Phasing Out Stages of PWS

There is hope! But in the meantime...


I have been away for a while and I am limited on time today, but let me share some new information about Prader-Willi Syndrome (new to me).  It has to do with research that has been ongoing.


With Prader-Willi syndrome, current information includes two stages as they relate to nutrition and hunger. New research has determined or identified seven nutritional phases. It is something that has been talked about for a few years and has just now, it seems, gained legitimacy. An abstract has been published by the American Journal of medical genetics and you can read it at this link "Abstract".


I found this link in a wonderful Blog by a mom in the Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) community who Blogs daily about her life. Check out "diving into the waves".


I see hope in this new information because 1st, it is ground gained in the understanding of PWS. And 2nd, it gives us all hope that our children might be the rare few that gain the ability to feel full when eating (something I thought impossible).


On another note, I had an inspiring day today. I met Dianne Miller of  G.O. Ministries and will be posting about some of my thoughts that were inspired by Dianne.


In the meantime, if you are in need of green cleaning products, natural nutrition or weight loss products, check out my Shaklee page.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Prader-Willi Village

www.celebratedifferences.org

In the Prader-Willi village (or community), we share because we care... And "it takes a village to raise a child".  

How is it that the perfect parent (as if such a thing exists) could raise a child that will struggle physically and mentally?  You know those parents... They are the same ones writing books, creating videos, lecturing and telling you just how you should raise your child!

The truth is, there is no "one size fits all" to parenting. Yet many parents struggle to find answers, unsure of their own abilities and concerned about the future of their children.  This can hit especially hard in the special needs community where parents are searching for answers where fewer answers, or opinions, exist.

More and more, parents are turning to the internet to find answers. More and more, forums are popping up with many parents ready to share their tips and strategies for raising a special needs child. And, more and more, parents are questioning their own parenting techniques in the face of so many other parenting success stories, at least in what they perceive as success.  I see this often as I search and interact with other parents on-line who, as I do, have a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome. 

My twins (not so much)

It really does take a village to raise a child, but what some don't realize or forget because raising a special needs child can sometimes be overwhelming, is that just because our children have a syndrome or disability, the syndrome or disability is not the result of an identical corrupted set of DNA. Just as everyone has a unique set of fingerprints, everyone has a unique DNA.  Including every individual with Prader-Willi Syndrome. To dig a little deeper into DNA and better understand genetics, or even deeper into epigenetics (way over my head) is to come to the realization that even identical twins are probably not 100% identical at birth... And they grow less and less identical through life. 

Bottom line, and a line I love... Prader-Willi Syndrome is what they have and not who they are.  

In the Prader-Willi village, or community, we share because we care and it really does take a village to raise a child... Even if that community is only there for much needed moral support!  And every child with Prader-Willi Syndrome is unique, with different needs, abilities and potential. But, while the village can help, mom still knows best because she has a special bond and connection, a mothers intuition, that will help guide her child to reach their potential. 


Just as no one knows better than mom when it comes to her own child, no one knows better than you what is best for your family and how best to provide for your family. When it comes to my family, and especially my little girl who has Prader-Willi Syndrome, I trust Shaklee products to give me hope for the future.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Potential Milk Recall Averted!

Could you imagine a contaminated supply of milk making it into the refrigerators of thousands of homes??? It could already be happening but thanks to a decision by the FDA, under pressure from the dairy industry, we may never know.

Recent articles have revealed a disturbing revelation about our government and why we should be concerned about our food supply... LOL  Yes, it took me a little while to stop laughing too.

According to a New York Times article, the FDA has for years considered expanding testing of milk for more than the four to six antibiotics it currently tests for.  The reason being, that illegal drug residue has been showing up for years in older dairy cows bound for slaughter.

In testing that was to begin mid January, some of the farms listed on the Department of Agriculture's "violator" lists would have their milk tested to determine if there is any correlation between illegal drug residues found in tissue samples of meat from culled dairy cows and the milk supply from these farms.

Here is some interesting reading from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) website, December 20, 2010, January 7, 2011, January 13, 2011 and here is the New York Times article from January 25, 2011 that is spreading like wildfire around the internet.  The following letter however, I believe, defines a clearer picture of the $$$ concerns that effected the decision. IDFA & NMPF LETTER - 12/13/10

SO... To avoid the risk of farmers being forced to dump potentially contaminated milk at a loss or the risk of contaminated milk getting into the milk supply... No tests will be done.  This reminds me of the Military's policy of "Don't ask, don't tell".  As long as we don't test it, we won't know if it is contaminated and therefore, no action needs to be taken.   Is it any wonder why many countries have a ban on some food imports from the U.S.

In doing my research for this post, I came across many disturbing things about the history of our governments decisions and their very short term memories.  That being said, my next post will reveal some unbelievable, at least in my own mind, facts about the history of one large corporation who seems to have a lot of power over this country.

How are you protecting yourself and your family against the potential risks of antibiotic-resistent infections that are believed to be a result of a poorly managed food supply, including our milk?  A great first step is to insure that you are eating as healthy a diet as possible to give your body the strength to fight the attacks from mutations, toxins and chemicals that are a major part of our food supply and environment these days.  Have you considered using dietary supplements? 65% of Americans use them, including my family.  Only the best for my family, from Shaklee.  For my family, and especially my little girl who has Prader-Willi Syndrome, Shaklee products give me hope for the future.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

My Life as a Guinea Pig

"It's much easier to ask for forgiveness, than to ask for permission." It can also be less expensive!

