Now this is one party you don’t want to miss! Our friends over at Notes from the Cookie Jar are hosting a fantastic blog party…and twitter party…and YOU are invited!  Here are the details from her site:

Are you ready for back to school? Do you dream of days without the kids, or are you like me and it means the end of your vacation? Whatever September means for you, Notes From the Cookie Jar is holding an all out, get down, shake yer bootie event.

There’s nothing like a party for back to school, and so we’re going to break out the food, blow up some balloons, and have some FUN!

Here’s how it works:

Invite your friends! Family! Neighbors!
What’s a party without a TON of people? Everyone is invited!! Grab a button from my sidebar and display it on your sidebar to invite your readers. Don’t have a blog? Copy and paste the following directly into Twitter:

Win big @scatteredmom ’s #lunchrevolution blog party Aug26-29! http://tinyurl.com/2aqnjy9

Rock out your own blog!

What’s a party without lots of conversation, sharing, and fun? Dress up your blog! Post pictures, video, let us know your best tips for packing lunches, your biggest mishaps, recipes, and more! Have loads of fun with this and be creative. Hold a giveaway or contest, even!

Don’t have a blog? You can post a video to You Tube, pictures to Flickr, etc.

Join us for a LIVE Twitter party August 27th!

I’m teaming up with Mrs. Q over at Fed Up With Lunch for a rockin’ LIVE Twitter Party at 8pm CST/ 9pm EST! There will be prizes, lots of lunch talk, and who know just WHO might show up?! You won’t want to miss this! We’ll be tweeting under the hashtags #schoollunch

Sign up for prizes!

Notes from the Cookie Jar has found some WAY cool sponsors who have very generously offered us some really amazing prizes. In order to win some, drop by my main party page and sign up on the Mr. Linky on Thursday August 26th. (but wait, there’s more so keep reading!)

Be sure to put in the link to your party post so people can find you. Don’t have a blog? Use the link to your Flickr picture, You Tube Video message, or Twitter stream so we can see your lunch tips/ideas/ stories!

Mingle!

After you are signed up, go check out all the other blogs on the Mr. Linky! As you go, make sure to note THREE of your very favorite posts/tips/links because in order to qualify for prizes, you will need to come back to the party post and tell me. (Note: only people who have signed up for Mr. Linky AND commented back qualify for prizes)

Come back to the main party page and leave me a comment saying what THREE posts/links/recipes/ etc were the most useful, funniest, thought provoking, along with a way for me to contact you (twitter handle or e-mail address), and you will be entered for some swanky prizes!

The Mr. Linky will go LIVE Thursday, August 26th and close midnight (PST) Sunday, August 29th. Check back here on Monday, August 30th to see who won!

I am currently working on the sponsor list right now and I can tell you, you REALLY don’t want to miss this party!

So grab a button and start inviting people! Let me know if you need a banner or larger button, I have those too!

A common term to describe the malabsorption of nutrients in the small intestine.

I love the digestive system. Really do. It works so hard for us by transforming the foods we eat into nutrients that fuel our bodies to function, hopefully optimally, every day. Every time I give a health talk, the digestive system is where I begin. If foods are not digesting well then how can one function well?

Here we go…a brief journey through the digestive system:

1. It all begins in the nose with the smell of foods. Delicious scents initiate an alert to the digestive system that food maybe on its way.  Once food enters the mouth, chewing creates saliva – the first step in the breakdown of food – and helps further break down food into smaller mushier pieces (bolus) to make for easier swallowing.  Chewing is important!
2. Saliva and chewing signals the stomach to release hydrochloric acid (HCL) and gastric juices.
3. Once the bolus arrives in the stomach, the gastric juices and HCL will break down food further. The HCL will help out the immune system by  killing any foreign bugs so they will not enter the body.
4. Next the bolus journeys into the  small intestine.  Here, with the help of the pancreatic enzymes, the bolus breaks down into nutrients.
5. The small intestinal walls have tiny holes in them that will allow for the absorption of the nutrients. However, stress, antibiotic use and poor eating habits can lead to these holes becoming larger thus allowing much bigger particles ( that were meant to be “pooped” out) to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This is referred to as leaky gut and may create numerous problems in the body.
6. The leftover bolus or waste that the body does not want will travel to the large intestine where excess water will be reabsorbed into the body, leaving a more solid waste that can be “pooped” out.
7. If leaky gut is occurring in one’s body, the body’s immune system will begin attacking these larger particles thinking it is harmful. This can be one reason for food allergies.

Here are some ways to help out your digestive system:

• Drink warm lemon water 15 minutes before each meal
• Eat a colorful plate
• Chew your foods thoroughly
• Enjoy your meal & take your time eating

If you have digestive problems:

• Do the above
• Commit to 1 week of daily castor oil packs
• Consider taking probiotics for 1 month
• Drink herbal teas; peppermint and chamomille

If you still are having problems, consult your doctor. There are many lab tests that can be done – celiac disease to food allergies.

Visit The Human Body Detectives!

I feel like a broken record, maybe even a persistent nagger, but hey, I really believe in this stuff! And I know Kia does as well.

Whole Colorful Food Rocks your Body!

I am not telling people to eat more produce (although that could be a good post! ), but I am suggesting, with very good reasoning, to purchase and hue your plate with colorful whole foods. Kia and I both see the benefits of eating colorful whole foods for everyone in the family and one of those benefits moms greatly – kids do not get sick as much and if they do they bounce back quickly!

Here is why:

Red:  Folate, lycopene, flavonoids…..ohh my!

Lycopene has been linked to fight cancer cells, folate to prevent birth defects, depression & irritability and certain types ( there are subgroups) of flavanoids ( or bioflavonoids) are known for their antioxidant activity ( defending us from those free radicals!).

Also, think red – heart because red foods may help fight heart disease.

Green: Lutein to the rescue!

Green foods are full of nutrients,  fiber and there are so many to choose from – avocados, spinach, broccoli, kale, kiwi – YUM!

Lutein is  an antioxidant, and found in high concentrations in the eye (& associated with the ability to see ). Bring on lutein rich foods to decrease your risk of blindness…which can occur in the aging process.

Yellow & Orange: Vitamin A or beta-carotene?

Yellow foods are packed with beta-carotene and the body does its magic by converting the beta-carotene into vitamin a.

The importance of vitamin a, besides seeing in the dark, is keeping the tissues of the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts healthy. By doing this, it makes it difficult for germs (HBD: Battle with the Bugs) to attach to the linings of these tracts. Therefore a great help for the immune system.

Purple & Blue: Blood vessels, memory and what?

Back to flavonoids, but this type of flavonoid found in the blue purple foods, helps to maintain strong healthy blood vessel walls. This means a decrease in heart disease!

Eating blueberries may also help with your memory, which, I am admitting, I could use some help with in my aging years! Lucky for me, this is my favorite fruit.

All in all, colorful foods are packed with all types on nutrients that do all sorts of things in the body to help us function optimally everyday. Next time you are at the market, think about filling your cart with some color ( easier if you stay in the periphery of the store), make that dinner plate like a rainbow and make up stories  about what certain foods do in the body. Kids love this! They will, I guarantee, think about these stories next time they are up to bat or running a race.

 1. came up with 5 physiological body systems I could tell a story about

2. created an outline

3. wrote HBD, The Lucky Escape

 That’s my “aha” moment. Although, looking back, it wasn’t just that one moment, I believe HBD was patiently waiting for me to create it! I was spending time in my kids’ preschool and elementary classrooms, talking about the digestive system and nutrition. The kids were so enthusiastic and excited about learning about their bodies, that I decided to venture into the local library and do some on-line search for books about the human body, healthy eating and food choices. I soon discovered there were very few books out there doing this in a fun way.

 Then came the “aha” moment. I knew I needed to fill this void. I created HBD to inspire children to be proactive and confident in striving for their own optimal health, through understanding how their bodies work and why eating colorful whole foods is important.

I decided to put my Human Body Detective series on audio cd with a follow along activities workbook filled with games, puzzles and stickers to re-enforce what the kids were learning. I wanted kids to use their imaginations and create their own mind theatre drama while listening to the cds. And I also believe many kids learn better this way… and with the accompanying activity workbook, all types of learning styles benefit.

I am happy to be working with Kia as we share a very similar mission, and I am happy to have HBD in my homeland ( I grew up in Toronto but live in the States now).  I look forward to posting a few blogs for her but please come and join conversation with HBD on Facebook and/or twitter!

http://www.facebook.com/drheathernd#!/HumanBodyDetectives?ref=ts

http://twitter.com/drheathernd