This is for all my brilliant, health-nut girlfriends!!
Men Married to Smart Women Live Longer
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Vitamin D Results
We just had all our Vitamin D Levels checked and unfortunately, based on the latest research, we are all too low! We ordered the test through http://www.lef.org/ and had our blood drawn at LabCor. Since we have such high health insurance deductibles, it was cheaper for me to pay the $47 to LEF than to have the test done through our doctor's office! Although I still plan to go over these results with our Dr. and give her a copy for our medical records. Your doctor should be able to recommend how much D3 to take on a daily basis to get your blood serum levels into the optimal range. If they can't, I encourage you to research this yourself because the information is easily accessible!
The Vitamin D Council recommends maintaining a blood serum level of 50-80 ng/ml and Dr. Joe Mercola recommends maintaining levels between 50-65 ng/ml for optimal health in ALL AGES. Both of these sites give very specific dosage guidelines. These are two sources I trust but again, I encourage you to do your own research!
My level was 32.7. Down from 38 on 6/5 of this year!
Gracie 43.2
Gemma 38.1
Luke 29
Marshall 29.9
Scott is having his bloodwork done next week.
Now that we know our levels, we can increase our supplementation of Vitamin D3 for the next 2-3 months, at which time we will have levels re-checked. We had already begun supplementing with D3 about a month before having this test so I would hate to see what our levels were before!
So what's the big deal about Vitamin D anyway?? Well people think of the most common risk of Vit. D deficiency as being soft bones or rickets in children, but research is linking low blood serum levels of vitamin D to a whole lot more! Osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, depression, childhood asthma and eczema, frequent colds, flu and respiratory infections, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and more.......all now being linked to low levels of Vit. D.
With my history of asthma and allergies and poor immune function I have taken a special interest in this topic; not just for my health, but for the sake of my family's health. Scott was the only one in our family not supplementing with vitamin D when he recently came down with a terrible case of the flu. Although he didn't get checked for H1N1, it was possibly the sickest I've ever seen him. I was more than braced for the worst but after more than two weeks have passed and no one else in our family has come down with the flu, I can't help but wonder if the vitamin D has something to do with it!? I will continue to blog about this as we progress through the winter.
The Vitamin D Council recommends maintaining a blood serum level of 50-80 ng/ml and Dr. Joe Mercola recommends maintaining levels between 50-65 ng/ml for optimal health in ALL AGES. Both of these sites give very specific dosage guidelines. These are two sources I trust but again, I encourage you to do your own research!
My level was 32.7. Down from 38 on 6/5 of this year!
Gracie 43.2
Gemma 38.1
Luke 29
Marshall 29.9
Scott is having his bloodwork done next week.
Now that we know our levels, we can increase our supplementation of Vitamin D3 for the next 2-3 months, at which time we will have levels re-checked. We had already begun supplementing with D3 about a month before having this test so I would hate to see what our levels were before!
So what's the big deal about Vitamin D anyway?? Well people think of the most common risk of Vit. D deficiency as being soft bones or rickets in children, but research is linking low blood serum levels of vitamin D to a whole lot more! Osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, depression, childhood asthma and eczema, frequent colds, flu and respiratory infections, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and more.......all now being linked to low levels of Vit. D.
With my history of asthma and allergies and poor immune function I have taken a special interest in this topic; not just for my health, but for the sake of my family's health. Scott was the only one in our family not supplementing with vitamin D when he recently came down with a terrible case of the flu. Although he didn't get checked for H1N1, it was possibly the sickest I've ever seen him. I was more than braced for the worst but after more than two weeks have passed and no one else in our family has come down with the flu, I can't help but wonder if the vitamin D has something to do with it!? I will continue to blog about this as we progress through the winter.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Trip to Dentist
Took all 4 kids to the dentist today. Our 9 year streak of being cavity free in all four kids has come to an end. Luke had a cavity that had to be filled. The good news is that it was just a tiny spot on one of his baby teeth so I can still say we are cavity free in permanent teeth!
