The Koala Mom

Celebrate National Pregnancy Awareness Month By Checking Out My New Ebook!

Olivia — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:05:16 +0000

I have great news to share! My new Ebook titled, “The Psychology of Natural Childbirth,” is now online and ready to be shared with everyone.

I wrote this book to share with other women how it is possible to give birth free of drugs or unnecessary medical intervention. I believe the information I share will be able to help any woman who may be pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. No matter how much knowledge you have about the labor process, you will learn something from this book.

So, to honor Pregnancy Awareness Month, visit my site at www.NaturalChildbirthTips.com.

Here is some great information about how Pregnancy Awareness Month was created…

(from www.PregnancyAwarenessMonth.com)

Declared and founded by author & holistic lifestyle expert Anna Getty, and co-founded by LCSW & mompreneur Alisa Donner, May 2010 marks the 3rd year of Pregnancy Awareness Month™ (PAM). Through PAM, Anna & Alisa aim to empower pregnant women and new parents with information, “how to” ideas and inspiration to incorporate PAM’s four key initiatives – education, exercise, nutrition & wellness and nurture – into their life routines and to show how easy it can be to make healthy changes in their lives, for themselves, and their children.

“My life was altered not only by the birth of my daughter, but by the experience and choices I made as I prepared my body, mind and spirit to become pregnant and the incredible inward journey of pregnancy itself. In PAM we have adopted the tagline: “Motherhood Begins Now,”™ and I really believe that. I took that message to heart before I actually became pregnant as a way to prepare my mind, body and household for this fabulous moment of creativity, and my life literally turned upside down, for the better.” (Anna Getty, March 2008)

Avoid These 7 Foods and You’re Off To A Healthier New Year!

Olivia — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:43:00 +0000

Happy New Year everyone!

Like me, you may have chosen to live healthier in many areas than you did in 2009. Stress, busy-ness, and fatigue all seem to contribute to poor attention to our health. Having a child in February, 2009 definitely put me off course in the area of regular exercise…

Well I have made sure that I will focus on exercise and involve the whole family in living a healthy lifestyle.

Here is a great article about certain foods that have lost their nutritional value over the years to cheap production and cost-cutting.

Source: Mercola.com

Avoid These 7 Foods and You’re Off To A Healthier New Year

Posted by: Dr. Mercola
December 29 2009 | 338,158 views

1. Canned Tomatoes

The expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A

The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Acidity — a prominent characteristic of tomatoes — causes BPA to leach into your food.

2. Corn-Fed Beef

The expert: Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of books on sustainable farming

Cattle were designed to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. A recent comprehensive study found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

3. Microwave Popcorn

The expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group

Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize — and migrate into your popcorn.

4. Nonorganic Potatoes

The expert: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board

Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they’re dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting.

5. Farmed Salmon

The expert: David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany

Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT.

6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones

The expert: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers.

7. Conventional Apples

The expert: Mark Kastel, codirector of the Cornucopia Institute

If fall fruits held a “most doused in pesticides contest,” apples would win. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides with Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

This is one of the best “foods to avoid” lists I’ve seen come out of the mainstream media. It is very rare when this happens, but I agree with every food on this list.The reality is that most food nowadays is far from pure. Pesticide residues have been detected in 50 percent to 95 percent of all commercially grown U.S. foods, and that is only one type of toxin.

Babies are actually born toxic due to the toxic load of their mothers, some of which comes from dietary contaminants and food additives. One study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that blood samples from newborns contained an average of 287 toxins, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides, and Teflon chemicals!

The list above is a great starting point to cleaning up your diet, but focusing on organically grown, biodynamic whole foods is really the key to success here.

I want to expand on some of the toxic foods mentioned above, as well as add a few more to the list, so you can significantly reduce your exposure to toxins in the foods you eat.

Why Fresh is Better Than Canned

Many leading brands of canned foods contain BPA — a toxic chemical linked to reproductive abnormalities, neurological effects, heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, heart disease and other serious health problems.

According to Consumer Reports’ testing, just a couple of servings of canned food can exceed the safety limits for daily BPA exposure for children.

