Ask any woman the worst part about birth control and you’ll get a litany of answers: weight gain, mood swings, acne, and just plain forgetting it. Although birth control pills are 99% effective this number drops pretty quickly when you take into account those times that you forget or are behind a few hours. Not to mention the amount of time it actually takes to conceive once you stop using a hormonal birth control.
So if you don’t want to take the Pill what else are your options? The NuvaRing? The shot? The laundry list of hormone infused options makes you dizzy, and quite frankly we’d rather not read the entire list. Of course there are condoms and even the pullout method, but these are wildly ineffective.
This leads me to introduce you to your new best friend, someone that you will cherish even more than your boyfriend.
Ladies, meet the IUD (Intrauterine Device).
For those who are unaware, IUD’s are a small, roughly one inch plastic device that’s shaped like a ‘T’. It’s inserted into the uterus by a trained gynecologist, nurse practitioner, or midwife. Once in place it stops the sperm from implanting into the egg. Some people feel vaguely uncomfortable with something residing inside of them for up to 10 years, but it’s perfectly safe. Really it’s no different than ingesting a chemical everyday.
Forty years ago the IUD was wildly popular with 10% of the female population using them, but now it’s dropped to only 2%. Why? With the increase in a variety of ‘Pills,’ education about the IUD has become scarce. But I’m here to tell you why the IUD is better than your current birth control, why it will change your life, and why it may, in fact, be better than your boyfriend.
1. You Don’t Have To Worry About Polluting Your Body
ParaGuard is a current IUD that is hormone free, meaning that you don’t have to worry about any of those pesky side effects. Although Mirena and Skyla are hormonal IUD’s the hormone level they actually release is only 1/10 of what you’d normally receive from the Pill. Another perk is the hormone is already located in the uterus, so those chemicals aren’t infiltrating your bloodstream. So, you can receive the benefits of hormones, like reduced periods, but you don’t have to worry about the pesky burdens, like weight gain. Because NO ONE enjoys puffing up like a blimp in the name of staying parent free.
2. Delete Your Alarm Clock
Now you don’t have to feel guilty if you’re having a crazy day and you forget to take your pill, your IUD has got you locked. If you oversleep or are too hungover to process what time it is, you’re safe too.
3. It’s Consistent…Unlike Your Boyfriend
I’m sure there’s been a couple of times where your man has been out with the guys and has gotten a bit too carried away forgetting your late night plans. Well you don’t have to worry about that letdown with your IUD. An IUD’s failure rate is tiny, while a boyfriend has a much larger margin for error.
4. You Don’t Have That Weird Waiting Game Before You Can Get Pregnant
Once your IUD is out you can get pregnant literally that same day.
5. It’s The Type Of Pain That Makes You Feel Good
I’m not going to lie, getting an IUD hurts. There’s a reason they recommend it to women who have already given birth. Some describe the insertion pain as the contractions you feel during labor. Okay, this sounds incredibly scary if you haven’t had the lucky chance to have a baby yet, but lets look at the bigger picture. Five minutes of discomfort for up to 10 years of reliable birth control? Yeah, I’ll take that. And most women say the worst part lasts less than two seconds. We’ve handled worse ladies.
6. You Don’t Have To Spazz Out When You’re Late
One of the perks with Mirena and Skyla is that your periods are lessened and sometimes go away completely. So next time you go for a few months without your period you don’t have to fret that you forgot a pill.
7. It Actually REDUCES Your Risk Of Blood Clots
There have been multiple studies that describe IUDs as foolproof against blood clots. “Researchers said they were associated with a reduced risk and may have a protective effect against blood clots.” Need I say more?
8. It’ll Help Keep Your Friends Around
We all know when we’re about to start PMSing. We magically end up on the couch one night with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s binge watching Gilmore Girls wondering why none of your friends will call back. Well, your hormonal IUD not only eliminates any mood swings but it’ll magically free up your friend’s social calendar.
9. It’s Customizeable
With three types of IUD’s on the market, you’re bound to find the right one for you. The nonhormonal IUD provides up to 10 years of protection before it needs to be removed. Mirena provides five, and Skyla provides three. And if there’s ever a point when you’re not into your new friend, which I promise you won’t happen, you can have it removed in a snap.
10. Your Sex Life Will Be Way Better
I mean how awkward is it when you’re having to grab a condom or if you’re mentally running through your head if you took the pill. And what happens if your NuvaRing slips out? So many awkward moments waiting to happen, and with the IUD it eliminates them completely.
Now I’m sure you understand why some women are in serious relationships with their IUD and not their significant other. They’re slowly starting to make their comeback so don’t hesitate to do a little research of your own to see if this family planning method is right for you.
Author: Staff Writer
Categories
Why Your Friends Are Begging For Labels
“A genetically engineered food is a plant or meat product that has had its DNA artificially altered in a laboratory by genes from other plants, animals, viruses, or bacteria, in order to produce foreign compounds in that food” (Label GMOs).
Recently the scare of genetically engineered organisms (GMO) has been gaining speed and popularity. Introduced in 1996, GMOs are here to stay, for better or for worse.
Scientists and farmers have assured consumers that they are creating “better” food, and by better they mean food that is herbicide tolerant and possessing the ability to yield its own pesticide (Down To Earth).
But there are some concerns that consumers are vocalizing. Mommy bloggers, liberals, and conservatives alike are banding together to bring about change, or at least some sort of enlightenment. Scientists have been giving the green light to continue the use of GMOs, but, at closer investigation, this seal of approval has become relatively one sided.
