It's the most wonderful time......of the year!! That's right, back to school time is just around the corner. Literally for us, school starts Thursday!! What does that mean other than a bit more sanity in the house? The sharing of new and exciting germs.....ah the downside. Well, I am going to share a little tip that I am going to try. It is called Allimax from New Beginnings. Here is the info:
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Guaranteed pure and highly effective
Allimax Liquid contains 100% pure stabilized Allisure™ allicin extract, the most important and active constituent found in garlic. Allisure™ allicin is extracted from fresh garlic using a completely natural process - without the use of solvents – to produce the most stable, pure and potent liquid allicin extract available. Most garlic supplements available contain less than 5% allicin or can provide only unstable “allicin potential” which oftentimes cannot survive the stomach acid, preventing it’s conversion to true allicin. Allimax Liquid, however, contains 100% stable Allisure™ allicin that is able to survive the digestive process and needs no conversion by the body before going to work.
Scientific studies have shown the multiple benefits of allicin which includes supporting a healthy cardiovascular, immune and digestive system due to its anti-fungal, anti-biotic and anti-viral properties. Each drop of Allimax Liquid delivers the amount of allicin contained in 40 cloves of garlic without containing all the other compounds that cause a garlic scent to come through the skin and breath. As a result, the fresh garlic taste quickly dissipates after ingestion and does not leave a lingering garlic taste in your mouth.
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And here is what Dr. McFadzean, the consulting Naturopath for New Beginnings has to say about it as well:
Garlic, or allium sativum as it is known in the plant world, has many medicinal properties and has been used for years as a healing remedy. We are proud to be carrying Allimax Liquid, a potent, stable form of garlic with a multitude of uses and benefits, including immune supportive, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. Allimax Liquid can help balance digestive function, ward off colds and flu's, and promote healthy hearts.Garlic, or allium sativum as it is known in the plant world, has many medicinal properties and has been used for years as a healing remedy. We are proud to be carrying Allimax Liquid, a potent, stable form of garlic with a multitude of uses and benefits, including immune supportive, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. Allimax Liquid can help balance digestive function, ward off colds and flu's, and promote healthy hearts.Allimax Liquid contains 100% pure stabilized Allisure allicin extract, the most important and active constituent found in garlic. Therefore you can be assured that this liquid gives you the highest quality and potency. Many garlic remedies have low levels of actual allicin, less than 5%, which renders them not very potent - one drop of Allimax Liquid contains the equivalent amount of allicin as 40 cloves of garlic. Many garlic remedies also leave a lot to be desired in terms of residual odor. Allimax Liquid, being so concentrated and with the high levels of isolated allicin extract, omits many of the constituents of regular garlic that cause that smell. Further, because Allimax Liquid is stabilized, it resists breakdown by the stomach acids and can make its way into the intestines, balancing dysbiotic flora, and being absorbed into the blood stream where it can influence cardiovascular and immune function, to name just a few.One of Allimax's key uses is as an antimicrobial. If we look at garlic in nature, the cloves are odor-free until they are crushed or permeated in some way. At that point, there is a reaction between one of its chemical compounds, alliin, and an enzyme called allinase, which results in the formation of allicin. So in nature, if a "predator" such as a fungus in the soil, permeates the garlic bulb, allicin will be created which inactivates the invader. This mechanism is activated in a very small location for a very limited amount of time, leaving the rest of the plant available to mount an attack of its own should the need arise. So you can see that garlic is well designed in nature as an antimicrobial.The list of microbes which allicin has been shown to be effective against is extensive - bacteria such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Proteus, Bacillus and Clostridium. These are microbes that I frequently see testing positive on children's stool tests. Allicin also combats H pylori, a bacteria that can cause gastric ulcers, as well as symptoms such as burping, heartburn, reflux, feeling like food just sits in the stomach, nausea etc. Many people are put on antacid medications and such as Nexium and Tagamet for reflux that is actually caused by the H. pylori bacteria. Allicin has been effectively used for methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) as well as other drug-resistant bacterial strains. One of the greatest benefits of Allimax is that it can be used directly in the ears to combat ear infections. I believe that ear infections in children, and the subsequent antibiotic regimens given, are one of the largest contributing factors to yeast overgrowth, which then has such a significant impact on behavior. Having a natural option for treating ear infections is so beneficial in preventing that whole cascade.Allicin is also a very effective compound in combating yeast and fungal overgrowth. Fungus in the soil is very common and garlic is well designed in nature to resist it. Therefore we see huge clinical application for Allimax Liquid in intestinal candida.What is also nice about using a natural product such as Allimax over pharmaceutical anti-fungals, is that the Allimax has "accessory benefits" such as combating any bacteria and parasites that may be present. Anti-fungal medications are more specific for yeast and do not provide that broad-spectrum benefit.Garlic is well known as an immune enhancing remedy. It is known that allicin enhances phagocytosis, which is the term given when an immune cells engulfs and destroys an invader (such as a bacteria). It also enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity. It is antiviral, and can reduce the occurrence of the common cold as well as the duration of colds.The biological capability of allicin is related to its antioxidant capabilities, immune enhancing capabilities and antimicrobial activity. It can easily penetrate the cell membranes getting into the cells where it can work most effectively.Allimax Liquid has a high safety level. As garlic can potentially act as a blood thinner (advantageous in cardiovascular health in general), it is recommended that those on anticoagulants or about to undergo surgery advise their medical team before starting any garlic supplement. Very occasionally an individual may have an allergic reaction to garlic. I recommend people who have tested positive to garlic on IgG food allergy testing to avoid supplementation of it also.Allimax Liquid is a high potency, high quality extract of allicin, the active constituent of garlic. Being a liquid it is very easy to take, and drops should be first mixed into liquid or cool food. The taste of garlic dissipates considerably when added to water and there is not a lingering garlic smell, nor should there be odor from the pores of the skin later. It is a great immune boosting remedy, while acting as a natural antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral remedy. If your child has a weakened immune system, evidenced by recurrent colds and flu's, viral infections, or if they have intestinal yeast and dysbiosis, Allimax Liquid may be a beneficial remedy to integrate into their protocol.
