Saturday, July 21, 2012

How to Take Care of Children's Dental Health

The good dental health of children will need to be monitored in the earliest possible time, to ensure that their good dental health can be maintained well into their older years. Prevention (of dental health problems) will always be better than looking for cures or treatments of existing dental problems. It is best to discover the best ways of taking care of your children's dental health care, so that serious dental health problems can be avoided in the future.

Regular visits to the dentist will go a long way in ensuring that your child's dental health is properly taken care of; the regular dental check-ups with the dentist can prevent dental problems from developing, and can also provide the necessary treatments in the earliest possible time. However, there are also a number of things you can do on your own to ensure the best dental health possible for your children.

Taking Care of your Child's Dental Health
• As soon as your child's first tooth erupts or comes out from under the gum line, you should start a regular tooth brushing habit. Small tooth brushes that can fit on fingertips are specially made for babies' small mouths, so that you can gently clean the teeth (or tooth) without putting too much pressure or force.

• Children's toothpaste can be used as soon as your child learns how to spit. It is best to use toothpaste that does not contain sweeteners or sugar substitutes, dyes, or foaming ingredients.

• Turn the tooth brushing activity into a fun and engaging one, so that your child can develop a good idea about brushing his or her teeth. It will also help if you explain to your child the importance of regular and good tooth brushing habits, so that your child will have a deeper appreciation for the need for good oral hygiene practices.

• Give your child snacks that are not high on sugars, so that he or she will not develop a sweet tooth early in life. Healthy snacking can help prevent dental problems from developing - and you can also set a good example by avoiding sugar-laced snacks yourself! It is also best to limit snacks to twice daily, so that your child can concentrate on the regular meals and not on the nibbles that he or she can get in between the main meals of the day.

In addition to following the above mentioned tips, it is advised to regularly visit a dentist. The dentist will watch for teeth developmental problems and address them properly.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

The Importance of Exercise For Children

Why is it important for children to do cardio exercises? Because researchers have discovered that just twenty minutes of doing things like jumping, hopping, or even having an old-fashioned wheel barrow race works the musculoskeletal system enough to improve strength by as much as 75%! The more muscle mass kids have the higher their metabolism, which means strength training has the extra benefit of keeping weight in check. There are three elements essential to optimal physical fitness: endurance, strength and flexibility. Pull-ups and other exercises help tone and strengthen muscles while building flexibility. When kids use activities like climbing they are also developing strength and balance. Reaching and stretching are also activities that develop flexibility. Endurance comes through active play or aerobic activity. Getting stronger and improving ability to accomplish more physical activities helps preschoolers and kindergartners gain confidence and increase feelings of self worth.

All exercise that gets the heart pumping counts as a cardio workout - here's a list to help you and your children get started:

1. Skipping rope - it burns more calories per minute than almost any other type of aerobic exercise.

2. Running around - playing with the dog or running from the bottom of a slide back to the top are great ways to get little hearts pumping (works for mom or dad too!)

3. Swimming in a pool - exercise in water adds up to 12 times the resistance to the movement process plus swimming builds endurance and strength.

4. Jumping in a bouncy house - just sounds like lots of fun but it also provides great aerobic exercise while helping improve balance and coordination.

