Since I started working at the Co-op I have to say that apart from everyone being really nice, I am loving the exposure to new foods and products. That and most of the shoppers are very much so willing to share their recipes and cooking ideas. For example, last night a lady came through with fennel. I have only ever known fennel as a seed or in my Mothers Milk tea. So I asked her what it tasted like and how she cooked it. She told me she sliced it and braised it, added it to stir frys and salads. Now I want to try.
Another thing that people buy by the box full is Kombucha. Had no idea what it was, saw it in the coolers and thought it was just a different type of tea drink. Nope, it's a pro-biotic, raw drink that comes in a ton of flavors and health benefits. Some of them aren't very good, my first one was Bilberry (thought it said Blueberry) and it was good but not great. I grabbed some Strawberry, Cherry, Gingeraide, and Raspberry ones today. So far the Cherry-Chia is good. Has a tapioca texture because of the Chia, but worth repeating.
If anything it's just nice working somewhere where almost everyone who is there WANTS to be there. They aren't there because they just need a job, most of us are volunteers and are there because we want to be. That makes a HUGE difference in the attitude of the environment. There is more joking, talking, and smiles. I'm sure people have bad days too, but when you are surrounded by all this love, it's hard to be.
More than anything, it's just really really nice to be somewhere and in the company of people who don't stare at you cross-eyed when you say you are planning to or have nursed until your child is two, if you say you don't like AC, or how much you love Kombucha. Simple things that in my other job I have to explain or stand up for myself for. Granted there are a few people who are out there even for me, but who knows? Someday I may be that person that seems really out there, even for people who are green, wacko hippies. lol!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Overnight Oatmeal
I am a huge fan of oatmeal, always have been and summer has always put the lid on my oatmeal love. (Who wants to eat a nice warm bowl of oatmeal in 80' heat?) So for the same reason I prefer to grill all summer and not heating my kitchen up more than needed. I was thrilled out of my pants when I saw these recipes. I bought the basic ingredients for them. I am using coconut milk and coconut greek yogurt instead of regular of course, but I can't wait for tomorrow morning! Below are the recipes that I lovingly stole from another Blog. ENJOY!
I played around with some different flavor combos, and created single portion recipes that will fit in a half-pint mason jar. I've been pulling these out of my fridge and eating them for breakfast all week. LOVE the convenience of having them made ahead. They are filling and packed with nutrition, too.
ch-ch-ch-CHIA seeds. I followed Pepper Lynn's lead and included chia seeds in my refrigerator oats recipes. I've been hearing a lot of buzz about the nutritional powerhouse in these teensie little seeds, and this is a great way to sneak them into your diet. Chia seeds:
In addition to chia seeds, this refrigerator oatmeal has protein- & calcium-packed yogurt and fiber-rich oats. It's hard to find a healthier breakfast than this.
Weight Watchers Points Plus: between 4 and 9 points per jar (view individual flavored recipes for specific points)
How to make 6 flavor varieties of Refrigerator Oatmeal. I had fun experimenting with different flavor combinations and settled on six favorites. They all start with the same basic ingredients and procedure.
Step 1. Assemble these ingredients & supplies:
Step 2. Add oats, milk, yogurt, and chia seeds to jar, along with desired sweeteners or flavors (see options below).
Step 3. Put a lid on the jar and shake to combine. (I use white plastic jar lids sized to fit canning jars--they last longer than the metal tops and rims that come with the jars, and they are easier to screw on and off; some Walmarts carry them, and they're available on Amazon, click here)
Step 4. Add fruit and stir gently until combined.
Step 5. Place in fridge overnight and up to 2 days; maybe longer depending on the type and ripeness of the fruit. The non-banana varieties have been good after 4 days for me.
During the overnight soak, the oats and chia seeds absorb the liquid and soften. They have a great eating texture by the next day.
Here are my six favorite flavor varieties.
Mango Almond Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with fresh mango, honey, and almond extract. (If you don't know how to cut a mango, check out my previous post.)
Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with fresh blueberries and maple syrup.
Apple Cinnamon Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon and honey.
Banana Cocoa Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with bananas, cocoa powder, and honey.
(A healthy way to eat chocolate for breakfast. Feel free to squeal with delight!)
Banana Peanut Butter Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with bananas, peanut butter (or PB2), and honey.
Raspberry Vanilla Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with fresh raspberries, raspberry preserves or spread (I used a no-sugar added fruit spread), and vanilla extract.
Honestly, if you asked me to pick a favorite flavor, I couldn't choose just one. I've enjoyed having a variety of these jars in my fridge for an easy, yummy, nutritious breakfast each day.
These would be fun to serve on a breakfast or brunch buffet. Garnish the tops with some additional fresh fruit to help identify the flavor and make a prettier presentation.
This marriage of yogurt, oats, chia seeds and fruit is my new favorite breakfast. The hard part is choosing just one flavor per day. Which one looks good to you?
You might also like Pepper Lynn's strawberry/banana and pumpkin/peanut butter flavor combos. I'm anxious to give those a try, too.
Make it a yummy day!
Overnight, No-Cook Refrigerator Oatmeal
A healthy breakfast made in mason jars in six different flavors!
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This easy, no-cook "summer porridge" has make-ahead convenience and is packed with nutrition to get your day off to a healthy start. Make it in individual mason jars for a perfect serving size and an easy grab-and-go breakfast straight from the fridge (it's eaten cold). Take it along to work or anywhere. Great to serve on a breakfast or brunch buffet. High in protein, calcium & fiber; low in fat & sugar.
