Not getting in the way of what the Holy Spirit is doing in YOU, the reader…

Romans 14:13-16 (The Message)
“Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I'm convinced--Jesus convinced me!-that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

"If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don't eat, you're no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don't you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!”

I realize that my thoughts and research are being directed by the Holy Spirit, and that I need to refrain from becoming the “food Nazi”. Don’t let what the Holy Spirit is speaking to me be a stumbling block to you. And please don’t interpret my actions as those of an immature Christian, lacking faith. God is leading me down a path designed specifically for me and my family.

So if you are reading this, you are either a close friend or someone generally interested in nutrition. Please know that I want to use wisdom to lead a life that is pleasing to God. I ask your forgiveness if something I write has offended you. Consider this my testimony. If it pricks your spirit, then ask the Holy Spirit to teach you his way that you may walk in His TRUTH; pray that he will give you an undivided heart that you may fear his name (prayer based on Psalm 86:11).

For me, to ignore this information would be akin to snake handling. There are denominations of Christians who demonstrate their faith by regularly worshiping God while holding poisonous snakes. In our affluent society at large, we are blessed to have an abundance of rich foods. On a bite by bite basis, these foods are not inherently poisonous, but taken in the quantities and frequency that we consume them, there is research to demonstrate that we ARE poisoning our bodies. The China Study is one such study.

Anyone interested in scientific support of a low animal protein diet should read this book. Researchers from Cornell University, Oxford University and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine found that those who ate a diet low in animal proteins did not develop the typical diseases that we, Americans, chronically face: heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The evidence is rather convincing and so our family is investigating a more vegetarian lifestyle. So as to not offend (see above), I’ll stop my diatribe there.

I have no idea how to feed a family without centering a meal on animal protein, so this is quite a stretch for me. When it comes time to make dinner, I think, “I’ve got chicken or beef or fish on hand, therefore I can make…” One confirmation to me that this is the work of the Holy Spirit is my scientist-husband’s willingness to experiment along with me.

Deodorant Linked to Breast Cancer?

I’ve heard a lot about aluminum in antiperspirants causing Alzheimer’s but didn’t know about paraben in deodorant until now. I started using a natural deodorant found at health food store, “Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal” and developed a weird rash – which prompted me to do more research. What I found was alarming! There may also be a link between deodorant and breast cancer! I don’t want to stink, but I don’t want breast cancer either!

Here’s what I found:

Paraben, a chemical preservative used in many deodorants and cosmetics, has been found in 100% of breast tumors in a study at Reading University 1. This may be significant as paraben can mimic estrogen, and estrogen can drive the growth of human breast tumors 2. The research is not completed, they have only found paraben in the tumors, but that are not yet able to determine if the paraben in any way cause the tumor, which is important to know.

In a separate study conducted at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Clinical Breast Care Project (CBCP for short), officials have discovered that tumors are more common in certain areas of women’s breasts, the upper outer quadrant of the breast, where we commonly apply deodorant or antiperspirant 3. Yikes!

After the UK study was published, the two groups of researchers decided to collaborate and pursue a possible connection between paraben and breast cancer.

No direct recommendations have been made. I would recommend that you discontinue the use of deodorant containing Paraben and Aluminum. At my conventional grocery store (not health food store), I found several brands, but only purchased two:
JASON Pure, Natural & Organic Deodorant Stick for Women (they also have one for men)
Adidas 24hr Control Absorbent-Deo Wetness Control for Women

Raise your hand if your Sure – sure that you don’t want to take unnecessary risks with your health!

Trans Fats Are Bad For Your Heart

My next tirade should be about the other BIG evil in my eyes in the area of nutrition, and that is partially hydrogenated oils. Food containing PHO will stay fresh longer. Cookies can stay in an unopened package for months without decaying – that’s NOT NATURAL!

Definition
Partially Hydrogenated Oil – Known as “trans fats”, these solid fats are produced artificially by heating liquid vegetable oils in the presence of metal catalysts and hydrogen. It is often used as a replacement for saturated fats, thus allowing the manufacturer to label the food as a low fat food with a longer shelf life.

Hydrogenator used to partially hydrogenate vegetable oils to
create trans fats.

What are the health concerns with trans fats? They have been shown to increase the risk of coronary heart disease. This may be due to the fact that they increase LDL (bad cholesterol) and decrease HDL (good cholesterol). The combined effect is double that of saturated fats. (See the Harvard study link below for sources).

Because of the research revealing the adverse effect on heart health, the FDA made changes to the label requirements for manufacturers, requiring them to disclose the amount of trans fats per serving. The new labels are designed to inform the consumer about trans fat content, however, the FDA regulations are misleading. If a product has less than 0.5 grams per serving, the label is permitted to claim 0 grams trans fats!! So you really have to read the labels! If it includes “partially hydrogenated” in the list of ingredients, it contains trans fats!

