Healthy Mom - Healthy Family

Reaching beyond toothpaste: New survey, product reveal hope for oral health

2009-12-29T16:26:00.001-08:00

(ARA) - Americans feel toothpaste could do more to remove bacteria, according to a recent survey. Similarly, only 52 percent feel that their current oral health care routine is very effective at removing bacteria.

While the survey showed that Americans may not be doing all they can to achieve optimal oral health, many feel that the oral care products could do more to remove bacteria.

Fortunately, there are recent advancements in the oral health care industry that provide an effective oral health care routine and penetrate hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. The makers of Aquafresh and Sensodyne have recently introduced a breakthrough technology in toothpaste, called iso-active Foaming Gel. Iso-active has a revolutionary delivery system that disperses active ingredients quickly, reaching the surfaces between the teeth to provide a whole mouth clean.

"With 40 percent of the tooth surface in between the teeth, it is important that we are getting in those hidden areas of the mouth to achieve overall oral health," says Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, a nationally recognized, Beverly Hills-based dentist. "The unique foaming action and advanced delivery of iso-active ensure my patients are getting in to those hard-to-reach areas for a deep clean."

Both Sensodyne and Aquafresh iso-active are now available at most drug, grocery and mass merchandise retail outlets nationwide. For information, and to find out which option best matches your oral care needs visit http://www.aquafresh.com/ or http://www.sensodyne.com/.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

9 Holiday Depression Busters | Blogs | shareWIK

2009-12-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

9 Holiday Depression Busters Blogs shareWIK

Fast beauty hints for today's time-pressed moms

2009-12-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

(ARA) - With today's hectic lifestyles, time is often hard to come by. As many of us try to juggle multiple responsibilities, the thing that often gets the least attention is our beauty regimen.

"Fortunately, you can still look and feel good without spending a lot of time during these busy holiday seasons," says Joy Bergin, cofounder of the Hot Moms Club and a parenting and style expert. Bergin has shared her style tips with TV's "ET," "The Insider" and "Inside Edition," and has the inside scoop on time-saving beauty secrets employed by some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

For women who want to look and feel their best this holiday season, Bergin offers a few time-saving beauty tips for your regimen:

The eyes have it

"Eyes aren't just the window to your soul, they say a lot about your overall health, vitality and mood," Bergin says. Making your eyes appear larger enhances your entire face. If you don't have time to apply full eye makeup every morning, simply using a waterproof mascara can get you through the day.

A show of hands, please

"There's an old saying in Hollywood - you can't hide the hands," Bergin says. According to a Harris Interactive survey conducted on behalf of Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty, about three in five (59 percent) women believe hands are one of the parts of a woman's body that most reveal her age. Eighty one percent of women polled believe it is at least somewhat important to maintain soft and youthful-looking hands.

"If you're short on time for salon or paraffin treatments to help your hands look and feel your best, look for products that you use everyday that have added benefits," Bergin says. Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty, which combines Dawn's cleaning power and revolutionary hand care technology effectively cleans your dishes while transforming the look and feel of your hands.

The scent of beauty

Scent is an easy way to create an aura of beauty. You don't have to spend hours trying on perfumes until you find the right one and you don't have the reapply your scent every few hours. You can create your own personalized "designer scent" - one that you can easily stay with you throughout the day. Mix your favorite designer lotion with a similar scent to extend quantity. The scent will remain strong longer and the lotion will last longer, too.

Skip the facial; scrub instead

Instead of time-consuming facials, buy a soft loofah and gently rub your face in a circular motion with your normal exfoliate cleanser to smooth skin texture and remove dead cells. Replace heavy oil-based foundations with a loose mineral powder to top off your look and give you a natural radiance.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Protect yourself from the H1N1 virus this flu season

2009-11-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

(ARA) - It makes headlines every day - H1N1 and swine flu. If you have questions, you're not alone. It's difficult to decipher rumors from facts.

While the words "swine flu" and "pandemic flu" are enough to scare adults and children, experts from Everest College's nursing programs explain what H1N1 is, and offer some advice for how to protect yourself and your children from it.

What is H1N1?

H1N1 virus, more commonly known as "swine flu," is a new strand of influenza that has been labeled a pandemic flu by the World Health Organization because of its international reach. It is expected to be the major strand of flu infecting people this flu season. Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

"It is important to realize that the swine flu is just one strand of influenza. In that way, it is like the other strains of flu that hit the U.S. every fall and winter," says Darlene Mention, RN, MSN and nursing instructor at Everest University in Brandon, Fla. She explains that, like other forms of the flu, H1N1 is contagious and spreads from human-to-human contact - specifically, through coughing, sneezing or surface contact. She adds, however, that the word "pandemic" simply means that the H1N1 has international reach, and not that it is particularly more dangerous than other forms of the flu.

Who is at risk for H1N1?

"Like other strains of influenza, H1N1 can cause complications, hospitalization and even death, so it is important to take precautionary measures," says Mention. Each year approximately 36,000 people in the U.S. die from flu-related complications, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, 20,000 of whom are children less than 5 years old.

Complications from the flu usually arise in high-risk groups, which include children under 5, adults over 65, and adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 70 percent of those hospitalized with H1N1 this year have or previously had prior medical conditions that place them at "high risk," including pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma or kidney disease.

With most strains of the flu, the elderly are particularly at risk. Over 90 percent of deaths and 60 percent of hospitalizations due to the flu occur in those over age 64. But interestingly, many adults over the age of 64 are not considered to be at high risk for complications resulting from H1N1, because approximately one third of adults over 64 are estimated to have existing antibodies to H1N1.

What can you to do protect yourself from H1N1?

"Everyone needs to take basic precautionary measures to prevent contracting H1N1," says Cheryl Heintz, RN, BSN and nursing instructor at Everest College in Merrillville, Ind. This means you should wash your hands with soap and water often, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose and try to limit contact with sick people. If you cannot wash your hands with soap and water, Heintz suggests that you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a substitute. Studies have shown that many influenza viruses can infect people up to eight hours after they have been deposited on a surface, which means that washing your hands frequently and using disinfectants to clean surfaces is an important way to prevent the spread of the disease.

If you are sick with a flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever subsides. "Staying home a full day after your symptoms have cleared not only helps you get back to full health, but also helps prevent the spread of the virus to others," adds Heintz.

Flu shots against H1N1 are now available in all states, though many states have only a limited supply. Certain groups of individuals are prioritized for the flu vaccine, including pregnant women, people in contact with infants under 6 months old, children and young adults ages 6 to 24, health care workers and emergency medical technicians, and adults younger than 65 with chronic conditions.

"If an H1N1 flu shot is available in your state, you may want to consider getting yourself and your children vaccinated," says Heintz. The CDC recommends two doses, four weeks apart, for children under 9 years old. For older children and adults, only one dose is needed. While both the flu shot and nasal spray are equally effective, the nasal spray contains a weakened live form of the virus and is only licensed for use for those between the ages of 2 and 49. The CDC advises that adults 50 and over get the flu shot instead, which uses an inactivated form of the virus.

