Stonyfield Farms Contest Winner

I am happy to announce that Denise M. of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, has been chosen as the winner of our Stonyfield Farms giveaway.   Denise will receive a YoBaby bowl with lid, an organic YoBaby bib, and a bundle of 5 Free YoBaby coupons (all pictured above).  Congrats Denise and thanks to everyone else who entered.  Visit the Stonyfield Farms website for more information on their wonderful products.

Defending Oprah

Sorry I haven’t been able to post as much lately. With the boys out of school for summer vacation, the majority of my day consists of keeping them relatively entertained. I did think the following comments by Women to Women co-founder Marcelle Pick, OBG-YN, NP, were interesting, so I thought I would post them. Dr. Pick is commenting on the recent Newsweek article that lambasted Oprah Winfrey for featuring advice about alternative and holistic medicines on her show:

"I am disappointed by the coverage in Newsweek because it only adds to the impasse between alternative and conventional medicine -- and leaves women not knowing whom to trust. This sensationalistic article takes a few sound bites, out of context, and turns them into an argument of fear-based messages that don't help women understand the choices they have when determining what is best for their own wellness."

"The thing that is most upsetting to me about the recent attempt to undermine Oprah's approach," says Pick, "is that it doesn't present a balanced perspective on alternative therapies and the role they play in our wellness. There is a substantial body of scientific literature supporting alternative approaches, which is why more and more Americans are choosing to include an alternative perspective when considering their health. Much of what is considered as alternative in our country is part of the conventional standard of care in Europe and Asia, where alternative therapies have been helping people for centuries."

While no one is claiming that all of these medicines or techniques is 100 percent effective, there is evidence that many can be helpful. One thing is certain: Many alternative medicines deserve further study, and dismissing them outright or sweeping them under the carpet helps no one.

Eco-Friendly Binoculars!

The Green Revolution is well under way, as evidenced by products like the Nikon Eco Binoculars. Environmentally friendly binoculars? Are you crazy, Healthy Mom? Absolutely not. The Nikon Ecobins Binoculars are made with lead-free, arsenic-free Eco-Glass, and boast a chlorine-free body free of harmful inks and dyes. Nikon “keeps the green” down to the very strap, which is made from Tencel, a wood fiber derived from sustainable Eucalyptus forests and manufactured with minimal waste. Nikon even uses green packaging and offers a green carrying case! Perfect for birdwatchers or hunters (if you’re turned that way), Nikon Ecobins Binoculars provide a unique way to show your environmentally friendly side.

Our Chemical World

I try not to be a doomsayer, but when these kind of reports crop up, I feel a duty to share the information. The Endocrine Society, a group of hormone experts, is calling for more detailed studies into the effects of bisphenol A (aka BPA), a chemical contained in plastic bottles, aluminum cans and smooth paper receipts – in other words, things that hundreds of millions of people handle on a daily basis. The group presented studies to show that BPA, classified as an endocrine disruptor, can affect women’s hearts and damage the DNA of mice. They are also quick to point out that we simply don’t know the extent of the damage it might be causing to people and animals.

"We present evidence that endocrine disruptors do have effects on male and female development, prostate cancer, thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Robert Carey of the University of Virginia, president of the Endocrine Society.

The problem is that BPA is pouring into the bodies of people and animals from an unprecedented number of sources. As levels continue to rise, we have no idea of what kinds of effects it will have on our health. I think it’s safe to say it won’t be beneficial, however. I would try to avoid plastic bottles and aluminum cans as much as possible. Get your own stainless steel water bottle so you don’t have to drink out of disposable plastic water bottles (this is good for you and great for the environment), and dump the sodas altogether.  

