I have an 8 year old daughter who is the sweetest thing ever....except for a few days a month it seems. She seems to either have sympathy pains with me or has a hormonal cycle right in line with mine. She gets extremely cranky and is even starting to have a few blackheads in the creases of her nose. I know my sisters and I started young (5-6 grade) but she seems a little young to start already. A friend mentioned that the hormones they give cows to produce milk could be causing premature swings in my daughter and to stick with organic milk. I can't bring myself to spend $6 on a gallon of milk if this is just a myth....anyone have any ideas?
Thanks for all your input!!! I did some research on the subject and found many articles from reputable places ( ie Cornell Univeristy) and found that no real reputable studies have been done to show the effects of hormones in food on humans. However, the information I've found was at the latest 2005. I did read that there are very trace amounts found in the meat, but nothing said about milk. I also read in several places that family history plays a bigger part in the onset of menarche than anything else. That being said, she's probably right on target (pms type symptoms show up long berfore the acutal onset)...and my sisters and I ate only home grown veggies, meat and we milked our own cows for a very long time...no extra hormones there.
As far as the chemicals in our food...i agree there's too much!!! but we still butcher our own from a local beef farmer we know, and I am big on washing well, fruits and veggies and not eating processed things. I always wonder with the broad brush labeling that is allowed in the food industry...just how organic is organic.
The bottom line I guess is I will watch the things we eat but I honestly think this really may be just my little girl growing up.
My Cousins daughter was 9 when she started her cycle. My sis. started having mood swings when she was 8, but she didn't start her cycle until around 10. I wouldn't totally freak out yet b/c some girls seem to start having mood swings/hormones a while before they actually hit puberty. Hope this helps some.
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L.:
I am into health and wellness and it is true that the hormones that are put into cows and other animals to make them produce faster do play a role in our children. Sometimes the formation of breasts in boys. You can Google this any time. That's why the internet is so wonderful to do research. I have been researching health and wellness now for years and that is one of the main culprits of cancer and many other ailments in our children and adults. It is accumulation of these hormones, processed foods, sugars, etc. that impact our health. Diet is a very big factor as well as the products that we put on our skin.
I would suggest she get checked out by your doctor and maybe some blood work done. Costco has hormone free milk and chicken. We don't even eat red meat anymore. Too many steriods and hormones. Of course, Oberweiss isn't supposed to have it either but it is a wise decision to start looking at the foods you eat and start changing your family's diet. Vitamins would help as well. I have changed our lifestyle slow but sure and have made significant progress in our health, immune system and endurance.
I educate people on health and wellness and how to change to healthier lifestyles. The best thing for you to do is be an educated person on food. My neighbor has cancer and was told to take large amounts of vitamins and change her diet completely. She feels better than she has in years and she's 75. It is so true about what we eat and how it effects our health. Best of luck to you and I hope that you find what's right for you and your family.
K.
I do not know about the hormones either, but it sure makes me wonder with all the girls that seem to be so young when starting this whole cycle. My daughter is ten and has been this way off and on like you said yours is since she was seven/eight. I do think that there is some truth to the hormones in beef making acne. It seems that after having beef within the next day or two the acne hits.
I know I started in sixth grade and so did my younger sister (she was actually summer going into sixth grade). I guess it is possible her body could be preparing her for that phase. I do know that it is proven, though, that women that live together tend to menstrate at the same time...so that could be it as well.
I've never heard the theory about the hormones in milk though - but I have heard that certain foods you eat can cause you to become cranky (for example, ginseng in women can make them mad - that new Diet Pepsi Max has it in it).
If this is something you're truly concerned with, I would consult either her pediatrician or your OB/GYN...they may be able to shed some light as to whether it is what you think it is or not.
I am not sure if it's a myth or not but I can tell you that my sister was in the same boat as you except that my niece when she was 8 had to start wearing a training bra!!!! And since then has had other things that come along with puberty. The Doc told her when she went for her school physical in August to expect her to start her period within 6 mnths. Guess what she has started not full blown ones but she has. Oh and my niece is now 10!! So as this may not be very helpful I apologize for that, but I hope just knowing you are not alone on this might help some. My daughter is not yet 2 so I have a little ways to go yet. (although she does have mood swings lol) I wish you the best of luck
I have heard about the hormones in cows milk. I recently started SLOWLY switching over to organic/green in our home. It's a very slow process for me as I'm not one for change like that. I did switch to organic milk for my boys, though. I figure it won't hurt. And, yea it's an extra $3/gallon so I give up Starbucks (or whatever) for a day.
Also, I have a friend who has dealt with food allergies with her family. All of her kids (3) and her and her hubby have food allergies. In her one son, it was absolutely amazing how he transformed after eliminating the allergens from his diet. I never would have believed it, but I saw the before and after.
I agree with the other poster...have her checked out by a doctor. Either for allergies or for some hormonal issues.
Dear L.,
What your sister says is true! I think you need to educate yourself on the food you are feeding yourself and your family. There's a reason there's this entire movement of organic food going on across the country. The amount of growth hormones in conventional milk alone is having a huge impact on the onset of puberty, not to mention what's going into the meat that we eat, the fruit that we buy... What's more important? The health of your family or the small added cost of nutritious foods? P.S. Organic Milk at whole foods costs $5.50... cheapest price around... Good luck. There are tons of resources online and in print form to read up on providing a more healthful diet for your family. Even Martha Stewart buys organic whenever possible for all of these reasons.
I can realate! My daughter is 9 and is going through the same thing. She has actually hit puberty (not her period yet) but she is already has "hair". I can't believe she is already there, it wasn't so long ago she was my little baby.
I have heard the same thing about the hormones in the milk as well as everything that is added to processed foods having an effect on children developing sooner. We drink skin milk and I try to cook with freash veggies, fruits and meats and I try to make my own sauces and gravies from scatch...I don't know that it makes much of a difference and sometimes it takes forever but I like to believe that I am doing my part.
I wish you the best of luck...keep us posted on your progress! :)