"While the threat of H1N1 shouldn't be blown out of proportion, it is important to realize the flu affects everyone differently. While most cases are mild, H1N1 can and has caused severe complications, hospitalization and even death. Given this knowledge, we want to do all we can to protect ourselves and our families as flu season approaches," says Heintz.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Expecting? You may experience changes in vision

2009-09-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - Along with the excitement and anticipation of the baby's arrival, women need to be aware of body transformations during and after the pregnancy. Many women don't realize their vision can change.

Doctors of optometry caution women that hormonal changes, which occur during pregnancy, can cause conditions such as dry eyes and puffy eyelids. Because of this, some pregnant women may need to change the type or brand of contact lenses they typically wear, reduce the length of time the contacts are worn or wear glasses.

If expectant women experience any of the following eye problems during pregnancy, the American Optometric Association recommends they make an appointment with an optometrist:

* Blurred or distorted vision
* Contact lens discomfort
* Tunnel vision
* Extremely dry eyes

Most vision changes are temporary and vision usually returns to normal within a few months after delivery.

Once the baby has arrived, it is just as important to monitor the infant's vision development. Parents can have their baby's eyes assessed through InfantSEE, a program of Optometry's Charity - The AOA Foundation.

For more information on vision and pregnancy or to find a local optometrist, visit www.AOA.org. To locate a participating InfantSEE doctor, visit www.InfantSEE.org.

Spray Tans - the Healthier Option

2009-09-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Skin cancer has risen to epidemic proportions in the United States, and other unpleasant results of sun exposure (wrinkles, age spots) are causing people to seek alternatives to lying out in the sun or going to a tanning booth. Spray tans provide a much healthier option to getting a warm glow to your skin. But what is involved in getting a spray tan? How long does it last?

There are several different methods of spray tanning. All spray tans use dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, to stain the outer layer of skin cells. Because of this, the tanned look lasts about a week to ten days before needing to be reapplied.

Here are some of the different options for spray tans.

- Aerosol
Like hair spray, this tanning liquid comes in a can and is done in your home. It is advisable to have a friend help you to get difficult to reach areas such as your back. Protect your hair and make sure you wash the solution off of the palms of your hands and other places that do not typically get sun. Aim for an even, light coating of solution.

- Airbrush
Airbrush is offered by salons and comes in do-it-yourself kits as well. If a salon does the airbrush application, the tanning solution will have a temporary bronzer that will darken your skin immediately, so that the operator can see where he or she has already sprayed or needs to spray more. This temporary bronzer will wash off when you take your first shower after the application, and the "real" color will peak about twelve hours after the treatment.

If you do it at home, it's a good idea to elicit the help of a friend, as in the aerosol option.

- Salon
There are many spray-tan salons cropping up these days, sometimes taking the place of traditional tanning booths. These companies provide an all-over spray in a special area, and usually use an airbrush or shower-like misting system to apply the solution.

- Mobile salon
This is an interesting idea in the realm of home tanning - some salons will bring the tan to you! Rather than setting up business in a fixed building, mobile salons set up shop in your home or other designated place and ply their trade on location.

- Home shower
There are actually devices you can purchase that will turn your home shower into a spray tanning booth. This certainly takes care of the problem of finding a designated area and makes clean up a lot easier.

Generally speaking, spray tans are more even than lotions are creams, and less "orange." In other words, they tend to look more natural. In this day and age of sun avoidance, spray tans may be the answer for those seeking a bronzed look.

Pamper Your Feet

2009-09-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

Your feet really take a beating. And they have to last you for your entire life! So aren't they worth pampering a little? It's been said that when your feet hurt, your whole body hurts. Let's take a look at some ways to reduce pain and keep your feet looking good.

-Soak your feet

One of the most basic yet effective ways to ease aches and pains in the feet is to soak them in a warm foot bath. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (peppermint and lavender are refreshing choices) to the bath and, if your feet are hot and swollen, about half a cup of Epsom salts in a large pan of water. Soak for 10-15 minutes.

Not only does a foot bath relieve pain, but it also helps eliminate odor. After the soak, when your feet are still moist, use a pumice stone gently on calluses and thick, rough skin.

-Keep them warm in winter

In the winter, relieve cold, dry feet by soaking in warm water to which you've added a teaspoon of mustard powder. The mustard powder has a warming effect and helps circulation.

-Keep them cool in summer

Dust your feet with foot powder before putting on your footwear.

-Keep them clean all year round

Washing and thoroughly drying your feet keeps them healthy and fungus-free. Do so before putting on your footwear and when you take your shoes off later in the day. Using cool water in summer for these periodic washings is quite refreshing, and using warm water in winter is very soothing. Just be sure your feet are dried thoroughly after washing to prevent fungal growth.

-Moisturize

Paraffin baths are luxurious and extremely effective for relieving pain and dry, cracked foot skin. You can also use warm coconut oil. Rub the moisturizer in with a massaging motion until it is absorbed. This is very soothing for your feet and leaves the skin glowing and soft. Applying a thick, penetrating moisturizer and/or massaging with oil before bed, then covering your feet with thin, cotton socks will give the moisturizer a chance to really get in to your skin.

-Trim your toenails

You may want to treat yourself to a pedicure, which can be a real treat. But toenail care is not difficult at home. Keep your toenails trimmed and moisturized, paying careful attention to the application of oil or lotion to the nails and nail beds.

-Choose the right footwear

What pain we bring on ourselves by wearing ill-fitting shoes or shoes that are more about looks than comfort! It's not just high heels that can hurt your feet; shoes that are too small, too narrow, too stiff, or just not the right shape for your foot can cause foot pain, unsightly corns and other painful abnormalities.

Give your feet the right support if you have low arches by using inserts or specially-made shoes. In the summer, wear open sandals or strappy shoes so that your feet get plenty of circulation.

Your feet will thank you by being pain-free and looking healthy.

How you can change the future of breast cancer

2009-09-02T17:17:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States.

Whether you've been affected by it personally, or one of your friends and family has been diagnosed, it seems everyone has a story to share due to the prevalence of this disease.

"My mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, so I’ve come to truly learn the importance of education and early detection," says Carrie Ann Inaba, “Dancing with the Stars” judge. "A lot of women don’t know that when breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent."

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is considered a heterogeneous disease – differing by individual, age group and even the kinds of cells within the tumors themselves.

Women can do many things to lower their risk of breast cancer, including getting regular exercise, following a healthy diet and cutting back on – or eliminating – alcohol intake and smoking.

In addition, early detection of breast cancer is crucial. The 5-year survival rate of a stage one diagnosis is 98 percent. Stage two still has a very high 5-year survival rate of 88 percent.