In 1974, there was strict regulations on experimentation with the preliminary form of GMOs by scientists who feared the effects behind genetic engineering. However, in 1984 the White House was able to regulate, along with the American Food and Drug Association (FDA), the biotechnology. Not much was said during this period, as GMOs were a relatively unknown and undiscussed issue. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attempted to ban certain pesticides, they were eventually overruled by agricultural scientists and their supporters in Congress (Council on Foreign Relations).
This type of strong-arming for health and safety reviews still occurs and is actually supplied by the very companies who are seeking approval for their GMO products. This is a serious conflict of interest which begs the question as to how much validity these statements that “GMOs are harmless” posses (Down To Earth). This blurring of lines is one reason that so many people are confused regarding what they should believe in the GMO debate.
The fact of the matter is that the health risks behind GMOs are unknown. There has not been enough time to draw conclusive evidence whether GMOs are harmful or not. However the studies that have been conducted on animals does not look promising.
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) believes that GM foods can be doing long-term damage to the human form. “The AAEM reported that several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,’ including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system” (Institute for Responsible Technology).
As studies continue to focus on animals being subjected to GMOs, even more problematic findings arise, such as third generation hamsters becoming infertile. Which may sound trite, but this could be an issue humans may face decades from now. And unlike drug regulations, there have been no human clinical trials for GM foods. So, at best, the studies that have been evaluated are only surface level.
Forty percent of the world’s population already label genetically engineered foods, including the entire European Union (Label GMOs). What is even more interesting is that the companies that are fighting so hard to ban GMO labeling are submitting to the EU’s rules, and either label or provide non-GM enhanced products.
Whether or not there are risks involved with consuming GM products, it is important for people to be informed about what they ingest. There never used to be nutrition labels or calories listed on products, but since they have been integrated it has been a big help for nutritionists and regular individuals.
However there is a flipside to the argument, which is “no” to GMO labeling.
Scientist and professor, Kevin Folta presented a slide which shows the difference between the genetic makeup of table sugar. An organically grown sugar beet was compared to a glyphosate-resistant sugar beet (GM food), and the end results were the same. Neither of their genetic makeup was different even though the sugar beet was a GMO (Kevin Folta).
The Washington Post had a special section back in 2013 where Tamar Haspel, a nutrition expert who has been writing and researching nutrition for the past 15 years, discussed the fact and fiction behind GMOs. “There is no mainstream scientific evidence showing that foods containing GMOs are any more or less harmful for people to consume than anything else in the supermarket” (Washington Post).
What’s more toxic than GMOs is the conspiracy and fear behind them. Haspel acknowledges that there are flaws behind the organizations who whole-heartedly claim that there is zero concern in relation to GMOS, but she is also quick to point out that those who are avid advocates against GMOs are just as harmful. She encourages an impartiality test to be used by consumers. When one is researching the truth behind GMOs it is a red flag if an argument is just one sided, chances are that this person is a “dog” — whether financial or ideological — in the GMO fight (Haspel).
Worrying about unknown risks is is seen as unproductive by certain scientists, as there is always a risk that you’ll get salmonella or fall victim to a car accident. Worrying over food that the FDA has already deemed safe is “futile,” and for those that are so concerned there is a solution: buy organic. Although these foods are more expensive, people can splurge the extra dollars if it gives them a peace of mind (Science Line). People argue that it is pointless and an unnecessary cost to label items as “GMO” since the foods that are missing these GM traits have already been flagged.
Since many people are uneducated with the GMO argument, labeling GM products could lead to hysteria.
Journalist Katherine Foley points out that as scientists continue to study GMOs and more factual and concrete information becomes available to the public there still should not be GMO labeling. She points to the denial of the climate change argument, which she believes if it has taught people anything, it is that we are no where close to ready for knowledge on that scale (Science Line). A common sentiments is that there is virtually no reason for people to be concerned over inconclusive evidence because, whether it is GMO or non-GMO, there will be its own variable type risks.
The world’s population is rapidly growing with one birth occurring every eight seconds, balanced against one death every 13 seconds, therefore providing a net gain of one person every twelve seconds (Census). Basically the births are outweighing the deaths on a rapidly growing scale. An argument for GM is that it could potentially assist in supplying food to the starving. Although there must be room for caution, to completely disregard a rather promising solution would be, as the editors of the Washington Post put it, “self-indulgent” (Washington Post).
The United States government has acknowledged that Americans throw about 40% of perfectly good food away due to slight imperfections that lead people to believe the food is inedible or just plain “gross.” Okanagan Specialty Fruits received the green light to produce genetically modified seeds that would essentially stop apples from browning when they are sliced or bruised. This is not to say they would never spoil, but the typical unfounded reasons for tossing an apple would be eliminated (United States Department of Agriculture).
The only answer to the GMO debate is research and time. Time will tell the true effects, but when one looks to more biased journals it appears that individuals can either be over cautious or accept the “truth” that is presented to them. The chances that GMOs may be providing genetic abnormalities is slim, but if true, the consequences can be severe. However, just laying out in the sun for an hour or getting on the highway can result in the same if not greater consequences.
Technically, people have been eating GMOs for thousands of years, ever since farmers discovered the trick of selectively breeding crops to have certain traits. However with science, more precise modifications are being made (National Geographic).
Whether or not someone agrees with GMOs there’s a simple solution until GMO labels are created: buy non-gmo labeled foods. GMOs are not going anywhere so it is time to get used to that little green label that has begun to pop up on so many bags. If you do not see it, then you can infer that somewhere along the line a gene has been changed one way or the other.
