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Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
**This has been entered in Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom!**
So far, we've discussed creating a budget and ideas to save money on that budget. That is, large ways to save, like refinancing the mortgage, cutting out entertainment, buying in bulk, etc. But there are other ways to save money, around the house. Simple, little things that most people don't even think about that can add up and make a big difference on how much you eventually spend on your bills.
Disposable Items
*Use less toilet paper -- limit yourself to only 3 - 4 squares per bathroom trip unless you really NEED more. Most times you don't. Check on your children to make sure they aren't grabbing a huge handful "just for fun," either. If we let her, Bekah would stand in the bathroom and throw the toilet paper in the toilet, sheet by sheet, all day. Obviously a waste!
*Use fewer paper towels -- When possible, use towels or something that can be washed instead. When a paper towel is necessary or truly more convenient, use only one, or even half a sheet. Whatever the smallest amount is that gets the job done.
*Reuse plastic baggies -- Rinse them out if they were messy, or just re-use them as is. If you've only had chips or something dry in them, you can use them right away. Lettuce can be in the same bag for a couple weeks before it needs rinsed. Any non-food item bags can obviously be re-used.
*Reuse EVERYTHING! -- "Anything else" falls in this category. You can reuse old canisters or bottles to store stuff (it doesn't have to be food) or turn into a children's toy. Old spice containers (plastic) make great toys! Basically, if there is a way something can be used again, do it. Get creative.
*Move away from disposables -- When possible, don't use ANYTHING disposable. No paper plates. No Kleenexes (ideas on how to get around this are coming soon). No disposable diapers (clearly we use cloth). No paper towels. No napkins. No plastic silverware. No plastic cups. Nothing! It isn't always possible, but do what you can.
Water Use
*Only wash FULL loads in the washer -- Combine loads if you have to, or wait an extra few days. If you must wash not full loads, at least use a lower water level.
*Consider low-flow toilets and showers -- A low flow toilet uses less than 2 gallons per flush, instead of 3 - 5. A low-flow shower head uses less than half as much as an ordinary head too. Reducing the overall length of your showers, or frequency, will save money on water, too!
*Don't flush the toilets so often -- Okay, you might think this is crazy. But a toilet doesn't need to be flushed EVERY time you pee in it. Let it go for 2 or 3 times and flush it only once or twice a day, instead of every time. This will save a lot of money if you have a big family. We do this on our upstairs toilets, though not the downstairs ones where guests go. Poop always gets flushed immediately. :)
*Reuse bath towels -- these can be used at least 3 - 4 times! Ideally, you should replace them about once a week, but NOT after every shower.
*Combining baths/showers -- If you have little kids, take them in the bath or shower with you. Or, bathe them together. Use less water for the bath. It will all save money, and time!
*Leave sinks off -- If you're washing dishes, fill the sink and just use that, don't keep the faucet running. If you're brushing your teeth, keep the water off except the wet the brush and to rinse. You can fill a small cup to rinse with, too, so you don't need the water on.
In the Kitchen
*Plan creative menus that use leftovers to avoid food waste -- Making chicken for dinner one night? Plan soup or sandwiches with the leftovers. Get creative with what's left in your fridge (or pantry) that will spoil if you don't use it. A wilting head of lettuce, last night's burgers and some old tomato sauce could turn into a sloppy-joe like meal with a side salad, for example.
*Compost food and garden -- Sometimes, you just won't get to the food in time. In that case, throw it into a compost pile and use it in your garden in the summer. Just don't add meats or oils of any kind, and of course no non-food items (coffee grounds, egg shells, etc. are okay).
*Don't buy things with a lot of packaging/individual servings -- Buy a big bottle of juice instead of individual sizes. Buy a huge box or bag of raisins instead of little ones. Then, split them yourself into individual servings if you like. I know, I prefer things in meal or snack-size portions too, but I put them into containers myself. Glass are ideal, but plastic or even baggies (reuse those!) work in a pinch.
*Planning meals that use food wisely (salads, soups, seasonal items, etc.) -- If you make a salad or soup, you can use some expensive ingredients (like meat) but stretch them far. One large chicken breast could be enough to serve 3 - 4 people if it's in soup; otherwise you'd need one per person. Also look at what items are in season and buy those, as they tend to be cheaper. If you can, stock up on seasonal items and can them or freeze them (home canned items are done in glass and don't have the BPA issues of store-canned foods).
Energy Use
*Turning lights off -- When you're not in the room, turn the lights off! During the day, just don't turn them on. This really applies to anything you're not using, like computers, the TV, etc.
*Closing unused heating registers and closing doors -- If there's a room you're not in much, close the heat registers and then close the door, so the heat doesn't have to reach that room.
*Lowering heating/raising air conditioning temperatures -- Thermostats can be lowered to 65 - 68 in the winter and 75 - 78 in the summer to maximize efficiency and cut heating/air bills. We actually don't have central a/c at all, just a couple window units, and we turn them on when we're in those rooms (one downstairs, one in our bedroom, one in Bekah's room).
*Consider Energy Star/High Efficiency appliances -- These will lower your energy bills. Although I have heard that HE washers are not great for cloth diapers, so it may be better to have one that you can adjust the water level yourself.
*Mow the lawn every other week in the summer instead of every week -- It'll be fine even it doesn't look super nice. :) It saves money on gas and it saves your time.
*Don't water the lawn -- It doesn't need it. If it's a dry summer it won't look the greatest, but what's more important? How your lawn looks (i.e. what the neighbors think), or saving money AND water?
Miscellaneous
*Learn to repair your home yourself, instead of paying a repairman -- There are some things you shouldn't do yourself, like major plumbing, but for simple fixes, learn to do it yourself. There are books you can buy that are a lot cheaper than a repairman, or even websites that will teach you. We have an advantage here. Ben grew up fixing up and remodeling houses with his dad, so he knows how to fix most anything, including the electrical! Certainly don't call a repairman if, say, your washer is simply off balance, or the garbage disposal doesn't work. Take personal responsibility and learn to repair small things on your own.
*Learn to do other things yourself, too: make your own coffee, mow your own lawn, cook your own meals, etc. -- We really covered this in the last post, but you don't need to go out to eat a lot, nor do you need to hire someone to do basic things like mow your lawn. :)
*Banish unnecessary items from your home -- Don't buy an extra piece of candy at the store (even if your kids were really good). Don't buy new toys (even for birthdays; they'll get new stuff from friends and family anyway). Don't buy food you won't eat. Don't buy unnecessary medicine (we don't buy anything OTC anymore)!
*Make things yourself -- Make your meals, sew buttons back onto your clothes, fix hems or rips in clothes, make your own baby toys (make sure they're safe), sew cirb sheets and blankets (it's easy!), etc.
There are LOTS of ways to save money around the house. Most of these are also environmentally-friendly, too. It's all about living a frugal and sustainable life!
What do you do to save money around the house?
