http://www.envivant.com while living Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:35:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en   photo credit: myreado2 Irrefutably, the power of touch is immensely soothing for an infant.  After having spent many months immersed in a warm, fluid environment, the outside world can feel extremely barren, cold,  and unpredictable.  Infant massage has been shown to alter hormone levels in babies and reduce anxiety and stress ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/07/31/coconut-oil-massage-improves-weight-gain-and-height-in-infants/ Organic Produce by: Neal1960 The pressure to buy solely organic produce is heavy.  I am  often debating the toxins and  pesticides in the conventionally grown produce versus the exorbitant price tag of the pristine organic variety.  At other times, the organic version of the fruit or vegetable is unavailable, what to ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/07/15/selective-organic-spending-thanks-to-ewg/ just apples, texture: so smooth I had the good fortune of being able to sit down with Theresa Kiene of Homemade Baby and talk about a pivotal stage in infant development, starting solids. I was given minimal information from my son''s pediatrician( a xeroxed copy from a page ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/07/02/homemade-baby-food-that-you-can-buy/ photo credit: tee 1 by inasaka I hope this has never happened to you. We recently moved into our new apartment with our 6 month old son, and were horrified to see a mouse scurry across the room. The next morning I noticed droppings on our half-unpacked boxes, ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/06/15/peppermint-a-minty-fresh-repellent/ Photo credit: Seligmans Dog You're changing your babies diaper and notice that his skin is littered with gelatanious beads. If you use disposable diapers, this scenario is familiar. What are those mysterious gel-like beads? This is sodium polyacrylate, also known as a "super absorber." Sodium polyacrylate can absorb ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/06/04/super-absorbers-in-disposable-diapers/ Photo Credit: acupuncture., originally uploaded by Logan Garrett. Acupuncture, once considered an exotic treatment, has been making its foray into mainstream health-care. What is acupuncture? It is a medical practice, originating in China, which employs small needles to influence the energy of an organism. The energy is referred to as ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/04/20/acupuncture-needles-points-and-effects/ Myofascial pain syndrome can be considered, at least partially, a side effect of our modern lifestyles. It is caused by numerous factors: trauma, tension, inflammation, overuse, overload, poor posture, stress, repetitive strain, poor sleep, emotional stress, or other medical conditions, such as nerve entrapment, thyroid dysfunction, ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/04/13/myofascial-pain-syndrome-trigger-points-and-treatment-options/ Photo Credit: Maca with leaves removed., originally uploaded by Cesar Moncloa. I was recently offered a taste of a food i had not heard of. Being a curious vegetarian, I decided to try it. A new flavor can sometimes feel like you have discovered a new color. A ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/04/05/maca-a-peruvian-superfood/ Inspite of the oxymoronic title, Nature Babycare is an environmentally savvy disposable diaper. It boasts the convenience of a disposable without all of the gross plastic and its many associated ills. Nature Babycare was developed by a Swedish mom, who sought to create a diaper ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/02/25/nature-babycare-a-green-disposable-diaper/ Photo Credit: g diapers, originally uploaded by kspan17. While I was pregnant, one of my most daunting challenges was what I would do about mindfully managing my baby's basic bodily functions: the elimination of waste. The thought of leaving a 500 year poop legacy was reviling. ... http://www.envivant.com/2008/02/18/gdiaper-the-150-year-lifespan-and-how-it-turned-me-onto-cloth/