•  Giving your child a dose of vitamin C, vitamin B12, and cod liver oil before a vaccination can drastically reduce the chances of side effects from the vaccine.
• Egg yolks are one of the best foods to introduce as baby’s first solid food.
• Incorporating fruit and cereal into your baby’s diet too early could make it more likely that your child with have a “sweet tooth”.
• Many nutritional experts feel that pregnant and nursing women should eat 2-4 tablespoons daily of high quality butter from grassfed cows to ensure that their baby is getting enough of the right fat for healthy brain development.
• Children raised on farms tend to have healthier immune systems than children raised in sterile environments because occasional exposure to dirt and bacteria helps the immune system develop properly.
• Occasional mild childhood illness may actually prevent cancer later in life.

I’ll discuss these points and more in our webinar, as well as answer any questions you may have.  To register, click here: Children’s Health Webinar. 

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One of the greatest ways that you can keep your body tuned up is to optimize your circulation system. The easiest way to do this is to move your body. We are all descendants of cave men that had to “use it or lose it” if they wanted to stay alive.  Although we don’t have to run after our food to catch it these days, we are not much different from them in that our bodies are built to move vigorously and consistently.

Another way to help your circulation system is to include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet and if you’re going to eat meat and dairy products make sure they are organic and not full of pesticides, antibiotics and hormones.

A third way to keep your circulation system free from all blockages is to take a great herbal heart tincture as a regular tonic, such as MFC’s  “Heart Health”.  From the description: “The herbs in this formula have been known to help reduce the risk of heart attack, regulate cardiac rhythm and generally tone the circulatory system.”
 
Remember, maintenance is what you do on a regular basis, even when nothing’s wrong with your car — or your body.

Information on the herbs in Heart Health:

-Hawthorne, known to ancients as the traditional “heart herb”, helps to promote a steady heartbeat and is coupled with other powerful heart-healthy herbs to help reduce cholesterol as well. Hawthorne strengthens the heart and promotes a strong, regular heartbeat. In addition, Hawthorne may help reduce chest pain and arrhythmia and prevent stress-related heart attacks.
-Garlic affects the circulatory system by lowering blood levels of sugar and LDL (harmful cholesterol). Garlic may also reduce blood pressure and raise the level of HDL (good cholesterol).
-Motherwort is an all-purpose heart tonic, helping to regulate the heartbeat.
-Gingko leaf has antioxidant properties, enhances heart efficiency and gradually tones blood vessels.
-Red clover blossoms have an inherent ability to remove toxic waste from the blood.
-Ginger root and Cayenne pepper are two of the best-known circulatory and herbal cardiac tonics.
-Cactus grandiflora, a cardiac tonic and regulator, increases the heart s ability to pump stronger without increasing the heart’s oxygen demand.

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- Vitamin C helps prevent arterial inflammation and plaque.

- It helps enhance the body’s level of natural glutathione (glutathione is a potent free-radical scavenger known to prevent coronary artery disease.)

 - Vitamin C is crucial for the synthesis of collagen, a part of the connective tissue that strengthens your blood vessel walls. When these walls become irritated they are more likely to allow plaque build-up, permitting noxious toxins to cause inflammatory reactions in the vascular lining.

- Helps repair connective tissue and cartilage thereby contributing to healthy blood vessels.

- At higher doses Vitamin C can help patients coping with arterial fibrillation (AF), the most common kind of arrhythmia.

So, how much Vitamin C is safe to take on a daily basis?

- Most research supports Vitamin C intake of around 200 to 300 mg per day, which for the average person is definitely in the safe zone. In fact, for many people doses below 1,000 mg are probably safe although the research is not as conclusive for this intake level.

- Some researchers, such as the great Linus Pauling, suggest 10,000 mg or more daily for optimum health.  For instructions on determining your own need see our blog on the Vitamin C Flush.

Excellent food sources of vitamin C include: parsley, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries, oranges, lemon juice, papaya, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and Brussels sprouts. Marilyn Farms also offers Vitamin C in a variety of formulas including chewable, powder, and Vitamin C 1000. tablets. Visit our website to learn more and take advantage of our February special on this heart-healthy supplement.

