Clean Your Kidneys with Less Than $1

CLEAN YOUR KIDNEYS WITH LESS THAN $1.00

> Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body.

> With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments. How are we going to do this?

> It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley and wash it clean Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and

> pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and

> keep it inside refrigerator to cool.

> Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination. Also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.

> Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!

Parsley is our local Chinese Celery (khan choy) which is used in beef kuay teow soup.

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Special thanks to Carolus Wong
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Five Important Things To Know About Vitamins

(from Black Health Magazine)

There’s an abundance of vitamins to choose from when you’re deciding which kind of is good for you. Making the choice of which multivitamin or which ever vitamin will help aid or strength is a task within itself. Its important to know and understand the benefits, cons and value. Below are five interesting items that will hopefully help you understand more about vitamins.

1. They Matter

Vitamins and minerals are substances your body sometimes needs for normal growth and functioning. Some facilitate crucial chemical reactions, while others act as building blocks for the body.

Nutritionists call vitamins and minerals “micronutrients” to distinguish them from the macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that make up the bulk of our food. While micronutrients are vital for the proper processing of macronutrients, they’re needed in smaller quantities. Think of it this way: If macronutrients are the gas in your engine, then micronutrients are like the motor oil, coolant, and battery fluid.

Micronutrient deficiency can lead to acute diseases with exotic names like scurvy, pellagra, and beriberi. Deficiency diseases were common in the U.S. until the 1940s, when the FDA-mandated fortification of common foods like bread and milk. These diseases are still common in many poorer countries.

2. Maintaining a Healthy Diet

It’s easy to get enough micronutrients from your food if you maintain a healthy diet, Audrey Cross, PhD, associate clinical professor of nutrition at Columbia’s School of Public Health, tells WebMD. But most people fail that test; they’ll eat two or three servings of fruits and veggies per day rather than the recommended five. That’s why Cross (and many other nutritionists) suggest a multivitamin as a sort of nutritional safety net for many of their patients.

But it’s just a safety net. So-called “whole foods” like veggies and whole grains contain fiber and a host of other important nutrients that can’t be adequately delivered through pills. In fact, scientists are still finding new “trace elements” in whole foods that may someday be labeled essential to health — but aren’t found in any pill.

“There are literally thousands of these compounds, and we’re just scratching the surface on knowing what their role is,” says David Grotto, a registered dietitian and spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. “We’re sending the wrong message if people believe they’ve got everything under control and if they’re taking vitamins while eating a horrible diet.”

3. Choosing a Supplement

It’s easy to become overwhelmed when looking at the dietary supplement shelves of a health food store or even your local supermarket. While many of the health claims are unproven or downright bogus, some supplements may be useful for some groups.

Major multivitamin makers typically produce different varieties for men, women, children and older folks. Picking a pill that fits your group makes sense, says dietitian Grotto, as the optimal level of various nutrients varies by age and sex. For example, premenopausal women need more iron than children or the elderly, he says.

But the elderly have a harder time obtaining adequate amounts of vitamin B-12 from natural sources, so the need for supplementation may increase with age, says Lynn Bailey, a University of Florida nutritionist who teaches courses on vitamins.

Folate, or folic acid, is key to preventing birth defects (such as spina bifida), Bailey says. Bailey says all women of childbearing age should ensure they get 100% of the RDA of folic acid through fortified food or a multivitamin.

4. Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium supplements are also important for certain age groups, Bailey says. The Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, recommends that adolescents get 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day. One cup of milk or calcium-fortified orange juice contains about 300 milligrams of calcium.

Other sources of calcium include cheese, tofu, yogurt, vegetables, and beans. A typical calcium supplement may contain 500 milligrams or 600 milligrams of calcium. Bailey gives her 15-year-old son a daily calcium supplement at dinnertime. People over 50 should get 1,200 milligrams a day of calcium to ward off osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), Bailey says.

Federal dietary guidelines recommend that the elderly, the homebound, and people with dark skin boost their vitamin D intake with both fortified foods and supplements to reduce the risk of bone loss. Vitamin D helps with absorption of calcium; often calcium supplements will also contain vitamin D. (The full federal guidelines, updated in 2005, are available at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.)

Special groups such as smokers, pregnant women, or people recovering from traumatic injury may need additional supplements, Cross says. Decisions to take supplements beyond a multivitamin are best made with your doctor or registered dietitian, she says.

The evidence is strong that a healthy diet can ward off chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. What’s less clear is if big intakes of particular micronutrients can boost that preventive effect further.

There is promising evidence that the mineral selenium could prevent a variety of cancers, says Alan Kristal, DrPh, associate chief of cancer prevention at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. But beyond selenium, the data aren’t promising, Kristal says. For example, there’s no solid evidence that taking large doses of antioxidants like vitamins B or C have any beneficial effect.

5.Controversial Health Claims

As you seek the proper multivitamin or dietary supplement, it’s best to keep your guard up. The supplement industry is relatively unregulated, and you can injure or even kill yourself with “natural” products bought at your neighborhood supplement store.

Many health claims attached to multivitamin formulations are doubtful, but harmless. Some men’s multivitamins contain extra lycopene, a substance once thought to prevent prostate cancer. But Kristal, the cancer specialist, says support for that claim is waning. “If indeed lycopene did anything, [supplements] don’t have enough to make a difference,” he says. Multivitamins aimed at women are often spiked with green tea or ginseng extract; the effect of these on weight control is yet unproven.

More dangerous are recommendations of vitamin megadoses to treat obesity, depression, carpal tunnel syndrome or other problems. At best, megadoses are a distraction from real treatments for these problems, experts say. At worst, they can cause injury or death.

So-called fat-soluble vitamins — that is, vitamins A, D, E, and K — accumulate in the body, making overdosing a real threat. Vitamin overdoses have been associated with liver problems, weakened bones, cancers, and premature mortality.

Until recently, water-soluble vitamins such as B and C were considered nontoxic, even at high doses. But now evidence is emerging that B-6 megadoses can cause serious nerve damage, Bailey tells WebMD.

Despite the warnings, the quest for a magic pill plunges ahead. Cross chuckles when patients show her weight loss supplements that claim wondrous effects “when taken in combination with a sensible diet and exercise.” Her response: Wouldn’t a sensible diet and exercise do the trick even without the supplement?

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Article from - http://elev8.com
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9 Popular Foods To Help Manage Diabetes

By Kelly L. Jackson

Over 24 millions people are living with Diabetes. Keeping it in control is a lifelong challenge that require support from your family, friends and healthcare professionals. Having a healthy diet, exercise and medication management is vital for a long life. Making the commitment to do the things to better your life such as cutting back and eliminating certain foods is important once you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes. Thankfully, there are foods that can help with managing diabetes and provide dosages of nutrients and assist with maintaining acceptable blood sugar levels. Some experts and dietitians call these foods “Diabetes superfoods.” They are foods that are low-fat and high in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Adding these foods into your diet can make a real difference in managing diabetes. As you’re making your grocery list for shopping, make sure you add these into your cart.

Here’s the Nine Foods That Can make a difference in managing your Diabetes:

1.Beans

Incredibly high in fiber and protein, just a half-cup of any type of beans will provide about a third of your daily requirement of fiber and as much protein as an ounce of meat. Because of this, beans are wonderful for managing blood glucose levels, giving the body nutrients to slowly digest and process. Beans also are great sources of magnesium and potassium.