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Germ Theory
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Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
As most of you who've read this blog for any length of time know, I am against modern medicine. Some of you think I am plain crazy; others think I am merely a bit extreme. I thought I would try to explain, though, why I believe what I do. I haven't truly chosen to reject modern medicine because I think doctors are evil, or the corporations are out to get us. In general I find them misguided but intending good (there are SOME out there who are just interested in profit, as I've said before, but on the whole I think most individuals are intending good). Also, again, I do believe in TRAUMA medicine -- I think it's great that we have doctors who can set broken bones, stitch deep wounds, and perform reconstructive surgery. If I'm in an accident, there's nothing I'd rather have. But barring that, I'll skip modern medicine, thanks.
The truth as to why I don't believe in modern medicine lies in something called "germ theory." Germ theory is the idea that there are specific bugs or 'germs' that cause all disease. These germs could be viruses or bacteria. There are many different kinds, they all have specific names, and they cause specific diseases that produce specific sets of symptoms. Therefore, these diseases can be helped (i.e. cured) by creating antibiotics or vaccines which either kill the germ or prevent the germ from making us sick in the first place. This theory is what modern medicine is based on.
I don't believe in germ theory. It fails to explain several things. 1) Why infection rates in "exposed" individuals vary from 20 - 40% on average (why don't the rest of the exposed people get sick, too?). 2) Why individuals have varying severities of the illness (if the specific germ produces specific symptoms, it should be the same in all individuals). 3) Why symptoms/presentation varies from person to person (again, symptoms should be the same if the germ/disease is the same). 4) Why so many "different" diseases present with nearly the exact same symptoms (why are there 500 diseases that all present with "fever, cough, congestion and sore throat" for example?)
First, let's talk about some history of germ theory. It was first theorized in the 1860s by Louis Pasteur (who invented pasteurization), in opposition to a theory called "spontaneous generation." That theory posited that living things could come from non-living things (evolution anyone?) and that people got sick due to this 'spontaneous generation' of illness, but this theory was disproven. (That's NOT what I'm going to argue is the cause of illness.) Basically, Pasteur noted that when things were exposed to air (in many experiments, they used broth), they became "contaminated" and went bad. Therefore, something must be in the air, a "germ," which caused this to happen, since when broth was NOT exposed to air, it did not go bad. Then, in the 1870s, another scientist (Koch) used Pasteur's work and Semmelweiss's (who came up with the idea of hand washing to prevent disease) and said, theoretically, that specific microbes must cause specific diseases. Sometime after this viruses were "discovered," although none were ever seen until the invention of the electron microscope in the 1900s. And even then, "Most viruses are far too tiny to be seen in an ordinary high-powered microscope, except perhaps as a minute spot of light against a dark background." Francis Crick, 1988. That is to say, most viruses are too tiny to have ever been really seen or studied. A tiny speck of light could be anything -- even just a shadow.
For a long time, it was thought that only bacteria could cause illness. Now, there is the theory of viruses, which I addressed briefly above. It has also been noted that there is a lot of "natural flora" that exists in living organisms. That is, we have a lot of "good" bacteria that lives in and on us, not just bad bacteria. Most people are now familiar with this, because everyone is talking about probiotics and that sort of thing. For the scientists, in developing germ theory, though, the normal gut flora is glossed over (in fact, this is an area that is fairly new to heavy research) and the illness-causing bacteria is focused on.
I'm going to start with the normal flora to explain why we get sick. Every living organism on the planet has some sort of natural, healthy state. This state includes all of the organism's "vital signs" (in humans, pulse, respiration, temperature, etc.) and its normal balance of bacteria. In humans, it is notable that approximately 70% of the immune system is found in the gut flora (that is a recent discovery). I believe that this balance is somewhat precarious, and that if the balance is thrown off by anything -- stress, antibiotic use, too much junk food, environmental toxins, etc. -- illness results. That is, it is not a specific "germ" that is responsible for illness, but the entire balance of different types of bacteria within a person. There are no specific germs that cause specific diseases. Rather, when the gut flora becomes unbalanced, a person's body will produce symptoms to rid itself of whatever is in excess and restore whatever is low in order to achieve balance again.
This theory explains why people who are heavily exposed to environmental toxins get sick much more often, in general, than those who are not. It is known and accepted that those who eat a lot of junk food, smoke, drink, etc. tend to get sick more often than those who do not do those things. Those who have "unhealthy practices" have higher toxin loads and need to detox more often. It also explains why people can have different symptoms in response to the "same" illness -- they are producing whatever symptoms their individual body needs in order to become healthy again. It also explains why many people can be exposed to an illness and NOT get sick, because their body may not need to detox at that time.
Yes, there are things this theory doesn't explain -- such as exactly why a group of people do all seem to become sick at the same time. I believe further research is needed to understand this. However, I think that there is some type of energy or body chemistry that can trigger detox in people who require it by being around those who are sick, if that makes sense. Let me give you an example.
There is a family of 4. All 4 live together and share everything -- they hug, kiss, share glasses, silverware, etc. If one is sick, all are thoroughly exposed. It is also worth noting that two are children and both are nursing (okay, this really happened to us :) ). One child becomes sick, and presents with low grade fever, vomitting, heavy congestion, coughing, disturbed/restless sleep and loss of appetite. Two days later the other child is sick, but presents with minor congestion and coughing, no other symptoms. The next day a parent gets sick, presenting with scratchy throat and minor congestion. The other parent does not get sick. If germ theory were true, they would ALL get sick, and they would all present with the same symptoms in the same severity. I believe in this case, the first child gets sick and passes her "needs" to the mother via saliva while nursing. The mother's body produces bacteria/antibodies to help her heal and build her immune system, but these antibodies also go to the second nursing child. This produces symptoms, mildly, in the mother and second child, but NOT the father, who does not participate in the nursing relationship. Can I prove this? No. But I believe this theory better accounts for what occurred than germ theory does.
It is worth noting that if germ theory is false, or even if parts of it are false, then antibiotics and vaccinations are generally useless. Vaccination is ALWAYS useless, and antibiotics are almost always useless. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but they are non-specific. They kill all forms of bacteria, so they can kill (probably) whatever type of bacteria is in excess and making you sick, but they also kill off the helpful bacteria. This doesn't actually heal you (just provides temporary relief), but continues the cycle of off-balance bacteria. This is why recurrent or secondary infections (like yeast infections) are common with antibiotic use. Also, because antibiotics are derived in a lab, they are "dead" and they function the same every time. The bacteria is living and it learns to outsmart the antibiotics, so to speak, breeding "super bacteria" like MRSA. Even 10 or 15 years ago this might have sounded ridiculous...but today we are all too aware of the dangers of MRSA.
If, instead, a person heals naturally (without any aid), the body will restore its own balance and reinfection is unlikely. For severe infections, there are plant-based medicines that can help. Think of it this way: all the plants that grow in the wild must protect themselves from mold, viruses, and bacteria. They clearly manage to do so in most cases because plants thrive. Taking the oils from these plants, therefore, can give the benefit of this "natural medicine" that keeps the plant alive. Essential oils, which are derived from plants and kept as living substances (i.e. not processed with heat or chemicals) contain antibacterial and anti-viral (if you believe in viruses) properties. They change and evolve with the bacteria and can help to restore the proper balance, rather than just killing all bacteria. Other substances, like vitamin C, boost the body's immune system to help it overcome the infection more quickly (exactly how this happens, I won't get into just now).