5. Climbing and swinging - builds muscle strength and coordination and hanging by one's knees is a terrific way to get a new look at the world.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Are you concerned about your child's eating habits? It can be challenging to feed toddlers a healthy diet every day, but I have a secret weapon. A homemade smoothie is an easy way to serve your child at least one serving of fruits, vegetables, and calcium every day. Follow these five simple guidelines to help your child eat a nutritious diet: Five Effortless Nutrition Suggestions for More Nutritious Kids: 3+ portions of veggies, 2 portions of fruit, 3 portions of whole grain products, 3 food servings of calcium, 1/2 their entire body weight in grams of lean health proteins One serving size of veggies is just one cup raw or 1/2 cup prepared. Even though it can often be difficult to get small children to eat raw vegetables, it's simple to include at least one portion of veggies in a delicious homemade smoothie. Spinach, mixed greens, and steamed baby carrots are specially effortless to conceal in mouth watering shakes. One of the best smoothie recipe with blended veggies is called Frog Juice, and my favorite recipe made with baby carrots is Bunny Juice. Your kids will happily eat their vegetables if you serve them inside a healthy smoothie! It's substantially simpler and easier to persuade children to eat their fruits instead of vegetables. One helping of fresh fruit is one actual fruit (such as 1 apple or mango), or 3/4 cup of berries. Although fruits aren't necessary to make great drinks, smoothies taste better with a bit of sweet fruit added! Frozen bananas are very popular in smoothies, because they add cold and creamy texture to the drink. The preparation to add bananas into a juice smoothie is basically non-existent: just peel and throw in. Apples are another popular fresh fruits to add to smoothies. Apples are very nutritious and taste great. Whole Grain Products have a greater nutritional value than processed, highly refined, white grains. Because children consume a relatively small amount of food day-to-day, it is imperative to ensure that they receive the maximum nutritional value for the amount of food that they eat. One serving of whole grains is equal to 1/2 cup cooked rice or pasta, 1 slice of whole grain bread, 1/2 cup dry oatmeal or 1 cup whole grain breakfast cereal (with less than 6 grams of sugar, and 3 or more grams of fiber per serving). You can easily add a serving of breakfast cereal to your child's drinks, or add dry oats if your vita mixer is effective enough. The whole grain cereal found in the baby section is one other option, though it will be challenging to find a baby cereal with at least 3 grams per serving of fibers. Chances are your son or daughter will get nearly all of their daily calcium supplement by drinking milk, but calcium is also found in yogurt, cottage cheese, traditional cheeses, green veggies, legumes, and tofu, along with calcium-fortified food items including waffles and orange fruit juice. One serving of calcium is equal to 1 cup dairy, yogurt, or calcium-fortified juice, 1/2 to One cup beans or broccoli, or four ounces of tofu. You should seek out low-fat versions of dairy, yogurt, and cheese, which are healthier since they have less artery-clogging fat. Children over the age of 2 should always consume 1% milk, never the full fat variety. Smoothies made with low-fat milk, soymilk, citrus veggie juice, or even low-fat natural yogurt are specially scrumptious solutions to consume your calcium. Lean proteins is another sticky point in children's diets. My own child weighs in at 36 pounds. It's ideal for her to consume one half of that in grams, 18 grams, of lean protein each and every day. Children can get protein from a assortment of sources: cooked chicken, poultry hamburgers, yogurt, lowfat milk, peanut butter, tofu, eggs, almonds, vegan burgers, lasagna, and string cheese are common proteins sources amongst this particular age bracket. You'll really need to look at nutrition facts for one's particular grams of proteins for each amount for each item. Try to consider that barbequed chicken along with turkey burgers are definitely the hefty hitters, averaging twenty-one gr of protein per helping that is the dimensions of ones palm. Natural yogurt, low-fat dairy, peanut butter, as well as tofu are usually fantastic sources of trim necessary protein that taste delightful in kid's shakes!

This article deals with the effects of diet and nutrition on the health, development, and behavior of children. More research has been done recently looking into the effects of poor diet on youth. For years research had focused on adults, but recently a concerted effort has been made on researching the diseases that affect the young. The data coming back is startling. It reveals a greater level of impact than was previously imagined. More and more information is now painting a picture of the consequences of a poor diet. The effects stretch beyond simple lethargy and obesity to greater mental, emotional, and behavioral health problems as well as impacts on proper growth and physiological development (Child Diet 'linked to IQ). In fact, it turns some old assumptions on their head.