Here is a FANTASTIC website if you’re interested in learning more about trans fats:
http://www.bantransfats.com/

The Harvard Study on trans fats. "By our most conservative estimate, replacement of partially hydrogenated fat in the U.S. diet with natural unhydrogenated vegetable oils would prevent approximately 30,000 premature coronary deaths per year, and epidemiologic evidence suggests this number is closer to 100,000 premature deaths annually." http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/reviews/transfats.html

Healthy Eating 101 (according to me)

My goals are pretty simple. Fiber, water, whole foods, lean protein, low sugar.

Fiber - I read recently that fiber not only helps eliminate toxins, it also helps eliminate discarded estrogen by preventing it from being reabsorbed by lingering in the system too long. This is a huge bonus for me, as I’ve had trouble with my cycles all my life. Oprah had a guest recently, Dr. Mehmet Oz, who had some honest and gross things to say about our bowel movements: frequency, consistency, shape… it was really descriptive. If Oprah is bringing it up, perhaps it’s time to think more about fiber. (Dr. Oz co-wrote a book called You: the Owner’s Manual. It’s an entertaining read.)

Water – I try to drink a gallon of water a day. It’s really not that hard. Other than one cup of coffee or tea in the morning, I drink nothing but water all day long. And if I’m craving a snack when I know I’m not really hungry, I guzzle a huge glass of water and wait to see if I’m still hungry. If I am, I eat something, but most of the time, I was really just thirsty. (Another trick I use to keep from snacking is brushing my teeth. I love to have clean teeth and sometimes I’m snacking just to replace the yucky mouth feeling I’m having from eating a meal earlier.)

Whole Foods – Whole foods are just that: foods that are whole, unprocessed, natural. So instead of canned peaches in light syrup, I try to buy fresh peaches. I put them in a paper sack when I get home to aid the ripening process and wait. And once they’re ready they are so much better than canned peaches, even if they’re not as convenient. I like organic, but it’s not necessary, especially if you can peel it or scrub (with soap) the outer skin. Also, I keep the skin on as often as possible to maximize the nutritional value of the food (more fiber).

Lean Protein – We eat mostly chicken. Boneless, skinless, marinated in Italian dressing and grilled is my favorite way to eat chicken. I’ve started incorporating more fish, but I’m not completely up on the mercury danger, so right now I only eat coldwater Cod, which my mom tells me is safe.

Low Sugar – This is really important for me. When I was in college, I was finally diagnosed with Hypoglycemia, a condition that makes me extra sensitive to sugar. In short, after a sugar binge I’m the life of the party for a short time and then you’ll find me in the fetal position, crying my eyes out for no apparent reason. I haven’t had a bad emotional spell in sometime because I now know how to eat sugar. I will never be able to have pancakes for breakfast, but since I love them so much, occasionally I make them for dinner and couple them with eggs. If I have a full serving of protein, I can usually get by with sugar that is off limits for me otherwise.

Food and Faith...

I’m not a nutritionist, I just play one on the TV of my mind. (I have quite the imagination. You would know this about me if I’ve ever described one of my dreams to you.)

That being said, I do have a relatively healthy relationship to food. For me, food and faith are related. Sometimes when I sit down to an awesome salad of fresh spinach, fruit, raisins, almonds, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette, I say a prayer of thanks that borders on awe for the treasure I have before me. I worship a God who created such beautiful and delicious things for us to consume to fuel our bodies!

I wouldn’t be able to eat healthy if I didn’t have this act of worship aspect to my eating. It makes it holy, and I try to honor the gift of the food, as well as the gift of my choice in what food eat.

French Fries and Acrylamide

Why we love California: In September, 2005, the Attorney General of California proposed a warning label for all French Fries and Potato Chips: "This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer."

French fries and potato chips. We love them, but we hate what our bodies do with them. Most of us know to avoid them because they’re packed with fat and devoid of substantial nutritional value, and yet Americans order French fries at restaurants more than any other food! Maybe if we were told that those greasy indulgences cause cancer – that would get us to stop eating them! Well, as it turns out, that may not be far from the truth…

In 2002, a Swedish team of scientists accidentally discovered that presence of acrylamide in commonly eaten baked and fried foods. This is concerning because acrylamide is listed as a known carcinogen to humans by IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer).

What we know simply is this: acrylamide is formed when starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures, greater than 250 degrees. (Boiled rice is safe. Rice requires a very low temperature to cook and it’s the high temps that create acrylamide. Just don’t re-heat leftover rice in the microwave!)

The WHO (World Health Organization) along with the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) has established an international network to foster communications of the investigation of acrylamide in food. (Hum… I don’t think that means they’re good for you.) They have even set up a website for researches and data providers. So far, they have published no recommendations to the public, but I have one for you: Limit your consumption of Known carcinogens!

I’m not trying to scare you.
I still eat French fries now and again.
Knowledge is power.
Do with it what you will.

Helpful links:

Dr. Greene on Acrylamide
American Chemical Society National Convention Notes on Acrylamide
WHO Website to Facilitate Study of Acrylmide Safety in Food
Acrylamide Infonet

The study that started my fear of French fries:
New Tests Confirm Acrylamide in American Foods

High Fructose Corn Syrup

I've decided that if I'm going to blog, it should be about the wacky things I think about all the time, like nutrition and God.

