i have been working on this for awhile and it is still a work in progress it ties into Davids post a few days ago

hippocampus

I've just been studing that area of the brain and how cortisol (stress hormone) affects it in the developing or infant brain.. when cortisol levels are high for to long it starts to effect the hippocampus (brown and harris1978), infants and young children who's brains have been flooded with cortisol tend to have smaller hippocampi (bremner etal 1997; villareal and king 2001) adults sufferering from depressiion also have smaller hippocampus prehaps as a result of early experiences,

also the hippocampus through its link with the orbitofrontal cortex can evaluate situations and anticipate outcome, (if i do this this will happen and so on) a sence of responsibility.

high cortisol inearly life may also be responsible for hippocampus damage,(or lack of growth to its fullest potential),since cortisol increases the release of glutamates which damage the hippocampus, these glutamates . (see below for study ive done on glutamates in foods we eat) these glutamates may interfere with feedback systems and with the adaptability of the brain.Timing also does seem to play an important part in setting the baseline level or cortisol reaactivity, a childs brain is developing the most up to the age of 3,

(lyons et al. 2000b; Dettling et al 2002) the afeects of early stress appear to have the potentail for considerable handicapping of the indervidual's capacities to respond to future stress, where behavoir such as anxiety, neurosis or depression, borderline personality disorders etc.

what cause high cortisol levels in infants? as Jon Allan put in "unresponsiveness when the infant is in a state of high attachment needs'(allan 2001)

-an infant/child, whose brain and body systems are still in a process of development, they can not survive alone and are highly dependent on adults to provide for there basic needs both phsical needs , for food, shelter, clothes etc but also emotional needs comfort, feeling of worth, feeling loved and accepted, security/trust in that his/her needs will be meet..

Without these needs meet the infant will be in a state of stress/trauma, with cortisol level high ,

-Trauma causes the infant brain to be saturated in cortisol.

The essentail aspect of trauma is that it generates doubts about surviving -either as a body, but equally as a phychological self,

what causes "trauma" in the mind of an infant. The fear of abandonment, as when the cant see, touch or hear their mother.(or attachment figure) and that they will no longer have there physical needs for food etc responed to.

How does MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and aspartame and neotame (which is banned from most contrys but not NZ ). affect the brain escpecially the hippocampus

these products are called excitotoxin

So, what is an excitotoxin? These are substances, usually acidic amino acids, that react with specialized receptors in the brain in such a way as to lead to destruction of certain types of neurons. Glutamate is one of the more commonly known excitotoxins. MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate ,

"We can get into trouble, however, when too much glutamate or aspartate is ingested from our food or under certain conditions released by the brain itself (as that of the developing brain of a child). Especially vulnerable are areas of the brain called the hypothalamus and the hippocampus. Hypothalamic injury disrupts the endocrine system, leading to low levels of growth hormone, thyroid hormone, the sex hormones and the adrenal hormones. Hippocampal injury affects memory and emotions. But other brain cells are also injured—in the cortex, the cerebellum and a special emotional control system called the amygdala. Even the spinal cord can be damaged."

" What makes babies different is that their brains are undergoing rapid development, especially during the last three months of pregnancy and the first two years after birth. Excess glutamate and other excitotoxins have been shown to alter how the brain is formed, leading to varying degrees of brain maldevelopment, from mild behavioral and learning problems to full-blown ADD, ADHD or autism. "

Dr. Russell Blaylock is a board certified neurosurgeon and a former clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery.

i would like this book

Bill Ward's Edible Garden

went saw movie today room with a view , not my type of movie loved and hated it at the same time cringe, pretty but horrible dresses, interesting rich caracters,unsure weather it was good , might know tomorow.

i did like the scene where George Emerson climbs a tree and recites his creedat the top of his voice, "Love, Joy, .....

and a quote not from the movie

" I would like to learn, or remember, how to live. I come to Hollins Pond not so much to learn how to live as, frankly, to forget about it. That is, I don't think I can learn from a wild animal how to live in particular...but I might learn something of mindlessness, something of the purity of living in the physical senses and the dignity of living without bias or motive. " Annie Dillard

Competing Paradigms from "mamas domain"

Jesus came and despite not having ever committed a sin took responsibility for the sin in the world. Through His atoning sacrifice He extends grace to mankind, justifying us by nailing our sin nature to the cross with him. As He cleanses our personhood our behavior changes--the product of producing real fruit in our lives.