2. Fish

Salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, halibut, and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to be heart-healthy, as long as these [fish] are not breaded and deep-fried. One study also suggests that eating fish at least twice a week may protect people with diabetes against kidney problems.

3. Nuts

Nuts are very filling and contain high levels of unsaturated fats, the kind that contributes to “good”cholesterol. Some nuts and seeds like walnuts and flaxseeds contain omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts also deliver healthy doses of fiber and magnesium.

4. Berries

All berries contain good levels of antioxidants. They are heart-healthy, cancer-preventing, and fat-free. Compared with other fruits, they provide a comparatively low amount of calories and carbohydrates considering their serving size. Berries also contain vitamins and fiber.

5. Broccoli

High in vitamins A and C, broccoli is another low-carbohydrate, low-calorie, high-fiber food that has antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Broccoli also is very filling, a plus for people who need to lose weight.

6. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a great alternative for white potatoes. They are high in fiber and vitamins A and C.



7. Dark, Leafy Green Vegetables

Spinach, collard greens, and kale pack high levels of nutrients like vitamins A and C and calcium, as well as being low in calories and carbohydrates. Other great choices in this group include bok choy and mustard greens.

8. Whole Grains

Any time you want bread, pasta, or cereal, you need to make sure it’s made with whole grains. The germ and bran contained in whole grains have large amounts of nutrients like magnesium, chromium, omega-3 fatty acids, and folate; these are stripped out of wheat when it’s processed into white flour products. Whole-grain foods also contain lots of fiber.

9. Tomatoes

Here’s another colorful vegetable that contains large amounts of nutrients like iron and vitamins C and E. Tomatoes are very versatile and can be used in many different recipes. Cooked tomato products like stewed tomatoes and ketchup also deliver the important nutrient lycopene.

Happy Shopping and Eating for a Healthy You!

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Article from - http://elev8.com
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Stress, the best explanation I have ever come across....

Stress, the best explanation I have ever come across....

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
Raised a glass of water and asked

'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,

'And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,

We won't be able to carry on. '

'As with the glass of water,

You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.!

Don't carry it home.

You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,

Let them down for a moment if you can.'

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull.

Some have weird names, and all are different colours, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Have an awesome day and know that a friend has thought about you today...

I did.

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Special thanks to Carolus Wong for his contribution
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Denzel Washington Interview : Devoted to Family and Faith

For Denzel Washington, it’s not about fame and fortune. It’s about keeping the faith.

By David Hochman

Washington’s devotion to his family and deep sense of faith make him something of an anomaly in Hollywood. A member of the Church of God in Christ, the actor has been married to wife Pauletta for almost 25 years. And to hear him gush about their four children—John David, 23, Katia, 20, and twins Malcolm and Olivia, 16, you’d think he was a stay-at-home dad.

On the contrary, Washington works all the time. He’s made 37 movies in the last 29 years, including Academy Award winners Philadelphia, Training Day and Glory.

Although he often plays good-guy roles, this month he appears in American Gangster as a really bad guy. Then, as if to reaffirm his versatility, Washington directs and stars in The Great Debaters, opening Christmas Day, a feel-good movie about a 1930s African American debate team and the inspiring coach (played by who else) who helps them take on Harvard.

Between edits on the film, Washington sat down with Reader’s Digest to talk about fame, fortune and why his personal happiness has little to do with any of that.

RD: What do you think your strengths are as an actor?
Washington: I don’t analyze myself. I put it out there, and it’s up to the people to interpret it. I keep it simple, try to continue my spiritual quest.

RD: Do you think of yourself as a spiritual person?
Washington: Definitely.

RD: In what way?
Washington: I read the Bible every day. I’m in my second pass-through now, in the Book of John. My pastor told me to start with the New Testament, so I did, maybe two years ago. Worked my way through it, then through the Old Testament. Now I’m back in the New Testament. It’s better the second time around.

Godless Hollywood?

RD: Do you ever see a conflict in Hollywood, Godless Hollywood, as a spiritual person?
Washington: Well, wait a minute. Stop. That’s broad. Godless Hollywood? What is that? First of all, Hollywood is a part of Los Angeles, not a way of thinking. When you say Godless Hollywood, are you including me? Are you saying everybody in Hollywood is Godless? That’s like saying Godless Reader’s Digest. No such thing, right?

RD: Right. Right.
Washington: I think it’s easy to generalize. Let’s be specific. We say Godless Hollywood, then we make an assumption that that’s true. It’s not true.

RD: Well, people talk about the violence, the sex—if you watch HBO—in Hollywood.
Washington: Those things happen everywhere. In politics, in war, at the post office. Not just in Hollywood.

RD: Do your spiritual philosophies influence the roles you play?
Washington: I think I’m going to instill it in everything I do, like this conversation. It’s who I am. It goes with me wherever I go. Understand that it’s something bigger than making a film, even American Gangster. When I met Frank Lucas [the drug kingpin the movie is based on], he said, “Do this and win an Oscar.” I’m like, “Frank, I’m not in it for that.” I found it interesting that he paid for his crimes with jail time, and now he’s paying with his body, which has sort of betrayed him. It’s important for me to tell that part of the story. There are consequences.

RD: Who were your childhood heroes?
Washington: I didn’t have a lot of them, but I met one, Gale Sayers. He came to see a play I was in. Oh, man, I was like nine years old again. I wore his number. I wanted to be Gale Sayers. Somebody said, “Gale Sayers heard you talk about him on TV and wanted to say hello.” I said, “Okay. Wait a minute, I got to get myself together.”

RD: What was the meeting like?
Washington: I was like, Oh, he’s smaller than I am! It was very cordial. Early on in the business I also met Jimmy Stewart. That was a treat.

RD: Did you consider them your role models?
Washington: I think a role model is a mentor—someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them. I’ve talked a lot about Billy Thomas, [a staffer] at the Boys Club. And Bob Stone, who was my English and acting teacher when I was in college. Those are the two who stand out.

RD: What did you learn from them?
Washington: They gave me confidence. Also, Charles White, who was also at the club. I remember him saying, “With your smarts, you can do anything you want.” Things like that stick with you. I was ten years old, but I never forgot it. You never know the power of words when you speak to young people, which is why I enjoy being involved with them.

RD: Is there one project in you that you feel is your ultimate dream?
Washington: No. There are some stories I want to tell, but I got a great life, period. My ultimate life dream project is my kids. My family.

RD: What’s your parenting style?
Washington: If you have kids, you know there is no style! It’s a hybrid. It’s what my wife and I learned from our parents, and applying religious instruction, discipline, athletic activity and academic excellence whenever possible. My wife’s done a great job. She’s been the consistent one, just trying to give them a normal life.

RD: Do you think it’s hard to live up to a dad like Denzel Washington?
Washington: Well, they don’t know anything different. When my oldest boy was about 14, I started to talk to him about some of the mistakes I made in life, just to put a few dents in that shiny armor.

RD: It’s your son’s second year playing for the Rams. What’s it like for you to see him growing up?
Washington: It’s great helping them navigate this minefield. The job’s not done, but to see him, a man now, responsible, paying bills and finding out what life’s all about. My daughter’s a sophomore in an Ivy League school; that’s unbelievable. And my twins are driving now, so that’s crazy.

RD: So is it different now for you and your wife?
Washington: There are still two [kids] in the house, which is more than most people have. And they bring home more people. In summer it was like a hotel. That they still enjoy coming home, I guess we’re doing a good job.

