DrGreene.com » Nancy Massotto

You Could Have Celiac Disease & Not Even Know It

Nancy Massotto — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:08:20 +0000

I don’t recall ever hearing of it when I was growing up, but today celiac disease is nearly epidemic. Once considered a rare autoimmune disorder, celiac disease now affects 1 out of every 133 Americans, a ratio that may be even higher if you include wheat and gluten allergies and sensitivities that are not diagnosed as celiac.

Perhaps even more shocking is the fact that you, or someone in your family, may have it and not even know it!

According to the Celiac Disease Center at the University of Chicago, 97% of people with celiac are undiagnosed: “The number of Americans with celiac disease would fill 936 cruise ships. Passengers on 908 of the ships won’t know they have it.” That’s an astounding percentage of undiagnosed patients. One of the problems is that more than 300 symptoms have been associated with celiac which may impact people in a variety of ways. In some cases, celiac may cause abdominal bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, or failure to thrive, in others it may manifest itself in the symptoms of fatigue, joint pain, or unexplained infertility.

What is celiac disease? According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), celiac disease is “a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.” Although there is some discussion that celiac is a genetic disorder, its rapid growth raises some eyebrows. A 2009 ABC News piece interviewed Dr. Joseph Murray, who “attributes the increase in the disease to environmental factors. “It has to be a change in the environment because it’s happened over 50 years and human genetics don’t change that fast,” he explained. Others have more specifically linked celiac to genetically modified foods (GMOs).

Whatever the cause or frequency of the disease, you likely know someone who needs to follow a gluten free diet. The diagnoses can feel devastating at first. No bread, pasta, or pizza? No cupcakes, cookies, or birthday cake? What a horrible fate!

And, while the gluten-free market is growing exponentially, many of the common “replacement” foods are far from healthy. They are highly processed and refined, with added sugars, fats, and flavorings. For celiacs and those intolerant to gluten they may seem to be a godsend. But the real godsend is in the lifestyle change – a change that makes you look at food and health more carefully and understand its connection. And the journey to a healthy gluten-free lifestyle will make you appreciate whole, real food even more.

What can you eat? Sweet, ripe watermelon. Seared, juicy steak. Roasted herbed turkey. Creamy mashed potatoes. Rich, dense risotto. Luscious chocolate mousse. You don’t need to run off to the nearest health food store to find specialty foods. Look in your fridge or pantry, shop your local farmer’s market. Make some organic chicken with lemon and herbs. Toss some asparagus in olive oil and salt and roast them in the oven. Put on a pot of brown rice. Simple, real, and delicious! Whether or not you need to eat gluten-free, you should try it and see how it makes you feel!

Do you eat gluten-free? What are some of your favorite recipes?

Learn more about finding balance and holistic parenting and connect with like-minded parents at the 9th Annual Natural Living Conference on October 13th in Chicago. You can also join in events online and off-line all month long as part of Holistic Moms Network’s celebration of Holistic Living Month. Join us!

10 Quick Self Care Tips for Busy Mamas

Nancy Massotto — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:41:59 +0000

If you’ve ever been on an airplane, you’ve heard the emergency preparedness speech that tells adults to place the oxygen mask on themselves before helping children. It may go against all parental instincts, but it’s a vivid example of how important self-care really is. If you haven’t taken care of yourself, you’re not going to be as capable of caring for others.

We need to pamper and revitalize ourselves, especially when our children are very young and very needy. Ironically, it’s one of the hardest things to find the time and energy to do. Moms are often plagued by the internal battle of wanting to take personal time, but feeling a sense of obligation and guilt whenever the opportunity arises. Deep down, though, we all know that we need the time to refresh and that it makes us better, happier parents. The biggest obstacle is usually time, so here are 10 quick ways to regroup and renew in a pinch:

Got 30 minutes? Let your partner or even a neighbor take over while the baby’s napping, so you can take a little breather.

1. Take a walk. Head to a park, beach, or even just go around the block. Grab some fresh air and sunshine, get your exercise, and just let your mind wander.

