September Special – $39.75, Australia Only

Barely a day goes by that NPT fans don’t read about one of these 3 superheroes of the pantry! So much more than food, they have uses in cleaning, first aid and personal care! You may have read examples of how these can be used on our NPT Tips pages.

This is a fabulous deal, whether or not you have used these products before! At our Foodstore, we deliberately don’t stock a lot of different products in each category, instead choosing what we feel is the best of what’s available.

This bundle includes one of each of the following:

Coconut Oil, 500ml (Coconut Paradise)

Apple Cider Vinegar, 475ml (Bragg)

Raw, Organic Honey, 500g (Ambrosia)

BUY ALL 3 FOR $39.75 including shipping to any address in Australia. 
That’s a discount of up to 20%, depending on where you live.

Visit our Foodstore site to read more about these products and you can also purchase this pack by using the password NPT420  (and yes – the password is case sensitive!)  Click here to read more at Naturally Better Foods.

Offer expires September 30th 2012.

NPT – So Sarah, tell us about why this company was started. Aren’t there already plenty of people out there teaching natural birth?

SC – Thanks so much for doing this interview! This amazing journey all began with a friend of mine, Donna Ryan (Banned From Baby Showers). I have known Donna for years, she was actually MY natural birth teacher before I had my first child. She mentored me as I did my own birth teacher training a few years later and we have always stayed in touch and I have turned to her for advice and help as my own classes grew. Donna and I were both teaching a different method for years, she for about a decade. We loved it because it worked, but much of the curriculum was outdated and we knew that more families would be interested if we could offer them something more.

One day Donna called me up and told me that she had been finally working on her OWN idea. She told me it was called Birth Boot Camp and asked me if I would be willing to be involved. I am honored to be included with this group of women.

There are a few things that make Birth Boot Camp different and that we have striven to include and focus on so that we can offer our students the BEST education possible so they can get the natural birth they are looking for.

Donna wanted to offer online classes. She had been teaching for years and had seen a strong need for a really comprehensive class that was available for people who simply couldn’t attend a live, instructor led, class. She had, on her own, developed some DVD classes but she wanted to take it to the next level, make them more professional, and make them more available by putting them online. This is one thing that makes Birth Boot Camp unique. For couples that need an online class (due to scheduling difficulties or lack of an instructor in their area) these comprehensive online birth classes are a GIFT. And so far, a great one. Our online couples are having amazing births!

We also have an amazing instructor training in place and are training in the Dallas area every few months. For our instructors we offer a course that works well for people that are interested in teaching in depth classes that focus on natural birth, gentle and instinctive parenting, incredible breastfeeding education, and strong involvement of the birth partner or father. Our teachers finish training and have skills, confidence, videos for their classes, games, and the ability to teach. I believe they are armed better than any other instructor out there.

NPT- The name, Birth Boot Camp jumped out at me. Why the name? It isn’t very feminine!

SC – That is funny you say that because I initially had the same response! Then I told my husband, “Hey, Donna is thinking about starting this thing called Birth Boot Camp….” His reaction helped me understand WHY this name, “I LOVE IT! What a great title!” he said.

Photo courtesy of Birth Boot Camp

The fact is that birth doesn’t just involve a mother, it involves her partner too and often that partner is a man. We wanted these classes to appeal not just to mom, but to her partner too so that the entire couple unit would be excited to attend.

As I mentioned before, one reason Birth Boot Camp was developed was for people who couldn’t attend live classes. Donna had worked with many of these couples in the past who were deployed military families and video classes were their only option. This also led to the unique names for our curriculum. That, and our belief that in the current birthing climate, getting a natural birth takes some serious effort and work and knowledge, just led us to know that this name was the right approach for us.

NPT- What should pregnant women expect from Birth Boot Camp?

SC -Women and their partners should expect a ten week long series that covers what we, as birth professionals, have found students need in order to succeed. Our board is made up of lots of intelligent and experienced women. They include. midwives, Chiropractors, a physical therapist, a physical trainer, doulas, a massage therapist and an IBCLC (lactation consultant) to help give people the whole package- EVERYTHING they would need to get the birth they want. As a teacher, I want my students to succeed, that is what they hired me for, that is what they want, and so it matters to me deeply. That is the question we asked ourselves as we worked on this. What do pregnant women need?

They will get a comprehensive series that covers WHY they should birth naturally, nutrition and exercise for pregnancy, common procedures in pregnancy, choosing where and with whom to birth, what happens in labor and how your partner can help you, relaxation, avoiding unnecessary interventions like c-sections, postpartum adjustments, breastfeeding and gentle baby care. We want our couples to feel confident and prepared and closer together as a couple by the time they are done with our series.