Conducting a breast self-exam at least once a month is important for all women. After the age of 35, women should get a mammogram once a year also. If a lump is discovered, it doesn't necessarily mean you have cancer. Eight out of 10 breast lumps are benign, or not cancerous. But the only way to know for sure is to speak with a physician.

Take charge of your health by performing routine breast self-exams and scheduling regular mammograms. Having trouble remembering how often you should do these? You're not alone, but there's an easy way to remember.

As part of Procter & Gamble's (P&G) partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc., the GIVE HOPE program educates women about breast cancer in hopes of saving lives. You can visit www.mypinkplan.com to learn more and use an interactive online tool to create a customized Early Detection Plan using e-mails, text messages, RSS feeds and/or calendars for clinical and self-exam reminders.

There is a way you can help others as well. The GIVE HOPE program seeks to educate 5 million women about the importance of early detection. On Sunday Sept. 27, a special GIVE HOPE supplement will be available in newspapers across the country. For every GIVE HOPE brandSAVER coupon redeemed, P&G will donate two cents to the National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc. Over 3 billion coupons will be distributed, and the donation from P&G will be solely based on the number of coupons redeemed.

The money from this donation will help the NBCF fund early detection education programs across the country. There is no cap on the P&G donation, the more coupons redeemed, the greater the donation, so these coupons could be a great way to help save countless lives.

Approximately 2 million women in the United States currently live with breast cancer. Obviously no woman wants to receive this diagnosis, but hearing the words "breast cancer" doesn't always mean an end. It can be the beginning of learning how to fight, getting the facts, and finding and living with hope.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tips for moms to save time, money and energy

2009-07-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - As a mom, you're always looking for ways to save time, money and energy to keep your house running smoothly. It’s not always easy to find time in the day for all the things you need to do, from balancing the family budget to running errands to shuttling family members between activities.

Here are some tips to help you reduce spending, cut back on running around and find extra time at the end of the day to relax and spend time with your kids.

1. Share errand duties with other moms.

That to-do list never seems to go away, and it shouldn't surprise you that other moms are also feeling overwhelmed. Wouldn't it be easier if you pooled your talents with some neighbors or good friends? One mom can hit the grocery store, another, the department store, while a third watches the children.

By teaming up and sharing duties once a week, you only have to do one job (which can be rotated weekly), cut down on gas money and impulse shopping expenses and have a weekly play date already organized for your children.

2. Shop garage sales.

If you have older children, this can become a fun scavenger hunt while you look for clothing and household items. Plus, garage sales get you and the children out of the house and into your neighborhood where you can socialize, bargain for good prices and potentially find a treasure.

3. Use MommySavesBig coupons.

Sure, clipping the newspaper is a good start, but online sites like MommySavesBig.com are designed especially for you. First of all, the coupons are tailored to moms who are looking for deals on grocery and household items, clothing, presents for family members, etc. Second, MommySavesBig.com was started as a blog by Anna Teoli, a mom herself, who posted a couple of printable coupons on her blog and then began receiving more and more coupon information from other moms.

Now MommySavesBig has more than 3 million visitors and carries printable coupons, promotional codes for online shopping, free stuff, mail-in rebate forms, free catalogs and magazines, sweepstakes entry forms and contest information. With those kinds of deals, there's no way you can't save money every week.

4. Bargain and trade.

As your children grow bigger, you're probably looking for larger clothes and different toys, and potentially a way to get rid of those items your children have outgrown. This is an excellent chance to bargain and trade and doesn't require much -- if any -- money. First contact your network of moms to find out if anyone else has children who are outgrowing their clothes and toys. Then go online and look at auction and trading sites, or pack everything in your car and visit stores that specialize in used items for children. Just think of how much you will save if you don't have to buy an entire new wardrobe for your children every year.

To find coupons online, visit printable-coupons.blogspot.com. To find coupon codes online, visit coupon-codes-online.blogspot.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Regular headaches? Get relief with natural remedies

2009-06-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - What do millions of Americans have in common? Headaches.

Nearly everyone gets a headache at one time or another, especially during difficult economic times.

Tension headaches, migraines and “cluster” headaches account for 90 percent of all headaches, according to the Yale Medical Group’s Web site. While the vast majority of headaches are brief tension or cluster headaches, approximately 30 million Americans experience migraines, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports.

Most of us reach for over-the-counter remedies for headaches, but a growing number of Americans are seeking more natural options. June is National Headache Awareness month, and whether the rising cost of everything or the trend toward a more natural lifestyle is driving demand for non-medicinal headache remedies, there are many ways to handle the pain naturally.

Manage stress

Muscle tension is a leading cause of primary, non-migraine headaches. Stress is a leading cause of muscle tension. Reducing or managing stress may help you avoid the muscle tension that can lead to a headache.

Stress is the body’s physical and emotional reaction to changes in life, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The service offers a few tips on how to avoid and manage stress:

* If you can, avoid everyday situations that you know cause you to feel stressed.

* While change can be good for you, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for major life changes.

* Know your own limitations for how much you can juggle at once and don’t be afraid to say no to new responsibilities when you already have enough on your plate.

* Communicate and talk with others about your feelings of stress.

* Eat well, exercise regularly and be sure to get enough sleep.

Focus on relaxation

It may be hard to do given the economy, but relaxing is one of the best ways to avoid headache. Deep breathing, biofeedback, meditation, stretching and muscular exercises and massage are all great ways to relax, according to Medline.

Massage can be particularly helpful, as it relaxes muscles and eases mental tension. You can easily self-massage your head, neck, temples, sinus areas to ease your headache. A bead-filled face mask can also provide the soothing benefits of massage.

The patented IMAK Eye Pillow Pain Relief Mask was designed by a physician to address multiple kinds of headache pain, from migraines and tension headaches to sinus pain and eyestrain. Imak’s bead technology, called ErgoBeads, inside the eye pillow create a gentle, massaging effect around the eyes. Use it at room temperature or as a cooling therapy by popping the mask in the freezer before putting it on. The mask is available in many retail drug stores online at imakproducts.com.

Improve your lifestyle

Promoting overall good health can also help prevent headaches. Regular aerobic exercise can help reduce the frequency and severity of tension headaches. Certain unhealthful foods have been associated with triggering headaches, and so has skipping meals. Cultivate the habit of eating regular, healthy meals and getting plenty of rest.

Be sure to stay hydrated -- dehydration can cause a host of health problems, including headaches. If you smoke, quit. If you’re a nonsmoker, avoid being around second-hand smoke, since headache can be among the myriad health woes caused by inhaling second-hand smoke.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tips For Healthy Pregnancy Weight Gain

2009-06-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

When you're pregnant, your doctor will most likely suggest that you gain somewhere between twenty-five and thirty pounds. Although many women report that they actually lose weight during the first trimester, you should try to gain around three and a half pounds during that time. Why is losing weight during the early months of your pregnancy even possible? Morning sickness of course. As long as your weight goes up normally throughout the second trimester, however, your doctor will probably not be overly concerned.

