Here's the scenario: Your young son or daughter has been invited to a friend's birthday party. You know this family to some degree and are aware that their eating standards aren't the same as your family's.

The party will likely include white-sugar and food-dye cake, chips, pop and candy in the goodie bag, all foods which are standard no-no's in your own home.

What do you do in this situation?

1. Remember that birthday parties like this happen only occasionally, you eat well at home 90% of the time, and allow your child to eat freely at the party.
2. Try to fill your child up on good, whole foods at home, prior to taking them. Remind them on the drive that the foods that will be served aren't ones that will keep their body healthy, and that while it is ok to accept a piece of cake when offered, they should try to avoid other junk foods if possible, and look for better options (fruit or veggies, crackers and cheese, etc.). (And if you're with them at the party, this becomes easier to enforce).
3. Stay at the party with your child and bring along your own snacks. Inform the hosts prior to your coming that your child won't be partaking of the food offerings, and that you will be bringing them food from home instead. Tell your child that the foods at the party are yucky, and feel free to get into a discussion with the other parents at the party about why your child won't be eating along with everyone else.

Last week I was reading a book I picked up on sale while on summer vacation, but haven't gotten around to reading yet. It's called The Great Physician's Rx for Children's Health by Jordan Rubin. I have previously read and enjoyed The Maker's Diet (it was quite influential for me in my real food journey, actually). I knew that he would have solid information and suggestions, geared towards children's health in particular.

I was surprised to be so immediately turned off within the first chapters of the book, however, by the "holier than thou" attitude that I perceived in Dr. Rubin's and his wife's approach to shielding their young son from the dangers of processed foods. When their 3 year old son was invited to a birthday party, they came prepared with all of their own snacks from home.

He even proudly states at one point that their son has never eaten anything in his entire life that they do not consider to be "real food" (nothing processed or refined, no pasteurized or homogenized dairy products, no commercially raised grain-fed meat, no white sugar or table salt).

I'm not quite sure what world they live in, where they are able to have such complete and utter control over every single thing that ever enters his mouth- has he never been to a relative's home with different eating habits or to another family's home for dinner? Have they never been on the road or on vacation and needed to simply eat the best they could with the restaurants and choices that were available?

But I digress... back to the birthday party.

I know this is a hard area to deal with. I don't like allowing my children to eat processed, refined, toxic foods in the slightest. It makes me cringe, and as their mom, it's my job and responsibility to steward their health and train them in their eating habits.

Yet, as I've said many times before, people matter more than food.

Personally, I would opt for something along the lines of option #2 in the birthday party scenario, sending them with a full tummy and some words of wisdom, yet allowing them to graciously accept something celebratory like a piece of cake to enjoy with their friends. When I accompany them to parties, I encourage them towards the better options that are available, and allow them very limited amounts of the not-so-great options. But that's just me.

(And I'll even confess that although I'm usually the mom that makes the "weird" homemade spelt carrot cake with cream cheese icing colored pink with raspberry juice, this year I came down with an awful flu and was completely debilitated the day before my daughter's 7th birthday. We bought a store cake, for the first time ever. Sometimes, life happens, and my husband and I both felt that it was a priority for our daughter's party to continue as planned, whether mama was up for baking healthy cakes or not.)

I'm curious (and yes, I know this might spark a heated debate, so let's just use our big-girl words and keep it polite)...

What would you (or do you) do in this kind of scenario? How do you balance celebrations with others, while still guarding your child's health and nutrition?

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From my 4th month of pregnancy onwards, most early mornings would find me sneaking downstairs in the dark, donning sweatpants, a t-shirt and hoodie. After drinking half a glass of water, then filling my large glass back up to the top, I entered my private exercise studio, otherwise known as my husband's freezing cold, converted-garage music school studio.

Pointing the space heater directly at me (until I warmed up enough each morning to push it away), I would stick a pregnancy exercise video in to the computer and spend 20-40 minutes pumping iron. working up a huge sweat. doing mild cardio and toning.

My Personal Experience with Exercise in Pregnancy

It works. It really does.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was very good about spending 30-60 minutes almost every single morning doing pregnancy yoga, or else going for a long walk in the park or along the river. I had nothing to compare that pregnancy with, but I diligently kept up with my workouts because that's what the books told me to do and the yoga made my aching muscles more bearable.

With my second and third pregnancies, I wasn't very disciplined. I tried to stay active by taking my kids on walks to the park, gardening and other physical activities, but nothing consistent. I struggled with a great deal of sciatica and some minor blood sugar issues (with my second only), even though my pregnancies were still wonderfully healthy overall.

I'm not always good about including regular exercise in my life, but during the month before I found out I was pregnant with baby #4, I had set some exercise goals and was pushing myself to truly get in shape. I bought Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred. I didn't do it every single day, but at least 4 days a week. It was brutal, but I felt that my endurance and strength were increasing and I began to love doing it.

Once the first trimester morning sickness and fatigue hit this time around, I realized that although I had little energy to exercise, I really missed it and how good it had made me feel.

I found that I lacked the energy to do much those first couple of months, but once the nausea began to decrease and I wasn't dragging myself through each day, I knew that it was time to return to my morning exercise ritual.

Image by sean dreilinger

How I Worked Out This Pregnancy

I had already ruled out going to a gym, because I find it too impractical trying to get out of the house as a mom of littles, and after doing a trial week at the gym my husband attends, realized that I didn't like feeling self-conscious with others looking at me. The privacy of my own home felt best.

I compared a lot of pregnancy videos, looking at video length, type of exercise, intensity, and video reviews. After coming off of the 30-Day Shred (which is very intense and pushes you hard), I knew that I didn't want something too slow or gentle. I wanted to find an exercise video that still challenged me, pregnant or not.

After much searching, I settled on Lindsay Brin's Complete Pregnancy Fitness 4-DVD Workout Set. It includes cardio and toning routines for first, second and third trimester, as well as a post-natal bootcamp DVD to help you get back to your pre-baby body. Each video is about 40 minutes long, give or take. Some days I did a whole video, other days only half (due to lack of time, not because it was too strenuous).

Overall, I'd give these videos a 7.5 or 8 out of 10. I still felt that I could have worked out at a higher intensity, and would have liked more intense cardio portions. Most days, I would follow whichever version of an exercise was the most intense or difficult, rather than doing any of the modifications, and sometimes I threw in a few extra reps of something if the transition between exercises felt too slow to me. By doing this, I was able to mostly achieve the intensity that I wanted, and still had the flexibility to choose something more moderate on days when I was really tired or feeling sore.

I definitely appreciated that the videos went along with each trimester. This made it easy to figure out how hard to push myself at each stage of my pregnancy, plus the variety was nice.

There are plenty of other videos out there, and next time around (God willing), I'll probably add another video or two to my repertoire just for variety. I still have my original Gaiam Pregnancy Yoga DVD, although I have to confess that I have only touched it twice this entire time. I prefer the cardio and toning much better. I liked that all I really needed was the video and a set of weights (or you can also use two sets- heavy and light).