I come by my obsession with healthy eating quite honestly. I was raised to eat pretty healthy and my mom shares a interest in good nutrition. I've taken it to the extreme, and have become a conspiracy theorist when it comes to the FDA and the food industry. Americans are obese. I blame our fast food culture for most of it and good manners for another part. Good manners? How can they be at fault? I don't think we are too polite to refuse another piece of chocolate cake at the birthday party. (Everyone should have at least two pieces of cake at a party. )

What I mean is that people are too polite to stop someone from hurting themselves. This is especially true when it comes to our physicians. They are nice people. They want to be loved just like the rest of us. And very few of them have the brazen disregard for social graces necessary to tell Gertrude or Howard that they need to put down the container of Cool Whip and quit asking for a prescription for Prozac and start looking critically at what they are eating!

Our food plays a huge role in how we feel. If we only eat birthday cake, we're going to start feeling really crumby, tired, sluggish, depressed even. Why don't people want to eat healthy food? The answers is "THEY DO!" but unfortunately, they think they are eating healthy foods becuase of the good marketing done by the food industry and the leanancy of the FDA. And so this is why I'm always on a soap box telling my friends about my latest healthy choice.

And this leads me to High Fructose Corn Syrup. It's an additive in so many foods - many that are marketed as "healthy" and that could easily be made without it. It's a sweetner that is anything but natural. One of its side effects is that it stimulates the appetite rather than reduces it. When we eat, we (should) do so because we are empty and our body is requiring more fuel, just like a car. When we're full, we have a gauge that tells us to stop. "I'm stuffed."

Imagine if something in the gasoline you were filling your car with messed up the fuel gauge and you constantly overfilled. Now, for the analogy to really work, the fuel tank in your car has to expand to allow for the overfilling or else the excess gasoline will just spill out the opening of the gas tank. (Now there's a gross image for you - imagine if our stomachs didn't expand and excess food just stacked up in our throats - we'd probably not overeat, right?) So that's what High Fructose Corn Syrup does to our bodies. It prevents the body from releasing the hormone leptin which tells our brains that we're full.

Also, High Fructose Corn Syrup is NOT low calorie, so we're eating too much, plus we're taking in high amounts of calories. You see the problem here. Why has the FDA allowed HFCS in our foods? Stay tuned...

My friends, read the labels of the pre-packaged food you buy and feed to your families. It is possible to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup and still enjoy good food.
For more information on the dangers of HFCS see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_syrup

The first blog...

A blog, probably not a good idea for me. I share my thoughts more often than I should as it is, but now I'm not controlling who may hear them. We'll see how long I keep this up.

Bubba is waking from a 3 hour nap, so this is going to be a short entry. We went to the science museum with daddy this morning. We got a late start, so little man was pretty wiped out and so was I. I'm thinking I might be coming down with something... should start my Zicam if I can find it. Funny thing about it is I was feeling fine just two days ago when I cleaned the bathroom using "Scrubbing Bubbles". I should have sprayed and left so I wouldn't inhale so much, but I did try breathing through a paper towel soaked in water. Anyway, I should put on my "Super Sleuther" hat and find out just what I inhaled and why I'm feeling so yucky.

Time to go. Bubba is asking for water:"Water, water, water..."

Silas' First Birthday!!

Here are the long promised and overdue pictures of Silas’ birthday party. I know I’m late in getting these out, but just after the party, Silas got sick with a stomach virus. Being the worry-wort that I am, I of course thought that he was vomiting either because of the cow’s milk he had for the first time or the sugar from his birthday cake, but it turned out to just be a virus. At least it wasn’t my fault.

The really bad thing about it all was that he was sick his whole birthday and the week after. We just cuddled on the couch for days - watching “Baby Songs” was the only thing that would calm him. (For you parents out there, if you don’t have Hap Palmer’s “Baby Songs” you must get it! It’s much better than Baby Einstein videos for active toddlers.)

The latest on Silas is that he’s WALKING!!!!! He took his first steps half-way through March and by the time his birthday party rolled around he was chasing after the “big” kids! It was so cute to see him try to keep up! Of course he still falls a lot (and he’s got the bruises to prove it), but now his favorite activity is walking, carrying something while walking, and chasing mommy while walking... you get the idea. It’s like he’s figured out how to move and he’s making up for lost time. Remember, this is the kid who didn’t roll over until he was 6 months old and didn’t care to crawl until he was 9 months! I thought for sure he’d be a late walker! Shows how much I know!

I’m going to try to send out a short video of Silas walking at Gramma and Grampa’s house in Wilmore. He takes a good crash when the dog comes up to him but he makes a nice recovery. The file shouldn’t be too large, but still, I’m sure there are some of you who won’t be able to open it. Sorry about that! Let me know if you have trouble so I don’t send you videos in the future.

Hope you all are well! We love getting updates from you, so when you have the time, please write!
Love,
Ashleigh



Silas is King for a Day!




Silas is working away on that cake! Yum!