RD: Why did you want to make The Great Debaters?
Washington: The little train that could, the little guy up against the big guys.


RD: It’s your second time directing. What’s the appeal?
Washington: I like seeing other people do well. I enjoy finding young kids and sharing what I know with them. I like the collaboration. Also, I’m looking down the line. Clint Eastwood is my hero. This guy just seamlessly segued from one career to another.

RD: Your father was a minister. What kind of man was he?
Washington: A gentleman. A real gentle man. A devout Christian. A spirit-filled man, hardworking, low-key, consistent.

RD: Did he play catch with you? Was he a fun dad?
Washington: No, he wasn’t that guy. But I got all that out of my system in the Boys & Girls Club.

RD: Who were you closer with? Your mother or your father?
Washington: I think most boys are closer with their mothers. And like myself nowadays, he was working all day. We didn’t see him. He had one job, I think, from 6 to 12. He’d have a couple hours off, come home, then he’d work his night job. He probably put in 18, 20 hours a day.

Faith and Discipline

RD: That’s a good thing. So you’ve been married for 25 years?
Washington: Coming up on 25 in June. Yeah. I better come up with a plan. So I’ll ask the readers: What should I do for my 25th?

RD: What is the secret to a 24-year marriage?
Washington: Do whatever your wife tells you. Yes, dear. And breathe.

RD: What happens to a relationship after 15, 20 years? Does it change?
Washington: Everything changes. It happens after 15 or 20 days.

RD: How has the onion opened for you two?
Washington: I think it hopefully ends where it starts, which is friendship. And obviously, respect. Understanding our—for lack of a better word—roles. And just getting on with it. Commitment.

RD: How do you get through the hard times?
Washington: You have faith. And discipline as well. You have to work at it. I was just reading today: One day you’re going to have to walk with God when you can’t understand where he’s taking you. [Laughs] Your techniques, skill set and connections won’t get you through. So don’t try this on your own.

RD: What does that say to you?
Washington: It says, He’s got you covered. My faith helps me understand that circumstances don’t dictate my happiness, my inner peace.

RD: If you could change one thing about America what would it be?
Washington: I’d ask to change more than one thing! There are consequences for everything. What’s the domino effect? Start with slavery.

RD: Have you experienced prejudice?
Washington: Sure, absolutely. But I’m a positive person, so I don’t get bogged down with it. If you’re expecting that, if you wallow in that, if you practice that, then you’ll attract what you fear.

RD: People look at you and say you have everything. Do you struggle?
Washington: Struggle? I’m a believer in positive words. You can create your reality. I’d just as soon say I’m doing great. And getting better. I’m looking upward. It’s just my nature.

RD: Do you feel like a success?
Washington: I don’t know what that word means. I’m happy. But success, that goes back to what in somebody’s eyes success means. For me, success is inner peace. That’s a good day for me.

RD: How do you deal with fame?
Washington: It ain’t about me. The one thing for me, understanding how I understand God, is that it keeps me humble, keeps the pronouns out of the picture. I’ve been given certain abilities, and I look at it this way: What are you going to do with what you have? Who are you going to lift up?

RD: You’re a national spokesman for the Boys & Girls Club, and you and your wife work with a number of charities. Why have you gotten so involved?
Washington: It’s what the Bible teaches. It’s the right thing to do. And it’s selfish. There’s a lot of gratification in knowing that you help people. We realize how blessed we are and feel a responsibility to share.

RD: What’s one thing you’d change about yourself?
Washington: My weight! Mind, body and spirit. It’s a discipline, and the body has been lagging. Mind’s really good right now. Spirit is strong, but body’s been lagging. And the body helps the mind. I feel better today having worked out.

RD: Does mortality give you pause?
Washington: No. No. No. Nope. As the old folks used to say, You’re born to dead. It’s a part of life. So you might as well get used to it.

RD: What are you most proud of?
Washington: God, family, work. When our children were born, I was like, My work used to be my life. Now my work is making a living. They’re life. My children are. So what I am proudest of is all of the above. In that order.

RD: How would you like to be remembered?
Washington: I don’t think in those terms. I’m too busy living life.

Downtime with Denzel
RD: Last DVD you saw?
Washington: One I liked: The Lives of Others. And Munich. But I’m really not a movie buff.

RD: What are you reading?
Washington: Books? I don’t have time. Except for the Bible, the No. 1 bestseller.

RD: What’s on your iPod?
Washington: A buddy—not to name-drop—is Lenny Kravitz. I have all his stuff. All of James Brown, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, everything from blues to gospel to jazz. More than 5,000 songs.

RD: Last great vacation you took?
Washington: The Mediterranean. I love to spend time on the water. We’re at sea probably a month each year. In Italy you sit out in a boat in the bay and look back at these beautiful ancient cities.

RD: Favorite motto?
Washington: Do what you got to do so that you can do what you want to do. And fail big.

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From Reader's Digest - December 2007
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Best Parenting Advice

Here is a compilation of all the great parenting advice that we received from readers over the years.

Parenting Advice #1: Lock your bedroom door.
Some people put a cowbell on their kids' door. Just don't count on hearing a knock before you hear the worst words, "daddy, what are you doing to mommy." A lock is very cheap insurance.

Parenting Advice #2: Take thousands and thousands of photos.
With digital that's easy to do. The trick is to edit them so that your computer isn't storing thousands and thousands of pictures. Garry Winogrand, the great 20th century black and white photographer died with 2500 rolls of undeveloped film. He shot and shot and his skill was in finding the diamonds in the rough. With kids, this is doubly important since they rarely sit still for perfect images. The more you shoot, the better chance you'll capture the real them.

Leave a loaded camera on the kitchen counter and be ready for every photo opportunity. The worst camera to have is the one you don't have with you when the perfect shot happens. Rather than buying a super-duper camera, the best dad photographers have a fairly cheap point and shoot camera that's small enough to keep in a pocket and always at the ready.

Parenting Advice #3: Learn how to juggle.
Juggling amazes small and even big children. It's something you can teach them later and it's a basic dad skill.

Parenting Advice #4: Kiss your wife goodbye and hello in front of the kids.
No can overestimate the value of showing the kids every day that they live in a loving and secure home. Do this especially if you're mad or having a fight. It might just have some side benefits to your marriage as well.

Parenting Advice #5: Avoid passing bad habits on to your kids.
If you swear or smoke, think about how your kids are likely to imitate you. It's a big responsibility.

Parenting Advice #6: Don't set your sights to high on what kind of dad you should be.
Every dad wants to be a "great dad," but we all lose our temper, need a break from the kids, and sometimes wonder what we might have done without the responsibilities of parenthood. We're all human, so give yourself a break from worrying that you could be better. Just try to be the best dad you can be at your next shot, whether that is story-reading time tonight or a day at a ballgame this weekend.

Parenting Advice #7: Buy a minivan.
Though not really a "tough" vehicle, a minivan is the perfect family vehicle for its sheer practicality and the comfort it offers.

Parenting Advice #8: Watch cartoons with your kids. Learn the lyrics to the songs. Get MP3s and play them in the car.
The kids will be impressed that you want to join their club.

Parenting Advice #9: Start planning for college fund NOW.

Parenting Advice #10: Be consistent.
Kids like structure and the more you repeat and model consistent behavior, the better chance your kids will act accordingly.

