Your Questions Answered... Tea and Coffee

I have gotten a little behind on answering your questions. Really, I have gotten behind in my emailing and everything else too! I am starting my list today, so if you have submitted a question, my answer is coming. Thanks for your patience!

The first question I want to look at today is from Kristilea. She writes: "I've had a lot of conflicting information about tea. I know it can't replace water, but in moderation, can decaffeinated tea be an okay addition? I am just not a water person and I make myself drink as much a day as possible, but sometimes I just need something else. Living in Georgia, of course sweet tea is on the menu. But I have slowly gotten myself used to unsweetened decaffeinated tea and I'm hoping I can continue to enjoy it. What do you think? Can you enlighten me on what you know about it?!"

First, the short answer. Consuming a little bit of tea here and there, white or black or green, is not harmful if it is sweetened with honey or another natural sweetener. It provides helpful antioxidants and can be a "safer" pick-me-up. Moderation is the key. My recommendation is that you never drink it to replace adequate water consumption AND that you brush your teeth after you drink tea to prevent acid erosion.

Now for a bit more technical information. Black tea contains tannins. There is mixed information about tannins. Some sources say that these substances can help prevent cancer. Some say they cause it. Hmmm. It's hard to say who is right on that count. But, there is agreement that excessive consumption of tannin containing beverages may block iron assimilation and therefore cause anemia. Moderation is the key, I think.

Second, tea contains theobromine, a substance related to caffeine. Both of these substances stimulate the adrenal glands, which in turn cause the liver to release sugar into the blood stream, giving you an energy lift. The problem with repeating this chain of events is that our blood sugar regulating mechanisms can easily wear out. This causes low blood sugar, dizziness, insomnia, depression, allergies, chronic fatigue, and on and on. Excessive theobromine or caffeine consumption is a bad thing. Moderation is the key, I think.

As long as we are on this topic, I would like to address the coffee question. The multiple questions I hear on this subject go like this: "I have to have my coffee! Is there any way to be healthier about it?"

Giving up coffee entirely is the healthiest choice. However, if that will never come to pass in your life, you can switch to a healthy coffee... not a coffee substitute that doesn't really pass for coffee, but a real coffee that is better for you.

What is the problem with coffee? Well, first the acid content of a daily cup can wreak havoc on our digestive systems. While our stomach is by design an acidic place, adding more acid to our systems can throw off the delicate balance. Second, as I discussed above, the caffeine content can pose problems.

I drink NutriCafe in moderation. This coffee is made from a low-acid bean so that it does not cause stomach burn. It also comes from a low-caffeine bean so that it has about 1/2 the caffeine as other coffees. In addition, it is infused with botanical extracts (that you can't taste) to give it more health giving properties. And, I think it tastes very good!

And the Winner is...

Okay. I may seem really old school, but I have been writing every entry on a piece of paper and letting my kids draw the winner out of a big bowl. This time around I used a "truly random" number generator. Fun, huh? The kids didn't think it was as fun, but it is probably the best use of my time ; )


And now for the important part... The winner of the Stonyfield Farm YoBaby giveaway is... Lady Jen of Joy Ever After! I KNOW you will love this yogurt!

Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway... hope there's another good one soon!

The News.

I apologize for my unplanned absence yesterday. You see, I decided it was the Annual Reorganize the School Cabinet and Bookshelves Day. Once a year, I like to take everything out, pull the furniture away from the wall, vacuum and dust thoroughly, remove the accumulated pencil and crayon marks, file the past year's school work, and create a refreshingly orderly room in which I can plan the next school year.

So, once I got started yesterday, there was no stopping! Well, I did have to take a few intermissions BUT I was driven. And things are mostly put back together today. I would post a picture of the end results, but I can't figure how my homeschooling organization fits into a health blog... except to explain my temporary disappearance.

Besides organizing... I seem to have caught the bug because I redid the pantry this morning too... I have another newsy tidbit to share with you. I am expecting our fifth child! Yep. I am close to the end of my first trimester.

How have I been feeling? Hmmm. I am thankful to be functional. I know that there are many women who are completely offset by extreme nausea in their first trimesters, and sometimes throughout the whole pregnancy. With my pregnancies, I have varying degrees of "morning sickness" all throughout the day until about week 12. This time around is no different.

There are a few very specific things I have noticed really help ease the queasiness. First, I must faithfully take a B Vitamin soon after I wake up, with a protein-type snack. Doing so solves a lot of problems before they start! I take a sustained release B Complex (part of this product pack) that supplies my body with more B vitamins every hour. This is so much better than just taking a large amount all at once. I can tell a big difference when I haven't taken it! And a big difference from when I used to take a different B Vitamin.

I also have stopped exercising. That sounds so contrary to normal health advice. I will get back to my normal exercise routines in my second trimester! With my first two pregnancies, I had to stop exercising in my first trimester in order not to lose too much weight. With my next three (this one included) I have had to stop so that my blood sugar doesn't drop too low. I have found that if I exercise, I can not regain my blood sugar stability -- even for a few days. It leaves me shaky, dizzy and nauseated. So, it helps me to take it easy in the first 12 weeks... not that I can totally slow down with four other children to run after!