Image by chobecajero

What Are the Benefits of Exercise in Pregnancy?

• Improved circulation
• Healthier placenta
• Helps to moderate weight gain
• Easier recovery post-partum
• Increased energy
• Less back pain

For me, the most noticeable benefits were having more energy, and definitely decreased back pain and post-poned sciatica (it didn't come until around 35 weeks this time, compared to 24-30 weeks in previous pregnancies).

I also found that I was able to sleep more soundly than I have previously, and didn't even start sleeping with an extra pillow (for leg/back support) until this past week, at 37 weeks. I've been completely comfortable with no extra support at all!

Exercising Safely

I'll be the first to admit that this is not an area of knowledge or expertise for me. These are just a few things that I've learned by reading some books on pregnancy exercise and through the DVD set I've been using.

• Drink extra water before, during and after your workout
• Particularly if you plan to do a long workout, eat something with both carbohydrates and protein before beginning. If I was only doing a shorter workout, I found that I could go without eating first, but would definitely need a hearty snack immediately after.
• Listen to your body. If you just don't feel well that day (even if it's something that you can usually handle without a problem), just take it easy.
• If something hurts, stop. I can usually tailor sit during pregnancy quite comfortably, but last week the baby dropped very low and it began to hurt, so I've taken it out of my routine.
• Always warm up, and finish with plenty of stretching. I began to find the stretching so beneficial that on days when I simply don't have time for a proper workout, I still ensure that I fit in 5-10 minutes of stretching.
• Use videos/exercises intended for pregnancy. There are a lot of things to take into consideration with a body that is changing due to pregnancy. It's best to follow the instruction of someone who is more knowledgable than you are about how to adapt exercises to make them safe.
• Expect that you will workout at a level slightly below what you are usually capable of. I was frustrated at not always breaking a sweat each time I worked out with my new videos, but the one time I did push myself to workout like I had before pregnancy (I definitely pushed myself too hard), I felt it and realized that I had to take it down a notch.

Here are some more tips for exercising during pregnancy, and how to do it safely.

Image by fitnesmanru

Now That I'm at the End

Exercising throughout this pregnancy was one of the best decisions that I made. I've been a bit busier since December and struggling to get in as many workouts as I did during the fall, and the difference is noticeable to me. I actually begin to crave it when I miss more than a day or two.

I'm 38 weeks pregnant now and plan to continue right up until the day I deliver. As soon as I get the go-ahead from my midwife, I will be back to moderate exercising for a faster recovery and to help prevent post-partum depression.

For me, exercise has made such a difference. It isn't miraculous and doesn't solve every pregnancy struggle. Have I finally hit a wall of exhaustion? Yes. Did I ask my husband the other morning whether I was this miserably uncomfortable and emotional at the end of my other pregnancies? You bet I did. (And his answer? "Yes, sweetheart, every time." It's good to be reassured that this is par for the course!).

Still, I'm a pregnancy exercise convert. You can bet you'll find me back in the garage with my videos next time around.

How about you? Have you exercised during your pregnancies and what results or benefits did you notice?

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Find the first 6 steps in yesterday's post...

Written by Rachel, Contributing Writer

7. Have a Quiet Time with Gratitude and Prayer

We are wives, we are mothers, we are always serving others and sometimes we forget to serve or spend time with the Lord. Having a quiet time helps us to understand the grace He has given us so we can extend that grace to others including our little ones.

We're also able to pour our concerns on Him and we begin to have a healthier positive mindset by getting into the Word. We are able to give Him gratitude and pray as well. This is something I need to work on more and as I adjust my schedule I am going to make certain I do this.

Action step: choose an devotional book or a book of the Bible to read during your quiet time and make it a priority to spend time with the Lord everyday. As soon as you wake up in the morning, give God thanks for 10 things in your life. Here are 3 tips to make it little easier in the morning

8. Set Goals

God gave all of us dreams and I'm not talking about having a million dollars or unattainable dreams that are most likely only fantasies. He put the dreams in your heart and wants you to accomplish them, He wants the best for you! Zig Zigler states it best when he says "Every choice you make has an end result."

When you set goals you figure out your priorities. Some goals include: spiritual, family, physical health, financial, and even how to be a better mother/wife and your purpose. Write your goals out, make a plan, and take action steps or choices towards those goals. For example, if you have always wanted to write a blog, well you need to write that down and make steps towards that goal.

Action step: check out Money Saving Mom's post about deciding your goals and this free printable goal worksheet here

9. Spend Time With Your Family (including date nights and time by yourself)

Family time is so vital. It gives you an opportunity to celebrate, to talk about faith and pray together, time to make memories, and impact your little ones lives. Your children need to know they are heard and loved.

It is not the school or church's job to teach your children. It is our job and what better way to teach life experiences than by doing life with your family, teaching them what is means to be a man or women of God by being an example or showing them how to make healthy choices by choosing to make healthy meals.

photo credit

This goes along with number 4 yesterday, you have to schedule family time or you might get wrapped up in everything else that you neglect family time. We are about to open a new business and we're both concerned about juggling family time with owning a growing business so we sat down the other night and made out schedule which included blocks of family time. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" and I don't want to fail at having family time.

You also need to have time to yourself as a mother as well as dates with your husband to keep your fire burning and to reconnect.

Action step: start with adding 2 hours of family time  every week and try to eat 4 meals (at the dinner table) together. If you already do those, set up some family devotion times or challenge your family in some way. Take a date with your hubby this month, here are some frugal ideas for dates at home

10. Do Your Research

If you are reading this post, it's likely that you do your research and find out ways to better your health and family. Do not just listen to what someone including your mom, your medical doctor, your school or anyone else tells you to do or think. Research what ever it is that you are trying to figure out before just taking someones word for it. Some people may mean the best but may be misinformed.

How and why to research:  I'm sure you have questions, they could be about faith, family, health, etc. Make a plan to figure out answers, ask friends and family, research online and on blogs (most bloggers aren't professionals but write what they do and what works for them, so try to find bloggers whose opinions you feel you can trust).

Once you get opinions from others or professionals, dig deeper or even get second opinions if you have to. Pray about it and make your own conclusions! When you research you become a more informed consumer as well being able to stand firm in your decisions.

Action step: What questions do you have? what are you concerned about? Choose one of them and research about it, find the answers and share about it with us!

11. Get Enough Sleep

It's a no-brainer that getting enough sleep is important to your health and well being. You know this but it doesn't mean you actually get enough sleep or even understand why.

Getting enough sleep helps you to be a happy and healthy mom or wife or both and helps you to function properly and have a good attitude. Here are 8 tips for getting quality sleep which describes the benefits and what you can do to get enough sleep.

Action step: the Mayo Clinic suggests 7-9 hours of sleep, compare how much sleep you are getting and if it's not within the recommended amount write down steps you can take to get more sleep

12. Optimum Nerve Supply

You may be thinking, what in the world is she talking about? God created our bodies in a unique way, he put the power to health and healing in our brains.