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My awesome co-worker Lisa told me at the USAAA show that when she starts to feel rundown and about to get sick she will take some and it makes her feel better. Now THIS I have got to try. I have known about the wonderful properties of garlic but you need to get RAW garlic in. I am not a big fan of munching on raw garlic (or the odorous after effects either) and my kids won't touch the raw stuff. This is the best of both worlds, the potency of garlic without the potent smell! I am placing my order today, and its on SALE!! Normally $32, on sale for $25.60. Just in time! Let me know if you need help placing an order with New Beginnings, and don't forget to tell them you heard about it from me! ;)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
New BIOMED support group coming to the East Valley SOON!!
Dawn Winkelmann, speech and language goddess/feeding therapist and I are starting up a new biomed group for the East Valley. We plan to offer monthly (until we need to do more) classes that give hands on info on GFCFSF diets, ways to get supplements in kids, recipes, seasonal topics like back to school lunch ideas, GFCF holiday recipes, etc. We plan to have 1 hour lecture, 30 min Q & A and 30 min chit chat. I will have New Beginnings products on hand to try, we will have Dr. Woeller's Autism Action Plan on hand to check out and Dawn will be available to discuss private consults. We will start at the beginning, why is it important to adopt a GFCF and maybe even SF diet for your child? We will bring in each of the building blocks including a review of some of the biomedical challenges these children face to help parents truly understand the root causes of Autism and why these interventions are important. We will also provide tools (i.e. reputable doctors, therapists and supplements) to help support children who have Autism. It will be a Meet Up group online and we will meet at a local place (TBD). The dates have been set as the 2nd Thursday of the month from 7:00 - 9:00 pm beginning in September. We will have guest speakers, you will get to try recipes, we will share ideas and resources, offer hope and support. I will post the link to Meet up on my blog when we get it all set up. We hope to see you there!!!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Update to safer cleaning products
I LOVE when my readers ask questions, then I research and learn more too!! Thanks Sharmila for asking about better alternatives to the handi-wipes at every store these days to wipe down your cart handle.
Sharmila asked "I use the alcohol hand sanitizer on the shopping carts instead of those courtesy wipes. Rubbing alcohol isn't bad for the kids the same way bleach is...no?"
I am guilty of using the Purell (gratuitous use of a trade name, I know) too. I try and avoid it but for example, they require it at the gym daycare. I hadn't really thought much of it until now but here's what I learned:
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Earth Talk: Safety issues with gel hand sanitizersby the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: My pediatrician swears by those gel hand sanitizers for lowering the risk of my family getting sick during cold and flu season. But I've also heard that these products can be dangerous to kids if ingested. Are there any safer alternatives that work just as well?
A 2005 study by the Children's Hospital in Boston compared illness rates across a study group of 292 families-half of them got hand sanitizers while the other half were given literature advising them of the benefits of frequent hand washing. The findings revealed that those families who used hand sanitizers experienced a 59 percent reduction in gastrointestinal illnesses and that the increased use of sanitizers correlated to a decreased spread of contagions in general.
Another study conducted at Colorado State University yielded similar conclusions, that alcohol-based hand sanitizers were as much as twice as effective as either regular soap or antibacterial soap at reducing germs on human hands. A Purdue University study, however, concluded that while alcohol-based hand sanitizers may kill more germs than plain or triclosan-based soaps, they do not prevent more infections that make people sick. Instead they may kill the human body's own beneficial bacteria by stripping the skin of its outer layer of oil.
The down side of the gel/alcohol products is their danger as poison, especially for young children who may ingest the gel by licking it off their hands or eating it directly out of dispensers. Purell and Germ-X, two of the leading brands, each contain 62 percent ethyl alcohol. While this alcohol is what gives the products their germ-busting power, it also puts kids at risk of alcohol poisoning. A few squirts of the hand sanitizer-which is equivalent to124 proof booze-is enough to make a kid's blood alcohol level .10, which is the equivalent of being legally drunk in most states.
So what's a concerned parent to do? Unfortunately, the so-called greener alternatives out there aren't safe to swallow either. EO Hand Sanitizer, for example, though it uses organic lavender oil also contains alcohol to sanitize the skin surface, and would also be considered poison if a large enough amount was ingested. Similarly greener (but still not safe to eat) products are available from Avant and All Terrain.
For now, soap and warm water-and constant nagging of your kids to wash their hands-may be the safest way to sanitize. Also, make sure that any hand sanitizer dispensers you may still use are kept out of the reach of little hands.
But who knows how we'll be sanitizing our hands in the future. Researchers at Arizona State University have found that certain types of natural clays pulled right from the ground are highly effective at killing bacteria. One type of green clay has been shown to do a number on E. coli, salmonella, staph and other bacteria known to make people sick. But the research is still in its infancy, so don't expect to see moms pulling jars of clay out of their purses anytime soon.
CONTACTS: EO Products, www.eoproducts.com; OrganicBeautySource.com, www.organicbeautysource.com; MotherNature.com, www.mothernature.com.
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Here are some additional links about the use of these products. I love the tip in one of the following articles of just using a regular old baby wipe.
http://safemama.com/2008/08/06/dear-safemama-cleaning-supplies-and-hand-sanitizers/
http://safemama.com/2008/09/17/dear-safemama-clorox-spray-and-hand-sanitizers-at-school/
A couple of things I forgot to mention earlier, I preach immune support, immune support, immune support. Proper nutrition, sleep, removal of processed sugars, PROBIOTICS and other supplements will do your child much better than ANY sanitizing wipe. Our bodies are made to deal with the buggies, chemicals - not so much. The more we boost our system up (rather than tear it down by poor nutrition for example) the more we will be protected from the germs out there. We can't live in a bubble so lets make sure the immune system is as strong as it can be and ditch the chemicals made to kill them (and to a lesser extent, us). And, if you are at all interested in aromatherapy, the essential oil Tea Tree Oil is a very potent antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. I put a few drops in a water bottle sprayer and use as "lysol" spray that is safe for kids, pets, etc. You could put a drop of that on your hand and swipe across the handle of the cart too!! I LOVE Tea Tree Oil.