The current US federal guidelines put the daily upper limit of “safe” exposure at 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight. You should know, however, that even low-level exposure to BPA can be hazardous to your health, and Consumer Reports’ testing found that eating popular canned foods may expose you to excessive amounts of BPA:

Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans had BPA levels ranging from 35.9 ppb to as much as 191 ppb

Progresso Vegetable Soup had BPA levels ranging from 67 to 134 ppb

Campbell’s Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup had BPA levels ranging from 54.5 to 102 ppb

So, ideally avoid canned foods entirely and stick to fresh fruits and vegetables, or switch over to brands that use glass containers instead.

Grass-Fed is the Healthy Choice for Beef

Grass-fed beef is vastly superior to grain-fed beef, and in fact it’s the clear beef of choice you should be eating. It is far more important to choose grass-fed than to choose organic, as most grass-fed beef are also organic

Not only is it raised in a more sustainable way for the environment and a more humane way for the animal, but it’s the superior choice for your health.

Grass-fed beef, for instance, is lower in fat than regular beef and, more importantly, contains higher amounts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid. Grass-fed animals have from three to five times more CLA than grain-fed animals.

CLA has been making headlines for its extreme health benefits, which include:

Fighting cancer and diabetes

Helping you lose weight

Increasing your metabolic rate, a positive benefit for promoting normal thyroid function

Helping you maintain normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Enhancing your immune system

Keep in mind that grass-fed meat is almost always preferable to certified organic meat also because most organic beef is fed organic corn, which is what causes the myriad of health problems associated with eating beef. If you can find organic, grass-fed meat, that would be ideal.

What You Need to Know About Milk

I strongly recommend you avoid milk that has the added growth hormone rBGH.

Samuel Epstein, MD, a scientist at the University of Illinois School of Public Health, is one of the top experts on cancer prevention, and he has been speaking out against rBGH in milk, the so-called “crack for cows,” for years.

For starters, Dr. Epstein points out that rBGH milk is “supercharged with high levels of a natural growth factor (IGF-1), excess levels of which have been incriminated as major causes of breast, colon, and prostate cancers.”

But that’s not all.

“This milk is qualitatively and quantitatively different from natural milk,” states Dr. Epstein. “In addition to the issue of increased IGF-1 levels, these differences include:

Contamination of milk by the GM hormone rBGH

Contamination by pus and antibiotics resulting from the high incidence of mastitis in rBGH-injected cows

Contamination with illegal antibiotics and drugs used to treat mastitis and other rBGH-induced disease

Increased concentration of the thyroid hormone enzyme thyroxin-5′-monodeiodinase

Increased concentration of long-chain and decreased concentration of short-chain fatty acids

A reduction in levels of the milk protein casein.”

You very well may be drinking rBGH milk and not know it, as no labels are required. This is despite the fact that nearly every American wants it labeled, but the government, as usual, bowed to industry lobbyists and, amazingly, does not require this on the label.

However, as increasing numbers of people and dairies choose to avoid rBGH, you can find labels that say “rBGH-free” or a similar variation. Organic milk is also rBGH-free.

This is certainly preferable to milk that contains this dangerous hormone … but I still don’t recommend drinking any milk, organic or otherwise, that is pasteurized.

You can avoid both the risks of rBGH and pasteurization by only drinking raw milk that comes from a small farmer you know and trust. This is the only way to drink milk if you’re interested in protecting your health.

The Most Important Foods to Buy Organic

Most fruits and vegetables contain unacceptable and unsafe levels of pesticides, so it’s a wise choice to buy organic produce as often as you can.

However, if you need to pick and choose which foods to buy organic, the most important foods to buy organic are animal products — not produce. This is because animal foods, which are raised on pesticide-laced feed, tend to have higher concentrations of pesticides.

Non-organic meats have up to five times more pesticides than non-organic vegetables.

Non-organic butter can have up to 20 times as many pesticides as non-organic vegetables.

So when prioritizing your purchases, look for organic meats, eggs and dairy products before anything else.

There is one exception to this rule, and that is you may be better off choosing fresh local foods over organic foods. Often, locally grown foods are raised according to organic standards at a more affordable price.

Is Farmed Salmon the Only Seafood to Avoid?

Farmed salmon is among the worst seafood choices out there, as numerous studies show the salmon contain toxins and cancer-causing pollutants. Farmed salmon typically have at least 10 times more cancer-causing persistent organic pollutants than their wild counterparts.

That said, I do not agree that farmed salmon is the only fish you need to stay away from.

A recent study from the U.S. Geological Survey detected mercury in every fish sampled from nearly 300 U.S. streams. Among them, 27 percent contained mercury at levels that equaled or exceeded the U.S. EPA’s criterion for the protection of human health, and more than two-thirds exceeded mercury safety levels for fish-eating mammals like mink and otters.