I do sip peppermint and ginger teas. And I do occasionally use a Stomach Soothing Complex for a greater burst of these helpful herbs. Other than that, my best strategy is to eat small snacks throughout the day.

Cravings? This is laughable... with Rainbow, I craved cheese. We were vegans at the time, so the occasional cheese was a major treat! With Spiderman I craved hamburgers. I thought about them way too often. But, after one Wendy's burger, I was done with that! With Witzy, I don't remember a craving. With Tickle and this baby, I crave chicken fingers... hello Chick-fil-a! It's a good thing we don't live very close to a Chick-fil-a so that I have to eat healthy food instead. But, I do have plans to go with a friend next Tuesday. (Can't Wait!)

Because pregnancy is at the front of my mind, I plan on posting some of my thoughts on healthy pregnancies over the next few months. This blog isn't going to turn into a pregnancy blog, but I think expanding that topic would be helpful. I'll still keep up with my regular health posts, tips and recipes, so thanks for coming back to read... where would I be without readers!

And, here's a question for you: The question I hear most from pregnant women is "what do you do for morning sickness?" I would love for you to comment with your thoughts on the topic. What do you do to ease nausea? Do you have healthy ideas or remedies that you can share? Thanks for your comments!

Calling All Moms Of Littles -- Giveaway Post

I pass up many more giveaways than I publish. Keeping high standards for my blog is of maximum importance to me. You can be sure that I will not promote any product that I wouldn't use myself. I guess that's why I only publish giveaways from time to time. BUT... today I am very pleased to announce this giveaway!

Stonyfield Farm, a company I have long trusted for their organic whole milk yogurt products, is introducing a new YoBaby yogurt for your littles. It is their 10th birthday this year and they are reformulating YoBaby to include vitamin D and zinc, both known to boost immunity and promote the development of strong bones and teeth.

My three favorite things about Stonyfield are that I don't have to worry about any GM foods or GM beet sugar, I don't have to worry about any bovine growth hormones, and Stonyfield supports local dairy farmers. My kids think their yogurt is a real treat too... especially the Banilla Yogurt (it's banana and vanilla -- totally ingenious).


This giveaway includes a lidded YoBaby bowl, an organic YoBaby bib, and a bundle of five coupons for FREE Yobaby Yogurt packs.

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment. That's all you have to do! You can enter once a day until Sunday, June 7th at 11:59:59 pm. At that point, I will close the giveaway and select a winner at random. The winner will be announced on my blog and notified via email on Monday. Thanks for entering!

Hang On For The Ride

"Embrace exploration and seek your adventure." I mentioned in my post yesterday that being healthy is an adventure. Today I would like to expand that thought.

I have noticed a very weighty truth in my life. My children are directly affected by my attitude. Have you seen the same in your family? If I am excited about reading a new book, they eagerly clamor onto the couch to find out what it is about. If I am excited about a new recipe I'm trying, they dig into it with gusto.

Yet, if I grumble as I wash lettuce again, or if I freak out as I find a worm on the farm fresh kale, they are equally swayed by my attitude. Lettuce and kale just don't seem as appetizing to them if I've prepared them with a murmuring spirit or an outraged cry of "why do we have to keep eating organic when the conventional kale would never come with a worm!?!"

Let's just face the facts.

Fact number one: As moms we can make or break the atmosphere in our home. This applies to all areas, but think about how it extends to your family's health.

What child won't willingly try the new granola cookies you've set aside time to cheerfully make together? Even if the child is new to less-sweet-treats, if they were made with love and joy she will think positively about them.

Fact number two: Making health changes can require extra effort, time and planning for us moms. When we are in the learning curve, there is a constant flow of new information to process, of new ideas to try, of mistakes to make. Think of it as an adventure. In an adventure, each new exciting turn is a chance to learn and to grow. Embrace the journey, and remember that the most important part is enjoying the scenery as you go!

Fact number three: Children love adventures, and they like to learn when learning is adventuresome. Taking your kids along on your health adventure will give them an appreciation of your efforts, an excitement for being healthy, and the tools they need to make their own health decisions wisely.

So, like I said yesterday: Smile at your kids and enjoy the ride. This health adventure has the potential to bring unity, meaningful work, and joy into your family relationships.


Photocredit: Allposters.com

What's Cooking -- June

I've been keeping a running list of our family's weekday meals, and I archive the list under this "What's Cooking" topic. It may help to give you healthy menu ideas... and it may help to jumpstart my creativity when it seems we are stuck in a supper rut. Have you been there before?

It's the first of the month and so I'm starting a new post for June meals. If you don't read the "What's Cooking" Corner on my blog each day, you can check this post for our June supper menus. Or, you can read the archives from past months here.

June 30th:
So last night's grilling didn't work out. There was a very deliberate wasp. Need I say more.

I'm trying again tonight with some Ribeye Steaks that came with our part of the cow. I have never done this type of meat due to budgetary constraints, but I'm hoping for the best.

I will also stir fry what is left of my produce box and serve it with rice.