But children are young with a fast metabolism, they shouldn't be as affected, right? Wrong, and one couldn't be much further from the truth. Children are actually far more susceptible to the consequences of a poor diet than adults, for the simple reason that they're still growing. The development of bones, muscles, and brain matter all require a higher level of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Instead of giving this to our children, we have been feeding them foods that actually rob the body of the essentials it needs and have put a burden on developing organs to process the refined foods consumed. Most people wouldn't put sugar in a gas tank because their car wouldn't run and most people wouldn't feed candy and other junk to a growing dog. They know it isn't good, yet when it comes to our children and often to ourselves, we cast a blind eye and use excuses like "They deserve it," "They're young it's OK," "You only live once." These excuses need to stop if we are to turn around an epidemic of obesity, diabetes, rising cancer rates among our youth, and a host of behavioral health problems.

What do you mean by a poor diet? A poor diet can be used almost synonymously with the Standard American Diet. It includes a laundry list of refined foods filled with saturated fats, loaded with sugars, and overburdened with salts. Many of these foods are so over-processed that all of the original nutritional value has been stripped away, which brings in another problem. The less nutritious a meal is the harder it is to feel "full" after a meal, and therefore, the easier it is to overeat. Furthermore, many foods rich in fats and sugars stimulate the release of hormones that make us temporarily feel good. This acts as a short term pleasure that reinforces our bad habits. Not to worry, good foods and exercise also release hormones that stimulate a "happy" response and have longer lasting effects on health and happiness.

Why are we hooked on a poor diet? There are a few common reasons for the consumption of processed, highly refined, nutrient poor foods. As previously stated many of these foods bring a temporary euphoria that is a short-term release of the stresses of our daily lives. The main reasons most people cite are often dealing with convenience, cost, and taste. The modern world can be busy and we often feel there is little time to cook, so fast food becomes the quick, easy option. Many highly processed foods can be relatively cheap and when one looks at obesity rates there is a direct relation to income levels. Areas of greater poverty tend to see greater rates of obesity (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition). Last, taste is a factor that is hard to ignore. We are hard wired to select foods that are highest in energetic value for the smallest energetic costs in attaining that food. In the past that meant the less effort involved for hunting and gathering a significant yield of food was preferable for long-term survival. In the western world we needn't hunt or gather our foods, but the drive to find sweet foods filled with sugars (high in energy) still exists (just look at how many sodas are consumed per year). This drive has led to clever marketing and the selling of many unhealthy foods, often-times with "healthy" labels, such as "natural," "high fiber," "nature made."

What effects does a poor diet have on my child? In short the negative effects are almost too many to count. Numerous health issues ranging from mental, emotional, and physical diseases can all be caused by a poor diet. Research has shown that ADD/ADHD are largely influenced by dietary factors. Aggression and mood swings are linked to diet. Poor bone development, bowed spine, excessive growing pains, and acne can all be linked to a bad diet. As can lower intelligence, lower test scores, lethargy, and poor dental health. Furthermore, new research has shown that the poor diet of a mother can influence a child before they're even born. The unborn fetus fed a steady diet of unhealthy foods is more likely to have diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer later in life (ScienceDaily).

What can I do to improve my child's diet? Start gradually when making changes and improvements to your child's diet. More fruits and vegetables, less refined sugars, fats, and processed foods. If your child is young enough, use fruits instead of cookies as a reward for good behavior. The positive association can have lasting effects. Make the change from soda to natural juice and from juice to water (many juices are still high in sugars). Set goals and create a system of rewards and punishments. Overall keep the changes as positive as possible and reward success through love. It is important to be clear with the rules and guidelines you set and most importantly be consistent.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Choosing Healthy Foods For Your Kids

Are you concerned about your child's eating habits? It can be challenging to feed toddlers a healthy diet every day, but I have a secret weapon. A homemade smoothie is an easy way to serve your child at least one serving of fruits, vegetables, and calcium every day. Follow these five simple guidelines to help your child eat a nutritious diet:

Five Effortless Nutrition Suggestions for More Nutritious Kids:

3+ portions of veggies, 2 portions of fruit, 3 portions of whole grain products, 3 food servings of calcium, 1/2 their entire body weight in grams of lean health proteins

One serving size of veggies is just one cup raw or 1/2 cup prepared. Even though it can often be difficult to get small children to eat raw vegetables, it's simple to include at least one portion of veggies in a delicious homemade smoothie. Spinach, mixed greens, and steamed baby carrots are specially effortless to conceal in mouth watering shakes. One of the best smoothie recipe with blended veggies is called Frog Juice, and my favorite recipe made with baby carrots is Bunny Juice. Your kids will happily eat their vegetables if you serve them inside a healthy smoothie!