They will also be able to watch up-to-date birth videos in class, have an incredible manual, extra resources via e-mail for their own study and an in depth breastfeeding DVD from our resident lactation consultant, Mellanie Shepphard.

NPT- As an educator, what do you think some of the “misconceptions” are that people have about birth?

SC – Great question. I think that a lot of what we think about birth comes from the media- it is painful, dangerous and happens about five minutes after water breaks suddenly! Then you give birth to a clean three month old baby! Basically, a lot of our perceptions aren’t necessarily based in fact, but what looks good on TV or gets good ratings.

But fear of birth goes deeper than that. I think many women hear horror stories from their mothers and their friends. It is not unusual for women to be told to just “get the epidural” or that they don’t, “get any gold stars” for going natural.

The fact is though that birth DOES matter to women no matter how they experience it. We should honor and respect this sacred time. It is worth our effort, our education, and our time. Birth matters to women and their partners and their babies. Education can replace that fear with confidence and yield a joyous birth. That is what we want women to know!

NPT- So why aren’t drugs the ideal “treatment” for birth?

SC – Well, first, I don’t think birth needs to be “treated” with anything other than reverence and respect. Birth is not a medical emergency, it is a transitional and transformative right of passage, but it doesn’t have to be frightening.

There are certainly times when drugs are the right “treatment” for birth, but I think that they are pretty obviously overused. When I ponder the very common epidural I just go back to common sense. Does an epidural even make sense?

What is my body telling me with it’s sensations? (In birth it is often telling us to move, walk, sway, eat, rest, etc.) If I numb these sensations, what else am I disrupting? Does it make sense to be lying down and numb for something that sure looks like it would benefit from gravity and movement? Will this numbness inhibit my babies ability to come out and my ability to help? Why has nature designed my body to feel this?

When I answer these questions myself, it just seems obvious that drugs, though sometimes necessary, really put a kink in the works when it comes to birth. I could numb a headache with a pill. Or I could look at why I have a headache. Am I stressed, hungry, thirsty, tired or overwhelmed? Maybe I should address the CAUSE of the headache and honor my body’s messages before I simply numb it. The same applies to birth. Listen to the mechanism, it works!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Birth Boot Camp are generously offering our readers $25 off their online classes until September 30th, 2012. Just use Coupon code: NPTSAVE
You can click through to their website using the pic below.

We would love to see birth changed for the better! If you are interested in becoming a Birth Boot Camp instructor, you can find more information on the site.

Croup has invaded my house and home and has taken over my two beautiful children and I am not a happy mama! I am not one to suppress a cough as it has its purpose in clearing out our bodies of irritants and mucous. However, as I am aware of what the children have I want to help soothe the irritation and tenderness that they have. We dont have any commercial cough syrup in the house so I depend on my kitchen for help in healing.. So what do we do?? Here are 9 alternative ways to soothe a cough… give them a go! On a side note. If you are unaware of why you are coughing and it is prolonged please see a doctor for a diagnosis before trying these remedies.

Here are some recipes and below them you can find some information on why they are so awesome.

1.Lemon and Honey Tea

Slice some lemons and place into a big tea pot. Fill with hot water and add a heaped tbsp of honey. A soothing tea to provide Vit C and coat the throat. Can be drunk hot or cold.

2.Pineapple Juice & Honey

Juice a pineapple and warm on the stove.  Mix 1 tbsp of honey into the juice. Warming the pineapple juice will help the honey to dissolve. Drink the mixture warm or you can chill it or pour it over ice for if you prefer it cold. The soothing effects of the warmer option will be more effective in addressing a cough.

3.Simple Onion Syrup

Slice one large onion and layer place a few layers in a clean jar. Top with honey then another few rings of onion. Repeat till all the onion is in and covered. Leave overnight. Use as a cough syrup throughout the day.

4.Onion Poultice

To make a poultice, you can peel and slice onions and fry them until they are brown, then place the tolerably warm onions between two large, clean washcloths or handkerchiefs and put it on your chest while breathing in deeply. Try and keep on the chest for at least 20 minutes. I find plopping the girls in front of the TV gives me a better chance that they will keep it on.

5.Honey Spoons

According to Dr. James M. Steckelberg of the Mayo Clinic, taking 2 tsp. of honey may be as effective as dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in many over-the-counter cough syrups. Honey coats the throat and soothes the rawness and irritation. Honey may help reduce congestion. Although it is rare, honey does pose a risk of infant botulism, so do not give honey to children under the age of 1.

