Archive March 2010

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Five Things to Say to Your Children

The words you say to your children can be very powerful. With that in mind there are five things you should say to your children on a regular basis. When your child asks you "can you help me? or "can I try that?" try saying "yes".  Don't ignore them or tell then that you're busy or that you'll be there in a  minute. Stop what you're doing and give them your undivided attention. Give them praise by telling them, "that was good". We all need confidence and to feel capable in our lives. Ask them how they are, they will appreciate the question and be happy you want to hear what they have to say. let them know you are proud of them. Children naturally seek approval and it makes them feel good to know you are proud of them. he best and most positive thing you can say to your child is "I love you." Look them in the eye and say it a lot, they will know that you mean it.

Caffeine Myths

  • By: Tom
  • On: 03/30/2010 14:45:12
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
Caffeine has been getting a bad rap for a very long time, is it really that bad for you? Here are a few myths about coffee and the truth behind them. Myth 1: Caffeine is addictive. Caffeine is considered a stimulant but according to the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse  there's no strong compulsion to use caffeine. However it can be habit-forming and your body can suffer from symptoms like headaches and irritability. Myth 2: It can make heart disease worse. There is little proof to support this claim. A study done on coffee drinkers showed that they had a 25% lower risk of heart disease than non-drinkers. Myth 3: Caffeine comes with a lot of calories. On it's own it has no calories, it's what you put in it that gives you the calories. For more caffeine myths true and false check out lifescript.

Herbs for Hay Fever

  • By: Tom
  • On: 03/26/2010 14:02:11
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
Spring has arrived and with it comes allergies for many. If you want to avoid the discomfort but don't want to be on medication that can make you drowsy or feel even worse, there are herbal remedies that may help. Butterbur has been known to treat asthma but has recently been compared to an antihistamine to control hay fever without drowsiness. Ginkgo has also been used for asthma but also for calming inflammation of the airways.  Quercetin which is found in apples, red wine, and onions has been found to make cells less likely to respond to allergens. You just need to be careful with the dosage between 250 mg and 600 mg  taken a few minutes before meals. Perilla 6000 has been shown to block allergic reactions. This herb is not yet sold in the US but can be found on the internet. You might also want to talk to an herbal pharmacist to find other herbs that may be valuable during the hay fever season.

Should You Give Kids an Allowance?

This is a question many parents face and how the circumstances may work if you do choose to give one. It's never too early to teach your kids about money, how it can be earned, saved and spent. Some parents choose an amount per week based on age, or a dollar per the many years that the child is. Also what will the money be spent on? You may want to lay some ground rules about how much to spend save and possibly donate. It seems to work best to attach an allowance to chores around the house or helping with the grocery shopping. These are good skills to teach so they can learn to understand the value of a dollar and be able to make good decisions about money throughout their lives.

Ways to Stop Saying "Don't" and "No" to your Kids

It can get tiring always saying those words to your kids to keep them from doing things you don't want them to do and they do it.. Instead try a different approach, describe the situation and they will figure out what they need to do or not to do. here are some examples: "Your plate is still on the table" they will see the plate on the table and bring it into the kitchen. "That's making a big mess on the floor", stops making a mess and cleans it up. "Dinner is on the table" they come to the table to eat. It is a simple concept but does work. The hardest part is for you the parent to change your ways of saying "no" all the time. There is no shouting and struggling with them to get them to do the things that you ask. It may not work right away but if you are consistent who will see results.

Cooking With Oils

  • By: Tom
  • On: 03/17/2010 14:20:50
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
Everyone knows the foods to eat that improve health,
although how we cook the food can be just as important.
With there being so many oils and butter products
claiming to be the best, it can be quite difficult
to know which ones to use and which ones to avoid.

1.  Canola oil
Canola oil is a popular oil, with many physicians
claiming that it has the ability to lower the risk
of heart disease.  The oil is low in saturated fat,
high in monounsaturated fat, and offers the best
fatty acid composition when compared to other oils.