It's substantially simpler and easier to persuade children to eat their fruits instead of vegetables. One helping of fresh fruit is one actual fruit (such as 1 apple or mango), or 3/4 cup of berries. Although fruits aren't necessary to make great drinks, smoothies taste better with a bit of sweet fruit added! Frozen bananas are very popular in smoothies, because they add cold and creamy texture to the drink. The preparation to add bananas into a juice smoothie is basically non-existent: just peel and throw in. Apples are another popular fresh fruits to add to smoothies. Apples are very nutritious and taste great.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Giving Your Kids Healthy Food

Childhood obesity is a worldwide problem and no child is safe if they don't have healthy eating habits. There are many causes of obesity in children. Some of these are fast foods which are high in calories and fat. They also contain dangerous trans (fake fats) that wreak havoc on a young child's body. Another cause is processed foods. These false foods are loaded with sugar and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives which add up to extra calories. Because of the added processed sugars, a child can consume a tremendous amount of sugar and not even feel that full.

Many of these artificial colors, flavors and preservatives may also cause cancer. A lack of exercise has a direct link to obesity. Being a couch potato is not just bad for adults. A lack of exercise causes a lack of blood flow and circulation. This leads to sedentary kids who have lack of tone in muscles and obesity. The last way a child can become obese is just old fashion over eating which is easy to do when the food is fake as in processed foods.

So what's the answer? Well it's really simple. Have your child eat only natural foods. If it is a natural food such as an apple, banana or orange its OK to eat. The natural foods contain all the nutrients your child's body needs with the added fiber to help with digestion. The problem again is with processed or fast foods. These foods can be eaten in large quantities without feeling full. Food scientists develop these foods with one goal in mind, profits. They use the cheapest ingredients to keep the food products together and to last a long time (shelf life).

Their employers praise them for their accomplishments and cost cutting methods. But, they nor the scientists have no consideration nor do they even know what the consequences will be when children eat the laboratory food they invented. This comes down to one thing money. The easiest way to get your children to exercise is to play sports. When a kid is playing sports they are having fun, toning muscles and increasing circulation and burning calories. When kids are playing sports they don't even think about the good they are doing for their body they are just having fun naturally. There are many sports to choose from but the best advice is to let your child choose for themselves. That was they will be more interested and motivated to stick with it.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Healthy Tips For Your Prostate

Prostate cancer
is a serious and often deadly disease. Statistics suggest that annually, over 240,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and over 33,000 will die from this type of cancer. For American men it is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths. If your prostate becomes enlarged it can cause other health issues such as prostatitis. There are many ways men can improve their overall health and protect the health of their prostate. Making wise choices regarding lifestyle and dietary decisions can be very impactful towards reducing the risk of developing this disease.

Healthy Diet: Focus on eating a healthy and well balanced diet. This should include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. The vitamin and mineral content in fruits and vegetable are high and will keep you feeling satisfied and full. This should help you to avoid the temptation of over eating other types of foods that are not as good for you. A fruit or vegetable also makes a great snack. For example, carrot and celery sticks or an apple can be both a nutritious and delicious snack.

Eating more plant based foods over animal proteins is a good choice as well. There have been studies which suggest a possible link between diets high in animal fats and the development of prostate cancer. Substitute plant based oils for animal fats such as butter. Use olive oil instead. To dress up a salad substitute cheese with a sprinkling of seeds or nuts. There are many great alternatives to animal based foods. Some good vegetable choices include tomatoes, brussel sprouts and kale. Tomatoes are high in lycopene which is a very powerful antioxidant. Brussel sprouts and kale are very healthy cruciferous vegetables. Some fruits high in lycopene include papaya and watermelon. Be creative and enjoy eating these healthier options.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Health Tips for Travel

Healthy travel seems like a crazy and oppressive way to not have fun when on the road and that is that last thing I want to tell someone to do. Travel is a time for changing lifestyle and exploring what you haven't seen. I find myself that the trouble with all of this is at we also have a problem staying in shape and staying healthy.