6.Honey and Hot Water

Just another warm drink to soothe the throat. A teaspoon of honey in warm water and sipped on. A nice one for kids.

7.Apple Cider Vinegar Pillow

Dr. Earl Mindell writes in his book, “Dr. Earl Mindell’s Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar.” The scent of the apple-cider vinegar may soothe and calm your throat, making you less likely to cough throughout the night. So an easy and pain free one for kids just dab the pillowcase with apple-cider vinegar before bed and cross your fingers for a good night.

8.Almonds & Walnuts

Almonds are warming and thermal in nature. They are well used in Ayurvedic medicine. They are used for lung conditions including coughing and asthma. The easiest way to use them is to make almond milk

Soak 1 cup of almonds in water overnight. The next day blend with 3 cups of water. Strain and blend again with some honey. Drink. 

Walnuts can reduce inflammation and pain. Also warming thermal in nature with a sweet flavour. They help moisten the lungs and help relieve coughing and wheezing brought on by coldness. Roasting them and eating them will ensure that they are safe to eat as walnuts may harbour parasites.

9.Eucalyptus

A traditional herbal remedy for treating respiratory ailments and coughs, eucalyptus appears in numerous cough syrups, lozenges and other over-the-counter products. A herbal steam or vapor bath containing eucalyptus oil can relieve a dry or productive cough, it breaks up mucous and fights bacteria in the lungs. Bring 4 cups of  water to a boil, remove from the heat and add 20 to 30 drops eucalyptus essential oil. Inhale the steam for at least 15 minutes with a towel draped over your head to trap the vapor.

Medicinal Properties of Pineapple

Pineapple is not just a nice addition to a fruit salad! Rich in the enzyme bromelain, research has shown that pineapple can be effective in treating inflamed lung conditions that can be caused by excessive coughing, it can suppress the urge to cough more, according to the National Library of Medicine. The bromelain naturally present in pineapple may provide similar effects for asthmatic coughs as well. A perfect weapon to have in the medicine cabinet.

Medicinal Properties of Honey

Honey is a well known and respected member of the kitchen medicine cupboard. It has a coating and soothing effect on the body. As well as its mineral and enzyme component it moistens dryness and treats a dry or hoarse throat or cough.

Medicinal Properties of Onion

Onions are pungent and influence the lungs, they promote warmth and move energy through the body. They are commonly used for the common cold & for reducing phlegm and inflammation in the nose and throat.

Hope some of this works for you!

If you have any of your own recipes that we can try please leave them in the comments!

Happy Healing XX ~ Lana

Lana Purcell is certified as a Holistic Health Counselor by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she trained in more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. She is certified by the Board of American Drugless Practitioners. Lana is passionate about Whole Foods and Food as Medicine. She is also a Raw Foods Coach who offers workshops in the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria – Australia www.LanaPurcell.com

Causes of eczema
Internal factors: A family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever;
particular food ie. dairy and wheat products, citrus fruits, eggs, nuts, seafood, chemical food additives, preservatives and colourings.

External factors: Irritants -tobacco smoke, chemicals, weather (hot and humid or cold and dry conditions) and air conditioning or overheating; Allergens – house dust mites, moulds, grasses, plant pollens, foods, pets and clothing, soaps, shampoos and washing powders, cosmetics and
toiletries.
References: www.eczema.org.au ; www.medicinenet.com

Tips from the Wall:

