Activated Charcoal, My new favorite.

I feel like every few months, I get a new favorite natural remedy that I just obsess over.  It started with ACV (apple cider vinegar), then moved to passion flower, then coconut oil and so on.... I'm sure many of you can relate. My new obsession is activated charcoal. 

Regardless of your religious or spiritual views, we absolutely cannot deny the amazing gifts that our earth presents to us. We have the capability of healing and preventing nearly every element with clean living, but unfortunately with the way our modern international culture sustains itself, finding clean living or attempting clean living is increasingly more difficult. But back to my initial point, activated charcoal is certainly one of our earths natural gifts.

What is it? 

Activated charcoal is charcoal made from burned coconut shells, olive pits, bone char, peet, coal or sawdust. One of these ingredients is heated to a specific high temperature activating an important pore structure within the charcoal.

How it works.

Basically the pores of the charcoal act as a filter within your own body. Much like a water filter. Additionally, charcoal not only filters, it pulls and attracts toxins into its filter. "On a molecular level, the spinning electrons make activated charcoal highly electrical, putting out a negative ionic charge. The negative charge attracts positively charged substances such as toxins and poisons like a magnet (source). "

Our household has used it to whiten teeth and treat diarrhea, heartburn or constipation in both adults and toddlers. We also use it to purify both adult and babes blood and organs from toxins such as heavy metals.  The adults just take it in pill form, easy, but baby gets a dose in his milk mixed with honey. He loves it!  For topical uses, like teeth whitening or facial mask, go for it, but for ingestion, activated charcoal peaks its use at four weeks. So we do one month on and one month off to get its full benefits. 

You can go youtube binge crazy learning more on this goodie. So enjoy!  

Choosing the Right School

By Contributing Writer: Kim Wilhite of Oregon

We all want what is best for our children and choosing the right schooling is one of those things that will keep a mom up at night. When it came time for my oldest son to start kindergarten, I didn't know what to do or what was best for him. I looked into every option possible to make sure we were putting him in a school that met his needs, as well as our family's needs.

We felt it was very important to choose a school that was safe, had a low workload (little to no homework), a clean campus and small class sizes. Something else that weighed heavy on us was time. We wanted to be involved in our son's education and his daily life and didn't feel public school met that need for us. Sending him to kindergarten for 30 hours per week was daunting., I mean, this was the kid that got tired after playing for an hour at the park. I didn't want my little guy to be coming home exhausted and with 45 minutes of homework. I wanted to be able to play with him and teach him things.

So, the search began...

We looked at a private school, a Montessori school, a charter school and also considered homeschooling. We were pretty bummed when we toured the private school. The prices were high, while the campus was underwhelming.  The Montessori school seemed like a good fit for us because they offered the option to choose between three and five days per week attendance. We really liked the idea of being able to teach him for two days per week, while still being able to socialize him at school for the other three. Unfortunately, we were also disappointed when we toured the Montessori school. The campus was dirty and the classroom was complete chaos. Our son likes organization and learns better in a quiet and calm environment. The lack of structure at this school just wasn't a good fit. 

We were now left with the choice to home school or send him to a charter school. I wanted to home school over everything else, but I had this lingering feeling that he needed to be able to make friends and build a life outside of his parents and little brother (as hard as it would be to let him go). That is when I messaged a local mom group for advise on charter schools in the area. I also verbalized the idea that I was also considering homeschooling. 

I got a lot of recommendations! The one that stood out the most to me was a charter school that had a part time home school option. We went and checked it out and LOVED it! The in class days were Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the other days being left for the parent to home school. 

We decided to go all in and our son attended that school for two years. It was an amazing experience and we all learned a lot. The best thing for us was this school allowed us to be in control of our son's education. We had control of the homework load and what he learned/didn't learn. I would definitely recommend this option for parents who have time to home school, as you need at least 20 hours per week to teach and organize assignments. If you have more children, it obviously becomes more time consuming. 

Kaly Martin Photography 

5 Foods that Detox Heavy Metals

If you are anything like me, prevention is an important part of parenting.  I do vitamin C and zinc to prevent cold and flu, daily iron to prevent anemia, frequent socialization to prevent/reduce socialization anxiety, and the list goes on. Anything I can do to help my Little Bear have a solid start in life. So, as I continued to learn more about our every day exposure to toxic heavy metals and their sometimes irreversible effects, I started to explore possible prevention options.  Interestingly, I learned that heavy metal toxins can be purged from our body's very effectively thus eliminating any signs and symptoms of toxicity. It is only when heavy metals are left without monitoring, untreated, and allowed to build that the effects become tragic and irreversible. Great news right? I can monitor, I can treat, I can prevent build up.

Here are some of our regular go tos:

1. Cilantro - Cilantro naturally binds to metals and accelerates the excretion specifically of lead and aluminum. We hide cilantro in scrambled eggs with cheese or tacos. Also, while Cilantro does its job of binding effectively, it has to also exit before the metals has a chance to reabsorb into the body; therefore, increasing fiber or juice during cilantro meals helps to increase its effectiveness.

