Graco Crib Recall

Parents purchase products for their children believing they are safe. People rely on well known companies to test the products and know what is being released. I am not speaking about someone lighting their shirt on fire and suing the place they purchased it. Adults should know a child left unsupervised in a swing that they did not buckle- IS GOING TO GET HURT. However, this morning walletpop.com's writer Mitch Lipka posted an article titled: Graco, Simplicity recall cribs after babies get trapped.

"About 217,000 Graco brand drop side cribs made by LaJobi Inc. are being recalled after nearly 100 reports of hardware failure that allowed the drop side of the crib to detack[sic]. Six children reportedly fell through the resulting opening and two others became trapped, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) said." These are not the first "side drop cribs" to be recalled. There were also reports in 2008 when "a Massachusetts toddler suffocated after getting stuck between the mattress and the frame," and again when "the tubular metal framed cribs [were reported for] bending or coming apart." These malfunctions are not the parents fault, but I do feel that some of these incidents could have been prevented. As a parent any small noise an infant makes while sleeping, is a good enough reason to check on them. If as a parent you know there is something wrong with equipment, do not put your child in something you do not think is safe.

A child should be moved from their crib into a toddler bed as soon as they are too physically active or has outgrown the weight limits. It is understandable that some try to keep their children in the crib as long as they can to try to save, but it is not worth the safety of your child.

What Vitamin? In What Fruit/Vegetable?

Once Upon a Time. . . I had no idea which vitamins were in what foods. After being diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia, (a form of anemia mainly caused by the lack of vitamin B12) I had to teach myself which foods were high in which vitamins in an attempt to boost my immune system. This only worked slightly due to the fact that "Pernicious Anemia" is usually brought on because the stomach is failing to absorb the vitamins necessary for a balanced well being. The following "Color Coded Fruit and Vegetable Information and Examples" are provided by  http://www.disabled-world.com/.

** Click Here ** To link directly to the chart website for more information on "the nutrients found in the [below] fruits and vegetables," and to see which "have a significant impact on our health."

Red Fruits and Vegetables-

Contain nutrients such as Lycopene, Ellagic acid, Quercetin, and Hesperidin. These nutrients reduce the risk of prostate cancer, lower blood pressure, reduce tumor growth and LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, scavenge harmful free-radicals, and support join tissue in arthritis cases.

Examples: Beets, Blood Oranges, Cherries, Cranberries, Guava, Papaya, Pink/Red grapefruit, Pomegranates, Radicchio, Radishes, Raspberries, Red Apples, Red Grapes, Red Onions, Red Pears, Red Peppers (including bell and chili), Red Potatoes, Rhubarb, Strawberries, Tomatoes, and Watermelon

Orange and Yellow fruits and vegetables-

Contain Beta-Carotene, Zeaxanthin, Flavonoids, Lycopene, Potassium, and Vitamin C. These nutrients reduce age-related macula degeneration and the risk of prostate cancer, lower LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol and blood pressure, promote collagen formation and healthy joints, fight harmful free radicals, encourage alkaline balance, and work with magnesium and calcium to build [strong] healthy bones.

Examples: Apricots, Butternut squash, Cantaloupe, Cape Gooseberries, Carrots, Golden Kiwifruit, Grapefruit, Lemon, Mangoes, Nectarines, Oranges, Papayas, Peaches, Persimmons, Pineapples, Pumpkin, Rutabagas, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Yellow Apples, Yellow Beets, Yellow Figs, Yellow Pears, Yellow Peppers, Yellow Potatoes, Yellow tomatoes, Yellow Watermelon, and Yellow winter/summer squash

Green vegetables and Fruit-

Green vegetables contain Chlorophyll, Fiber, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Calcium, Folate, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Beta-Carotene. The nutrients found in these vegetables reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, normalize digestion time, support retinal health and vision, fight harmful free-radicals, and boost immune system activity.

Examples: Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Avocados, Broccoflower, Broccoli, Broccoli Rabe, Brussel Sprouts, Celery, Chayote Squash, Chinese Cabbage, Cucumbers, Endive, Green Apples, Green Beans, Green Cabbage, Green Grapes, Green Onion, Green Pears, Green Peppers, Honeydew, Kiwifruit, Leafy Greens, Leeks, Lettuce, Limes, Okra, Peas, Sno Peas, Spinach, Sugar Snap Peas, Watercress, and Zucchini

Blue and purple fruits and vegetables-

Contain nutrients which include Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Resveratrol, Vitamin C, Fiber, Flavonoids, Ellagic Acid, and Quercetin. Similar to the previous nutrients, these nutrients support retinal health, lower LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol, boost immune system activity, support healthy digestion, improve calcium and other mineral absorption, fight inflammation, reduce tumor growth, act as an anticarcinogens in the digestive tract, and limit the activity of cancer cells.