Delightful Hummingbird Feeders

For the past few years we’ve put a hummingbird feeder outside the large window behind our kitchen sink, and we’ve been delighted to be visited by these fascinating, beautiful creatures every spring and summer. The only problem is that our hummingbird feeder is neither beautiful nor fascinating -- in fact, it’s a real eyesore. That’s why I was excited to find Birdfeeders.com, a great online store with a large selection of attractive, functional glass hummingbird feeders. With their graceful and artistic designs, the feeders from Birdfeeders.com make a great addition to your yard even when they are not attracting hummingbirds. But when you have four or five colorful hummingbirds buzzing and hovering around them, it’s a wonderful scene indeed. Hummingbird feeders also make great gifts, so check out Birdfeeders.com today.

Set Point: Challenging the Genetics of Weight

I thought this was a very interesting article in Women to Women on the genetic “set point” that goes a long way in determining a person’s lifelong weight – and what you can do to change it. While genetics play a large role in determining our weight patterns, there are ways to “re-program” your set point and shed the extra pounds that are plaguing you.

The set point is the body-to-fat ratio that your body deems optimal for guaranteeing your survival. It’s generally a 10-15 pound range, and if you get close to the lower or outer limits of that range, your body will take steps to ensure you stay within it. The step point is a strong genetic component; it’s the reason many people plateau when they are trying to lose weight (or, in the case of skinny people, gain weight). The bad news is that you are fighting genetics. The good news is that you can take steps to change your genetic step point. Here are the six steps to changing your set point from Women to Women:

· Look for the core imbalances that may lie at the heart of your original weight gain. It’s important to identify these health issues and imbalances, because until they’re addressed, you will have a tough time resetting your metabolic dial.

· Examine your emotional inheritance, particularly if you’re an emotional eater. Very few women in our culture go through life without ever experiencing a powerful, and often unhealthy, relationship with food. Understanding the feelings that trigger unhealthy eating habits can take you a long way toward changing those habits.

· Look for enjoyable ways to fit exercise into your routine — even if it’s for only 20 minutes or so. During that 20 minutes, try “bursting” four to six times — ramping up the intensity for about a minute — to boost your metabolism without over-exercising. Your body is built to move, so begin gently if you need to, and work up from there.

· Optimize your nutrition. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing effort — simple changes to your diet can reduce your toxic load and increase your nutrient intake. Taking a quality multivitamin–mineral and essential fatty acids will help fill common gaps. Emphasizing specific nutrients appropriate for your metabolic type will provide additional benefits in the long-term.

· Prepare yourself for change. Many women struggle with their weight because the day-to-day priorities of work and caring for others interfere with the changes they want or need to make. Often women get discouraged when their initial efforts fail. Luckily, we can make a fresh start with each new day. Our article on making life changes can help you learn to prepare for changes to improve your health.

· Laugh! Studies have shown again and again that a positive attitude and good sense of humor help many health conditions — and many of the imbalances that lead to weight gain have a strong stress component.

Great Watches at Great Prices

I’m about one month away from the big Four-O. Yep, I’m turning 40 years old this August, a milestone I’m not necessarily looking forward to, but one that I don’t shirk away from, either. My husband is probably more worried about it than I am. He’s already stressing out about what he’s going to give me. Silly man. What could be better than a nice watch? And for nice watches at incredible prices, what could be better than Bluedial.com? From Casio watches to Gucci watches, from Citizen to Hamilton to Movado, Bluedial.com carries top quality timepieces at bargain basement prices. Take this elegant yet modern watch from Gucci:

It’s as much an art piece as a timepiece, and Bluedial.com offers it for more than $300 off retail pricing! Add to that free sizing and free 2-day shipping in the contiguous 48 states, and you simply can’t get a better watch deal anywhere. Bluedial.com guarantees their watches are 100 percent new, authentic and genuine. They never sell used, previously owned, replica or otherwise imitation watches. This is the real deal, and it should make my husband’s birthday shopping a lot less stressful. Watches are also great gifts for anniversaries, graduations, or just to tell someone you love them. Check out Bluedial.com for the best deals on the best watches.