Parenting Advice #11: Learn a few magic tricks.
The granddaddy of them all is the French Drop, where you seemingly grab a coin from one hand and make it disappear. This trick is extremely portable, requires only a coin, and will mystify small children and some dimwitted adults. Search "French Drop" on YouTube for many good tutorials.

Parenting Advice #12: Take a break.
If you work hard and also spend a lot of time with your kids, you need a break every once in a while. Couples who find time to spend alone without kids are better able to maintain close relationships. Time away can be just a date night, or a planned weekend away.

Organizing childcare is not easy, but most couples find that time away gives a reassuring jolt to their relationship and reminds them why they found each other in the first place. This is very valuable especially if you're wondering what you have in common besides the kids.

Parenting Advice #13: Don't drink and drive.
Reality bites, but having kids teaches you a few things. First, you don't ever ever want to have something happen to your family. Second, you don't want to get hurt and not be able to care for your family. Third, you don't want to lose your license and have to make up a lame excuse to your school carpool buddies. Fourth, think of how mad you'd be if you realized how many other people are drinking and driving on the same streets where your kids play.

Parenting Advice #14: Carry your toddlers.
Put them on your shoulders or on your back every day, if your back can take it. The time that you can do that with them is very very short, and it's one of the best memories kids have of their dads from their toddler years.

Parenting Advice #15: Use your watch.
The best way to occupy a bored kid is to hand him your second hand-equipped watch and start peppering him or her with challenges. How long can you stand on one leg? Hold your breath? Keep your eyes open without blinking? Sing the National Anthem/? The list is endless. It keeps them occupied and calms them down.

Parenting Advice #16: NEVER hit your child. Period.

Parenting Advice #17: Quit smoking dope.
Arlo Guthrie said he quit smoking pot when he had kids and realized that he didn't want to be high if something ever happened to a child and he had to figure out how to get help. It sounds uncool to say, but drugs and kids don't mix.

And LASTLY

Parenting Advice #18: Kiss your child every day and say "I love you."
Say these 2 things every day to your child: "I love you" and "I'm proud of you." It's a short list with an endless payoff. (Thanks to David George and "Good Bad/Bad Dad.")

Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements : Benefits, Side Effects, and Best Brand.

Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements : Benefits, Side Effects, and Best Brand

For the last few years, I've been recommending omega 3 fish oil supplements to practically everyone I know. Do you know why that means something? It's because I am FAR from a supplement-person. I barely use anything. Not only do I hate wasting money on junk I don't need or could get from actual foods, I'm also WAY over cautious about side effects and the things I put into my body in general. At the same time, I'm also usually the first one laughing at the supposed "magical" health benefits of all of the weird nutritional products, vitamins, herbs and minerals on the market. Really, I'm the last person to take or recommend any kind of nutritional supplement.

With all of that being said... I've personally been taking and recommending an omega 3 fish oil supplement to practically everyone I know. And that, my friends, should tell you just how useful and important I think it is.

In this article, I'm going to explain exactly why fish oil has become my personal favorite supplement and the only one that I recommend to every single person reading this no matter who you are. I'll explain all of its proven health benefits (yes, scientifically proven) and whether or not there are any side effects (there aren't). I'll explain omega 3 fatty acids in general, talk about how much you should take, and give you my recommendation for the highest quality fish oil supplement brand on the market. Basically, by the end of this article you're going to want to start recommending it to everyone you know, too.

What is it?

The only real reason fish and fish oil are considered so healthy is that they contain the omega 3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). You know how there are good types of fat and bad types of fat? Well, this is the really good one. Fish just happens to be the best and most abundant source of it.

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid, which means is cannot be manufactured by our own body and therefore must be obtained through our diet alone. The thing is, most people's diet's contain an insufficient amount of omega 3. Not to mention, they also contain a very high amount of the omega 6 fatty acid. The ideal ratio of the two is something near 2:1. In reality for the average person, it's more like 20:1 or even more. Most people just lack omega 3, which is why a fish oil supplement could be beneficial to pretty much everyone. Speaking of benefits...

What are the benefits of taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement?

It's magical! Ok... that's obviously an exaggeration, but from all of the scientific studies done and all of the medical research known, an omega 3 fish oil supplement is my pick for the closest thing to a real life miracle pill.

Let's take a look at some of its benefits taken directly from MedlinePlus, which is a service of the US National Library of Medicine:

- lowers blood triglyceride levels
- reduces the risk of heart attack
- reduces the risk of dangerous abnormal heart rhythms
- reduces the risk of strokes
- slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques
- lowers blood pressure
- reduces stiffness and joint tenderness associated with Rheumatoid arthritis

An omega 3 fish oil supplement may also help improve or prevent the following:

- Alzheimer's disease and dementia
- depression
- heart disease
- cancer
- arthritis
- diabetes
- hyperactivity
- ADHD

has also been shown to improve a person's ability to concentrate and just think clearer in general. And, as if all of this isn't enough, fish oil is also highly recommended by nearly every well respected strength and conditioning coach, trainer, and diet/fitness/nutrition expert of any kind as one of the few supplements that should be taken by anyone with the goal of building muscle, losing fat, or improving their fitness level or athletic ability in any capacity.

Everything mentioned above has at least some amount actual scientific proof behind it. Researching some other sources showed me that some people experienced other benefits not mentioned above. For example, I've heard of people claiming to have improved vision, improved memory, improved mood, and less back pain.

Long story short, a fish oil supplement appears to improve our body's ability to do damn near everything.

For me personally, I feel I experienced some of the mental and physical benefits. I noticed a definite improvement in mental clarity and really just the way I feel in general. Now, I didn't develop any kind of super powers or anything, but after a couple of weeks, I felt like I noticed a difference. I remember reading the phrase "an enhanced well being" when doing my fish oil research. That's a really good way of describing it. And physically, I feel I noticed an improved calorie partitioning effect, meaning when consuming an excess of calories, more calories went towards the building of new muscle rather than the storing of new fat. I also felt a similar effect when in a caloric deficit, meaning my body did a better job of using stored body fat for energy rather than muscle. Basically, I felt I did indeed experience an overall improvement both physically and mentally.

But really, even if I felt exactly 100% the same, I'd still be taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement anyway. Why? Because even if I didn't notice any of its benefits, the fact that there is actual scientific proof that it may help improve or prevent even 1 (let alone all) of the diseases and disorders listed above is MORE than enough convincing for me.

Can't I just eat fish?

Technically, yes. Fatty fish contains omega 3 just the same as a fish oil supplement would. The only problem is that in order to consume a good amount of omega 3 on a regular basis, you would have to consume a good amount of fish on a regular basis. And, in case you haven't heard, due to all of the toxic contaminants found in fish these days (mercury, chlordane, dioxin, PCBs, and more) it is pretty hard to recommend anyone eat fish on daily basis. Fortunately, supplement companies can greatly improve its purity by removing these contaminants. Of course, some brands do this better than others. More on that later.

Are there any side effects?

No, for the most part, there are no side effects. You have to realize here, it's oil from fish. It's not like a dangerous fat burner/muscle builder type product. I mean, do you ask what the side effects are before eating some salmon? I didn't think so. Taking a fish oil supplement is no different than just eating fish (minus the contaminants, of course).

So, for the average healthy person, it's completely safe. Of course, if you are pregnant, allergic to fish, or already have any kind of known health issues, you should check with your doctor first just to be safe.