You can use canola oil in sauteing, as a marinade
and even in low temperature stir frying.  It has
a bland flavor, which makes it a great oil for foods
that contain many spices.  Unlike other oils, this
one won't interfere with the taste of your meal.

2.  Olive oil
olive oil offers a very distinct flavor with plenty
of heart healthy ingredients.  The oil is rich in
monounsaturated fat, helps to lower cholesterol
levels and reduce risk of cancer.  It's also rich
in antioxidants and has a very long storage life.

Even though it can be used in cooking, it's the
healthiest when uncooked, such as with a salad or
dipping sauce.  When you use it with cooking, you
should heat it on low to medium temperatures, making
sure to avoid high heat.

3.  Butter
Butter is one food that has been around for many,
many years.  Butter tastes good, and offers sources
of Vitamin A and other fat soluble vitamins such as
E, K, and even D.  Butter is also made from natural
ingredients and not chemically or artificially
processed.

You can use butter with cooking, baking, or even as
a spread.  You can also pair it with creamy sauces,
marinades, baked dishes, or even bread.

4.  Margarine
Margarine was first introduced as an alternative to
high fat butter.  When it was first created however,
it was loaded with trans fat, a substance that we
now know raises bad cholesterol.

As a cooking oil, margarine tastes good, it's lower
in fat than most oils and butter, and it's quite
easy to spread.  It's available in a variety of
different products and a good source of vitamin E.

When it comes to cooking with oils, there are
several at your disposal.  There are many more than
what is mentioned here, although the ones above are
the most popular.  Eating healthy involves cooking
healthy food - which is where your cooking oil really
takes center stage.

Causes of Weight Gain That May Surprise You

  • By: Tom
  • On: 03/12/2010 14:59:03
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
Sometimes you may find that you are gaining weight and are not sure how if you seems to eat well and exercise. There are three things that could be happening that has you putting on the pounds. Lack of enough sleep can actually increase your appetite. Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep every night to avoid sleep debt which can be difficult to overcome. Medications can have side effects of weight gain. if you find this to be a problem for you, talk to your doctor about an alternative. Stress that becomes chronic causes high levels of cortisol a stress hormone that can increase your appetite and lead you to overeat. take a look at your current lifestyle to see if there are changes that can be made in order to avoid weight gain and to create a balance to keep it off.

Cook With Your Children

Being in the kitchen with your kids is a great way to connect. It may also get your kids interested in foods they would normally not want to even try. Having them involved in the cooking provides opportunities to share family recipes and make sure they are eating healthy. Sure there will be some times that they will have an unhealthy snack but what's important is that they eat well most of the time, not making sure it's not every single price of food they eat. Not only will it give you some valuable time with them, but you will be teaching them skill they will be able to use for a lifetime.

Teach your Child to Give Respect and They'll Gain Respect in Return

One of the most important things you can teach your child is respect and the best way to teach respect is to show respect. When a child experiences respect, they know what it feels like and begin to understand how important it is. How can you show respect to your child?  If you do something wrong, admit it and apologize.  Don't embarrass, insult or make fun of your child. Compliment them and let your child make choices and take responsibility. Listen to your child's side of the story before making a decision on an issue or problem.  Be polite and use "please" and "thank you" when asking them to do things. Knock before entering your child's room. Keep promises. Show your child that you mean what you say and give them your full attention. Most importantly, praise your child often for good deeds, behaviors or traits, and tell them you love them. You're sure to raise a child capable of giving and gaining respect.

Six Tips for Workout Success

  • By: Tom
  • On: 03/04/2010 14:46:45
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
If you want to have a productive workout there are a few things to keep in mind that will allow you to achieve workout success. Don't chat you want to make the most of your exercise time and stick to what you're doing. Plan ahead park far from the gym so you have to walk. Have an alternate plan if the equipment you want to use is occupied. Change up your workouts to keep yourself out of an exercise rut. Practice proper form to make sure you're doing the exercises correctly, you want to avoid injury. Set yourself up for success by setting an alarm and having your workout gear laid out. Visualize your success, visualize exactly what your exercise time will look like. This will all help with achieving the success you want for yourself.