Therefore, I do not recommend eating any fish — whether farm-raised or from an ocean, lake, river or stream — unless you have lab results in your hand that can attest to its purity.

There are still some safe areas out there, such as in certain pristine waters in Alaska, but it will take some searching on your end to seek them out. The ONLY safe fish I have discovered so far is Vital Choice wild red salmon, which remains the only source of fish I’ll eat.

Eating smaller fish, like anchovies and sardines, is also an option, as their small size makes them far less likely to be contaminated.

An important point to remember if you’re not eating fish is that your body still has a requirement for omega-3 fats. Fortunately, you can easily meet your omega-3 needs by taking a high-quality krill oil supplement, instead of risking your health by eating contaminated fish.

Another Food to Avoid: Unfermented Soy

This one did not make the above list, but it’s one I would definitely add.

Any soy that is unfermented — soy milk, tofu, soybean oil, soy burgers, and all the other processed soy products out there all belong to this category — is not a health food and in fact is not a food I would advise eating at all. This is true whether it is “organic” or not.

Soy infant formula is also on this list and is one of the absolute worst foods you can give your baby.

Unfermented soy products have been linked to everything from reproductive disorders and infertility to cancer and heart disease.

Further, unfermented soy contains isoflavones that are clearly associated with reduced thyroid function. Eating unfermented soy products is likely the single largest cause of hypothyroidism in women.

Another major problem with unfermented soy is that it contains natural toxins known as “antinutrients.” This includes a large quantity of inhibitors that deter your enzymes needed for protein digestion.

While a small amount of these antinutrients would likely not be a problem, the amount of soy that many Americans are now eating (and drinking in the form of soy milk) is quite significant.

The result of consuming too many of soy’s antinutrients is extensive gastric distress and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake, which can result in pancreatic impairment and cancer.

For more details on soy foods, including the fermented varieties that can actually be healthy, please read Why This Type of Soy is Better.

Guidelines for Healthy Food

Whatever food you’re looking to eat, whether imported organic or locally grown, from either your local supermarket or a farmer’s market, here are the signs of a high-quality, healthy food:

It’s grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers (organic foods fit this description, but so do some non-organic foods)

It’s not genetically modified

It contains no added growth hormones, antibiotics, or other drugs

It does not contain artificial anything, nor any preservatives

It is fresh (if you have to choose between wilted organic produce or fresh conventional produce, the latter may be the better option)

It did not come from a factory farm

It is grown with the laws of nature in mind (meaning animals are fed their native diets, not a mix of grains and animal byproducts, and have free-range access to the outdoors)

It is grown in a sustainable way (using minimal amounts of water, protecting the soil from burnout, and turning animal wastes into natural fertilizers instead of environmental pollutants)

If the food meets these criteria, it is likely a good choice. Most often, the best place to find these foods is from a sustainable agricultural group in your area. You can also review my free nutrition plan to get started on a healthy eating program today.

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

Holistic Medicine-How a Flu Shot Almost Took a Life

Olivia — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:52:55 +0000

You may have heard the story of Washington Redskins cheerleader Desiree Jennings who was injured by a flu shot vaccine; however, the mainstream media never gives you the complete story.

Desiree was in the prime of her life (mid-20s) and she was an avid runner and athlete. Apparently, she received a flu shot and quickly began to develop a neurological problem called Dystonia.

During this time, she was unable to breathe and suffered seizures every minute. Her family was preparing for her to die!

Fortunately, Dr. Rashid Buttar came to the rescue with Holistic Medicine at his Center for Advanced Medicine.

Desiree was detoxified from the heavy metals her body encountered from the vaccine and soon her body began to heal itself and life came back to her.

Soon she was able to talk, stand, eat, and breathe on her own.

To the rescue…

Before meeting Dr. Buttar, two different hospitals had diagnosed Desiree with the incurable Dystonia as a result of the FLU SHOT! Yet the mainstream medical community denies that this impairment could EVER be from a vaccine. Dr. Buttar has even been threatened for a loss of licensure because of his medical practices. These forms of treatment are far from the standard practices in hospitals across the U.S. and Medical Boards do not want any part of it.

Dr. Buttar focuses on removing toxic substances and heavy metals through chelation, antioxidants, nutrition, natural antivirals, and much more. Top physicians had no hope for this girl as modern medicine does not focus on the natural ability of the body to heal itself. Instead, it is a game to find the prescription to cover up symptoms or just replace them with another symptom in order to pretend the problem has gone away.

The great thing about holistic medicine is the value it gives to the human body. Our creator made us this way so why not begin with the body? Or even better, how about preventive medicine like Chiropractic care and basic education?

In Closing…

The main point I want to make about this amazing story is that education can really change your life. I never knew so much about natural living until a few years ago, so I can understand why people just don’t know…

Desiree was an avid athlete and she probably took great care of her body. But, like so many Americans, she believed the lies the media feed us when it comes to vaccines and health. She decided it would probably be best to receive a flu shot because everyone else was getting one–even though she probably had NO IDEA what was in it? How about a heavy-metal cocktail???

In the end, this story had a positive ending. Somehow Dr. Buttar came into her life when there was no hope and then he restored that hope to her. I truly hope this girl’s life will totally change and that she will become an advocate for Holistic Medicine.

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

Momsicles! Frozen Breastmilk Can Be a Delicious Treat For Baby

Olivia — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:40:04 +0000

Halloween '09

I have discovered how to make this frozen treat at just the right time!

Joel has been teething a lot the past few days. Right now, at almost 9 months, he has two lower teeth and 2 top teeth coming in quickly(and boy is he crawling!). He has seemed to be a lot less fussy with these top teeth in comparison to the lower ones.

I have occasionally used the Baby Safe Feeder and inserted frozen sweet potato puree, broccoli, and banana. He loves to chew on this and massage his gums while enjoying these new tastes.

Today I ran across a site, Mother-2-Mother, where I found a recipe for frozen breastmilk popsicles.

What is better than a frozen teether that is also nutritional?

For younger babies, you can pour expressed breastmilk into ice cube trays (just like making baby food) and let it freeze. Then, just place it into a Baby Safe feeder (mesh teething bag) and let baby enjoy and teethe on it.

Or, you can use a cap from a Gerber bottle and a soft pacifier. Just pour a bit of the expressed milk into the cap, put the paci on top, and freeze. The milk will freeze to the pacifier like a tiny popsicle!!

Eventually you can add other ingredients to make a healthy, delightful treat for your child.

What methods have you used to help your child through the teething process?

Read more about this cool treat at Mother-2-Mother.

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

Busy Completing My New eBook “The Psychology of Natural Childbirth!”

Olivia — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:56:20 +0000

I have totally avoided the blogosphere for more than a month!!

This summer, my husband Jeremy and I decided that it would be great if I wrote an eBook on my experience with Natural Childbirth. I learned SO MUCH while I was pregnant with my son Joel, so why not share all of that great information with other newly pregnant women who want options available with childbirth?

So, I spent about 6 weeks this past summer writing 12 steps that I believe every woman can follow in order to have a beautiful, unmedicated birth (assuming the pregnancy is low-risk).

Well, I can say the book is done. My husband (my COACH) even added his own little “corner” of advice and motivation for women and coaches alike.

We are just finishing up some great bonuses and completing the website where it will be available VERY SOON!!

My goal is to reach as many women as possible who are searching for ways to have a natural childbirth. So many women are just uneducated and misinformed about the birthing process, and I am here to tell them that childbirth does not have to be difficult.

I will keep you updated as everything comes to completion. It is the beginning of a new month so it will be out by the end of November!!

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

8 Ways To Stay Healthy During Flu Season-Without Vaccines

Olivia — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:13:01 +0000

The following outline need not only apply to flu season. The best medicine is prevention! Full-time prevention!

Right now, it seems like I can’t go anywhere without seeing some kind of advertisement for FLU SHOTS.

I thought I could escape from the brainwashing of the medical community and pharmaceutical companies by avoiding the TV.

Apparently not.

So, since “flu season” is beginning, am I supposed to freak out and get a flu shot? Pretty much…Fear always motivates people to do things.

Oh, they also forgot to tell you that you have a 50/50 chance of getting the flu even if you’ve been jabbed in the arm with the vaccine.

Enough of my ranting…

Allow Your Body To Fight Off Influenza On Its Own!