Apparently this kind of cold yogurt & oatmeal mixture has been around for awhile. I don't know where I've been, because I'd never heard of it until I saw a recipe by Christie at Pepper Lynn on Pinterest. We eat a lot of steel-cut oatmeal in the winter months, but it never appeals to me once the weather heats up. Learning about refrigerator oatmeal excited me, because it offers a way to enjoy oatmeal year round. Yummy reader, Kelly, called this "Summer Porridge" in a comment on my Facebook page--I'd never heard of that either. After some googling, I discovered that refrigerator oatmeal, yogurt oats, and summer porridge are all names for the same thing. Whatever you call it, this stuff is delicious!I played around with some different flavor combos, and created single portion recipes that will fit in a half-pint mason jar. I've been pulling these out of my fridge and eating them for breakfast all week. LOVE the convenience of having them made ahead. They are filling and packed with nutrition, too.
ch-ch-ch-CHIA seeds. I followed Pepper Lynn's lead and included chia seeds in my refrigerator oats recipes. I've been hearing a lot of buzz about the nutritional powerhouse in these teensie little seeds, and this is a great way to sneak them into your diet. Chia seeds:
- have more Omega 3 fatty acids than flax seed (important for heart health)
- are the richest non-marine whole food source of Omega-3 (better than salmon)
- absorb 10 times their weight in water and transform into a gel-like substance--great for athletes for maintaining hydration and helps with weight loss by making you feel full longer
- are as high in protein as quinoa
- are loaded with calcium, potassium, Vitamin B, and anti-oxidants
- help balance blood sugar via the gelling action of the seed and it’s unique combination of soluble and insoluble fiber that slow down your body’s conversion of starches into sugars
- have a neutral taste so they will take on the other flavors in a recipe
- can be eaten whole (unlike flax seed); they don't have to be ground before adding them to food in order to digest them and benefit from their nutrients
- have a two year shelf life, stored at room temperature (flax seeds quickly become rancid and loose their nutritional value)
In addition to chia seeds, this refrigerator oatmeal has protein- & calcium-packed yogurt and fiber-rich oats. It's hard to find a healthier breakfast than this.
Weight Watchers Points Plus: between 4 and 9 points per jar (view individual flavored recipes for specific points)
How to make 6 flavor varieties of Refrigerator Oatmeal. I had fun experimenting with different flavor combinations and settled on six favorites. They all start with the same basic ingredients and procedure.
Step 1. Assemble these ingredients & supplies:
- old fashioned rolled oats (not instant, quick, or steel-cut)
- Greek yogurt (regular yogurt is thinner; if you use it, you'll need to reduce the amount of milk); read my post for easy instructions for straining regular yogurt to make Greek yogurt.
- milk (I used skim, but any kind will work)
- chia seeds; I bought mine at Whole Foods; available on Amazon, click here
- half pint (1 cup) mason jars, find them at Walmart and grocery stores; available on Amazon, click here
Specific amounts of each ingredient are listed with the recipes of each flavored refrigerator oatmeal recipe; they are further down in this post. Click on the big purple bar below each flavor and that links to the recipe with detailed ingredients and instructions.
Step 2. Add oats, milk, yogurt, and chia seeds to jar, along with desired sweeteners or flavors (see options below).
Step 3. Put a lid on the jar and shake to combine. (I use white plastic jar lids sized to fit canning jars--they last longer than the metal tops and rims that come with the jars, and they are easier to screw on and off; some Walmarts carry them, and they're available on Amazon, click here)
Step 4. Add fruit and stir gently until combined.
Step 5. Place in fridge overnight and up to 2 days; maybe longer depending on the type and ripeness of the fruit. The non-banana varieties have been good after 4 days for me.
During the overnight soak, the oats and chia seeds absorb the liquid and soften. They have a great eating texture by the next day.
Here are my six favorite flavor varieties.
Mango Almond Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with fresh mango, honey, and almond extract. (If you don't know how to cut a mango, check out my previous post.)
Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with fresh blueberries and maple syrup.
Apple Cinnamon Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon and honey.
Banana Cocoa Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with bananas, cocoa powder, and honey.
(A healthy way to eat chocolate for breakfast. Feel free to squeal with delight!)
Banana Peanut Butter Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with bananas, peanut butter (or PB2), and honey.
- What is PB2? I recently discovered this amazing powdered peanut butter. It's simply peanut butter with 85% of the fat removed. With all of the flavor and protein of regular peanut butter, PB2 is recommended as a great way to reduce calories in all of your favorite peanut butter recipes. It's available at some Whole Foods and health food stores, and on Amazon, click here.
Raspberry Vanilla Refrigerator Oatmeal
Flavored with fresh raspberries, raspberry preserves or spread (I used a no-sugar added fruit spread), and vanilla extract.
Honestly, if you asked me to pick a favorite flavor, I couldn't choose just one. I've enjoyed having a variety of these jars in my fridge for an easy, yummy, nutritious breakfast each day.
These would be fun to serve on a breakfast or brunch buffet. Garnish the tops with some additional fresh fruit to help identify the flavor and make a prettier presentation.
This marriage of yogurt, oats, chia seeds and fruit is my new favorite breakfast. The hard part is choosing just one flavor per day. Which one looks good to you?
You might also like Pepper Lynn's strawberry/banana and pumpkin/peanut butter flavor combos. I'm anxious to give those a try, too.
Make it a yummy day!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Stereotyping
With all the news on the Martin/Zimmerman trial and then TIME magazine (not so gently) blowing fire into the world of breastfeeding, I've become rudely aware of how much stereotyping there is out there.
I have lots of opinions and views on the trial, but I really don't have the energy to get into it right now and that would totally blow this entry off course.
What I will say, is that the whole thing reeks of stereotyping to me. The simple fact that Zimmerman instantly suspected Martin because of how he was dressed, makes my head swim. But then we have to think about the simple reasons as to why he even thought Martin was up to no good. There was/is a reason behind that. And it's much more complex than a simple piece of clothing. Same with the breastfeeding mom, nursing her toddler who is standing up. Mothers assaulted her verbally on the web and in other blogs around the US. Why? Because she is now a radical. Everything that attachment parenting is not, at least to most parents.
We are judged the moment we walk into a room, whether it is a waiting room at a clinic, a store at the mall, or going in for an interview. We are judged and then stereotyped before we even open our mouths. By our perfume, our clothes, our gait, our glasses, etc. This is part of the hard wiring in our brains. We assess strangers and try to judge if our fight or flight instinct needs to become activated. Are they friendly? Are they Dangerous? Are they a good worker? Are they poor? And so on. These questions rattle through our minds and after a few minutes, maybe even after hearing them speak, we have filed them into a category. First impressions are the hardest to shake and in Martin's case, sometimes deadly.
Then there is the problem on the other side of that. How do we express who we are without being filed into a certain category? In honesty, there isn't a way to do that. Everyone is different and has a different view of what dangerous, sexy, trashy, is and that is where the trouble lies.
I have a lot of appreciation for people who uphold our laws in this area. They HAVE to shut off this sense almost entirely, in order to see truth. And truth is a lot more complex than black and white. It would be easy to say that everyone who is a Gangster, wears baggy pants and hoodies with something in the pocket, is dangerous and out to rob someone. But that isn't true. The same way it's easy to say that all hippies smoke pot, live in a commune and have free sex. But that's not true either and these are stereotypes that we ALL think of when we hear the words. Not to the same degrees surely, but we each have an idea of what an extreme might be.
When it comes to the Martin/Zimmerman case, everyone is crying out racism. When really that isn't what got him killed. It was behavior and attire and fear of those two combined that formed the radical image of who this kid was before they even met.
Same with the picture of the mother nursing her toddler. She has automatically been stamped with the seal of partial insanity for nursing her child past 1. Especially in the states. Her breast exposed for the whole world to see has been seen by some as sexual and perverse. The innocent act of her nursing her son, has been branded obscene by many and has widened the gap even more so.
Stereotyping is dangerous and yet there is no real way to stop ourselves from doing it daily. We only have to be more meticulous in our actions that follow.
I have lots of opinions and views on the trial, but I really don't have the energy to get into it right now and that would totally blow this entry off course.
What I will say, is that the whole thing reeks of stereotyping to me. The simple fact that Zimmerman instantly suspected Martin because of how he was dressed, makes my head swim. But then we have to think about the simple reasons as to why he even thought Martin was up to no good. There was/is a reason behind that. And it's much more complex than a simple piece of clothing. Same with the breastfeeding mom, nursing her toddler who is standing up. Mothers assaulted her verbally on the web and in other blogs around the US. Why? Because she is now a radical. Everything that attachment parenting is not, at least to most parents.
We are judged the moment we walk into a room, whether it is a waiting room at a clinic, a store at the mall, or going in for an interview. We are judged and then stereotyped before we even open our mouths. By our perfume, our clothes, our gait, our glasses, etc. This is part of the hard wiring in our brains. We assess strangers and try to judge if our fight or flight instinct needs to become activated. Are they friendly? Are they Dangerous? Are they a good worker? Are they poor? And so on. These questions rattle through our minds and after a few minutes, maybe even after hearing them speak, we have filed them into a category. First impressions are the hardest to shake and in Martin's case, sometimes deadly.
Then there is the problem on the other side of that. How do we express who we are without being filed into a certain category? In honesty, there isn't a way to do that. Everyone is different and has a different view of what dangerous, sexy, trashy, is and that is where the trouble lies.
I have a lot of appreciation for people who uphold our laws in this area. They HAVE to shut off this sense almost entirely, in order to see truth. And truth is a lot more complex than black and white. It would be easy to say that everyone who is a Gangster, wears baggy pants and hoodies with something in the pocket, is dangerous and out to rob someone. But that isn't true. The same way it's easy to say that all hippies smoke pot, live in a commune and have free sex. But that's not true either and these are stereotypes that we ALL think of when we hear the words. Not to the same degrees surely, but we each have an idea of what an extreme might be.
When it comes to the Martin/Zimmerman case, everyone is crying out racism. When really that isn't what got him killed. It was behavior and attire and fear of those two combined that formed the radical image of who this kid was before they even met.
Same with the picture of the mother nursing her toddler. She has automatically been stamped with the seal of partial insanity for nursing her child past 1. Especially in the states. Her breast exposed for the whole world to see has been seen by some as sexual and perverse. The innocent act of her nursing her son, has been branded obscene by many and has widened the gap even more so.
Stereotyping is dangerous and yet there is no real way to stop ourselves from doing it daily. We only have to be more meticulous in our actions that follow.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A change in Diet
When you say the word diet, a lot of people think of it as in 'dieting'. I've had to correct this with some people. That your diet, is what you eat regularly. I'm also going to say here, that I am not a doctor, I am just sharing this because it has been working for me.
When I was pregnant with my son, I had a strange swelling occur in my left hand. It lasted a week and was almost unbearable. A month or so later, it happened in my left shoulder, then my left hip and so on. I had gone to see a doctor, but they didn't see a reason for it to be happening. So I just added it to my list of things that my body does that makes no sense to me or anyone else. After I had it, I had it happen in my right knee and elbow to the point that I was terrified I was going to drop him just trying to carry him to change his diaper. It ended with me calling my husband to come home before I did drop him.
Skip forward a year. My son is now 18 months old. I was in for a regular physical and remembered to mention these weird physical occurrences that come and go. My doctor sent me for some blood work and there it was. A tiny little blip, as they call it, a trace. Lupus. I had no idea what Lupus was. None. I was referred to a Rheumatologist and we sat and talked. I found out that all the things I had piled into that list of "Weird things my body does that makes no sense" was all caused by this tiny little blip. Thinning hair, sensitive skin, redness on the face, easy weight gain, swelling joints, and trouble with certain foods. They were all symptoms. Armed with this new information, I went out and did some research of my own and discovered more. Not so much about the disease, but how to treat it. Some of the options that my doctor had suggested, included me going on medication that I would have to get off of if I were to want to become pregnant. I had to be off of it for 6 months previous to me getting pregnant.
I didn't like that, not at all. I barely liked the medication I was given when the swelling happened. It caused a strange sensation. The swelling disappeared, yes, but it was like I could feel the damage happening in my joints when I moved them. I preferred to deal with the pain and swelling.
Then one day I was at a health food store and there was this HUGE book sitting open. I flipped through it and decided to buy a copy. The Prescription for Nutritional Healing turned out to be my new best friend. It went into detail about things my doctor didn't really mention about Lupus. Then it lists vitamins, herbs, foods, behaviors, etc that I should include or exclude from my daily diet. The idea that I could control this with my diet was exciting. No meds? No side effects? No having to wait 6 months before trying to get pregnant? I'm IN!
The one thing I was prepared for was the amount of will power it was going to take. I have already tried sticking to it once before and it all went downhill after I had my daughter. Now I am determined to stick to it and make it habit, so that any future pregnancies won't sway me into damaging eating.
The first thing I did was buy the vitamins that were listed as "Essential". They alone made a huge difference. The swelling and pain disappeared within a few months. Moving along to the food part, this is where the will power comes in. I cannot eat any dairy, refined sugars, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, red meats, white potatoes, citrus fruits, paprika, caffeine, and alfalfa sprouts.
