About Natural Birth

Should you be concerned about Routine Newborn baby procedures at the hospital? xWhy are vitamin k shots deemed necessary? Do physicians know better then nature? How much of a role does the mothers diet play in health of the baby? What about cesarean delivery? What can be natural about that?

Some resources

http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/
http://www.orgasmicbirth.com/

sun bean soup

I made this for my toddler last night and he liked it :) So I thought I'd share with you.

Sun - bean soup

1 cup Sprouted Black Eye beans
1 cup Sun-dried tomatoes
2 Carrots sliced
2 cups water
2 tbsp seeds (flax seeds)
1/2 cup nuts (cashews)
1 cup greens (any kind I used organic fresh lettuce and herbs mix)
1 zucchini cut into cubes
1 cup frozen peas
1/cup carrot juice (optional)

Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil, then transfer to blender and pulse blend with nuts and seeds (he doesn't like smooth soup but I imagine this can be blended till smooth). Add carrot juice if desired for more liquid. When reached desired consistency, add zucchini, frozen peas. This way it cools down enough to eat soon after making it.

Dirty Produce, which ones to worry about?

If you buy your produce, you should be aware they do contain trace amounts of pesticides and should be washed properly.

Washing and rinsing with water alone does not remove them. Some say that using vinegar/water in a spray or a little bit of dish soap will remove more pesticides. You can also purchase a veggie wash from the store but the best option is to eat a varied diet,wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

The FoodGuide lists 43 different produce on a scale of 0 -100 and here is the dirty dozen

RANK	FRUIT OR VEGGIE	SCORE
1 (worst)	Peaches	100 (highest pesticide load)
2	Apples	96
3	Sweet Bell Peppers	86
4	Celery	85
5	Nectarines	84
6	Strawberries	83
7	Cherries	75
8	Lettuce	69
9	Grapes - Imported	68
10	Pears	65
11	Spinach	60
12	Potatoes	58

Why should I be concerned?

There is one thing that I know for sure pesticides are toxic to humans and animals. Sure there is a debate about it, but if you think about it any man-made chemical is toxic for our bodies. Here is what the Environmental Working Group (EWG) says about it

Pesticides are toxic by design. They kill bugs, weeds, fungi, rodents and other "pests." That's why the government regulates them--though not stringently enough. The risks you encounter when you eat them depend on a number of factors including the toxicity of the pesticide, degree and form of exposure, your age, genetic susceptibility, and exposure to other toxics, including other pesticides. We believe that:

1. You have a right to know what's in your food.

2. The risks from many of these contaminants remain unacceptably high, especially for infants and children

3. The government can and should take steps to dramatically reduce the number and amount of toxic chemicals, including pesticides, from the food supply.

So visit FoodGuide and print out the PDF pocket Guide in English or Spanish for the next time you are debating if getting that organic apple or celery is worth the cost.

EWG analyzed over 42,000 of the latest government tests for pesticide residues on commonly-eaten fruits and vegetables. Then they ranked the results based on six measures of pesticide loads, even after washing and peeling.

French Documentary reveals unsettling questions

I recommend you watch A French Documentary "The World According to Monsanto - A documentary that Americans won't ever see."

Also see another film here in part and click on the parts 2 and 3 to see the rest


These are very good films, that is well researched and covers such topics as GMO, BGH, PCB's, Herbicides, GM, crop contamination, deceit, and more.

I just watched it and I am utterly shocked, surprised, and saddened about the direction the world is headed in adapting the Genetically Modified Plants - GMO, and their impact thus far.

1. There are safety concerns with GMO plants
2. This was allowed to enter our food supply by applying political pressure and lobbying.

It's like a scary movie about a genetic experiment gone horribly wrong. Imagine this - a GMO species of a corn plant, contaminates the real plant species and in doing so becomes dependent on the chemicals manufactured by Monsanto for defense.

Monsanto, a large multinational company, who's objective is first-most bigger profits, and with a history of deceit and shady business practices, I get an uneasy feeling that they have my best interests in mind after seeing this film. Actually
the company is doing something lucrative. They are buying up the worlds seed supplies and in doing so trying to gain control the worlds food supply. They want to have every single farmer in the world pay them for the GMO patented seeds.

According to the film, Monsanto controls all seed supplies in India for cotton crops which contains BT type (GMO), and sells it at a premium to them. However, their claims about the advantages of the crops are false and the farmers are suffering.