So, after studying this subject for awhile, and of course the simple fact that I believe that God gave us all the medicine we'll ever need naturally (are you aware that all medicine is originally derived from natural substances anyway?), I do not believe in germ theory or the use of modern medicine. This doesn't include anomalies like type I diabetes or unusual failures of the body, which would have caused certain death before inventions like insulin. I'm talking about everyday, general health. I don't believe that vaccines prevent disease, or that antibiotics cure it. I believe modern medicine is best saved for anomalies (like people born with heart conditions, type I diabetes, transverse babies requiring c-sections, trauma, etc.) and not for routine care. I think it is a mistake for people to rely so heavily and casually on the use of medication. How many people pop antacids or Tylenol any time they feel a little off, and don't think twice about it? We're messing with our body chemistry and, I believe, causing more illness than we're curing.
Unfortunately the more scientists learn, the more fascinated they are about possibilities and implications of medicine. They are eager for technology to replace "old ways" and they believe that they can improve upon nature. I believe this, too, is false. You can't improve nature. Doctors want to help, and researchers mean well, but they are caught up in a false system of beliefs, an incorrect theory. I believe that with continued research (because after all, the knowledge of gut flora and probiotics is relatively recent), they will come to understand this. I believe there are many researchers out there who are open minded and want to know. I also believe there are some who are seriously biased and who will cling to their current theories and ideas and refuse to believe in change.
This sums up my beliefs about health, medicine, and why I feel the way I do. I hope it has opened your mind to new possibilities and that it explains my position a little better.
Further Reading:
The Germ Theory: A Faulty Medical Model
What do you believe? Has any of this changed the way you think about health?
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
As most of you who've read this blog for any length of time know, I am against modern medicine. Some of you think I am plain crazy; others think I am merely a bit extreme. I thought I would try to explain, though, why I believe what I do. I haven't truly chosen to reject modern medicine because I think doctors are evil, or the corporations are out to get us. In general I find them misguided but intending good (there are SOME out there who are just interested in profit, as I've said before, but on the whole I think most individuals are intending good). Also, again, I do believe in TRAUMA medicine -- I think it's great that we have doctors who can set broken bones, stitch deep wounds, and perform reconstructive surgery. If I'm in an accident, there's nothing I'd rather have. But barring that, I'll skip modern medicine, thanks.
The truth as to why I don't believe in modern medicine lies in something called "germ theory." Germ theory is the idea that there are specific bugs or 'germs' that cause all disease. These germs could be viruses or bacteria. There are many different kinds, they all have specific names, and they cause specific diseases that produce specific sets of symptoms. Therefore, these diseases can be helped (i.e. cured) by creating antibiotics or vaccines which either kill the germ or prevent the germ from making us sick in the first place. This theory is what modern medicine is based on.
I don't believe in germ theory. It fails to explain several things. 1) Why infection rates in "exposed" individuals vary from 20 - 40% on average (why don't the rest of the exposed people get sick, too?). 2) Why individuals have varying severities of the illness (if the specific germ produces specific symptoms, it should be the same in all individuals). 3) Why symptoms/presentation varies from person to person (again, symptoms should be the same if the germ/disease is the same). 4) Why so many "different" diseases present with nearly the exact same symptoms (why are there 500 diseases that all present with "fever, cough, congestion and sore throat" for example?)
First, let's talk about some history of germ theory. It was first theorized in the 1860s by Louis Pasteur (who invented pasteurization), in opposition to a theory called "spontaneous generation." That theory posited that living things could come from non-living things (evolution anyone?) and that people got sick due to this 'spontaneous generation' of illness, but this theory was disproven. (That's NOT what I'm going to argue is the cause of illness.) Basically, Pasteur noted that when things were exposed to air (in many experiments, they used broth), they became "contaminated" and went bad. Therefore, something must be in the air, a "germ," which caused this to happen, since when broth was NOT exposed to air, it did not go bad. Then, in the 1870s, another scientist (Koch) used Pasteur's work and Semmelweiss's (who came up with the idea of hand washing to prevent disease) and said, theoretically, that specific microbes must cause specific diseases. Sometime after this viruses were "discovered," although none were ever seen until the invention of the electron microscope in the 1900s. And even then, "Most viruses are far too tiny to be seen in an ordinary high-powered microscope, except perhaps as a minute spot of light against a dark background." Francis Crick, 1988. That is to say, most viruses are too tiny to have ever been really seen or studied. A tiny speck of light could be anything -- even just a shadow.
For a long time, it was thought that only bacteria could cause illness. Now, there is the theory of viruses, which I addressed briefly above. It has also been noted that there is a lot of "natural flora" that exists in living organisms. That is, we have a lot of "good" bacteria that lives in and on us, not just bad bacteria. Most people are now familiar with this, because everyone is talking about probiotics and that sort of thing. For the scientists, in developing germ theory, though, the normal gut flora is glossed over (in fact, this is an area that is fairly new to heavy research) and the illness-causing bacteria is focused on.
I'm going to start with the normal flora to explain why we get sick. Every living organism on the planet has some sort of natural, healthy state. This state includes all of the organism's "vital signs" (in humans, pulse, respiration, temperature, etc.) and its normal balance of bacteria. In humans, it is notable that approximately 70% of the immune system is found in the gut flora (that is a recent discovery). I believe that this balance is somewhat precarious, and that if the balance is thrown off by anything -- stress, antibiotic use, too much junk food, environmental toxins, etc. -- illness results. That is, it is not a specific "germ" that is responsible for illness, but the entire balance of different types of bacteria within a person. There are no specific germs that cause specific diseases. Rather, when the gut flora becomes unbalanced, a person's body will produce symptoms to rid itself of whatever is in excess and restore whatever is low in order to achieve balance again.
This theory explains why people who are heavily exposed to environmental toxins get sick much more often, in general, than those who are not. It is known and accepted that those who eat a lot of junk food, smoke, drink, etc. tend to get sick more often than those who do not do those things. Those who have "unhealthy practices" have higher toxin loads and need to detox more often. It also explains why people can have different symptoms in response to the "same" illness -- they are producing whatever symptoms their individual body needs in order to become healthy again. It also explains why many people can be exposed to an illness and NOT get sick, because their body may not need to detox at that time.
Yes, there are things this theory doesn't explain -- such as exactly why a group of people do all seem to become sick at the same time. I believe further research is needed to understand this. However, I think that there is some type of energy or body chemistry that can trigger detox in people who require it by being around those who are sick, if that makes sense. Let me give you an example.
