Top 10 Chemicals Most Likely to Cause Autism

Not surprised, but - worthy of sharing... especially since April is Autism Awareness Month and the latest stats are that 1 in 88 children are now affected with some type of ASD or Asberger's.  If you are 1 in 88, then your life will change/has changed and it is likely you will do whatever it takes to heal, recover or help your child.  Why wouldn't you?  And why wouldn't you do what you could, to prevent a learning disability (if possible)?

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Top 10 Chemicals Most Likely to Cause Autism and Learning Disabilities

This morning, the The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC) released a list of the top ten toxic chemicals suspected to cause autism and learning disabilities.

This list was published today in Environmental Health Perspectives in an editorial written by Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, director of the CEHC, Dr. Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and Dr. Luca Lambertini, also of the CEHC.

The top ten chemicals are:

1. Lead
2. Methylmercury
3. PCBs
4. Organophosphate pesticides
5. Organochlorine pesticides
6. Endocrine disruptors
7. Automotive exhaust
8. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
9. Brominated flame retardants
10. Perfluorinated compounds

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Click here for the whole post.

Endocrine disruptors  -- think of hormones, thyroid, adrenals, etc.  I've posted previously about early puberty, obesity, adrenal therapy, cheap make-up, fluoride, etc. and all the toxic chemicals that could affect our bodies, every day, if we allow them.  Again, my stand is that prevention is the key to healthy children and that is done by educating myself and sticking to our plan for our family.  Toxic chemicals are not included in the plan!

Autism Related to Viral Infection?

Over on HuffPo today...

Is Autism Associated with A Viral Infection?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/is-autism-associated-with_b_316986.html


Very interesting, and not too terribly long.

The Bolen Report - New to Me

I have my list of "regular" websites I view on a regular basis -- to attempt to stay up to date on what's happening in the world AND also decipher what's real, what's deceptive and what needs to be applied to my family.

I recently came across the following website and I confess... I do lurk around there rather often, to be honest.  Thought provoking -- yes, and it inspires me to keep on, keeping on -- for the health of my family.  It can be exhausting, feel defeating, disappointing (to say the least) to think that we live in a country, time and place that allows such... such... (loss of words) such inexcusable things to happen to our food supply, medical care (vaccines) and so forth.  Disheartening.  Sad.

Moving along, setting aside my feelings, I'll point over to The Bolen Report:

The Bolen Report is the archive for the infamous "Millions of Health Freedom Fighters - Newsletter," Health Care Crisis Management Consultant, and Consumer Activist, Tim Bolen's RUTHLESS, but humorous, analysis of North America's Health Care System.

http://www.bolenreport.com/Mark%20Geier/mark-david-versus-goliath.htm

Mark & David versus Goliath...

Opinion by Consumer Advocate  Tim Bolen 

Click on the links to go read the rest.

Lest I Forget

Goals this year:  to keep my family healthy!  Does anything else really matter?

So, I have movies to watch, books to read... oh, lots and lots of books to read... and of course, the internet to thank for using up a whole lotta my time.

Never did have time for this one:  The Future of Food.  Gotta watch it soon - need to order from the library.

Back to the books... Time to re-read a few books this year... lest I forget just how sick we could get.

On my list of refreshers:

Link to Animal Factory webpage:  http://animalfactorybook.com/

Multiplication Tables

Although this is our 10th year homeschooling, I am in new territory when it comes to 5th grade work.  You see, Andrew was in 10th grade when we first started to home-educate.  He already knew how to read, write and he knew his multiplication tables.

I remember learning my multiplication tables and that is exactly what I want our 5th grader to be fluent in:  multiplication. 



I use Math-U-See curricula and have been pleased with it.  But, for some odd reason, Hubs has decided that we should switch to Alpha Omega's Switched on Schoolhouse.  I don't get it, really.  Hubs is not real involved in the planning of our school years, the selection of curricula or in our unit studies.  I think that he thinks that it will be "fun" for Nicolas to learn math on the computer.  I am trying to keep an open mind and heart, but - am skeptical.  We'll see.

Umtil we switch over, we'll keep reviewing our times table monthly, just to stay on top of things.  I found a great website with a full size times table - here is:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/multiplication-table-bw.html

Pinterest of Interest - Yummy Chicken Recipe

Yes, I spend enough time on the computer... reading blogs, IM-ing on Facebook and pinning on Pinterest.  Interestingly enough, I get a lot of great ideas for our homeschool on Pinterest, as well as home project ideas and recipes.  Speaking of Pinterest recipes...

Made this the other day...  it was delicious.  And really fattening, even though I used reduced fat ingredients as much as I could.  ((sigh))  I made a 9 x 13 pan of the warm and wonderful chicken recipe and they ate the whole pan!  Unbelievable.