During the next, or second, trimester of your pregnancy, it is normal to gain the majority of weight. On average, a woman will gain about a pound a week with a total of about twelve to fifteen pounds. Gaining more during some months and less during another is not unusual.

When you reach your seventh and eighth months, you will continue to gain about a pound a week with a total of about eight to ten pounds during the last months. As the baby grows larger, your weight gain may slow down in the final month. Many folks believe that this slowed gain is a certain sign of impending delivery, so take solace in that. Now, keep in mind that if you do keep on gaining weight you could be retaining water, so speak to your doctor about that.

Your second trimester is where you will probably put on most of your weight. Most women put on about a pound a week, so roughly four or five pounds a month which brings their second trimester weight gain to about 12-15 pounds. Some women put on more while others put on less. Do not be surprised if you gain a lot of weight one month and not so much your next.

For the 7th and 8th month you will should probably continue about a pound each week or so. Look to gain between 8 and 10 pounds those months. Most women find that their weight gain slows down in the 9th month. You might find your weight gain coming to a end as your due date draws nearer. This can be a sign that labor is on the horizon. Or, you may find that your weight gain continues especially if you are retaining a lot of water.

Given that most newborns only weight about seven pounds, then where are all the extra pounds coming from? Remember that there is a lot of amniotic fluid and your breasts have enlarged not to mention the placenta. Not only that, but you now will have a larger uterus as well. During your pregnancy, you'll produce around four pounds of blood more than usual. Don't forget the added body fat too. With that said, there really shouldn't be a surprise that you gain so much weight.

Of course, not all women are alike and these numbers are only hypothetical. You really should focus on having a healthy pregnancy and keep a healthy weight during your entire gestation. Both you and your baby require more calories than usual and those calories should come from healthy food and nutrition. Try to keep away from empty calories and junk food that will not benefit either of you.

By following a healthy lifestyle during your pregnancy, you'll more than thank yourself later when you don't have a large amount of weight to get off after the baby is born.

Get free pregnancy and baby tips sent directly to your inbox each week plus bonus ebooks about getting rid of stretch marks and helping your baby to sleep through the night. http://www.yourpregnancyandbaby.com/

Summertime protection for mom and baby -- inside and out

2009-06-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - Whether relaxing beachside on vacation, picnicking in the park or strolling through the neighborhood, warm weather offers many opportunities for outdoor fun. However, these activities can lead to dehydration, sunburn and fatigue if you're not careful.

Protect yourself and your little one with these tips:

Practice sun protection -- Use a baby-safe sunblock with a high SPF that has no artificial colors or unnecessary chemical additives.

Stay nourished -- It is important to maintain your overall health, especially in the heat. Sufficient hydration is essential because a lack of fluids can cause heat exhaustion and improper digestion. For babies who are using infant formula, use Similac Advance EarlyShield which is specially designed to support your baby's developing immune system. It's the only formula that has the EarlyShield blend of prebiotics, nucleotides and antioxidants -- nutrients found naturally in breast milk.

Refocus and recenter -- Summertime is meant to be carefree. Allow yourself some alone time to unwind.

Rest up -- Hot temperatures during the summer months can cause fatigue. Nap time is not just for your little one. Force yourself to drop chores and nap while the baby does.

For more information, visit www.earlyshield.com.

Protect Your Child from Bugs

2009-06-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

Summer activities mean time spent outdoors. And you know spending time outdoors means the possibility of bug bites. You want to protect your child from bugs, but you don’t want to use sprays that could be dangerous. What are your options?

Even if your child is outside wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, there are no guarantees mosquitoes won’t bite. In fact, mosquitoes can bite right through clothing. It’s important to teach your children not to swat at insects that sting or bite.

Bug sprays have used DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) for years. This chemical compound, approved and endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is effective for repelling insects. However, there has been some concern about using DEET on children. DEET-based products provide protection for two to ten hours.

If you cannot find an alternative, be very careful when applying DEET products to children; be sure to use the lowest possible dose, 10 percent DEET. DEET should not be reapplied and should not be applied to children younger than two months old according to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

One alternative to bug repellents with DEET are products made with Picaridin. Picaridin lasts for four to eight hours, is recommended by the CDC, and has been in use in Europe and Australia since the 1990s. It is odorless, doesn’t damage synthetic materials, and feels light. Like DEET products, it is not recommended for use on babies younger than two months.

Products made with Lemon Eucalyptus can also be found as an alternative to those made with DEET. These products are not recommended for children younger than the age of three, however. Lemon Eucalyptus provides six hours of bug-repellent protection. As the only natural plant-based protection, you may want to consider using this type of product if you don’t have children younger than three in your family.

There are other DEET-free products on the market, but you’ll want to read the labels closely to ensure you’re getting a true DEET-free product. One product, Bug Band, comes in spray lotion, towelettes, and a glow-in-the-dark bracelet. Ingredients come from geranium, rosemary, soybean, and mint oils and extracts. They purportedly are water resistant, reusable, and work for 120 hours.

The American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend the use of hybrid products that contain both a sunscreen and bug repellent. They reason that sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours whereas but repellent won’t need to be reapplied for four more hours. Combining the two products may also reduce how effective the sunscreen is.

Children are going to spend time outside during the summer months. If they’re outside, they will most likely face being bitten or stung by bugs. Using a bug repellent is a great way to protect your child from bugs. Your only other choice may be keeping them indoors, and even that isn’t a guarantee that they’ll be bug-bite free.

Five Tips to Get Your Skin Ready for Summer

2009-06-01T13:27:00.001-07:00

Summer will be here before you know it. Having beautiful skin to show off will make wearing sleeveless blouses and shorts much easier. These five tips to get your skin ready for summer clothing can help you feel more comfortable, not only in your skin but also in your clothes.

Thankfully, after a long winter, you can pack away your sweaters and pants. It’s time to let your skin breathe and give it the attention it needs. Here are some ways to care for your skin so you’ll look great in your spaghetti strap dress.

1. Exfoliate – This is probably one of the most important things you can do to help your skin get ready for summertime clothing. Since your body sheds skin cells each day, you want to get rid of them and do it in the right way. With a loofa sponge, gently rub your skin in a circular motion. Start at the top and work toward the bottom; be sure to use a facial exfoliator for your face and neck as that skin is more sensitive than the remainder of the body. Doing this several times a week, up to three, will help your beautiful remain beautiful year-round.

2. Shave – Even though your skin has been covered all winter, now is the time to break out a good razor and hydrating shaving cream. You’ll most likely be shaving regularly, so you want to use a razor that will keep razor burn to a minimum.

3. Moisturize – If you’re not using a moisturizing shaving cream, you’ll want to follow up with a great summer lotion. Summer lotions are lightweight and absorb quickly into the skin; gels and purees will also absorb quickly. Apply the lotion right after getting out of the shower and drying off.