You are probably wondering what the heck I'm eating. The dairy wasn't too hard to give up. I've been suffering my whole life from what I thought was lactose intolerance, so that I'm used to giving up for dairy free alternatives. The hardest one the first week was sugar. Oh man, was I a major b***h that week. Headaches, nausea, exhaustion, you name it I had it. My body was SCREAMING for sugar in any form. I am able to have honey, agave, and Stevie. But those were not quenching my fire burning for sugar. The second week, after the headaches were gone, it became the rest of the foods. If I'm making pasta, I have to say no to the red sauce and say hello to pesto. I also learned that not all pesto's are made alike. Some are evil and have cheese in them or sugars. Made that mistake the second week.
Now for the trade off. Since I've been following this diet, I've not only lost weight, I feel fantastic. I don't wake up in the morning groggy and stumbling. I am able to just wake up and be awake within a short period of time. My joints feel better and my mind feels clearer, I'm able to think better. Not as forgetful or stumbling. Granted this whole change has made eating out tricky. Almost everything out there is coated in butter. Literally. We went out for seafood and I was almost sick by the time we got home from what my dish had been soaking in. I also experience food lethargy, really for the first time. Food Coma, where you just want to go to sleep and you can't think straight.
I would never of believed this and haven't from what I've read or heard others say. Now I do.
When I was pregnant with my son, I had a strange swelling occur in my left hand. It lasted a week and was almost unbearable. A month or so later, it happened in my left shoulder, then my left hip and so on. I had gone to see a doctor, but they didn't see a reason for it to be happening. So I just added it to my list of things that my body does that makes no sense to me or anyone else. After I had it, I had it happen in my right knee and elbow to the point that I was terrified I was going to drop him just trying to carry him to change his diaper. It ended with me calling my husband to come home before I did drop him.
Skip forward a year. My son is now 18 months old. I was in for a regular physical and remembered to mention these weird physical occurrences that come and go. My doctor sent me for some blood work and there it was. A tiny little blip, as they call it, a trace. Lupus. I had no idea what Lupus was. None. I was referred to a Rheumatologist and we sat and talked. I found out that all the things I had piled into that list of "Weird things my body does that makes no sense" was all caused by this tiny little blip. Thinning hair, sensitive skin, redness on the face, easy weight gain, swelling joints, and trouble with certain foods. They were all symptoms. Armed with this new information, I went out and did some research of my own and discovered more. Not so much about the disease, but how to treat it. Some of the options that my doctor had suggested, included me going on medication that I would have to get off of if I were to want to become pregnant. I had to be off of it for 6 months previous to me getting pregnant.
I didn't like that, not at all. I barely liked the medication I was given when the swelling happened. It caused a strange sensation. The swelling disappeared, yes, but it was like I could feel the damage happening in my joints when I moved them. I preferred to deal with the pain and swelling.
Then one day I was at a health food store and there was this HUGE book sitting open. I flipped through it and decided to buy a copy. The Prescription for Nutritional Healing turned out to be my new best friend. It went into detail about things my doctor didn't really mention about Lupus. Then it lists vitamins, herbs, foods, behaviors, etc that I should include or exclude from my daily diet. The idea that I could control this with my diet was exciting. No meds? No side effects? No having to wait 6 months before trying to get pregnant? I'm IN!
The one thing I was prepared for was the amount of will power it was going to take. I have already tried sticking to it once before and it all went downhill after I had my daughter. Now I am determined to stick to it and make it habit, so that any future pregnancies won't sway me into damaging eating.
The first thing I did was buy the vitamins that were listed as "Essential". They alone made a huge difference. The swelling and pain disappeared within a few months. Moving along to the food part, this is where the will power comes in. I cannot eat any dairy, refined sugars, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, red meats, white potatoes, citrus fruits, paprika, caffeine, and alfalfa sprouts.
You are probably wondering what the heck I'm eating. The dairy wasn't too hard to give up. I've been suffering my whole life from what I thought was lactose intolerance, so that I'm used to giving up for dairy free alternatives. The hardest one the first week was sugar. Oh man, was I a major b***h that week. Headaches, nausea, exhaustion, you name it I had it. My body was SCREAMING for sugar in any form. I am able to have honey, agave, and Stevie. But those were not quenching my fire burning for sugar. The second week, after the headaches were gone, it became the rest of the foods. If I'm making pasta, I have to say no to the red sauce and say hello to pesto. I also learned that not all pesto's are made alike. Some are evil and have cheese in them or sugars. Made that mistake the second week.
Now for the trade off. Since I've been following this diet, I've not only lost weight, I feel fantastic. I don't wake up in the morning groggy and stumbling. I am able to just wake up and be awake within a short period of time. My joints feel better and my mind feels clearer, I'm able to think better. Not as forgetful or stumbling. Granted this whole change has made eating out tricky. Almost everything out there is coated in butter. Literally. We went out for seafood and I was almost sick by the time we got home from what my dish had been soaking in. I also experience food lethargy, really for the first time. Food Coma, where you just want to go to sleep and you can't think straight.
I would never of believed this and haven't from what I've read or heard others say. Now I do.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
What to Reject when you're Expecting
Since I seem to be coming across all sorts of great article bits lately, why not add another one? There is SOOO much fantastic info out there, all we have to do is read it.
What to reject when you're expecting
10 procedures to think twice about during your pregnancy
Published: May 2012
Despite a health-care system that outspends those in the rest of the world, infants and mothers fare worse in the U.S. than in many other industrialized nations. The infant mortality rate in Canada is 25 percent lower than it is in the U.S.; the Japanese rate, more than 60 percent lower. According to the World Health Organization, America ranks behind 41 other countries in preventing mothers from dying during childbirth.
With technological advances in medicine, you would expect those numbers to steadily improve. But the rate of maternal deaths has risen over the last decade, and the number of premature and low-birth-weight babies is higher now than it was in the 1980s and 1990s.
Why are we doing so badly? Partly because mothers tend to be less healthy than in the past, “which contributes to a higher-risk pregnancy,” says Diane Ashton, M.D., deputy medical director of the March of Dimes.
But another key reason appears to be a health-care system that has developed into a highly profitable labor-and-delivery machine, operating according to its own timetable rather than the less predictable schedule of mothers and babies. Childbirth is the leading reason for hospital admission, and the system is set up to make the most of the opportunity. Keeping things chugging along are technological interventions that can be lifesaving in some situations but also interfere with healthy, natural processes and increase risk when used inappropriately.
