Did you know your digestive tract is teeming with bacteria? Good bacteria, that is.

Probiotic is the term used to describe the billions of “friendly” live bacteria located in the intestinal tract. We are first exposed to bacteria when we are born and during infancy. The birth canal is full of  bacteria that the infant swallows while moving through the birth canal. Then, the bacteria colonize the infant’s gastrointestinal tract and set the stage for a healthy immune system.

When a child is born via Caesarean section, the “good” bacteria is never exposed to the child and he or she may have a delay in the colonization of the beneficial bacteria. This delay allows for a greater risk of:

• infection
• colic
• constipation
• gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
• Infants suffering from thrush and cradle cap can also benefit from probiotics

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Here is a post from my husband Jeremy’s blog MeetJeremyJohnston.

As moms, we often have times where we struggle and are frustrated with our reality. But, when we focus on our dreams and remember why we want them, we are surely to achieve those dreams.

Enjoy!

The story is told that a young man asked Socrates how he could wisdom.

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As you may know, I recently had a son in February, 2009. Right now, at 6 months, he is transitioning in to starting solid foods in addition to breastfeeding. Last night, I attempted a “real” solid of sweet potatoes mixed with breast milk. I LOVE sweet potatoes! However, the experience was so new to him that he seemed to not feel the same way about sweet potatoes that I do!

I bought a small organic sweet potato for him and baked it in the oven with ours. I let it cool and then poured some pumped breast milk in with it so the consistency would be soft and mushy. I have only given Joel rice cereal and bananas mixed with breast milk so this new food was very different for him. He just let the sweet potatoes sit in his mouth and made a silly little grimace with his face. Then he would cough and try to get the mixture out of his mouth.

I only gave him tiny spoonfuls so I didn’t understand why it was so hard for him to eat it. My husband, Jeremy, reminded me he probably has not got the hang of swallowing the strange stuff in his mouth yet..

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Since I have had my son, I am extra conscious of what I put into my body and what goes into his.

Convenience and price has led many people to accept products that are very bad for their health. Food products are full of preservatives and empty calories, with no nutritional value. Or, body products contain known skin irritants that are used to test for allergic reactions in a medical setting. Many mothers blindly put faith in doctors and children’s companies…trusting that these people have their child’s best interest at heart.

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Almond Breeze® Almond Milk

If you have been looking for an alternative to cow’s milk and and have not been pleased with soy milk, then you must try almond milk.

My husband and I have been drinking Almond Breeze® Almond Milk by Blue Diamond for over a year.We both were not pleased with the taste and consistency of soy milk so we tried out Almond Milk. Its texture is much thinner than soy milk and the taste is milder too.I use it in my cereal and it can be used in most recipes requiring dairy milk.

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