My Family's Health: Pine Brothers Throat Drops

Disclaimer: I received samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own. 

I absolutely hate giving my children medication, I usually opt for honey/ lemon/ garlic and other homemade options. When I do have to give medication or something for a cold, unless it is a fever reducer, I opt for homeopathic options. Luckily, they have never had to have antibiotics.

When Pine Brothers reached out to me to try out their cough drops, I knew I had to give them a try. The sugar-free ones would be perfect for my kids and I love anything that is honey.

We were sent Pine Brothers Softish Throat Drops in Natural Honey and Sugar-Free Wild Cherry. I even sent my husband's grandad a pack of the sugar-free ones, as he is a diabetic. We have all loved them. These are great for my kids. My youngest cannot handle the hard stuff, but the awesome thing about these is that they can be dropped into a cup of hot tea and let dissolve, then they will help your cough. My kids love hot tea when they are sick so it works out perfectly. 

I have a chronic cough that I have had since I was a small child. I tend to keep either throat lozenges or hard candy with me to calm my cough. It is mostly likely from my heart, so there is no need for medication, but the cough is very irritating. The candy and lozenges help, but I don't like all the extra sugar. Now, I just keep a pack of these in my purse and desk.

Ulysses S. Grant was President and the population of America hovered at 39 million, when in 1870 J. Herman Pine hung out a confectionery shingle on 8th Street above Walnut in Philadelphia, and sold his first batch of what he called ‘Pine Brothers Glycerine Tablets.’ In an attempt to relieve his own sore throat, Mr. Pine, a former German confectionery maker, combined the soothing natural qualities of plant glycerin with the healing properties of gum acacia into one softish drop. By doing so, he discovered that he had created a product that could sooth and mitigate the mild discomfort of a sore throat. Add in some natural flavoring and sweetener and Pine Brothers Softish Throat Drops were born. “I have discovered something,” Pine wrote, “which will give quick throat relief to thousands afflicted as I was.” He added,”Perhaps I won’t make much money out of this. But I can make people happy, and that’s more important than money.” Mr. Pine was being unduly modest, as his “discovery” would become one of the most effective, most delicious and most unique throat lozenges in the world. Nor has the recipe changed appreciably since it was first introduced to the public over 140 years ago.

Sugar Sensitivity

Most moms nowadays try to restrict sugar in their kids’ diet because they are worried about weight problems and the epidemic of childhood obesity that only seems to be on the increase in this country. But even for kids who have a healthy weight, sugar can have a profoundly negative effect on children’s minds, bodies and behavior.  This is especially true for children who are sugar sensitive.

What is Sugar Sensitivity? 

More research is needed on this topic, but most moms can see for themselves that not all children have the same reaction to sugar as others.  And for those who are sugar sensitive and react more strongly to the ingestion of sweets, there might be some definite biological reasons for this. Sugar intolerance or sensitivity is a definite digestive condition that affects kids and adults alike – but kids who are most vulnerable to this problem are ones who have a family history. As a matter of fact, according to a study from the University of Maryland Medical Center, when both parents have sugar sensitivity, they have a 25% chance of having a child with this issue, too.

What causes this problem? In some kids, sugar sensitivity is due to the fact that they are born with small intestines which do not produce an enzyme called aldolase B. This enzyme is important because it helps to break down sugars: without it, sugars remain undigested and can cause a variety of problems. This can include poor feeding (in infants) as well as unstable blood sugar levels, irritability, and fussiness.

Does it Really Affect Behavior?

Dr. Sears notes that for kids who are sugar sensitive, there can be consequences for eating too much sugar in the diet, noting that “behavior, attention span and learning ability deteriorate in proportion to the amount of sugar they consume”.   And while adults and kids and both suffer from this problem, the Sears site reports that some research suggests that kids might be more sensitive to these problems, mostly due to the fact that their brains and nervous system are still developing rapids as part of their normal growth and maturation.  In one study, when comparing kids and adults who received a test dose of sugar, the adrenaline levels in kids remained higher for longer: adrenaline is known to cause bursts in energy levels and hyperactive behavior.