Sharmila asked "I use the alcohol hand sanitizer on the shopping carts instead of those courtesy wipes. Rubbing alcohol isn't bad for the kids the same way bleach is...no?"
I am guilty of using the Purell (gratuitous use of a trade name, I know) too. I try and avoid it but for example, they require it at the gym daycare. I hadn't really thought much of it until now but here's what I learned:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Earth Talk: Safety issues with gel hand sanitizersby the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: My pediatrician swears by those gel hand sanitizers for lowering the risk of my family getting sick during cold and flu season. But I've also heard that these products can be dangerous to kids if ingested. Are there any safer alternatives that work just as well?
A 2005 study by the Children's Hospital in Boston compared illness rates across a study group of 292 families-half of them got hand sanitizers while the other half were given literature advising them of the benefits of frequent hand washing. The findings revealed that those families who used hand sanitizers experienced a 59 percent reduction in gastrointestinal illnesses and that the increased use of sanitizers correlated to a decreased spread of contagions in general.
Another study conducted at Colorado State University yielded similar conclusions, that alcohol-based hand sanitizers were as much as twice as effective as either regular soap or antibacterial soap at reducing germs on human hands. A Purdue University study, however, concluded that while alcohol-based hand sanitizers may kill more germs than plain or triclosan-based soaps, they do not prevent more infections that make people sick. Instead they may kill the human body's own beneficial bacteria by stripping the skin of its outer layer of oil.
The down side of the gel/alcohol products is their danger as poison, especially for young children who may ingest the gel by licking it off their hands or eating it directly out of dispensers. Purell and Germ-X, two of the leading brands, each contain 62 percent ethyl alcohol. While this alcohol is what gives the products their germ-busting power, it also puts kids at risk of alcohol poisoning. A few squirts of the hand sanitizer-which is equivalent to124 proof booze-is enough to make a kid's blood alcohol level .10, which is the equivalent of being legally drunk in most states.
So what's a concerned parent to do? Unfortunately, the so-called greener alternatives out there aren't safe to swallow either. EO Hand Sanitizer, for example, though it uses organic lavender oil also contains alcohol to sanitize the skin surface, and would also be considered poison if a large enough amount was ingested. Similarly greener (but still not safe to eat) products are available from Avant and All Terrain.
For now, soap and warm water-and constant nagging of your kids to wash their hands-may be the safest way to sanitize. Also, make sure that any hand sanitizer dispensers you may still use are kept out of the reach of little hands.
But who knows how we'll be sanitizing our hands in the future. Researchers at Arizona State University have found that certain types of natural clays pulled right from the ground are highly effective at killing bacteria. One type of green clay has been shown to do a number on E. coli, salmonella, staph and other bacteria known to make people sick. But the research is still in its infancy, so don't expect to see moms pulling jars of clay out of their purses anytime soon.
CONTACTS: EO Products, www.eoproducts.com; OrganicBeautySource.com, www.organicbeautysource.com; MotherNature.com, www.mothernature.com.
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Here are some additional links about the use of these products. I love the tip in one of the following articles of just using a regular old baby wipe.
http://safemama.com/2008/08/06/dear-safemama-cleaning-supplies-and-hand-sanitizers/
http://safemama.com/2008/09/17/dear-safemama-clorox-spray-and-hand-sanitizers-at-school/
A couple of things I forgot to mention earlier, I preach immune support, immune support, immune support. Proper nutrition, sleep, removal of processed sugars, PROBIOTICS and other supplements will do your child much better than ANY sanitizing wipe. Our bodies are made to deal with the buggies, chemicals - not so much. The more we boost our system up (rather than tear it down by poor nutrition for example) the more we will be protected from the germs out there. We can't live in a bubble so lets make sure the immune system is as strong as it can be and ditch the chemicals made to kill them (and to a lesser extent, us). And, if you are at all interested in aromatherapy, the essential oil Tea Tree Oil is a very potent antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. I put a few drops in a water bottle sprayer and use as "lysol" spray that is safe for kids, pets, etc. You could put a drop of that on your hand and swipe across the handle of the cart too!! I LOVE Tea Tree Oil.
Safer cleaning tips to reduce toxins in the home
I have blogged about this in the past but as I reached for my vinegar and baking soda today, it made me think of how more and more I am seeing people use caustic and toxic cleaners to clean their homes and the Clorox/Lysol surface wipes on kids' hands. I wanted to cover this topic again. In today's society, we have so many things that have become commonplace that can be dangerous to our childrens' health. The use of bleach and disinfecting wipes is one of them. Here is a link to the Clorox FAQ page where they specifically say that these disinfecting wipes are for hard surfaces ONLY, not hands or bodies:
http://www.clorox.com/products/faqs.php?prod_id=cdw#faq4
Although the Clorox wipes I mentioned above do not contain bleach persey, they fall into the toxic category anyways. Then we move onto the topic of bleach itself. I would challenge each of you to get rid of that bleach and reach for natural, safer cleaners. Here is some additional reading on the hazards of using bleach.
http://greenandcleanmom.org/bleach-recallanother-reason-to-go-non-toxic/
http://www.moldacrossamerica.org/notobleach.htm
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/chlorine-in-household-cleaners.html#
So you germaphobes may be asking at this point "what will I use?". I used to be a germaphobe too. But, the bleach is gone and in its place is vinegar and baking soda (when combined will foam and has good grit to scrub those tubs!) and hydrogen peroxide. Life is all about PH I have decided. Once you know an organism's PH you can find a way to counteract it. If you are looking for a disinfectant, the acidity of vinegar will do the trick. Don't believe me? Read more here:
http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/vinegar-as-a-disinfectant.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4591377_sanitize-with-vinegar.html
It may take you a little more elbow grease but you will be sure your little ones are not breathing in toxic fumes from the chemicals. Bleach fumes hover right around calf/ankle level, perfect height for crawlers and new walkers. Do you really want your child breathing in Dioxin, one of the most harmful man made chemicals on Earth? Of course you don't which is why you dump the bleach and chemical cleaners and reach for natural (and CHEAP) alternatives! You children and your pocket book with thank you!!!