The only other thing I've heard of that even slightly resembles side effects is "a fishy after taste." And, while this is far from a serious side effect, this appears to only happen if you are taking a low quality fish oil supplement. For example, I've never tasted a hint of fish even for a second in all of the time I've been taking it. (More on which brand I use below.)

How much should I take?

The real question here is how much shouldn't you take. For safety purposes, the FDA recommends no more than 3 grams of combined EPA and DHA per day. For the brand I'm going to recommend below, 1 serving (2 capsules) contains 650mg of EPA and 450mg of DHA. Combined that is 1.1 grams of EPA/DHA. If you took two servings per day (4 capsules), that would be a 2.2 grams of combined EPA/DHA. Even though you're still .8 below the maximum 3 grams per day, I personally wouldn't recommend any more than that.

So, for the specific brand I recommend below, 1 serving (2 capsules) would be perfectly fine, with 2 servings (4 capsules) being a good maximum amount. That would mean staying between 1 and 2 servings per day, which is between 2-4 capsules per day of this specific brand. I personally take 3 capsules of this brand per day. Speaking of brands...

What brand should I use? Is one really better than the others?

This is something I did a lot of research about. Like I mentioned at the very beginning, I'm extremely careful about what I put into my body, which is why I spent a lot of time researching fish oil brands to find out if some were indeed better than others. And, the brand I can definitively say is the highest quality omega 3 fish oil supplement available is Nordic Naturals.

Besides seeing this brand specifically recommended by a handful of doctors, I also read two different consumer reports that performed a variety of tests on a variety of brand name fish oil supplements. And, while most of them passed, Nordic Naturals scored the best. So, yeah, a lot of brands are probably perfectly fine. But for me, when it comes to something like an omega 3 fish oil supplement, I want the best. I've done enough research to be more than confident in the fact that Nordic Naturals is one of, if not THE best. I've been using their brand for quite a while now, and they get my full recommendation.

As for the specifics, I use Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega, which contains significantly more EPA and DHA per capsule than most other brands. This not only means more bang for your buck, but it also means you won't have to take a million capsules per day. There are 120 capsules per bottle, so if you take the recommended 2 capsules per day, you'll only have to order another bottle just 6 times per year. Not bad, not bad at all.

As for where to get it, I order it from here for pretty much the best price I've seen it sold for: Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega

So, there you have it... everything you need to know about my personal favorite supplement, fish oil.

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Article taken from : http://www.intense-workout.com
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Fish Oil Secrets for Stress

Many doctors and natural health experts recommend taking omega-3 fish oil for stress, depression and anxiety. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health and they must be present in your diet. Otherwise, you could suffer from a host of physical and psychological disorders.

Omega-6s are also essential, but they are found in numerous foods. So, deficiencies are rare, only occurring in developing nations and in anorexic individuals.

Some omega-3s, including ALA, are found in a variety of foods, as well. But, the omega-3s that are known to be most important to human health (EPA and DHA) are found in abundant quantities in only one food. That is oily or fatty fish.

The EPA and DHA content varies from one species to the next and is even seasonal. DHA contents are higher during the winter months in coldwater species. EPA is found year-round, in varying quantities.

The reason we suggest taking fish oil for stress, depression and anxiety is simple. The brain needs it.

There are outside influences, such as jobs, family and money, that contribute to emotional disorders. But, if our bodies are well-nourished, we can more easily handle those issues.

There are some foods and beverages that contribute to poor mental health. Mostly, they are the same ones that contribute to poor physical health. Calorie dense, nutrient poor foods, in other words junk foods, are the main culprits. Caffeinated beverages may be responsible for many of the diagnosed cases of anxiety in this country.

There are other foods and beverages that contribute to good mental and physical health. The list of foods that we should be eating on a regular basis is too long to include here. But, fish, fruits and vegetables are at the top of the list.

If you are interested in taking fish oil for stress, depression or anxiety, be sure to choose a brand that contains both DHA and EPA. Some manufacturers list the total omega-3s, but fail to break down the content of the individual fatty acids.

DHA is most important to the brain, because it is a major component of neurons and brains cells. Without DHA, an infant’s brain will not develop normally. Attention deficit disorders, depressive behavior and bi-polar disorders have been linked to low blood levels of DHA.

If you try taking fish oil for stress or other emotional disorders and it seems to be ineffective, it probably contains more EPA than DHA. That is the case with most of the major brands on the market.

My recommendation is a brand that contains a minimum of 280mg of DHA per 1000mg capsule. You can start by taking two capsules per day, but research has proven that three per day is safe.

Higher doses are not recommended because of the supplement’s anticoagulant activity. Anticoagulants prevent the formation of blood clots, which is good for preventing heart disease and stroke, but could be a problem for people with existing health problems.

Once you start taking good omega-3 fish oil for stress, you will feel like a new person. I’ve seen it myself.

And now please visit the XtendFishOil website listed below for updated information on fish oil for stress.

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Larry L. Taylor is a 'crazyhealthnut' but also researches health, nutrition and nutritional supplements. Larry has over 200 articles on the Internet about health. Visit his site at" http://www.HealthyBodySupplements.com
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Successful Parents Are ......

Successful Parents are ...

Not perfect ...They make mistakes, but observe and learn from both their own, and the mistakes of others.

Personally involved ... with teaching and training their children. They know God holds only the parents solely responsible for overseeing their child's moral and spiritual development.

Praying and studying ...for the job of parenting! They form their ideas about child discipline from a disciplined and prayerful consideration of Bible principles -- not from popular but unproven humanistic ideas!

Refusing to delegate ... their God-given responsibilities for their own children to the state, the church, or others.

Taking personal charge ... of their children's spiritual education to make sure they receive proper Biblical instruction.

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Article from the Christian Parents.net
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1) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T EXPECT PERFECTION

Either from themselves or their children. Parenting is an art, not a science. Parent's DO; their children BECOME. Between the "doing" and "becoming" there is room for a lot of mistakes. Successful parents understand that, like themselves, their children aren't perfect, either. These parents expect the best from their children, but not perfection. This frees them to love their children unreservedly.

2) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T FEAR OCCASIONAL FAILURES

They understand that mistakes are a normal, even healthy part of parenting.They make the best decisions they can and when they're wrong, they learn from their mistakes and try to do better the next time. For successful parents, mistakes (by parents or children) aren't failures but opportunities to learn and grow. And learning isn't possible without mistakes.

3) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T EXPECT TO ALWAYS HAVE "SMOOTH SAILING"

Children have their own opinions, personalities and preferences. Inevitably, they cause us to say "Where did THAT come from?" or "What WERE you thinking?" Our responsibility to provide them with limits and guidance will sometimes clash with their growing desire for independence. These clashes are inevitable. Succesful parents aren't surprised by them; they expect them. But successful parents understand that their responsibility to their chidlren is not to always please them or make them happy. It's to make the hard decisions that will be for their best in the long run.

4) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T "GO IT ALONE"

Successful parenting means trusting yourself but not being a "lone ranger". No one has the experience or answers to every parenting challenge. But each of us has some of the answers and, together, we've got them all. So successful parents aren't reluctant to seek out the wisdom of others, whether a trusted older friend or relative or a member of a "Mom's" group. They know that, at the end of the day, the decision is theirs, but before they get there, there is plenty of wisdom aong the way waiting to help them.

