Do you know what's in your kitchen?

Have you ever looked at your pots and pans? I mean really looked at them? What kind do you use? Why? Are they the non stick/teflon variety?

Did you know that teflon can actually be toxic?

I heard about this years ago and paid it no mind, because what I didn't know couldn't hurt me, right? Plus, I can't afford to just toss all my pans and buy new! But alas, this info has come across my desk again, so I'm finally taking notice.

Take this fact for example: Bird owners have known for years that using these pans at high temps can actually kill birds, as it causes their lungs to hemorrhage. Will it cause the same to happen to you? Most likely not, but didn't we used to use canaries to help the miners in case of toxic gas build up in the mines? What effects them , may potentially effect us to some degree as these toxins can build up in our bodies. I won't get into all the boring statistical details, but if you want to read more, you can head over to Environmental Working Group.

The reason teflon and other products may be toxic is that they use a chemical called PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). It's found in everything from teflon pans, paper plates, microwave popcorn bags, stain resistant materials, food packaging, and even cosmetics.

In animal studies PFOA has been associated with:

• "Significant increases in treatment related deaths" in rat offspring at doses that did not affect the mothers
• Serious changes in the weight of various organs, including the brain, prostate, liver, thymus, and kidneys
• The deaths of a significant number of rat pups of mothers that had been exposed to PFOA
• Damage to the pituitary at all doses in female rat offspring (The pituitary secretes hormones that regulate growth, reproduction, and many metabolic processes. Change in pituitary size is associated with toxicity)

Other unrelated studies have also found evidence of birth defects in babies from PFOA-exposed workers. In 1981, two out of seven women who worked at a DuPont Teflon plant gave birth to babies with birth defects. DuPont then moved 50 women workers at the plant to reduce their exposure to PFOA. (source)

And if your pans look like this,

or this,

please throw them out!

Sad to say, these were the actual pans I'd been using.

Better alternatives for cooking are going to be cast iron and stainless steel. (and glass for baking) And when you really sit down and think about it, buying cast iron or stainless steel really is a better bargain seeing as how they last so much longer. We even have cast iron pans from Todd's grandma that are still usable today and they are old pans! My non-stick pans lasted only a few years before they got to the point you see above. I had to replace them anyways, so why not replace them with a better alternative that's healthier for my family? I still have a few non-stick pans that I'll be phasing out when money allows, (or Christmas comes around..hint, hint!) but for now they're all I've got. For the most part I use my large stainless steel for any frying, etc. and my small cast iron pan for eggs. What I would really like to replace is my large teflon pot and my cookie sheets.

If you must use your non stick pans or can't afford to replace them yet, use them as safely as possible. To keep any Teflon pans you currently have in good condition to lower the risk of toxic fumes and pieces breaking off into your food follow these tips:

• Don't put these pans in the dishwasher, hand wash only
• Use at lower temperatures than you would normally, to cook food slower
• Don't allow food to sit in them once cooked
  
• Don't use metal utensils in them, and use wood instead of plastic.

And if you can't get over the fact that you'll have to use butter or oil while cooking/baking, think of this: Better to eat a little butter than a little teflon!

Natural Family Planning the lazy way

With all the talk about checking you temperature every morning, checking and charting mucous, and even checking your cervix position, just the mention of using natural family planning to get pregnant can make a girl run the other way. (seriously - you can't be lazy about it if you're trying to prevent!) It sounds like a lot of work and really it can be. It can take up time and energy and it can also take the fun out of ..... you know. When being intimate is all scheduled and planned the intimacy tends to be strained or pressured.

So here is a Lazy Persons guide to natural family planning:

• Have sex every other day. Or at least every third day.

Yup, that's it.

Everyday actually gets to be to often in the aspect that the man's sperm count isn't as high as it needs to be. Give him a day off so his little guys can recuperate. You want the sperm to be many in number and strong in swimming. Being intimate every 48-72 hours gives both of your body's a chance to rest, as well as allowing a short enough period in between bedroom sessions to keep the sperm alive in case you do ovulate.