http://www.clorox.com/products/faqs.php?prod_id=cdw#faq4
Although the Clorox wipes I mentioned above do not contain bleach persey, they fall into the toxic category anyways. Then we move onto the topic of bleach itself. I would challenge each of you to get rid of that bleach and reach for natural, safer cleaners. Here is some additional reading on the hazards of using bleach.
http://greenandcleanmom.org/bleach-recallanother-reason-to-go-non-toxic/
http://www.moldacrossamerica.org/notobleach.htm
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/chlorine-in-household-cleaners.html#
So you germaphobes may be asking at this point "what will I use?". I used to be a germaphobe too. But, the bleach is gone and in its place is vinegar and baking soda (when combined will foam and has good grit to scrub those tubs!) and hydrogen peroxide. Life is all about PH I have decided. Once you know an organism's PH you can find a way to counteract it. If you are looking for a disinfectant, the acidity of vinegar will do the trick. Don't believe me? Read more here:
http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/vinegar-as-a-disinfectant.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4591377_sanitize-with-vinegar.html
It may take you a little more elbow grease but you will be sure your little ones are not breathing in toxic fumes from the chemicals. Bleach fumes hover right around calf/ankle level, perfect height for crawlers and new walkers. Do you really want your child breathing in Dioxin, one of the most harmful man made chemicals on Earth? Of course you don't which is why you dump the bleach and chemical cleaners and reach for natural (and CHEAP) alternatives! You children and your pocket book with thank you!!!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Home from The USAAA Show!
Wow, what a fun filled weekend!! I was on my first assignment for New Beginnings, to attend the US Aspergers and Autism Association show at the Westin LAX representing New Beginnings Nutritionals. This conference was a great chance for parents, caregivers and therapists to hear wonderful speakers and see the other companies who work to help us recover our children with Autism. I had a chance to sample some of our own products for the first time! I tried the chewable A & I support which is an allergy and immune support, a natural antihistamine. I also tried the chewable enzymes by Houston that we carry and the chewable Vitamin C. I loved them all. Some parents even report using the chewable Vitamin C as a reward. I just ordered some myself so we'll see if it goes over as well in our house.
It was great to talk to other parents about what is helping my son. Talking to other parents who live this life just like I do was so therapeutic!! To be in a room filled with people who understand your bloodshot eyes, your stress lines, and your grey hair is invaluable!! Often times families who have been touched by Autism feel loneliness and isolation. I LOVE these conferences because we ALL understand. Even though Autism in our house may look different than Autism in your house, we all understand, we're in the club too! We understand quirks, perseverations, feeding challenges, etc. We can share tips and gain knowledge and understanding from other parents. We can vent about challenges with school districts, being out in public when others don't understand, and even the toll it can take on your marriage. We all mourn the loss of the life we thought we'd have with our children and celebrate the successes that we have created for our children through our interventions. We feel empowered, supported and most of all, accepted. It was a great conference, I will post more details and info as soon as I can!
It was great to talk to other parents about what is helping my son. Talking to other parents who live this life just like I do was so therapeutic!! To be in a room filled with people who understand your bloodshot eyes, your stress lines, and your grey hair is invaluable!! Often times families who have been touched by Autism feel loneliness and isolation. I LOVE these conferences because we ALL understand. Even though Autism in our house may look different than Autism in your house, we all understand, we're in the club too! We understand quirks, perseverations, feeding challenges, etc. We can share tips and gain knowledge and understanding from other parents. We can vent about challenges with school districts, being out in public when others don't understand, and even the toll it can take on your marriage. We all mourn the loss of the life we thought we'd have with our children and celebrate the successes that we have created for our children through our interventions. We feel empowered, supported and most of all, accepted. It was a great conference, I will post more details and info as soon as I can!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Antiviral therapy for Autism Treatment
We are onto the stage in my son's treatment that I was most hopeful about, antivirals! Given our family history of viruses, specifically Herpes strain, I have always had a hunch that this was a big piece of the puzzle. Given that my son has had chicken pox twice (6 months and 3 years of age), I am hopeful that this leg of our treatment will bring big gains. We are 14 days in as of today. He is on both Valtrex for the actual viral issues and Diflucan for the subsequent yeast overgrowth that can come from treating viruses. If you are doing any sort of antiviral approach (including natural remedies like olive leaf extract, Virastop, Oil of Oregano, etc) you should always add in an antifungal component as the dead viruses usually become food for the yeast so you can have a yeast flare. We have seen some improvements already in usage of new words (like "meanwhile") and recall of people/places/events and more engaged, prolonged conversation with our hab worker at one point~he sat talking with her for over AN HOUR recalling details of the class he used to be in where she was one of the teachers. He was even recalling people SHE had forgotten about! But, we've also seen the regression that often accompanies these new therapies like more meltdowns, higher escalation over small things, aggression, and perseverations are back to an extent. We've been doing a combo of bumping up natural antifungals like Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and doing activated charcoal to 1) kill the yeast and 2) mop up the toxins that can produce these negative behavioral aspects. We noticed a big change yesterday after doing charcoal Friday night. Friday was filled with screaming meltdowns, not the most fun times of my life. But, I am hopeful that this is going to end up bringing us good gains so we keep pressing on. Yesterday morning I forgot that my husband was going for an early morning bike ride. My son came into my room and he asked where his dad was, I told him he must be downstairs. He headed off downstairs only to come back into my room to say "sorry mom, but my father isn't downstairs". Wow, that is a great way to wake up, hearing a sentence like that! So the gains are happening and I know this journey is a marathon, not a sprint, so we keep plugging along. I also understand that doing an antiviral approach can also be a good chelator as well. My son did not really show very high metals except for aluminum. We have never done chelation but I certainly think anything that will increase his detox pathways is a good thing. Speaking of, if you know of anyone with a Heavenly Heat FIR sauna that they are wanting to sell, please contact me. I would love to pick up a gently used one for increased detox for my son. Time to run, my son just woke up and said he's "especially hungry" this morning. The day is already giving us some wonderful new gains!! I hope you all had a great 4th of July!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Great book!