Successful parents don't get that way by accident.There are some reliable guidelines they follow.

1) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS TRY HARDER

They face the same prressures we all do: demanding jobs, spouses and children who need us, financial challenges, etc. But they live by this rule: "You get back what you put in". They have a clear sense of priorities for their family and are willing to put in the time to achievce those priorities. they give more than the "average parent" so their children will be more than just "average children". These parents work at nurturing and developing themselves to be the best parents they can become. They try harder!

2) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS ENJOY BEING PARENTS!

They enjoy parenting not because it's easy or instantly rewarding but because of the sheer joy and privilege of cooperating with God in shaping another unique and precious life. Any parent of grown children will tell you "they grow up so quickly". Successful parents remind themselves of that and try to savor every day with their children. They immerse themselves in their children as much as possible and just enjoy them--even the days of dirty diapers, illness and disappointments. They don't just LOVE their children, they LIKE them and look forward to spending time with them. They enjoy being parents.

3) SUCCESFUL PARENTS TRUST GOD AND THEMSELVES

Over time and by learning from sucesses and mistakes, successful parents learn to trust themselves, their instincts, their judgement. After all, they're the "right" parents for their children! And when they don't know the answer, they know that God does, so they pray regularly for wisdom to be the best parents they can be. They use their "sanctified comon sense" to make the many decisions of parenting with calmness and confidence. These wise parents trust God --and trust themselves, too!

4) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS STRIVE TO BE THE PERSON THEY WANT THEIR CHILD TO BECOME

There are no formulas for parents. You can't just "program" children like a computer and be guaranteed of the result. But children are great observers and imitators. They watch, listen and absorb values and habits from the people who have the greatest influence on them: their parents.So successful parents resolve that they will set the best example they can for their children. The determine that they will "Be the person I want my child to become". They work every day at being and becoming a better person as they live before their children. That's the best, time tested way to see your children become the person you hope and pray for.

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Articles taken from: Confident Parenting Today
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Skin Care Guide - Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizing and Exfoliating

Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizing and Exfoliating

Providing the right skin care (including cleansing skin care, facial toning, moisturizing, exfoliation and body cleansing) help keeps your skin looking healthy. Healthy skin looks better, gives you greater confidence and protects the body. This article tells you more on:

Why skin care is important?

Why toning is said to be very beneficial for pores?
What are the natural ways to cleanse tone and moisturize the Skin?
Providing the right skin care (including cleansing skin care, facial toning, moisturizing, exfoliation and body cleansing) help keeps your skin looking healthy. Healthy skin looks better, gives you greater confidence and protects the body.

It is important that people choose the right type of skin care for their skin, as this will reduce problem areas and prevent further skin damage from occurring. The right skin care can also help people treat any skin disorders they may have and limit or prevent skin reactions.

Different Methods of Skin Care

Cleansing, toning, moisturizing and exfoliation all serve different purposes and all of them are necessary to keep your skin looking its very best.

CLEANSING

Cleansing removes dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Cleansing skin care is perhaps one of the most important things we can do to help keep our skin looking healthy and beautiful. Without cleansing, our faces would develop a build-up of materials that would make our faces dirty, shiny and dull. The bacteria and dirt on our face would also increase the risk of bacterial infections, leading to skin problems like acne. Cleansing is particularly important for people with oily skin, who have excess oil on their face which attracts dirt and debris.

Cleansing should not just stop with the face. Body cleansing is also important. However, a different type of cleansing may be needed for the body, than the cleansing which is needed for the face.

TONING

Facial toning does a number of things to keep your skin looking healthy. Firstly, it removes traces of dirt and debris that are left after cleansing. It also restores the skin's natural pH balance.

Toning is very beneficial for the pores. It helps tighten them up so that there is less chance of infection and acne. A good toner can tone up the skin and make it appear smoother

MOISTURIZING

Moisturizing helps hydrate the skin and prevent it from further moisture loss. It can also provide a protective barrier to stop moisture from escaping from the skin. Water and many skin care products can strip the skin of moisture. Moisturizing lotion helps replace that loss moisture. It is very important for people with dry skin, who have less sebum (the skin's natural oil) on their skin.

Face masks can also have a moisturizing effect. Moisturizing face masks are very good for people with dry skin who may need some extra moisture and attention.

EXFOLIATING

Exfoliating removes the surface layer of skin, along with any dirt, debris and dead skin cells. It provides a more thorough clean than cleansing. Removing the top layer of skin helps the new healthy skin to appear.

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Article from : http://www.skinway.com
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How A Child Learns

If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,
he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,
he learns justice.

If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world.

Author: Dorothy Law Nolte

Parenting Skills - An Overview

Parenting Skills - An Overview

Back when our parents were born, parenting skills were learned from the extended family. If parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles didn't live in the same house, they usually lived within a few miles. They were always available to impart their considerable wisdom to the younger generation on the subjects of pregnancy, childbirth, and raising children. Now, we have become such a transient society; it is rare that the extended family is even in the same state!

Since the late 20th and early 21st centuries, parents have had to learn creative ways to raise their children. We surf the Internet, read books, take classes, talk to our parents on the telephone, and make friends with parents who have "been there and done that." We then filter these things through our own morality, sensibilities, and personalities to make them work for our own families. Wouldn't it be easier if each baby arrived with an owner's manual attached?

Parenting Skills - Discipline

Probably the most important and controversial parenting skill is discipline. We parents are conflicted over what type of discipline to apply at what time. Appropriate discipline for a two year-old might not be appropriate or effective for a 10 year-old or a teenager. The most important piece of the discipline puzzle is determining who is in charge: the parents or the child. This may sound simple, but in this day and age, the answer isn't always clear.

The fear of hurting a child's feelings or crushing his spirit coerces many parents into allowing their children to rule the roost. Children need firm boundaries that come from clear and consistent parental discipline. Whether the method is redirection, time-outs, loss of privileges, grounding, extra chores, or spanking, it is crucial that we embrace our role to train our children to become moral, respectable adults.

Parenting Skills - Education

The ability to recognize what we teach our children is one parenting skill from which we can all benefit. From the moment our children are born, they are learning from us. They learn that if they cry, we respond. If they pull our hair, we say, "ouch." If they throw their cup on the floor, we pick it up. As time goes on, we also teach them to walk, talk, get dressed, and say their A-B-C's.

As parents, we also have the responsibility to teach our children morals and values. We cannot depend solely on the schools to fulfill this important duty. At some point during early childhood, parents must make a decision on how to handle a child's formal education. Will the child be home-schooled or will they attend public or private school?

A variety of factors come into play when we consider the education of our children:

Family financial situations,
Quality of local public and private schools,
Level of parental education,
Personalities of parents and children,
Home-schooling support and resources,
And many other issues.

A child's educational success is not always dependent upon where he attends school, but how involved his parents are in his education.

Parenting Skills - Finances

Effectively dealing with financial issues is a parenting skill that will follow us through our children's adulthood. It begins with the heart-stopping thought: "We are having a baby! How on earth will we pay for this?" Many couples choose to delay starting their family until they have saved a comfortable amount of money.

Some families want to save enough to enable Mom to quit work and stay home for a set period of time. Others want enough saved for Mom to stay home indefinitely. Then there are those brave souls who leap in and take things as they come.