There is a family of 4. All 4 live together and share everything -- they hug, kiss, share glasses, silverware, etc. If one is sick, all are thoroughly exposed. It is also worth noting that two are children and both are nursing (okay, this really happened to us :) ). One child becomes sick, and presents with low grade fever, vomitting, heavy congestion, coughing, disturbed/restless sleep and loss of appetite. Two days later the other child is sick, but presents with minor congestion and coughing, no other symptoms. The next day a parent gets sick, presenting with scratchy throat and minor congestion. The other parent does not get sick. If germ theory were true, they would ALL get sick, and they would all present with the same symptoms in the same severity. I believe in this case, the first child gets sick and passes her "needs" to the mother via saliva while nursing. The mother's body produces bacteria/antibodies to help her heal and build her immune system, but these antibodies also go to the second nursing child. This produces symptoms, mildly, in the mother and second child, but NOT the father, who does not participate in the nursing relationship. Can I prove this? No. But I believe this theory better accounts for what occurred than germ theory does.
It is worth noting that if germ theory is false, or even if parts of it are false, then antibiotics and vaccinations are generally useless. Vaccination is ALWAYS useless, and antibiotics are almost always useless. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but they are non-specific. They kill all forms of bacteria, so they can kill (probably) whatever type of bacteria is in excess and making you sick, but they also kill off the helpful bacteria. This doesn't actually heal you (just provides temporary relief), but continues the cycle of off-balance bacteria. This is why recurrent or secondary infections (like yeast infections) are common with antibiotic use. Also, because antibiotics are derived in a lab, they are "dead" and they function the same every time. The bacteria is living and it learns to outsmart the antibiotics, so to speak, breeding "super bacteria" like MRSA. Even 10 or 15 years ago this might have sounded ridiculous...but today we are all too aware of the dangers of MRSA.
If, instead, a person heals naturally (without any aid), the body will restore its own balance and reinfection is unlikely. For severe infections, there are plant-based medicines that can help. Think of it this way: all the plants that grow in the wild must protect themselves from mold, viruses, and bacteria. They clearly manage to do so in most cases because plants thrive. Taking the oils from these plants, therefore, can give the benefit of this "natural medicine" that keeps the plant alive. Essential oils, which are derived from plants and kept as living substances (i.e. not processed with heat or chemicals) contain antibacterial and anti-viral (if you believe in viruses) properties. They change and evolve with the bacteria and can help to restore the proper balance, rather than just killing all bacteria. Other substances, like vitamin C, boost the body's immune system to help it overcome the infection more quickly (exactly how this happens, I won't get into just now).
So, after studying this subject for awhile, and of course the simple fact that I believe that God gave us all the medicine we'll ever need naturally (are you aware that all medicine is originally derived from natural substances anyway?), I do not believe in germ theory or the use of modern medicine. This doesn't include anomalies like type I diabetes or unusual failures of the body, which would have caused certain death before inventions like insulin. I'm talking about everyday, general health. I don't believe that vaccines prevent disease, or that antibiotics cure it. I believe modern medicine is best saved for anomalies (like people born with heart conditions, type I diabetes, transverse babies requiring c-sections, trauma, etc.) and not for routine care. I think it is a mistake for people to rely so heavily and casually on the use of medication. How many people pop antacids or Tylenol any time they feel a little off, and don't think twice about it? We're messing with our body chemistry and, I believe, causing more illness than we're curing.
Unfortunately the more scientists learn, the more fascinated they are about possibilities and implications of medicine. They are eager for technology to replace "old ways" and they believe that they can improve upon nature. I believe this, too, is false. You can't improve nature. Doctors want to help, and researchers mean well, but they are caught up in a false system of beliefs, an incorrect theory. I believe that with continued research (because after all, the knowledge of gut flora and probiotics is relatively recent), they will come to understand this. I believe there are many researchers out there who are open minded and want to know. I also believe there are some who are seriously biased and who will cling to their current theories and ideas and refuse to believe in change.
This sums up my beliefs about health, medicine, and why I feel the way I do. I hope it has opened your mind to new possibilities and that it explains my position a little better.
Further Reading:
The Germ Theory: A Faulty Medical Model
What do you believe? Has any of this changed the way you think about health?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Recovering from Colds
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
**This post has been entered into the Works For Me Wednesdays at We Are That Family!**
Somehow, I missed this post when I was looking at my schedule! I thought I had everything done through next Wednesday. But, now you see that sometimes taking care of my family means that I do forget about the blog from time to time. :)
Recently, we all got colds! It happens sometimes in the winter. Bekah got hit the hardest and had a few miserable days, but the rest of us mostly just had the sniffles. There were several things we did to help ourselves feel better, though, none of which included drugs!
First, I made some homemade chicken vegetable soup. Soup made with fresh chicken stock is very soothing and healing. The broth itself pulls the toxins and yuck out of your body, actually healing you faster. Plus, it just tastes good. To this, I added a large clove of garlic (per bowl), crushed right before serving. Garlic loses most of its benefits if it is heated or after a couple of hours, so it's important to add it late like this. Yes, that made the soup VERY strong and some people can't stomach that. But it really helps. I felt like my throat was less sore and my sinuses were clearer after eating this soup. Another idea (borrowed from Keeper of the Home) is to crush the garlic and smear it on a piece of bread, and add lots of butter or olive oil, and eat it as garlic bread. I didn't do that this time, but I did a few weeks ago when I just felt a bit tired and needed a boost. In addition to garlic, I also added some cayenne pepper to the soup just before serving. The capsacin in peppers also helps to clear sinuses.
Next, I made some echinacea tea with raw honey in it. The tea also had a lot of peppermint. This tea really soothed ALL of us. It's naturally caffeine-free because it is herbal, so I gave it to Bekah, too. I also gave her honey on a spoon to soothe her cough. She enjoyed it, and studies have shown that honey is more effective than drugstore cough syrup, and much safer, especially in children.
One night I had trouble sleeping because of a sinus headache. For most, that means a trip to the doctor for antibiotics. But not here. :) I put cool compresses on my forehead because it made my headache feel better. Then, I used hot compresses on my cheekbones, and applied pressure, starting next to my nose and running out towards my nose, to help clear the congestion and blockage. Finally, I used a mix of olive oil and eucalyptus oil in my ears to help clear them and to kill any bacteria that was there (eucalyptus oil is naturally antibacterial). I let the oil sit in each ear (one at a time) dor a couple minutes, then let it drain out. I also drank plenty of water and tried to blow my nose a lot. An hour later my headache was mostly gone and I felt much better. In the morning, the headache and sinus pressure were gone.
A side note: over-the-counter cold remedies are meant only to relieve symptoms, not to actually cure colds. Rest and time will cure colds, but the remedies I'm describing can help the process along.
In Bekah's room, we set up a warm-mist vaporizer with eucalyptus and lavender oil in it. This helps her a lot. I also put both children in a bath with these oils. Eucalyptus clears sinuses and improves breathing, and lavender helps relaxation.