4. Protect – Old sunscreen won’t protect your skin as well as new sunscreen. It’s not meant to be used for more than one season. Go out and spend the money on a new bottle; your body will thank you. Take the time to use sunscreen every day and reapply it every one to two hours while you’re in the sun. If you still want a summer tan, don’t forget that you can use sunless tanners to give you a summer glow without possibly damaging your skin in the process.

5. Feet – Don’t forget about your feet. They’ve been covered up all winter, too, and could use some special attention. Splurge on yourself and get a pedicure. Spend extra time scrubbing off dead skin so they’ll be ready for the cute sandals that are coming out.

Summertime skin is glowing and healthy. Remember, you’re going to be showing more skin than during the winter. By using these tips for getting your skin ready, you’ll be proud of how it looks.

Attacking Childhood Obesity

2009-05-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today it is popular to lay blame on processes and systems for problems. Solutions offered for today's current financial problems center on regulation of processes and procedures. The fact is these same processes and systems were working fine for organizations where people were concerned about the welfare of their customers and practiced solid ethics.

Childhood obesity is of epidemic proportions in the United States. Attention focuses on such areas as fast food and food packaging. Companies should be conscience about the impact of their products, but the nutritionally void products come from demand. As parents, we have to look to ourselves to solve this problem. As long as the demand is great, companies will meet the demand. After all a company's first responsibility is to make profit.

Early in a child's life, their parent is everything. Children only know what their parent presents to them. As they grow up, they emulate their parents until they reach an age of discernment. These early behaviors manifest themselves in habits that children find hard to change as they enter teenage years and on into adulthood. The best way to fight childhood obesity is to take accountability for the behaviors that build good fitness habits and not lay blame on food manufactures and food producers.

First, as parents we can start educating our children early in their lives. Help them to differentiate between bad foods and good foods. Too often, we give into children's demands for candy, and sugar based foods to minimize crying and other annoying behaviors. How do you eliminate this problem?

As parents, educate yourself about good nutrition.

Eat healthy.

Stock only healthy foods in the house and expose your children to healthy foods early.

Learn to create recipes that are tasty and appeal to children's tastes, e.g. smoothies instead of milk shakes made with ice cream.

Get your children involved in planning and making meals and snacks. This way they learn what taste good and why it is good nutrition.

Start early in your children's life to change their behavior patterns.

Become familiar with their external environments, e.g. school, the mall and discuss with them healthy choices where they have limited availability to nutritional foods. Try to eat at school with them and eat at the mall with them.

Hand-in-hand with nutrition is movement. We live in the age of computers and video games. Children are becoming sedate in alarming numbers. In many households where both parents work the parents stop and buy hamburger meals, carry the meal home where children grab their bag and promptly retire to their room to logon to the computer while they down a high calorie, high fat, and high carbohydrate meal. They then spend hours on the computer and go to bed with few calories burned. What is wrong with this picture?

Parents have less time to spend with families today. It is important to create an environment where families can sit down to a meal together and have fellowship with each other. When eating together there is a better chance to excuse everyone from the meal to take a short walk or participate in some other physical activity for a few minutes.

If parents relegate themselves to sitting on the couch and watching television children will emulate the same behavior. Encourage the whole family to go outside for a walk, ride bikes, go to the park, or any other opportunity to move and burn calories.

Kids love computers. This culture parents are not going to change. Nevertheless, guess what we can use it to help our children become fit. WII Fit™ is a great computer based program that focuses on exercise and makes it fun. There are personal trainers who have web sites that offer fitness challenges where the whole family can participate. Each family member has their own web site where the trainer interacts and customizes their fitness program and the whole family has a web page that represents the whole family's progress. You could even involve, aunts, uncles, grandparents that do not live in the same community. These tools are available and inexpensive compared to the cost of obesity and health problems.

During a child's early years where they play on playgrounds parents need to participate. They should not take a good book to read. They should chase their child around the playground, teach them to swing on the monkey bars, help them pull themselves up ladders, and participate actively while the child is playing. This not only shows the child good exercise behaviors, but gives the parent a chance to bond to the child.

Involve kids in sports and intramural programs. Even if they are not gifted athletes, they will benefit from the activities and it teaches them teamwork, builds confidence, and teaches them how to overcome failure.

As parents, we need to become examples for our children. Eating nutritionally, getting up off the couch, and moving sends very powerful signals to our children during their formative years that will set habits well into their adulthood. We should not look to assign blame on others but take accountability for our children's fitness and wellness.

To see a model of a computer based "fitness challenge" go to www.strategyforfitness.com and click on "Fitness challenge".

Attack Childhood Obesity

Vic Vogel

Certified Personal Trainer/Sports Nutritionist

Why You Should Refrain From Using Tap Water to Make Baby Formula

2009-05-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

If you have a small baby, then you are probably using tap water to make baby formula. I don't mean to alarm you, but before you open that faucet again to fill the baby bottle, I think you should consider the following.

This may be shocking to you, but a large number of independent and government studies about the quality of water that we get at our homes, all seem to agree on the following: We shouldn't be assured that the official reports that are issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the official government body responsible for water quality from public utilities, are reliable.

By the way, in case you are not aware of this, each year your water supplier is obliged to send you by mail a short report which lists the results of a water contamination test. Request it if by any chance you are not receiving anything.

There are three fundamental flaws in the way that this report is prepared:

1. The number of water contaminants that this report covers is much lower than the range of possible waterborne contaminants that now exist. Just to give you the numbers, there are now about 75,000 known toxic chemicals. Of them, only about 90 are covered by the EPA test!

2. Another disturbing fact is that estimation of health risk is based on each chemical separately. In other words, it measures the concentration level of each chemical and if that level is below the MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) specified for that particular chemical, then it's considered to pose no health risk. What fails to measure is the combined effect of contaminants.

3. The third drawback is of immediate concern to those of you having children in the family or you are using tap water to make baby formula, as mentioned above. The estimation of health risk of the test is based on consumption by a 175 lb. adult. No consideration is given to the dramatic effects that long term consumption of contaminated water will have on children. The general notion that "children are small adults" is far from the truth. The quality of water that they drink is a crucial factor for their healthy development.

To make matters even worse, it is a medical fact that, as a proportion of their body weight, children and infants drink more than two and a half times as much water as adults. The required daily water intake of an infant living only on baby formula amounts to about one-seventh of its own weight!

I don't mean to scare you, but these facts should alert you to reconsider using tap water to make baby formula and take action now to have pure drinking water at your house.
To become better informed about your alternative options, visit my website.

Water - Not Too Much & Not Too Little

2009-05-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Let's get one thing straight! Coke tastes better than water. So does lemonade, fruit juice, tea, coffee and of course alcohol! We all ENJOY drinking these things. If you are like me, you probably don't ENJOY drinking water - you just know you should. But why should we? Is pure water better than, say, orange juice? How much water should we drink a day? Can we drink too much water. . . Lets answer those questions:

Our bodies are estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Thats a large amount, I think you'll agree. Our body needs water to maintain a steady body temperature. It is used to transport nutrients to all of our organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and lubricates our joints and organs.