But, financial issues do not stop there. If Mom stays home, life insurance becomes even more important to protect the family if Dad passes away. And don't forget saving for college! In 2004, the average public university tuition was over $20,000 for four years. The average private university tuition was four times that amount. That's over $80,000, and these figures don't even consider room and board!

Parents today face diapers, clothing, food, entertainment, education, childcare, allowance, and countless other expenses. Wise parents will look at where they want the family finances to be in one, five, or even ten years, and then write down their goals. These goals can be as simple as putting $50 per month into a college savings account or towards the credit card balance.

Children bring us much joy and much responsibility. Taking the time to plan ahead can take some of the stress and worry out of raising them.

Superfoods for a Super Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in your life. It can also be very taxing and exhausting for your body, mind and spirit at times. But by nourishing your body with these great superfoods, you’ll be energized, strong, and sharp, and ready to welcome your pending bundle of joy healthy and happy.

Beans and legumes are good sources of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, thiamine, and niacin. Make a big batch of beans when you have time and freeze them in small containers. Be careful with canned varieties, as they’re usually higher in sodium and their nutritional value is a bit lower since they’re processed using high temperatures. Soybeans provide more protein than any other bean or legume, making them a staple either the vegan or non-vegan. Soybeans are rich in many nutrients, including calcium and iron.

Include plenty of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, millet, and oats as they’re a great source of fiber, minerals, protein and B complex vitamins. Buy the least processed grain types you can find, since many of the commercially prepared grains have had the nutritional and beneficial germ and bran removed.

Dark green leafy vegetables like kale, collard greens, watercress, and spinach are especially important while pregnant or lactating because they supply so many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. Dark leafy green vegetables also are rich in phytochemicals like beta carotene and lutein which protect against many forms of cancer. Vegetables from the cabbage family such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are wonderful sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. They are also rich in phytochemicals that have anticancer properties. Dark green leafy vegetables and cabbage family vegetables provide important nutrients that help to promote a plentiful milk supply for your baby.

Nuts and seeds are good sources of fiber, protein, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Be sure to eat flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds and walnuts to get omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for baby’s brain and nervous system development as well as your own health. Nuts and seeds can be eaten raw or toasted, and work great in a salad made of dark leafy green vegetables.

Lastly, it’s important to drink plenty of water, and make sure you’re getting plenty of rest during this time. A well-hydrated, well-rested body recovers more quickly, and ready to take on the challenges that life with a newborn baby brings with it.

Superfoods - Organic Foods Equal Improved Health

Organic food is food that is free from all genetically modified organisms, produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers and derived from an animal reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs. Once only available in small stores or farmers' markets, organic foods are becoming much more widely available.

Organic foods have been shown to improve your immune system, help you sleep better, shed the excess weight more easily, and improve your blood work just to name a few. Organic food can boast intense, realistic flavors, and a higher vitamin and mineral content.
And though logically it makes sense to consume a diet based on organic foods, some worry about the cost. But with careful planning and preparation, going organic is actually quite affordable. And, the peace of mind knowing you and your family are consuming foods that haven’t been treated with pesticides or genetically altered is worth the extra money spent.

The pesticides used by conventional farmers can have many negative influences on your health, including neurotoxicity, disruption of your endocrine system, carcinogenicity and immune system suppression. Pesticide exposure may also affect male reproductive function and has been linked to miscarriages in women. Additionally, conventional produce tends to have fewer nutrients than organic produce. On average, conventional produce has only 83 percent of the nutrients of organic produce. Studies have found significantly higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, and significantly less nitrates (a toxin) in organic crops.

So it’s a smart idea to buy and eat organic produce and free-range organic foods as much as possible for maximum health benefits. In addition, the knowledge that you’re supporting the organic foods industry that is dedicated to protecting the environment by steering clear of harmful pesticides and chemicals that can result in the loss of topsoil, toxic runoff and resulting water pollution, soil contamination and poisoning and the death of insects, birds, critters and beneficial soil organisms should help you feel even better.

Concerns During Pregnancy

There is nothing more stressful than to have something go wrong during pregnancy. It doesn’t matter if it is your first time being pregnant or your fourth. There are many things to be concerned about during your pregnancy and it is easier when you know what they are.

Vaginal bleeding- This may also known as spotting, but make sure that is what is going on. There is a difference between actively bleeding and spotting. Spotting is lightly bleeding kind of like your period, the blood can be red, pink or even brown. If you are bleeding actively with any pain call your doctor, if you can’t get a hold of him go immediately to the emergency room. Bleeding can be a number of things from implantation, ectopic pregnancy, labor, infection or even miscarriage. Always let your doctor know, so everything can be ruled out, you’ll feel better too.

Stomach pain or cramping- During the pregnancy it may be hard to decipher the difference between a growing pain and an actual stomach pain/cramping. However, if you do get a pain of any sort rest. After a few minutes if it doesn’t subside, call your doctor and describe the pain to him. Don’t worry about it if you find out you only had gas or were having Braxton hicks contractions, at least you know everything is okay with pregnancy.

Gush of liquid- This could mean you are in labor and that your water broke, however if it isn’t close to the time of birth it can be something else. Call your doctor immediately and head for the emergency room.

Dehydration- While you are pregnant it is easy to become dehydrated, especially if you have morning sickness or just don’t drink those 8 glasses of water. If you find yourself pale, dry mouth or dizzy, you could be dehydrated and should be seen by a doctor. Dehydration can cause premature labor and/or distress on the pregnancy.

Painful urination - Could be a urinary tract infection, also known as UTI. This can be easily treated with medication or by drinking lots of fluids and cranberry juice. A urinary tract infection isn’t something to be embarrassed about, it is very common amongst pregnant women. The growing belly pushes against your ureters and makes it harder for it to flow through. Which of course can cause infection. Another way to find out if you have it is if you have a foul odor when you pee.

Pregnancies can be scary enough, there’s no reason to add to it. If you are ever in doubt or have a concern talk with your doctor. It is common that first time moms are worried about many pains that they feel. Never fear calling because you are afraid of waking the doctor up or because you feel silly. Being silly might just save the baby. While you are worrying, you are only causing stress on you and the baby, find out what’s wrong and relieve your anxiety.

Parenting : Make Quality Time with Your Child Count

In today's busy world, work, household chores and social activities all put a strain on your time with your child. But as you well know, it's imperative that you spend quality time together. It helps strengthen the bond between parent and child, and lets your child know you can be trusted and counted on. Children who spend quality time with their parents often do better in school, and excel in extracurricular activities, hobbies or sports. And though it can be 'scheduled' to a degree, it's something that happens when you least expect it. Therefore it's important that you do spend as much time as possible with your child in a relaxed atmosphere and do things together that you both enjoy.

But you're asking yourself, "Where am I going to find the time? My schedule's crazy enough as it is!" Well, for something as important as your child, you need to start digging around in that crazy schedule and find the time. Prioritizing is the key.

Here's some helpful suggestions on how to make the most of your time and find quality time where you least expect it.

Look at your household chore list and decide which ones can be left undone or be done imperfectly in order to make more family time. You might also want to consider leaving certain things until after your child has gone to bed to make the most of your time together.

Turn some of your everyday routines together count. Sing some favorite silly songs on the way to daycare, or make that drive to and from school a great opportunity to discuss what's happening in your child's life.

If you have more than one child, realize that each of them needs your individual attention. You may really have to juggle things around to make this happen, but try to be flexible and creative when spending time with each of your kids. And no matter what, don't skip those individual times with each child. By doing so you show them they're lower down on the priority list than the dry cleaning or the grocery shopping.