Refill With H2O: Did you know your body needs plenty of water to flush out toxins that compromise your immune system? While you sleep, your body builds up toxins in the digestive tract. To naturally flush out these toxins, you must start your day with a glass of water to rehydrate the body. This improves immune system function and allows your body to operate at its highest potential.
Sleep…zZz…: A great night’ s sleep is like a reset button for your whole body. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can make you more likely to become sick because of an overgrowth of bacteria in the body. When we are fighting a sickness, our body naturally promotes sleep. So why not boost your immune system in the first place by getting adequate rest?
Pro-Biotic It: “Probiotic” means “A microbe that protects its host and prevents disease.” When you supplement your diet with probiotics, you increase the flora of “good” bacteria in your gut. Did you know the digestive system is where most of your natural immunties “hang out?” If a person has a poor digestive system due to an inadequate, non-nutritious diet, they are very likely to have recurring sickness. Their body’s defense mechanism (immune system) to sickness can never get the proper armor up because that armor is essentially nutrients. Probiotics get that armor up. Learn more in the post Probiotics: Are They Good For Our Kids?
Get Some Sun: Did you know the best way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D is to get out into the sun for a few minutes? The skin produces Vitamin D when it is exposed to a certain amount of sunlight radiation. Vitamin D blood levels are at their highest in the summer but reach their lowest levels during the flu and cold season (winter). When you can’t get out, or if it’s the dead of winter, load up on fish which is high in vitamin D. There are supplements out there, but do your research before buying.
Exercise…even if it’s just a little: Do your best to get your heart rate up with aerobic exercise for 20-30 minutes a day. Go for a light walk with the dog and baby. Run up and down the stairs a few times. Have sex! Do something! Stress leads to a weakened immune system. Exercise relieves stress. Therefore, exercise boosts the immune system.
Receive Regular Chiropractic Adjustments: Chiropractic care was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Regular Chiropractic Adjustments work to correct any nerve interference in the nervous system. Chiropractors know that nerve interference prevents the body from working optimally. To prevent this nerve interference, they adjust the spine into proper alignment and all systems are “GO” (including the immune system). The mainstream medical community really does not understand Chiropractic. But now you know. Chiropractic focuses on “prevention” and “healing from within.” Learn more Chiropractic and Pregnancy.
Eat, Eat, Eat!: Eat nutritiously, that is. Did you know that low blood sugar equals low immunity? One step to a healthy immune system is to eat breakfast! Eat like a healthy King at breakfast. Make a breakfast burrito with eggs and bell pepper. Make a banana smoothie with flaxseed or hemp oil. Have some hot whole-grain cereal with fruits and nuts. Or take some yogurt on-the-go. When you start out eating healthy at breakfast, you will tend to eat nutritiously the rest of the day.
Supplement: There are way too many supplements out there that market the illusion of “healthy.” Did you know that we chew most of our food? DUH! But think about it…Most supplements are made to be swallowed. If you swallow vitamins and minerals in pill form, you are not able to chew. Chewing is one of the most important parts of the digestive process! In fact, many vitamin companies use binders, fillers and hard chemical coatings that diminish absorption. Hospital orderlies often refer to these undigested pills and tablets that pass through a person’s intestinal track as “bedpan bullets.” This is not to say that every supplement will not be absorbed. How about a liquid vitamin on LuckyVitamin? Or a whole-food chewable supplement like Chews4Health? And you’ve got to check out Garden of Life.

There’s my preventive strategy to keeping sickness away.

Like I always say, “A body at EASE is without DISEASE!”

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

Unlock Your Health Potential

Olivia — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:00:26 +0000

A few years ago, I was introduced to Jordan Rubin and his best-selling book The Maker’s Diet.

Jordan introduces the diet of the Hebrew People dating back thousands of years and recorded in the Bible from God. This is a diet full of raw, cultured, and fermented foods to support a healthy immune system. The book goes over many other important principles that we could talk about for quite awhile.

Jordan outlines his philosophy in a statement on his Garden of Life website

Please join me for a moment in picturing a world where good health is a given, not a matter of chance. In this imagined world, chronic obesity is no longer a problem and couples never rely on fertility drugs to conceive. The 4,000 people we lose prematurely every day to cancer, diabetes and heart disease would still be with us. And when we do contract an illness, we are not dependent on “drug-care,” but are instead able to take control of our own health with lifestyle changes and advanced nutrition.

I believe his statement to be very true. Unfortunately our leaders play a big role in what we perceive to be right and true. Gradually over time, we have strayed away from what is truly healthy and fallen into a trap of preservatives and toxins slapped onto a store shelve and marketed as inexpensive and great for you and your family.

