Fluoride was recognized as a lethal poison right here in the US of A in the 60s, and is currently recognized as being more toxic than lead. So we take toys off the shelf that test positive for lead, but hey, let’s pack 99% of toothpastes with an even more toxic substance. Sound like a good idea? Yeah, I don’t think so either. Fluoride is known to make bones more brittle, and can lead to crippling arthritic deformities of the spine and major joints of the body. That doesn’t sound so great to me.

Once upon a time it was reported that there were some areas in the United States where there were relatively high levels of natural fluoride in the drinking water supply, and that there appeared to be lower rates of dental cavities in those areas. So for the sake of a correlation with lower cavities, we’ve put a toxic chemical in our toothpaste – including our kids’ toothpaste. Does anyone else find this disturbing?

The information below about fluoride toxicity comes straight from the ModernMom article linked to above (and she got it from softdental.com).

The facts about fluoride toxicity are:

Early symptoms of acute fluoride toxicity (e.g. gastrointestinal pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches) can be produced at doses as low as 0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg.

Swallowing fluoride at the amount 5 mg/kg can be fatal.

Ingestion of as little as 1 percent of a tube of flavored children’s toothpaste can produce acute fluoride toxicity in a young child.

The most common symptoms of acute fluoride toxicity include:

Nausea (97%), Vomiting (68%), Diarrhea (65%), Abdominal cramps (53%), Headaches (41%), and Burning sensations in the throat or chest (12%).

SOURCE: Penman AD, Brackin BT, Embrey R. (1997). Outbreak of acute fluoride poisoning caused by a fluoride overfeed, Mississippi, 1993. Public Health Reports 112:403-9.

This time of year is rough – colds and flu, lots of time indoors where air quality is poor, and that cold, dry air mean that asthma is flaring up all over the place.

Both me and my middle child struggle with asthma, and in the 20+ years I’ve dealt with it I’ve figured out a few things. First, when the doc says you need to take a maintenance medication, you need to take a maintenance medication. But second, there are a few ways to relieve asthma symptoms that aren’t dependent on pharmaceuticals. Let me just tell you, I love albuterol for opening my lungs and letting me breathe. I hate it for making my heart race though.

So when my lungs start to tighten, or my little boy starts coughing, here’s my go-to plan.

1. Fresh air. Forget about smog – outdoor air is cleaner than indoor air.
2. Moisture – and lots of it. The cool air humidifier barely makes a dent. But if I close the doors to my bathroom and get in a hot shower the steam opens me up.
3. Lemon & honey – about half and half, and bottoms up. They help relieve coughing to allow the lungs to settle, and they’re both immune supports. But, the lemon aroma has also been shown to relieve symptoms.
4. Aromatherapy, using only pure essential oils. Peppermint, chamomile, ginger, and lavender. Put a drop of each into a small dish of olive oil and rub it into the feet.

The key to long-term maintenance is knowing your triggers and managing your symptoms before they become problems. Hopefully, clean indoor air, plants indoors, and a healthy lifestyle will help you find your way to managing asthma. In the meantime, maybe these tips will make your emergency situations fewer.

Note: This is meant to help someone manage asthma symptoms at the early onset, not in an emergency situation. A rescue inhaler is always the best bet when breathing is labored.

Do you have any idea how many problems this solves?

1. Recess is often being taken away, meaning kids who need activity to keep their minds going are languishing behind stationary school desks in classrooms that reward quiet inactivity (leading to obesity, diabetes, etc.).
2. More and more kids are on the free and reduced lunch programs (as well as free breakfasts in many states) because of soaring unemployment leading to scores of people on food stamps. These programs – while necessary – are draining much needed funds from overstretched education budgets. Gardens that supplement food available to the schools (while unlikely to be considered self-sustaining) would certainly make a dent in school food purchases.
3. Most kids think they don’t like veggies. Some think they don’t like fruit. What do we think? We think they’ve been told they don’t like veggies. “Here, honey, I’ll douse those peas in ketchup till they swim. Then you won’t have to taste them.” “I didn’t give you many carrots. If you’ll eat what’s there, I’ll give you ice cream later!” But kids who are involved in growing and harvesting food are much more willing to try the fruits of their labor. Get those veggies in, and they just might discover that they like them!
4. French fries are often the only vegetables some kids eat in a given week. Why? It’s cheaper to buy potato chips and ding-dongs than fresh produce. And junk foods require zero prep. Open bag, stuff mouth. Repeat. Hard working families have little time for meal prep and reach for tummy-filling foods that are sure to please. Kids get to school, receive their free lunch, and pick at what resembles what they think they like. Obesity rates and diabetes sky-rocket. At school we have a captive population, and they’re much more likely to eat healthy if they are involved in the process.
5. And yes, kids learn that peas aren’t made in a can, cucumbers can be more than just pickles, and produce doesn’t start its lifecycle on the shelves of Super Walmart.

My kids’ school has at least an acre or two of unused land. On rare occasion it provides extra parking space for school events, and once a year it’s used as the location for ‘field day.’ Think of how much daily use – and education value – would come from converting 1.5 acres into a food-producing garden. And being in Florida, the garden would be viable year round.

This a great time to do a quick home makeover for fall. Mine is pretty simple.

1. Replace the summer flowers in the door bucket with fall colors.
2. A new table cloth on the dining room table – mine is a rust color, and I use a few gourds, candles, and pinecones for a centerpiece.
3. Different throw pillows on the couches and guest bed. My couches are neutral colors, so I use different colored throw pillows around the year to change the look now and then.
4. This is a great time to clean (or change) your welcome mat. A dirty welcome mat tracks in more dirt, making your family and guests susceptible to allergies.
5. Dust the ceiling fans and mini-blinds every time you change your air filter.

Keep up with those pesky contributors to allergens and you’ll have a healthier family this fall and winter!

The best way to keep your kids (and yourself) healthy this fall is with frequent hand-washing – remember to scrub for a good 20 seconds, long enough to sing the alphabet.

But don’t underestimate the power of wiping down frequently touched surfaces in your home. Get a nice cleaning cloth (my favorite is an old torn up t-shirt), douse it in some apple cider vinegar (and if you don’t like the smell of it, add a few drops of lavender or thyme essential oil), and wipe down door knobs, telephones (don’t forget cell phones), refrigerator and freezer handles, faucet controls, and light switches.

Keep your family healthy this fall with a quick wipe-down and hand-washing several times a day!

Honey has been used globally in home remedies for ages. Where I am in Eastern Europe, they slather it on your back when you get sick, cover it with raw cabbage leaves and let you sleep on it overnight. Sticky. Seriously sticky. In India they use it to heal burns.

I use it with my kids, mixed with lemon juice, for cough and sore throat. Eastern cultures use it to enhance fertility. It’s said to cure fatigue and insomnia, help you sleep or give you energy. It can cure any type of digestive problem, heal the skin, eradicate acne, prevent aging.

It would seem to me that if we all took a few teaspoons a day, bathed in it, and slathered it over ourselves we’d cure most of the illnesses in the world. And then Obama wouldn’t have to deal with the health care system, right?

Seriously though, Manuka honey is the superbug-killing sort and it’s gradually becoming more widely available. If you happen to see some, give it a try. I’d love to know how you use it and hear your stories of health. I like the fact that it’s an all-natural antibacterial.

If however you accidentally put raw meat of unknown quality in your mouth, you may avoid food poisoning by gurgling straight vinegar and chasing it with a shot or two of vodka. This is a rather unpleasant process, and the best medicine is prevention. Raw meat should not be consumed…  (in case you were wondering…)

I won’t mention that I fed my kids peanut butter crackers for a snack today… Apparently we could all be headed toward salmonella poisoning because I was a nay-sayer… No, surely this isn’t for real. It must be a hoax… Here, kids, have some salmonella.

I guess tomorrow’s snack will have to be a little less peanut-buttery. Or, I could be industrious and slather real (untainted) peanut butter onto actual crackers. Now there’s a novel idea.

As for actual information about the recall, the FDA is keeping the public up-to-date on their website.  At this point we know that the effected peanut butter was not sold to retail stores in jars, so that’s safe. But it was sold to institutions for consumption and for use in the manufacturing of other products, including crackers, cookies, ice cream, cereals, etc. Efforts to identify effected products are ongoing and the FDA currently urges the public to avoid peanut butter containing products. So there you have it. I’ll have to put the Moose Tracks back in the freezer and leave the Peanut Butter Puffs on the shelf, at least until further notice.

1. Launder your sheets well. That means once a week in hot water – to get rid of dust mites and any allergens that may have collected. But just as important, be sure you’re using an all-natural detergent with no artificial fragrances. Those fragrances and chemicals are known to cause headaches, respiratory irritation, and more. You spend probably 6-8 hours a day in bed – make sure you aren’t exposing yourself to added chemicals and irritants.
2.  Shower before bed instead of in the morning. Your clothes, hair, and skin collect allergens during the day and those can disturb your sleep.
3. Adjust your air quality. In cold temps the air is usually dry. Set up a humidifier to counter the dryness. Another idea is to put a pretty bowl full of water and a few drops of essential oils in front of your fireplace. It’ll humidify your air and make your home smell nice too. Pick a good scent and you’ll benefit from aromatherapy.
4. Ensure a healthy diet. An imbalance in proteins and other minerals and vitamins may keep your body from producing melatonin, which is what helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. If you’re unsure that you’re getting a healthy diet take a multivitamin. But remember, all multivitamins are not created equally. Aim for a reputable company that regularly tests the potency and purity of its ingredients. We recommend Shaklee, but your local health food store can probably recommend others.
5. Keep the room dark. Extra lights – your alarm clock, street lights, the little light on your laptop or PDA, the little light on the smoke detector… they all add up to bring extra light into your room. And studies show that our bodies need good sleep in a dark room to produce melatonin and keep you healthy. So turn off the lights, turn your alarm clock away from the bed, and if you can’t control other lights in the room, get an eye mask. Your body needs dark at night.
6. De-stress. There are simple things you can do like a warm bath and cup of hot tea before bed to help you release the stress of the day, and you’ll have to figure out what works best for you. But as far as I see it, the best way to de-stress is to look at life in perspective. Sure, the economy is tanking. Sure, I may have rethink my lifestyle. But that has no significance to my value system and the things I consider most important. Consider what your strongest values are, and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Sleep better and you’ll benefit from more energy, a stronger immune system, better stress-fighting, and all sorts of stuff!

All right moms and dads. The news that melamine has been found in US baby formulas was indeed disturbing. But how worried should you really be? When you compare it with September’s news about infants in China getting sick and some dying from melamine-tainted formula, it seems grim. But the fact is, the problem here in the US is of a different sort.

The trace amounts of melamine in one out of 77 samples tested (in Enfamil Lipil with Iron, in fact) is thought to be a byproduct of the production process, since melamine is in use in can linings. On the other hand, infant formulas in China had melamine added to them in to mimic high protein additives. They removed proteins from the formulas and replaced them with artificial chemicals. Melamine can combine with other agents in the urine causing kidney and bladder problems, but the trace amounts in the US formula sample should have no adverse health effect.

Read the headlines only and you might get a different idea – I’ve seen everything from “Fatal chemical in infant formla” and “Chinese baby-killing chemical found in US formula” to “Where’s the recall?” The thing is, American companies are super-sensitive to lawsuits. If there was enough melamine to even cause concern, you can be sure American companies would err on the side of caution, isolate the problem, and issue a recall. On the other hand, the situation seems so insignificant (trace amounts in a minimal percentage of formulas tested) that we can feel safe that our formula is far from the rat poison news headlines would have you believe, and since the news about Chinese formulas in September, our formula is going through rigorous testing.

Over 90% of formula comes from 3 manufacturers, and all 3 of them found trace amounts of either melamine or cyanuric acid (a chemical related to melamine). If you’re breastfeeding your infant this would be one more reason to continue – in addition to things like lower risk of childhood obesity, diabetes, lower risk of maternal breast cancer, and on and on and on. But if your child takes formula, rest assured that the FDA and formula manufacturers themselves are testing their products well to ensure they’re safe for our babies. Make your decision based on good old fashioned reason, not on scary headlines meant to sell papers.