June 29th:
YAY! I'm back in the swing of things :-) I found some healthy chicken for a really good price, so tonight I am going to attempt to grill it. I am not a grill master. We'll see.

I'll also be tossing a huge dark green salad and serving garlic bread on the side. Real food! I'm so excited!

Tomorrow, I'll have to catch up on yogurt, bread and granola -- three of our family staples.

Break:
Like last week, this summer week is going to be another break from routine. Because of traveling and other events, we will not be eating our regular family meal every night.

Instead, I will be pulling together items left from my produce box and pantry ingredients for some quick meals and some travel-able meals. Who knows what I will come up with -- or if it will taste good!

Next week, I will return to my normal cooking habits. And, I will post my supper plans too. In the interim, check out my "What's Cooking?" archives.

June 12th:
It has just been the kids and I for supper the past few nights. So, instead of cooking something new, we have been having leftovers. They thought the Mega Stir Fry would never end!But tonight, he will be here with us again! So we are going to have Taco Salad, one of his all-time-favs.

June 9th:
Tonight I am going to make a mega stir fry. I will use onions, garlic, colored peppers, daikon, carrots, and purplish kale. That should make for a rainbow presentation! I'll serve it with rice and some baked white fish.

I bought an abundance of colored peppers in bulk the other day. I also have way too many onions from the last few produce boxes. So today I am going to dice these all up and freeze them for future stir frys.

I also intend on baking 6 loaves of bread and making Power Bars this morning... interruptions allowing.

June 8th:
Tonight it's my turn to pick up our produce boxes. I trade off with some other great moms in my neighborhood. So, I'll either pick up some fresh burritos from a moderately healthy restaurant in town... or I'll serve leftovers.

I took a Broccoli Almond Salad and a Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad with tri-colored peppers to a church pot-luck yesterday... so we have both of those plus some leftovers from last week to finish off. Exciting, huh?

June 5th:
Catching Up:On Wednesday, I had to make a very rushed supper. We used whole wheat pasta from the pantry to make a pasta and meat sauce meal.

On Thursday, I used the last third of our roast to make a saucy meat with rice dish... inventing as I went, but it turned out very tasty. We were totally out of anything green from our produce box - for some reason we went through it remarkably quick this time around - so we had peas.

Tonight, I know that we do not want meat! We normally space our meat meals out, but after four nights in a row, we are ready for something lighter. I have everything I need to make a Red Bean and Rice Salad with Lime Dressing. Sounds fitting... and I'll double it so that I can take it to a Sunday Pot Luck too.

June 2nd:
The roast we ate last night was delicious. It was so full of flavor! I am going to make the leftovers into two meals this week. Tonight, I am going to make a main-dish cold beef salad with greens, ripe tomaotes, peas and a feta cheese dressing.

We have leftover potatoes from last night, a side dish that will make my littles very happy (and full!).

June 1st:
I have had a Roast in the crock pot all day. We love roast beef. And this time, we are especially excited since this roast is from our Grass-Fed cow. It smells so good! I had some fresh herbs from our organic produce box, and they seem to be adding a lot of aroma (and hopefully flavor too).

For sides, we are going to do potatoes and kale and some sliced raw veggies and tomatoes as well.

Taking A Look At Genetically Modified Foods

Did you know that on May 19th, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urged doctors to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM foods? Further, they called for doctors to provide educational materials concerning GM foods and the corresponding health risks. Read all about it here.

Did you know that GM foods are banned in Europe? Yet in the 1990s, when scientists from the FDA warned about the potential problems of GM foods and insisted on more rigorous testing, our government decided to promote biotechnology instead.

Did you know that not a single human clinical trial on the effects of GM foods has been published? Yet the resounding evidence from animal testing shows that GM foods can cause infertility, immune dysfunction, allergies, accelerated aging, changes in major organs and gastrointestinal difficulties... just to list a few.

You've heard me stress the importance of non-GMO foods before. I am for real serious about keeping my family away from these hazardous foods. I know that there seems to be so many health steps to take. I do know that this all can be overwhelming, especially if you are just starting to learn about health. But, this is one of the most important health issues today.

Here are three simple things you can do.

1. Educate yourself: I have a very informative, synopsis-type article that I would be glad to email you. If you have ten minutes to read this information, send an email to ae at healthbeginswithmom.com. (You have to use @ instead of the word "at".) Just put "GMO" in the subject line and I will reply with the article. Or, even better, read this book: Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating.

2. Download the Non-GMO Shopping Guide here. This is a bit of good news. There are a handful foods that are the biggest culprits. If you only buy "non-GMO" or "organic" corn, soybeans, canola and cottonseed you will be making big strides. But keep in mind, that means all corn and soybean products... like corn syrup or soybean oil... which we shouldn't be eating anyway. Steering clear of canola and cottonseed oils, which are highly processed, would be a great health benefit whether they are non-GMO or not.

3. Don't stress. Do your best to bring home non-GMO foods by purchasing organic foods as much as possible. Our children depend on our example in healthy living. If they see us fretting, they will give up on health and say it is just not worth it. But, if they see determination mingled with excitement from their mom, they will decide this is all a great big adventure... which it is. Smile at them and enjoy the ride : )