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http://health.discovery.com/centers/althealth/cholesterol/cholesterol.html

Red yeast rice can be found in Omega LDL, along with Coenzyme Q10 and fish oil, two compounds that are vital to heart health!

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http://www.westonaprice.org/The-Miracle-of-Vitamin-D.html

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DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) is a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid and is an essential, beneficial fat.  An essential fatty acid is one humans cannot produce, but must consume in their diet.  

Important Facts about DHA….
• DHA is critical during pregnancy and lactation to nourish the growing brain, increase IQ, and also during infancy and childhood for the optimal development and function of the brain, eyes, and central nervous system.
• The 3rd trimester of pregnancy is when a mother transfers much of the DHA that is needed to the fetus.
• DHA is a normal component of breast milk. Children who were given breast milk have been shown to score higher on intellectual and visual tests than those fed formulas lacking DHA (most infant formulas are now being supplemented with DHA.)
• Because the brain grows rapidly during the first two years of life DHA usage by the brain is significant during this time. DHA makes up a large portion of the brain and the retinas of the eyes, a deficiency could negatively impact the development or function of these organs.
• Older children need DHA and omega-3s to help them function in school and avoid behavioral problems.  The right mix of brain supporting foods will help our children reach their maximum potential, emotionally, health wise and intellectually.
• DHA deficiency has been linked to: ADHD, dyslexia, impulsiveness, depression, manic depression, & sleep issues.  Proper brain support during all phases of life can lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Post partum depression can sometimes be traced to an omega 3 deficiency.

Natural food sources of DHA include organ meats, seafood (especially oily, cold-water fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, and anchovies), walnuts, flax seeds, green vegetables and algae  (fish make their DHA from algae)

Marilyn Farms offers several easy ways for you and your family to get the DHA you need.  For children try:  Children’s DHA Gel Caps, and for adults, Complete Omega 3-6-9

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When an oil is heated to its smoke point, that means it is highly damaged and full of free radicals (molecules that cause aging and disease).  Below is a link to a list of oils and their smoke points, apparently compiled by an engineer that also likes to cook.  I don’t completely agree with his definition of refined oils (he defines them as oils with impurities removed, where in actuality refined oils also have nutrients and healthy fats removed and may be rancid prior to processing) but it is still very interesting info.  Enjoy reading, and happy new year!

http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/50/Smoke-Points-of-Various-Fats

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1. Bring an afternoon snack to work to prevent overindulging at the holiday goodies table mid-afternoon.  Ideas include cheese and crackers, hard boiled eggs, raw vegetables and hummus, or a protein shake.

2. Stay hydrated – it’s easy to mistake thirst for hunger.  Even though it’s cold outside, your body still needs plenty of water to keep from getting dehydrated due to dry winter air. 

3. Eat something containing protein alongside anything sweet or alcoholic.  This prevents your blood sugar from “spiking and crashing” which contributes to weight gain.  There are usually protein choices at most holiday parties in the form of cheese, meat, and dips.  Be sure to put a portion of these items on your party plate alongside any desserts or alcoholic drinks.

4. Eat a light snack before going to evening holiday parties.  It may seem counterintuitive to eat before going to a party, but if you have something very light containing protein (half a protein shake, 1 hard boiled eggs, 2” piece of cheese) then you will arrive at the party with stable blood sugar and will be more likely to stay in control of portion sizes when it’s time to eat.

5. If it’s a potluck, bring something healthy to share that you know you will eat and enjoy.  Ideas include fruit, a veggie tray with dip, a cold cut platter, cheese and crackers, or deviled eggs.

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I know that this time of year is when people become concerned about weight gain due to all of the holiday food fests and may try to make up for it by cutting calories elsewhere.  That’s not a terrible idea, but I did want to share with you an article on artificial sweeteners to make sure that you don’t try to make up for the 7 slices of pie your co-workers force fed  you last week by switching over to foods labeled “sugar-free” or “diet” without knowing the potential risks.  Here’s the article:

http://drbenkim.com/articles-artificialsweeteners.html

Stay tuned to upcoming blogs for more on my favorite subject – food!  I’m going to use the next couple of entries to share some ideas for healthy holiday eating, as well as fun facts about winter seasonal foods.

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