2. EPA, DHA and other fish oils - These are natural antivirals and great for protecting and nurturing a growing brain. Antivirals aid in detox. The difficulty however is that fish can be a major offender for exposing our bodies to metals. Instead, maybe look for a good multivitamin that has oils or really monitor the quality of the seafood you buy. 

3. Chlorella - Chlorella is a source of Chlorophyll, Protein, Iron, Magnesium, and amino acids, but it is primarily known as a detoxifying supplement.  It can be very powerful and in some cases can completely cure metal detox. However, it can very easily be overused. It is essentially a food (algae or seaweed). You can buy cereals that contain Chlorella but we use capsules. We mix a highly reduced dose in grape juice maybe 1-2x a month.   

4. Water - (filtered of course) Our water is another source of heavy metals, but filtered/purified water naturally flushes and purifies your body.

5. Garlic - Garlic is high in glutathione (detoxing qualities) and is an antiviral. We put garlic on everything and our Little Bear loves it. Also, the medical qualities of organic garlic cloves is much higher than say powdered seasoning. So this may be a motivation to take the extra step when cooking.  

https://draxe.com/7-proven-chlorella-benefits-side-effects/ 

These tips are meant as personal testimony and should not be taken in replacement of medical advise. If someone you love shows signs of metal toxicity, please seek professional attention to complete a supervised diagnosis and treatment (either holistic or medical). However, the above mentioned are purifying foods that we purposefully incorporate in our regular diet as our family's prevention plan. We hope it helps!   

Additional note: "Though generally considered safe, Chlorella comes with some cautions and warnings. It can contain moderate levels of iodine, so those with iodine sensitive thyroid conditions or iodine allergies should avoid it. Those with auto-immune disease should consult with a doctor first as it can increase immune function and may make these conditions worse." - https://wellnessmama.com/2719/chlorella-uses-benefits/ 

Toxic Metals in our Body

As parents we are taught the dangers of exposing our children to lead. Our Little Bears get lead tested at baby check ups, we are coached on ways to avoid exposure, and taught the long-term negative effects of exposure. However, we really aren't taught about how to cleanse our babies if they are exposed, as well as the risks associated with other metals in their little bodies. 



"Mercury, lead and cadmium are three metals that can be especially harmful and aluminum has also presented concerns. These toxic metals enter your body through drinking, eating, inhaling, and skin and eye contact" (Global Healing Center).  As humans in the modern world, we are exposed to these metals in everyday products such as potatoes, peanuts, deodorant, toothpaste, vaccines, medications, celery, soil, canned goods, fish, pesticides and more. Additionally, Little Bears' who have parents who work construction, mechanics, agriculture and other similar fields have increased risk of passing toxic metals to their children.



Toxic metals in your body can manifest a number of symptoms which include both physical and emotional effects. In fact, some integrative medical practitioners argue that some cases of ADHD are actually the result of metal toxicity.  Lead can effect IQ and Mercury can effect digestion. What's even more interesting, is that these symptoms can be reversed often with a good metal detox.  



My next post will include some tips and tricks for metal detox both as treatment and prevention.

  

The Magic of Elderberry Syrup (Recipe Included)

Contributing Writer: Jessica Edmundson of California

Hi there, my name is Jessica and I am a lucky mama to my almost three year old daughter, Isla. Isla was born in the cold heart of December and I knew early on I needed to incorporate immune boosting herbs and foods into both our diets. I began making elderberry syrup when she was 11 months old, November, 2015, which was a particularly cold and wet winter in our area. In addition to that, we have family in Humboldt County, California… ever heard of the Humboldt crud? You don’t want it! I diligently ensured her and I took a spoonful in the morning, and again at night and guess what? No sickness in my home all winter or spring! 

I still wasn’t sure if it had been luck that got us through, or if elderberry syrup was as magical as I’d heard. The following winter rolled around and I, again, started making the elderberry syrup until I missed a batch. It was January and we were incredibly busy and I just didn’t make the time to cook the syrup for three days. Three days. Isla got the flu in those three days. I knew then, it was a magic elixir and I would never skip a batch during cold and flu season again! After coming to the conclusion that it was magic, I had to know why. Why is this stuff so critical to fighting off sickness? I did my research and I tweaked my recipe with my new found information. I learned that the ingredients above work synergistically to build your immune system, helping you to fight off the germs you come in contact with daily! The best part is, my daughter loves the taste and asks for more syrup!

Elderberry Syrup Recipe - Makes one 16oz jar of syrup.

2/3 cup – dried Elderberries

1 ½ inch – ginger root, peeled and sliced

1 tsp – cinnamon powder

1 tsp – cloves

3 slices – lemon

3 ½ cups – water

½ cup – honey (If you find you prefer a sweeter taste, just add more honey!)