For you to do anything, to birth your babies, your scabs or broken bones to heal, to breathe or your heart to beat, your brain sends messages down your spinal cord and out through the nerves to every tissue, cell and organ in your body. All of that is happening now as you read this post. That is your nervous system at work.

photo credit

The proper alignment of your spine is what controls the health of your nervous system. There are all kinds of things that can cause misalignment's in your spine that are not allowing your body to function properly, that could be causing headaches, your children's ear infections, and sickness or even other problems.

Through chiropractic adjustments, the body can restore proper function. Chiropractic care is for everyone including kids, read more about our story here. Our children have been adjusted since birth, so we attribute them not getting sick very much to that.

Action step: start by reading more about wellness chiropractors then get your family's health evaluated from a wellness chiropractor.

I hope you will take some of these steps to a healthier life and live to your fullest. The best things we can do are to write things down, make a plan of action to get goals accomplished, get back up if we fail fall, get support from our friends and family and to start walking those steps towards a more maximized life!

What helps you to stick with goals that you set? How do you intend to work towards your new goals for 2012?

Top image by lachlan

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

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Written by Rachel, Contributing Writer

It's January, so we all know what that means... New Year's Resolutions.

Did you know that according to Time Magazine, most of these so-called resolutions fail after 9-10 days? So, if your wrote any you probably already stopped or quit one or more of them. Dictionary.com defines resolution as a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

A couple of reasons why we fail at resolutions are we're too busy and we're too broad. What we need to do is say exactly what our goal is and how we will accomplish it. We need to take baby steps, and not think "all or nothing!" Sometimes I fall into the pit of giving up because I'm not doing what I should be or what I think I should be doing. I say don't make resolutions! Take steps towards the goals or "resolutions" you want to accomplish. 

Let's take exercise for example. Maybe starting or exercising more is one of your goals, so start by making small attainable steps towards that goal like walk this week, then next week walk twice, then after a while you can jog, and so on. We are all on the fast track, we have a want "it" now mindset, but taking steps towards a healthier life takes time, mostly because you have to break old habits.

I have come up with steps to take to become healthier this year. Steps that I believe will help in all aspects of life: Emotionally, Mentally, Physically, Spiritually, and they are steps I want to take (and improve on) to become healthier this year as well!

Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern the will of God, which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

1. Choose Whole Foods

If you are a reader here at Keeper of the Home, this is no secret to you! Whole Foods are the most nourishing foods you can give your body. I heard this quote somewhere, "If it's natural eat it, if it's not, stay away from it."

Our bodies were created to eat God food, not Man food. God foods are whole foods like: fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, whole grains, and healthy fats. Man foods are: overly processed "food" with ingredients you can't read, with additives like msg, food dyes, artificial flavors and sweeteners, refined sugar and the list goes on.

For example, Kraft Mac & Cheese, McDonald's chicken nuggets, Coke, or Cheetos among a kazillion other things are some man foods.

photo credit: Kath Eats Real Food

I'm not saying you should never eat processed foods, but an important step to take would be to read the ingredients. Find out if the ingredients have whole foods that are going to nourish you and your body. To read more about baby steps in the right direction, click here or to find list of healthy sources click here.

Action step: replace man food with God food

2. Think Positively

This is pretty self explanatory, but if you are thinking negatively about things, it's not a surprise that you are not living to your fullest. Is your glass half empty or half full? Moses thought he wasn't good enough and gave many excuses to God why he wasn't but God didn't care, He had a purpose for Moses.

Remember that God has a plan for you, too, and leave the negative self talk behind.  The Mayo Clinic reports that Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive tinging and optimism on health. Health benefits that postive thinking may include:

• Increased life span
• Lowers rates of depression
• Lowers rates of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Better coping skilles during hardships and times of stress  {source}

3. Make Time to Exercise

The benefits of a little exercise far out weigh my "I don't feel like it" excuses but sometimes I still put it on the back-burner, however, if this is one your goals, which it is one of mine, I hope you will find time to do it.

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There are simple ways to incorporate more exercise into your daily routine. Try exercise videos from your library. Mindy from The Purposed Heart says she loves to do the videos with her one year old and loves seeing him have so much fun. Do activities you enjoy and even get your kids involved; when the weather is nice take a walk with them.

If you only have 10 minutes in your day, try burst training. Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, combats health conditions and disease, helps you to sleep better, helps reduce depression, boosts your energy levels and makes you feel better about yourself.

Action step: take 15 minutes two days this week to do some kind of physical activity

4. Follow a Schedule

To be short and sweet, every second in the day has a purpose, whether it is nursing a baby, washing the dishes, writing a blog post, or eating dinner. If you don't make a plan, than you may be losing valuable time.

I know this is very true for me, sometimes I find myself at the end of the day saying "what did I get done?" Sometimes, I didn't need to get anything done but to spend time with my little ones, but other times I find that I spent too much time on facebook instead of doing x, y and z. No schedule should be set in stone but having one that is used as a guideline helps you get more things done that you want to get done and brings order to the home.

Action step: start by using Ann Voskamp's The Daily Draft to get on a daily schedule

5. Reduce Toxins

Toxins are poisons and the are found everywhere in our everyday lives. There are so many that we simply cannot remove all of them but we can reduce them. Toxins are found in the environment, in the foods we eat, and even what we clean our home with. These toxins are hazardous to our health and cause sickness and disease.

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I know that can sound overwhelming, but you can take baby steps to find out more about where toxins are and how to remove them.

Action step: replace your conventional household cleaners with natural ones or even make your own

6. Use Natural Personal Care Products and Home Cleaners

Number 5 above pretty much summarizes the need to use natural beauty and house cleaners. Your skin is your largest organ and it soaks up everything you put on it and/or it exposed to.

Just as there are warnings against second hand smoke, the hazardous labels on these products should say that the fumes are toxic and your skin soaks them up. Stephanie, Keeper of the Home owner and editor wrote an informative post here that explains even more about personal care products.

Action step: switch one of your make-up products to a natural brand

Tomorrow we'll continue on with the last 6 steps to a healthier life... 

What are some baby steps that you plan to take towards healthier, more natural living this year?

Top image by lachlan

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Am I the only one who finds the holidays a struggle with all of the sugary temptation? I'm over at Simple Organic, talking about an important thing that we can do to help our bodies combat the sugar overload...

Holidays are a time for indulging. We stuff ourselves on turkey feasts, swear that we couldn’t eat another bite, and then happily inhale a scrumptious piece of pumpkin pie. We attend multiple social functions, each one presenting its own array of sweet treats or special drinks.

Kitchens are full of temptation, as we bake cookies or make fudge to give as gifts and stocking stuffers (and sneak just a little taste ourselves).

I (unfortunately) find that I eat a lot of sugar during the Christmas season. Certainly more than I usually would. Most of us do, despite the fact that we know so much sweetness isn’t good for us in a multitude of ways.