"The GMO grown potatoes trigger an immune system response in rats" The scientist who did this study was fired immediately because this would harm the "progress" in biotechnology industry. Actually many people who try to warn about any negatives with GMO almost surely get persecuted.

Monsanto has repeatedly falsified studies about the safety of their products. They misled us by doing badly formed studies to come to a positive result. They also create confusion by trying to discredit valid studies.

What is more scary is GMO products are not specifically labeled in the USA so you can be eating one right now. I am not sure about the rest of the world.

"The FDA has told untruth to the American Public and the world since 1992" Its a sad day because I trust our government even less, and even begin to doubt the organic label at this point as well

So if there is a program in place such as organic, which allows me, a consumer to purchase foods at a premium, thinking that it is somehow better for my family and the environment, can I really trust this label? There is so much money involved, how safe does it make me really feel after learning that our government and the agencies simply let a companies product enter our food supply untested for any ill health effects and studies about the effect on the natural order? How safe does it make me feel about purchasing organic corn knowing that even in Mexico's heart of corn producers they found that their 'organic' corn has actually crossed with the GMO variety? What's being done about this? What sort of certifications do farms go through to ensure the standards are followed? Does anyone do a DNA test on Organic crops to ensure compliance?

So what are sore other concerns with this?
* Eating food that is not natural (Genetically Modified) is not safe and such foods should not be sold in the stores for consumption.
* What is being done to preserve the seeds of the natural plants and ensure that the GMO plants do not contaminate them?
* What is being done to ensure that our Government is looking out for our best interests? Election is coming in 2008, I hope the candidates address this issue as an important one.

Iron and health

Why Iron is important

Iron is needed by the body to perform a variety of functions. It's most important role is to carry oxygen to all the cells in the body. Iron's ability to take in oxygen makes it a critical part of hemoglobin, the pigment responsible for taking oxygen to all the parts of the body.

Iron containing enzymes also helps in converting beta-carotene into the active form of vitamin A needed to maintain healthy eyes.

Deficiency this vital nutrient brings down immunity levels and also reduces the physical and mental capacities of people.

How to enhance Iron absorption

Iron from plant sources is best absorbed by the body when it is taken with vitamin C rich foods

The vegetables high in vitamin C include red and green bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, mustard greens and kale. Citrus fruits and berries, papaya, cantaloupe and grapefruit are also good sources of Vitamin C. It is important for vegans to include a source of vitamin C with every meal.

Soaking and sprouting of beans, grains and seeds to enhance absorption of iron from these sources. "Food preparation techniques such as soaking and sprouting can hydrolyze phytate and may improve iron absorption. Leavening bread also helps hydrolyze phytate. Other fermentation processes, like miso and tempeh, make iron more available."

How to inhibit Iron Absorption

Tannin, found in tea and cola drinks, is a major inhibitor. Research has firmly established the large role played by tannins in preventing the assimilation of iron- the tannic acid in tea reduces iron absorption by as much as 50%. Although lemon added to tea might help in reducing the inhibiting properties of tannic acid, it is best to avoid tea and cola drinks when taking iron rich foods.

drinking tea or coffee between meals rather than with a meal. Polyphenols, found in coffee, also interfere in the absorption of iron, even though its effect is not as great as tea.

Calcium is another substance that inhibits the absorption of iron. Schupp explains why. "Calcium and iron compete for absorption; therefore, do not eat calcium rich foods with iron rich foods. Vegans should take their multivitamin at a separate time of the day than their calcium supplement."

Another classic method to increase iron from non-heme sources is to cook food in iron pots and skillets. Additional iron is leeched to the food from iron cookware. Schupp states that cooking acidic foods in cast iron pots can increase iron content up to 30 times.

The recommended daily allowance for iron is:

• 0-6 months: Breast milk provides adequate iron, 0.27 mg/day
• 7-12 months: 11 mg/day
• Children, 1-3 Years: 7 mg
• Children, 4-8 Years: 10 mg
• Boys, 9-13 Years: 8 mg
• Boys, 14-18 Years: 11 mg
• Girls, 9-13 Years: 8 mg
• Girls, 14-18 Years: 15 mg
• Men, all ages: 8 mg
• Women, 18-50 years: 18 mg
• Women, 50 years: 8 mg
• Pregnant women, all ages: 27 mg
• Lactating women, 14-18 years: 25mg
• Lactating women, 19 years and older: 28 mg

An example of an iron rich meal could be tempeh and vegetable stir fry with cashews, pineapple (for vitamin C), broccoli, bok choy or other iron rich veggies. Even a breakfast of cereal with soy milk, with strawberries or raspberries and a glass of orange juice would be an iron rich meal."