Smoke floats in front of Wendy Lewis as she takes a machine gun and peppers her once pristine wedding dress. And so a new trend begins sweeping not only America but the entire world: divorce parties.
While engagement parties are a timeless event, divorce parties are even hotter. With divorce rates fluctuating between 40-50% it only makes sense that this would follow.
Why not grab your closest group of friends and celebrate your newest milestone…freedom!
Companies are cashing in on this relatively new idea. Packages range from low costs to those that are seemingly astronomical. For each bash, women and men’s needs are catered to specifically; everything that’s been previously restricted is fair game. Taking a wedding dress to the rifle range or going to a golfing range are just some of the many activities a divorce party planner can concoct for your trip. “Barely Survived” to “I Got It All,” are some of the cheekier titles to these weekend getaways.
Of course what’s the most important item for a party like this? A cake! A divorce cake is an absolute must and the plethora of designs are just as incredible as you imagined. The most common cake you may ask. Well, it typically shows a bride dragging a groom towards the trash…classy right?
Although divorce parties sound like all fun and games they’re actually credible reasons why this type of gathering may be the best thing for you. Therapist Christine Gallagher describes reasons why divorce parties are not only fun but are therapeutic as well.
Many divorces are wrought with sadness and anger so throwing a party is a great excuse to laugh again and just be crazy, specifically with those that love and will never abandon you. Their willingness to stick alongside you during this arduous process is a testament to their steadfast devotion that is missing in many romantic relationships.
It’s also highly uncomfortable when you have to reveal to acquaintances, whether it’s through social media or summer picnics that yes, in fact you are no longer married. This absolves all of the unknown that may be lurking. One of your girl friends or guy friends can just snap a shot of the festivities, upload it to Facebook, and voila, you’ve got it taken care of.
If a divorce party isn’t your style you could always go ahead and try a Divorce Hotel. In the Netherlands, a company is attempting to have couples celebrate their divorce – together. It’s meant to serve as a quick and amicable solution. Check-in is on Friday. You go through break-up counseling the entire weekend to resolve and finalize feelings. Come Sunday, you sign the divorce papers, toast one another with a glass of champagne, and then proceed on your merry way.
Some people go for a more subtle approach. Leona Metcalf went through a grueling divorce over the span of five years. Poking fun at the “Just Married” decorations many cars are adorned with she plastered “Just Divorced” onto the back of her truck. Cans clattered against the asphalt from the courthouse all the way to her home and she couldn’t be prouder. People were shouting ‘you go girl,’ and ‘what a cool idea’ leaving her feel empowered once more.
Although divorce parties sound like just an excuse to get drunk (which they are) they also serve a greater purpose – closing a chapter on one’s life that unfortunately didn’t end as planned. Because as the old saying goes, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” infused with vodka of course.
When picking between polar opposites, the choices we make say a lot about who we are. When you’re at the grocery store, do you want paper or plastic bags? When changing your baby, do you use cloth diapers or disposable (or compostable)? When talking about crime and punishment, do you support the death penalty or life in prison? If you’re old enough to remember the classic Miller Lite commercials, you might still be wrestling with tastes great or less filling? If you’re in the mood for a philosophical discussion with no end sight, chicken or egg? Now, even your bedtime is an issue: are you early bird or a night owl? The two, of course, are mutually exclusive–and the differences are quite stark.
Since they’ve already been up for a while, let’s start with the morning people.
A number of studies over the past few years have found that those who get up early are generally happier than those who sleep in. They’re less likely to be diagnosed with narcissism or depression or to take antidepressants. Early risers are also less likely to have problems with addiction, to smoke, to drink alcohol, or to struggle with eating disorders. There also seems to be a connection between the amount of morning light you’re exposed to and your ability to control your weight–regardless of your age, how much you eat, what season it is, or how much you exercise.
Speaking of exercise, people who do their workouts in the morning tend to stick with their routines longer and, as a result, their blood pressure is lower and they’re less likely to be obese. The combination of light and exercise helps regulate your body’s internal rhythms, meaning that you’ll sleep better and you’ll be better able to handle sleep disruptions, such as adjusting to those time changes when going on or coming off of daylight savings time.
But before all you early risers get too smug, you need to hear the other side of this story.
At this point, all the night owls should have rolled out of bed, so let’s talk about you. As with those early-to-bedders, there’s an impressive amount of academic research showing that night owls are the favored ones. One recent study, for example, found that young adults who stay up late and sleep late are, on average, smarter than their counterparts who have a more traditional sleep schedule.
Other studies show that they’re also more alert, have better memories, and are more social, smarter, and more creative. The theory is that with all those morning people safely in their beds, the night owls can let their creative juices fly with no one around to criticize. That could explain why night owls tend to earn more than their early-rising cousins.
At this point, all the night owls should have rolled out of bed, so let’s talk about you. As with those early-to-bedders, there’s an impressive amount of academic research showing that night owls are the favored ones. One recent study, for example, found that young adults who stay up late and sleep late are, on average, smarter than their counterparts who have a more traditional sleep schedule.
Night owls, now it’s your turn to rein in your smugness.
Other studies show that they’re also more alert, have better memories, and are more social, smarter, and more creative. The theory is that with all those morning people safely in their beds, the night owls can let their creative juices fly with no one around to criticize. That could explain why night owls tend to earn more than their early-rising cousins.