If I had written this post a month ago, I might have given you tips on cutting back on sugar during the holidays, healthier alternatives and that sort of thing. But it’s a little late for that now. The damage is done, the sugar consumed. So now what do we do?

Read the rest of the post at Simple Organic.

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Written by Courtney, Contributing Writer

The foods we consume and the lifestyle we live form the foundation of our health. The nutrients in the foods we eat are the building blocks for all of the biological activity within the various systems of our bodies. Disease occurs when our bodies lack the nutrients necessary to perform these functions properly.

This can be due to a poor diet, an inactive lifestyle, harmful chemicals we inhale or absorb through our skin, or undue stress from a reliance on our own strength to get through the day to day instead of finding our strength in the Lord.

There are a multitude of vitamins and supplements to help support our hurried lifestyles and sometimes less-than-ideal  food choices. Walk into any grocery or discount store and you can become overwhelmed with the supplements available to you.

Are Supplements Necessary?

Over the years, I've wrestled with the idea of using vitamins and minerals to supplement my family's diet. I have mixed feelings about supplements.

Ideally, I believe we should obtain vitamins and minerals through the diet, just like we do the macronutrients protein, fats, carbohydrates. When we select nutrient-dense nourishing foods, the nutrients obtained from them are in their natural state in the proper ratios and are easily absorbed and utilized most effectively within the body. Supplements can contain imbalanced ratios or poor quality nutirents that pass through the body without being absorbed and used. This is certainly the case with synthetically-formulated supermarket vitamins.

Now, on the other hand, we can't deny the fact that the soil we tend today is inferior to that which our ancestors once enjoyed. Our current agricultural system has stripped the soil of the majority of nutrients necessary for strong, healthy plant growth. As a result, plants cannot withstand disease and pests and thus need to be doused with strong chemical fertilizers to grow in the first place and pesticides to stay alive.

Our conventional fruits, vegetables, and grains are anything but thriving. Because the health of the soil is critical for plant health, today's grains and produce contain a fraction of the nutrients they once did. Organic produce is healthier, but no doubt still affected by conventional farming methods.

For this reason, it may be wise to include supplements in our diet. Which ones and how much are tricky questions, though, and should be based on a variety of factors, taking into consideration things like the availability of local seasonal foods as well as past and current health history.

With the exception of cod liver oil, my family doesn't take vitamins or other supplements on a regular basis. We will sometimes take muilti-vitamins and occasionally specific vitamins or minerals to treat a specific illness or when a deficiency is suspected. I typically take a multi-vitamin throughout most of my pregnancies and during most of the first year or so while breastfeeding,  just for that peace of mind. I will sometimes keep a supply of chidlren's multivitamins on hand for stretches of reduced appetites or to boost little immune systems during periods when illness abounds during the winter months. Honestly, though, my biggest concern during those winter months is a lack of vitman D, which we do get through the cod liver oil.

I understand the dangers and pitfalls of vitamin supplements, namely the tendency to eat more carelessly while on them and the incredible spectrum of quality among the different types and brands out there. I'm careful to not rely on them, but instead to use them wisely and sparingly only as needed. We seek to meet the majority of our nutritional needs through food. Thoughtfully selecting nutritious foods and preparing nourishing meals is a priority and something I take much joy in as a mother.

A Homemade Herbal Mixture to Supplement a Healthy Diet

I've learned that herbs can be an excellent way to support a healthy diet and over time, I've come to rely on herbal preparations where I once counted on vitamin pills. Many whole food-based vitamins do contain concentrated foods and herbs to supply vital nutrients, and this is ideal when selecting a good vitamin source.

I'm not saying all vitamins are bad or that you should stop taking them. We still take vitamins from time to time, especially to treat illnesses since we don't rely on conventional medicine. But for the most part, I like to use herbal powder mixes in place of the packaged vitamin for a number of reasons.

1. Nutrients straight from whole foods/herbs are more bioavailable, meaning they are best absorbed because they are in their natural form along with the proper ratio of complimentary vitamins and minerals that aid in their absorption.
2. Concentrated herbal powders contain more than just vitamins and minerals. Phytochemicals in the forms of cartenoids and flavonoids, for instance, are present in dried herbs, but not all vitamin supplements contain them. Phytochemicals are beneficial for a number reasons, probably the most important being their antioxidant properties.
3. Herbal powders don't contain any sweeteners or additives.
4. I can alter my herbal powder mixes to meet specific needs during different ages or stages. (For example, during my first trimester of this pregnancy, I included ginger root powder in my herbal mixture to help improve digestion and alleviate fatigue and nausea. I've also included eleuthero root in the past to boost energy and help combat stress and lemon peel for extra vitamin C.)
5. Herbal powder preparations are less expensive than vitamins, and when I throw together my own herbs instead of purchasing prepared herbal powders, the savings are even greater.

Wheatgrass: Wheatgrass is the highlight of this powder mix. It is a very concentrated source of a multitude of nutrients, including beneficial enzymes that make it so easily digestible. It contains all essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, and is particularly known for it's high chlorophyll and mineral content. It is rich in B vitamins and vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. There are  entire books just on wheatgrass and its benefits. Some say it nourishes and revitalizes practically every cell and every system within the body. I'm sure some of its claims are exaggerated, but I'm convinced it's good stuff! I like to grow my own because it's so easy and grows so quickly, but when I do, we juice it and consume it that way. For this herbal mix, I purchase wheatgrass powder from my local food co-op. I'm sure it would be simple to grow and dehydrate your own, though!

Barley Grass: A complete protein (contains all essential amino acids), barley grass also contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals, noted for its high amount of calcium and iron in particular.

Oat Straw: A good source of protein, B vitamins, vitamin A, and several minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and iron. Oat Straw is great for a number of things, but is best known for its positive effect on the nervous system and its ability to stabilize blood sugar.

Alfalfa: Alfalfa has always been one of my favorite herbal supplements! It is a rich source of  minerals due to it's deep roots that soak up trace minerals from far beneath the soil. It is a good source of vitamins, particularly vitamin A, C, E, and K. It contains a great amount of chlorophyll and is another complete protein.

Spiriluna: A blue-green algae containing large amounts of chlorophyll (green) and phycocyanin (blue), spiriluna's benefits are numerous. It is another excellent and complete source of protein and a good source of several essential fatty acids, it also contains a great amount of vitamins and minerals.

Kelp: Kelp is a great source of minerals. I especially appreciate kelp powder for its high amount of iodine. We use real salt, sourced from the sea and unrefined. Real salt contains iodine but not in significant amounts. Iodine is critical for many body functions, particularly metabolism and thyroid function. It is best sourced from sea food, but but for a diet lower in seafood, kelp is an excellent supplement.

Fennel Seed Powder: Fennel seeds are a good source of minerals, particularly rich in iron, and contain vitamins A, C, E, and some B vitamins, as well as other antioxidants.