Have you ever wondered if perhaps there is more money going into things that are creating health issues, then money going into solving or curing health issues?  That is not to say that anyone is intentionally using us as guinea pigs, creating health issues for profit... I hope!  This reminds me of a philosophy used by a past employer, who also made several unsuccessful attempts at becoming an elected official in politics. "It's much easier to ask for forgiveness, than to ask for permission." Could it be that big corporations use the same approach for new products? Assuming that it is much easier to fix a problem that "might" occur, if they can be proven responsible, rather than try to figure out the risks.

I have spent many hours tonight, today, this morning... What time is it anyway??? Trying to understand the concern over the deregulation of Genetically Modified (GM) alfalfa.  As if there is some reason that this is worse than GM corn, soy beans or anything else that is genetically modified. There are literally hundreds of articles, references, reports and studies on the subject. The best source, with many resource links, is, in my opinion, Wikipedia's "Genetically Modified Foods". I wish I had looked at this first, instead of last.  

The truth of the matter is that we have been consuming genetically modified foods since the early 1990's, without any useful studies being done prior to there release. I love this statement I found, quoted in Harvest of Fear from an article done by the Chicago Tribune on 9/3/2000, on Genetically Altered Foods: 

"Today the vast majority of foods in supermarkets contain 

genetically modified substances whose effects on our health 

are unknown. As a medical doctor, I can assure you that 

no one in the medical profession would attempt to perform 

experiments on human subjects without their consent. Such 

conduct is illegal and unethical. Yet manufacturers of 

genetically altered foods are exposing us to one of the largest 

uncontrolled experiments in modern history."

--Dr. Martha R. Herbert, pediatric neurologist

The reality of the risks and effects may never be proven, something large corporations may be counting on.  Given all the other environmental factors that effect our lives, how can it be proven that something like "corn" has caused an illness or a disease? Genetically modified corn or organic corn, many would argue that there is no difference. The battle to prove otherwise could take years to fight in the courts, before any action could be taken to prove responsibility for GMO's.  

I looked at many things over the past several hours, including genetics, epigenetics, proteolytic digestion, protein composition & digestive processing, and many other things that I could find to try and better understand the report done by the USDA on Roundup Ready (GM) Alfalfa, to allow deregulation.  

I will leave you to make your own decisions on GMO's (the link above from Wikipedia covers a lot of ground and the 2nd bullet below was the report used for deregulation of GM alfalfa), but here is just one more piece of information to consider. With the understanding that proteins might have an effect on genetics, and more specifically epigenetics that control expression of our genes/DNA which can be turned on or off like a switch:  

• 1st from FAQS  “because many plant proteins lack one or more... Incomplete proteins can, however, be combined... though combinations of incomplete proteins must be consumed at the same time... to obtain the maximum nutritive value from the amino acids."
•  2nd from the USDA, Glyphosate-Tolerant Alfalfa Events J101 and J163: Request for Nonregulated Status Final Environmental Impact Statement— December 2010  “family of EPSPS proteins that naturally occur in crops... that have a long history of safe consumption by humans and animals. Monsanto also explained... and (3) the CP4 EPSPS protein is susceptible to rapid proteolytic digestion in simulated gastric fluid.” Apendex Q, page 5, 1-3 Gene and Gene Product.

My take is that they count on weak plant proteins from GM Crops to be rendered useless in stomach digestion, but what I have found on the internet is that those weak or incomplete proteins can be made complete if consumed with other weak or incomplete proteins from other sources.  

And I didn't even touch on the potential soil and environmental impact! 

One thing you can be sure of is that Shaklee ingredients, including those used for their Alfalfa Complex, will not include genetically modified ingredients.  For my family, and especially my little girl who has Prader-Willi syndrome, Shaklee products give me hope for the future.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Taco Bell-ch

http://terrysnotebook.blogspot.com/

It takes a lot to surprise me these days, and when I saw that Taco Bell was being sued for their potential stretch in using the word beef for something that might not qualify... Well, I thought that to be somewhat humorous, especially since I prefer the chicken products and since I have been playing with fast food for a few months on my other Blog.  It seemed humorous, until I read the full story and then checked out the ingredients page for Taco Bell products.

What first caught my eye was the "anti-dusting agent" and "maltodextrin". Hmmmmm? Of course, we all know that there are a lot of chemicals, compounds and additives going into our foods, especially into our fast foods in order to improve taste, maintain quality and preserve them for long periods of time... You did know that, didn't you?  It seems that the anti-dusting agent and maltodextrin were not the worse things that I would find in my research.


Part of the chemistry experiment that gives us Taco Bell's "Seasoned Ground Beef" includes "fiber" for our diet, in the way of silicon dioxide.  Ok, perhaps my technical understanding of the use of silicon dioxide is too limited to understand the use and safety of this chemical compound that is commonly found in nature as sand or quartz. AND, is more commonly used in the production of glass and optical "fiber"! LOL  Seriously! Check it out at this link.  

Check out the ingredients for yourself at this Taco Bell link.  

As I said at the beginning, I thought this to be humorous because I prefer the chicken products from Taco Bell... Until I read that silicon dioxide was also used in the chicken products, rice, chilli and others, but no more than 2%... Is it just me, or does 2% seem like a lot? 

I will say this for Taco Bell, they have a very detailed list of ingredients and are quite possibly more forth coming and up front than most fast food chains.  They might not be required to list all of these ingredients because of the FDA’s GRAS policy (generally recognized as safe).  A policy that is over my head!

One thing that is not over my head, is the growing trend toward creating the best tasting food that is not necessarily good for you. Looking at labels and understanding ingredients is important for my family because my daughter has Prader-Willi Syndrome.  We are the lucky ones, forced to be health conscious and we have discovered a great company to help us. Shaklee is committed to providing natural nutrition and green cleaning products, plus so much more. Over 80,000 quality tests annually, with a history of over 50 years of helping families.

Isn't it time you took a, run... from the border, and started thinking, outside the... restaurant?

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids