Avent Survey Suggests Half Of New Moms Aren't Comfortable With Breastfeeding In Public

According to a survey conducted by baby bottle maker Avent, 50% of new moms say that they try to avoid breastfeeding in public when possible as it makes them uncomfortable.

Over the last several years, breastfeeding advocates have made breastfeeding not only acceptable but a legal right in cafes, restaurants and shops. Even despite all this, in a survey of 3,000 mums, it was found that one in four don't feel at ease exposing their breasts in public and would rather use bottles to feed their babies.

The survey also stated that:

• Twenty six percent of mums said they would only do it when they have no alternative.
• More than half of women who participated in the survey found public breastfeeding the hardest to master
• Only one in three confessed of not feeling shy
• Three in four said they felt worried their baby may not have had enough milk

"Getting started with breastfeeding can be very challenging for a new mum especially as it is a whole new experience for her and baby," the Daily Express quoted Vicki Scott, feeding and wellbeing advisor for the Avent brand.

He added: If a baby is constantly feeding, or the mum is sore, it could be the baby is only nipple-feeding. A midwife or health visitor is the first person to ask for advice."

Women are advised by health professionals to feed newborn babies for around 20 minutes, every two to three hours. But this can be reduced to once every three to four hours within a month or two. 

This is really disheartening, and I find it quite interesting that a bottle company was the one to conduct this survey. Breastfeeding is best for both mother and child, period. Instead of publishing surveys on how women feel or how society is making them feel about breastfeeding, more should be done to encourage and educate young mothers.

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New from Swisstrax! Recycled Rubber Tile Flooring

A program that is partially funded by the State of California, Swisstrax’s recycled rubber flooring tiles project produces interlocking recycled flooring tiles made from PolyDyne Engineered Rubber Powder, a product derived from recycled rubber tires.

Buyers of specialty flooring products are unique and demand superior performance, and Swisstrax states their recycled rubber flooring tiles are designed to be one of the longest-lasting, highest value flooring systems in the world, and they have laboratory testing to prove the strength and durability of their garage floor tiles.

Randy Nelson, Owner of Swisstrax flooring tiles, noted “Our goal is to remove hundreds of thousands of tires from landfills annually while keeping millions of cubic yards of recyclable materials from reaching those landfills. On an annual basis, we help reduce greenhouse gases by millions of tons of carbon."

Since manufacturing began in the United States, Swisstrax has been chosen by AVIS, Mini USA dealerships nationwide as their garage flooring of choice for showrooms. US Armed Forces, Ferrari, Bobby Unser Racing, Grand Am, American Le Mans, Mini USA, Ford Motor Company, and most recently, SNAP-ON and Shelby Automobiles are just some of the clients to take advantage of the distinctive look of the Swisstrax’s garage flooring line.

Visit www.swisstrax.com to learn more about this unique product!

Call2Recycle Launches First Household Battery Collection & Recycling Program in BC

Call2Recycle announced last week (June 9), that British Columbians will now be able to recycle any household battery at nearly 1,500 collection locations across the province. Call2Recycle® has collected more than 143,000 kilograms of rechargeable batteries in British Columbia since 1997, and the program was recently chosen as the first government-mandated collection program for all household batteries – including alkaline – by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment.

“British Columbia is leading the way in promoting environmental stewardship by launching the first government-mandated household battery program in North America,” said John Yap, British Columbia Minister of State for Climate Action. “We fully support Call2Recycle’s efforts to recycle batteries and cell phones into new products and keep them out of our solid waste stream, which will help the environment and the economy.”

To find a battery drop-off location near you or to learn how your company or organization can participate in the Call2Recycle program, visit call2recycle.ca or call 1-888-224-9764.

Zak Expands Eco Line Of Kitchen Products Infused With Rattan Wood

Zak Designs' Eco line is extremely unique! The texture of the products come from the patented process used to infuse Rattan wood – a rapidly growing plant similar to bamboo – with melamine and create a product unlike any other on the market. The process also gives the products their organic color tone that is so popular with today’s earth-conscientious consumers.

For 2010, Zak will introduce into the offering a large 3 qt and a small 24oz colander, a large scoop as well as measuring cups and measuring spoons. The additions will round out the existing line that includes nested serving and mixing bowls, mini prep bowls, a serve tray, batter bowl and an ice cream scoop. With the new additions to the line, consumers can carry the Eco theme throughout their kitchen, and prove that texture has as much a place in the culinary tools as function and fashion.

Zak stays at the forefront of emerging fashion, color and design trends from around the world with their offices around the world. They have incorporated those styles into modern and innovative tabletop and kitchen prep collections. More information is available at www.zak.com.

Pine Nut Oil - A Remedy For Arterial Hypertension?

A clinical study on the effectiveness of using pine nut oil in the comprehensive treatment of patients with arterial hypertension, was released by Pinenutoil.org recently and I found it quite interesting.

In patients with arterial hypertension who are receiving basic hypertension treatment, the consumption of a 17.5 g daily dose of Siberian Pine Nut Oil demonstrated a cholesterol lowering effect, was accompanied by the normalization of the lipid spectrum of the blood and systolic pressure, and a decrease in excess body mass.