I read a book called "Ultra Metabolism" by Dr. Mark Hyman. The material was not new to me at all, many of the things I have blogged about. He also discusses the issues of chronic inflammation, stress, metabolic disorders, etc. I have been blogging about how I feel that many parents with children on the Autism Spectrum should look at themselves since many of the problems their children have, they do too! I have started taking some supplements that we have Matthew on. This book talks about many of them. So, if I were to refer a person looking to improve their own health, I would definitely suggest this book. It even has recipes to help get you started, and there is a whole seperate book of recipes that he has written as well. I got both books at the library but am thinking of buying them, that's how beneficial I think they are. I think many people have the same problems present in children with Autism, just not to the level where they have interfered with their development or manifests so strongly in their behavior. And, this book is not even focused on Autism! He has great advice about why we NEED fats in our diet, daily (YES, including dark chocolate, how can you NOT love a book like that). He talks a lot about this not being a diet but a lifestyle change. I got some great reminders out of it and yes, have even made some changes myself. This is not about deprivation, the fact is if you do not consume enough calories, your body goes into starvation mode which then means loss of muscle, then you go off of the "diet" because it doesn't work and you gain all the weight (and then some) in all fat. It is a cycle that so many are on. He states you need to eat at least enough to fuel your resting metabolic rate (RMR) which generally is your body weight times 10. So, if you weight 150, you need to at least consume 1500 calories. If you try and restrict your caloric intake to 1200 calories per day, you are actually doing yourself no good in the long term. As your weight goes down, so will your caloric need. But, it is about feeding your body the right stuff to spark that metabolic fire and addressing issues like mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation which all impede your metabolism. I loved this book, I agreed with what he said and it made so much sense!! And, from what I have learned about the body and all of these problems (inflammation, mito dysfunction, etc) it was great to see this presented to the general public, not just the Autism community. He talked about nuts, seeds and legumes that give us great fat and protein that our body recognizes, understands and can process. And, if you add into that soaking and dehydrating of nuts that I have recently shared, you get even MORE of a protein boost! I think adding in some raw food principles here work really well with his advice. Overall, 2 thumbs up!! Do yourself a favor and read his book!! You won't regret it.
Here's a link to his site http://www.ultrametabolism.com/
New adventure!
So this should explain my lack of posts lately! While at our annual in-person visit with Dr. Woeller, he mentioned an employment opportunity with New Beginnings Nutritionals, the only supplement company we use for Matthew (and the rest of our family too!). They were looking for a parent marketing rep to attend California trade shows. He asked if he could refer me for this. He did and the rest is history! I start training next week at a trade show. It will be very part time, which works great for my schedule. But, it is one more thing going on and may mean less posts. But, if ANYONE is interested in high quality, allergen free supplements from a trusted source, let me know. I would be happy to help you get started!!
Raw (GFCF) mango, flax, coconut cookies
Here is another raw recipe inspired by Sunny. It is just 1/4 cup ground flax, soaked about 2 hours (it will become a gelatenous mass, just drain some of the top water off), 2 mangos peeled and sliced and shredded coconut to your liking. Put all in a blender and dehydrate for about 24 hours. They are a hit!!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Cheesy Kale Chips (GFCF raw snacks)
Sorry for the lack of posts, we've been on vacation and trying to get back into the swing of things!!
In my attempt to use my 2 new toys to their fullest (Blendtec blender and Excaliber dehydrator) I am attempting to recreate some more of Sunny's great RAW food she fed us last month! I chose cheesy kale chips because they were SO yummy and healthy. Here's the recipe:
1 red bell pepper
1 cup of cashews (soaked at least 4 hours)
1/2 of a lemon, juiced
dash of salt
2/3 cup water
1 tablespoon smoke paprika
1 bunch of kale
Place all ingredients except for kale in a blender. Blend until smooth and saucy. Add extra water if needed. Place sauce in a very large bowl and add kale. Massage sauce into kale. Let marinate for 20 - 30 inutes. Spread out on dehydrator sheets and dehydrate at 105 degrees for up to 24 hours until desrired crispiness.
I did one batch just like this for the kids and a batch with crushed red peppers for the adults who like spicy stuff. Tastes similar to a spicy dorito, I know, it sounds crazy but it is true, and SO much healthier for you!!
Enjoy!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Autism and Toxins
Here is an excellent article by Jay Gordon found on the Huffington Post:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr Harvey Karp has just written an excellent blog beginning to discuss the role environmental toxins play in causing autism. I agree that the huge rise in autism is real, and not just related to better diagnosis or reclassification of mental illness. Autism is most likely caused by a genetic predisposition and an environmental "trigger."
Studies showing that vaccines and their many constituents do not contribute to this problem are flawed, filled with specious reasoning and, for the most part funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Even articles in reputable medical journals are often written by doctors with an economic interest in continuing the vaccination program's status quo. This does not invalidate all of these studies but it certainly makes them suspect and a poor foundation for an argument excluding vaccines from the list of environmental influences on the increase in autism in America and elsewhere.
The facile dismissal of those of us calling for safer vaccinations and scrutiny of the current vaccine schedule is not scientifically based and polarizes the discussion. Perhaps most importantly, this dismissal is insulting to the thousands of parents and families who aver that their children have been harmed by vaccines. There are extremists choosing to ignore the facts in all vaccine/autism camps. I am not one of them.
Asking that cars be manufactured with more attention to safety and that driving is best when done safely does not make one "anti-car" or anti-driving. Asking for safer vaccinations and more judicious use of those we have does not make me or anyone else "anti-vaccine."
The studies Dr. Karp cites show pretty much the opposite of what he's claiming they do. The opposite. The Danish Study's data are misused by all and interpreted to suit one's needs. The Japanese study also shows a connection between the MMR split into three components and autism. Mainstream medical journals rarely will publish editorial comment impugning the quality or integrity of vaccines because they are dependent upon the good graces of the pharmaceutical industry for their publishing dollars. Seeking out reputable commentators is difficult because the extremists on both sides of this debate exaggerate their claims and speak louder and more unpleasantly as if this helps to make their points.
In April of 2009, the "Journal of the American Medical Association" spoke to the conflict of interest and possible corruption as the journals, the AMA, the AAP and other medical associations rely on money from the manufacturers of vaccines and other drugs.
I have been in practice thirty years and watched thousands of children get shots, not get shots, develop autism or remain developmentally "neurotypical." I have no proof that vaccines cause autism and would be very excited to have my large group of extremely healthy mostly unvaccinated children studied someday. It would be disingenuous to imply that non-vaccination might not lead to an increased incidence in vaccine-preventable illness. It would be equally disingenuous to state that this possibility poses a great threat to America's children. The risks of vaccinating the way we do now exceeds the benefits of this vaccine program. "Scientists" who suggest that experienced doctors ignore their eyes and ears are wrong. Detractors who say that we should ignore parents who are certain that vaccines caused their children's autism are wrong and often quite mean-spirited.
Dr. Karp, if you are going to talk and blog about kitchen cleaners, furniture polish, pesticides and other toxins, how can you possibly ignore the 30-40 injections of potentially risky material we give children in their first 24 months of life? There is absolutely no proof that these shots are as safe the makers say they are and certainly no proof that new combinations of vaccines and hastily created shots are safe enough for our children.
Certain childhood illnesses are far less common than before we had vaccines to decrease their numbers. When numbers drop so low for certain illnesses, we have to cast a strong critical eye on the possible side effects of a vaccine. This loving, reasonable principle can initially be applied by an individual parent to an individual child and family. We certainly have to add public health into this complicated calculus of risk versus reward. It remains very possible that changing the way we manufacture vaccines and being more selective in our use of them may have huge public health benefits. It would be unscientific and immoral to ignore these more difficult possibilities in favor of the easier answers in Dr. Karp's post. We can save more children if just think harder.
Giving children the chicken pox vaccine may lead to huge shingles problems in adults.
Autism is triggered by many environmental, infectious and other causes. Vaccines are one of these triggers. Believe the parents!
Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP
http://twitter.com/JayGordonMDFAAP
Autism
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr Harvey Karp has just written an excellent blog beginning to discuss the role environmental toxins play in causing autism. I agree that the huge rise in autism is real, and not just related to better diagnosis or reclassification of mental illness. Autism is most likely caused by a genetic predisposition and an environmental "trigger."
Studies showing that vaccines and their many constituents do not contribute to this problem are flawed, filled with specious reasoning and, for the most part funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Even articles in reputable medical journals are often written by doctors with an economic interest in continuing the vaccination program's status quo. This does not invalidate all of these studies but it certainly makes them suspect and a poor foundation for an argument excluding vaccines from the list of environmental influences on the increase in autism in America and elsewhere.
The facile dismissal of those of us calling for safer vaccinations and scrutiny of the current vaccine schedule is not scientifically based and polarizes the discussion. Perhaps most importantly, this dismissal is insulting to the thousands of parents and families who aver that their children have been harmed by vaccines. There are extremists choosing to ignore the facts in all vaccine/autism camps. I am not one of them.
Asking that cars be manufactured with more attention to safety and that driving is best when done safely does not make one "anti-car" or anti-driving. Asking for safer vaccinations and more judicious use of those we have does not make me or anyone else "anti-vaccine."
The studies Dr. Karp cites show pretty much the opposite of what he's claiming they do. The opposite. The Danish Study's data are misused by all and interpreted to suit one's needs. The Japanese study also shows a connection between the MMR split into three components and autism. Mainstream medical journals rarely will publish editorial comment impugning the quality or integrity of vaccines because they are dependent upon the good graces of the pharmaceutical industry for their publishing dollars. Seeking out reputable commentators is difficult because the extremists on both sides of this debate exaggerate their claims and speak louder and more unpleasantly as if this helps to make their points.
In April of 2009, the "Journal of the American Medical Association" spoke to the conflict of interest and possible corruption as the journals, the AMA, the AAP and other medical associations rely on money from the manufacturers of vaccines and other drugs.
I have been in practice thirty years and watched thousands of children get shots, not get shots, develop autism or remain developmentally "neurotypical." I have no proof that vaccines cause autism and would be very excited to have my large group of extremely healthy mostly unvaccinated children studied someday. It would be disingenuous to imply that non-vaccination might not lead to an increased incidence in vaccine-preventable illness. It would be equally disingenuous to state that this possibility poses a great threat to America's children. The risks of vaccinating the way we do now exceeds the benefits of this vaccine program. "Scientists" who suggest that experienced doctors ignore their eyes and ears are wrong. Detractors who say that we should ignore parents who are certain that vaccines caused their children's autism are wrong and often quite mean-spirited.
Dr. Karp, if you are going to talk and blog about kitchen cleaners, furniture polish, pesticides and other toxins, how can you possibly ignore the 30-40 injections of potentially risky material we give children in their first 24 months of life? There is absolutely no proof that these shots are as safe the makers say they are and certainly no proof that new combinations of vaccines and hastily created shots are safe enough for our children.
Certain childhood illnesses are far less common than before we had vaccines to decrease their numbers. When numbers drop so low for certain illnesses, we have to cast a strong critical eye on the possible side effects of a vaccine. This loving, reasonable principle can initially be applied by an individual parent to an individual child and family. We certainly have to add public health into this complicated calculus of risk versus reward. It remains very possible that changing the way we manufacture vaccines and being more selective in our use of them may have huge public health benefits. It would be unscientific and immoral to ignore these more difficult possibilities in favor of the easier answers in Dr. Karp's post. We can save more children if just think harder.
Giving children the chicken pox vaccine may lead to huge shingles problems in adults.
Autism is triggered by many environmental, infectious and other causes. Vaccines are one of these triggers. Believe the parents!
Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP
http://twitter.com/JayGordonMDFAAP
Autism
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Raw GFCF dessert (chocolate cake and pudding)!
After a weekend in the mountains with our friends and raw foodists (and also former OT - but friends first!) the Savages, Sunny, Lee, Justin, Ivy and baby Lucy, we came back to the valley energized and also motivated to add in some raw foods into our diets. Why are raw foods important? Well for one, eating raw means inevitably you will each no processed foods or junk! All that stuff is "cooked" and therefore not raw! And another things is the very fact that you are eating food in its natural state means all of the great enzymes and nutrition stays intact without degrading as the food is heated. But, you have to be pretty motivated and creative to start an endeavor like this. I watched my friend Sunny do this a few years back. Not only did she lose a bunch of weight (80 lbs I think) but she got a bunch of stuff out of her diet that was not benefiting her or her family. Last weekend she made raw taco salad with all the fixings (tons of veggies with ground walnuts and seasoning for the taco "meat" - it tasted JUST like taco meat, I swear!) and then a very yummy raw chocolate cake with vanilla cream pudding on top. So, I recreated the cake and pudding (with a few variations) and I am going to share it with you here.
Chocolate torte
1 1/2 cups raw walnuts
Dash of salt
Blend those two until it is powdery
add in 10 pitted dates unsoaked if they are medjool or soaked if they are deglet or very hard
1/2 cup raw cacao or carob powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp water (use the date water if you soaked your dates)
1/4 cup raw agave nectar
Blend all in a food processor until is begins to "stick" together and is well mixed
1 cup fresh berries - sliced as garnish
After everything is blended you smooth into a pie plate and you can chill or eat immediately. We topped with strawberries. It will be very thin. You can also double the batch, spread half on the bottom, layer sliced berries and then top with the other half. We added the vanilla cream pudding on top. We need a *good* blender, ours was not as smooth and creamy as Sunny's! Here it is:
Vanilla cream / pudding
1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 4 hours or more
1/2 cup filtered water
1/2 cup agave nectar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
seeds of 1/2 vanilla bean or 1 additional tsp of vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp coconut butter
blend and chill
I want to discuss the agave nectar issue. I know the issue of agave can be iffy. My friend who is very smart about nutrition still uses it but from one source that uses an enzymatic, not heat process and is not the high fructose that many on the market today are turning out to be. Since I don't have that source, I subbed in coconut sugar. It is a new thing that Sunny told me about. It has way less sugar than traditional sugars. It comes from the sap of the coconut tree flower. Let me tell you, it tastes JUST like sugar but with a smoky coconut flavor, yummy!!! I cut the amount in 1/2 for the pudding and used the full amount for the cake. It is rich, a small piece will do! But as summer approaches and we all get sick of heating up our kitchens, here is a healthier, yummy treat that needs nothing more than a blender and food processor. And I will guarantee that your whole family will LOVE it!! And, I plan to use the pudding recipe as regular pudding, not just to top the cake. I have been looking for a healthier pudding recipe. And you could throw in a half of a banana for banana cream, or some cinnamon, or some cocoa powder for chocolate pudding! Dairy and wheat free and lots of protein to boot!! More raw recipes to come as we get some additional tools like a good blender and a dehydrator! Come on kitchen fairy!!!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
How to prevent having a child with Autism
Wow, that sounds like such a heavy post. And I again want to put out the disclaimer, this is MY blog and MY opinion. I am not a doctor although I play one in my own home. These are my thoughts on what I would do if I were planning to have another child (or my first one) knowing what I know today. I recently reconnected with my very first best friend. I found her on Facebook and since then we have been communicating electronically. My blog feeds right in to Facebook and of course I post a lot about Autism. She is newly married and thinking of starting a family soon and she asked me how to prevent having a child with Autism. I thought the question was one I should answer for my blog friends as well.
When I moved to AZ I met a couple of women who also had young children. We all seemed to get pregnant with our second children about the same time. We all seemed to get diagnoses for our first borns (all boys) at about the same time. Two of us went on to have girls, 1 had another boy (and has since had a 3rd boy). We all seemed to face the same issues, maybe in different ways, with our first borns. I began to wonder if this could work the same way as Omega depletion does. When you are pregnant, your Omega stores are depleted as your developing baby uses them for brain development. If you do not replenish them, your subsequent children get less and less omega's which can often times mean less IQ/cognitive functioning. That is why it is so important to get your daily Omega dose since it is so critical for brain development and functioning. I began to wonder if the reverse were true as well, could our first borns also have gotten the bulk of our own toxicity? I mentioned my wacky theory to Dr. Woeller and he said there is a saying about the best way for a woman to detox is to get pregnant. Yikes. So here are some recommendations:
1) Get a good detox program started, NOW. See a naturopath or other health professional. I ask my doctors for them, I do not do my own combos, can't help anyone there!
2) Clean up your diet.
a) Get off MSG (all 200 forms - search my blog for MSG to find out all the ingredients that do the same thing to your brain and cells as MSG).
b) No trans-fats (hydrogenated oils) this includes CANOLA, dump it, now.
c) More raw fruits and veggies, get lots of them, start doing green smoothies (veggies and fruit) in the mornings, big salad with healthy dressing and then a sensible dinner.
d) Only organic meats and dairy (if you must consume dairy). Choose raw dairy if you can. Meats have very high levels of pesticides since the animals store them in their tissues (i.e. the meat we are eating). Biggest bang for your organic buck nutritionally is meat and dairy.
e) If you can, go organic on fruits and veggies, or at least the dirty dozen. There is a list (search the Internet and I think I posted on my blog too) that lists which fruits/veggies you should get organic. Think skin, if it has a thick skin/peel or you peel it, don't worry as much about going organic. Things with thin skins or things you don't peel, think about going organic. A must for organic in our house is strawberries, highest toxicity of fruits.
3) Clean up your environment. Get rid of bleach, pesticides and herbicides. Choose more natural remedies to clean and control pests. Don't use commercial shampoos/conditioners/body washes with things like sodium laurel sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, etc. I have blogged about this before. We absorb through our skin so our washes and lotions should be as pure as possible.
4) No vaccines before 2 years of age if you choose to vaccinate. I have done enough talking about vaccines, you can search my blog if you want to know why or just do some internet research. Talk to a family who watched their perfectly healthy child fade into Autism after their shots, it could change your mind. And do your research on the immune system, that is going to help your child WAY more than any vaccine. Understanding and supporting immune function is key.