Examples: Black currants, Black salsify, Blackberries, Blueberries, Dried plums, Eggplant, Elderberries, Plums, Pomegranates, Prunes, Purple Belgian endive, Purple Potatoes, Purple Asparagus, Purple Cabbage, Purple Carrots, Purple Figs, Purple Grapes, Purple peppers, Raisins

White fruits and vegetables-

Contain nutrients such as Beta-Glucans, EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) , SDG, and lignans that provide powerful immune boosting activity. These nutrients also activate natural killer B and T cells, reduce the risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancers, and balance hormone levels, reducing the risk of hormone-related cancers.

Examples: Bananas, Brown pears, Cauliflower, Dates, Garlic, Ginger, Jerusalem Artichoke, Jicama, Kohlrabi, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Shallots, Turnips, White Corn, White Nectarines, and White Peaches

***Remember these are only vegetable and fruits! You still need to eat other foods such as meats and dairy to fulfill a healthy diet. Consult a food pyramid if you are unsure. At http://www.mypyramid.gov/ they will help you create your own personal pyramid, see the differences between fats and oils, the contrast in the amount and products children should eat "vs." what adults should eat.***

Beauty Truth and Realization

Parents- no matter who they are or their background, feels their child is beautiful, and they are inside and out. It does not matter if their child is overweight. However the question I need to ask my readers is when do parents realize they are hurting their child and not aiding the situation?

I have recently noticed the growing rate of obese children. Yes they are loved! Yes they are beautiful and kind in every way shape and form there is, but being obese at such young ages causes many health issues. When do parents realize that they need to help their children? Overweight children, if they do not already have medical issues will develop them either in the near future or later on in life. Some illnesses are and not limited to: "heart attack and stroke, Type 2 diabetes, bowel cancer, and high blood pressure."

The website http://www.weighlossobesity.com/ has an article called "Childhood Obesity: It’s a Serious Issue." Here they state facts about how indeed it is a growing issue and how "being overweight as a child can also cause psychological distress. Children and adolescence [that] are teased or discriminated against as a result of their appearance tend to have less confidence and lower self-esteem. This can lead to isolation and depression, which in turn may further aggravate weight gain issues." Parents of overweight children need to take a stand for the children that they love.

My advice to these parents is: Spend time with them, take them for walks. Make a schedule and stick to it! Make it your main priority to get your child into a healthier lifestyle. DO NOT PURCHASE CHIPS!! If you know your child eats too many fatty greasy foods, try replacing them (SLOWLY) with fruits and grains. This is a gradual process . . . you cannot just change your child’s or your own diet and exercise drastically, however if you do this in continuous degrees you will have better results for the whole family.

H1N1 making a come-back? Part 2

The Director of Operations at "The National Vaccine Information Center," Mr. Paul Arthur stated "Hi Christine I have found nothing of interest on a 'return' of H1N1 in southern states. There was an LA Times article on this referencing some cases from Feb that I posted to our NVIC Facebook page."


Here is the Article:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-flu30-2010mar30,0,2212261.

"Even this story points out '...A CDC team was sent March 6 to assist state officials investigating the outbreak, but its members have found nothing unusual.' Hope this elps [sic]."


"Because every child and every family is important. No forced vaccination. Not in America!"


**Anything in quotes came from a direct email from Mr. Arthur.**

H1N1 making a come-back?

A post by Katie Drummond, a contributor to Aolnews.com brings us the latest about H1N1 better known as the Swine Flu. She states, "An outbreak of H1N1 cases in Georgia and mini-surges in other Southeastern states have federal health officials urging vaccinations and vigilance to thwart the threat of a third wave of the flu." However, these same health officials are also saying that, " . . .there's no evidence that the illness has undergone any mutations." Although Drummond says the "H1N1 [virus] has been largely contained across most of the country," the Georgia Center for Disease Control and Prevention is concerned with the higher rate of infection than it was in October. 