Just take a look at this short video clip by Jordan. He outlines the principles in one of his books

The Great Physician’s RX for Health & Wellness: Seven Keys to Unlock Your Health Potential

Eat to Live
Supplement with whole-foods/superfoods
Practice advanced hygiene
Exercise and body therapy
Reduce toxins in your everyday environment
Avoid deadly emotions
Live a life of prayer and purpose

When you follow these 7 principles, I know that your life will be improved dramatically.

Remember… “A body at ease is without disease.”

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

Tea Time! For Mom

Olivia — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:04:31 +0000

As a mom, I am always looking for a quick and easy way to relax.

There isn’t always a lot of time to take part in relaxation, but when I can relax I go for a good book and a cup of TEA!

A fragrant mug of Lavender and Chamomile always does the trick…

But when I’m about to start my day I switch to a tea that will energize my soul…

I love a dark cup of Oolong as I read the Scriptures in the morning.

I have found 4 different teas for whatever your mood may be:

Pick Me Up!

“Oolong” Tea: The best Oolong tea leaves come from China and Taiwan. The tea is a happy medium between green (unfermented) and black (fermented) teas, as oolong is semi-fermented. Out f the three, oolong has the highest polyphenol content. It is full of healthy antioxidants which are vital for healthy skin and body.

Oolong has even been known for centuries as a metabolism booster. So skip the coffee jitters and sugar boost and opt for a cup of oolong. Right now I am drinking oolong made by YamaMotoYama

“Green” Tea With “Goji” Berry: I have always enjoyed drinking green tea. I feel so healthy and vibrant when I drink it and the energy stays with me throughout the day. Yogi Tea has a blend of Tibetan Goji berry, which is known for its energizing properties, liver protection, and immune and circulation system boost.

A blend of green tea and Japanese Matcha green tea. If you have every steered away from green tea due to bitter taste, then try this blend with a sweet berry flavor.

Take Me Away…

Organic “Chamomile” With “Lavender”: I am a dear fan of anything lavender. So this tea easily went into my top favorite tea list. Chamomile tea always allows me to wind down after a busy day as a mom. Plus, lavender in any form is a great way to relax your body and prepare for a great night’s rest.

Traditional Medicinals has a chamomile and lavender blend, along with lemon balm, which all have digestive and nervous system sedating properties. This tea is great if you’ve had a late dinner and can’t get to sleep because your food is still digesting and your body is restless. The taste and aroma is very floral, so proceed with caution.

Organic “Rooibos” With “Honeybush”: One day I picked up a box of this tea totally unaware of what “rooibos” was.

Rooibos, or “red bush” is grown in South Africa and has just recently grown in popularity in the west. It has no caffeine, a natural sweet/woody flavor, and has many health benefits. Children can drink it and I have even used some of the tea bags for diaper rash on my son.

It is great for pregnant women as it is high in iron and relieves heartburn and nausea.

This tea is also made by Traditional Medicinals and it also contains a blend of honeybush, hibiscus flower, and rose hip, which are excellent ingredients to maintain glowing skin.

Drinking tea instead of coffee is great for your health. Tea does not give me the “crash” that I experience when the caffeine from coffee has worn off.

Tea is rich in antioxidants and it comes in a variety of blends and flavors. Loose-leaf tea will give you the best flavor and health benefits.

Adagio Teas has a great site full of every tea imaginable. You can get sample packs at a low price in many different flavors before you buy the whole bag of one flavor.

To Your Cup ‘o Tea,

Olivia Johnston

Chiropractic and Pregnancy

Olivia — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:55:14 +0000

Taking advantage of Chiropractic care during my pregnancy was very important to me.

I began going to my Chiropractor at about 6 months of pregnancy due to some back pain from the pregnancy and my job as a dog groomer. Early one morning, at about 3 AM, I could not sleep because of a sharp muscular pain in my back. I decided to look for a Chiropractor in the area while surfing the internet to pass some time.

I found one very close to me and she was on my way home from work. I read many different articles on how important Chiropractic is to a pregnant woman and even a newborn infant!

I have been adjusted regularly at the Chiropractor for almost a year now and I have never felt better or learned as much as I have by Chiropractic.

My Chiropractor performed a special adjustment on me while I was pregnant called the “Webster Technique.” This technique that reduces interference to the nervous system, balances out pelvic muscles and ligaments which removes tension in the uterus so the baby can remain in the best position possible.