There’s a big difference between causation and correlation. In other words, just because two things seem to be related, doesn’t mean that one of them caused the other. So going to bed–and waking up–a few hours earlier is no guarantee that you’ll be any less of a narcissist and it probably won’t help you quit smoking. At the same time, staying up past your normal bedtime probably won’t increase your IQ, and it’s less likely to increase your salary than just working harder.
I came into work the other day and the most beautiful sight met my eyes — frosted cupcakes. They were the good kind too. Professionally made from a boutique bakery, a solid two and a half inches of icing, and they were fresh. Huddled around these cake perfections was a group of people, basically drooling. To be honest, it was faintly uncomfortable. I felt like I needed to stuff one in my mouth just to prove they wouldn’t bite.
How many of you know that person at work who constantly talks about their diet, or says the phrase, “oh I really shouldn’t eat this but…” Dude, come on, I KNOW you’re going to eat way worse than that when you get home; don’t try and bamboozle me with these fake “healthy eating” habits. If you want a cupcake, eat the freaking cupcake!
And to be honest, if ONE donut is going to make or break your diet you probably need to reevaluate your eating plan. I promise, you will not turn into a human sized marshmallow with one bite.
As I was leaving the kitchen I heard someone say, “I’ll eat this cereal instead.” This is a fantastic decision – except the amount of Fruit Loops you just poured definitely cancels out anything you were trying to accomplish.
And this leaves us with the four types of eaters you’re bound to encounter at work.
1. The Happy Eater
The happy eater is someone who genuinely enjoys eating right but will splurge every now and then; they have nothing to hide. They’ll come in with their bagel or yogurt parfait. Will help themselves to birthday cake in the break room, but only if they want it. They may even want it, but decide against it because they’re going out later for happy hour. But they DON’T feel the need to announce their decision to everyone in a 12 foot radius.
2. The Pseudo-Healthy Eater
This person brags for days about how they’re vegan, only eat kale, and insist on having their water filtered three times followed by a natural blackberry infusion…
So what you’re telling me is you’re a vegan, but got McDonald’s last weekend when you were hungover… riiiight. Pseudo-healthy eaters find superiority in critiquing others’ food choices, and will make sure that their disapproval is sent with just the right amount of shade.
3. The Eater Who Needs Validation
Essentially, this type of snacker comprises the majority of the people we all work with. A typical conversation will go something like this:
“Oh wow, look at those brownies. They look so good. Ohh, I really shouldn’t eat them, but just one can’t hurt…right?”
“Oh you’re fine, just take one it’s not going to kill you.”
*Two hours later*
“I’m just so hungry, do you think one more would be bad? I mean I’ll just go to the gym and workout longer to make up for it.”
These conversations are boring and tedious and should be curbed, like your appetite.
4. The Person Who Gives No F%*@s
Finally, we have the individual who couldn’t care less; they’re basically poisoning their body before your eyes. They’re fine eating Twinkies three times a day, will most likely eat a rather unhealthy amount of pizza, and leave your lunchroom smelling like tuna.
Between these four stereotypical snackers, company provided lunches are a living nightmare. People start self-validating themselves before they’ve even finished reading their email. Is it really that difficult to just eat something and move on???
Next time someone brings in cupcakes, I dare you to eat one. No not just one, how about five? Eat five and then go back to your desk and act like nothing happened. Chances are you’ll be the most talked about person of the day!
Categories
In Defense of the 'MomBod'
Yesterday I woke up at 5:45. I stumbled to my makeshift fitness center in my living room. I kept yawning while I lifted weights above my head and fell into deep squats while listening to Kanye West’s ‘Fitness Plan.’ I proceeded to run three miles with my dog, cutting off three minutes since I’d slept later than planned.
I came home and quickly showered, fixed my hair and makeup, and then proceeded to make a lunch consisting of spinach and fruit. No time to sit down for a cup of coffee – my four month old had to be ready for daycare.
Later at lunch, I scan the web and was once again assaulted with “motivational” pictures of women who had recently had babies, yet were back to their size four clothes. As I munch my rabbit food, I marvel at their progress. It’s been four months since I had my baby…two months past the socially acceptable timeline for sporting that post-partum bump.
But then I saw hope. Hope in an article written by a fresh college student who was defending…the DadBod? Wait, this guy’s a freshman at college who’s fiercely dedicated to beer bong and sporting his gut. Shouldn’t this be called BeerBod? However, I ignored the glaring fact that he was only 20 and most likely had never held an infant.
I began to read the litany of articles discussing the DadBod. DadBod’s work hard in the office, and they sacrifice the gym in order to have more time with their family. It represents that their priorities go beyond a surface level. Women love DadBod’s, it’s just a fact. Celebrities sport DadBod’s, so of course it’s sexy. DadBod’s say I have a job, I have money, I have confidence, and most importantly, I know that guacamole is extra at Chipotle, but I’m getting it anyway.
Then my interest in DadBods went south…quickly. DadBod’s are something of an art, something that requires finesse and confidence, and the perfect proportion of pizza to cardio. The beauty of a DadBod is that you don’t have to have children to gain this physique. Just eat an extra side dish, this represents the food children leave behind that fathers feel obligated to finish. Tempted to workout? Skip it and have a few brews instead. Women will be more apt to approach you when you’re rocking a DadBod because it’s assumed that you’re not plagued by narcissism.
What exactly is a DadBod you may ask? It’s when a man has an undefined mid section and a vague outline of muscles. He seems like someone who hits the gym, just at irregular intervals.
Narratives from college aged men to middle aged men described how they’ve always rocked a DadBod knowing that secretly all women love it; that they would actually prefer to have a DadBod in their life than someone with a strong physique.