• Coconut oil and shea butter
• Eczema is usually an external symptom of an internal issue. In my case, food sensitivity.
• Oatmeal bath
• Breast milk
• My daughter had a very bad case and after finding her food intolerances (gluten, dairy, treenuts) and giving them up (we did an elimination diet), she’s clear and smooth
• Cotton clothes
• Hazelwood necklace
• Oats in a stocking and pop the stocking in the bath, or crush oats finely and add loose to the bath
• ‘Surestop to Eczema’ – a natural serum
• Egyptian magic! Totally clears it up… It is olive oil, royal jelly, beeswax, honey, pollen and propolis.
• Vitamin D3
• No dairy
• Make dietary changes and remove all allergenic foods from diet, dairy, all grains (not just gluten) and soy.
• You could try omega supplements
• Goats milk soap
• If you are still exclusively breast feeding, it may be what you are eating. I’d cut out dairy first and see how she responds. If it doesn’t get better, I’d move to grains, especially wheat and corn.
• Children’s acidophilus is also the best start as far as supplements go. I have seen babies and children who’s eczema has gone after taking acidophilus (probiotic).
• Sunshine without sunscreen for 10 minutes helps to clear it up. Sometimes sunscreens can be irritants too, so find natural ones.
• Cut out soaps and shampoos for the moment. Use aloe vera plant extract to wash hair and body.
• Olive oil to help the scabbing skin not be too tight. Bicarb of soda in the bath will help fight the bacteria causing the flare-ups. You can wash clothes with bicarb and vinegar too. Any commercially prepared (natural or not) product will have preservatives and carrying agents in them so for the moment the more natural the better.
• Look at the internal balance by using probiotics and garlic tablets to get the body stronger to keep the balance.
• Calendula, cream or balm
• Probiotics, particularly LGG strain. Remove dairy from diet. Zinc and vitamin C plus Fish oils all for the skin. You can rub olive oil or Vit E oil into the skin if it is dry. For very angry, red skin try washing with some chamomile tea or oats to calm the skin down. Himalayan salt wash will help to stop the itch. Work out the underlying cause, often food sensitivity ~ The Ambaa Tree Natural Health Centre

In 2000, the rate of autism was 1 in 150 children. In 2008 that number jumped to 1 in 88 children and just recently the number has moved to 1 in 66 children. If you take into account that boys are 4 times more likely to develop autism than girls then the statistics become even more alarming. And since 1983 there is over an 800% increase in autism diagnosis. Now, these statements are all readily available over the internet and depending on which side of the controversy you fall, they will either shock you and make you question…”why” or you will say that the reason we have these numbers is because we now have changes in our diagnostic criteria that make it easier to identify autism.

But consider this, vaccines are created as a 1 size fits all. Smaller babies and preemies get the same doses as older children. No two people have the same genetic makeup, medical history or current health condition. So why is there no consideration given to individual circumstances? When you take a look at the vaccine schedule now and compare that with the schedule in 1983, you can see the amount of vaccines kids must have today. In 1983 children 0-6 years were required to have 10 shots.

Today, that number has risen significantly. Today, kids receive approximately 29 vaccinations and counting, 12 -14 of these by age 2 and many of which are now administered all at one time or in combinations like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Some people are allergic to bees or peanut butter or latex, so why is it not plausible that some kids are allergic to some of the many chemicals, toxins and adjuvants added to vaccines?

For some kids there is a tipping point whereby 1 of those required vaccines shuts down their immune system, or begins a breakdown of their immune system, which leads to having a spectrum or learning disorder. There is evidence that supports the fact that children who receive all vaccines recommended by the AAP, “are 14 times more likely to become learning disabled and 8 times more likely to become autistic compared with children who were never vaccinated”!!  Combine these numerous vaccines with fluoridated water, MSG, GMOs, toxic chemicals, both in the environment and in the food supply, and processed foods and all have been linked to autism spectrum disorders or learning difficulties on some level.

Jenny McCarthy says ‘green our vaccines’

Jenny McCarthy, President of Generation Rescue,  has never been anti-vaccine. She has clearly stated, time and time again that she is pro-vaccine. But, she wants to “green our vaccines” meaning that it is time to remove many of the horrific adjuvants that are used to “kick-start” the immune system, (which is the main reason for vaccines). Do you really want your newborn receiving aborted human fetal tissue, formaldehyde, monkey kidney tissue, MSG, bovine albumin, chick embryo fibroblasts, aluminum, newborn calf serum, just to name a few, injected into their perfectly healthy little bodies? And what about getting a combination shot? This means your child is getting 2, 3, sometimes even 5 times all of these ingredients in just 1 shot. Can you imagine what happens to your child’s body when that is all injected at 1 time? Your child’s body goes into double, triple, overdrive to try and process all of these ingredients, so that they develop an immune response.

Really think about this! Is it not possible that for some children, it is simply too much all at one time? Isn’t every child different? Could, for some, this all be just too much for them to process? It simply isn’t natural to do this to the body. When you get sick, you do not get the measles, tetanus, influenza and hepatitis all at once. The body usually fights one disease at a time. But when you vaccinate more than a single dose, you are asking the body to fight off numerous “illnesses” all at 1 time. Does it not make sense that this is unnecessary and possibly harmful?

What Jenny is suggesting is a safer vaccine schedule, one that would allow for single dose vaccines. The drug companies used to routinely offer this option, but it is getting much harder to request single dose shots. In fact, you can no longer get the MMR as 3 separate vaccines. So, yes, for some kids the MMR has been the “tipping point” for some children who, for whatever reason, cannot process those 3 vaccines all at once. It is a live virus and for a large majority of children diagnosed with autism, the live virus has been found in their guts as well as their brains.

Although this is hugely controversial, there are still as many scientific based articles for both sides. The point is, vaccines need to be made safer, or “greener” as Jenny puts it. And why not? It seems crazy that in today’s world of technology and advancement that we cannot come up with “cleaner” vaccines for our kids. We can put a man on the moon, but we can’t change the ingredient deck of controversial vaccines that may be harming our children…our future generations?

It’s time to educate yourself about vaccines and make an informed decision about them, not one based on fear tactics, or just because your doctor says so.

There are numerous “safer vaccines schedules” that are being more and more widely adopted by doctors as this controversy rages on. I urge you to look into these schedules and follow one of them. Even more, there are doctors now who are implementing single dose vaccines whenever possible and spacing them out. If your doctor will not do this, maybe it’s time to find one who will.

The ultimate goal is the safety of your child, and you as the parent need to do what you feel is best.

Do your research and make your decisions based on what works best for your family.

Kristen Wiseman has worked with a Supplement company to develop Mit-A-Mins, a range of supplements for children on the Autism Spectrum and continues to help families who call and write, working as a Rescue Angel for Generationrescue.org. Most recently Kristen has joined us as a member of our team for Natural Parenting Tips and has launched a new online business, www.familynutritionals.com, offering quality supplements along the lines of the Mit-A-Mins product, for both adults and kids.

You can read Kristen’s daughter Macie’s story at the Naturally Better Kids website.

References/Links:

Geier DA, Geier MR.  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 70: 837–851, 2007.
http://www.generationrescue.org/resources/science/autism-and-environmental-toxins/
http://www.generationrescue.org/resources/science/epigenetic-autism-research/
http://www.toomanytoosoon.org/
http://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Childrens-Vaccinations-About-ebook/dp/B001I3BQUQ

http://www.gulfwarvets.com/kids.htm

Mineral Dolomite contains Calcium & Magnesium

Calcium is a basic component of most animals and plants. It makes up three percent of the Earth’s crust and is most famously seen in the limestone white cliffs or Horse shaped carvings in the landscape from ancient times in England. It is found in many foods and is the most abundant mineral in the human body. It is very alkaline. 98% of our calcium is stored in our bones.

Calcium helps with blood clotting and normal heart rhythm. Calcium helps bind cancer causing substances in our bodies and move them out so no toxic harm results.

Irritability, post menopausal depression, polycystic ovaries and blood sugar control are all potentially helped by calcium – especially when given with adequate Vitamin D. As you come up to the menstrual cycle the calcium drops in the body so giving extra calcium around this time can help prevent period pain and headaches.

Calcium can be found in egg yolk, figs, dates, parsley, chick peas (hummus), almonds (in fact most nuts), miso, sesame seeds (tahini), kale (winter green vegetable), broccoli, watercress and silverbeet.

Magnesium is a light, silvery white metallic element that burns with a brilliant white flame. It gives energy up very quickly in chemical reactions and is involved in over 300 enzyme reactions in the human body. 64% is held in the bones of the human body.

Alcohol, coffee, sugar and stress use up magnesium in the body at a rapid rate depleting other vital minerals and vitamins as well.

Magnesium is rich in foods grown in magnesium rich soils such as grapes, bananas, avocado, wheat grass, almonds and most nuts, sunflower seeds, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli and capsicum just to name a few.

Health wise magnesium helps the adrenal glands and is key to our cellular energy. Fatigue, aches and pains, migraines, muscle cramps including period pain can benefit from magnesium.  Asthma can be improved with extra magnesium – it relaxes the muscles in the lungs.

Calcium and magnesium go best together in a slightly acidic solution. They are both very alkaline minerals and so a little acid such as cider vinegar or lemon or citric acid helps the minerals go into a solution so the body and cells can use them.

Calcium comes in gluconate and other forms and magnesium has many forms: magnesium citrate, magnesium in amino acid absorbable forms is also good. Bio-available absorbable forms are best.

If you have headaches, period pains, PMS, poly cystic ovaries with blood sugar problems, muscle tension or fatigue or menopausal symptoms such as anxiety or poor sleep it is worth trying some Calcium-Magnesium combinations as an extra supplement to see how much better you might feel. Take them at night with food for best absorption and tolerance.

Children can sleep better as well as adults for some extra magnesium and calcium. Children doses are smaller than adults and teenagers who are growing bones need more calcium than a fully grown adult. For example a teenager can have around 1300mg calcium per day and an adult around 1000mg.

For a sense of calm, better sleep and less pain in your body consider trying “ nature’s alkaline relaxers” – calcium and magnesium. As a holistic doctor I often prescribe them for helping a person relax and sleep naturally or for “tired and wired” women who need a better sleep.

Consult a health care practitioner for any details or questions about your health condition or your family’s health and how calcium and magnesium may benefit.

~ Dr Helen Smith
Dr Helen Smith is a Medical Doctor practising Holistic Medicine. Dr Helen’s areas of specialty include Well Woman Health Checks, Energy and Hormonal Problems for Women, Nutritional Medicine and Dietary Therapy. Dr Helen has worked in the area of holistic medicine for many years and has a special interest in children.

Food in the Nude

The reason I’m so excited, is that Michelle, the brains, heart, and passion behind Food in the Nude is a breath of fresh air in the wellness industry. - Michelle has a food science degree and is  a classically trained chef. When you meet her in person, her bubbly personality and energy would have you believe that she is MUCH younger than her experience affords, but Michelle has 18 years food industry experience.

As I know many of you are experiencing the challenges of introducing your children to a healthier lifestyle and perhaps battling with food intolerances and allergies, you can probably relate to some of what inspired Michelle’s journey;

Though well qualified, Michelle draws much of her knowledge from her own personal journey after healing herself from chronic health issues such as digestive troubles , adult acne, chronic fatigue, depression and low blood sugar.

After spending into the $1000′s on finding some answers to her health problems, Michelle discovered some simple changes to the way she ate could give her the vitality, energy, and health that she deserved.

She’s  passionate about inspiring others to eat and live well, Michelle has appeared on Australia’s channel 7′s today tonight and magazine publications such as good health magazine.

Now I could go on and on about Michelle, extolling her her virtues and telling you what a lovely, exuberantly, bubbly woman she is – and how I gravitate to how passionate she is about nutrition, and raising her lovely child to eat a diet that doesn’t just fill his tummy but nourishes his body and soul….

But you’ve really got to experience it for yourself

I’m really excited to share with you Michelle’s new eBook for a few reasons:

• Firstly, as a mom myself, I’m always after simple, practical ways to help my children eat well.
• I’m always on the run, with a business and three youngsters, so I find myself skipping breakfast, and not looking after my own nutrition. Michelle has busted all of my excuses!
• This guide is full of delicious, healthy recipes, that don’t require an expensive juicer – just a good blender. Anyone can get started right away.

So, Michelle and I have put together a special offer for Natural Parenting Tips readers – a special package on her new eBook:

 How To Look And Feel Fabulous Using Green Smoothies!

Green Smoothies are the number one ‘must do’ for looking and feeling vibrant!

These delicious and power packed drinks can help you:

• lose weight
• detox your body
• improve your energy
• assist in healing and preventing disease
• and more!

This Green Smoothies Recipes E-book contains 36 yummy and EASY recipes!  All you need is a blender and you’ll be loving your way to looking and feeling fabulous in no time!

And we’ll also include, the Baby Book of Weaning!

My guide shows you:

• How to develop healthy eating habits
• Why you don’t need expensive baby food recipe books
• How much you should feed your baby
• At what age your baby is ready to wean
• How to avoid expensive and unhealthy baby foods
• Possible allergens to watch out for
• The healthy foods your baby can eat
• How to avoid choking, what to do
• Research from the world health organisation and other medical studies

As a Natural Parenting Tips reader, you can purchase both the Baby Book of Weaning, and How To Make Freakin’ Awesome Green Smoothies for only $19.95

For only $19.95

Here are a few notes from some of Michelle’s past clients.

“I’ve lost a couple of kilo’s drinking green smoothies everyday! Probably because I am not snacking on junk, but the amazing thing is I havent even felt like it, which pretty good as there are always chocolates around at work!” Rochelle

“Originally i was very skeptical drinking green smoothies, but was pleasantly surprised to find them very enjoyable! I was even more amazed to find my energy increasing! They leave me feeling really fresh and awake!” Kate, Queensland

“Since drinking green smoothies everyday i have noticed my moods and energy have improved, much to my husbands delight!” Sarah, Mandurah

Children grow physically and mentally. While the physical part is fairly easy (more food), the emotional and mental component can be tricky, requiring more thought and patience while they develop their emotional intelligence.