--A modest person chooses modest clothing--your personhood motivates your behavior. This is why I can choose to assign a positive intent--I believe that when someone *does* know better, they will *do* better. The Greek thought is that when someone is *taught* better they will do better; the Hebraic thinking is that when someone *understands* better they will *choose* better. Having heard right, having seen right, having been taught right--this is not enough. A child must understand and embrace right and then he will do right. For this there is time.

If grace has been shown to me, if I understand that I'm justified ONLY by what Jesus did on the cross and does for me, then I can let go of thinking I have any power to save my child. I can let go of fearing what others will think if I don't look perfect. I can release myself from the pressure to work so hard to *do* right in an effort to prove that my personhood is good. God is my judge; Jesus is my defender; and the accuser and adversary, Satan, has been defeated! THAT is the Gospel--the GOOD NEWS!

okay i thought i would do a seres of posts on numbers in food what they are what the do , what they have the potentail of doing etc,

lets start with 2 things from my pantry

Arnotts country cheese crakers (brought by someone to a tueday night dinner)
and Pams salad dressing

the cracker ingredients are....

Wheat flour........ highly refined nutrient dead flour
Cheese
Vegetable oil
salt sugar
malt extract
milk solids
yeast extract
spices
flovouring ......................exactly what these are i don't know. real , artifical???
colour (102 and 110) .....

E102

Tartrazine

yellow color, commonly used, Skin rashes, wakefulness in small children, breathing problems

E110

Sunset yellow FCF

yellow color,. Some people show allergic reactions to it (rashes, swelling, vomiting) Hyperactivity, asthma, rhinitis & urticaria

eeekk i don't eat these cracker and would no way feed them to Lucy.
the crackers actually look floro' yellow



and the salad dressing ingredients are

water
vegetable oil
modiified corn starch
egg yolk
salt
food acids 260, 331, 330

E260

Acetic acid

no known adverse effects

E331

Sodium citrates

no known adverse effects

E330

Citric acid

occurs naturally in citrus fruits

onion
mustard
emulisifier 435

E435

Polysorbate 60

see 433

E433

Polysorbate 80

may increase the absorption of fat-soluble substances

garlic
antioxidants 304 307

E304

Ascorbyl palmitate

same function as vitamin C

E306, E307 E308, E309

Tocopherols

vitamin E

see numbers arn't all bad

what about some other foods i'm off to rumage in my fridge.

olivani dairy free spread
ingredients are:
olive oil
vegetable oils
water
salt
emulsifiers (soybean lechtin, 471)

E471

Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

no known adverse effects

preservitive 202

E202

Potassium sorbate

no known adverse effects

food acid(lactic) (this is not vegan margarine)

270

Lactic Acid

Lactic acid is bitter-tasting acid that forms when certain bacteria combine with lactose (milk or sugar). It is used to impart a tart flavour, as well as in the preservation of some foods. It occurs naturally in the souring of milk and can be found in foods such as cheese (used in coagulation) and yogurt. It's also used in the production of acid-fermented foods such as pickles and sauerkraut.

flavour ......... what is this what is it made from????
colour(160a)

E160(a)

Carotene, alpha-, beta-, gamma-

orange-yellow colour, converts to vitamin A in the body

links
www.allergies.about.com/cs/additives
www.ukfoodguide.net
www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info
http://www.vnv.org.au/FoodAdditives.htm
http://www.x-sitez.com/allergy/additives/index.html


it looks like i haven't got any dodgy food additive nastys in my daily diet, yay
stay tuned for more.....

breasts and bewerys
by the way we partisipated in a Latch-on on Saturday at the Wellington brewery
there is even a photo online to prove we were there see here on the NutureNZ site

image of the day Lucy covered on hummus (freashly made by me) toddering around chomping on an onion (yummy)

"For you will nurse and be satisfied
at her comforting breasts;
you will drink deeply
and delight in her overflowing abundance."

For this is what the LORD says:
"I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm
and dandled on her knees.

As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

Isaiah 66:11-13

The Bible is full of imagery of breastfeeding and nurturing mothers. What can we learn about God's design for breastfeeding? Start studying with these articles by Cyndi Egbert and Nancy Campbell.

umm i'm really busy to write my own post so im cut and pasteing tulipgirls
on her blog she also has

these and more
"How my now-weaned preschooler rubs my belly affectionately and tells me about when he was little and ate noonie." -- TulipGirl

"How it forced me to stop and relax. Boy, do I miss that when stressed. :)" -- Andrea R.