This was starting to become a little extreme. I prided myself on engaging in a healthy lifestyle while maintaining a happy home and work life. I multi-task to the extreme and don’t sacrifice home life, but then again not everyone is a morning person.
As I was still mulling over this DadBod phenomenon I typed in MomBod and was immediately assaulted with a very different message.
“Post-Baby Bootcamp,” “change the way you recover from childbirth,” “10 foods that will drop that baby weight fast.” I typed in celebrity moms, and my screen was flooded with images of Heidi Klum and Jennifer Lopez. My heart began to sink: MomBods were not a thing. Well they were, but they were definitely not synonymous with DadBod’s.
The double standard that DadBod’s present is horrifying. Females are ridiculed if they still carry around their post-baby fluff. Advertisements encourage women to try out a modern day corset or to wear a slimming swimsuit until they’re beach body is back. Society will never say that it prefers their women to have a belly. When excuses are made for why women don’t look like they belong on the cover of Sports Illustrated there’s that silent tsk-tsk sound resounding in the background.
Slowly the media caught onto this double standard when females across the country began posting selfies of their mom bods. There’s no tongue and cheek “steps” to obtaining a MomBod. It’s plain and simple: go through childbirth; raise a family; find time to eat a healthy meal when your kids are pulling you in a thousand directions.
Men are creating an idealized image of why they’re out of shape and how it’s difficult to obtain this body. It’s not difficult to gain a few pounds snacking on chips and ice cream late at night, while putting halfhearted time in at the gym.
Although DadBod’s are a disturbing representation of America’s society it has also opened the door for a narrative of stereotypes and being proud of who you are. It’s great that men are pleased with their various shapes, and it’s encouraging that women reciprocate this sentiment. Even though women are still subjected to body shaming there has been a distinct turn on social media addressing this huge flaw.
Television hosts are releasing satires, men are filling their blogs with steps to becoming bigger, and women are vocalizing their distaste. But lets face it, moms will continue to multi-task and accomplish everything in a time-crunched window, while men will invariably go to work and come home and sit on the couch (stereotypes are okay, right?).
Body shaming on mothers and females will continue. But the tide is shifting, and people are becoming aware of the privilege men hold in the sphere of physicality. It’s time to celebrate every body type and not be ashamed that your body isn’t photoshop perfect. So whether you work out or don’t, be proud of your MomBod and keep rocking it.
After listening to me complain for years about my constantly stuffy nose, food cravings, allergies, and frequent, er, “stomach problems,” a doctor friend of mine threw out something I’d never heard of: “I think you might have leaky gut syndrome,” she said.
My first reaction was, “What a bunch of nonsense. How can guts leak?” That was immediately followed by, “Am I going to have to start using those adult diapers? I mean, if I’m truly leaking, where else could it go?” Turns out, guts actually can leak. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there’s no need to buy Depends—the leakage stays safely inside the body.
Actually, that’s only partly good news. The leakage in leaky gut syndrome (more technically called “increased intestinal permeability”) may be responsible for a huge variety of health issues, ranging from minor things like bloating, cramps, fatigue, food allergies and sensitivities, gas, and headaches to bigger things like autism, autoimmune conditions, depression and other mood disorders, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Let’s take a minute to talk about what, exactly, a leaky gut is. Close your eyes and imagine that your digestive tract is like a very crowded zoo where all the animals—in this case about 100 trillion microbes divided into anywhere from 300 to 1000 different species—are free to roam. As in any zoo, some of these microbes are good, others not so much. (Can’t you just hear Madonna singing, “We are living in a microbial world and I am a microbial girl”?)
The lining of your intestines is essentially a fence with microscopic holes in it that allows vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from your food out into the bloodstream while at the same time trying to keep the bad bacteria, pieces of undigested food, and other toxic gunk (yes, that’s exactly what you think it is) from getting out.
When the microbial balance in your gut is right, your whole body functions the way it’s supposed to. But when that balance gets out of whack—say because of chronic stress, chronic constipation, exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, eating a poor diet, or taking an antibiotic that wipes out a lot those microbes—the “bad” bacteria cut holes in the fence and some of them, along with food particles and toxins, leak into the bloodstream.
When your immune system sees organisms where they don’t belong, it attacks, causing irritation and inflammation. In my case, the result was allergies, gas, and more. For other people, it’s a lot worse.
Because leaky gut has so many possible causes–and so many possibly symptoms–the medical community isn’t quite sure how to deal with it. Many people aren’t even sure that it’s right to call it a syndrome. But those who do—typically doctors who specialize in what’s called “functional medicine”—know exactly what to do: get those gut microbes back into balance. And they typically suggest a multi-step program, such as:
- Remove foods and factors that create problems. In my case, my doctor friend took me off of gluten, sugar, and dairy.
- Replace those foods with ones that are less likely to irritate your gut. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, kefir, and even pickles, are considered healing foods.
- Repair the damage with supplements. Recommendations include L-glutamine (an amino acid that can heal the intestinal lining), vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oil).
- Repopulate your good gut bacteria. One way to do this is to take probiotics (millions of live, beneficial bacteria). Get recommendations from your doctor. The internet—and health food stores—are full of probiotics that promise you the world, but since they aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there’s no way to verify those claims, accurately identify the exact strains of bacteria that are included, or even ensure their potency. Another way to rebalance your gut is to get a transplant from another person whose gut is already well balanced. This increasingly popular—and very successful—technique is called bacteriotherapy, which is a euphemism for fecal microbial transplant (FMT) or stool transplant. Yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like.