The Sears site also notes that many kids with ADHD also have problems with sugar sensitivity and that there are many reasons for this:

• ADHD kids have less control over impulses and are more likely to overeat and to grab sugary foods for instant gratification – as well as for the energy they provide.
• Blood sugar regulation can be different in ADHD kids: research has found that their blood sugar levels can go up higher than other children after a meal and also that their levels of cortisol can be more elevated.  These spikes in blood sugar and hormonal levels can affect their behaviors, including hyperactivity.

For these reasons, it is especially important that moms of kids with ADHD consider sugar restrictions in their kids’ diets.

What Can Be Done?

For kids who truly are sugar sensitive, Livestrong Magazine notes that though this condition cannot be cured, it can be managed.  Cutting out foods which contain fructose or sucrose from the diet is the best way to do this.  However, it is good to keep in mind that this can be a difficult feat at first: these forms of sugar are in a wide variety of foods, including sodas and sweetened beverages, table sugar, honey, fruits (and fruit products like juices or jellies), and highly processed foods which contain high fructose corn syrup. However, moms who have put their kids on this kind of dietary restriction have found that behaviors like hyperactivity and impulsiveness can improve.

In short, sugar is about more than just weight control or preventing problems with obesity – children’s behaviors can be affected, too, especially those already trying to learn to live with ADHD. And while a no-sugar diet can be difficult at first, avoiding the foods that contain fructose and sucrose is definitely not impossible – and many moms find that the benefits of this are well worth the effort that it takes.

References

• Sugar Intolerance in Children http://www.livestrong.com/article/432884-sugar-intolerance-in-children/
• Harmful Effects of Excess Sugar http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/family-nutrition/sugar/harmful-effects-excess-sugar
• Carbohydrate Intolerance http://www.healthofchildren.com/C/Carbohydrate-Intolerance.html

Bio

Brian Wu, PhD, is a fourth-year med student at the University of California (LA). He has a strong interest in children’s health and wellness and is also the founder of Health Stories for Kids (www.healthstoriesforkids.com), a site dedicated to stories and articles about and for children with a variety of health conditions.

Book Review: You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir

Melissa Ohden is fourteen when she learns she is the survivor of a botched abortion. In this intimate memoir, she details for the first time her search for her biological parents, and her own journey from anger and shame to faith and empowerment.

After a decade-long search, Melissa finally locates her birth father and writes to extend forgiveness, only to learn soon thereafter that he has died--without answering her burning questions. Then her birth mother's parents say they are unable to pass along Melissa's letter. Years later, when she finally hears from the woman who carried her and gave her life, she finds out why. But the shocking truth is more than she can bear.

Yet even the most startling family secrets are eclipsed by the triumphant moment when Melissa becomes a mother herself in the very hospital where she was aborted. And she reveals how--through the miscarriage of her only son, the birth of a second daughter with complex health issues, and her own birth mother's story--she gained a deep empathy for every woman who has had an abortion.

Like none other, this intensely personal story of love and redemption cuts through the debates surrounding a divisive contemporary issue to touch our common humanity.

It is hard to comprehend the things that Melissa Ohden, author of You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir, went through in life and even harder to imagine how she came out on top and has now founded an organization for other survivors of abortions.

This is a compelling, well-written, and inspiring story of heartache and triumph. This is a book that every mother, adoptee, and anyone who is considering adoption/ abortion should read. What an inspirational book. I love it, but think I will donate it to a pregnancy center for a woman facing a difficult decision to read. The ladies at the center will read it and know who should read it.

You can watch the trailer here:  https://www.facebook.com/PloughPublishing/videos/572097569650576/

Visit the book website and Melissa's site.

Enter the giveaway here: http://www.blessedfreebies.com/you-carried-me.html

A 4-Step Process For Making Kindness An Everyday Habit In 2017

Even Lady Gaga Says It’s The Right Thing To Do

When Lady Gaga recently told her fans that kindness – not wealth and fame – is what creates harmony in the world she may have been on to something.

Research has shown that being kind makes us happier and also is contagious, inspiring others to be kind as well. For example, one such study published in the Journal of Social Psychology linked performing acts of kindness to an increase in life satisfaction.

That’s why as people make their resolutions for the coming New Year, they should make up their minds to commit purposeful acts of kindness every day, says Gabriella van Rij (www.gabriella.global), a kindness activist and author whose latest book is Watch Your Delivery.

“Making kindness a habit changes lives – your own life and others,” van Rij says. “I believe we’re born with innate kindness, but we’ve just forgotten about it because we’re always running. We’re just too busy doing other things and we need to remind ourselves to be kind.”

She says we as a society have dropped the ball on human kindness and it’s time we picked it back up.

“I truly believe that we are all born with innate kindness, but then the hand that feeds us or the environment makes us abandon it pretty fast,” van Rij says. “By the time we are 5, we have learned to compete and to strive for success. It’s time for a new measuring stick for success.”

She says by following a four-step process, people can put a little more kindness in the world and quickly fall into the habit of committing kindness every day:

• Be kind to yourself. It’s hard to have the patience to be kind to others if we can’t even take the time to be kind to ourselves. “This might seem selfish, but it’s not,” van Rij says. “By being kind to ourselves, we shape our attitude toward others.”
• Answer rudeness with kindness. This one is difficult, van Rij acknowledges. “When someone is rude to you, the first thing you do is instantly react and not always in a positive way,” she says. “And the second thing you do is say it’s about me. They were nasty to me.” But van Rij says it’s not about you, it’s about the emotion. By answering rudeness with kindness, you diffuse the situation and there’s also a certain satisfaction in seeing the change in the attitude of the person who was rude.
• Watch your delivery. The tone that accompanies your words is as important as what you are saying. Do you need to soften your tone? Does what you say sound more aggressive than what you mean? Body language also can send a message you didn’t intend, so be aware of your body language and your facial expressions.
• Acknowledge kindness when you see it. When you acknowledge the kind acts you see, that person will be encouraged to continue to spread kindness. Acknowledging kindness in others also will serve as a reminder to you about how you can show kindness.

“Unfortunately, one of the reasons we don’t always treat each other well is that we are a fear-based society, and fear only breeds more fear,” van Rij says. “But luckily there is an antidote because just as fear breeds more fear, I believe kindness grows more kindness.”

About Gabriella van Rij

Gabriella van Rij (www.gabriella.global) is a speaker, author, and activist whose latest book, Watch Your Delivery, explores how we often fail in communicating. She began her life as an orphan in Pakistan, and today is a frequent guest on TV and radio. She also is the author ofI Can Find My Might and I Can Find My Might.

Mindstream Studio Launches Children’s Story Time and Toy Unboxing Channel

Orange County based MCN, Mindstream Studios, welcomes Story Time with Ms. Becky-Children’s “Edutainment” YouTube Channel with Story Time and Toy Unboxing

Irvine, CA-December 22, 2016- Mindstream Studio welcomes Story Time with Ms. Becky to their growing network of digital influencers. Story Time with Ms. Becky provides a new approach to early education and entertainment, teaching children valuable life lessons through interactive and engaging storybook tales and toy unboxing.

With more and more children browsing YouTube for entertainment, Mindstream Studio is looking to stay ahead of the curve. The digital media company that functions as both a multi-channel network (MCN) and a production studio has signed the entertaining storytime and toy unboxing channel and beloved personality host.

The entertaining storytime and toy unboxing YouTube channel has garnered over 1,078 subscribers and counting. The channel features weekly storybook reading and toy unboxing designed for children between the ages of 4 through 7. In each video, Ms. Becky takes children on a fun and magical journey, teaching them valuable life lessons through interactive and engaging storybook tales in some of the most popular books today.

"At a time when a child's access to digital media can be so overwhelming, we are excited to introduce an incredibly unique viewing experience for children that is rich in content and values,” said Mark Thimmig, Founder and Executive Producer of Mindstream Studio on the new channel. “Mindstream Studio is committed to giving families a safe environment to spark curiosity through Ms. Becky’s enriching storytelling and thoughtful toy selection.”

The show’s host, Ms. Becky, is a California Certified Teacher with over 21 years of experience in child development and reading education.  As an experienced classroom teacher, her approach is both engaging and educational. With Ms. Becky’s fresh approach to digital edutainment, parents can now ensure that their child can develop and hone life skills, communication ability and learning proficiency with a trusted and experienced educator.

According to a study from Common Sense Media, 75% of children ages 0 to 8 own a smartphone device, and 72% of them have used that smart device to play games, watch videos or use an app.

“Children today are increasingly attuned to digital media for entertainment purposes. It is imperative for content creators and distributors to provide edutainment content tailored specifically for them,” continued Thimmig. “We are excited to introduce a safe place for their children to learn, grow, and interact with their favorite stories.”

About Mindstream Studio

Mindstream Studio, located in Irvine, California, is an influencer-driven production studio and multi-channel network. Mindstream Studio helps content creators thrive in the ever-evolving, competitive market of digital video consumption. A pioneer in original and empowering creative content we aim to bridge the gap between influencers and culturally relevant brands through developing a united audience. Mindstream Studios adds value to creators through premium video content that increases their views, audience base and earn more revenue. As an innovative creator of video content, Mindstream Video, in cooperation with Conservaco, LLC, offers brands access to influencers, along with custom video content, to drive interest and engagement.

Mindstream Studio also hosts and produces several of its own shows, including the popular Crowdfunding Voice and Gadget Show, which have garnered over 100,000 YouTube views in the past month alone. You can also follow Ms. Becky on Instagram.

Reinventing Yourself in 2017 Can Restore The Passion And Purpose To Your Life

Many Americans in the latter stage of a career – or even already in retirement – have discovered that it’s never too late to reinvent themselves.

Folk artist Grandma Moses was in her late 70s before she began her painting career. Colonel Harland Sanders was in his 60s when he launched Kentucky Fried Chicken. Arnold Schwarzenegger reinvented himself a couple of times, going from professional body builder to actor to governor of California.

Sometimes referred to as “encore careers,” these second acts can reinvigorate you and give you a reason to greet each day with anticipation, says Oliver Harris, who wrote his first novel after working for more than four decades as an attorney, including as a criminal-defense lawyer in Chicago.

“In my case, I was able to incorporate elements from my original career in law into my encore career as a writer,” says Harris, who put his knowledge of Chicago’s crime and corruption to use in his novel “JoJo” (www.readjojo.com).

But he didn’t completely shed his past self to take on this new identity.

“I’m still working as a lawyer, and I work nights on my writing,” Harris says. “So, I’ve pretty much added a second career into my life.”

He has tips for others who also feel the urge to reinvent themselves late in life:

• Realize that purpose is important. After years in the same profession, it’s easy to become burned out and to operate on auto-pilot as you perform the tasks of your job. Essentially, people can lose their sense of purpose. When they reinvent themselves, that purpose can be reignited. “You’re much more likely to be successful when you’re driven by a sense of purpose,” Harris says.
• Find what excites you. Harris says he always wanted to write, so it was not surprising that pounding out a novel could become a passion for him. If you’re reinventing yourself, the reinvention might as well center on something you’re passionate about. That could mean returning to college to earn a degree, learning a musical instrument, or embarking on the career you dreamed of as a child but put aside for more practical pursuits.
• Don’t convince yourself that it’s too late. It’s not, Harris says. Many years ago, the newspaper advice columnist Dear Abby received a letter from a 36-year-old college dropout who wanted to return to school to become a doctor. But this would-be physician worried that it would take at least seven years to finish all the schooling. “In seven years I’ll be 43,” the letter writer lamented. Abby responded with a question. “How old will you be in seven years if you don’t go back to college?” As it happens, Harris spent seven years working on “JoJo,” setting aside writing time between 11 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Burning the midnight oil paid off, so it definitely wasn’t too late to get started, he says.

Harris believes it’s important to put your mind to its full use.

“With law I was only using part of my brain,” he says. “I wanted to use all of my brain and what I am capable of, which is why I began writing my novel.”

About Oliver Harris

Oliver Harris, author of the legal thriller “JoJo” (www.readjojo.com), has spent 45 years as a trial lawyer, prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. He has worked in both Chicago and in Palm Beach County, Florida. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Chicago and his law degree is from the Indiana University School of Law.