Stinging Nettle: Well-known for a variety of functions within the body. It is espeically rich in iron and contains plenty of vitamin C for iron absorption. It is also high in vitamin K.

Dandelion: Where do I even begin? Dandelion is rich in B vitamins, vitamins A, C, and E and is a good source of the minerals potassium, iron, and zinc. It is a mild cleansing and detoxifying herb, but not so much so that it can't be used safely during pregnancy and in young children. Stephanie describes the benefits of dandelions and shares her own experience harvesting and drying her own dandelions here.

Rose Hips: Probably one of the best sources of vitamin C, rose hips is also desired for it's rich source of carotenoids, including beta-carotene, lycopene and luetin, and other antioxidants. This makes rose hips great for boosting the immune system and protecting cells from oxidative damage.

Tumeric: This is an overall fantastic herb, not to mention a tasty culinary spice! A good-quality tumeric found in a bulk herb or health food store supports many systems within the body. It is a fantastic antioxidant, contains a number of vitamins and minerals, and is also notable for how well it supports healthy metabolism.

Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional yeast contains a decent amount of fiber and protein as well as some trace minerals, namely zinc and selenium, but it is best known for its high amount of B vitamins.

 

This recipe is not perfect, but it is my attempt at ensuring my family receives an abundant supply of nutrients from natural sources.I have altered this powder mix as I discovered new herbal sources of specific nutrients to meet specific needs. As you can see, this current recipe contains an abundance of B vitamins. I sought to add more sources of B vitamins early in my current pregnancy to be sure I was getting an adequate supply and to try to help with severe exhaustion. I also wanted to ensure an adequate supply of naturally-sourced and highly absorbable iron, so that is not lacking here, either.

The Perfect Addition to Your Daily Smoothie or Fresh Juice

How do we take this herbal concoction?

My family loves smoothies! We make up a family-sized batch nearly every morning. My ten year-old daughter has taken over the task of preparing our morning smoothies because she finds so much satisfaction in creating various combinations of this nutritious treat. We sometimes call her our "Smoothie Girl" in because of her love of this task.

We simply add what we call our "super power powder" with whatever we decide to throw into the blender that day. We rarely follow recipes for smoothies. It really just depends on what we have on hand and what sounds good at the time. A typical smoothies contains about half veggies and half fruit along with either water or yogurt. We sometimes dress up our smoothies with freshly-ground flax seeds, chia seeds, coconut oil, fish oil, raw eggs, fresh parsley (or other herbs), or anything else that sounds nutritious and delicious.

Kale and spinach are our favorite go-to greens, probably the base of most of our smoothies. Other favorite smoothie veggies are beets, carrots, celery, tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers, and chard. Our favorite fruits for smoothies are bananas and berries, particularly blueberries and raspberries. Other fruits we often add are mangoes, pineapples, avocados, peaches, and pears. We try to use either seasonal or frozen fruit.

Over time, we've learned to gauge how much to add without measuring, so I'm not a great source of smoothie recipe amounts, even though we've tried just about everything! We make enough for my older children and I to have about 8 ounces each, while the younger ones (5 and under) get about 4-6 ounces each.

We add about 1/4 -1/3 cup of the herbal mixture to our smoothie batch, which ends up being about one tablespoon each for the older children and myself and about 1/2 tablespoon or so for the little ones. Some days we use more or less or leave it out altogether, depending on the type of smoothie we're making. Also, it's not something we take daily, just most of the time.

Interestingly, my youngest children devour their smoothies faster and seem to enjoy them even more than the older ones do. I think it's because they were accustomed to drinking such a variety of fresh flavor combinations at a much earlier age. Smoothies are a great way to serve fresh fruits and vegetables in a very digestible form to babies and toddlers! Serving them early in the morning gets them off to a great start and ensures they fill up on plenty of essential nutrient-dense foods, which is very important in the early years when their little appetites wax and wane.

I do want to remind you that I am not an expert in nutrition. I'm simply a mom who wants to provide the best foundation of health for my family. I believe the food and herbs God created are the best way to nourish my family, and I am delighted to share with you some of the creative ways I've learned to do so! I'd love to hear your input as I know my herbal powder recipe is far from perfect. I'm always learning new ways to keep my family well-nourished and healthy.

Do you find value in either packaged supplements or concentrated powdered herbs like what I shared here? Do you have suggestions for improving the herbal powder recipe I mentioned above?

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It was nearly one year ago that I first began to share about my experience with burnout.

Last January, I shared very candidly about the circumstances and lifestyle choices I had made that had pushed me to a place of spiritual, mental and physical breakdown. It was undoubtedly one of the hardest times of my life, and yet I have learned so much and come so far since that time, that a friend encouraged me to share what my journey out of burnout has looked like.

A Timeline

This is sort of an bird's eye view of the journey that I've been on:

• August 2009- Birth of third child
• Fall 2009- Began a season of challenging life circumstances, and did not allow myself to rest and recover from birth, but instead pushed myself too hard to keep going, started writing a new book, and landed myself in the hospital with a serious infection
• Winter 2009/10- More family health issues (mostly my husband), lost several family members to cancer, travelling for work.
• Spring 2010- Frantically trying to complete my 2nd book, prepare to launch a new website, attend another work conference, and move into a new home.
• Summer 2010- Launched second website, moved, tried to keep up with gardening and preserving, all the while beginning to experience early signs of burnout and depression.
• Fall 2010- Realized that I was really becoming undone, started admitting that I needed help, made a plan to sell my new website, but still pushing myself as we began the new homeschool year and I kept up with both businesses.
• Early Winter 2010- Finalized details for selling website, began to make plans for rest and recuperation in the New Year.
• Winter 2011- Website officially sold in early January. Started Wellness series here on Keeper of the Home. Began reading as much as I could on depression, adrenal fatigue and spiritual depression. Started to allow myself to rest, began taking supplements and eating specifically to heal my body, and significantly cut back my schedule, both work and personal. Took a 2 day personal retreat.
• Spring 2011- Starting to feel that the fog is truly lifting. Energy is returning, after 2 months spent doing very little but resting. The spring sunshine helps a lot. I continue to try to give myself more grace to rest and recover, and undertake a one-week physical cleanse to rejuvenate my body. Prepare to go to the Philippines with Compassion International.
• Summer 2011- Travel to the Philippines (an amazing trip), return home to discover that my friend who was battling cancer is now terminal, and also that I am newly pregnant with #4. Spend the summer trying to rest, doing the bare minimum in the home, grieving and spending time with our friend and especially her family after she passes in July. Realize that although I am better in so many ways, I still don't have a lot of extra reserves for taxing circumstances.
• Fall 2011- Energy is returning with the pregnancy. Spend some time working for our family music school, in addition to my business, but this time my husband and I make a plan for extra childcare and household help, and I postpone starting homeschool until my work load lightens up. Perhaps I'm learning a little. :)

Caring for Myself- a Novel Idea That Actually Works

This brings me to these past couple of months, during which I have continued to find new ways to keep a more manageable schedule and do things that keep my body and spirit healthy.