Topping the list are unnecessary cesarean sections. The rate has risen steadily since the mid-1990s to the point that nearly one of every three American babies now comes into the world through this surgical delivery. That’s double or even triple what the World Health Organization considers optimal.
Some people say that the increase in C-sections and other interventions stems mostly from women, who may be requesting more of the procedures. That could be a contributing cause but it’s not the major one, says Carol Sakala, Ph.D., director of programs at Childbirth Connection, a nonprofit organization that promotes evidence-based maternity care.
“We see rates going up across all birthing groups, including all ages, races, and classes," Sakala says. "What we are seeing is a change in practice standards, a lowering of the bar for what’s an acceptable indication for medical interventions.”
10 overused procedures
Of course, the idea is not to reject all interventions. The course of childbirth is not something that anyone can completely control. In some situations, inducing labor or doing a C-section is the safest option. And complications are the exception, not the norm. But when they’re not medically necessary, the interventions listed below are associated with poorer outcomes for moms and babies.
1. A C-section with a low-risk first birth
While C-sections are generally quite safe, “the safest method for both mom and baby is an uncomplicated vaginal birth,” says Catherine Spong, M.D., chief of the pregnancy and perinatology branch at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
The U.S. health-care system has developed into a profitable labor-and- delivery machine that operates on its own timetable—not the schedule of mothers and babies.
The best way to reduce the number of C-sections overall is to decrease the number of them among low-risk women delivering their first child. That’s because having an initial C-section “sets the stage for a woman’s entire reproductive life,” says Elliott Main, M.D., chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the California Pacific Medical Center and director of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative. “In this country, if your first birth is a C-section, there’s a 95 percent chance all subsequent births will be as well,” he says.
A C-section is major surgery. So it’s no surprise that as rates for the procedure go down, so do the numbers for several complications, especially infection or pain at the site of the incision. Rare but potentially life-threatening complications include severe bleeding, blood clots, and bowel obstruction. A C-section can also complicate future pregnancies, increasing the risk of problems with the placenta, ectopic pregnancies (those that occur outside the uterus), or a rupture of the uterine scar. And the risks increase with each additional cesarean birth.
Babies born by C-section can be accidentally injured or cut during the procedure and are more likely to have breathing problems. They are also less likely to breast-feed, perhaps because of the challenges of starting in a post-surgical setting.
In some situations, such as when the mother is bleeding heavily or the baby’s oxygen supply is compromised, surgical delivery is absolutely necessary. But women can maximize their chances of avoiding an unnecessary cesarean by finding a caregiver and birthing environment that supports vaginal birth.
When choosing a practitioner and hospital or birthing center, ask about C-section rates, particularly rates for low-risk women having their first child. The target rate for that population should be around 15 percent, according to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). Although it can be difficult to find a hospital with a C-section rate that low, you might be able find one that meets the more modest goal of about 24 percent, which was set by the government’s Healthy People 2020 initiative.
About a third of the babies born in the U.S. are now delivered by C-section.
2. An automatic second C-section
Just because your first baby was delivered by C-section doesn’t mean your second has to be, too. In fact, most women who have had a C-section with a low-transverse scar, or “a bikini cut,” are good candidates for a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), according to ACOG. About three quarters of such women who attempt a VBAC are able to deliver vaginally.
Yet the percentage of VBACs has declined sharply since the mid-1990s, particularly after ACOG said in 1999 that they should be considered only if hospitals had staff “immediately available” to do emergency C-sections if necessary. And some obstetricians don’t do VBACs because they lack hospital support or training or because their malpractice insurance won’t provide coverage. So women seeking a VBAC delivery might have trouble finding a supportive practitioner and hospital.
“It’s tragic, really,” Main says. “In many parts of the country, the option has all but disappeared.”
In response, ACOG recently relaxed its guidelines. For example, it makes clear that while it’s preferable for staff to be at the ready, hospitals can make do with a clear plan for dealing with uterine ruptures and assembling an emergency team quickly. Experts we spoke with say it’s too early to tell if the move will lead to a change in clinical practice.
Although some women turn to home births as an alternative, our experts say that isn’t a good idea in this situation. “The risk of uterine rupture is low,” Main says, “but if it happens, it can be catastrophic.”
Instead, if you had a C-section, find out whether your obstetrician and hospital are willing to try a VBAC. Let them know that you understand that you your baby will be monitored continuously during labor, and ask what the hospital would do if an emergency C-section became necessary.
Vaginal births after a C-section have declined sharply since the late 1990s.
3. An elective early delivery
A full-term pregnancy goes to at least 39 weeks, but over the last two decades many doctors have come to think they can deliver babies sooner than Mother Nature intended. Between 1990 and 2007, births at 37 and 38 weeks increased 45 percent, according to the March of Dimes. At the same time, full-term births dropped by 26 percent.
Because nearly all late preterm babies survive and eventually thrive, many doctors see no harm in moving up a delivery date to fit a schedule. “Although we knew 39 weeks or later was the optimal time for delivery, until recently there wasn’t a good evidence showing that a lot of maturation took place after 37 weeks,” says Ashton of the March of Dimes, who terms research from the last five years “eye opening.”
Late preterm babies “may look like full term babies,” she says, “but they are different in important ways.”
It turns out that carrying an infant to term has health benefits for both moms and babies. Research shows that babies born at 39 weeks or later have lower rates of breathing problems and are less likely to need neonatal intensive care. Full-term babies may also be less likely to be affected by cerebral palsy or jaundice, have fewer feeding problems, and have a higher rate of survival in their first year. Some research even suggests that full-term infants benefit from cognitive and learning advantages that continue through adolescence.
Perhaps because late preterm infants have more problems, mothers are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression. In addition, the procedures required to intentionally deliver a baby early—either an induced labor or a C-section—also carry a higher risk of complications than a full-term vaginal delivery. “There is just much more chance of things going wrong if you interrupt the normal course of pregnancy,” Spong says.
Of course, some babies arrive sooner than expected and complications during pregnancy, such as skyrocketing blood pressure in the mother, can make early delivery the safest option. But hastening the conclusion of an otherwise healthy pregnancy—even by a couple of days—is never a good idea.