So far, I’ve gotten only as far as removing certain offending foods and eating more pickles and sauerkraut. The results have been nothing short of amazing. After just a few gluten-, sugar-, and dairy-free days, I was able to stop blowing my nose and clearing my phlegmy throat all the time, and my food cravings completely disappeared. I have breakfast at 6 a.m. and I’m not hungry at all until mid-afternoon.
One of the biggest leaky gut red flags is having issues with a variety of foods. But beyond that, if you have any annoying symptoms that haven’t responded to conventional treatment, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you might have leaky gut syndrome. Do not, however, try to treat it yourself.
THE PROBLEM
I hate stereotypes; in fact I detest them. However I absolutely adore desserts, like every other stereotypical woman in the world. Put some bread pudding in front of me, and I will devour not only mine but everyone else’s.
Once I finished college and didn’t have the luxury of taking fitness classes every day, my clothing started to get a little tighter–and not in that cute and sexy way.
So I decided to take action and make a stand against the post-college fluff that was slowly creeping up my thighs. There was absolutely zero chance I could sacrifice my nightly ritual of partaking in a tasty treat, so I had to think outside the box. And where does any logical and creative person turn these days for ideas for healthy munchies? Pinterest, of course.
THE SOLUTION
Pinterest is teeming with lifehacks on how to create delicacies that are big on taste but small on your waist. I was able to filter through dozens of pictures of desserts–ranging from sugar-free to vegan–and compiled a board that would satisfy my sweet tooth while ensuring I was not consuming my daily calorie intake in five bites.
TOP 10 FINDS
Currently I have over 200 pins of sweets waiting to be tried and tasted. Here are the most effective sweet tooth cures I’ve found so far.
1. Bananas With Honey And Cinnamon
This was one of the best recipes because all you need is a banana, some cinnamon, and honey. I just tossed all three into a pan and cooked the banana slices till they had browned a bit. Healthy, sweet, and filling.
2. Skinny Puppy Chow
Puppy chow is usually 365 calories per cup, but I was on a mission to find a way to make this sugar-filled treat with half the calories and half the fat.
You’ll need 2 cups fiber-enriched honey square cereal, 4 tablespoons butter substitute, 2 tablespoons peanut butter (you can’t skimp on this goodness), 2 packets artificial sweetener, 1 package fat- and sugar-free vanilla pudding mix, and 2 squares reduced-sugar chocolate.
After you melt the ingredients and drizzle the mixture over the cereal, sprinkle your pudding packet over the whole thing. Get this: One cup of this treat is only 100 calories! There’s no way you can beat that.
3. Angel Food Cupcakes
Coming in at only 60 calories for one cupcake, this recipe caught my eye immediately. The desserts use 1 box angel food cake mix, some cool whip for the icing, and a strawberry garnish on top. They’re easy and delicious!
4. Coffee Popsicles
I’m a sucker for coffee ice cream, chocolate-covered coffee beans…really anything coffee related. So when I found this recipe my heart did a little flutter of joy. I haven’t enjoyed a popsicle since I was a kid, but when I saw there were only three healthy ingredients involved I was sold.
Just blend together 1 can coconut milk, 3 tablespoons maple syrup, and 1 cup brewed coffee. Pour this milky goodness into popsicle molds. Once they’re frozen, enjoy a cool summer treat.
5. Peanut Butter Cups
With 1 bag chocolate chips, 3/4 cup almond milk, and 3/4 cup peanut butter you have a healthier version of Reese’s cups.
Melt the chocolate chips and almond milk and stir until smooth. Then pour the mixture into muffin pans, filling the cups halfway. (You should save a little of this mixture for the end of the recipe.) Pop the trays in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Pull them out and place a dollop of peanut-buttery deliciousness into the center of the hardened chocolate. Next, drizzle the remaining chocolate on top and slide them back in the freezer.
Once they’re set you’re left with a low-calorie sweet treat.
6. Watermelon Granita
Mmm, granita. This was one of my favorite treats while I was in Italy. Light and sweet, it’s the ideal refreshment on a sunny day. I’ve been trying to master the perfect balance between fruit and sweetener, and this is as close as I’ve gotten.
Blend together 4 cups watermelon, 2 tablespoons sweetener, and juice from a lime.
Pour this mixture into a shallow dish and freeze. Once it’s hardened, scrape the top with a fork and place these shavings in a dessert dish.
Quick, easy, healthy–and absolutely satisfying on those 77-degree days.
7. Skinny Ice Cream Sandwiches
I absolutely love ice cream sandwiches. Remember going to the ice cream truck as a kid and grabbing those ginormous ice cream goodies? I always chose the sandwich that was loaded with dozens of tiny chocolate chips. These days I’d rather throw my calories toward a glass of wine instead of an overly processed ice cream sandwich, but I still have occasional cravings.
So I decided to get creative and came up with this easy and cute substitute. Grab a banana, slice it up, and throw it in the freezer. Once the slices are hardened, toss them into a food processor, blend them until smooth, and freeze them again. Take this sweet mixture and spread it between two vanilla wafers. Roll the edges in some colorful sprinkles and you’ve got yourself a gourmet sweet.
8. Chocolate Brownies
Brownies are the best sundae ingredient in the universe. Right when they come out of the oven, if you’re brave enough, cut some hefty warm gooey pieces and mix them with a bowl of ice cream…this is quite possibly the closest thing to heaven I have ever encountered.
