Is Nutrient Lab Testing Worth it?

Is it worth it to do Nutrient Lab Testing?

John is a former vegetarian, who recently started eating a more vegetable-rich “Paleo” diet.  He’s feeling great, and at his ideal weight, but does have some nagging digestive issues like heartburn and occasional diarrhea, that don’t seem to be going away.  These issues were present when he didn’t eat meat.  He takes over-the-counter supplements to support his body, and isn’t quite sure if they really help all that much.  He was perusing the internet, and “Dr. Google” suggested he could have leaky gut, malabsorption problems, and many other possibilities.  He saw a gastroenterologist about this, who diagnosed him with IBS and suggested he eat more fiber.  He was not pleased with this recommendation, especially because he eats plenty of fiber!  What’s his next step?

Although “Dr. Google” is the bane of many practitioners’ practices, it is also a source of information that can be beneficial.  John did the right thing in seeing a gastroenterologist, but unfortunately many specialists prefer to treat diseases not symptoms, and if there isn’t a good pill or procedure for this, they aren’t really sure what to do.  It isn’t the fault of the doctors for not knowing about nutrition or supplements, but luckily there are people in this world who do have knowledge on this subject.  And these people/practitioners often use lab work to evaluate for nutrient imbalances.  You can skip the practitioner (initially), and get this bloodwork for yourself.

There are many ways to evaluate nutrient status, but it is a good start to look at what’s in the blood through nutrient biomarkers.

Maybe you’re thinking of taking a vitamin B12 supplement – you can look at your bloodwork to see if you really are in need of this.

Maybe you’re thinking of taking vitamin D, or maybe you do take vitamin D – this in particular is important to look whether you are taking a supplement or not.  If your vitamin D levels are too low or too high, this can cause problems.  Check this every 6-12 months when taking a supplement (to make sure it’s the right dose).

There are many nutrients that can be tested.  Before buying that next expensive supplement, make sure you actually need it!  And if you correct your nutrient imbalances, and you’re still have bothersome symptoms, seek the care and evaluation of a good integrative/functional medicine provider.

References:

Connection between inflammation and low vitamin D: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160567/

Best levels of vitamin D: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5541280/?_ga=2.67143127.750667243.1515071227-1387819590.1509682613

Laboratory testing for B12 deficiency: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573090/

Redefining B12 deficiency: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02485.x

Mullein

Mullein is definitely an herb that should be everyone's medicine cabinet. It is a go to for respiratory concerns and a key ingredient in our herbal cough syrup. Mullein has been used for treating rashes and skin irritations. Think of using the leaves like a bandaid.

Tea made from the flowers and leaves work as an expectorant to bring up phlegm. A poultice made of fresh bruised leaves has been used to treat slow healing wounds. Infusions of the herb are said to cure, burns, sores and ringworm. Mullein has also been used to promote sweating, as a mild diuretic, and to treat kidney infections, colic and digestive upset. An oil infused with the flowers has been found effective for treating ear infections.





The leaves are just beautiful. They are thick and velvety and seem to a act as a tight knit family as the center stalk of the plant shoots up. The leaves appear to have come together to create the dense, strong stalk that produces a cone of beautiful flowers at the very top. Mullein is easy to grow from seed and will seed itself in the right conditions. A beauty to watch grow and a staple in any herb garden!

Family Mealtime: How important is it really?

I had a discussion a few days ago with Linda from Oklahoma Healing Connection. We were talking about breastfeeding and covering up. Now before you get your panties in a wad and tell me that breastfeeding in natural and you shouldn't have to cover up hear me out. First you need to know that I breastfed all 6 of my kids until they were at least a year old and most of them until they were 2 or 3 years old. I have participate in nurse-ins, been asked to go to the bathroom, etc. Our conversation was about the child's need to be covered as they enjoyed their meal. Think about this as a child is nursing and there is noise, lights, conversations going on they are distracted and stimulated which could lead to undo stress and ultimately tummy upset, colic, and just plain grumpiness. Let's look a little deeper. We all have experienced the grumpy baby when mom is stressed. What if there were bystanders that were less than happy with the idea of an exposed boob and latched on baby? What kind of energy and/or emotion are you exposing your baby to as he/she is consuming a meal? Linda and I discussed how covering is not for mom but rather a protection from negative energy, outside distraction, over stimulation, etc for baby. Have no doubt I have fed a baby no matter the situation or atmosphere, because their growth and development are priority. I have always used some sort of covering or stepped away from a group to nurse my babies, not because I was concerned about others opinions but to give baby a quiet, relaxing place to enjoy a meal. I had never thought in depth about protecting baby from negative energy or comments, but it makes perfect sense to me.