The rate of early deliveries varies substantially among hospitals, as demonstrated in the table below of all six hospitals in Utah that report that data to Leapfrog Group. It shows the percentage of early deliveries in each hospital that were done without medical reason. See the rates of planned early deliveries for the hosptials in your state on Leapfrog's website.
The rate of scheduled early deliveries varies widely in six Utah hospitals.
4. Inducing labor without a medical reason
The percentage of births resulting from artificially induced labor more than doubled from 1990 to 2008. “In many ways the system has become centered on convenience rather than evidence-based care,” says Sakala of the Childbirth Connection. She points out that it’s no coincidence that more babies are born on Tuesdays than any other day of the week. “The births are scheduled so that parents and providers can all be home by the weekend.”
It's no coincidence that more babies are born on Tuesdays. The births are scheduled so the parents and providers can all be home by the weekend.
But whether artificially induced or spontaneous, labor is labor, right? “Absolutely not,” says Deborah Bingham Dr.PH., R.N., vice president of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. She points out that women who go into labor naturally can usually spend the early portion at home, moving around as they feel most comfortable. An induced labor takes place in a hospital, where a woman will be hooked up to at least one intravenous line and an electronic fetal monitor. In addition, most hospitals don’t allow eating or drinking once induction begins.
"An induced labor may also occur prior to a woman's body or baby being ready," Bingham says. "This means labor may take longer and that the woman is two to three times more likely to give birth surgically." In addition, induced labor frequently leads to further interventions—including epidurals for pain relief, deliveries with the use of forceps or vacuums, and C-sections—that carry risks of their own. For example, a 2011 study found that women who had labor induced without a recognized indication were 67 percent more likely to have a C-section, and their babies were 64 percent more likely to wind up in a neonatal intensive care unit, compared with women allowed to go into labor on their own.
Induction is justified when there’s a medical reason, such as when a woman’s membranes rupture, or her “water breaks,” and labor doesn’t start immediately, or when she’s a week or more past her due date.
5. Ultrasounds after 24 weeks
Unless there is a specific condition your provider is tracking, you don’t need an ultrasound after 24 weeks. Although some practitioners use ultrasounds after this point to estimate fetal size or due date, it’s not a good idea because the margin of error increases significantly as the pregnancy progresses. And the procedure doesn’t provide any additional information leading to better outcomes for either mother or baby, according to a 2009 review of eight trials involving 27,024 women. In fact, the practice was linked to a slightly higher C-section rate.
6. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring
Continuous monitoring, during which you’re hooked up to monitor to record your baby’s heartbeat throughout labor, restricts your movement and increases the chance of a cesarean and delivery with forceps. In addition, it doesn’t reduce the risk of cerebral palsy or death for the baby, research suggests. The alternative is to monitor the baby at regular intervals using an electronic fetal monitor, a handheld ultrasound device, or a special stethoscope. Continuous electronic monitoring is recommended if you’re given oxytocin to strengthen labor, you’ve had an epidural, or you’re attempting a VBAC.
7. Early epidurals
An epidural places anesthesia directly into the spinal canal, so that you remain awake but don’t feel pain below the administration point. But the longer an epidural is in place, the more medication accumulates and the less likely you will be able to feel to push. Epidurals can also slow labor. By delaying administration and using effective labor support strategies, you might be able to get past a tough spot and progress to the point you no longer feel it’s needed. If you do have an epidural, ask the anesthesiologist about a lighter block. “Ideally, a woman should still be able to move her legs and lift her buttocks,” Main says.
8. Routinely rupturing the amniotic membranes
Doctors sometimes rupture the amniotic membranes or “break the waters,” supposedly to strengthen contractions and shorten labor. But the practice doesn’t have that affect and may increase the risk of C-sections, according to a 2009 review of 15 trials involving 5,583 women. In addition, artificially rupturing amniotic membranes can cause rare but serious complications, including problems with the umbilical cord or the baby’s heart rate.
9. Routine episiotomies
Practitioners sometimes make a surgical cut just before delivery to enlarge the opening of the vagina. That can be necessary in the case of a delivery that requires help from forceps or a vacuum, or if the baby is descending too quickly for the tissues to stretch. But in other cases, routine episiotomies don’t help and are associated with several significant problems, including more damage to the perineal area and a longer healing period, according to a 2009 review involving more than 5,000 women.
Allowing healthy infants and moms to stay together right after delivery promotes bonding and breast-feeding.
10. Sending your newborn to the nursery
If your baby has a problem that needs special monitoring, then sending him or her to a nursery or even an intensive care unit is essential. But in other cases, allowing healthy infants and mothers to stay together promotes bonding and breast-feeding. Moms get just as much sleep, research shows, and they learn to respond to the feeding cues of their babies. Allowing mothers and babies to stay together is one of the criteria hospitals must meet to be certified as “baby friendly” by the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
10 things you should do during your pregnancy
Families don’t have to wait for the whole system to change to seek out practitioners who are already following more patient-centered models of care. “We need to raise women’s awareness that there will be a big difference in how they are cared for depending on who is in charge and what policies are in place,” Bingham says. Below are 10 steps you can take to ensure the best possible experience.
1. Set your due date. If you aren’t positive about the date of conception or your last menstrual period, get an ultrasound early in the pregnancy to establish your due date. Subsequent ultrasounds might suggest other dates, but that first ultrasound provides the most accurate one. “If we aren’t sure about the dates,” Spong says, “it can turn into a real mishmash in the end.”
2. Make a plan—and have a backup. For example, if you’ve had a C-section and would like to consider a vaginal birth, discuss that up front because not all doctors and hospitals provide care for VBACs. A birth plan can help you talk about concerns and desires with your provider and with hospital staff. Look for a template that is current, applicable to your situation, and flexible. Here is an example from the California Pacific Medical Center. But remember that things rarely go exactly as planned, so have a backup in mind. For example, you might want to have a delivery without pain medication, but consider what you will do if it turns out you need it. Finally, think about breast-feeding when planning. “An important thing a mother can do is learn about breast-feeding while she is pregnant,” says Rebecca Mannel, a lactation coordinator at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. “Providing advice and support prenatally is a key time that is often missed.”
