Healthy ways to prevent ...

What a crazy 10 days... 


Last Friday, sweet baby, came down with fever and a runny nose. We had a few rough nights because Baby just wanting to be held and loved on! I spent most of the nights rocking him and trying to make him comfortable. 


As you can imagine, I was beat. I was running on empty. Tuesday, my body gave up fighting and I have spent the week in bed and bathroom. I am still fighting but I am healing! 


With that being said I thought this was a perfect time to write a little about what my family and I do when a cold/flu hits the house. 


**The most important thing my family does is gets adjusted. Yes, we are blessed to have a chiropractor in our home but please know I have seen a chiropractor most of my life. Our boys have been getting adjusted since they were hours old. 


For those of you who do not know about Chiropractic --- The Power that made the body can heal the body. Chiropractors work on turning on the power. 


Watch the clip below.




**The second thing we do is put hydrogen peroxide in the ears. Dr. Mercola has a great article on this, go here! He says, " Many patients have had remarkable results in curing colds and flu within 12 to 14 hours when administering a few drops of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into each ear. You will hear some bubbling, which is completely normal, and possibly feel a slight stinging sensation.

Wait until the bubbling and stinging subside (usually 5 to 10 minutes), then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear. A bottle of hydrogen peroxide in 3 percent solution is available at any drug store for a couple of dollars or less. It is simply amazing how many people respond to this simple, inexpensive treatment."

**The third thing we do is we address our diet. We eliminate the sugary foods. Before starting Paleo we would have to eliminate sugary fruits and grains but know we just have to eliminate sugary fruit. Since, I like knowing what I can do, here are some good choices: 

Grass-fed beef

Coconut Oil

Omega 3 fats & co-factors

Locally grown vegetables and fruits (berries)

Herbs

Garlic - kills bacteria and viruses

Drink plenty of water. 

Chicken soup can help reduce your symptoms. Chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which can thin the mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it more easily. 

** Finally, sleep. Your immune system is also the most effective when you're not sleep-deprived, so the more rested you are the quicker you'll recover.  (that is just want I needed. Thank you to my mother-in-law for coming and letting me nap)

Supplements: 

Some of the more helpful options for cold (and flu) -- above and beyond vitamin D -- are:

• Vitamin C
• Oregano Oil
• A tea made from a combination of elderflower, yarrow, boneset, linden, peppermint and ginger; drink it hot and often for combating a cold or flu. It causes you to sweat, which is helpful for eradicating a virus from your system.
• Thieves Oil

Other GREAT POINT from Dr. Mercola. 

Avoid the Antibiotics!

More than 300 different viruses can cause colds, so each time you have a cold it is caused by a distinct virus (i.e. adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, coronavirus). A virus is much smaller than a bacteria; it is a tiny cluster of genetic material surrounded by a protein wrapper.

There are currently NO drugs available that can kill these viruses. Antibiotics, including penicillin, do not have any effect on viruses, but unfortunately have been vastly over-prescribed for this very (useless) purpose. That, coupled with the excessive use of antibiotics in agriculture, has contributed to a steep rise in antibiotic-resistant diseases.

Antibiotic-resistant infections now claim more lives each year than the "modern plague" of AIDS, and cost the American health care system some $20 billion a year!

Further, according to one meta-analysis, the health risk from over-use of antibiotics is also a very personal one, as opposed to simply raising the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in the general population over time.

Whenever you use an antibiotic, you're increasing your susceptibility to developing infections with resistance to that antibiotic -- and you can become the carrier of this resistant bug, and spread it to others.

So please, if you have a simple cold remember that an antibiotic will do far more harm than good.

What do you and your family do to stay healthy??? 

Hyland's Teething Tablets

Hyland's Teething Tablets have been recalled.... 


For more information on the recall, go here, Hyland's Teething Tablet Recall 




I used Hyland's with our oldest and was a fan but this time around I have been using Thieves Essential Oil. I dilute the Thieves in v-oil and rub it directly on the gums. Works great!!!! 

ALL about Cleaning

Enjoying Healthy foods is only part of living a healthy lifestyle. In order to life a complete healthy lifestyle we have made other simple changes in "our" household!

I have several favorites when it come to cleaning my home. I LOVE natural and gentle cleaners that are safe (safer) for my children. Before my boys, I would clean our home with Clorox Clean Up and other HARSH smelling cleaning products. You know, the kind you clean your house with and hours/days later you can still smell the product.

When I was pregnant with my first boy, my mom sent me a starter back from Melaleuca.

It had everything (well almost everything) I could possibly need for keeping a house clean. They have a great Multi-Purpose Cleaner called Touch - N - Tender. I am obsessed!!! I use this stuff everywhere. It is a gentle smelling product! I feel comfortable using it around my boys and in their bathroom.

I do understand that there is a need for "more powerful" cleaners. For those REALLY TOUGH jobs!!!! You know, water spot filled showers... hairspray spots on the counter tops... toilets... Etc. That is when I use Tile and Tube. This does have a little bit more of a HARSHER smell (still not as bad as Clorox Clean Up and such).

I am obsessed!!!! With the entire starter kit!

Yes - someday I will clean with more homemade recipes (Vinegar/Lemon/Baking Soda... More to come on those!)

Which leads me to THIEVES... LOVE LOVE LOVE this HEAVY duty... gentle... de-greaser... Multi-Purpose... ALL in one cleaner!

I love this product! You can use it EVERYWHERE!!!! I am pretty there is no job too small or too big for Thieves. You can add it to laundry. You can add it in your air ducts (to kill germs! or odors). You can add it to your carpet cleaner. You can degrease an oil spot... SO MUCH MORE!

But my newest found JOY is VINEGAR... LEMON... BAKING SODA... DR. BRONNER'S...

Make sure to keep all home-made formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of children.
All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.
Another alternative is microfiber cloths which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.
Air Freshener: Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell.
• Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.
• Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.
• Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
• Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter.
• Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.
• Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.
• Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.
Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.
For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and wait 15 - 30 minutes before vacuuming.
For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Chopping block cleaner: Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.

Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.

Deodorize:
• Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda
• In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit
• Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming
• Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours

Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.
Dishwashing Soap: Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs.
Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not require antibacterial cleaners.)
To disinfect kitchen sponges, put them in the dishwasher when running a load.