With Daniel, who is only not quite 5 months (3 more days!), I didn't feel comfortable giving him anything directly. I took extra vitamin C for both of us (3 - 4 grams per day), and I also sprayed breastmilk up his nose to loosen the congestion. There is saline solution available commercially for this purpose, but breastmilk works better, is free, and doesn't make him angry. Breastmilk also contains antibodies that can actually help to get rid of the cold, rather than just loosen the congestion. I used a nasal aspirator on both kids to suck the worst of the mucus away from them. They both really hate it, but Bekah realizes it makes her feel better and will actually bring me the aspirator and point at her nose. This doesn't stop her from crying a bit and squirming while I'm doing it, but she agrees she feels better after and she does keep asking me to do it. (She did actually while I was writing this!)
How do you help your colds? Is there anything that works for you?
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
**This post has been entered into the Works For Me Wednesdays at We Are That Family!**
Somehow, I missed this post when I was looking at my schedule! I thought I had everything done through next Wednesday. But, now you see that sometimes taking care of my family means that I do forget about the blog from time to time. :)
Recently, we all got colds! It happens sometimes in the winter. Bekah got hit the hardest and had a few miserable days, but the rest of us mostly just had the sniffles. There were several things we did to help ourselves feel better, though, none of which included drugs!
First, I made some homemade chicken vegetable soup. Soup made with fresh chicken stock is very soothing and healing. The broth itself pulls the toxins and yuck out of your body, actually healing you faster. Plus, it just tastes good. To this, I added a large clove of garlic (per bowl), crushed right before serving. Garlic loses most of its benefits if it is heated or after a couple of hours, so it's important to add it late like this. Yes, that made the soup VERY strong and some people can't stomach that. But it really helps. I felt like my throat was less sore and my sinuses were clearer after eating this soup. Another idea (borrowed from Keeper of the Home) is to crush the garlic and smear it on a piece of bread, and add lots of butter or olive oil, and eat it as garlic bread. I didn't do that this time, but I did a few weeks ago when I just felt a bit tired and needed a boost. In addition to garlic, I also added some cayenne pepper to the soup just before serving. The capsacin in peppers also helps to clear sinuses.
Next, I made some echinacea tea with raw honey in it. The tea also had a lot of peppermint. This tea really soothed ALL of us. It's naturally caffeine-free because it is herbal, so I gave it to Bekah, too. I also gave her honey on a spoon to soothe her cough. She enjoyed it, and studies have shown that honey is more effective than drugstore cough syrup, and much safer, especially in children.
One night I had trouble sleeping because of a sinus headache. For most, that means a trip to the doctor for antibiotics. But not here. :) I put cool compresses on my forehead because it made my headache feel better. Then, I used hot compresses on my cheekbones, and applied pressure, starting next to my nose and running out towards my nose, to help clear the congestion and blockage. Finally, I used a mix of olive oil and eucalyptus oil in my ears to help clear them and to kill any bacteria that was there (eucalyptus oil is naturally antibacterial). I let the oil sit in each ear (one at a time) dor a couple minutes, then let it drain out. I also drank plenty of water and tried to blow my nose a lot. An hour later my headache was mostly gone and I felt much better. In the morning, the headache and sinus pressure were gone.
A side note: over-the-counter cold remedies are meant only to relieve symptoms, not to actually cure colds. Rest and time will cure colds, but the remedies I'm describing can help the process along.
In Bekah's room, we set up a warm-mist vaporizer with eucalyptus and lavender oil in it. This helps her a lot. I also put both children in a bath with these oils. Eucalyptus clears sinuses and improves breathing, and lavender helps relaxation.
With Daniel, who is only not quite 5 months (3 more days!), I didn't feel comfortable giving him anything directly. I took extra vitamin C for both of us (3 - 4 grams per day), and I also sprayed breastmilk up his nose to loosen the congestion. There is saline solution available commercially for this purpose, but breastmilk works better, is free, and doesn't make him angry. Breastmilk also contains antibodies that can actually help to get rid of the cold, rather than just loosen the congestion. I used a nasal aspirator on both kids to suck the worst of the mucus away from them. They both really hate it, but Bekah realizes it makes her feel better and will actually bring me the aspirator and point at her nose. This doesn't stop her from crying a bit and squirming while I'm doing it, but she agrees she feels better after and she does keep asking me to do it. (She did actually while I was writing this!)
How do you help your colds? Is there anything that works for you?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Natural Cleaning Products
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
In the last couple of years, I have tried to really reduce my family's exposure to toxins. Unfortunately this isn't so easy today, as there are chemicals in everything. It's in the air, water, food (we've mostly fixed this!), and of course, cleaning products. Cleaning products are a major source of toxins in our homes, and unfortunately, they get to us easily. They absorb into our skin from our clothing, into our food from our dishes, we breathe in the fumes, and into our hands just from actually cleaning with them.
So, I needed a more natural solution. It's especially important now that Bekah loves to "help" with everything I do (surprisingly she's becoming more of an actual help and less of a hindrance these days...with most chores). I really don't feel good about allowing her to help if I'm using any form of chemical because I just don't want her exposed to that. It's especially important now that we know about her chemical sensitivities!
Traditional cleaning products are dangerous. Here is a list of products I use sparingly, if ever, in my home:
*Bleach
*Toilet cleaner (I never allow any children around when I use this)
*CLR
*Ammonia
*Any commercial product (Magic Erasers, window cleaners, etc.)
Here is a brief list of the types of cleaning products I typically use:
Baking Soda -- It freshens refrigerators, scrubs counters, takes stink from laundry, scrubs away mildew, etc. This is my all-purpose cleaner.
Vinegar -- Functions as fabric softener, cleans glass, mirrors, and combines with baking soda to make just about anything shine.
Soap Nuts -- Much more on this in another post, but I use these for laundry and in my dishwasher.
Essential oils -- I add this to laundry or dishwasher detergent on occasion, because they are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, not chemical, and they smell nice.
Hydrogen peroxide -- If I must use a "chemical," peroxide will get just about any organic stain (think: blood, tomatoes, grape juice, etc.) out of anything.
Castile Soap -- This is a soap based purely on vegetable oils and nothing else, no chemicals. It's perfectly safe to use for ANY cleaning. Around the house, your body, your hair, your teeth. Completely non-toxic and very versatile.
I really don't use much more than that. I don't buy any of the fancy natural cleaning brands. Most things really can be cleaned with just vinegar and baking soda, safely. I don't have to worry if my daughter dips her hands in the baking soda and then in her mouth. Totally safe!
Some people do prefer to buy some natural cleaning products, though, so I thought I'd list a few I've found acceptable (and which were recommended by other bloggers):
Mrs. Meyer's (recommended by Katie at Kitchen Stewardship)
Biokleen
I know some people are going to say "But what about Clorox's green line?" or some other major national brand. I don't tend to trust those. I think those companies are trying to cash in on the green movement and that their products contain supposedly-"greener" versions of chemicals. The small, fringe companies tend to use truly natural ingredients. Mrs. Meyer's uses essential oils for fragrance, NOT any artificial fragrance or dyes. If you can find it at a health food store, it's probably okay, but read the ingredients. If you can't pronounce them or they sound at all chemical in nature, or contain any FD&C dyes or artificial fragrance, WALK AWAY!