 
Chicken Crescent Roll Casserole


2 (8 ounce) cans Reduced Fat Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup, undiluted
¾ cup grated cheddar cheese or Monterrey jack (and/or any cheese or combination of)
¼ cup milk
Filling
4 ounces cream cheese (very soft) - used reduced fat cream cheese
2 Tablespoons soft butter
½ - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
½ cup frozen peas, defrosted
1 large cooked chicken breast, finely chopped
½ - ¾ cup finely grated cheddar cheese
½ tsp ground black pepper (or to taste)
2 Tbsp. milk


1 cup grated cheddar cheese for topping
½ cup Monterrey jack cheese for topping
2 Tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan for topping


Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray or coat bottom and sides with olive oil. Mix together milk, 3/4 cup cheese and undiluted soup and season with black pepper.

For the filling: in a bowl, mix the very soft cream cheese with softened butter until very smooth, then add garlic powder. Stir well and add in rest of ingredients until combined. Unroll the crescent rolls. Place 1 heaping tablespoon chicken mixture on top of each crescent triangle, then roll up starting at the thicker end. Your fingers will get a little gooey, but – just roll and seal. Spoon a small amount of soup mixture on the bottom of the dish. Then place the crescent rolls seam-side down on top of the creamy soup mixture.

Spoon the remaining sauce on top each roll up and lastly, sprinkle with 1 cup (or more) grated cheese or cheese mixtures, or amount desired. I used 4 different cheeses because I had a little bit of this and that… Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes.

Serve with a generous tossed salad because your family will want to eat the whole pan of these yummy chicken roll ups. No kidding. Use salad as a filler, especially if you want leftovers. My kids called these little cheesy chicken pot pies. Kinda true.  Very good on a cold night.  Definitely comfort food category material! This recipe is pretty forgiving because I changed and adapted it to my preference (reduced the chicken/added the veggies).

And to be fair, I found it at http://www.plainchicken.com/2009/08/chicken-rollups-2.html. 

Enjoy!



 
 

New to Me Website

I recently stumbled on a great website about vaccinations and immunizations.  I have learned more than I thought I would -- so I have to share it!

http://thinktwice.com/

What I especially find informative is the section that explains how the vaccines are made.  Funny what I have fogotten over the last year.  Actually, not funny at all.  Not at all.  Allergies are not funny.

Here's info on the MMR.  If you're reading this, and if you are brave enough, I ask you to read just the MMR info.  Take 2 minutes and read it.  Then pray and ask God what  He wants you to do with your new info. 

I am not the kind of person who can ignore truth.  Bam!  When it hits me - I am changed.  Not always for the good either... sometimes most times it is downright depressing and I may stop blogging about all the negative stuff that I find out.  But, that takes me back to the "Bam".  How does one deal with the whole vaccine dilemma?  I will pray and make the best decisions for my family that I can.  I hope that you do too.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. ~ Proverbs 14:12

Cold Season Already?

I have a cold.  It's what I call a "head cold" and I almost never get them.  During the winter months, I increase my resistance by taking extra vitamin supplements, including D3.  I did not get a cold all of last year, but, I sure do have one now.  (Sniff-sniff)  I do not take any OTC medicines when I get a cold.  I suffer it through and am generally better within 5 days.  The symptoms are rough, but shorter duration is what I go for.

When my kids get a cold, I don't give them cold medicine either -- especially if it has red #40 in it!  No way! 

We've experienced crazy behavior too many times... so the last few years we've used what I call "old fashioned" remedies for our colds.  Hot steamy showers, diffused essential oils (RC & Thieves), lots of fluids - including hot teas, juicing, staying home and increasing sleep and rest, etc.  Most people want to feel better right away - me too!  However, I have personally found that taking medicines that mask the symptoms have negative effects on us and prolong our illness.  Quite the opposite effect of why we would want to take them!

Ran across a great post about OTC medicines and such -- over at The Autism File:

"The FDA recommends that parents and caregivers check the active ingredients on the product label. Parents and caregivers should also check the inactive ingredients on the label, as both may affect the well-being of a person with ADD, ADHD, or ASD.

Inactive ingredients such as preservatives, dyes, and other excipients can cause allergic reactions, such as rash, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, anaphylaxis, hyperactivity, and, in some cases, upset stomach and diarrhea.

■First, you can ask your pharmacist to look at the package insert. Under the title “description” at the very top of the insert, there is a list of all the ingredients in a manufactured product.

■Second, check a Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR). The PDR is a compilation of package inserts printed as a book. Most libraries and large book stores have a copy of the PDR. Unfortunately, only the most current high volume prescription drugs are in the book.

■Third, you can look online. Find the official website of the prescription drug you are checking on. Click on “health care professional” and then go to the prescribing information section, which will bring up a copy of the package insert. The first item listed is the description, and the inactive ingredients are listed there."

You can link over to the whole article here.  She has a couple of great tables highlighting many of the ingredients that we avoid - including sodium benzoates and the effects of  such on those with special needs.  I also personally think that hand washing does an amazing job of ridding germs and assists in fighting off colds too.

Isn't it funny that so many  informative websites (IMHO) are autism related?  Yet - they are beneficial to the whole family.  Again, in my opinion.  The older I get and the more I experience, the more opinions I have.  I hate cold and flu season.  I will work hard on prevention again this year.  Really hard.