Children thrive on stability and routines, so plan your quality times so that they can take place regularly. Maybe you can walk the dog together on weekend morning, take a shopping excursion together, have a scheduled night each week for a sit-down dinner together, or make a trip to the park.

Parenting : Positive Praise for Your Child's Pride

Praising a child correctly is important to the development of positive behaviors. It's a great way to encourage constructive future behavior. When you give praise you are giving your child a feeling of positive feedback, which increases their sense of confidence, self esteem and abilities. When you praise your child, you are pointing out the way they've acted, an action they've taken, or simply who they are. When your child looks good, tell him so. When your child does anything that pleases you, let him know. You should also praise a child's effort to do well, even if it doesn't come out so good in the end. You should find something each day about your child to praise.

Be on the lookout constantly for behaviors or actions deserving of praise, but don't be over the top about it. Be sincere and honest in your praise. Wait for unexpected or previously unnoticed good behavior and praise your child for it. And when you see such action or behaviors, praise immediately so the child will know exactly what behavior or action was deemed praiseworthy. It's also very important to look your child square in the eye when you praise him, and reinforce the positive behavior, action or trait being praised with a gesture such as a warm smile, a hug, scruff of the hair, or caress his face while you tell him.

Be exact, and state precisely what action, behavior or trait you find praiseworthy. And most importantly, never directly follow praise with criticism or negative comments. Let your child know what they did right and reward them for it before you let them know what they did wrong and punish for misbehaving or a misdeed.
So be sure to admire and congratulate your child and celebrate the good person they are growing into by praising their positive actions, behaviors and traits daily. You'll be building a strong sense of self in your child and you'll grow closer as a result.

Breast Feeding Toddlers

Because more and more women are choosing to breast feed their babies, more and more are also finding that they enjoy it enough to continue longer than the first few months they planned on. Breast feeding to 3 - 4 years of age is common in much of the world recently, and is still common in many societies for toddlers to be breast fed.

Because mothers and babies often enjoy to breast feed, you shouldn't stop it. After six months, many think that breast milk loses it's value - which isn't true. Even after six months, it still contains protein, fat, and other important nutrients which babies and children need.

The fact is, immune factors in breast milk will protect the baby against infections. Breast milk also contains factors that will help the immune system mature, and other organs to develop and mature as well.

It's been shown and proven in the past that children in daycare who are still breast feeding have far less severe infections than the children that aren't breast feeding. The mother will lose less work time if she chooses to continue nursing her baby once she is back to work.

If you have thought about breast feeding your baby once he gets passed 6 months of age, you have made a wise decision. Although many feel that it isn't necessary, breast milk will always help babies and toddlers. Breast milk is the best milk you can give to your baby.

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No matter what others may tell you, breast feeding only needs to be stopped when you and the baby agree on it. You don't have to stop when someone else wants you to - you should only stop when you feel that it's the right time.

Child Care : Suitable Clothing for Children

During infancy.
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Infants are very susceptible of the impressions of cold; a proper regard, therefore, to a suitable clothing of the body, is imperative to their enjoyment of health. Unfortunately, an opinion is prevalent in society, that the tender child has naturally a great power of generating heat and resisting cold; and from this popular error has arisen the most fatal results. This opinion has been much strengthened by the insidious manner in which cold operates on the frame, the injurious effects not being always manifest during or immediately after its application, so that but too frequently the fatal result is traced to a wrong source, or the infant sinks under the action of an unknown cause.

The power of generating heat in warm-blooded animals is at its minimum at birth, and increases successively to adult age; young animals, instead of being warmer than adults, are generally a degree or two colder, and part with their heat more readily; facts which cannot be too generally known. They show how absurd must be the folly of that system of "hardening" the constitution (to which reference has been before made), which induces the parent to plunge the tender and delicate child into the cold bath at all seasons of the year, and freely expose it to the cold, cutting currents of an easterly wind, with the lightest clothing.

The principles which ought to guide a parent in clothing her infant are as follows:

The material and quantity of the clothes should be such as to preserve a sufficient proportion of warmth to the body, regulated therefore by the season of the year, and the delicacy or strength of the infant's constitution. In effecting this, however, the parent must guard against the too common practice of enveloping the child in innumerable folds of warm clothing, and keeping it constantly confined to very hot and close rooms; thus running into the opposite extreme to that to which I have just alluded: for nothing tends so much to enfeeble the constitution, to induce disease, and render the skin highly susceptible to the impression of cold; and thus to produce those very ailments which it is the chief intention to guard against.

In their make they should be so arranged as to put no restrictions to the free movements of all parts of the child's body; and so loose and easy as to permit the insensible perspiration to have a free exit, instead of being confined to and absorbed by the clothes, and held in contact with the skin, till it gives rise to irritation.

In their quality they should be such as not to irritate the delicate skin of the child. In infancy, therefore, flannel is rather too rough, but is desirable as the child grows older, as it gives a gentle stimulus to the skin, and maintains health.

In its construction the dress should be so simple as to admit of being quickly put on, since dressing is irksome to the infant, causing it to cry, and exciting as much mental irritation as it is capable of feeling. Pins should be wholly dispensed with, their use being hazardous through the carelessness of nurses, and even through the ordinary movements of the infant itself.

The clothing must be changed daily. It is eminently conducive to good health that a complete change of dress should be made every day. If this is not done, washing will, in a great measure, fail in its object, especially in insuring freedom from skin diseases.

During childhood.
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The clothing of the child should possess the same properties as that of infancy. It should afford due warmth, be of such materials as do not irritate the skin, and so made as to occasion no unnatural constriction.

In reference to due warmth, it may be well again to repeat, that too little clothing is frequently productive of the most sudden attacks of active disease; and that children who are thus exposed with thin clothing in a climate so variable as ours are the frequent subjects of croup, and other dangerous affections of the air- passages and lungs. On the other hand, it must not be forgotten, that too warm clothing is a source of disease, sometimes even of the same diseases which originate in exposure to cold, and often renders the frame more susceptible of the impressions of cold, especially of cold air taken into the lungs. Regulate the clothing, then, according to the season; resume the winter dress early; lay it aside late; for it is in spring and autumn that the vicissitudes in our climate are greatest, and congestive and inflammatory complaints most common.

With regard to material (as was before observed), the skin will at this age bear flannel next to it; and it is now not only proper, but necessary. It may be put off with advantage during the night, and cotton maybe substituted during the summer, the flannel being resumed early in the autumn. If from very great delicacy of constitution it proves too irritating to the skin, fine fleecy hosiery will in general be easily endured, and will greatly conduce to the preservation of health.

It is highly important that the clothes of the boy should be so made that no restraints shall be put on the movements of the body or limbs, nor injurious pressure made on his waist or chest. All his muscles ought to have full liberty to act, as their free exercise promotes both their growth and activity, and thus insures the regularity and efficiency of the several functions to which these muscles are subservient.

The same remarks apply with equal force to the dress of the girl; and happily, during childhood, at least, no distinction is made in this matter between the sexes. Not so, however, when the girl is about to emerge from this period of life; a system of dress is then adopted which has the most pernicious effects upon her health, and the development of the body, the employment of tight stays, which impede the free and full action of the respiratory organs, being only one of the many restrictions and injurious practices from which in latter years they are thus doomed to suffer so severely.