Water is lost through urination, respiration, and by sweating. The more active you are, the more water you lose. If you start to get pains in your joints, headaches, strong smelling yellow urine and constipation, it may be a sign that you are dehydrated, and thus not getting enough water to replace what is lost. Thirst is also a good sign that you need to drink more.

Can we drink too much water, and if so, how much is too much?

Short answer, yes. In fact people are known to have died from drinking too much water. So why is too much dangerous? Well, drinking too much water can couse your brain to swell. Being inside your skull, it when it swells, it doesn't really have anywhere to go. This swelling can interfere with vital functions such as breathing.

So how much is too much?

According to expert research, drinking several litres over a short period of time (perhaps over 1-2 hours), can be enough to cause the brain to swell.

Ok, so how much is 'ideal'?

Experts tend to agree that 2.5 litres per day is an ideal amount of water to consume. Of course this could be in the form of juice, pop or non-caffeinated drinks. It's probably a good idea to have a mix. Too much pop & you could well have no teeth in a few years. Juice contains vital vitamins, so a small portion is good. Don't forget too, that a percentage (around 20%) of the water you need will come from the food you eat. So don't think that you have to sit there gulping down 2.5 litres of water. If your intake is spread throughout the day, you shouldn't even notice it.

To reiterrate - drink enough water!

It is difficult to keep on top of drinking enough water. If we are having a busy day, it is easy to get distracted. If this happens, don't binge on water when you remember (too much over a short period is bad), just try to have a steady intake from that moment on. Keeping a bottle handy at all times is a good way to remember. Don't forget, you can break it up with other juices too (just keep an eye on those calories).

For more tips on nutrition and general health, including healthy food and tips on living a healthy lifestyle, visit the Healthy Bee!

7 Fat Loss Strategies For Busy Moms

2009-04-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

By Holly Rigsby, CPT
Fit Yummy Mummy

Would you like to "jump start" your metabolism and lose your ‘mommy belly' once and for all? If so, the following seven tips are exactly what you need to improve your workouts and ignite your metabolism. Try some or all of these tips, but beware, the result may be a number of admiring second glances and the need to pull your ‘skinny jeans' out of the closet.

1. The majority of your workouts should be composed of free-weight, bodyweight or cable exercises.

Compared to machines, free-weight, bodyweight and cable movements often require more skill, create muscular balance, and have a greater metabolic cost. For example, it is more difficult to balance the weights, and to coordinate muscles when performing free-weight exercises. Although this may sound like a disadvantage, it is actually a benefit. By balancing and stabilizing free-weights or cables you are working more muscles through a greater range of motion resulting in more muscles developed and more calories burned.

2. Use exercises that work more than one muscle at a time.

When focusing on fat loss, you can't worry about "shaping" exercises, instead you should use exercises that'll get you the biggest bang for your buck and work as many muscles as possible. Isolation exercises can be used at the end of a workout to work on a specific target area, but they just serve to supplement your core movements.

Virtually every savvy fitness professional is privy to the fact that compound exercises recruit the most muscle groups for any given body part.

If you seek lean, toned muscles and the increase in metabolism that comes with them, you must choose exercises that work as many different muscles as possible. One of the main reasons why squats are superior to leg extensions for improving your body is that they also work your butt, hamstrings and inner thighs in addition to toning your quadriceps while leg extensions focus on just the front of your thigh and don't really offer any other benefit. That same rationale hold true for arm exercises too. That's why dumbell presses and dips will are more valuable for your arms than triceps kickbacks and pushdowns.

A good rule of thumb is to use movements that will allow you to use the most weight. These will have a systemic effect on your body that'll help maintain or increase your lean muscle, and in turn ignite your metabolism.

3. Pair exercises.

Pair your exercises together so that you alternate between upper-body exercises and lower-body exercises or between exercises that target opposing muscle groups (e.g. chest and back).

This type of approach will keep your workouts short and efficient by eliminating much of the downtime that comes between sets of a single exercise since you are working on one movement while resting from another. This approach can also yield huge benefits in your mission to burn fat. Since you'll constantly be moving and keeping your heart rate elevated, you'll be burning far more calories than you would during a typical workout.

4. Keep your reps between 8 and 12.

Through research, it has been determined that the best range for building lean muscle is roughly between 8-12 reps. Since the main focus of your resistance training efforts is to gain lean body mass and stimulate your metabolism, this rep range fills the bill perfectly. "High reps for tone and fat loss" is one of the biggest (and most unproductive) training myths! Somehow the aerobics, yoga and Pilates' community have convinced us that when we perform bodyweight exercises or light resistance training for high reps, our muscles magically take on a beautiful shape without growing or bulging. On the other hand, if you challenge yourself with moderately heavy weights, your body will take on a bulky, unflattering appearance. If you believe this, you probably still believe in the Tooth Fairy!

5. Rest only 30 to 60 seconds between sets.

When you keep the rest periods under one minute, it's easier to stay focused on the task at hand and keeps your heart rate elevated. In addition, it forces your muscles to recover more quickly between sets, along with keeping your nervous system revved up.

If your first movement in an upper/lower body pair is squats, you might want to rest 60 seconds before attempting your second movement. However, if your first exercise is a fairly "easy" exercise, like lat pull downs, you might only wish to wait 30 seconds before doing the second part of the pair.

6. Perform total body workouts.

You must drop the notion that muscle groups work independently of one another. Muscles work together and should be trained that way. Besides, not only does this approach mean less time in the gym, but by working the whole body three times per week, you'll be maximizing the fat burning effect of your program.

7. Cardio is not the cure-all for fat loss.

Cardiovascular exercise aids in the creation of a caloric deficit, but the caloric expenditure during cardio is temporary. Strength training addresses the core of the problem by permanently increasing the rate at which the body burns calories by adding muscle. The best programs will include both strength training and cardiovascular training, but the core or the programs effectiveness is resistance training.

Take these strategies and incorporate them into your workout routine. Not only will you save a lot of time, but you'll also soon see a leaner and more toned body. Not to mention a few more turned heads and the re-emergence of your skinny jeans.

About the Author

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to Fit Yummy Mummy to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism."

Don’t Let the Recession Make You Gain Weight

2009-04-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - With the bad economy, comfort food and fast-food sales are soaring. Two-thirds of American adults are medically overweight or obese, and the incidence of medically significant obesity is rising rapidly, especially in children and teenagers.

The good news is that emotional (non-hunger) eating can be controlled with a little effort. Dr. Leonard Mastbaum and Dr. Jamy Ard, medical advisors with OPTIFAST, a medically monitored weight loss program that focuses on changing patients' lifestyles and how they interact with food, suggest the following steps:

* Take note of when you're eating, but aren't actually hungry.