Others are going to say, "But don't those natural products not work as well?" The answer is FALSE! In my experience, the natural products did a BETTER job than the chemicals did. Surfaces were less sticky, things cleaned easier. I once had a mold problem in my shower (well, it's back...because I never use the shower so I don't look at it, and Ben has ignored it) and tried EVERYTHING to get it out: CLR, bleach, every harsh chemical in the book. Nothing. Then one day I flooded it with warm water and baking soda, and a half hour later put some baking soda on a sponge and began to scrub the shower. The mold was GONE! That easily. Baking soda "cured" my problem. Bleach couldn't touch it, but baking soda eliminated it. Hmm....
Here's some more links and information on cleaning naturally:
Earth Easy
Make Your Own Cleaning Products
What do you use to clean? Do you want to clean more naturally?
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
In the last couple of years, I have tried to really reduce my family's exposure to toxins. Unfortunately this isn't so easy today, as there are chemicals in everything. It's in the air, water, food (we've mostly fixed this!), and of course, cleaning products. Cleaning products are a major source of toxins in our homes, and unfortunately, they get to us easily. They absorb into our skin from our clothing, into our food from our dishes, we breathe in the fumes, and into our hands just from actually cleaning with them.
So, I needed a more natural solution. It's especially important now that Bekah loves to "help" with everything I do (surprisingly she's becoming more of an actual help and less of a hindrance these days...with most chores). I really don't feel good about allowing her to help if I'm using any form of chemical because I just don't want her exposed to that. It's especially important now that we know about her chemical sensitivities!
Traditional cleaning products are dangerous. Here is a list of products I use sparingly, if ever, in my home:
*Bleach
*Toilet cleaner (I never allow any children around when I use this)
*CLR
*Ammonia
*Any commercial product (Magic Erasers, window cleaners, etc.)
Here is a brief list of the types of cleaning products I typically use:
Baking Soda -- It freshens refrigerators, scrubs counters, takes stink from laundry, scrubs away mildew, etc. This is my all-purpose cleaner.
Vinegar -- Functions as fabric softener, cleans glass, mirrors, and combines with baking soda to make just about anything shine.
Soap Nuts -- Much more on this in another post, but I use these for laundry and in my dishwasher.
Essential oils -- I add this to laundry or dishwasher detergent on occasion, because they are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, not chemical, and they smell nice.
Hydrogen peroxide -- If I must use a "chemical," peroxide will get just about any organic stain (think: blood, tomatoes, grape juice, etc.) out of anything.
Castile Soap -- This is a soap based purely on vegetable oils and nothing else, no chemicals. It's perfectly safe to use for ANY cleaning. Around the house, your body, your hair, your teeth. Completely non-toxic and very versatile.
I really don't use much more than that. I don't buy any of the fancy natural cleaning brands. Most things really can be cleaned with just vinegar and baking soda, safely. I don't have to worry if my daughter dips her hands in the baking soda and then in her mouth. Totally safe!
Some people do prefer to buy some natural cleaning products, though, so I thought I'd list a few I've found acceptable (and which were recommended by other bloggers):
Mrs. Meyer's (recommended by Katie at Kitchen Stewardship)
Biokleen
I know some people are going to say "But what about Clorox's green line?" or some other major national brand. I don't tend to trust those. I think those companies are trying to cash in on the green movement and that their products contain supposedly-"greener" versions of chemicals. The small, fringe companies tend to use truly natural ingredients. Mrs. Meyer's uses essential oils for fragrance, NOT any artificial fragrance or dyes. If you can find it at a health food store, it's probably okay, but read the ingredients. If you can't pronounce them or they sound at all chemical in nature, or contain any FD&C dyes or artificial fragrance, WALK AWAY!
Others are going to say, "But don't those natural products not work as well?" The answer is FALSE! In my experience, the natural products did a BETTER job than the chemicals did. Surfaces were less sticky, things cleaned easier. I once had a mold problem in my shower (well, it's back...because I never use the shower so I don't look at it, and Ben has ignored it) and tried EVERYTHING to get it out: CLR, bleach, every harsh chemical in the book. Nothing. Then one day I flooded it with warm water and baking soda, and a half hour later put some baking soda on a sponge and began to scrub the shower. The mold was GONE! That easily. Baking soda "cured" my problem. Bleach couldn't touch it, but baking soda eliminated it. Hmm....
Here's some more links and information on cleaning naturally:
Earth Easy
Make Your Own Cleaning Products
What do you use to clean? Do you want to clean more naturally?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Well, the recipe I have for you this week isn't quite what I'd intended. I'd wanted the cookies to be a bit chewy, or tender and crumbly. But they're not. They're soft and very much cake-like. But they are still delicious! I don't know that they are necessarily "Christmas cookies" but they are light, vanilla little miracles...so good enough. :)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (I used my homemade bourbon vanilla!)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
3/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Directions:
Cream together oil and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, stir to combine. In a separate bowl, mix together flours, salt, and baking soda. Add dry ingredients into the wet and gently fold together. You can bake immediately, but the cookies set up a bit better if you refrigerate the dough for 10 - 15 min. first. Bake at 350 for 7 - 8 minutes.
I love this because some people say that xanthan gum and other "additives" typically used in gluten-free baking aren't so good for you. But this recipe doesn't need it. I suspect if I'd used only 1 egg and 1/2 c. brown rice flour they would have been a bit more crumbly, which I'd been intending. The coconut flour and extra egg helps to make it fluffy. I also think you could replace up to 1/4 c. of the sorghum flour with cocoa powder for a chocolate cookie, if you wanted.
And...I thought I'd give you another bonus recipe today! Here is my recipe for some yummy, gluten-free vanilla cake:
Ingredients:
1 c. sorghum flour
1/2 c. brown rice flour
1/2 c. coconut flour
1 tsp. sea salt
1.5 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
6 eggs, separated
1 c. turbinado sugar
1/2 c. coconut oil
2 tsp. vanilla (bourbon vanilla again!)
1 c. coconut milk
Directions:
In a small bowl, mix flours, salt, and baking soda; set aside. In large bowl, cream sugar and coconut oil until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, vanilla, and coconut milk and stir together. In another bowl, combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat until soft peaks form. Add the dry ingredients to the sugar/oil mixture and stir to combine thoroughly. Add egg whites and fold in gently. Bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes.
You'll notice this recipe contains NO xanthan gum, guar gum, potato or corn or tapioca starch, etc. Some people think you need these things for gluten-free baking, but I beg to differ. I just finished eating some of this cake and it's very yummy, a nice spongy cake. Good texture. I don't think anyone would know it was gluten free. Personally, I love to combine sorghum and brown rice flours with either buckwheat or coconut flour, depending on what I'm baking, and I use eggs and baking soda for leavening and it works just fine! Let me know if you try either of these. :)
Do you enjoy gluten-free baking? (Honestly these are so good I'd eat them even if I wasn't gluten free!) What other treats are you making for the holidays?
