Friday, April 22, 2011

What's in your prenatal vitamin

We are thrilled to be expecting our 4th child!  Of course I have my worries and I am doing everything possible to make this the most healthy pregnancy I can.  Currently I participate in CrossFit  at PR Fitness (http://www.prfitness.net/) two days a week, yoga one day a week, and I try to swim once a week.  I feel like we eat really healthy around here but I'm trying to stay away from sugar which is really hard for me.  Sugar is my drug. :)
All expectant moms know that it is important to take our prenatal vitamins.  So as soon as I found out we were pregnant I called my doctor to call in my prenatal vitamins.  Now that I've become an obsessive label reader the first thing I did when I picked up my vitamins was read the labels.  I was disgusted!!!

Here is the list of ingredients in the tablets: acaia gum, blue 2, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, red 40, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, triacetin, yellow 6
What better way to help a developing baby grow than load it up on preservatives, fillers, binders, and food dye!  I don't allow this stuff in the food we eat so I wouldn't dare put it into my body through a "vitamin".  The softgel DHA vitamin only says at least 275 mg of DHA and EPA and other omega 3-fatty acids, gelatin, glycerin.  For one, I have no idea where these omegas came from and two, I have no idea the potency.
When I called my OB's office to ask for vitamins without all this junk, they had no idea!
So I called up our dietitian, Staci Small, from The Wellness Philosophy for some advice.  (http://www.thewellnessphilosophy.com/)  Lucky for me she is pregnant as well and was able to give me some great prenatal vitamins that are vegetable based.

These things are loaded with nutrients but don't contain any fillers, binders, preservatives, or dye.  On the far left are the Pure Encapsulation PreNatal Nutrients, next is vitamin D3, then Kirkman Labs Pro-Bio Gold probiotic, and on the far right fish oil loaded with 600 mg of DHA and EPA from a well respected company.
It feels so much better knowing my baby is getting the best!
So pregnant mommies, what is in your prenatal vitamins? 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Autism Action

April is Autism Awareness Month and I think it is awesome that an entire month has been dedicated to autism but we are fully aware by now!  We are aware that autism is growing at an alarming rate.  We are aware that 1 in 110 children and 1 in 74 boys will be diagnosed with autism.  We are aware at the emotional and financial devastation this causes children and families.  It is time for some Autism Action!  There is a growing group of parents that "get it" and are taking action to recover, cure, prevent autism in their child/children but unfortunately there are so many others who still trust the "professionals".  I finally "got it" and will continue to spread the word no matter what.  I've lost friends, I have family who thinks I'm crazy, but I have a healthy son who no longer demonstrates "autistic characteristics"!  We love you Haiden!