* Learn what triggers emotional eating for you.

* Make a list of non-eating activities that you enjoy, to help alleviate your emotional eating triggers.

* Recognize when you're lapsing and eating on a non-hunger basis. Try to learn what triggers your own inappropriate eating.

* Get to the root of your feelings and take action to change them.

For more information on OPTIFAST or to find a clinic near you, log on to http://www.optifast.com/.

Save money and look better for summer

Cleanse Your Body Naturally

2009-04-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

Natural Solutions for Kids' Summertime Allergies

2009-04-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

(ARA) – For millions of adults and children, warm weather means it’s time to devote attention to nasal health. Just as you want to spend more time outside, the higher temperatures make greater attention to healthy breathing a must.

Parents are rightfully concerned about their children’s respiratory health. Add to that the recent concerns over the safety and effectiveness of children’s cold remedies and now many parents are thinking twice before opening the medicine cabinet to treat their little ones.

A new survey conducted in March 2009 by Harris Interactive shows that while 90 percent of parents claim to be at least somewhat knowledgeable about the possible dangers associated with over-the-counter cough and cold medicine for children, 62 percent still give these products to children when they are experiencing cough and cold symptoms.

“It’s very concerning to me that so many parents are still giving their children these OTC cough and cold products with the possible associated dangers and the question of their effectiveness in children,” says Marcela Dominguez, MD, certified family medicine physician, Orange County, Calif.

While the FDA is now recommending parents not give OTC medicines to children younger than 4, more parents than ever are looking for ways to proactively support their children’s respiratory health and immune systems. Keeping kids healthy has become the universal objective rather than awaiting illness and then attempting a rescue.

“Evidence shows that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines likely don’t work for very young children, and can, in fact, create potentially lethal side effects,” says Dr. Bob Sears, a noted pediatrician. “Overdosing and side effects of cough and cold medicines send about 7,000 children to the emergency room each year.”

Just last fall the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine released survey results that found 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children were using complementary and alternative medicines. The new Harris survey shows that the desire to use these remedies is high and that the public might be using natural remedies more if the products had credible information (a proven track record and clinical testing) to support their claims.

Staying healthy is the safest approach and easier than you think. Here are some tips to keep your kids breathing easier, naturally this summer:

Tip 1: Use a saline solution to flush noses. Look on the Internet for directions on how to do this, or use a premade kit that includes a squeeze bottle or a Neti pot, available at many drug stores.

Tip 2: When your child plays outside, remove his clothing when he comes in. You might consider showering children to rinse pollen from their skin and hair. Close doors and windows at night or any other time when there are high pollen counts.

Tip 3: Use natural, non-drug remedies to keep kids healthy such as Sinupret for Kids. This helps promotes healthy drainage in the upper respiratory tract, improves airflow in the nose, and supports healthy mucous flow in the nose and sinuses.

Tip 4: Take a multivitamin to support overall health. There are many chewable options for children that taste great.

“While natural, herbal remedies have been in use around the world for generations -- Sinupret has been a staple in Europe for 30 years -- they are just coming into their own in the United States,” Sears says. This syrup is not a drug, but is a natural remedy for healthy sinus, respiratory and immune support in children ages 2 to 12. It does not contain stimulants, caffeine, ephedra, pseudoephedrine, codeine, steroids, narcotics or gluten.

“Parents are looking for a natural and safe approach to support their kids’ respiratory health, and they need to know if the herbal remedies they are considering have a long track record of effectiveness and lack of any harmful side effects,” Sears says.

Sinupret for Kids syrup is now available at more than 25,000 retail locations across the country, including Wal-Mart. Visit www.SinupretForKids.com to learn more.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

It’s Easier Than You Think: Tips for Building Healthier Habits

2009-04-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - Between juggling work, soccer practice, ballet and household chores, taking the time to build healthier habits can be a seemingly daunting task for moms. But a new survey reveals a startling misconception. Despite the fact that it’s generally agreed upon that it takes just three to six weeks to form a new habit, the overwhelming majority of respondents think it takes six months or longer.

“I want to educate moms and their families about how easy it can be to form new, healthy habits,” says Bob Greene, founder of the Best Life program. “For example, the simple act of swapping a sugared beverage for water is an easy change that can shave calories and add up to big results over time. Replace one typical 12 ounce sugared beverage daily with water and cut 3,650 teaspoons of sugar a year from your diet -- that's 38 pounds of sugar a year.”

To help empower families to take it one step at a time, Bob Greene and Nestle Pure Life brand bottled water joined forces to launch the Pure Life / Best Life Challenge at www.purelifebestlife.com to help make families small changes in four key areas: eat right, drink right, get active and get green.

Following are a few simple steps that families can take to acquire new healthy habits.

Drink Right.

* Put a water bottle in your kid’s bag before they head off to practice or a game.

* If your family drinks whole milk now, switch gradually, first to 2 percent and then to 1 percent.
* Before your workout, drink 8 ounces of water.

Eat Right:

*Plan your meal menus in advance so you know what’s coming.

* Set a kitchen curfew and close your kitchen after dinner.

Get Green.

* Keep your recycling bin in a prominent place to keep it top of mind throughout the week.

* Stop catalogs you don’t read and don’t want.

* Recycle or compost any yard waste and clippings.

Get Active.

* Make your goals quantifiable (e.g., walk 1 mile three times this week).

* Schedule some off days or easy days into your regular workout routine.

* Exercise with a partner or a neighborhood group.

Now through Sept. 30, families can check out other tips and small steps to achieving a healthier lifestyle by taking the Pure Life / Best Life Challenge. Led by Bob Greene, families will be empowered to make healthy lifestyle changes with Bob Greene as their personal Challenge coach. By completing simple, everyday milestones, participants can track their progress and inspire others to join in on the interactive fun through social networks, e-mail and Facebook connections.

Families can also earn “Healthy Rewards,” such as free water, sporting goods certificates and Best Life memberships by buying cases of Nestle Pure Life and mailing in proofs of purchase.

For more information and to take the first small step toward building a healthier lifestyle for you and your family, log on to www.purelifebestlife.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Food Allergy Safety 101

2009-04-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

(ARA) – With the number of children with life-threatening food allergies on the rise, practicing food allergy safety is more important than ever. From closely reading labels to understanding hidden allergens and food manufacturing processes, there is a lot that can be done to keep children free of allergic reactions.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), four out of every 100 children under age 17 -- or three million children -- have a food allergy. The recent CDC study, “Food Allergy Among U.S. Children: Trends in Prevalence and Hospitalizations,” also shows an 18 percent increase in children with food allergies since 1997. And the number of children hospitalized for food allergies jumped from 2,600 in the late 1990’s to 9,500 annually in recent years.

These babies and children have immune systems that attack specific foods as if they were viruses or unwanted bacteria, causing painful -- and sometimes life-threatening -- allergic reactions.