2. Indulge yourself. Take a warm bath, do some yoga, get a quick pedicure, or sit and meditate.

3. Have a treat. Grab a hot cup of tea or coffee and a special snack, find a quiet place and read, write, draw, or just enjoy your favorite music.

Got 15 minutes? Even when you’re on the go, doing drop-offs or pick-ups, you can fit in a moment of peace.

4. Head outside and soak up 15 minutes of warm sun on your face or stretch and breathe.

5. Call a friend and have an adult conversation about anything other than kids.

6. Brew a hot cup of tea and sit and sip it.

Need a 5 minute fix? Refresh in a flash:

7. Enjoy a bite of the most delicious, organic, fair trade chocolate you can find and savor it.

8. Pull out some essential oils and smell the aroma – try lemon for a quick pick up or lavender for calming.

9. Put on your favorite song and turn the volume up. Sing as loud as you can.

10. Write a gratitude list – jot down 10 things you are grateful for today.

Even the simplest actions can help us renew and come back to parenting with a fresher, calmer perspective!

What are your tips for self care?

3 Simple Ideas for Nurturing Your Child’s Independence

Nancy Massotto — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:36:18 +0000

If you have a toddler, you’ve likely heard this phrase many times before: “Mommy, I do it.” They are four simple words that can be the start of a thrilling moment of development or the prelude to a power struggle. Throughout their lives, our kids want and need our support, but they also need to learn the skills to do things independently. One of the biggest challenges for a parent is knowing when to let go, step back, and let your child figure it out for herself. We instinctively want to step in and make it easier, but sometimes, we need to stand down and let our children overcome obstacles on their own.

Cultivating independence is a learning experience for both parents and kids. But, from infancy onward, there are many little steps that we can take to give our children room to grow and develop, while at the same time nurturing their sense of empowerment and confidence.

Here are 3 simple ideas to set them on their own paths:

1. Allow your child to experience frustration and even to fail. We tend to live in a praise-heavy culture where rewards have become nearly meaningless. This over-praising and efforts to “guarantee” success compromise our children’s capacity for achievement and can even create in them a sense of entitlement. Children need to try – and to fail. By allowing children the experience of frustration, we give them the opportunity to problem solve. We give them the chance to dig deeper, try harder. We also allow them to fail and to realize that failure doesn’t define them, nor does it mean complete destruction. It is very difficult for us, as parents, to watch our children struggle and fail, but we need to remind ourselves of the power and sense of accomplishment your child will feel when the task has been conquered or achieved.

2. Give your child free time. Make room for play and imagination. Do you hear “I’m bored” all too often? Are your kids used to a hectic schedule of school, sports, activities, and playdates? Free time gives children a chance to explore and to learn independent play. Kids who can choose how to spend their time will learn to venture into new territories, explore their imagination, and develop their creativity. Passive entertainment is not going to build their independence. Get them outside to explore the world, let them pick a book to get lost in, or provide them with creative outlets where they can put their independent thoughts into action.

3. Honor your children. Honoring our own parents is not about blindly accepting all of their choices or beliefs, but about treating them with respect. The same goes for our children. Honor their voices and opinions. Get on their level when you speak with them and take their thoughts and ideas to heart. Validate their feelings and allow them to express their emotions openly and to work through them, even when they are not pleasant. Children who are validated will learn self-confidence and will be much better equipped to manage a wide range of emotions and moods throughout life, without seeking outside influences for confirmation.

Giving your children room to grow and develop a sense of personal independence is one of the greatest things we can give our children.

How do you nurture your child’s independence?

Do You Ever Feel Too Exhausted to be Eco-Friendly?

Nancy Massotto — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:01:19 +0000

Some days I’m just too tired. Too tired to separate the recycling. Too tired to research the least-toxic products. Too drained to debate the issues with family and friends. Positively exhausted trying to live an eco-friendly life.