Checking and charting does have a purpose, and I personally found it helpful when I first started looking for ovulation signs. And it can also be extremely helpful in concieving, but, if treated correctly, your body has it's own features in allowing conception even when you aren't intimate on the exact day you ovulate.


Anyone else notice how I'm de-stressing this week? :-) I just noticed my last 2 posts are all about being lazy! Ahhh, the cold weather brings out the couch potato in me.

Take a day off

Yesterday I had the pleasure of heading over to a friends house and spending some time chatting with her. After spending the day with her I also got to see 2 of my sisters on my way home and we spent an hour laughing and joking, and just being sisters. Getting out of the house and away from my own stresses really boosted my mood and I enjoyed myself immensely. At the end of the day I realized it's what I had needed.

Life tends to be overwhelming at times no matter what season of life you are in. And it reminded me how stressful infertility can be. Very stressful in fact. Days can be filled with checking and charting and worry and overall obsession. Plus the fact that we tend to talk about it with our husbands constantly and maybe some friends that are going through the same thing. Or if we don't have friends, there is a huge online network of infertility groups and forums where you can also worry about what other people are going through. All of this built up worry and over thinking can really bog down not only your life, but who you really are.

So, before it gets to that point, you need to take a day off. And if you are already to that point, you really need to take a day off! Nothing can refresh you more than taking a day and doing something you love. Go out with a friend to dinner, (just make sure to tell her beforehand there is to be no baby talk!) take your husband bowling, walk along the beach (oh, how I miss summer!) or just head to a friends house for a day of chatting. And just a little tip - talking about the past always brings more fun! Who doesn't love to laugh at all the things you did when you were a kid? Maybe have a no kids night at the parents house and watch old home movies!

Being absent from infertility for a day can boost your mood and really give you a rejuvenated spirit.

Most importantly of all, if you are really struggling (anger, jealousy, contempt), spend a day with the Lord. Go outside or to a quiet place in your home and spend time reading the bible and praying. Let him know how you feel, cry out your struggles, even tell him how much you hate what you've been going through. (believe me, He already knows your heart and any anger inside, so it's really no surprise to Him) If you allow yourself to really let go of the feelings you harbor, you'll be amazed at what a new person you really become. Plus, when it all comes down to it, we actually have no control over our fertility. He does. And if you feel like there is a hole in your life, that something is missing, he is the only one that will ever truly fill it.

What have you done to keep your mind off trying to conceive?

A Preconception Diet

The following is a sample diet that worked for me in balancing out my hormones and improving my fertility. Although each one of us are different in our nutritional needs, this weekly diet makes sure you get 2 servings of fish, 5 days that include eggs, and a variety of lean meats, fruit and vegetables. I also include cheese and yogurt often as I don't drink a lot of milk.

Most importantly though is the lack of refined sugars and processed foods which deplete your body of vital nutrients. The only sweetener I use is honey or maple syrup, and I make all of my own bread products. And along with this basic menu I also take both a prenatal vitamin as well as an extra B complex vitamin about 4 or 5 times a week.

Monday:
Breakfast - two egg omelet w/ cheese and veggies
snack - yogurt and berries
Lunch - tuna fish sandwich, cut veggies, cubed cheese
snack - banana
Dinner - grilled chicken, steamed or roasted broccoli, brown rice

Tuesday:
Breakfast - soaked oatmeal w/ flax seed and dried fruit, orange
snack - granola bar
Lunch - salad w/ baby spinach and lots of colorful veggies and cubed cheese, organic dressing
snack - apple
Dinner - tacos with homemade seasoning and shells. serve with cheese, dark green lettuce (romaine), guacamole and fresh salsa. Seasoned brown rice.