Preventing an allergic reaction sounds simple: Avoid the food that is causing the trouble. But it is more difficult than it sounds. When browsing the grocery store shelves or formula aisle at the pharmacy, it is not always clear what exact ingredients a product contains or if it is manufactured in an entirely allergen-free facility.

Avoiding allergic foods -- even in small amounts -- is also more important than many people understand.

“A food allergy reaction is serious,” says Registered Dietician Steven Yannicelli, director of science and education for Nutricia North America. “In severe cases, children may experience life-threatening anaphylaxis, which prevents them from breathing and can be fatal if not treated immediately. Other symptoms, like diarrhea and vomiting, are less severe but can still have dramatic negative effects on a child’s health and well-being.”

Here are several tips to protect children from coming in contact with foods allergens.

Labeling

* Read all food labels carefully to ensure they do not contain allergens.

* Only purchase foods and formulas with clearly labeled ingredients.

* Research foods and ingredients before food shopping or dining out.

* Avoid foods with ingredient names you do not recognize until you have researched them carefully.

Hidden Allergens

* Watch out for alternate names for allergens. For example, milk often shows up on labels as “casein” or “whey.” There are other hidden ingredients that may indicate casein or whey, so be careful.

* Check ingredients in every food and formula. Allergens can show up in unexpected places like salad dressing and nutrition bars.

Manufacturing Facility

* Understand the environment in which the foods and formulas you give your child are manufactured.

* For the most peace of mind, purchase products manufactured in 100 percent allergen-free environments. For example, many food manufacturers put “manufactured in a peanut-free facility” on food labels. However, many manufacturers of formulas do not. Make sure you ask your doctor about formulas manufactured in a 100 percent dairy-free environment.

For more information on food allergy safety tips, visit http://www.testforallergy.com/fas101/.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Nasal Rinsing Promotes Free Breathing and Nasal Health

2009-03-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - In recent years, more and more American families have turned to home-based, complementary remedies to manage basic health needs. In fact, an estimated 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children use some type of complementary and alternative medicine, according to a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One example of this growing trend is nasal rinsing, an ancient technique that has been practiced for centuries in India and other parts of South Asia and is now gaining popularity in Western culture.

A traditional Ayurvedic and yogic technique, nasal rinsing originated from the yoga practice of Jala Neti, which means "water cleansing." The practice is designed to clean and hydrate the nasal passages to promote free breathing and overall nasal health.

Why Nasal Rinsing?

With every breath, we inhale particles such as dust, allergens, germs, smoke, dander and pollutants. The nose acts as a natural air filter, protecting the body from these impurities. However, many particles remain in the nasal and sinus passages and can potentially cause irritation. During nasal rinsing, a saline water solution is inserted into the upper nostril while the head is tilted, flushing out impurities not naturally filtered out by the nose.

"Nasal rinsing is a simple technique to cleanse nasal and sinus passages while helping you to breathe freely. While it may seem complicated for beginners, today there are products that make it easier than ever," says Dr. Mary Jo DiMilia, an internist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. "AFRIN PureSea is a new and convenient way to clean nasal passages because it requires no mixing, minimal cleanup and the contents stay sterile even after the product is used."

Nasal Rinsing Options

There are a number of ways to practice nasal rinsing. Using a neti pot is a common technique, but it can be cumbersome and involves extensive preparation and clean-up. A modern product like AFRIN PureSea comes ready-to-use with no ingredients to mix and is made entirely of 100 percent purified sea water.

There are also all-natural nasal rinsing products designed for use in children as young as six months. Since young children often have difficulty blowing their own noses, nasal rinsing can be particularly helpful in ridding their nasal passages of excess mucus and irritants.

To learn more about the benefits of nasal rinsing and naturally-sourced products for adults and children, visit www.afrinpuresea.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Simple Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Positive Body Image

2009-02-23T12:12:00.000-08:00

(ARA) – With spring around the corner, kids, tweens and teens across the country will doff sweaters for tank tops and jeans for shorts. And as a parent, you may feel more conscious than ever of our society’s preoccupation with body image and how it affects your child.

Just as concerning as the rise in childhood obesity is the rising number of children -- even very young children -- who are obsessed with being thin.

“We see children as young as 6 years old complaining that their stomachs stick out, or bragging about having the chicken pox because it means going to bed without dinner, which means fewer calories,” says Carolyn Costin, director of The Eating Disorder Center of California and the Monte Nido Treatment Center. “Kids see their moms and dads dieting and they want to diet too, even if they don’t need to.”

While not every child dissatisfied with his or her appearance will develop an eating disorder like bulimia or anorexia nervosa, a poor body image can have a serious, long-term impact on a child’s emotional well-being. So how do you help your daughter or son develop a healthy, realistic body image in a society obsessed with thin and beautiful?

Costin offers some advice:

Know the Signs of a Problem

First, parents need to be able to recognize when their child might have a serious problem. While the majority of young people with eating disorders are female, health professionals are seeing a rise in the number of boys and young men suffering from eating disorders and poor body image.

Your child may have a problem if he or she:

* Believes if you aren’t thin you aren’t attractive.
* Thinks being thin is more important than being healthy.
* Does anything to make themselves appear thinner -- buying clothes, cutting their hair, taking laxatives or starving themselves.
* Feels guilty after eating or punishes herself after eating fattening foods.
* Counts calories and severely restricts calorie intake.
* Is obsessed with weighing himself daily or sometimes multiple times each day.
* Believes you can never be too thin.
* Thinks that being thin and not eating are signs of will power and success.

How to Foster a Healthier Body Image

The single most important way parents can help their children develop a healthy body image is to lead by example, Costin says. Children who hear their parents criticize themselves for being too fat will be more likely to think poorly of their own bodies.

“Avoid saying negative things about your own or other people’s bodies, and work hard at promoting healthy body esteem,” she says. “This may be difficult, especially if your own mother was not a good role model of a healthy body image.”

If you suspect your own body image and habits are not providing a healthful role model for your child, ask yourself if you would want her to imitate your dietary and exercise habits or self-image. Would you send her off in the morning with nothing but a cup of coffee? Would you tell him to have a bad day if he gets on the scale and has gained a pound? “Your answers may surprise you,” Costin says.

Help children find constructive ways to be healthy, including maintaining a good diet and regular physical activity. Share healthful pursuits, such as learning to cook nutritious meals together, with your child. But be sure to go out for ice cream too; balance is the key. Help with and praise creative endeavors, and applaud small but meaningful internal accomplishments, like her ability to remain calm, his quick wit, his sense of humor, her empathy for others.

Stay alert to changes in eating habits and body image and be prepared to intervene. Parents need to actively help their children find constructive ways to feel successful, accomplish something and earn the respect, attention and admiration so important to teens.

If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, seek help immediately. Log on to www.montenido.com or www.CarolynCostin.com to learn more.

Courtesy of ARAcontent