Why? Because I’m a parent and parenting is some seriously exhausting work. And there are days where whipping up a simple, healthy meal seems physically impossible. When you forgo the farmer’s market for convenience food. When you just want to have it easy.

Does that mean you’ve failed? Of course not! We all have our lapses and reality checks. Being a parent provides more than enough challenges and if you’re trying go the extra mile and shift your family’s lifestyle, it’s all the more overwhelming. The health and well-being of our families is exactly the incentive and motivation we need to live greener and more sustainably, but the level of energy and attentiveness that parenting demands leaves us with fewer and fewer resources to reach our goals. What’s an exhausted eco-minded mom or dad to do?

Here are 4 simple tips:

1. Take baby steps. Whatever changes you are trying to make to live healthier or greener, take them one step at a time. Commit to one change until it feels routine and then take the next step.

2. Be prepared. Stock your home with things that will make green living easier, even when life seems overwhelming. Mix up a few batches of non-toxic cleaners and stock them in your cabinet for little spills and big messes. Keep organic versions of convenience foods on hand for those times when things get crazy. Or, cook in bulk whenever you have the time and freeze or store for future use.

3. Lose the guilt. Feeling guilty about not living up to our own ideals is not only self-defeating, but often creates a downward spiral. Once you feel bad, you simply start throwing in the towel (and paper towels at that!). Acknowledge that you are always doing the best you can in the moment with the resources that you have. When calm returns, think about what you can pre-plan or prep to keep you on track, even when stress or unexpected events come your way.

4. Take care of yourself. Take some “you” time on a regular basis to get some extra sleep, exercise, or read a magazine – it’s easier to handle all of life’s challenges and to take on the prospect of making positive changes, if you’ve invested in your own well-being and strength. Connect with friends or a local support network to help stay on track and to address your own needs. Social connection can make a world of difference!

What are your tips?

A Messy Home Doesn’t Mean You’re a Bad Mom

Nancy Massotto — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:32:43 +0000

It’s a simple fact: Motherhood is very, very messy. It’s filled with vomit and diapers, juice stains and snotty noses, wet sheets and crayon on the walls. There are seemingly insurmountable piles of play things – from dough and stuffed animals, to itty bitty Legos™ that you inevitably wind up stepping on, over and over. Not to mention the messy tantrums, in public and private, and meltdowns too numerous to count. Being a parent isn’t a Hallmark moment, it’s a marathon. And just because you aren’t all smiles and sunshine with a sparkly clean home all – or even most – of the time, does not mean you’re a bad parent.

Still, moms are particularly hard on themselves and this inexplicable syndrome persists across generations. We feel guilty when our child doesn’t devour our kale and salmon dinner and instead eats frozen french fries and burgers. We admonish ourselves for losing our patience as our kids throw teary, fist-pumping fits in the mall. We beat ourselves up for each and every minor infraction – real or imagined – that we make along this bumpy, unpredictable journey.

You know what? We all need to lighten up.

If your life is messy, you’re perfectly normal – celebrate it. Laugh at it. Embrace it. Flow with it and forgive yourself. We each do the best we can with the resources that we have at the moment – whether that means our physical and environmental tools (such as information and finances), or our emotional stores (think patience).

Being part of a community of parents is one of the ways we can begin to acknowledge the challenges of motherhood. It is the ultimate reality show. Seeing, knowing, feeling, and sensing that you are not the only one who has piles of dirty laundry or a hard time getting yourself into the shower is reaffirming.

Parenting challenges you and stretches you. It should – and it ain’t always pretty. Knowing that you are not alone (and are not crazy) gives you the inner strength to continue. And having the opportunity to share your travails with other parents helps us all put things in perspective.

At Holistic Moms, we welcome parents from all walks of life and strive to create a supportive environment where we can connect, share, and learn. We honor the mess and the ups and downs. It is all part of the journey.

Today, take a deep breath, smile, and know you’re not alone. And, if the sink stinks with dirty dishes, trust that it has nothing to do with your parenting skills and your kids will thrive regardless.