It all comes with our priorities and how we plan.

When you travel the planning needs to happen before you leave home and will finish when you get home so here are 10 tips to help you stay in shape and arrive home in even better shape then you left

Eating Tips for Healthy Travel

1. Pack snacks for the road - whether I am traveling in a car or in a plane I am never sure where my next snack will come from so I always pack my backpack with some fruit. I have always worried about this when going through security at the airport but fact is I have never been stopped so it seems to be OK to bring some fruit.

Healthy Travel Tips

2. Water not Soda - It is very easy to drink some soda or juice and I know that this will happen when I travel so I always stop at a grocery store in my destination and buy bottles of water. I don't tend to pack water before as it is not allowed past airport security but it is always handy to have a bottle or two in the car for healthy travel outside of airports.

3. Eat local food - One of the great things about travel is the fact that you get a chance to eat locally grown produce as well as the local cuisine from an area. The sooner that you can eat fresh fruits and veggies after they are picked the better they are for you, so try to find out what grows locally and eat away!

4. Morning and Night Water - Because schedules are such a mess when traveling it is really hard to keep to a normal plan, and you probably don't want to anyway. What I do is as soon as I wake up in the morning I drink a big glass or two of water or if in a sketchy area just a big bottle of water and again at night when back to the hotel I do the same.

Elevations, different temperatures and lots of different exercise and eating plans will mess you up so try to have a good hydration plan starting and finishing with water to be sure.

5. Watch the Restaurant Meals - I am a big fan of going out for meals but recognize that what I eat is not always that good for me. When we travel as a family we always get a kitchenette in the hotel room so that we can make the majority of our meals with food we know and then have one meal out a day.

6. Order Responsibly - One of the biggest problems we all run into besides scheduling eating times when we are on the road is the bad ways that we order. Healthy travel in a restaurant starts with ordering with discernment and making sure your choices are good.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Health Tips for Pregnant Women

Pregnant women have special health and nutrition needs. They are eating for two people, for themselves and for the new baby that is growing inside their womb. So they want to be sure they are eating healthy foods. It is important for pregnant women to watch what they eat and drink. For example, doctors advise the strict avoidance of all alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.

It is also recommended to take a folic acid supplement. Folic acid is included in any good quality brand of prenatal vitamins, as are other important nutrients such as B vitamins, minerals like calcium, etc.

If you are trying to conceive, experiencing some symptoms of pregnancy, or are now pregnant, you will want to eat a balanced and healthy diet. Your body will experience many changes as the months go by. Be sure to get plenty of rest. Fatigue is a common complaint of pregnant women. Your body is going through a lot of stressful work to create a human life. You are doing something totally amazing. And you deserve a rest, don't you think? Of course you do. So take plenty of breaks, sit down, even take a nap every day if you can.

You and your baby will need more calories during the pregnancy stages. Some doctors estimate that you will consume round 300 additional calories each day. Just make sure the added calories come from healthy foods, not junk food. It is normal to have some cravings, because you need extra nutrients, but these cravings can be lessened by taking prenatal vitamins. You body wants and needs added nutrition, to help your baby grow, so eat plenty of health foods such as yogurt, fruit, bran muffins, veggies, etc.

Stay away from cigarettes and from people who smoke them. Second hand smoke can be bad for you and for your developing baby. Also avoid chemicals of all kinds. Don't use, inhale or be around any paint, harsh cleaning compounds, bug sprays and pesticides, weed killers, or any serious chemicals such as those.

Get some mild exercise every day. Going for a walk is the best form of exercise. This gets your blood flowing and increases oxygen levels in your body. Don't do any sit ups or crunches or tummy exercises. And avoid doing any heavy lifting.

