 If you suffer from any kind of digestive problems, you’ll know how refreshing it is to see doctors acknowledge that what you put in your mouth has some bearing on how things go on the other end.
The Complete Low-FODMAP Diet: A Revolutionary Approach to Managing IBS and Other Digestive Diseases by Sue Shepherd PhD and Peter Gibson MD
Drs. Sue Shepherd and Peter Gibson have managed to write a surprisingly easy read on the subject.
They start out by explaining the difference between IBS, food allergies and intolerances, celiac disease, and IBD like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Then they … Continue reading Book Review: The Complete Low-FODMAP Diet
 Our family went gluten free in November 2010, completely removed gluten from our lives January 1 2011, and started the GAPS Intro in February 2011. Now that we’re transitioning off GAPS, I figured it’s time for an update!
So… has it worked? Did the diet cure all that ails us? Have we perfectly stuck to it all this time? Was it worth it?
Let’s take it one family member at a time.
Kid2
Kid2 Climbing Rocks
I’ll start with our now-13 year old. We decided to change our diet because our son was hospitalized with joint problems we hoped … Continue reading 3 Year Update!
 As a frugal type, I scoffed when I first heard of the Squatty Potty.
The bamboo Squatty Potty is attractive and works in a small space.
It wasn’t that squatting to poo is a bad idea. If you’ve ever taken care of a toddler, you know that’s the natural way to go. If you’ve given it a try as an adult, you know it unkinks your innards and makes everything easier.
No, it wasn’t the health benefits I was scoffing at. It was the idea of spending money on something I didn’t really need.
After all, if I wanted … Continue reading The Way to Go – Get a Squatty Potty!
 My 60 year old papa lives as a full time missionary in Jamaica. This summer he suddenly got very sick with a mystery ailment that brought him back to the states for a couple months while he tried to figure out what was wrong and how to heal.
My papa surrounded by kids, full of energy
The vibrant, charismatic, physically active man who loved to walk the streets for miles and show off his martial arts skills was gone. He could barely move, had trouble staying awake or asleep, and was in constant, intense pain. After being tested for everything … Continue reading My Papa’s Miraculous Recovery
 By now you know all about how important it is to have a healthy balance of gut flora. But what you may not know is that all that life needs to be in the right place! It’s not enough to have good bacteria thriving in there… it needs to be where it belongs, and your small intestine is not it. Several underlying problems work together or alone to create the conditions for SIBO. A few of the red flags that can point to SIBO include unexplained anemia (low ferritin), constipation that gets worse with fiber in the diet, and celiac patients that don’t feel better (or even get worse) even though they are 100% gluten-free, and the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. … Continue reading Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth
Herbal Dryer Sachets from Soft and Cozy
For years now I’ve watched Jasie stitch together these sweet dryer sachets from vintage fabrics at the Oregon Homeschoolers’ Chautauqua.
Little did I know, she had a whole etsy store full of non-toxic, handmade products. Well, the secret is out and I want to share her dryer sachets with you!
I hope you’ll enter to win, then scroll down and read more! We’ll tell you why we love Soft & Cozy, and why it’s so important to use naturally scented products! … Continue reading Soft & Cozy Non-toxic Dryer Sachet Giveaway
 I would like to preface this post by saying that I am not an Earth Mama. I don’t own any hemp. I don’t use essential oils as perfume. I pay for haircuts. I say this not to disparage Earth Mamas, who are some of my favorite people, but to make it clear that you don’t have to be an Earth Mama to cut the nasty chemicals out of your life and save money doing it!
TinyHands’s Hair, Just Washed
We went completely fragrance free two years ago when I purchased a bottle of Earth Science Shampoo, Fragrance Free 12 oz. … Continue reading Cost-Benefit Analysis & Troubleshooting: Do You No ‘Poo
Louise and Riley
Louise Tippens found out her son had life-threatening food allergies when he was 8 years old, after years of milder but miserable mystery reactions. Adjusting to going without eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and milk was no walk in the park, but they managed it. Riley got healthier and happier… and got used to the idea that some experiences just weren’t going to work out since they were too dangerous. Sleepaway camp was one of those things that didn’t seem possible.
Louise had always been clear that she wanted her son to be able to live a normal … Continue reading Life-Threatening Allergies? Camp Blue Spruce is Safe!
 I’ve been watching and reviewing each part of the new HBO/NIH series The Weight of The Nation. Episode two focused on “Choices,” presumably the choices we make as individuals to get fat or skinny.
Now, you all know I have a huge problem with setting it up that way. Turns out, so does HBO. They just don’t realize it. The cognitive dissonance in this episode amazed me.
Since I have so much to say on this one, I’m breaking it into three parts. This one is about shame, stress, and mindfulness.
Shame
I hurt when I hear the stories. … Continue reading The Weight of the Nation, Part 2: Choices – Shame & Stress
 I decided to watch the HBO/NIH series The Weight of the Nation despite being very put off by the lead up to it. With so many people sure to watch, I wanted to know what it was all about, not just go off my first impression. Here’s my review of the first episode.
Consequences
The first obvious problem is the title: “Consequences.” Consequences of what? Oh yeah, “Obesity and Overweight.” When you get into the meat of the series, you learn that the many health problems they’ve tied together under the shadow of a fat person ready to squash the … Continue reading The Weight of the Nation: Part One, Consequences
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