Wednesday:
Breakfast - 16 oz. yogurt or kefir smoothie
snack - whole wheat blueberry muffin, hard boiled egg
Lunch - homemade chicken noodle soup
snack - cut veggies and organic dip, cubed cheese
Dinner - grilled or baked salmon, steamed vegetables, baked potato w/ real butter

Thursday:
Breakfast - fried egg on whole wheat toast, banana
snack - yogurt and berries
Lunch - chicken sandwich (from leftover grilled chicken) w/ lettuce, cut veggies
snack - apple, cubed cheese
Dinner - hamburgers on whole wheat buns, sweet potato fries

Friday:
Breakfast - soaked oatmeal w/ flax seed and dried fruit, banana
snack - granola bar
Lunch - taco salad (leftover taco meat, romaine lettuce, baby spinach, some iceberg lettuce, cut avocado, fresh salsa, seasoned brown rice, and sharp cheddar cheese.
snack - orange
Dinner - roast chicken, real mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables

Saturday:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs w/ chopped spinach and cheese mixed in, fruit
snack - apple
Lunch - egg salad sandwich on whole wheat, cut veggies
snack - whole wheat blueberry muffin
Dinner - homemade pizza on whole wheat crust (at least half whole wheat!) topped with lots of veggies!
snack - homemade popcorn on the stove w/ real butter

Sunday:
Breakfast - whole wheat pancakes, banana
snack - hardboiled egg
Lunch - salad w/ baby spinach and leftover roast chicken and lots of colorful veggies.
snack - apple
Dinner - steak with side salad, baked potato, and steamed veggies


I hope this gives you some ideas on how to better your diet! For other dinner ideas you can always check out the org junkie.

p.s. - this makes a great pregnancy diet too!

I'm gonna be "One Less"!

One less to actually get the Gardasil vaccine that is. When I went in for my yearly appointment last October, both the nurse and OB recommended I receive it. With the nurse, I told her I wasn't interested. I then heard a 10 minute lecture on how husbands lie and cheat and I shouldn't have to suffer by getting cancer. When the OB came in she asked me as well, and again I got the lecture, so I asked what the side effects could be. A slight fever for a couple days or muscle pain was all I was told might happen. So I kindly took the brochure and tossed it out as I left the office. (yes, doctors must love me!) But when I got home, I really started to do some research on it, and was quite pleased I had not consented to it.

What is Gardasil?
Gardasil is a vaccine produced by Merck that targets the virus that can causes cervical cancer and genital warts, HPV(or Human Paillomavirus ). This vaccine protects against only 4 strains of the virus, where there are actually over 100 different strains. Although, they have included 2 of the most common cancer causing virus strains. The vaccine is given in three separate doses over the course of 6 months. The shot costs a total of about $400.00, hmm...wonder why Merck (the maker of gardasil) is pushing it so much?

What's in the shot?

• Aluminum. There are 225 mcg of Aluminum in this series. And aluminum has been shown to cause neurologic harm in infants and children. Alzhiemers and dementia patients have also been shown to have aluminum deposits in the brain.
• Polysorbate 80, 50mcg. This is a known carcinogen and this chemical has been shown to cause infertility in rats causing estrogenic alterative effects and reproductive disturbances.
• Sodium borate, 35 mcg. Is actually a common roach killer and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) of the National Institutes of Health notes of sodium borate that it "is now known to be a dangerous poison, it is no longer commonly used in medical preparations."

What really bothers me

• In December of last year it came out that 28 women miscarried after receiving one of the shots in the series. Although Merck claims no responsibility and says their shot is safe, investigators have told the FDA that it may be related to the fact that some women conceived within 30 days of receiving the shot or were pregnant at the time and didn't know it. (At that time there were also 3,461 adverse reactions and eight deaths)
  
• Twice as many women are collapsing or having more than mild reactions than kids did from the Tdap shot that has now been discontinued. Even the National Vaccine Information Center recommends that women be laying down when they receive it and not walk or drive home.
• The number of cervical cancer patients has been dropping over the years. Why? Yearly pap smears may be one reason. Even the American Cancer Society claims that between 1955 and 1992, the number of cases fell by 74%!
  
• This vaccine shows no long term studies. Cervical cancer caused by HPV has an incubation period of 15-20 years. The test subjects have only been followed for about 5 years.

