<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>LifeMatters Articles</title><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/</link><description></description><copyright>Powered by: Forest Blog Copyright 2006 Host Forest</copyright><item><title>Ways to Stop Saying "Don't" and "No" to your Kids</title><description><![CDATA[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: &quot;Your plate is still on the table&quot; they will see the plate on the table and bring it into the kitchen. &quot;That's making a big mess on the floor&quot;, stops making a mess and cleans it up. &quot;Dinner is on the table&quot; 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 &quot;no&quot; 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.]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=170</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=170</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:22:04 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Cooking With Oils</title><description><![CDATA[Everyone knows the foods to eat that improve health,<br />
although how we cook the food can be just as important.<br />
With there being so many oils and butter products<br />
claiming to be the best, it can be quite difficult<br />
to know which ones to use and which ones to avoid.<br />
<br />
1.&nbsp; Canola oil<br />
Canola oil is a popular oil, with many physicians <br />
claiming that it has the ability to lower the risk<br />
of heart disease.&nbsp; The oil is low in saturated fat,<br />
high in monounsaturated fat, and offers the best <br />
fatty acid composition when compared to other oils.<br />
<br />
You can use canola oil in sauteing, as a marinade<br />
and even in low temperature stir frying.&nbsp; It has<br />
a bland flavor, which makes it a great oil for foods<br />
that contain many spices.&nbsp; Unlike other oils, this<br />
one won't interfere with the taste of your meal.<br />
<br />
2.&nbsp; Olive oil<br />
olive oil offers a very distinct flavor with plenty<br />
of heart healthy ingredients.&nbsp; The oil is rich in<br />
monounsaturated fat, helps to lower cholesterol <br />
levels and reduce risk of cancer.&nbsp; It's also rich<br />
in antioxidants and has a very long storage life.<br />
<br />
Even though it can be used in cooking, it's the <br />
healthiest when uncooked, such as with a salad or<br />
dipping sauce.&nbsp; When you use it with cooking, you<br />
should heat it on low to medium temperatures, making<br />
sure to avoid high heat.<br />
<br />
3.&nbsp; Butter<br />
Butter is one food that has been around for many,<br />
many years.&nbsp; Butter tastes good, and offers sources<br />
of Vitamin A and other fat soluble vitamins such as<br />
E, K, and even D.&nbsp; Butter is also made from natural<br />
ingredients and not chemically or artificially <br />
processed.<br />
<br />
You can use butter with cooking, baking, or even as<br />
a spread.&nbsp; You can also pair it with creamy sauces,<br />
marinades, baked dishes, or even bread.<br />
<br />
4.&nbsp; Margarine<br />
Margarine was first introduced as an alternative to<br />
high fat butter.&nbsp; When it was first created however, <br />
it was loaded with trans fat, a substance that we <br />
now know raises bad cholesterol.<br />
<br />
As a cooking oil, margarine tastes good, it's lower<br />
in fat than most oils and butter, and it's quite <br />
easy to spread.&nbsp; It's available in a variety of<br />
different products and a good source of vitamin E.<br />
<br />
When it comes to cooking with oils, there are <br />
several at your disposal.&nbsp; There are many more than<br />
what is mentioned here, although the ones above are<br />
the most popular.&nbsp; Eating healthy involves cooking<br />
healthy food - which is where your cooking oil really<br />
takes center stage.]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=169</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=169</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:20:50 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Causes of Weight Gain That May Surprise You</title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=168</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=168</link><pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:59:03 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Cook With Your Children</title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=167</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=167</link><pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:46:32 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Teach your Child to Give Respect and They'll Gain Respect in Return</title><description><![CDATA[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?&nbsp; If you do something wrong, admit it and apologize.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Be polite and use &quot;please&quot; and &quot;thank you&quot; 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. <br />
<br />]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=166</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=166</link><pubDate>Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:31:50 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Six Tips for Workout Success</title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=165</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=165</link><pubDate>Thu, 4 Mar 2010 14:46:45 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Energy Drinks and Alcohol do not Mix</title><description><![CDATA[Popular among young Americans is mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Many want to be &quot;awake&quot; while drinking. Research done at the University of Florida surveyed more than 800 college age patrons that were leaving bars between 10pm and 3am.&nbsp; They had their breath-alcohol level measured. 6.5% who had mixed alcohol with energy drinks were three times more likely to be drunk than those who consumed only alcohol. There is really no way to know the levels on caffeine are safe or unsafe when mixed with alcohol and what regulation or policies should be implemented to protect patrons .]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=164</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=164</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:32:18 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Find Time for Your Family</title><description><![CDATA[Every family is busy and each family member has their own thing going on most of the time as well. It's important to keep the family bond strong and take even just 30 minutes a day to reconnect. Turn off the TV and focus your attention on your spouse and children. Prepare meals together and eat at the table. Plan an adventure, go for a hike, to the ocean or a museum, something fun for everyone. Parents should plan &quot;dates&quot; with their children individually sharing one on one time. If you're on a budget plan a family fun night at home playing board games, watching a movie or having a dance party in your living room. There should be no activity that comes before spending time with the family.]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=163</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=163</link><pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:09:24 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Your Toddler doesn't Talk: When is it a Problem?</title><description><![CDATA[All children develop different skills at different times , so how do you know if there is a problem? Assessing a child's speech delay can be difficult but it's crucial if you feel there is a problem. The earlier you get the help the better their prospects are for improvement.. To work on enhancing your child's speech and language skills here are a few things you can try. Read to your child often, talk to them about what they're focused on. Speak clearly and use real words and show excitement when your child speaks. If you have concerns talk to your pediatrician.]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=162</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=162</link><pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:31:09 0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Can Beer be Good for Your Bones?</title><description><![CDATA[I came across a rather surprising article about beer being good for your bones. It has been thought that milk is the only drink that could be good for your bones, but recent studies have shown that the dietary silicon in beer contributes to bone mineral density. The only problem is that amount of this silicon varies&nbsp; by the type of beer. Researchers have tested 100 beers and found the content of silicon ranged from 6.4 to 56.5 milligrams per liter. I would stick to calcium and leafy green vegetables!]]></description><guid>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=161</guid><link>http://www.lifematters.com/articles/default.asp?Display=161</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:05:37 0000</pubDate></item></channel></rss>