What about as the child gets older? Are we protecting family mealtime? I did a little research, mostly out of my own curiosity. Sanford Children's Health suggests that family mealtime builds a child's self esteem, helps develop good communication skills, and encourages important life skills as children are included in meal preparation and clean up.

An article in the Washington Post written by Anne Fishel, co-founder of The Family Dinner Project, professor at Harvard Medical School and author of "Home For Dinner" states that as a family therapist her impulse is to tell families to go home and have dinner together rather than spend an hour in counseling with her. She also says family dinners boost vocabulary even more than children being read to siting research that states children learn about 1000 rare words over the dinner table compared to just 143 words from being read to by parents.

Fishel also mentions that elementary age children show higher achievement in school if they are having family mealtime. Teens who have dinner with family 5-7 times per week are twice as likely to make A's as those who don't have family meals. Teens who have family meals are also less likely to participate in wreckless behaviors such as smoking, and alcohol consumption. I wonder what the teen pregnancy rate is among teens whose families have dinner together on a regular basis.

Family meals also promote healthy eaters as children watch their parents model good nutrition and balanced meals. These children are also less picky and more inclined to try new foods.

Why the decline in the family dinner table? Can we blame technology? Our overly busy schedules? It may be time to sit down and take inventory of the things and activities that are distracting us from the important things like family meal time. Put the phones down, and let's start talking again!!

Read Anne Fishel's article here https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/12/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-with-your-kids-eat-dinner-with-them/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.48da2de1619d

Hold up, Say What?

This is a quote that I have heard 100 times (or more), I even have it painted on a tile displayed in my home.  What if we challenged this idea? I'm not saying this is a bad quote, at all, actually quite the opposite. I want to add to it though.

The thing is flowers bloom in their appointed season, then they wilt and provide seeds. I bloomed at one time, like a rose bush. I grew, learned and grew other roses on my bush (children). I love roses, seriously roses are one of my favorite flowers. My husband gave me a rose for each year we had been married until it became cheaper to just buy me a new bush each year. Each time a rose bloomed and died you are left with a rosehip. Then next year it happens all over again.

So what are we doing when we aren't blooming?  Let's talk about another of my favorite flowers that is a little simpler. The dandelion! I love dandelions, (no they are not weeds, that's a discussion for another day)!  Dandelions are like little suns all over your yard, so bright and cheery.............

........then it happens

Seeds everywhere!! Make a wish!!

So you bloomed where you were planted and then with time you turn to seed and the wind blows you away. Wait, what?, but I bloomed right where I was planted and now I have to bloom AGAIN!! YES!!

Wasn't that fun though, blowing in the wind, just enjoying the the ride as you glided down to your new piece of soil; wait no this new piece of soil is a yard that is beautifully manicured with no weeds and dandelions are weeds. The struggle is real! Maybe you are seed being transported by a cougar, or a slow moving turtle, or maybe your new seed journey is a really crappy experience.  

                                                 

Or were you just dropped off by a chipmunk? 







I think I might enjoy fluttering on a butterfly.

Ok back to what I was saying. The thing is we have to bloom over and over again. Life throws us these little adventures and carries us to places we have never been and plants us right where we may not want to be planted.

Our job is to continue blooming, season after season after season. I suppose when it's time to go to seed we just need to enjoy the ride no matter how bumpy, smooth, thrilling or boring it may be. 

Instead of just saying 'Bloom where you are planted' let's change that to 'Bloom where ever this season in life takes you!'  

What are Cindy and Alyeen up to? Good Question!

We have been up to the OKC Flea Market, 3 times in fact!

If you haven't been to the Flea Market in Oklahoma City it's about time you checked it out! We have met some amazing people, and made great friendships. Our booth is ever changing and looks nothing like these pictures now. If you love unique, antique, or shabby chic the Flea Market is definitely the place to hang out!