5) Increase your own sulfation and detox pathways. Take epsom salt baths or use epsom salt lotion.
Basically get the junk out and only put good stuff in. I had no clue about ANY of this before becoming a mom. Now I choose foods with the least amount of ingredients possible, and more often make everything my family eats. May seem like a lot of effort, you should try raising a child with Autism, it puts things in perspective. I understand toxicity and what we have done to our food supply. Fast food is crap and should be avoided. Make your own cakes and cookies, they are tasty and a lot healthier when made with REAL ingredients like flour, eggs, butter and milk. Avoid margerine and fake stuff like that. OK blog followers, what am I missing??? If I didn't cover something, speak up!! I live this daily so I could miss something!
When I moved to AZ I met a couple of women who also had young children. We all seemed to get pregnant with our second children about the same time. We all seemed to get diagnoses for our first borns (all boys) at about the same time. Two of us went on to have girls, 1 had another boy (and has since had a 3rd boy). We all seemed to face the same issues, maybe in different ways, with our first borns. I began to wonder if this could work the same way as Omega depletion does. When you are pregnant, your Omega stores are depleted as your developing baby uses them for brain development. If you do not replenish them, your subsequent children get less and less omega's which can often times mean less IQ/cognitive functioning. That is why it is so important to get your daily Omega dose since it is so critical for brain development and functioning. I began to wonder if the reverse were true as well, could our first borns also have gotten the bulk of our own toxicity? I mentioned my wacky theory to Dr. Woeller and he said there is a saying about the best way for a woman to detox is to get pregnant. Yikes. So here are some recommendations:
1) Get a good detox program started, NOW. See a naturopath or other health professional. I ask my doctors for them, I do not do my own combos, can't help anyone there!
2) Clean up your diet.
a) Get off MSG (all 200 forms - search my blog for MSG to find out all the ingredients that do the same thing to your brain and cells as MSG).
b) No trans-fats (hydrogenated oils) this includes CANOLA, dump it, now.
c) More raw fruits and veggies, get lots of them, start doing green smoothies (veggies and fruit) in the mornings, big salad with healthy dressing and then a sensible dinner.
d) Only organic meats and dairy (if you must consume dairy). Choose raw dairy if you can. Meats have very high levels of pesticides since the animals store them in their tissues (i.e. the meat we are eating). Biggest bang for your organic buck nutritionally is meat and dairy.
e) If you can, go organic on fruits and veggies, or at least the dirty dozen. There is a list (search the Internet and I think I posted on my blog too) that lists which fruits/veggies you should get organic. Think skin, if it has a thick skin/peel or you peel it, don't worry as much about going organic. Things with thin skins or things you don't peel, think about going organic. A must for organic in our house is strawberries, highest toxicity of fruits.
3) Clean up your environment. Get rid of bleach, pesticides and herbicides. Choose more natural remedies to clean and control pests. Don't use commercial shampoos/conditioners/body washes with things like sodium laurel sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, etc. I have blogged about this before. We absorb through our skin so our washes and lotions should be as pure as possible.
4) No vaccines before 2 years of age if you choose to vaccinate. I have done enough talking about vaccines, you can search my blog if you want to know why or just do some internet research. Talk to a family who watched their perfectly healthy child fade into Autism after their shots, it could change your mind. And do your research on the immune system, that is going to help your child WAY more than any vaccine. Understanding and supporting immune function is key.
5) Increase your own sulfation and detox pathways. Take epsom salt baths or use epsom salt lotion.
Basically get the junk out and only put good stuff in. I had no clue about ANY of this before becoming a mom. Now I choose foods with the least amount of ingredients possible, and more often make everything my family eats. May seem like a lot of effort, you should try raising a child with Autism, it puts things in perspective. I understand toxicity and what we have done to our food supply. Fast food is crap and should be avoided. Make your own cakes and cookies, they are tasty and a lot healthier when made with REAL ingredients like flour, eggs, butter and milk. Avoid margerine and fake stuff like that. OK blog followers, what am I missing??? If I didn't cover something, speak up!! I live this daily so I could miss something!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Question about kids sleepwear
Sorry for the hiatus! My mother in law was in town to enjoy a week with us and with that and our Mother's Day preparations, it got really busy around here. But, we are getting back to normal and back into blogging.
Thanks for all the kind comments about our recent success!! It is very much appreciated.
Andrea writes: "That's awesome progress Terri!! I have a quick question for you. Awhile back I remember you saying something about what children's flame replent nightgowns were made of. I've been searching your blog all morning but can't find it. Do you know off hand where I can locate that info? Thanks again for all your insight! ~Andrea"
Here's my blog post about this topic and some additional resources on the web:
http://thirning.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-find-out-what-toxins-are-in-your.html
http://www.thenaturalsleepstore.com/whybuyorganicfaq.html
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/safety/fireresist.html
I avoid all "flame retardant" sleepwear in favor of cotton shorts and tops in the summer and long cotton pants and shirts for the winter. Old Navy seems to have a good line of sleepwear that is all cotton and without the chemicals!
Next up ~ an article on preventing Autism! It will be a long one and I am still working on it!
Thanks for all the kind comments about our recent success!! It is very much appreciated.
Andrea writes: "That's awesome progress Terri!! I have a quick question for you. Awhile back I remember you saying something about what children's flame replent nightgowns were made of. I've been searching your blog all morning but can't find it. Do you know off hand where I can locate that info? Thanks again for all your insight! ~Andrea"
Here's my blog post about this topic and some additional resources on the web:
http://thirning.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-find-out-what-toxins-are-in-your.html
http://www.thenaturalsleepstore.com/whybuyorganicfaq.html
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/safety/fireresist.html
I avoid all "flame retardant" sleepwear in favor of cotton shorts and tops in the summer and long cotton pants and shirts for the winter. Old Navy seems to have a good line of sleepwear that is all cotton and without the chemicals!
Next up ~ an article on preventing Autism! It will be a long one and I am still working on it!
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