1. Handling New Situations

When your child comes into a new situation they may not have much to go on when it comes to handling it. If they haven’t effectively handled their situation in the past, it is unlikely they will now how to handle it now. You will most likely know this situation very well. Your child hasn’t received something they want and are now shouting and screaming over getting it.

Handling It

You need to teach them how to handle the situation by either showing them how they can get what they want (which many times isn’t actually what they are asking for), that they will get it later or that they can get something else that they will be equally satisfied with.

Lead by example and talk to them. It might take a few or even what may seem 100 times to help them learn how to handle their frustration appropriately but over time it does work.

I never said this part was going to be easy it does take time. There are also physiological and biological reasons why they surface their emotions without much foresight or process and express information the way they do. The brain is incredibly complex and it is constantly evolving as your child is growing activating and expanding during different steps along the way. This one you will just have to wait until they grow older.

2. Attention

Whether its new siblings or you have just been busy recently everyone wants attention in some form. A child needs love and you are one of its major sources. As such in order to get it they can act out so they can at least spend a little more time with you, negative or positive.

Handling It

Simply put, spend more time with your children. No amount of distractions is going to stop this one for long. Go on a walk, play with them, be present. They are only kids for such a short time.

3. Communication

As children grow so does their vocabulary. However it isn’t always as up to date as the emotions they experience. It is bound to happen where a situation has occurred and they don’t know how to communicate it properly. This is when you get a child acting out that you think is unnecessary or you are unsure why.

Handling It

This is where talking really helps. Talk with them about their emotions and the situation. Teach them new words or ways to express themselves. Show them what you do when it happens to you.

4. Independence

We tell our kids what to do from the moment they are born. We do it to teach them how to handle themselves, to keep out of harms way and to do what we or society expects them to do. As adults we don’t like be told what to do and as your child grows from a baby to teenager to adult, neither do they. As they experience the same situation again and again they will become confident they can do it themselves. They will attempt to assert their independence at various times as they feel they are capable of handling more situations on their own.

Handling It

Tell them the reason they need to do something, how you would handle a situation then ask them what they would do. If they are doing it for a reason and not just because they have been told, they will be doing things for themselves but from your guidance. We need to guide our children not tell them what to do. They are some things you can let them do so they can experience the consequences, others that you have to logically tell them why they can never do it if it is a life or death situation.

5. Food Sources / Additives

As I have seen in my middle child time and time again, that certain foods, especially with additives cause him to be more emotional than normal. Additives have a huge effect on behaviour and many studies have proven it.

Handling It

Go back in time and stop them from eating it. If you don’t have access to a time machine, you will want to cut back to a raw food, fresh fruit and vegetable snacks for as long as possible. Your child’s body will have to process out all of these additives but by ensuring no more are going in, they will process them quicker and maybe even more effectively if the body has nutritious food that helps support liver, kidney and other body functions. You will also find out that they sleep better at night.

6. Excess Energy

Sometimes they have just had too much high energy foods or their body just needs to get out and do something.

Handling It

Easy, get physical. If it is hard to get physical, a mentally stimulating game may also help. Your brain uses a large amount of glucose and activating it further will cause it to increase even further burning off that excess energy.

7. You’re The One Acting Out

May be it has just been years with kids at home, sleepless nights recently or something stressing you out. Sometimes it just all gets on top of us. For me I know have sometimes been the one acting out. Outbursts when my kids have only just come in asking for something, politely or just making a noise playing. If they are not actually doing anything wrong, step back from what you are doing.

Handling It

Work out what is stressing you out, apologize to your children, talk to them about what happened and then do something about it. No parent is perfect, we all need help every now and then, just be mindful of when you need it and when you need to look after yourself so that you can enjoy, teach and be present for your kids.

If you have any suggestions or information on why or how to handle children acting out in a gentle, positive way please do share in the comments below or on our Facebook or Google+ page.

Teeth are made for biting, and it’s natural that your child is likely to want to test out their new chompers on any surface they can find. The trouble arises when mommy is the teething surface, or worse, other people.

It is very normal for a newly teething infant to test out their teeth on the breast, on fingers, on any surface that makes it’s way into their mouths. However, it’s not exactly pleasant for the “bitee”

Most children will grow out of the “toof testing” phase on their own – however, if you want to gently encourage your child to stop using you as a human chew toy, you can try the following:

How To Stop Biting While Breastfeeding

Understand why your child is biting. Sometimes it’s out of boredom, sometimes it’s out of impatience for let down, sometimes it’s because they’re teething and their gums hurt. Sometimes it’s because they’ve finished, and are just playing at the breast. If you can preempt the situations where your child will bite you, you can mostly avoid the nips.
Biting will generally come as a shock to a mother, and our natural reaction can be to yelp, or jump. Sometimes this is enough to discourage biting.