Fruits rich in iron include dried apricots, avocadoes, currants, raisins, dates, figs and prunes. One cup of dates has as much as 5.3 milligrams of iron- about 29% of the RDA for women

• Prune juice, 8 oz: 3 mg
• Prunes dried, 2 oz: 0.8 mg
• Apricots fresh, 1 serving: 0.6 mg
• Apricots dried, 5 halves: 0.8 mg
• Currants, red, fresh, 1 serving: 1.12 mg
• Raisins, seedless, ? cup: 2.1 mg

Vegetables that are good sources of iron are potatoes with their skin, bok choy, spinach, kale, watercress, broccoli, savoy cabbage, peas, turnip greens, mung bean sprouts, and tomato juice. Baked beans, adzuki beans, black beans, chick peas (garbanzo beans), kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans and pinto beans also provide iron to the body. Soya in its many forms, whole grains like whole grain bread or brown rice, black treacle, fortified breads, cereals and grains are other sources of non-heme iron. Even though whole grains and legumes are poor sources of iron, taking them with vitamin C rich foods will help in increased assimilation of iron from these sources. The iron content in some of these foods is given below:

• Spinach, boiled, ½ cup: 3.2 mg
• Kidney beans, red, ½ cup: 2.6 mg
• Navy beans, ½ cup: 2.1 mg
• Lentils, ½ cup: 2.1 mg
• Collards, ¾ cup: 0.6 mg
• Broccoli, boiled, ½ cup: 0.66 mg
• 1 large potato baked (with skin): 2.7 mg

Pasted from <http://www.vegfamily.com/health/boost-iron-intake.htm>

There are many other foods that contain iron, but these are the higher level iron foods that will address the problem before it begins.

Iron Rich Vegan Foods	Amount	Iron (mg)
Amaranth (grain) tinyurl.com/3bl9jc	1 cup	14.8
Soybeans, cooked	1 cup	8.8
Blackstrap Molasses (sweetener made from organic sugar cane) http://tinyurl.com/ywmqk6	2 Tbsp	7.2
Lentils, cooked	1 cup	6.6
Spinach, cooked	1 cup	6.4
Quinoa, cooked	1 cup	6.3
Tofu, cold or cooked	4 ounces	6
Tempeh, cooked	1 cup	4.8
Lima Beans, cooked	1 cup	4.4
Swiss Chard, cooked	1 cup	4
Black Beans, cooked	1 cup	3.6
Pinto Beans, cooked	1 cup	3.5
Turnip Greens, cooked	1 cup	3.2
Garbanzo Beans, cooked	1 cup	3.2
Potato, cooked	1 large	3.2
Kidney Beans, cooked	1 cup	3
Prune Juice	8 ounces	3
Dried Figs uncooked	1 cup	3
Beet Greens, cooked	1 cup	2.7
Tahini	2 Tbsp	2.7
Vegan Hot Dog, frozen, commercial	1 hot dog	2.7
Peas, cooked	1 cup	2.5
Black-eyed peas, cooked	1 cup	2.3
Cashews	1/4 cup	2.1
Brussels Sprouts, cooked	1 cup	1.9
Bok Choy, cooked	1 cup	1.8
Bulgur, cooked	1 cup	1.7
Raisins	1/2 cup	1.6
Almonds	1/4 cup	1.5
Apricots, dried	15 halves	1.4
Vegan Burger, frozen, commercial	1 patty	1.4
Watermelon	1/8 medium	1.4
Soy Yogurt	6 ounces	1.1
Tomato Juice	8 ounces	1
Green Beans, cooked	1 cup	1.2
Kale, cooked	1 cup	1.2
Sunflower Seeds	1/4 cup	1.2
Broccoli, cooked	1 cup	1.1
Millet, cooked	1 cup	1.1
Sesame Seeds	2 Tbsp	1

Pasted from <http://www.chezbettay.com/pages/health1/h_ironfoods1.html>