|
|||||||||
|
Like most women, I assumed that I would use birth control pills until we were “ready” to have kids, then immediately become pregnant when I went off the pill. Like many women, I discovered it is seldom that easy. (Read about my journey through infertility over at Modern Alternative Pregnancy!)
  
Welcome back to the Raising Health Families series, join us each week as we take a look at different ways to keep your family healthy and vibrant in a not-so-healthy world. Yesterday I shared what I’ve learned about the dangers of synthetic folic acid. “Folate” and “folic acid” are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing and they do not have the same effects on the body. Folate is God-made, folic acid is man-made. In my opinion, God had a much better idea of what we need, so I stick with His version. Today, I want to talk about the benefits of folate and give you some good natural sources and alternatives to synthetic folic acid supplements. Benefits of Folate Why is it so important to get enough folate? Well, this little water-soluble vitamin, also known as B9, is needed [...] 
When a woman is pregnant or is trying to conceive, she is usually told to start taking a folic acid supplement to prevent birth defects. Few of us question that recommendation, but maybe we should. The more I’ve been learning about synthetic vitamins, the more concerned I am by what is in our supplements and our food supply. So, why am I concerned about folic acid? I’m so glad you asked! What is Folic Acid? Folic acid is the synthetic (man-made form) of the naturally-occurring vitamin called “folate”. Folate is one of the many B vitamins, specifically B9. It is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that it needs to be consumed regularly. It is needed for quite a few reasons, but the most talked about reason is proper cellular division which is necessary for preventing neural tube defects, a birth defect that occurs between about three and four weeks [...] 
~Order my comfrey salve from my on-line store!~ If I were stranded on a deserted island, this would be the herb I’d choose to have with me! Comfrey is the most amazing healing herb I know of and we never allow our supply to get too low. Although we often use comfrey as a poultice (future post topic), I like to have a simple comfrey salve on hand for every day use. What is Comfrey? Comfrey is an herb that heals skin, muscle and even bone. We use it to heal cuts, scrapes, bruises, sprains, sore muscles and we’ve even seen it work wonders on a broken toe. It has trans-dermal healing properties, meaning that it soaks through the skin, into the tissue and bone. Whatever is injured, comfrey is our herb of choice to heal it quickly. I even used this salve to help [...] 
~Ready-made magnesium lotion is available in my on-line store!~ Magnesium is vitally important to over 300 processes in our bodies, but very few of us get enough of it. Even those of us with an excellent, nutrient-dense diet are probably not getting enough magnesium. The problem is that our soil is horribly depleted. When a food says that it contains x amount of magnesium, that can be very misleading. In optimal growing conditions and magnesium-rich soil, it might be an accurate number, but that is seldom the situation. On top of a lack of magnesium in the diet, many prescription drugs can actually deplete magnesium. When we’re stressed, we burn through magnesium at an accelerated rate. Magnesium is needed for so many things, including restful sleep, digestion of food, heart health, fertility, strong bones, energy and so much more. If you’d like to learn even more about [...] 
I know that most of us make New Year’s Resolutions (or “re-evaluations”) having to do with health or weight. We all want to have more energy, feel better and look our best, so we tend to vow that we WILL exercise 30 minutes a day or run x many miles a week. While that works for some, I know that many mamas out there just can’t scrape together the uninterpreted time. A good way to get more activity is to use what I call cues. To figure out what cues will work best for you, think of things you do every day and attach an activity to each thing. Whenever you do your regular thing, you’ll be adding something to it that will get your heart pumping and/or work some muscles. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing! Morning Routine Do squats while you brush your [...] 
I hesitate to use the word “remedies”. People usually understand that word to mean “cure”, but there truly is no “cure for the common cold”. I do, however, have natural treatments I use to speed recovery and reduce symptoms, when needed. This post will be about everything except herbs, the next post will have all of the herbs we use (read that post here!). Rest I know, I know. You’ve got so much to do and the kids are sick, too. You need to get things done- no time to rest! Don’t worry. I am not saying that you should curl up under a blanket for the whole day and do nothing (though by all means, do that if you can and want to!!). When I say to rest, here’s what I mean: Take breaks/naps: even just a 20 minute catnap or rest time can do amazing things! If you’re [...] 
One of my favorite things to do for a new-mama-to-be is to create a new mama basket. Baby showers tend to be full of baby clothes, baby blankets, baby toys… everything for the baby. I love to pamper and celebrate the mama! A new mama basket can fit within most budgets and it is perfect for personalizing. There are some things that I include in all of them… Read the rest of this post over at The Humbled Homemaker! 
For years, I’ve pretty much done one of two things with my hair. One is a simple ponytail. The other is putting it up in one of those ugly plastic claw clips. Pretty uninspiring, I know. The reason is that I hate having my hair in my face, so from the time I get up in the morning until the time I’m done getting ready for bed at night, my hair is almost always pulled back. The worst part (besides not being very pretty and feminine) is that I have to really get the ponytail or claw tight to keep my straight, smooth hair from sliding right out. That gives me a killer headache and even then I still have to redo my hair several times a day. Not fun. Then I heard about the Flexi Clip a few months ago. It was just little things, here and there, about [...] 
During my two pregnancies, I was so surprised by the number of negative comments I received. The comments I heard the most towards the end of each pregnancy were, “You must be miserable!” and “Aren’t you sick/tired of being pregnant?!” Umm… no. I didn’t have what you would call “easy” pregnancies, but I was thrilled to be carrying my precious babies! God designed our bodies in such an amazing way! It is so beautiful, the way that we are made to be able to carry and nurture another little person! Rather than trying to convince me that I was miserable, I would have appreciated to hear some encouragement… To read the rest of this post, please head on over to Intentional By Grace, where I am now a regular contributor! |
 |
||||||||
|
Copyright © 2013 Creative Christian Mama - All Rights Reserved 
|
|||||||||