This recipe involves a few more ingredients than the others, but it’s still a snap to make. While you’re preheating your oven to 350 degrees, mix together 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
In another bowl, whisk together 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 2 ounces milk chocolate, 2 eggs, and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
Combine the ingredients of both bowls and stir till they’re glistening. Dump your batter into an 8″x8″ greased pan and top with some more chocolate chips.
After about 30 minutes you should have a delicious skinny brownie.
Go ahead, take two.
9. Cinnamon Apples
When fall comes around I adore heading to the nearest orchard. Although it’s about an hour trek to get there, making homemade applesauce and pie is so satisfying that it’s worth it. Apples are inherently sweet and make a great snack that you never have to feel guilty about.
These microwave apples are quick, easy, and do the trick when you have a late-night sweet tooth.
Cube three apples and add 1 to 2 tablespoons butter to a microwave-safe container.
Microwave for roughly 2 minutes and then mix the butter and apples together.
Add about 2 tablespoons cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar substitute to the container and microwave for 2 more minutes.
Voila, now you have some tender spiced apples, ready to be devoured!
10. 30-Second Chocolate Cake
Chocolate cake may be the greatest gift this earth has ever received. The rich and fluffy texture is enough to make me want to forgo all the wines and breads in the world and feast on chocolate cake for the rest of my life.
If you’re anything like me, there’s no way an entire cake will last more than a few days. Fortunately for me (and soon to be you too!) I found this single-serving recipe that’s both healthy and easy.
Grab a small bowl and mix together 2 teaspoons cocoa powder, 5 teaspoons flour, and 1/8 teaspoon baking powder.
Add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 2 teaspoons maple syrup, and 3 tablespoons vanilla soymilk. Once you’ve mixed these ingredients into the bowl, stir in 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips.
Place your bowl in the microwave for about 30 seconds, and before you know it you’ll have a individual-sized cake that’s absolutely delightful.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
So those are my top-10 foodie finds. Although you can never go wrong with a cheesecake smothered in berries and sauce, it’s all about moderation. Some people may prefer their desserts over their nightly wine, but I’m the type of girl who will have her cake and eat it too.
If you have recipes to share, comment below because I’m always eager to try anything sweet!
My fatigued eyes burn as I stare into the bright screen, which is balanced on my lap. I quickly open five different browsers and begin the arduous task of working from home with a newborn, five days after delivery. I wince as I shift from side to side, grimacing when I realize that I forgot to take my medicine an hour ago.
I’m sure most of you have either gone through this same situation or known of someone who has. It’s pretty typical considering only 12% of Americans have access to paid parental leave. Parental leave is not considered a right as it is in most countries.
When I became pregnant and informed my employer, my heart sunk at his reaction. Instead of congratulatory remarks, the conversation immediately shifted to my workload and how he’d have to find a replacement once I left. Mind you, I never once mentioned quitting my job and had to fight to keep my position throughout my pregnancy.
Although discrimination isn’t allowed in a workplace, there are certain exceptions to the rule. An employer can fire an employee for taking time off after giving birth if it will negatively affect his or her workplace. This loophole applies to private and small companies, which unfortunately describes where I worked.
My two options were to enjoy an indefinite unpaid maternity leave, which would give me ample time to bond with my baby, or to begin work immediately once my child was old enough for daycare. And yes, indefinite unpaid maternity leave, as fancy as it sounds, is code for – UNEMPLOYMENT.
Is Maternity Leave Necessary?
Some institutions want us to believe that maternity leave isn’t necessary, but let’s take a closer look at some of the negative effects when maternity leave is not readily available.
– Mothers returning to the workforce ten days after labor and delivery is both physically harmful and mentally taxing. Physicians have strongly advised women to be off their feet the first six weeks post-delivery, and that’s if they had a vaginal delivery without complications.
The first three weeks you’re not supposed to lift anything heavier than ten pounds, but some women are expected to be lifting 25 pounds when they return to their job only days after delivery.
– Hormones are also in flux post-partum, with 9-16% of women suffering from postpartum depression. As a mother, my emotions went from happy to overwhelmed in a matter of seconds. The stress of going back to work so early only makes these feelings worse.
-Breast milk supply drops when you return to the workforce. Although scientifically speaking, working doesn’t reduce your supply, the environment plays a negative toll. Many offices do not have a nursing station, so females are forced to sit in bathrooms and pump. Expressing milk in this form eventually will lower supply, as you’re not able to extract the same amount your baby ordinarily would.
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide your newborn with nutrients. 77% of women start off breastfeeding but by the six-month mark, the percentage has dropped to 36%. This is largely attributed to the difficulties women encounter when they re-enter the workforce.
-The emotional bond mothers create during those first weeks after birth are indescribable. Your child is completely dependent on you. All they’ve known is the warmth and confined space you provided them when they were in utero. To completely remove this experience is a tragedy at best.
So let’s see, what have we learned so far? It’s CLEARLY more important to have a fresh mother come back to the office just days after giving birth. Just think how much work she’s going to accomplish in between pumping every two hours, managing her pain, and pushing through separation anxiety from her newborn.
I was fortunate enough to work from home the first few months, but the income I was accruing was more than half what it normally would’ve been.
But I Thought America Was Progressive
In many ways, the United States is extremely progressive. However, the ease of family planning isn’t one of them.
Did you know that there are only three countries in the modern world that do not have guaranteed maternity leave?
Papau New Guinea, Oman, and the U.S.