3. Consider a midwife. If your pregnancy is low-risk, consider using a certified midwife, a health professional who can provide a range of women’s health care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Certified midwives have graduate degrees, have completed an accredited education program, and must pass a national certification exam. Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) also have a nursing degree; certified professional midwives (CPMs) have special training in delivering babies outside of hospitals.
Midwives practice in diverse settings—including homes, hospitals, and birthing clinics—and provide many of the same services as physicians, including prescribing medication and ordering tests. The care that midwives provide is based on the philosophy of not intervening unless there is a current or potential health problem. That approach has several benefits, according to a 2009 review of 11 studies involving more than 12,000 women. Women who used midwives were more likely to be cared for in delivery by their primary provider (rather than whoever was on call) and were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth without the need for an epidural, forceps, or vacuum extraction. They are also more likely to report feeling in control during their birth experience and to initiate breast-feeding.
Most health insurance plans cover midwife care and include some in their list of covered providers. The American College of Nurse-Midwives maintains a list of CNMs and CMs. Make sure the midwife you’re considering is licensed to practice in your state. CNMs are licensed in every state, but CPMs and CMs are not.
4. Reduce the risks of an early delivery. Women who have a history of spontaneous premature delivery can reduce the risk of another preterm birth by about one-third by taking a special form of progesterone weekly starting at 16 to 20 weeks. In addition, women with a significant risk of delivering their baby early —due to their water breaking, for example—and who are between 23 and 34 weeks pregnant can reduce risks to the baby by taking corticosteroids such as betamethasone and dexamethasone. If your doctor doesn’t prescribe those medications ask why not, and get a second opinion if necessary.
5. Ask if a breech baby can be turned. Because a baby delivered buttocks- or feet-first can be in danger, many practitioners recommend a C-section when the baby is not coming out head first. But by using a technique called external version, a skilled practitioner can often turn a breech baby in the last weeks of pregnancy. Because it carries some risk—membranes might rupture, for example, or in rare cases the baby can become tangled in the umbilical cord—it should be done in a hospital, where both mother and baby can be monitored closely. With the increasing use of C-sections, some practitioners have little training or experience with the external version procedure. If yours is not, consider asking for a referral to someone who is.
6. Stay at home during early labor. Discuss with your provider at what point in labor your should go to the hospital or maternity center. Don’t be disappointed, though, if the staff checks you and sends you home. “Until a woman’s cervix is dilated to 3 or 4 centimeters, she usually doesn’t need to be in the hospital setting,” Main says. “She’ll usually be more comfortable and labor will even progress more smoothly at home.”
7. Be patient. Mothers are likely to be in labor longer than their grandmothers were, recent research suggests. That may be because they tend to be heavier or older when they give birth, or it may be a side effect of epidural anesthesia. In any case, most doctors learned about the course of labor from timetables set in the 1950s. “Obstetricians may be too quick to intervene because they think labor is not progressing as quickly as it should,” Main says. Talk with your practitioner as well as anyone who will be supporting you in advance about your desire to allow your labor to progress on its own.
8. Get labor support. Women who receive continuous support are in labor for shorter periods and are less likely to need intervention. The most effective support comes from someone who is not a member of the hospital staff and is not in your social network—a doula, or trained birth assistant, for example—according to a systematic review of 21 studies involving more than 15,000 women in a range of circumstances and settings. Ask your provider for a referral, and see if your insurance company will cover doula care.
Placing healthy newborns naked on their mother's bare chest after birth has many benefits for both.
9. Listen to yourself. Walking, rocking, or moving during contractions, and changing positions between contractions, can make you more comfortable and speed labor along. “Each labor coping strategy, such as walking or showering, tends to last for about 20 minutes,” Main says. “It’s good to plan five or six strategies and then rotate through them.” When it comes time to push, being upright or on your side rather than flat on your back allows your pelvis to open and keeps you working with rather than against gravity. Hollywood-style pushing, in which the woman is coached to hold her breath and push hard according to someone else’s count, turns out to less effective than trusting your instincts. “Self-directed pushing, in which the mother can push when she feels like it in the way that feels right to her, can actually make things go faster,” Bingham says.
10. Touch your newborn. Placing healthy newborns naked on their mother’s bare chest immediately after birth has numerous benefits for both of them, according to a review of 30 studies involving nearly 2,000 mother-infant pairs. Babies that get skin-to-skin contact interact more with their mothers, stay warmer, cry less, and are more likely to be breast-fed and to breast-feed longer than those that are taken away to be cleaned up, measured, and dressed.
5 things to do before you become pregnant
One approach to improving birth outcomes is to focus on improving health before pregnancy. “Entering pregnancy healthy gives you the best possible chance to stay that way yourself and have a healthy baby,” Spong says. “If you have medical problems, get those under control. Get yourself in as good shape as you can for that baby.”
And if you aren’t planning a pregnancy in the near future? There’s no downside to optimizing your health. Plus, over half of all pregnancies are unplanned, so it only makes sense for women who are sexually active to consider their reproductive health.
A two-year collaborative effort by experts from government agencies, national medical organizations, and nonprofits such as the March of Dimes yielded recommendations for health-care providers and consumers to improve preconception health and care. Here are the top five.
1. Take folic acid. Aim for 400 mcg of a day starting at least 3 months before becoming pregnant to cut the risk of neural tube defects by at least half.
2. Stop bad habits. That means smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, and using illegal drugs. Smoking is associated with premature birth, low birth weight, and other pregnancy complications. It’s never safe to smoke or use recreational drugs during pregnancy because those substances can harm the developing fetus even before you realize you are pregnant. Any alcohol during pregnancy—especially during the second half of the first trimester—puts your baby at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome, according to a recent study.
3. Take control of chronic disease. If you have a medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, or high blood pressure, be sure to get it under control. For example, losing excess weight before pregnancy decreases the risk of neural tube defects, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, blood clots, and other adverse effects. Also be sure that your vaccinations are up to date; rubella (German measles) and chicken pox can cause birth defects and complications if you get them while pregnant.
4. Watch for harmful drugs and supplements. Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any over-the-counter and prescription medicine you are taking, including vitamins and other dietary or herbal supplements. Some medication, such as the acne drug isotretinoin (Accutane), can cause miscarriages and birth defects and shouldn’t be taken by women who are—or might become—pregnant. For other medication, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage or an alternative drug.