When performed regularly, the Webster Technique has a 94% success ratio in turning a breech baby to allow for an easy delivery. Many births by C-section can be prevented by this technique as many babies who are breech must be delivered by C-section. With regular prenatal Chiropractic care, the need for medical interventions during labor is greatly decreased.

Pregnancy is very hard on the spinal cord. Excess weight from the baby creates spinal misalignments (subluxations) and changes in posture which affect the whole body and well-being of the mother and baby.

To decrease common pregnancy complaints such as:

heartburn
rib pain
pubic pain
headaches
sinus congestion
low back pain

Take advantage of chiropractic adjustments throughout pregnancy!

Chiropractic care is necessary for optimal development of the baby growing inside mom’s belly. Pregnant women receive specific attention and education during pregnancy so as to provide a great health potential for both the mother and baby.

Pregnant women also experience problems in the pelvic area. A lifetime of stress to the area, plus pregnancy, creates a great deal of misalignments which greatly decrease the pelvic opening for labor. The woman’s pelvis supports her growing uterus with specific ligaments. If the pelvis is unbalanced, the uterus cannot enlarge symmetrically with the growing baby and thus reduces the maximum amount of room for the baby.

If you are pregnant, I urge you to find a Family Chiropractor who is trained in Prenatal care and Pediatric care.

My son’s birth went very smoothly and I know a big part of that was due to regular Chiropractic care during my pregnancy. If you want to know your developing baby will stay in the best possible position for labor, then you must begin getting special adjustments now!

If your goal is to have a safe, natural birth (without medication) you can greatly increase the likelihood by getting adjusted so the baby is ready to come out!

Search for an International Chiropractic Pediatric Association member in your area. Doctors in this group are dedicated to you and your child’s well-being from a holistic perspective.

Here is a great informational video on the subject:

Please feel free to email me on any questions you may have about Chiropractic and to hear more about my experience.

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

Bolthouse Farms® Beverage Review

Olivia — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:18:01 +0000

When I’m in a hurry and I want to get in my fruits and veggies for the day, I go for a Bolthouse Farms® beverage first.

This company is 100%

I have enjoyed their juice, smoothie, and protein concoctions for over 5 years.

The great thing about these drinks is that they are:

Bolthouse Farms

Gluten-free
No preservatives
No artificial colors
No artificial flavors
No genetically modified ingredients
Excellent taste!

Now compare those promises to the average bottled beverage you can pick up at a service station. Those drinks are full of high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, vitamin-free, and artificial flavors. Your body is not provided any nutrients when you drink these beverages. So why not try a natural smoothie?

Take a look at what you will get in a “Green Goodness” fruit smoothie (my favorite!)

1.5 Apples
.5 Pineapple
.5 Mango
.5 Banana
.5 Kiwi Fruit
Broccoli, Spinach, Garlic, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lemon Bioflavanoids
Spirulina, Chlorella, Green Tea, Blue Green Algae
Echinacea, Barley Grass, Wheat Grass, Nova Scotia Dulce
Zinc, Manganese, Iron, Folic Acid
Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C

Now that is a nutrient-packed beverage!

Bolthouse Farms® makes more than just yummy smoothie drinks… Try these:

Lemonades
Super-fruit beverages
Protein drinks
Fruit juice
Yogurt dressing and Olive Oil Vinaigrettes
Many carrot varieties

You will find excellence and nutritiousness in every Bolthouse Farms® product!

I trust a company that has been producing amazing produce for more than 90 years in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley.

If you buy processed fruit juices now, I recommend you begin to merge over to the Bolthouse Farms® products. Prepackaged fruit juices rarely contain any whole-food nutrients and are full of sugar. Even if the price tag is cheaper, the illusion of it being “healthy” is just a marketing ploy created by those companies. As parents, if we do not have the time to make fruit juices ourselves, then we must make the best choices when it comes to our kid’s beverage choices.

Your kids will not even realize how good these drinks are for them because the taste is so great!

Try these beverages as a base for smoothies when you don’t have a lot of fruits or veggies on hand.

Visit the Bolthouse Farms® Website to check out the ingredient list in their products. Where else can you find the antioxidant spirulina and green tea in the same beverage?

Find Bolthouse Farms® beverages in your refrigerated fruit section in Grocery and Health Food stores.

Your health will thank you!

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston