Last week, Fox411.com’s Pop Tarts column was the first to bring you Alicia Silverstone’s video on her vegan health blog TheKindLife.com that showed her pre-chewing and spitting food into her young son’s mouth. 

We apologize. But now we can’t stop.

It turns out that’s not the only eccentric parenting technique the “Clueless” star has shared with the world in recent times. 

In another blog post last month entitled “A must have for Mamas,” Silverstone endorses her new find: the milk saver — a plastic device to put inside a nursing mama’s bra.

“It took me a few times of baby being wet for me to realize that my boobs were leaking – that clued me in, along with the ants who moved into my house to drink my fabulous vegan milk…This milk saver was the answer! While you feed your baby, it collects milk from your other boob,” she wrote. “The nipple goes inside the hole and milk collects in the bottom so you can save it. all those little drops add up! I love it, and I use my milk saver every day, many times a day.”

“We’re the only mammals who don’t ingest our own placentas”

“Mad Men” star January Jones does something else every day: she consumes her own placenta.

Jones said she has been consuming the contents of her placenta in the form of a pill, crediting the organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall, to boosting her energy levels and shunning any post-partum depression (PPD) symptoms.

“Your placenta gets dehydrated and made into vitamins,” she told People magazine. “It’s something I was very hesitant about, but we’re the only mammals who don’t ingest our own placentas. It’s not witch-crafty or anything! I suggest it to all moms!”

“I have heard anecdotally of the benefits of doing this, but did not opt to do so myself,” Caroline Freedman, owner of Nuturme, told Fox411.com. “But I can certainly appreciate a mom going to great lengths to prevent PPD.”

And finally, there is new mom Christina Applegate. She had our jaws dropping when she shared her love for the product NoseFrida. Also known as the “snotsucker,” the device is placed in a child’s nostril, and then the parents use their mouths to suck out their kids’ nose gunk. 

The website for Nose Frida claims it is “100% hygienic due to the included filters.”

But still. 

By Julie Damron December 03, 2011 12:01 AM

Valley fever or Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection that can develop when spores are inhaled. it affects people, dogs, cats, and other mammals. in the United States it is common in certain parts of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. in California the fungus is present in the San Joaquin Valley and Central Valley. in the United States, 50,000 to 100,000 people contract this illness annually. Sixty percent of the time when spores are inhaled by animals or people, there is no illness created. when animals or people do become infected with Valley fever, they are not a source of disease for others.

This fungus resides in the soil and can exist several inches below the surface. it is dormant in the dry months, and becomes active with rain. As Coccidioidomycosis proliferates, spores are formed that break off. these spores are released into the air with any disruption of the dirt. People that work in construction, farming, and other jobs involving soil are more at risk for exposure to Valley fever.

When illness is present, there are two different forms. The primary form mainly involves the lungs, and symptoms can include coughing, fever, low energy and loss of appetite. it takes about three weeks for the initial symptoms to occur. when the spores are inhaled, they can form larger structures in the lungs called spherules. these structures grow, produce more spores, and can burst, releasing more spores into the lungs. if this continued uncontrolled, the spores can spread to other parts of the body. in this advanced or disseminated form, Valley fever can involve joints, skin and other organs. this disseminated form is much more difficult to treat, and some cases can result in death.

It can be challenging to identify this illness in animals. Coccidioidomycosis is much more common in dogs than cats because dogs often dig or sniff at the ground. Large breed, young, male dogs are the common group afflicted with this malady. in the primary form, a canine might present with similar symptoms to people including weight loss, low energy, low appetite, coughing or fevers. The disseminated form can involve bones, skin, brain and other organs. Symptoms vary depending on what tissues are affected. Signs can include but are not limited to severe lethargy, limping, swelling of legs, moderate cough or difficulty breathing, fluid buildup in the abdomen or chest, eye inflammation, back or neck pain, heart failure, seizures and more.

Cats are very resistant to Valley fever, and their illness is typically much less severe than in dogs. The main form of infection for felines presents as non-healing, oozing skin wounds that can become abscesses. Cats can also show low energy, low appetite and weight loss. Felines can have lesions in the lungs but they often don’t show respiratory signs.

Valley fever can be tricky to diagnose in animals because symptoms are so varied. most commonly it is diagnosed using X-rays, blood work or biopsies. unfortunately, fungal tests can be negative in the early stages of illness. Treatment is with antifungal medications for six to 12 months. it is important to monitor liver values because these medications can be damaging to the liver. Supportive therapies are also used based on symptoms, and commonly include anti-inflammatories, pain medications, cough suppressants, and appetite stimulants. some alternative therapies are also being used to boost the immune system. if your buddy has any of these symptoms, and you suspect potential exposure to Valley fever, please seek veterinary care for your cherished companion at the first sign of illness. this yields the best chance for full recovery from this potentially devastating illness.

This column is dedicated to the memory of a Zen Davis, a Weimaraner who lost his life this year to Valley fever. he was rescued from Northern California Weimaraner Rescue, and he passed away on July 31. his mom, Chrissy Davis, has created a nonprofit to help the families of dogs who are infected with Valley fever. The website is zenspeaks.org. this venue is designed to educate, provide emotional support, and when able to give financial support for treatment in canines fighting this illness. Davis also plans to have a grief forum on this site in the near future. Donations can be made to this organization via a PayPal link on the website.

Julie Damron is a veterinarian at Sierra Veterinary Clinic in Stockton. Contact her at features@recordnet.com.

Ads by Google

To lower cholesterol is an important part of any diet if you have a cholesterol level above normal. A better idea is to never allow cholesterol to be placed in the first place. This requires regular exercise and reduce foods rich in animal fats and oils. as you probably know, high cholesterol for a long period of time can lead to heart disease and atherosclerosis, both potentially fatal diseases. another product that is supposed to help lower cholesterol with plant sterols. This article explains how plant sterols do this and what types of foods are additive in them.

Plant sterols, also known as phytosterols, are naturally occurring in plants. Plants are equivalent to cholesterol in mammals, since they act as a structural component of cell membranes in the body. Many processed foods such as margarines, spreads, yoghurt drinks and supplements contain plant sterols. Foods containing natural plant sterols are things like beans and vegetables, including rice, maize and wheat germ. Many vegetable oils such as olive, soybean and peanuts also have a high amount of plant sterols. And, of course, all fresh vegetables and fruits contain a certain amount of plant sterols. Therefore, it is important to incorporate these foods in your diet if you want lower cholesterol. But how does it lower cholesterol?

It is believed that when consuming about 2.3 grams per day of plant sterols, cholesterol was reduced. It does so in the intestinal tract where it blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the body. Studies have shown that reducing LDL cholesterol in the body. LDL cholesterol is the lipoprotein that carries cholesterol throughout the body and therefore is considered as bad cholesterol.

Addition of plant sterols in margarine and other spreads and salad dressing have, in general, was endorsed by many organizations of dietetics and nutrition. Significantly, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of it in the marketing of these types of food products after reviewing the research.