I signed up with the Hello Mornings challenge, to give myself the added inspiration to get up early for exercise and regular time with the Lord. This was one of the best things I did this fall. I had to force myself to go to bed earlier as much as I could (always a good thing).

The physical exercise was so refreshing and has helped me to remain mostly comfortable and energetic as I pass the 30 week mark in this pregnancy. The regular time with God each morning was simply healing and life-giving. I needed it so much more than I knew.

I've been careful to ensure that I am getting enough irons, minerals, cod liver oil (fatty acids and Vit A and D), among other things throughout the pregnancy, like eating enough protein and trying to drink plenty of water. I also did a 2-month sugar-free diet (along with a host of other food restrictions) to help heal my gut and reduce Candida yeast, which I know has been helpful. I don't succeed every day at doing/eating everything I should, but being as consistent as I am able to really does make a noticeable difference.

Balancing Blogging with Life

Learning to balance blogging work with life has also been an important part of my journey. Here are a few things that I have given up:

• Most social media. I am still on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, but my participation level is very, very minimal (5 minutes per day or less, and sometimes not at all).
• Writing as often. I have brought on more writers over this past year, and this has been such a good decision. They add so much amazing knowledge and unique perspectives, and writing only twice per week (for KOTH- I do some other writing as well) is manageable and enjoyable for me.
• Doing it all myself. I have increasingly been hiring work out, like design or technical work, and have added a fabulous Virtual Assistant, Lindsey, to the KOTH team.
• Book writing. I took a year and a half off of writing anything beyond my blog and a few online articles for other sites. No new book projects, until just this past month when I took on two small projects that I felt I was finally ready for.
• Working during the day. My goal is to not get on my computer before noon (except for checking in with my Hello Mornings group and putting up the newest post on Facebook). Other than that, I aim to spend my mornings exercising, doing devotions, serving breakfast, and then homeschooling. This has been immensely helpful. Instead, I work on Tuesday afternoons (with a mother's helper), in the evenings after the children are in bed, and just recently on Fridays when my husband is able to be home with the children, and occasionally pop on to check email in the afternoons. I try to avoid doing much on the weekends as well, and no more crazy late nights or early mornings.

Has All of This Really Made a Difference?

In a word, yes.

I wouldn't say that I am back to the ideal place that I would like to be, healthwise. I am probably back to functioning at about a 90% capacity, but compared to those times a year ago when it was more like 20-40%, that is a vast improvement.

I still occasionally struggle with mild depression. I still sometimes push myself too hard and begin to feel that burnt out feeling. I can tell when my stress levels are too high, because I begin to sleep more poorly, find myself irritable and emotional, and get eczema on my hands. I'm more aware of how I am doing, and am quicker to take steps to make things better.

There's a reason this post is about my journey, not simply my recovery. It is truly a journey, one that I am definitely still on.

I have learned so much through this experience:

• I really, honestly cannot do it all. Not even close.
• I need to be far more dependent on the Lord than I ever realized before.
• It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help.
• It is not a sign of weakness to need to rest.
• When we pick up extra things, something else has to give. The equation doesn't work if we constantly add, add, add and never subtract.
• Caring for my physical body and my emotional health is not selfish. It enables me to care for my family from a place of wholeness and strength.
• Life is meant to be enjoyed, something I still struggle with. But it is a very good and God-given thing to have fun, to laugh, to take delight in people and experiences and the things that He has given us.
• Our bodies are intricately and wonderfully made. The Lord often uses our health to speak to us, if we're willing to listen.
• No amount of personal productivity, or success in meeting my own goals, or even doing "good" things for others, is worth damaging my relationships with God or my family for. Ever.

Thank you for letting me share my story, both last year and now. I am thankful and humbled to be in community, not only with the women in my "real" life who have loved me so well, but also with all of you. So many of you shared your stories and struggles so vulnerably as well, and it is a privilege to walk this journey with you.

Have you ever walked through a season of burnout? What have you learned about keeping yourself healthy, and what actions do you take when you feel yourself becoming unbalanced?

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Written by Rachel, Contributing Writer

With my husband being a doctor, I have learned and am constantly learning new information about things in our everyday life that are dangerous to our health and are making our bodies toxic.

Although you might not know it, there are environmental, household, food and life factors that play a role in how toxic you are. From the moment of conception to your current age, you have been around "stuff" that has gotten into your body (and even your mind) and could possibly causing you to suffer from health problems. Sometimes it's easy to make statements like "A little won't hurt me!" or "Everything's going to kill us some how so what's the big deal?" However, God gave us wisdom to make the right decisions for our family.

"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live." Deuteronomy 30:19

I am almost certain God planned for us to choose to live a healthy life! In the modern age of convenience, it's true, we simply can not avoid everything, however, there are steps we can take to help our children and family lessen our toxicity in our bodies and live a healthier life.

If you take one step at a time you won't get overwhelmed! As you read about these toxins to remove from your life, I encourage you to think about some baby-steps that you may want to take and to dig deeper and research to find out the "why" for yourself. When you find the why for choices you and your family make, you can help teach others.

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1. Household Cleaners

Everyday cleaners found on the shelves of grocery stores are full of petrochemicals that are hazardous to our health. When you clean with them, they get into the air and are sucked into the air vents which keep releasing the toxic fumes out.

Take a spray cleaner for your kitchen counters for example, every time you clean, not only do the chemicals get released into the air but also leave a residue on the table (even though you wiped it up) where food is prepared and then eaten.

• Alternatives: Seventh Generation or Dr. Bronner's products are great. You can even make your own multi-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, air freshening, and many other types of cleaners, especially ones using a small handful of simple, frugal ingredients.

2. Water

Do you really know what you are drinking or cooking with when you use tap water?

Tap water has been treated with Chlorine, Fluoride and over 300+ other chemicals so it's no surprise that this water can cause an assortment of health problems including: bone disease,  thyroid function, reproductive function, and immune system function and the chemicals are hormone disruptor's according to the EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency also discloses that Lead in tap drinking water is linked to learning disorders in children and hypertension in adults.

• Alternatives: Buy reverse osmosis water at your local grocery or health food store. You can also install a reverse osmosis filter in your house. These can range in price from less than $1,000 to over $10,000. Baby-steps to take are to buy a shower and kitchen sink filter... start there!

3. Mold

Believe it or not, thousands of people each year suffer from mold toxicity annually in the United States. Most importantly, the majority of these people don't even know that they are sick from mold. They often suffer from alternating bouts of fatigue, asthma, allergies, itchy eyes, skin irritation and headaches. The symptoms do not always come up simultaneously so one might think "I haven't been to lucky with health this year" when the truth is....they have MOLD in their home or even school.

• Alternatives: No alternatives to mold here. A few ways to clean mold are to use apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil. The best way is to just throw out whatever has mold, and if it's in the wall; you'll have to knock it down and re-build.