The prime objective in treating patients with arterial hypertension is to lower patients’ elevated blood pressure and thereby reduce the risk of the onset of cardiovascular complications that occur, as is well known, on the background of an elevated level of cholesterol in the blood and general obesity.

In the study medical professionals used Siberian Pine Nut Oil in their testing.

Results:

In patients of the first group, after one month, a substantial lowering of the level of LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and the atherogenic index was detected (Table 3), after three months the lipid reducing effect of Siberian Pine Nut Oil under Siberian Pine Nut Oil trade mark was even more pronounced. The level of HDL cholesterol in patients who received Siberian Pine Nut Oil under Siberian Pine Nut Oil trade mark reliably increased after one month by 35%, and after three months, by 29% from the initial point. As a result, indicators, such as the level of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides reached the target value, while the level of LDL cholesterol was close to it. The atherogenic index, although decreased by 40%, did not reach the target value (2.6), but came to 2.9.

In the control group after three months only a tendency to the lowering of the level of total cholesterol (p=0.06) was observed, without substantial changes in the remaining indicators. As can be seen from Table 4, in patients of the basic group the lowering of the systolic pressure was more pronounced (by 19.5%) than in the control group (by 10.6%), in this case the diastolic pressure became lower in the groups approximately in equal measure. The lowering of the body mass index was also more pronounced in patients in the first group.

You can view the complete study here.

Review: Young Living Essential Oils - High Quality Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils

Aromatherapy is something which I have always wanted to further my education in. With their beautiful scents and tremendous health benefits, these oils can actually help to treat various illnesses and evoke strong emotional reactions.

“Smell is the only one of the five senses directly linked to the limbic lobe—the emotional control center—of the brain. From anxiety to depression, fatigue to stress, essential oils have long been appreciated for their uplifting, calming, and clarifying effects on emotional wellness.”

Dating back to 4500 BC, Ancient Egyptians used essential oils to treat illnesses and help to perform rituals and religious ceremonies in temples and pyramids. The three oils which are still commonly used today - cedarwood, myrrh and frankincense - were used in the embalming process. There are also more than 188 references in the Bible to oils that were used as protection against disease and for anointing and healing the sick.

A couple of months ago, I jumped on the opportunity to review Young Living’s essential oils. I had heard many positive things about Young Living and was excited to test out their products.

Young Living Therapeutic Grade essential oils are pure, natural and unadulterated. They are not to be confused with synthetic, perfume-grade oils that smell pretty, these are the real thing!

Along with their large array of oils such as Lavender, Chamomile, Peppermint and other single scents, Young Living also sells blends which can be a life-saver (and a money saver) for those who don’t wish to spend a lot of money all at once on single bottles.

I tested both the Peace and Calming as well as the “Magnify Your Purpose’ oil blends and was extremely happy with both.

The Peace & Calming contains Tangerine, Ylang Ylang, Blue Tansy, Orange and Patchouli oils which encourage calmness and relaxation. Rubbing 1-2 drops on my wrists or behind my ears helped me to relax at the end of a long day. This oil was especially beneficial when giving my daughters a bath in the evening as it relaxed and wound them both down after a day of fun and excitement.

Magnifiy Your Purpose contains Sandalwood, Rosewood, Sage, Nutmeg, Patchouli, Cinnamon bark and Ginger. It “helps foster a positive attitude, encouraging you to rise above adversity, seize the initiative, overcome procrastination and self-pity, and magnify your life's purpose”.

Compared to the many other essential oil brands I have tried in the past (5-6 at least), Young Living has exceeded them all in quality and performance.

Jennifer Nordin, an Executive Young Living Distributor, provides practical aromatherapy tips and private consultations through her blog, Oils For Wellness. Be sure to subscribe to her e-newsletter for more ways to experience the amazing healing benefits of essential oils or you can visit her on Facebook.

This review was made possible by MomMadeThat.com.

Teens Say "Take a Stand, Don't Tan!" During Melanoma Awareness Month

The Melanoma Research Foundation has launched a new campaign to educate teens about the dangers of tanning during the Melanoma Awareness month. The "Take a Stand, Don't Tan!" campaign provides teens with the facts about the health risks associated with tanning through media tools such as Facebook and YouTube.

Melanoma is one of the fastest growing cancers worldwide, Exposure to UV radiation such as sunlight and indoor tanning beds, is one of the major risk factors for most melanomas.

“This isn’t a cancer that waits for people to grow old before it strikes and teens need to understand the health risks before they get in a tanning bed,” said Tim Turnham, executive director of the MRF. “Melanoma is the second most common type of cancer in teens and young adults and the leading cause of cancer death in women 25 to 30 years old.“

"Recent research has shown that using tanning beds before age 35 increases your risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent and occasionally using tanning beds can triple your chances. Last year, 69,000 Americans were diagnosed with the disease, resulting in one death every single hour."

The importance of addressing sun safety in the youth population was recently further reinforced by a new partnership between the MRF and "Cosmopolitan" magazine to raise awareness and funds for melanoma research. "Cosmo" readers will receive an awareness bracelet with a $10 donation to the MRF. The fundraising drive is part the magazine’s ongoing “Practice Safe Sun” campaign to combat the high rate of skin cancer among young women.

More information is available at www.melanoma.org.

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