Cindy has been completely snowed under with bath and kitchen design at Home Depot.

This isn't one of her kitchens, but it is just as pretty as one of hers (actually her designs are a lot prettier). Currently Cindy is working on a big project designing kitchens for a condo community. She is loving the change of pace Curious Roots brings to her hectic work week.















It's a good thing Alyeen doesn't have a regular job, because she's the one keeping the day to day of Curious Roots going until it can stand on its own. When she isn't at the studio creating she is hanging out at Dr. Nathan Shacter's chiropractic clinic helping out and doing reflexology or studying for her doctorate of Naturopathy. Alyeen is available for reflexology and nutritional counseling during the week, give her a call and set up an appointment.















I almost forgot, Valentine's Day! We have been putting together Valentine Gift Packages for all of your gift giving needs. Don't see a gift set that works for you? Let us create one for you. Everyone loves homemade soaps, teachers, friends, lovers, kids, hairdressers, mailworkers, housekeepers, we can cover them all!

We are constantly brainstorming looking for ways to improve Curious Roots and coming up with new product ideas. Do you have something you want us to try or make? We'd love to hear your suggestions and/or ideas. Critics are also welcome, just be gentle.















We are very grateful for everyone's support and encouragement. We have made some wonderful friends and we look forward to making many more in the future.

We love afternoon tea (really any excuse for tea is good) give us a call and have a cup with us!



Much Love

Cindy & Alyeen

This week's Wednesday's Woman is my Grandma

Daphine Jenkins

My Grandma was a super woman!! She always had food ready to cook and a story to tell! I was her favorite grandchild, and the oldest of her biological grandchildren. I'm pretty sure all 20 something of us grandchildren thought we were her favorite. She would often announce that she was the only hell raiser in her house. She was always happy, always! There was a plaque on her kitchen wall that said 'No matter where I serve my guests, they seem to like my kitchen best.' It was true!! She had a long picnic style table in her kitchen and it was always full of people. In the Summer there were watermelons out under the big oak tree, where people would gather to slice and slurp their way through the pile that a family member left for us all to enjoy, and when you left you took at least one with you. There were afternoons sitting under that same tree shelling field peas. When we were visiting my favorite was early mornings and the smell of bacon and eggs cooking and you knew there was also a big pot of buttery grits and fresh biscuits made from her biscuit bowl to go with the rest. Every meal was a feast, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, biscuits, field peas, collard greens, pork chops, squirrel, venison, corn, string beans, butter beans. I am hungry just thinking about it! Even though her kitchen was always full of people there was one place that we all loved to gather and visit--the front porch swing. 

 My beautiful cousin posted this picture of our grandma's porch swing! This porch swing is such an important part of my childhood, really my life. There have been more than one actual porch swing hung in this exact spot, one of those had hung in my family's front yard. My daddy moved that porch swing to Grandma's when we moved. My grandpa was sitting in this swing when my second was just a few months old and screaming, he told me to 'give that baby some ninny, that's what they are for don't worry about what anybody thinks about it'. I've shelled peas in this porch swing, played with cousins, watched my uncles shoot cans off a log, waited for relatives to turn onto the long driveway, and looked for my grandparents sitting on the swing as my family pulled up the drive. There have been life lessons taught here, love shared, stresses forgotten, and tears shed. The most important things that have happened on this swing are the memories made and shared! One day I will have my own porch swing and I can only hope that my family and friends will feel the same way about mine

                                                                               

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Curious Roots is at it again

Sometimes in life we are thrown a curve ball. Curious Roots has had its share. The last few weeks has been a whirlwind of distractions, but we are back in the saddle and going as strong as ever!

February 2 and 3 is the OKC Flea Market and we are running at hyper speed this week to make sure we have everything you need to put together a special gift bag for your valentine.  There will be some fun things added to our product line exclusively for Valentine's Day, special gift tags for our already awesome gift bags, new bath bomb scents, and maybe a few surprises. We are getting geared up and will be ready to work double time this weekend to make sure your Valentine feels extra special.

Don't forget we, here at Curious Roots, believe that everyday should be Valentine's Day! Pamper that special love of your life EVERY day of the year!!

See you this weekend at the Flea Market!!