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4. Pesticides

Pesticides are spayed to remove or kill lurking pests, so it is obvious they are toxic and can have harmful reactions in our bodies. There are a number of effects pesticides can have on your body including: reproductive disruptions, they are carcinogenic which means they are cancer causing, and the are immuno suppressive, among other problems.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has listed the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables that can be bought either conventional or organic. To print out a copy of the list, click here. This list is a great way to start removing these toxins. Pesticides are also sprayed by your city or county to control mosquitoes so be aware of the days (or nights) that they will spraying.

• Alternatives: Always take your shoes off when you come into your home so you don't spread poison to your carpet and floors. Try your best to buy organic. If you are on a smaller budget, at least make sure you buy the Clean 15, that's what we do! (And whatever you buy, wash it well!)

5. Food

There is a huge attack on food makers to increase quality in our world today. Great stores like Whole Foods, Earth Fare and other larger companies are becoming more common because the demand for quality chemical free food is on the rise.

We often tend to skip over ingredients because it sounds healthy but a lot of the time, that is all it is: a healthy word or sound. Just because it says blueberry muffins, doesn't even mean it has blueberries. Look for: hydrogenated oils, words with numbers like Polysorbate 8O, MSG, aspartame, sucralose, hydrolyzed yeast extract and Red 40.

• Alternatives: Read labels. That doesn't mean check the salt and fat content. What are the ingredients? Always shop in the horseshoe: Try to avoid going down middle aisles at the grocery, that is where the pre-packaged junk resides. Eat vegetables and fruits as much as you can. Also, be aware of hormones and antibiotics in your meats.

6. Plastics

After years of dominating our cabinets, we have come to realize that storing in plastics can truly cause health problems including hormonal changes in male children and diabetes. Simply do not buy plastics with number  3, 6 or 7.  Numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 are better.

I'm sure you've heard of BPA or bis-phenol-A.The EWG states "Trace BPA exposure has been shown to disrupt the endocrine system and trigger a wide variety of disorders, including chromosomal and reproductive system abnormalities, impaired brain and neurological functions, cancer, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset diabetes, early puberty, obesity and resistance to chemotherapy." So we need to be mindful and cautious about using plastics, especially since everything comes packages in plastic.

• Alternatives: Glass. Glass storage containers are making a comeback. Minimalization is key here. We have come too far that we can not avoid plastic. You can minimize exposure by spending $50 on glass containers at a Walmart. NEVER put plastic in the microwave! The bad chemicals  are release when heated and go directly into the food you eat. Stainless steel containers for water instead of plastic water bottles is also a good change.

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7. Cookware

People love non-stick pots and pans, they're easy to cook with, especially clean, but cookware like Aluminum pans and Teflon contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA.) which can lead to infertility, cause cancer and other health issues. PFOA is a dangerous chemical that releases toxins once heated so you want to avoid non-stick cookware!

1. Alternatives: Stainless Steel, Ceramic, Cast Iron, Stoneware and Glass.

8. Air Fresheners and Candles

Have you ever wondered what exactly makes the smelly candle smell? I love the smell of candles, especially the Yankee candles at Cracker Barrel restaurants. The problem with these is that gingerbread lemon candle or the holiday spice isn't really ginger, lemon and cinnamon but are dangerous benzene chemicals that have serious side effect, including death.

Think about this, most of the people you know either use a car air freshener, febreze, smelly soaps, shampoos and other fragrant items that actually contain harmful chemicals. How many people do you know with headaches, sinus problems or digestive issues? What if they removed the benzenes from their life? Just sayin'.

Fragrance is listed by ewg.org's skin deep website as to cause skin infections, respiratory problems and reproductive issues.

• Alternatives: Essential oils and soy-based candles are becoming more popular because of the demand for chemical-free daily use products. I happened to find an inexpensive candle at Target last week! (and I didn't get a headache when I burned the candle!)

9. Skincare Products

Most of your soaps, shampoos and toothpastes and even make up contain sodium laurel sulfates (SLS). It is a surfactant which means it is used to break down and clean slippery grease havens like pavement and car parts. Yes, the same harsh chemical used in industrial cleaning is being used in your mouth, armpits and hair. No wonder you get so fresh and clean!

All joking aside, you need to be aware of what you are putting on your skin, it's living organ that soaks up everything you put on it.

• Alternatives: Nowadays, the market is bursting with tons of new products that are safer than your average choices. There are brands like Jason's, Avalon Organics and other brands that are developing products that don't contain toxic chemicals. If you are really brave, you could make your own shampoo, toothpaste or other skincare products. To check the toxicity of skincare products in your household, use this database.

These are just some of the toxins found in our everyday lives. My husband and I also avoid other toxins such as amalgam fillings, vaccines and medications that can be toxic in our bodies. Although, at times medical emergencies happen and we are thankful for care.

We believe that our bodies have a unique ability to heal themselves and believe that is how God intended us to be. If we take the right steps to have a peaceful mind and relationship with Christ, to eat a balanced diet, to maintain a healthy nervous system which effects your immune system, to exercise weekly, and to remove these toxins, we will be on the right track in living an abundant life!

Choose Life, a Healthy Life!

"I came that they might have life, and that they might have life more abundantly" John 10:10

In which areas have you been working to remove toxins from your life? Which areas do you still want to address?

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I have used my NaturoKit natural first aid kit more than 5 times in the past two weeks. I usually think of first aid kits as getting more use during the outdoor, summer months, but our family is rapidly disproving that theory.

What did I need it for? 

• An upset stomach due to travelling and bizarre food options. Twice. (Thank goodness for activated charcoal!)
• My 4 year old burned his finger on our gas fireplace. Apparently he didn't believe me when I said it was actually hot. (Calendula Success drops, Cantharis and some Crisis Calm saved the day)
• I accidentally gave the 2 year old something with whey protein in it (she is very sensitive to dairy). She promptly smeared her food-covered hands on her face, and broke out in hives. (Apis helped to calm down the allergic reaction and the hives were completely gone before bed)
• I cut my fingers while trimming rose hip hedges with thorns. Two of the cuts got infected. (Wild Weed Salve helped to heal it faster)
• A nerve-wracking event left this mama just a bit flustered. (Crisis Calm helped to take the edge off beautifully)
• A constant stream of owies, bumps and bruises have caused our Arnica pellets to be the most-used remedy in the whole bag. (I refer to them as Owie Pills, and my kids gladly accept)

I had no idea how much I would be using my kit when I agreed to share about Naturokits or when I planned the date of this post. I can't say I'm happy to have used it so much recently, but I am always so relieved to have it available for when these situations occur.

Aren't We All Looking for Better Solutions?

Just today, this email landed in my inbox:

I just have to write and say how thankful I am for your blog and these AWESOME, WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC, WORTH-MORE-THAN-A-MILLION-BUCKS posts about natural healing. From the ear infection post (which I had to refer to yesterday) to this one. I am always uncomfortable giving my children antibiotics and using OTC remedies, such as Vicks, but any homemade recipe I've seen always requires much more time than I have and the ingredients and instructions just kill me.