Talk to your nurse or doctor on a regular basis. Pregnant women are going through a special time in their lives and they have special needs, special eating habits, special vitamins, etc. Take extra special good care of yourself so you will have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Effective Diet for Gout

Gout is a disorder brought about by uncontrolled and excessive levels of uric acid in the body. Although uric acid is readily excreted by the body through the urine, excessive intake of uric acid producing foods, those that are rich in urine, can overwhelm the body's ability to get rid of it. However, the debilitating effects of gout can be reduced through making certain lifestyle changes especially in one's diet. Making wise and healthy choices like submitting yourself to consume only an appropriate diet for gout can go a long way.

A diet for gout can only be effective if it is observed for a longer period of time. Its effects can only be felt more readily if you are patient enough to take certain sacrifices in terms of the types of food you should and should not be eating. The following sections discuss the components of an appropriate gout diet that is based from an e-book written by a nurse. You can be certain that these advices are reliable and safe.

1. Avoid consuming excessive amounts of meat. Purines are basically present in animal cells. Therefore, animal meats are rich in purine which can be troublesome for people with gout. High amount of purine are specifically present in organ meat such the liver, intestines, heart and gall bladder. The consumption of such should be reduced if not totally eliminated.

2. Green leafy vegetables should be consumed moderately. Although these vegetables contain purine, they are not proven to contribute to the development or worsening of gout. And because they contain essential minerals and vitamins, eliminating them from your diet can bring more harm than good. So consuming green leafy vegetables is encouraged when done in moderation. However, you can eliminate certain types of vegetables if you have experienced gout attacks upon eating them.

3. Consume at least eight glasses of water daily. Since dehydration is another known risk factor for gout, taking sufficient amount of water is advisable in an effective and healthy diet for gout. When the body is dehydrated, uric acid becomes more concentrated in your body which can cause acute gout attacks. Keeping yourself sufficiently hydrated is vital.

4. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcohol in itself has not been proven to cause gout. However, it is highly associated to gout attacks. Also, most alcoholic beverages such as beer contain high levels of purine. Therefore, removing such drinks from your diet is a wise choice.

A diet for gout lone can never be solely effective in fighting against the development or worsening of gout. It should be observed alongside other interventions such as medications, weight loss and blood pressure control. Most importantly, a better prognosis can only be achieved if you are willing enough to start following an appropriate gout diet today.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Healthy Tips For Office Workers

In the name of business, many office workers ignore a healthy life pattern. They do not exercise and eat nutritious food. They choose more to eat sweets, fried foods, and have a cup of coffee everyday.

Bad eating patterns completed with the lack of activities causes the office workers to get more risk for disease. They lean to not only get overweight, but also get stomachache and digestion problem. To solve those problems, you can do these healthy tips:

1. Consume balanced and varied food

The same menu can cause your body to be lack of nutrient. So, fulfill the nutrient need of your body by consuming nutritious and varied food. You need to consume fiber source, and useful carbohydrate and protein to improve your concentration. You also should reduce to consume fried foods and food that contains coconut milk.

2. Do exercise regularly

Combine your healthy eating pattern with doing exercise regularly. A research shows that people who do exercise regularly lean not to be fixated easily by consuming unhealthy food, and lean to reduce your weight easily. Thus, spare your time to do sport. If you cannot spare your time in the morning, you can join fitness center that still opens far into the night.

3. Do not forget to drink

Consume at least four glasses of water (1 liter) as long as you work. Of course, this consumption is out of other liquids like juice, coffee, and tea. In the night, add your consumption of water by drinking two glasses of water. However, do not drink too much because it can waste the important minerals for your body.

4. Healthy snacks

If you want to eat snack, you can change your usual snack with the healthy snack like fruits, yogurt, or other healthy snacks.

5. Having breakfast

Several researches show that people who start their day by having breakfast usually have better concentration quality than the concentration quality of people who only drink a cup of coffee in the morning.