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Well, the recipe I have for you this week isn't quite what I'd intended. I'd wanted the cookies to be a bit chewy, or tender and crumbly. But they're not. They're soft and very much cake-like. But they are still delicious! I don't know that they are necessarily "Christmas cookies" but they are light, vanilla little miracles...so good enough. :)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (I used my homemade bourbon vanilla!)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
3/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Directions:
Cream together oil and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, stir to combine. In a separate bowl, mix together flours, salt, and baking soda. Add dry ingredients into the wet and gently fold together. You can bake immediately, but the cookies set up a bit better if you refrigerate the dough for 10 - 15 min. first. Bake at 350 for 7 - 8 minutes.
I love this because some people say that xanthan gum and other "additives" typically used in gluten-free baking aren't so good for you. But this recipe doesn't need it. I suspect if I'd used only 1 egg and 1/2 c. brown rice flour they would have been a bit more crumbly, which I'd been intending. The coconut flour and extra egg helps to make it fluffy. I also think you could replace up to 1/4 c. of the sorghum flour with cocoa powder for a chocolate cookie, if you wanted.
And...I thought I'd give you another bonus recipe today! Here is my recipe for some yummy, gluten-free vanilla cake:
Ingredients:
1 c. sorghum flour
1/2 c. brown rice flour
1/2 c. coconut flour
1 tsp. sea salt
1.5 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
6 eggs, separated
1 c. turbinado sugar
1/2 c. coconut oil
2 tsp. vanilla (bourbon vanilla again!)
1 c. coconut milk
Directions:
In a small bowl, mix flours, salt, and baking soda; set aside. In large bowl, cream sugar and coconut oil until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, vanilla, and coconut milk and stir together. In another bowl, combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat until soft peaks form. Add the dry ingredients to the sugar/oil mixture and stir to combine thoroughly. Add egg whites and fold in gently. Bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes.
You'll notice this recipe contains NO xanthan gum, guar gum, potato or corn or tapioca starch, etc. Some people think you need these things for gluten-free baking, but I beg to differ. I just finished eating some of this cake and it's very yummy, a nice spongy cake. Good texture. I don't think anyone would know it was gluten free. Personally, I love to combine sorghum and brown rice flours with either buckwheat or coconut flour, depending on what I'm baking, and I use eggs and baking soda for leavening and it works just fine! Let me know if you try either of these. :)
Do you enjoy gluten-free baking? (Honestly these are so good I'd eat them even if I wasn't gluten free!) What other treats are you making for the holidays?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Personal Responsibility
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
NEWS! I am now on Twitter, so if you like this blog, please follow me there! I am "ModernAMama" on Twitter!
Also, if you are looking for a cool new way to get organized, visit Keeper of the Home!
You may have noticed, in the last week or so, that I've mentioned "personal responsibility" in a lot of my posts. That's because it's really the theme in my own life, and a theme I'd like to follow in this blog. A lot of the negative comments I've received here are from people who seem to NOT believe in personal responsibility, so I thought I'd just address the issue head on.
Personal responsibility means taking responsibility for your own actions, choices, and the consequences those choices bring (or for your children, if they are young). It is up to each person to choose for themselves how they would like to act, what they would like to do with their lives, etc. but EVERY action comes with consequences, good or bad. You must be willing to accept those consequences.
For example, I have heard people who go out in public dressed in all black, or wearing pants halfway down their bottoms, or some other particular type of clothing complain that people stereotype them. Sorry to tell you, but if you choose to dress a certain way, it projects a particular image, and people will treat you accordingly. It's like showing up at a job interview in ripped jeans and a t-shirt instead of dress pants and a nice shirt. Who do you think will be taken more seriously? How will these people be treated differently? It is a choice that you make every morning.
I accept that when I put my opinion out there on the web, I'm taking the chance that others will disagree with me -- sometimes, strongly. I have no problem with that and I post any comments which address a particular topic. Those that are merely rude or turn into personal attacks on my character, I don't post. Because that comes down to YOUR choice. If I were to read someone else's blog and it upset me, I would have a choice: to respond strongly but politely (and therefore have a productive discussion, potentially) or to attack the person (closing all doors and making the person angry). It's my choice how I react, and I have to consider the other person's feelings when I make that choice.
The choices you make with your health matter, too. Don't be surprised if you eat junk food and don't exercise if you gain weight, or have diabetes. If you don't like how you feel or look, make a change! Seek help and support and take responsibility for your own actions and any role you may have had in contributing to your illness and people WILL help you. That's not to say it is ALWAYS your fault, but there is always something you can do.
Just so you think I'm not cold and angry, let me share my own story. When Ben and I first got married, we both ate a "typical" diet: packaged meals, white flour, white sugar, etc. I was 20 lbs. heavier and Ben was 40 lbs. heavier. We both felt sick most of the time. We decided we did not want to feel sick or be heavy anymore, so we began to change our eating habits, to exercise more, and to work towards the natural lifestyle we have today. We lost the weight, and most of the time we feel great now. It was our fault that we were heavy and sick before, because we chose to eat junk. And it is our "fault" that we feel better now and have lost the weight. Everytime we cheat and go out to eat, buy processed food, etc., we pay the consequences of not feeling well or temporarily gaining weight, and it reminds us why we've chosen not to do those things.
I talk a lot about debt-free living and saving money here, too. If you find yourself living on credit cards and racking up debt instead of paying it off, that's your fault too. Take personal responsibility for your spending habits and vow to change. We did this too -- we used credit cards when we first got married, took out student loans, bought funny t-shirts and games and went out on dates because we wanted to reward ourselves. But we didn't like the way this was going, so we changed and have paid off quite a lot of our debt and we no longer use credit cards at all. If we'd been in more trouble, we would have sold the house, sold our cars (actually, at one point, we DID sell a car and had only one for a few months, until we could save up to buy another with cash), Ben would have gotten a second job, I would have worked from home or on the weekends (having a full time job would not have been worth it because of Bekah, we'd have had to pay for daycare. But I would have gotten a job and we would have delayed having kids if we'd been in trouble). You see? Ben actually BEGGED me to allow him to have a second job for months and months so we could pay our debt off faster, and still brings it up from time to time. However, we make enough that this is not a necessity so I tell him that time with the family is more important now. Soon we will be saving for retirement, because we won't expect social security or anything else from the government when the time comes. We are taking personal responsibility for our finances, through the rest of our lives.
I'm putting in all these personal stories so you don't think I'm being harsh. I'm not Al Gore here :), I'm not a hypocrite. I don't expect anyone else to help me, and I don't blame others for my problems. And if I can't figure out the answer, I turn to the Lord. He helps me sort through what is going on in my life and helps me to find out what I should do next. He always has a plan for me, and sometimes that plan is uncomfortable. But I am willing to follow Him and take responsibility for the choices I make, especially if I did NOT follow His plan. We're all human!
So, I will continue to discuss personal responsibility here because I think it is really critical. Everyday you have a choice to make. If you are overweight, unhappy, or sick -- it doesn't matter how you got there, today you can make a new choice. You can choose a new diet, choose to have a positive attitude (and seek out a good counselor or friend to talk to), research the best treatments for your illness. It is all completely up to you, and YOU are the one who has to live with your choices. No one else.