In 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA ) was signed into effect. It allows mothers to take up to three months of unpaid time off after they have a baby and they will be guaranteed that their job will still be waiting for them. However, FMLA covers only about 59% of U.S. workers. The caveat is the employee must have worked 1,250 hours in order to be eligible and their company has to have at least 50 employees.
Only 12% of families have access to paid leave. Research has indicated that 43% of women who don’t receive paid maternity leave are more likely to drop out of the workforce completely.
Although FMLA ensures that women will not lose their jobs while they spend time with their newborn, it does not assist them in receiving income while they’re off. For many families, the option for FMLA is a moot point since they can’t survive on one person’s salary. Some companies offer short-term disability, but the arduous paperwork creates unforeseen roadblocks.
Adding an additional family member is supposed to be a celebrated, monumental event. However, for a large number of families this excitement is tainted by the anxiety of making ends meet while the mother recovers postpartum. The physical and emotional benefits the mother and child receive while spending the first 12 weeks together is priceless, but even if this isn’t a possibility you can still make the most of your time while you’re at home and with the newest addition.
Stress Management
Unfortunately there are no legal solutions in the foreseeable future, and to be honest there is not much you can do to relieve the physical discomfort you may endure when returning to the workforce too early, but there are many ways that you can make the transition easier from an emotional standpoint.
Set an intention – Going into the workforce with a positive attitude can surprisingly do wonders for your mental health. Knowing that you are working to provide for the wellbeing of your child is incredibly gratifying. Mothers and fathers will do amazing things to ensure that their young receive the best, and you will be no different.
Investigate daycares – As soon as that pregnancy test turns positive start calling up your local daycares. There are multiple websites that can be a great resource as well. Once you put your name on a waiting list, and price out the daycares to find the most affordable option, you can take let out another sigh of relief. Eliminating the uncertainty for childcare will make your transition that much easier. Some mothers even start their own in-home daycare. This enables them to earn a small income while absolving childcare costs.
Find some rest – Although this may seem impossible when you have a little one, try and get some rest. Share the house load with your partner and try and take naps to recharge for your upcoming day. When your body is depleted of sleep things become harder for you physically and emotionally, and I think it’s pretty evident how much a positive attitude will assist you.
The more we raise our voices and petition for change, the greater the chances are for a serious dialogue to take place. Unpaid maternity leave, or no maternity leave at all, is a travesty. However with thousands of women across the country going through the same journey, we can learn to rely on one another for support and hopefully our comradery will provide an united front for future change.
No matter what your health and fitness goals are, there’s probably an app for that. And that’s sort of a problem. There are so many apps to choose from that it’s hard to make a decision.
I’ve tried many, including MyFitnessPal, Runmeter and the Fitbit app, but my most recent experiment has been with BodySpace from bodybuilding.com. And no, it’s not just for bodybuilders.
So what can it do? The short answer: a lot. Whether you want to get inspired to work out, track your workouts, design a plan, steal other people’s plans, or find a community to keep you going, BodySpace can help.
It’s not going to drive you to the gym, but it does have a “fitboard” designed to help motivate you when you need an extra kick. You can post photos or a status update (it has a similar process as Instagram or any other social sharing app) or check out what other people have been up to. It’s kind of like having all the motivational stuff on Pinterest all in one place.
Probably the biggest benefit though is the ability to track your workouts in detail.
You can search for plans other people have made, so you never have to worry about what you’re going to do at the gym on any given day. You can find a workout just for that day, or you can choose a whole program designed to meet whatever goals you have set. It even allows you to add your program to a calendar so you can stay organized.
While it’s convenient, I think the calendar function could be improved by letting it sync to your existing calendar. And it doesn’t allow you to customize the days beyond what day you start. Example: You want your rest day to be Saturday but the plan has it on Sunday. You can’t change it.
You could always design your own plan with the same exercises or track a scheduled workout on a different day, but that definitely takes away from the convenience factor, and I really like convenience.
You can, however, change the order of the individual exercises in the workout, add sets, add entire exercises or skip around within the workout. It takes some getting used to, but it’s pretty intuitive.
Physically tracking your workout within the app is fairly easy. You can enter the time, place, your starting weight, and energy level before you begin. Then you just follow the moves that it tells you to do. It even counts out your rest time between sets so you know when to start moving again.
And a huge plus is that if you don’t know how to do a specific exercise, there’s a written explanation and usually a video that shows you how to do it.
The app also tells you how many workouts you’ve tracked and how much total weight you’ve lifted over those workouts. Being told that I’ve lifted 465,000 pounds so far really doesn’t mean much, but it sounds awesome, so I’ll take it. However, being told what weight I’ve previously used on certain moves is a huge benefit. It helps me remember what I lifted before so I can gradually move up in weight without having to guess.
Basically, I like this app because you don’t have to think about anything while you’re working out, unless you want to.
Another small downfall is that the search function isn’t always great, but it usually does what I need it to. If you’re designing your own plan or adding an exercise to an existing one, it’s sometimes impossible to find basic moves. At first I thought this could be user error, but after reading other reviews in the App Store, I realized other people had the same issue.
One more area that could be improved is the process used to save your workouts. Sometimes it will save what you’ve done, but the workout doesn’t actually sync (so your workout history won’t be accurate). It’s annoying, but fixable by checking your workout history.
Other than small glitches, like it being a little slow sometimes and not always clearing notifications, the app is pretty awesome. The weekly recap emails are useful and surprisingly encouraging, too. They’re one of the few newsletter emails that I actually take time to read.
Plus, it’s free, so you won’t be out anything if it turns out to not be for you.