And now that I'm expecting again, I just wonder what would have happened had I taken those shots? My series of three shots would have ended in April, and I became pregnant in July. And my doctor never once thought to mention how it might effect conception or a brand new baby, even though she knew we were trying for another. Scary to think about, but I'm so glad I stayed away from it.

If anyone has recent statistics or any other info on this vaccine, pass it along!
And for more reading you can check out this link to Dr. Mercola's site, or The National Vaccine Information Center.

Weird food

After being reminded earlier this week about one of my favorite sandwiches, I'm sure I'm not the only one that likes weird combinations of food! And lest you think I'm some crazy health nut that never eats bad food, I sometimes still resort back to those "good 'ol foods" that tend to bring so much comfort. You know, the foods that remind you of simpler times.

A few of my weird ones (that I literally can't eat around my husband for fear of incessant teasing!)

• Grilled pickle and provolone cheese sandwich
• Regular grilled cheese, but dipped in ketchup
• French fries dipped in ranch dressing (especially Applebee's mexican ranch!)
• Wendy's fries dipped in a chocolate frosty
• Turkey sandwich with potato chips in it
• Peanut butter and marshmellow sandwiches
  
• Potato chips and mac and cheese (use the chips as a utensil!)
• Saltine crackers and strawberry jam

What are your weird combos?

Fat and Fertility

We know trans fats aren't good for us. Some cities have even banned them, and restaurants are staring to eliminate them as well. Even food packaging claims 0 grams trans fat! (by the way-it doesn't really mean zero. they can have up to a half a gram per serving and still claim no trans fats!)

What is trans fat?
A bit about it from Health and Goodness

Vegetable oils are generally liquid at room temperature, so how is it that we have margarine made from sunflower oil and corn oil? The process involved in this transformation is called hydrogenation. Food manufacturers want a solid fat that does not go rancid easily and doesn't have any real taste. Hydrogenation gives them this.

Hydrogenation is a high tech process. Vegetable seeds are cleaned and bleached to remove all colour, taste, smells and impurities. The liquid vegetable oil is then heated to high temperatures and a catalyst (commonly nickel, but could be palladium, platinum or rhodium) is added. Hydrogen is bubbled through the liquid. The mixture is then filtered to remove the metal, leaving hydrogenated vegetable oil.Water, whey, salt, vitamins, colourings, flavourings and emulsifiers may then be added to produce hydrogenated margarine.

How it affects us
Trans fat can suppress the activity in cell receptors that are involved in inflammation, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. A study led by Dr. Jorge E. Chavarro of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston found that this suppression can lead to low fertility and can also manifest itself as PCOS.

This study was done with 18,555 women who were trying to get pregnant between 1991 and 1999. The risk of infertility rose 73% for every 2% of energy she took from trans fats instead of carbohydrates (two percent of energy is equivalent to 4 grams of trans fats per 1800 calories consumed). And get this, Americans eat (on average) 6 grams of trans fats each day! So you can see how much this might affect women quite drastically. In men, trans fats can decrease testosterone and increase the number of abnormal sperm (source).

How to avoid it

• Check labels for every food you buy. Even if it says zero trans fats, look for partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in the ingredient list. If it's in there, put those chips/ice cream/crackers back on the shelf!
• Don't fry your foods. Even normal vegetable oil (which is still not good for you!) can turn to trans fat when subjected to high heat.
• Avoid shortening and margarine. While butter may have a higher percentage of fat (total fat in 1 Tbsp10.8/saturated 7.2, it contains much less trans fat, 0.03 grams. Stick margarine on the other hand has 11 grams total, 2.1 saturated and 2.8grams of trans fat)
  
• Eat more whole foods and less processed foods.
• Buy organic chips/crackers. They aren't allowed to have partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in them.
  
• Eat out less, as restaurants don't always disclose an ingredient list with their nutritional information.

Luckily so much bad press has been released about trans fat the last couple years that food manufacturers are finally starting to listen and not include it as much as in the past. But keep your eye out for the hydrogenated stuff, it's a simple way to eat just a little bit healthier!