Luke is feeling no pain here below after getting the "bubble gum laughing gas"! It was hilarious to hear him giggling uncontrollably. He's watching a Disney movie playing on a flat screen in the ceiling.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Shaking The Hand That Feeds Us
There was no school today so the kids rode along with me to pick up milk. Our winter milk source, the Divino Nino Family Farm in Palmyra, Nebraska is about an hour and fifteen minutes from our house. Either I or our friend, Sue Briggs drives to this farm every Friday to pick up fresh, whole, unpasteurized, unhomogenized whole milk from grass-fed Guernsey cows. These pastured cows are never given antibiotics or any type of hormones and are fed a natural diet intended for cows, GREEN GRASS! YUM! You can see the whole role of film from the day
Monday, February 16, 2009
The "Diet" Mentality
Several people have asked me recently about the "diet" Scott and I are on. I try to explain that it's not a " diet", but instead "just the way we eat now", however that doesn't seem to convince them. This got me thinking about the whole "diet mentality" in general.
Isn't it funny when you think about it? We decide that we need to go on a diet because the way we normally eat has made us FAT or has made us SICK. So our plan is to STOP eating the way we normally eat and try eating a DIFFERENT way until we are no longer FAT or no longer SICK. But once we have achieved those goals, what do we do??? Most of us go right back to eating the way we did BEFORE we went on the DIET!
Why is it so hard for us to figure out that the way we NORMALLY eat is causing the problem in the first place and the problem is only going to return when we go off the diet?? Is it because we're addicted to the foods that make us fat and sick? Is it because if we weren't fat and sick we would have nothing to talk about with our friends and family?? Is it because our health care system and the USDA sets us up to be nothing but fat and sick? Is it because we live such hurried, stressful lifestyles? Is it because we don't exercise enough?
I've pondered all of these things and I've come to the conclusion that being fat and sick is very much a cultural experience here in the United States. When you combine obesity and disease you are very much in the minority if you are NOT fat and/or sick. In fact, if you eat healthy, exercise and don't experience any medical problems, you're down right "counter-cultural".......and who wants to hang out with someone who is counter-cultural?
I mean seriously....let's think about it. We all know doughnuts are not good for us, but what do we serve every Sunday at church? WHY do we do that? Because it's a cultural norm, right? We all know chips, cookies, pastries and candies are terrible for us, but what do we serve our sick and overweight friends at every party? WHY? Because you're NO FUN if you serve vegetables and fruit, right? Sadly, our culture dictates to us what is acceptable and what is unacceptable when it comes to food and I, for one, am tired of all that.
Our family doesn't have all the answers for the perfect "diet" but we do trust in three things. We believe we should eat food that God intended man to have as food, we believe we shouldn't alter the food that God intended for us to eat and we believe we shouldn't let any one food become our God. So if by applying these three principles we appear as counter-cultural to you, then praise God!!
What The Bible Says About Healthy Living
The Rosedale "Diet"
Isn't it funny when you think about it? We decide that we need to go on a diet because the way we normally eat has made us FAT or has made us SICK. So our plan is to STOP eating the way we normally eat and try eating a DIFFERENT way until we are no longer FAT or no longer SICK. But once we have achieved those goals, what do we do??? Most of us go right back to eating the way we did BEFORE we went on the DIET!
Why is it so hard for us to figure out that the way we NORMALLY eat is causing the problem in the first place and the problem is only going to return when we go off the diet?? Is it because we're addicted to the foods that make us fat and sick? Is it because if we weren't fat and sick we would have nothing to talk about with our friends and family?? Is it because our health care system and the USDA sets us up to be nothing but fat and sick? Is it because we live such hurried, stressful lifestyles? Is it because we don't exercise enough?
I've pondered all of these things and I've come to the conclusion that being fat and sick is very much a cultural experience here in the United States. When you combine obesity and disease you are very much in the minority if you are NOT fat and/or sick. In fact, if you eat healthy, exercise and don't experience any medical problems, you're down right "counter-cultural".......and who wants to hang out with someone who is counter-cultural?