Add the dried elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, lemon and water to a medium to large pot, mix and bring to a boil. Once the mixture boils, reduce heat and let simmer 30-45 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture is reduced by about half. Remove from heat and use a flat surface to press the berries, this releases some extra goodness! Fine strain the mixture over a bowl, use a spoon or spatula to press all the liquid from the ingredients. Let the liquid cool until warm but not hot, stir in the honey until fully mixed then jar it up and keep it refrigerated. Depending on how many are taking the syrup and how much you use this will last 1-2 weeks. One 16oz jar lasts me and my daughter two weeks, each taking one tablespoon twice a day. 

Confession: Apologizing for Greatness

Last post, I discussed the responsibility of managing our lower qualities. One thing I do, that my mom does, and her mom does, is we hide and apologize for greatness. Its so automatic that until recently, I didn't even realize to what an extent I do this. Here is a clear example, if someone compliments me on my parenting, I quickly share a flaw that I have as a parent or divert all credit to my Little Bear. I don't just say "thank you," or engage in a conversation on the topic, I quickly divert and distract away from the praise.

I feel like I have to apologize for greatness. I work extremely hard. I'm constantly researching, working, living life at full speed, and I am proud of my accomplishments..... as long as no one notices. I keep many of my projects and passions secrets as not to draw attention. I graduated with high honors from undergrad and graduate school and the only person who shared this accomplishment was my partner. I didn't tell a sole (outside my resume).

In the past, I have justified and denied this behavior by wrongfully calling this humility, modesty, or shyness.  But really, its self deprecation. You give a compliment, I take it away with a bigger criticism.  I have a huge issue with this quality for two main reasons.

1) I want my Little Bear to be proud of his accomplishments and own them with genuine humility and modesty.


2) Out if habit, I now habitually apologize for my child's greatness.  (WHHAAAATTTTT!!!!!)

That second reasons hurts the most. I do, do that (deep sigh). For example, if someone compliments my son's advanced speech, I own it and say thank you. I'm proud. And then I quickly point out and refocus on that he is behind in his growth. Um.... What was that? Why!!!!

I've been working actively on socializing my Little Bear since birth. I'm the main care provider and largely stay at home, so I understand that without daycare, I have to purposefully create experiences for him. We have actively worked on playing, sharing, and interacting. The other day my Little Bear demonstrated that he is really grasping these skills at a recent play session. He made sure everyone in the room had a toy if they were too shy to get one on their own. And he is not even 2! What a sweetheart! The other parent's in the room were in such aw and asked how I worked with him on sharing. My response..... "I don't think he knew he was sharing. I think he just likes helping."  

For one, that doesn't even make sense, for two, I am undermining his generosity by reassigning his motivations as self serving, and three, "Ugh!" I immediately regretted saying it. Why would I steal his thunder? Why wouldn't I just share how we have been working on socialization? You know why? I was embarrassed.  Standing out and being successful embarrasses me, even though I work so hard to be successfully d want my son to grow up proud of his successes. 

This for me is by far the hardest blog entry to write and the one that feels the most personal. I am committing today, I will no longer apologize for my child's greatness. It doesn't mean other kids or people aren't great too. It just means he happens to be great also.  I also need to apply this lesson to myself. Or my son with learn this blueprint for accepting praise, just like I did.    

Being Stronger.

The most intense part of being a mother for me is understanding that my child models himself after me. Its an immeasurable realization that while my little bear was born his own person, he utterly looks up to me (well... at least for now...) and will model his behaviors after mine. How I manage fear, he will learn. How I manage stress, he will learn.  As he becomes older, he may be able to cognitively process and establish different coping skills from mine, but the blueprint for these reactions come from those he is closest.

My mother pushed herself. She was immensely motivated to raise a strong woman. She recognized early on that there were certain aspects of her character and coping that made her life more difficult. She purposefully targeted all efforts to teaching me differently. She largely succeeded. I am a strong, independent and brave person. What's crazy though is on a cognitive level, I am able to do what was taught. However, when I slide into a lower level of consciousness, "autopilot," her behavioral blueprint is a part of my make up too.  I've repeated many of her same mistakes.  This is not a criticism of my mother, but an example to me of the powerful influence our parents have over our lives.

"Its not always enough to teach our kids how to be stronger, we also have to genuinely make ourselves stronger."  

• If we want our daughters to have good body image, we have to  model good body image. 
• If we want out sons to be emphatic, sensitive and strong, we have to model empathy, sensitivity and strength.
• If we don't want to raise codependent children, we cant be codependent adults. 
• If we don't want to raise a child with low self esteem, we cant model an all encompassing low self-esteem.  

Depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, domestic violence, etc, are all cyclical issues that are passed down from generation to generation. Other factors like biology, war-time trauma, extreme poverty, etc can of course change the course of a functional family, but largely we pass these lessons on to our children.

We will never be perfect. We are all flawed humans who are striving to be better. I will make mistakes with my son and I will unfortunately pass down some of my lower qualities. But I promise, I will dedicate every second of my life to being the best version of myself, to live consciously, so I can pass the best of my intentions.  The weight and pressure is real.

Photo by: Jessica Saurez Photography
http://www.jessica-suarez-photography.com/