The loving caress of my daughter's hand on my skin, her sweet nursing smiles and the way she looks when she drifts off to sleep happy and milk-drunk. --Kristen

The baby's breath after breastfeeding--the sweetest smell ever. --Pam

The way my 15 month old giggles when he says "nah-nah" and then settles down as he starts to nurse. --Mel

Laughs or Lactivism? breastfeeding cartoon yay

34 links to blogs who have blogged bout breastfeeding week

lap-baby computer games with a breastfeeding theme.

and lots of breastfeeding art

wwoohhooo tulipgirl

points to ponder.... next time you see a baby nursing at it's mumma

Breastfeeding is Gods design for infant nutrition
Breastfeeding is normal
Bottlefeeding is not natural

ok here it is, (it may seem bezarre in our culture but when you really think of it it's not!)

• i'm breastfeeding Lucy

• shes 1 year old next monday and i have no plans on weaning her from the breast anytime soon.
• (althouugh it was a sad day when she had her first solids because that the start of weaning really)
• shen nurses at night but niether her or me wake up.
• i don't know how much she nursing at night. but in the morning she smells of sweet baby milk scent,
  
• i'm not going to give her toddler milk, (this stuff kinda proves that toddlers still need breastmilk)
• breastmilk doesn't stop giving immunitys or antibodies to Lucy. (lucy's still getting big doses everyday.)

Breastfeed a Toddler - Why on Earth?
Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC


The Benefits of Breastfeeding After A Year

take note the WHO, and UniCef recomend breastfeeding till at least 2 years (you don't see that much in our culture do ya,,! )

ooohh i like this picture

The Benefits of Breastfeeding After A Year

Breastfeeding and Family Foods: Loving and Healthy World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August 2005 The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week from the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is Breastfeeding and Family Foods: Loving and Healthy Last year the emphasis was on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to reduce risks of illness, disease and allergies to babies. This year the focus is on continuing to breastfeed after solids have started. An informal survey by Women’s Health Action reveals that, like the rest of the world, the introduction of solids generally starts before six months of age in New Zealand. WABA estimates that if babies world wide were exclusively breastfed for six months then breastfed up to two years while being introduced to appropriate solids then almost 2.5 million babies per year would be prevented from dying. This single health initiative would save more lives than anti-malarial measures, vaccination and vitamin A supplementation put together! Breast milk is tailor made for babies and provides more calories and nutrients per ml than most other foods including baby cereals and pureed vegetables. If babies’ small tummies are filled with other foods they drink less breast milk and their overall diet and health is not as good as it could be. The challenges in this area are to assist New Zealand families to wait until 6 months before introducing other foods and to see breast milk as a major component of diet for at least the first 12 months of life. Breastmilk provides: 100% of energy intake from 0 – 6 months 70% of energy intake from 6 – 8 months 55% of energy intake from 9 – 12 months 40% of energy intake from 1 – 2 years The three key messages around the introduction of solids when breastfeeding are: 1. TIMING: Wait until the baby is 6 months old before starting solids and continue to breastfeed frequently on-demand. Understand that from 6-8 months solids are very experimental for babies, so the majority of nutrients come from the breast milk. 2. RESPONSIVE: Solids are best introduced with sensitivity; slowly and patiently. In the same way that baby regulates breastfeeds, so too will they regulate solids. They will stop eating a solid feed when they are ready and should never be forced.3. NUTRITIONAL: First foods should be small in quantity and high in nutrient value. The recommendation is to keep the cereal, carbohydrate and bread component low and the protein, fruits and vegetables high. Women’s Health Action is launching a new poster which highlights the importance of continuing to breastfeed after the introduction of solids. The mother is in a public setting reflecting that breastfeeding is natural and that to realise the full benefits of breastfeeding it may naturally occur anytime and anywhere. The poster also celebrates the reality of breastfeeding toddlers which frequently takes place outside the traditional Madonna-like pose. Mothers feeding older babies and toddlers frequently report on the hazards of their curiosity while breastfeeding! Women’s Health Action is also co-ordinating a Guinness World RecordTM attempt for ‘the most mothers breastfeeding simultaneously’ and setting a New Zealand record. This event will be broadcast live from LynnMall over THE EDGE radio station on Saturday August 6th. There are several venues throughout New Zealand adding their numbers to the total tally. Participation is open to anyone who has registered with Women’s Health Action and followed a few simple rules. Bringing together breastfeeding mothers in this way is a perfect way to celebrate WBW and to highlight the need for public acceptance of breastfeeding as a natural and health-giving practice. For more information: Breastfeeding Advocate, Louise James at (09) 5205295 or louise@womens-health.org.nz