effect.  Tell me your stories, and I love to hear your opinions.  Thanks!