Please take responsibility for yourself, and I believe your life will go a lot better!
If you enjoy this blog, please subscribe and get it delivered daily to your email!
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
NEWS! I am now on Twitter, so if you like this blog, please follow me there! I am "ModernAMama" on Twitter!
Also, if you are looking for a cool new way to get organized, visit Keeper of the Home!
You may have noticed, in the last week or so, that I've mentioned "personal responsibility" in a lot of my posts. That's because it's really the theme in my own life, and a theme I'd like to follow in this blog. A lot of the negative comments I've received here are from people who seem to NOT believe in personal responsibility, so I thought I'd just address the issue head on.
Personal responsibility means taking responsibility for your own actions, choices, and the consequences those choices bring (or for your children, if they are young). It is up to each person to choose for themselves how they would like to act, what they would like to do with their lives, etc. but EVERY action comes with consequences, good or bad. You must be willing to accept those consequences.
For example, I have heard people who go out in public dressed in all black, or wearing pants halfway down their bottoms, or some other particular type of clothing complain that people stereotype them. Sorry to tell you, but if you choose to dress a certain way, it projects a particular image, and people will treat you accordingly. It's like showing up at a job interview in ripped jeans and a t-shirt instead of dress pants and a nice shirt. Who do you think will be taken more seriously? How will these people be treated differently? It is a choice that you make every morning.
I accept that when I put my opinion out there on the web, I'm taking the chance that others will disagree with me -- sometimes, strongly. I have no problem with that and I post any comments which address a particular topic. Those that are merely rude or turn into personal attacks on my character, I don't post. Because that comes down to YOUR choice. If I were to read someone else's blog and it upset me, I would have a choice: to respond strongly but politely (and therefore have a productive discussion, potentially) or to attack the person (closing all doors and making the person angry). It's my choice how I react, and I have to consider the other person's feelings when I make that choice.
The choices you make with your health matter, too. Don't be surprised if you eat junk food and don't exercise if you gain weight, or have diabetes. If you don't like how you feel or look, make a change! Seek help and support and take responsibility for your own actions and any role you may have had in contributing to your illness and people WILL help you. That's not to say it is ALWAYS your fault, but there is always something you can do.
Just so you think I'm not cold and angry, let me share my own story. When Ben and I first got married, we both ate a "typical" diet: packaged meals, white flour, white sugar, etc. I was 20 lbs. heavier and Ben was 40 lbs. heavier. We both felt sick most of the time. We decided we did not want to feel sick or be heavy anymore, so we began to change our eating habits, to exercise more, and to work towards the natural lifestyle we have today. We lost the weight, and most of the time we feel great now. It was our fault that we were heavy and sick before, because we chose to eat junk. And it is our "fault" that we feel better now and have lost the weight. Everytime we cheat and go out to eat, buy processed food, etc., we pay the consequences of not feeling well or temporarily gaining weight, and it reminds us why we've chosen not to do those things.
I talk a lot about debt-free living and saving money here, too. If you find yourself living on credit cards and racking up debt instead of paying it off, that's your fault too. Take personal responsibility for your spending habits and vow to change. We did this too -- we used credit cards when we first got married, took out student loans, bought funny t-shirts and games and went out on dates because we wanted to reward ourselves. But we didn't like the way this was going, so we changed and have paid off quite a lot of our debt and we no longer use credit cards at all. If we'd been in more trouble, we would have sold the house, sold our cars (actually, at one point, we DID sell a car and had only one for a few months, until we could save up to buy another with cash), Ben would have gotten a second job, I would have worked from home or on the weekends (having a full time job would not have been worth it because of Bekah, we'd have had to pay for daycare. But I would have gotten a job and we would have delayed having kids if we'd been in trouble). You see? Ben actually BEGGED me to allow him to have a second job for months and months so we could pay our debt off faster, and still brings it up from time to time. However, we make enough that this is not a necessity so I tell him that time with the family is more important now. Soon we will be saving for retirement, because we won't expect social security or anything else from the government when the time comes. We are taking personal responsibility for our finances, through the rest of our lives.
I'm putting in all these personal stories so you don't think I'm being harsh. I'm not Al Gore here :), I'm not a hypocrite. I don't expect anyone else to help me, and I don't blame others for my problems. And if I can't figure out the answer, I turn to the Lord. He helps me sort through what is going on in my life and helps me to find out what I should do next. He always has a plan for me, and sometimes that plan is uncomfortable. But I am willing to follow Him and take responsibility for the choices I make, especially if I did NOT follow His plan. We're all human!
So, I will continue to discuss personal responsibility here because I think it is really critical. Everyday you have a choice to make. If you are overweight, unhappy, or sick -- it doesn't matter how you got there, today you can make a new choice. You can choose a new diet, choose to have a positive attitude (and seek out a good counselor or friend to talk to), research the best treatments for your illness. It is all completely up to you, and YOU are the one who has to live with your choices. No one else.
Please take responsibility for yourself, and I believe your life will go a lot better!
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Health News Tuesday: GMO Crops, Autism Issues, and Boosting Your Immunity with Foods
**We've moved!!**
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Health News Tuesday!
Real Age Website Scam
Some of you may have heard of the website RealAge.com. According to an NY Times expose, it is little more than a pharmaceutical company marketing tool. Stay away!
New Reasons why GMO Crops are Bad News
Guess what? We have "super bugs" in hospitals, which are antibiotic resistant. Now we have "super weeds," which are pesticide resistant! This leads to the use of more and more pesticides, among other problems.
Treatments for Asthma and Pre-term Labor may increase risk of Autism in Developing Fetus
A new study showing the dangers of taking certain medications while pregnant.
Shunning the Family Bed: Who Benefits Most?
New research shows that co-sleeping is TWICE as safe as sleeping alone in a crib.
Top 12 Foods to Boost Your Immune Response
I would recommend eating all of these!
Carbon Dioxide Declared Health Hazard by the EPA
An opinion piece on the EPA's move.
Please visit our new site, ModernAlternativeMama.com.
Comments on this post have been locked and updates are no longer being made to this page. Please click here to view this article on the new site.
Health News Tuesday!
Real Age Website Scam
Some of you may have heard of the website RealAge.com. According to an NY Times expose, it is little more than a pharmaceutical company marketing tool. Stay away!
New Reasons why GMO Crops are Bad News
Guess what? We have "super bugs" in hospitals, which are antibiotic resistant. Now we have "super weeds," which are pesticide resistant! This leads to the use of more and more pesticides, among other problems.
Treatments for Asthma and Pre-term Labor may increase risk of Autism in Developing Fetus
A new study showing the dangers of taking certain medications while pregnant.
Shunning the Family Bed: Who Benefits Most?
New research shows that co-sleeping is TWICE as safe as sleeping alone in a crib.
Top 12 Foods to Boost Your Immune Response
I would recommend eating all of these!
Carbon Dioxide Declared Health Hazard by the EPA
An opinion piece on the EPA's move.
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