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Why do we choose homesteading?

Why do we choose homesteading?

Why do we choose homesteading?

On August 22, 2005, my 1st child was born with bilateral cleft lip/palet at 4 lb 14 oz.  She was in ICU for 8 days.   For weeks we struggled to learn how to feed her.  At 2 weeks old she had her first corrective surgery.   Additional surgeries came every 6 months until she was 3 years old.   Another surgery at 4, again at 6.  She is going on 9 and her 10th surgery in August.  We are hoping this is the last.

So what does that have to do with homesteading?
There’s not alot of research out there on the cause of cleft lip/palet.  I’ve been told it could have been the x-rays I had at the 1st week of pregnancy.  It could have been the nausea meds I was prescribed the first month of my pregnancy.  It could have been a deficiency in folic acid or vitamin A.  I didn’t smoke, drink or do drugs and it wasn’t hereditary in my case.  Some doctors say, “It just happens sometimes.  We don’t know the reason.”
Here’s some research from Dr. Weston Price:  http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/vitamin-a-saga/
Weston Price considered the fat-soluble vitamins, especially vitamin A, to be the catalysts on which all other biological processes depend.  Efficient mineral uptake and utilization of water-soluble vitamins require sufficient vitamin A in the diet. His research demonstrated that generous amounts of vitamin A insure healthy reproduction and offspring with attractive wide faces, straight teeth and strong sturdy bodies. He discovered that healthy primitives especially value vitamin-A-rich foods for growing children and pregnant mothers. The tenfold disparity that Price discovered between primitive diets and the American diet in the 1940s is almost certainly greater today as Americans have forsworn butter and cod liver oil for empty, processed polyunsaturates.
Dr Price has done numerous experiments with animals.  He depleted the mothers vitamin A and the outcome was a high number of cleft lip/palet births.
In his book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, Price concludes that “foods of commerce,” such as flour, sugar, canned milk, pastries, and modern processed vegetable oils cause nutritional deficiencies that result in many dental issues and health problems. The dental problems he observed were tooth decay starting in the first generation and, in the second generation, dental deformities such as crowded teeth, improper development of the facial structure, narrow jaws, overbites, and underbites, a general condition he referred to as the “underdevelopment of the middle third of the face.” Price noted that these processed foods displaced nutrient-dense foods in the primitive diet, causing a decline in all vitamins and minerals, but particularly the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K2 (then referred to as the X Factor).
Recent research corroborates his conclusions. For example, a malformative mid-facial alteration, known also as maxillonasal dysplasia or Binder’s Syndrome, is caused by a lack of vitamin K2 brought on by the drug warfarin taken during pregnancy, vitamin deficiency during pregnancy because of excessive nausea and vomiting during the first trimester, or a defect in vitamin K2 metabolism.32 These factors can result in a cleft lip, a flat profile with a convex upper lip, a short nose and a flat or depressed nasal bridge, usually resulting in a Class II malocclusion, a misalignment of teeth or an incorrect relation between the teeth of the two dental arches requiring treatment with orthodontics.
At the time of my pregnancy, I had a processed and fast food diet.   I also had extreme morning sickness for my 1st and 2nd trimester.   From what I’ve researched I concluded we needed to return to our roots.  To start eating less of the “modern” diet and start growing or raising our own food.   When we can’t grow our own we buy organic whenever possible.   So I know my children are getting the vitamins and minerals they need to be healthy.  We supplement our diets with wholefoods vitamins and omegas.  We’re also in the process of cleaning out the toxins in our homes from cleaning to hygiene supplies.
Another great resource to educate yourself on our food industry:  http://www.takepart.com/foodinc

Help us raise awareness and raise funds for more cleft lip/palet research at:  Miamoo.org

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If you are interested, make sure to check out the Homesteaders section on Amazon. Here, you can find books and guides on how to easily homestead and tips on how to do it better.

Andrea

Tuesday 22nd of July 2014

Tracy, Thank you for sharing your story of your pregnancy, your daughter and how the diet affects the pregnant woman and her child. Thank you for obeying God in reaching out to others with your knowledge from what you've been threw. As you may know, I, too, have had to "dig a little deeper" into the world of "clean eating" due to the recent loss of my son in October of 2011, to anencephally..... (thought to be caused mainly by the lack of folic acid in the mother's diet). My whole life, Spiritually, mentally, physically and nutritionally, has changed from my aforementioned experience. I will be following your blog as I am heading in the direction of becoming an avid homesteader and home-schooler, too, for that matter. :) Blessings! Andrea

essentialhomestead

Tuesday 22nd of July 2014

You're welcome. If I can be of help in anyway let me know. Best Wishes, Tracy

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