Within this article it is stated that, "H1N1 worries health experts because it tends to strike young children, pregnant women and adults with underlying health problems." Nonetheless "the CDC reported that 86 million Americans [have] been vaccinated against H1N1," and still others have been sick and recovered. After fighting off the virus, a patient is very unlikely to contract it again.  Since there were epidemic in both 1957 and 1968 of a similar flu originating in Mexico, some older Americans have already developed antibodies to the disease.  According to Barbara Loe Fisher, "Those of us born prior to 1957 may be naturally protected and at LOWER risk of being infected."  This is why Drummond maintains that the CDC believes that several people already have enough "immunity to help prevent a third outbreak."

I have not been vaccinated and neither has my son. I have read a post by the vaccine information center on their blog "Vaccine Awakening" titled "H1N1: Fact or Fiction?" written by Ms. Barbara Loe Fisher. Her post contains information about how fearful the general public is of the vaccine. First we were shocked and scared when "the Department of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Homeland Security followed the World Health Organization and declared a very scary pandemic influenza public health emergency in the United States." Then our fear was fed with information about how "people [were] being quarantined in hotels and detained on airplanes by HazMat teams," and how everywhere we turned, people in "grocery stores . . . fellow Americans [like ourselves] were wearing face masks." It did not even soothe our minds to sit down and watch our favorite television shows because they would be interrupted time and time again by "reports about schools closing so desks and lockers could be scrubbed down." But this did was not the end of the alarming news.

Soon after the hysteria began to spread rapidly across the United States, untamed, It was stated that "Congress [gave] drug companies more than a billion dollars of our taxes to quickly create H1N1 swine flu vaccines . . . [and] shielded everyone who has anything to do with making, promoting and giving swine flu vaccines from all liability in civil court whenever somebody gets hurt or dies after getting vaccinated." The post goes on to speak about how some state legislators wanted to and a few even went as far as to mandate that people either get the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine or get fired from their jobs. Here in Staten Island they were giving H1N1 vaccines to children in schools. When the children started becoming ill from the vaccine, and ambulances had to be called for collapsed children, then the policies begin to change. Then all of a sudden it was the parents' responsibility to bring the children in to their local school on Saturdays.  These parents were told that they needed to sign a release form to allow the school permission to protect them in case of any repercussions. Several children were also mistakenly vaccinated against their parents' wishes.

And let's not forget how "Drug companies . . . started complaining that they couldn’t grow the H1N1 virus fast enough," and how they should be allowed to ". . . use insects and e-coli bacteria and fungus or virus like [sic] protein particles and dog kidney cells and . . " other unmentionable things to grow the virus. Manufacturers did not like being restrained to using chicken eggs to breed the virus because they were so-called safe.  These companies thought that in a crisis situation they should be allowed to create the vaccine by whatever means necessary, and still not be held liable if anyone should die or become seriously ill from their vaccine. 

I can go on forever and post quote after quote for you, but you need to read the whole post and form your own decisions like I did. I have also written to the NVIC (National Vaccine Information Center), and will post more on this topic as soon as current information is available.

There are many other posts on "Vaccine Awakening" about the swine flu. Here are some of their titles and links:

Mild Swine Flu & Over-Hyped Vaccine

http://vaccineawakening.blogspot.com/2009/10/mild-swine-flu-over-hyped-vaccine.html
Brief Summary:
This post gives us information on the H1N1 vaccine itself. Facts that help you weigh your options about the vaccination.

Gardasil & Swine Flu Vaccines: Inconvenient Truths

http://vaccineawakening.blogspot.com/2009/08/gardasil-swine-flu-vaccines.html
Brief Summary:
Approx. 1/3 of the way into the post is the information on the "Swine Flu." Subjects about whether or not the risks of the vaccine will be hidden from the public, and how there is no way to determine the health risks of the vaccine being given in schools.

Swine Flu Vaccine Should Not Be Given to Children in Schools

http://vaccineawakening.blogspot.com/2009/07/swine-flu-vaccine-should-not-be-given.html
Brief Summary:
Includes information such as the "safety provisions in the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act."

Swine Flu Vaccine: Will We Have A Choice?

http://vaccineawakening.blogspot.com/2009/06/swine-flu-vaccine-will-we-have-choice.html

Brief Summary:
Contains information about the immunity to the swine flu if you were born before 1957 and who and why they declared a health alert.

As quoted on the Vaccine Awakening blog". . . If the State can tag, track down and force citizens against their will to be injected with biologicals of unknown toxicity today, there will be no limit on which individual freedoms the State can take away in the name of the greater good tomorrow." Read up; get informed . . . we are the "Next Generation."