I was just so encouraged to know that the natural remedies that we share on this blog are truly meeting a need (and I didn't even write those two posts she mentioned, so 3 cheers for truly awesome writers!).

I get the time limitations, and the struggle to research on your own, and then figuring out what to buy and how to make and use it... when you're a busy mama, you're constantly on the go and in demand, and having someone else give you a nudge in the right direction (or do the work for you) can just be so. very. helpful. 

Last year around this time, we talked natural remedies for a full month, and it was amazing. I loved sharing about the things that I do, and I also learned so much from others. Coming up with simple and gentle ways to treat discomforts and illnesses is a valuable thing to share and learn about, for sure.

One resource that I've talked about multiple times on my blog is the NaturoKit, the natural first aid kit I was referring to above. I got mine over a year and a half ago, unsure of how valuable it would be. After all, I'm a resourceful, research-capable, crunchy granola health-freak who is capable of making and coming up with my own remedies, right?

Yet in those crisis moments, I pull it out again and again, because it removes the thinking element and allows me to simply administer something to relieve the one in pain or distress, and focus on comforting instead of flipping through home remedy books and scrounging to see if I have what I need.

If you, like me, are seeking to keep your first aid treatments more simple and natural, and avoiding conventional and over-the-counter medications as much as possible, you may love it as much as I do. Or maybe you know someone else this winter season who is looking to make some changes to how they treat mishaps and owies in their own home, and you'd like to bless them with a simple way to do just that.

Each kit comes with 9 remedies, carefully chosen by Naturopathic Doctors, intended to treat a very wide array of injuries and emergencies, yet in a gentle and holistic way. Each one is neatly packaged in a zippered, cotton bag, and comes complete with instructions for use and a very helpful alphabetical list of specific uses (for a burn, use this. for an insect sting, use this.) They have also created a MiniKit with 3 common remedies, for those who want something small and simple to carry around in the car or in a purse. Both would make a very thoughtful Christmas present (or stocking stuffer) for someone naturally-inclined or beginning to head in that direction.

For our family, it comes down to a resolve to seek natural treatments before other options, and making sure that we actually have those options readily available to us.

How do you treat first aid situations? Are you moving towards more holistic, natural remedies in your home?

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by NaturoKits. All opinions and the concept behind this post are my own. I genuinely use this kit on a regular basis (you can come and peek in my "medicine" cabinet if you like, to see the half-empty bottles!), and I am very purposeful to only share products and companies with you that I sincerely believe in and do/would use for my own family. Additionally, any information shared by myself or NaturoKits is not intended to treat any illness, nor to take the place of consulting with a healthcare professional.

Top image by Josiah Lau Photography

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Written by Erin Odom, Contributing Writer

Last year this time, I prided myself on the fact that my 2 year old had never had a full-blown ear infection.

A strong proponent of breastfeeding and having nursed her until she was almost 2, I just knew my milk had protected her from ever really getting sick.

And I just knew it would protect my newborn as well.

I never imagined how sick my new baby would be most of the winter and into the spring.

And ear infections? She had several.

Avoiding Antibiotics

When I became a mother, I was surprised at how often my friends' babies were on antibiotics for ear infections.

My first ear infection ever was when I was 24. I was living 12 hours away from my mama--and I cried like a baby wishing she were there to comfort me!

When my second daughter was diagnosed with her first ear infection at only a few months old, I was surprised yet determined to treat the infection holistically. She had already endured several months of yeast infections, so I knew her little gut health was off, and I didn't want to introduce antibiotics into her system.

Determining the Cause

There are typically three causes of ear infections: bacterial (which, theoretically, antibiotics will help), viral (which antibiotics will not help) and allergen-induced (which are remedied when the allergens are removed).

The problem is that it’s difficult for many doctors to actually diagnose the cause of most ear infections. Unless there are signs of a virus or symptoms of an allergy, they may prescribe antibiotics.

Thankfully, my daughters’ pediatrician is integrative and was willing to work with us on alternative remedies—especially since it was pretty obvious her infections were viral.

Image by clappstar

Holistic Healing of Ear Infections

Under her direction and the direction of our chiropractor, here are several remedies we tried:

1. Colloidal Silver Drops: Colloidal Silver is an immunity booster and natural antibiotic. We usually put 2 drops in each ear 2 times per day during an infection.

2. Garlic Oil Drops: Garlic has many antibacterial properties. We purchased our garlic oil at our local natural health store, but you could easily make your own. Like colloidal silver, we would put 2 drops in each ear 2 times per day. We actually rotated with the colloidal silver, for 8 drops total per day.

3. Chiropractic Care: During the birthing process, neck vertebrae can become misaligned, which can affect the eustachian tube. This may lead to fluid buildup and cause ear infections. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help realign those tiny spines and prevent recurrent ear infections.

4. Lymphatic Massage: At the advice of my massage therapist friend, I massaged the lymph nodes under my baby's ear--in a downward motion. KerryAnn, of Cooking Traditional Foods, says: "I have the type that will make you want to bang your head on the wall, but if I do the massage 4-6 times a day, my ears stay clear and don't hurt."

5. Breast Milk: Squirting drops of breast milk in infected ears can also speed up the healing process. I used this method the least—simply because I did not pump very frequently. (And manually expressing into her ears was a little awkward!)

Image by simmbarb

A Lesson in Humility

Did the above remedies work for my daughter? Well, yes…and no.

She ended up having three or four infections total, which, although it surprised me, my chiropractor insisted was not a lot for a child who had had RSV. In fact, she told me she had some patients who had upwards of 12 infections just last winter!

In the end, although her infections cleared, my baby’s doctor and chiropractor both felt she had glue ear, a sticky build-up of fluid behind the ear drum--that will not drain on its own.

Her doctor suggested that she see an ENT and have a hearing test.

She failed the test. The “glue” was hindering her hearing, which could potentially set her up for speech delays—or even lifelong hearing loss.

“I rarely ever say this, but you might consider getting tubes put in her ears,” her chiropractor told me.

Tubes?! I thought. Not my daughter! I’m a natural mama! She’s not having tubes put in her ears!

But after much research, prayer and talks with her doctors and chiropractor, we felt it was best.

And it was definitely a lesson in humility for me.

I’ve learned I can—and should—try natural remedies first. But, in the end, conventional treatments have their place as well. At that point, I was not willing to risk permanent hearing loss or speech delays for a 5 minute procedure that solved the problem.

Am I glad she had tubes put in her ears? Yes, I think she needed them.

But I’m also glad I tried every other remedy I knew of up until her procedure—and I avoided who-knows-how-many rounds of antibiotics.

The truth is—her infections cleared on their own. When the ENT exited surgery, he said her ears looked great. All he had to do was drain the glue.

What are your holistic remedies for healing ear infections?

Top image by Official U.S. Navy Imagery

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