Archive May 2010

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Sharing a Passion With Your Children

Summer is on it's way, a great time to make a summer reading list. I really enjoy reading and even though my son is only 3 he loves it too. He may not be able to read the books I really love, but we can read the children's books I loved as a child. It's great to share my passion of reading with him, we have created a connection by sitting and enjoying the stories together. We also get to know each other in a very direct way by sharing our favorites with each other. As he grows older, maybe he'll be interesting in reading some of my favorites.

Studies Link High Blood Pressure to Bad Air

  • By: Tom
  • On: 05/27/2010 14:11:03
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
In Salt lake City there have been two new studies that show bad air being linked to high blood pressure and heart related deaths. Utah is the most concerned because five cities in the state have experienced the worst air in the nation many times during the winter months. The Heart Association found that breathing particulates for long periods of time can increase the risk for a heart attack and in the end shorten their life. According to an air monitoring manager, particulate is very much like dirt filling up your sink and stuff that gets trapped in your vacuum bag. Researchers also found that people who live in urban areas with pollution from cars and power plants have higher blood pressure than those who do not. On the good side, it has been shown that reducing particulate intake can reverse any negative effects to a person's health in a few years.

The Sun Has the Power to Heal

  • By: Tom
  • On: 05/21/2010 14:02:39
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
I came across a very interesting article by Natural News about the healing power of the sun and how you won't hear this from many doctors and dermatologists because it goes against everything they believe in. However, recent research has shown that not getting enough sunlight can be extremely dangerous to your health because it causes vitamin D deficiencies that can promote chronic disease. Being in the sun in safe reasonable doses can help fights against certain cancers, osteoporosis and other diseases. it is very difficult to get vitamin D from your diet alone and it is harder to absorb adequate amounts of calcium without sufficient vitamin D. Download the free pdf that talks about the healing power of the sun.

Safe Bug Repellants for Children

Camping season is coming soon which means the bugs will be too. You don't want to be using any spray on newborns, you need to wait until your child is at least 2 months old. Almost all bug repellents have DEET in them which gets the job done but is very toxic. There are five very good bug repellant brands to look for for your child, that you can use for yourself and your pets too. California baby has all natural products and a great bug spray containing cedar, citronella and lemongrass. Bug Off wipes may be more appealing if using a spray on your little one is difficult. Lafe's Organic baby Insect Repellent is the only organic choice and it comes in a BPA-free bottle. If you're looking for a nice scent, Kiss My Face has a lemon-scented bug spray. Burt's Bees is an all-natural herbal spray and some have reported that it works well on pets too. You can find many of these at Target or natural food stores.

The Myth of the Typical Child

Are you one of those parents that needs t know what percentile your child is in? Do you get worried if they are not walking or talking at the "right" age? many parents are consumed by the charts and graphs of their child's developmental stages. A friend of mine said to me once that by the time kids are at about age five, they can all walk, talk and are potty trained. Parents just need to relax and enjoy the stages their child reaches and they should be confident that their child will reach all the necessary milestones. If you really feel that your child is out of the norm then discuss it with your doctor. You can rest assure that these guidelines are really to help to doctors and parents detect potential problems, so don't allow them to be cause of unnecessary worry.

Reducing Neck Strain

  • By: Tom
  • On: 05/12/2010 13:37:23
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
Many things can contribute to a sore neck, sleeping in the wrong position, long hours in front of the computer and even poor posture. To help combat the pain from sleeping in a bad position try using a firm mattress and pillow. Before going to bed loosen up your neck muscles but doing some stretching exercises. Try sleeping on your side instead of your stomach. If you work in front of a computer for an extended period of time, make sure to take a 2 minute break every 40 minutes, get out of your chair and walk around. Check your posture and make sure you're not slouching. Evaluate your workspace to see if it's ergonomic, if not many companies will handle requests. You can also use this computer user checklist to help. In due time you should feel results of a more relaxed, pain-free neck.

Protect Your Joints Now or Pay Later

  • By: Tom
  • On: 05/06/2010 14:12:05
  • In: Health
  • Comments: 0
Our bodies do have an amazing capacity to repair itself but our joints are surprisingly fragile. More than 400,00 people a year have already had one or more hips or knees replaced. Cartilage can wear away and can contribute to osteoarthritis which is a painful and debilitating condition. After some time these arthritic joints can become so sore and inflamed that they need to be substituted with something mechanical. The cost for these new joints can be 30k-40k. There are some things you can do to keep your joints healthy.  Control your weight, being overweight can be very hard on your knees so someone that is 120lbs is taking on about 360 lbs  on their knees.  Low-impact sports like biking, swimming, or tai chi are great for your knees. If you run keep off of the hard pavement as it can put too much stress on the joints. Avoid injury as much as possible for obvious reasons and get fit and stay fit. With proper care and maintenance your joints have a better chance of lasting longer.

Taking Breaks Instead of Time-Outs

Traditional time-outs are having your child go into a corner facing the wall for whatever length of time is established to remedy bad behavior. It doesn't always work, especially if your child is totally out of control or is very upset. Putting them in a corner at that stage can make things worse. Next time bad behavior ensues try to help calm them down. Let them know that you understand that they are upset, angry, or sad and that they should try and calm down. It may even work to have the try and take deep breaths to wind them down. You may even say to them "I cannot talk to you when you're crying, whining, or screaming, please settle down so I can help you." Create a place for them to go to relax and calm down. The space could be in their room or a common area of the house. Put some pillows out and maybe some books to encourage them to relax and regroup. Many times when young children act out, it's because they have a hard time expressing their feelings so they resort to hitting, screaming or crying. Giving them a chance to slow down and take a moment can make a big difference in helping them work through their feelings and talk to them about the situation.