I mean seriously....let's think about it. We all know doughnuts are not good for us, but what do we serve every Sunday at church? WHY do we do that? Because it's a cultural norm, right? We all know chips, cookies, pastries and candies are terrible for us, but what do we serve our sick and overweight friends at every party? WHY? Because you're NO FUN if you serve vegetables and fruit, right? Sadly, our culture dictates to us what is acceptable and what is unacceptable when it comes to food and I, for one, am tired of all that.
Our family doesn't have all the answers for the perfect "diet" but we do trust in three things. We believe we should eat food that God intended man to have as food, we believe we shouldn't alter the food that God intended for us to eat and we believe we shouldn't let any one food become our God. So if by applying these three principles we appear as counter-cultural to you, then praise God!!
What The Bible Says About Healthy Living
The Rosedale "Diet"
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Japan-Day 9
View Photos Here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mommydanna/JapanDay9?feat=directlink
With only one day to go before we leave for the big ski trip, Gracie is on day three of a 102.5 degree fever. John and Karen's doctor speaks really good English (in fact he trained at Yale in the US) so we decided to take Gracie to see him. We took Gemma along as well because her cough was not sounding too good either and I was a little nervous about giving her the over-the-counter cough medicine, especially since I couldn't read one word on the label and had no idea how much to give her!
The doctor's office is tucked away on a narrow street packed with shops and markets. Karen had to drop us and wait a half an hour for a place to park. The doctor's office was very busy with lots of sick children so the receptionist was really thrown off when we just walked in with no appointment and no medical cards! They were very kind however and after I filled out some paperwork and declared that I was going to be a "cash customer", they were able to create charts and make room for both girls.
We waited in the lobby for about 45 minutes and when they called our name we were led past a curtained doorway and asked to remove our shoes. We were all provided with slippers and asked to be seated again while we waited our turn. When we finally got in to see the doctor I was relieved to hear him speak very clear English. He got right down to business, we discussed their symptoms and he asked me "what I wanted to do"! So, I told him I wanted an expectorant to thin the fluids so they could have a more productive cough and I wanted antibiotics for Gracie in case whatever this was turned bacterial on me. I told him she had only had one antibiotic in 8 years and that I wanted to let the fever do its job for another day or two but that we were going on a ski trip into the mountains and I wanted to have the antibiotic with me in case she would need it. I asked him what he thought about that and to my surprise, he totally agreed with me! He recommended letting the fever go another 2-3 days! He asked me about Gemma and I told him she had NEVER been on an antibiotic and I didn't want one, I just wanted the expectorant. He checked her out and agreed that was all she needed. He wrote out the prescriptions, we paid our bill and went on our way! Obviously I was VERY nervous about going to a doctor in a foreign country but it turned out to be a very positive experience!
In Japan, people where a mask when they have a virus so as not to infect others. Our kids had been coughing so much we were worried we were offending people in public so we purchased some masks from the drugstore and tried them out. Luke loved his but Gracie didn't like the smell of hers. Personally I think it's a great concept that should be used in the schools for grades K-4 when kids are less efficient at covering their mouths! I think I will buy a box or two to take home and perhaps we'll start a new trend at St. John school!
http://picasaweb.google.com/mommydanna/JapanDay9?feat=directlink
With only one day to go before we leave for the big ski trip, Gracie is on day three of a 102.5 degree fever. John and Karen's doctor speaks really good English (in fact he trained at Yale in the US) so we decided to take Gracie to see him. We took Gemma along as well because her cough was not sounding too good either and I was a little nervous about giving her the over-the-counter cough medicine, especially since I couldn't read one word on the label and had no idea how much to give her!
The doctor's office is tucked away on a narrow street packed with shops and markets. Karen had to drop us and wait a half an hour for a place to park. The doctor's office was very busy with lots of sick children so the receptionist was really thrown off when we just walked in with no appointment and no medical cards! They were very kind however and after I filled out some paperwork and declared that I was going to be a "cash customer", they were able to create charts and make room for both girls.
We waited in the lobby for about 45 minutes and when they called our name we were led past a curtained doorway and asked to remove our shoes. We were all provided with slippers and asked to be seated again while we waited our turn. When we finally got in to see the doctor I was relieved to hear him speak very clear English. He got right down to business, we discussed their symptoms and he asked me "what I wanted to do"! So, I told him I wanted an expectorant to thin the fluids so they could have a more productive cough and I wanted antibiotics for Gracie in case whatever this was turned bacterial on me. I told him she had only had one antibiotic in 8 years and that I wanted to let the fever do its job for another day or two but that we were going on a ski trip into the mountains and I wanted to have the antibiotic with me in case she would need it. I asked him what he thought about that and to my surprise, he totally agreed with me! He recommended letting the fever go another 2-3 days! He asked me about Gemma and I told him she had NEVER been on an antibiotic and I didn't want one, I just wanted the expectorant. He checked her out and agreed that was all she needed. He wrote out the prescriptions, we paid our bill and went on our way! Obviously I was VERY nervous about going to a doctor in a foreign country but it turned out to be a very positive experience!
In Japan, people where a mask when they have a virus so as not to infect others. Our kids had been coughing so much we were worried we were offending people in public so we purchased some masks from the drugstore and tried them out. Luke loved his but Gracie didn't like the smell of hers. Personally I think it's a great concept that should be used in the schools for grades K-4 when kids are less efficient at covering their mouths! I think I will buy a box or two to take home and perhaps we'll start a new trend at St. John school!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Chickenpox-Update
Good news! We got the lab report back on Luke and he DID in fact have the chickenpox! The doctor called and explained that the spot he chose to swab must have been a bug bite! Marshall is scabbing over quickly so hopefully we'll be able to get out in public by the 4th!! Whew! Glad that's over!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Chickenpox
Luke had some spots a few weeks ago that Grandma and I thought were surely the chickenpox but the Dr. said they more likely bug bites infected with impentigo. He even sent a "swab" off to the lab but it came back negative. HOWEVER, two weeks later Gemma developed the same type of spots covering her entire body! There was no doubting in this case. Then about a week after Gemma, baby Marshall developed a hand full of spots and is currently in the active phase of his virus. Gracie had one vaccination for chickenpox so we don't expect her to get it. Meanwhile we took Luke in for the IgG Antibody titer to see if perhaps he did in fact have the chickenpox a few weeks ago(we all think he must have). We are still awaiting that result to determine for sure if we are done, or if Luke is next!
As a family who chooses not to vaccinate, the chickenpox is an event met with mixed emotion. On one hand we are relieved to have the virus while the children are young and we'd rather have it in the summer when the kids don't have to miss any school. On the other hand, there is no convenient time to be quarantined. The week of 4th of July when cousins are in town would not have been our first choice.
The good news is that the infections have been a breeze. Gemma only had two restless nights and barely acted sick during the days and Marshall is maintaining his happy disposition, seeming hardly bothered.
Making the decision not to vaccinate our children was by far the most difficult decision we've faced as parents so far. We are so grateful to Dr. Sherri Tenpenny of Middleburg Heights, OH (Cleveland area) for her guidance and support. We thank her for her boundless energy and her tireless and courageous effort to encourage parents to make an informed decision about vaccination! Learn more about her work at http://www.sayingnotovaccines.com/.
As a family who chooses not to vaccinate, the chickenpox is an event met with mixed emotion. On one hand we are relieved to have the virus while the children are young and we'd rather have it in the summer when the kids don't have to miss any school. On the other hand, there is no convenient time to be quarantined. The week of 4th of July when cousins are in town would not have been our first choice.
The good news is that the infections have been a breeze. Gemma only had two restless nights and barely acted sick during the days and Marshall is maintaining his happy disposition, seeming hardly bothered.
Making the decision not to vaccinate our children was by far the most difficult decision we've faced as parents so far. We are so grateful to Dr. Sherri Tenpenny of Middleburg Heights, OH (Cleveland area) for her guidance and support. We thank her for her boundless energy and her tireless and courageous effort to encourage parents to make an informed decision about vaccination! Learn more about her work at http://www.sayingnotovaccines.com/.
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