Cumin's Cat Corner & Pet Wisdom
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by Cumin the Cat
Q: Dear Cumin,
I've listened to your Cat Corner and have finally gotten Simon on all
canned food! Hooray! He seems to love the canned fish foods. Is this
okay?
A: I'm happy for you and Simon! A commercial dry food diet full of
grain and fillers is never healthy for your cat or any cat, unless it
is a cat that is going through health challenges where the cat must eat
and that is the ONLY thing the cat will eat. Some cat's conditions are
at points where caloric intake trumps the mode of delivery, whether it is dry or
raw. Regarding canned fish...this is alright on occasion,
but a diet consisting of only canned fish could lead to some trouble
down the road. My Mom, Siena, thought she was doing the right thing by
always feeding me canned food. However, ever since I was a kitten,
most of it contained fish AND it was in the little 3 oz cans.
We believe, after both my Moms did some research, that the combination
of the chemicals in the pop top 3oz cans and high fish diet contributed
to my hyperthyroid condition. So try and get Simon to 5.5 oz cans of chicken,
or duck, or turkey. Grain free is best and the larger can has less
chemicals.
***disclaimer: I am just a
cat...I am not a vet. So always check with your vet, preferably a
holistic one before you listen to me. And do your own research too.
That's how my moms learned a lot.
Email Cumin at mail@girlmeetsgirlpodcast.com
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We have received the question below from several listeners
Q: Being [gay/lesbian/transgender], I know I am different. I think knowing this sometimes makes it hard to fit in with others. How I can I become more comfortable around other people? For instance, at work/school/socially when everyone is in a group talking, I often feel uncomfortable. I would really like to make lasting quality friendships.
A: Thank you for writing; you're not alone and we've had several people ask this.
Fitting in is something we all deal with, especially when we realize our "different-ness" whether it's our sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity or even political views. It can be such a challenge to walk the line between honoring our individuality and bending just enough to be "safe" for those who may feel the difference, but may not know what the difference is.
Sometimes when we're feeling uncomfortable in a group, it's the energy we're picking up from those around us. But at times it's the pressure we put on ourselves, our basic need to be liked and to connect with those around us. We are communal beings, we need connection and validation.
On a physical level, it can be nerve wracking to be in a group where we don't know where we stand. So a good thing to do is deep breathing (without being obvious, unless you want to be even more obviously "different" ;) Deep breathing calms, relaxes, and shifts our energy. Also, feel your feet on the ground, "own" your space. Being grounded will help.
In conversations, make eye contact and smile...people like those who smile! And participate in the conversation...if you don't know what to say, ask questions about people. People love to talk about themselves as a general rule, and they appreciate those who show a genuine interest in getting to know them. As you shift your focus to others, you'll naturally be less self-conscious, and you may also realize that those around you may be uncomfortable too, for their own reasons.
On a deeper level, see this as an opportunity for person evolution. For instance, I have trouble developing really close girly friends and I think for me, it's a trust issue. My mom abandoned me when I was a year old, I still sometimes deal with my fear of abandonment. "If I don't get close, I can't be left." (Mom, if you're reading this, it's fine and we are okay!!!! We've done good, huh?)
Another thing that is a constant work in progress is really loving who we are. As we love ourselves, our world will mirror this and we will invite more loving people into our lives. Being [gay/transgender], we have more challenges...so we need to work more diligently at this.
Your fellow listeners are a great community of loving souls who know what it feels like to be different, too. We hope the community is a support for you. We know you can be that same kind of support for others as well.
We're so happy you found us! Thanks for listening.
Aloha and Mahalo,
Siena and Toast, too
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Healthy You! - Vit. D3, the Sunshine Vitamin!
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There has been a lot of controversy regarding Vitamin D3. In our opinion, we need way more of it than the recommended daily allowance of 400 IU. But don't just listen to us, do your own research and ask your doctor.
According to Dr. James Dowd, associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University and author of The Vitamin D Cure, some Vit D deficiency symptoms are:
-fatigue, feeling tired
-body aches
-feeling low, slightly depressed for no apparent reason
-trouble regulating your weight
Some of the causes are:
-lack of sun exposure, especially in regions with little sunshine and also in Fall and Winter seasons.
-race; those with darker skin tones have more melanin in their skin and this acts as a natural sunscreen that blocks out the type of sunlight that helps the body make Vit D
You can also ask you doctor to give you a blood test to determine your vit D levels.
Get more vit D by:
-Supplements, Vit D3 2,000 IU daily, even if you take a multivitamin. Your multi has only about 400 IU.
-Sun exposure, you can eat outside or take walks midday, but this is not permission to bake in the sun.
-Eat more green, leafy vegetables, sun-dried produce such as mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes as they are all excellent sources of vitamin D.
iHerb has great prices (a reason we love them) but to get an add'l $5 off your first order, enter promo code GIR278.
**disclaimer....everything we share is info that we have found personally helpful to us and we are just passing it on, friend to friend. We are not health professionals, so please check with your doctor before diving into any changes.
Vit. D3 on iHerb
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100 Episodes!
Mahalo for your support all these years and for listening to our
podcast. Because of you, we've reached our 100th episode! What a ride
it's been and as long as you are there to listen, we will be here,
bringing you more shows!
The GMG Community is Growing!
We created this community to have a safe, loving, supportive place for our listeners and friends to meet and talk, share photos and ideas. It's a place to go to if you need a lift, want to laugh, or need advice from your fellow listeners! It's still in the beginning phases, but we hope you will use this forum as such! We welcome all: gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer, and yes, even the straights! :-)
Spiritual You
As we approach Fall, we know what is soon behind it...HOLIDAY SEASON! So we would suggest that now is the time to establish a daily dose of "me time!" Carve out at least 20 minutes a day to just sit, breathe, reflect. Keep this time regular and sacred. If you are having trouble finding the time, do double duty: Take a 20 minute tub bath...get clean and get centered. Take a 20 minute walk...get your exercise and get grounded. We make sure to get our sacred time in first thing in the morning. No matter what, we know we've started the day getting grounded, centered, and aligned with Spirit. Create this healthy habit now and by the time the holidays come around, you will sail through all the hoopla!
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