5. Avoid toxins. Those include hazardous chemicals or potentially infectious materials at work or at home. Stay away from solvents such as paint thinner. Don’t change the litter in your cat’s box; let someone else do it. And avoid handling pet hamsters, mice, and guinea pigs because they can carry a virus that can harm your baby.
Time Magazine
Since the discussions circulating this months cover are everywhere at the moment. It's only normal that I jump in and add my two cents. (I have not read the article, if I'm able to hunt one down soon, I will post about it.)
My first reaction to the photo was "FINALLY! Yes, show the world that extended breastfeeding is normal." Then I started thinking about it more after my excitement of seeing a toddler nursing on a magazine diminished. I examined the cover and the photo itself.
The caption is almost mocking of those that either do not breastfeed or haven't gone past the age of one when paired with this photo. "I am MOM ENOUGH, but anyone who isn't doing this isn't." Which just ignited the entire argument of formula feeding mothers against breastfeeding mothers and even breastfeeding moms against breastfeeding moms. So that right there has created a HUGE problem.
Then there is the photo. I do love it by itself, but there are some things that are just wrong. Last time I checked, moms didn't nurse with their babies/toddlers standing upright. I have nursed standing up and even walking, but my children have almost always been in semi reclined position. I also feel like they dressed the boy to appear older than he really is (he is 3) by putting him in camo pants, a thermal shirt, and what appears to be hiking sneakers. Is he a toddler or a lumberjack? That alone is feeding into the early pressures of the "sex" of the child. Who knows? Maybe she really does buy him those clothes. Either way, for me it made him appear to be 5, which is pushing it even for our World Wide average of 4. Her stance is strong, but she is also on the defensive. As if to say she won't back down if you have a problem with how she is parenting. Which is great otherwise. Every mom should feel strong and secure in her decisions in parenting. Then there is her hand. Apart from being a photographer and absolutely HATING disembodied hands in general, her hand being there almost signifies her holding him to the breast longer than he wants to be. Which goes against the method of toddler lead parenting, a form of natural parenting. You let your child lead you as to when to start solids, sleep habits, weaning, etc. Not on major things, like wearing a seat belt or helmet.
This photo would of been much more correct if it showed them snuggled in a chair, him nursing and her holding a book. As if that was their special time to sit and bond. But this clearly makes a statement, rather than being a candid shot in the family album. (Insert kitchen counter and dinner being prepped). My husband and I both agreed that a more agreeable picture would of been of a family sleeping all together in a King size bed. Since that is a much less explosive topic in general, as EVERY parent has let their child come into their bed at some point during the child's life. Formula fed or breast fed aside.
In short, what could of been a relevant cover that would of sold copies without sparking a maelstrom, has not happened. It has simply become another image that will be shot down, ripped to pieces, speculated upon and shunned. My thanks to TIME for trying to make a point and instead making a bigger mess.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Cringe
I had my orientation for becoming a working Co-op member the other night. If it's a clue of what kind of people are also working there, I'm in. The person giving it was an older lady who was not the most organized, but was happy to be doing it anyway. There were four others, a man, a lady and two girls (18 maybe 20, young enough to call girls.) Mostly it was an open conversation about what we expected and what positions we could work and how often.
It was when we were doing introductions that some of the interesting conversations came about. Most had always shopped there, but never sought membership. One had been recently made aware of a medical condition that unhealthy diet was making worse. After seeking multiple opinions and having had several prescriptions thrown at him, he came across a doctor who simply said "Stop eating these things and you will get better." He tried it and found out, that indeed it did work that way. That easily.
Since I too, have had to make diet adjustments (no more sugar, dairy, and nightshade plants), I asked what he had to give up. Turns out he was drinking about 12 POTS of coffee a day. This stopped me in my tracks and made my head spin. 12???!!! That makes my 1 cup every so often, seem like nothing. Then it dawned on me. There are people out there who don't understand a direct link between their diet and their health. Or people who would rather have pills with unknown long term side effects given to them, rather than avoiding certain foods.
"No, I want to keep eating my pizza, burgers, fries, with double malt shakes."
Ok, but if you want to live until you 70, you need to not eat that. People have said that Corn Syrup doesn't make people fat and that Diet Soda doesn't either. Yes, that product may not itself make you fat, but it makes you used to sweet and fattening tastes.
The argument can go around and around but the only fact that can be labeled as true, is how healthy we are long term in our diets. What's the point of eating what you want if you feel like crap? Did I want to give up sugar or dairy? No. It's way easier to not and the few weeks without them was horrible. But, after the hangover was gone, I felt fine. Great even. Able to wake up and not be groggy in the morning, having energy to keep up with my kids.
But I still cringe at the 12 pots a day. That means that was his drink when he was thirsty, no water or juice. Just coffee.
It was when we were doing introductions that some of the interesting conversations came about. Most had always shopped there, but never sought membership. One had been recently made aware of a medical condition that unhealthy diet was making worse. After seeking multiple opinions and having had several prescriptions thrown at him, he came across a doctor who simply said "Stop eating these things and you will get better." He tried it and found out, that indeed it did work that way. That easily.
Since I too, have had to make diet adjustments (no more sugar, dairy, and nightshade plants), I asked what he had to give up. Turns out he was drinking about 12 POTS of coffee a day. This stopped me in my tracks and made my head spin. 12???!!! That makes my 1 cup every so often, seem like nothing. Then it dawned on me. There are people out there who don't understand a direct link between their diet and their health. Or people who would rather have pills with unknown long term side effects given to them, rather than avoiding certain foods.
"No, I want to keep eating my pizza, burgers, fries, with double malt shakes."
Ok, but if you want to live until you 70, you need to not eat that. People have said that Corn Syrup doesn't make people fat and that Diet Soda doesn't either. Yes, that product may not itself make you fat, but it makes you used to sweet and fattening tastes.
The argument can go around and around but the only fact that can be labeled as true, is how healthy we are long term in our diets. What's the point of eating what you want if you feel like crap? Did I want to give up sugar or dairy? No. It's way easier to not and the few weeks without them was horrible. But, after the hangover was gone, I felt fine. Great even. Able to wake up and not be groggy in the morning, having energy to keep up with my kids.
But I still cringe at the 12 pots a day. That means that was his drink when he was thirsty, no water or juice. Just coffee.
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