Some mothers have told me that the fright from Mom yelping was enough to start a “nursing strike” where the baby would refuse to breastfeed. If this does happen to you – persevere gently, patiently, and soothingly with your child, reassuring them with lots of snuggles, and eye contact that mommy loves them very much, and that it’s safe and OK to breastfeed.

While it hurts, try not to get angry, or impatient with your baby. This will only exacerbate the situation.

Say ouch, gently remove the breast, make eye contact and say “Mommy’s aren’t for biting, please feed gently” (or something to that effect)

If your baby is teething, you can offer them a teething toy, try an amber necklace (to wear, not to chew on) offer a cool wet flannel to chew on, or a carrot to gnaw on.

How To Stop A Toddler Biting:

If your toddler is a biter, the situation is a little different. Toddlers may bite for several reasons:

• It feels nice
• To assert control over their environment
• To gain the attention of a parent
• As a means of communicating
• To cause pain

None of the above reasons mean that your child is “naughty” or wrong – however their behavior is clearly something that isn’t socially acceptable.

Strategies that you can try to assist your little one to find better ways to use their teeth are:

1. Verbally explain that biting hurts, and it’s not nice to make people hurt.
2. Give them the attention they are seeking
3. Explain to your little one that you would never let anyone hurt them, and it’s not OK to hurt anyone else.
4. If they’re in a group situation with other children, remove them from the angst, give them a cuddle and verbally explain that they mustn’t bite others.
5. Offer them alternative ways to deal with their frustration and anger, and encourage them to communicate their feelings.
6. IGNORE other parents snide remarks about your “naughty” child. They’re not naughty, they’re normal, and try not to take other people’s remarks on board.

We’d love to hear your gentle strategies for stopping biting – feel free to comment !

Photo Credit: funky fat girl

It is our pleasure to share her powerful, and inspiring creation with you:

Uncovering the Secrets to Natural Birthing Bliss!

I’d like to share a personal story with you that has changed my life and now may change yours!

I was just five months pregnant with our first baby when I was fortunate to have the trip of a lifetime with my husband. It was very humid and misty, and as we approached one of the wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China, in all its glory, the tour guide said something I will never forget:

“There are two ways to climb The Wall— you can either go the hard way or the easy way.” He added, “Only the hard way is not so hard and the easy way is not so easy.”

At that point we were thoroughly confused!

This curious riddle managed to get stuck in my head and as they say, “drove me up the wall!” It really got me thinking many months later about it’s deeper meaning. I started to relate it to the journey into motherhood and life in general. There was so much wisdom there!

For instance, sometimes modern women believe booking themselves into an elective caesarean (“too posh to push” or just plain scared) or taking all the drugs is the easy way out because then they don’t have to feel anything, or can bypass the whole process.

Yet when you look at the big picture, it’s actually not so easy after all. In fact, I would say the opposite: choosing a medical birth is taking the hard road.

My personal journey into motherhood had such a profound impact on me, that it has inspired me to become an advocate of natural and conscious parenting, committed to supporting women to give birth naturally and to overcome their fears about birthing in a world that has become so medicalised and fearful of something so perfectly natural.

In my new book, A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Natural Empowering Birth, you will discover how to overcome your fears and reclaim your birth power. A collection of inspiring birth stories, expert tips and practical tools, this inspirational guide takes you on a powerful journey of discovery and gives you the keys to transforming your birth experience.

Generously sprinkled with inspirational quotes and topped with a compelling afterword by Dr Sarah Buckley, internationally renowned author, this is the ultimate mind -body preparation guide for every woman in bloom!

About the author, Katrina Zaslavsky

As a natural mother, formerly a public health professional, founder of Inspired Wellness and more recently Inspiring Birth Stories, together with a lifelong passion for healthy living, my calling is to awaken people around the world to live a more natural, conscious lifestyle. I am so inspired to walk this path personally and professionally.

Book launch pre-Xmas and available via www.inspiringbirthstories.com.au

Connect with other women and be inspired daily in our empowered community: https://www.facebook.com/InspiringBirthStories

Natural Parenting Tips has a copy of A Woman’s Guide To An Empowered Birth to give away!!

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