Sunshine, Natural Immunity & Real Food

This report  was published April 22, 2008 in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal.

We don’t know exactly what vitamin D does to support brain development and function, but a new report cites biological evidence suggesting its effects are crucial. The conclusion comes from scientists at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California, who also note that although vitamin D’s influence on behavior remains unclear, anyone running low on “D” should take supplements. Vitamin D plays a key role in bone strength by promoting the body’s absorption of calcium, but recent research has suggested it also is involved in differentiation of tissues during development and in proper immune system function. The report noted that more than 900 genes have the capacity to bind vitamin D receptors on cells throughout the body through which “D” exerts its effects. Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D helps protect against autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes, as well as with reduced rates of 18 types of cancer. 

Nalgene recently announced they are pulling their hard-plastic bottles from shelves nationwide in the next few months. The polycarbonate plastic bottles, made with bishephonol A (BPA), have been found to cause cancer and increase risks of other serious health problems.

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Here’s an interesting snippet for you from my latest “Babycenter” email (it tells me how many weeks pregnant I am - like I really need a reminder )

Medical intervention to induce labor is on the rise. Over 20 percent of U.S. births are induced - more than double the level in 1989.

So what is happening here - why are more women holding back (almost as if trying to avoid the birth)?

Perhaps the orthodox medical system perpetuates this fear in women by insisting that pregnancy is a “medical condition” rather than a natural, life-promoting process. Or the excessive focus on pharmaceutical pain relief - giving women the impression that the pain of the birth process is beyond their capabilities.

Rhea Dempsey, a highly sought after birth attendant and educator says that statistically, women in labour who are supported by an experienced birth attendant have shorter labours, use less pain-relief medication and have fewer forceps, vacuum or caesarean deliveries.

On the home page of her website, Rhea has the following passage:

Pregnancy and birth involve profound changes. Your body alters. Relationships develop in unexpected ways. Your attitude to the world around you undergoes a deep shift. Confusing and ambivalent feelings can surface, filling you with joyous expectations but also confronting you with fears about life and death, and your ability to face the challenges of birthing and mothering.

In many cultures and across time the challenging journey of pregnancy and birth was celebrated and honoured as a transformational process, a ‘rite of passage’. Women were supported in this journey and enabled to find the inner resources they would need to become powerful mothers. Often in our current ‘labour-bypass’ era, a woman’s need to consciously experience this transformational process is not fully recognised or adequately supported. Birthing Wisdom offers support to women who wish to honour this inner process.

By exploring the emotional and psychological aspects of the birthing journey as well as developing physical resources, Birthing Wisdom allows space to create a meaningful birth experience for you, and a safe and loving welcome for your baby.

So again, as with all health issues, it pays to be informed and to have support in your informed decisions.

And be brave enough to step outside the boundaries of current orthodox or mainstream thinking.

Helena

I’m definitely at the business end of my pregnancy now - 35 weeks this week - officially only 5 weeks to go.

Today we had the Birth Planning meeting with our midwives - something I don’t recall having with my first pregnancy with an obstetrician - but then everything is different with this pregnancy than it was with the first.

I’m not quite sure what to expect this time. The first time round I had all drugs available - pethidine injection, gas and an epidural (or spinal) because I was given the artificial oxytocin to bring on the contractions - I don’t recall being told that the contractions would come on so quickly (and so painfully) when given the drip.

My intention for this labour is no drip, no drugs at all - plenty of women have done it this way and have come out the other side stronger and more self assured, and, this allows for greater bonding between mother and baby (when there is no drug haze) - something I really want.

It’s a shame that it has become so commonplace now to have so many interventions during a natural process (labour and birth) that in the majority of circumstances are unnecessary.

At this stage, all I do feel is that this birth, the way I’m choosing to do it, will be a major turning point for the better in my life and will provide an amazing start for my baby.

Helena

Last week I went to see Don Tolman. I’d heard his name mentioned numerous times over the last few years & thought it was time for me to go along and listen. All I knew leading up to his talk was that he promoted healthy living and eating - something I’m interested in and already know a lot about, so I was looking forward to hearing a new perspective. (Which on a side note, is something we don’t do often enough - it’s too easy to say “I already know about that”, but unless you’re practicing it fully in your own life & getting the results you want, then effectively you don’t know it - you just know of it.)

So anyway, his message about food was the “Doctrine of Signatures” - no doubt you’ve heard of it before, but interesting to have another look at it to gain some further insight into the benefits of natural food to the human body.

Another article I came across recently on Natural News about Superfoods gives another point of view to the whole topic of the food you eat and what it does for your body.

The overwhelming message I’m getting - make whole natural foods, as unprocessed as possible (and organic if you can) the major portion of your eating - giving your body the building blocks it needs to make you as healthy as possible (of course only if that’s your goal).

Here is a list of the “Superfoods” that can do wonders for your body (and they taste pretty good too):

• Avocados
• Blueberries
• Beans
• Broccoli
• Dark chocolate
• Garlic
• Honey
• Kiwi Fruit

Helena