the Mom-Stuff Community » Health

Scheduling for the REAL Mother

the mom-team — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:14:31 +0000

The following is a nugget of truth that was posted in a Executive Moms group at Linkedin about scheduling our time. The author, Jamee Tenzer, is a professional certified life and career coach for working mothers and women in the entertainment industry.

Have you ever had one of those weekends where you were just having too much fun? You attended three 8-year-old birthday parties, went to dinner with friends, cheered the Dodgers at a game and hosted a brunch with the extended family – only to wake up Monday morning thrilled at the thought of dragging yourself into the office, to REST. Sometimes we group our “fun activities” in such a way that we are having so much fun, we are too exhausted to enjoy any of it.

In fact, instead of celebrating our time together, we are running from one event to another, doing a quick change in the car between Sarah’s Bat Mitzvah, our Sound of Music matinee and Grandpa’s 80th birthday party. The kids are fighting, no one has managed to eat (even though everywhere we go is piled high with food,) and my husband and I would give our worldly possessions for the chance to take a nap. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Not so much fun as, let’s see, how would I describe it? Oh yes, a living hell!

So at the risk of sounding like the real mother I am – I refuse to over-schedule our family anymore. If we are buying tickets to a special event like a show or a baseball game, that’s it for that weekend and I make sure the kids appreciate that event for what it is. So many families don’t have the chance to go to a baseball game, spend the day at the beach or attend a nice party. I want my children to know (and give myself a chance to remember) how lucky we all are by helping us to slow down and enjoy each moment. Otherwise, these special opportunities are reduced to another item on the weekend to-do list – to be crossed off.

Realistically, we cannot always avoid over-scheduling. Some events will pop up, coincide and conflict with plans already made. But, with some forethought, it is possible to minimize the stressful fun and maximize the appreciation of a great life. You may not always be popular if you adopt my plan, but you will always get the opportunity to take a nap.

Radiation Heath Issues

the mom-team — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:39:34 +0000

I received an email today from one of our participating experts for health and nutrition at mom-stuff.com. I wanted to pass it alone in case any of you were also worried about your families health after the disaster in Japan. I do not believe in scare tactics but I do believe in education. Here is some advise of radiation issues from Kim Welborn.

Like every other health practitioner, I have been getting lots of calls about radiation issues and what to have on hand. What I have always had stashed in my closet are 4 things: kelp, dulse, algin, and Yarrow Special Formula flower essence blend. The first two are good sources of organic, elemental iodine to support the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine is used to kill the thyroid (in theory to “reduce” an overactive or ‘hyper’ thyroid, but dosage is so different from person to person that one dose of the usual three will sometimes stop it altogether) because iodine is stored there. The seaweeds keep the thyroid working and help to chelate out the radioactive elements. It is really important to know and trust your sources on sea vegetables because many are grown in contaminated water; since Japan has generally been the primary source this will be especially important in months to come in view of the amount of radioactive water that has been released into the ocean. To my knowledge, Nature’s Sunshine is the only company to test every product for radiation. they were the only company to stop selling Golden Seal after Chernobyl, when the cloud blew west over the main production areas in Northern Europe. Super Algae is another good item to add to the mix.

Algin will remove radiation from the body, but should only be taken for a maximum of two weeks at a time, with at least a two week rest in between, as it will begin to bind nutrients in the intestinal tract as well. I would use it only if I were sure of unsafe exposure. Hydrated Bentonite and other clays are somewhat less effective for radiation specifically, but do help in general detoxifying, especially in baths.

The Yarrow Special Formula helps with balancing the energetic impact of radiation and other (environmentally) traumatic events. It was originally formulated specifically to help protect against radiation and can be used in water as a room spray in addition to being taken internally.

Remember that the more raw fruits and vegetables you eat, the higher your overall level of trace minerals, including iodine and iodide. The higher your mineral levels, the less likely the body is to “grab” and store radioactive iodine, which it will jump on if you are as deficient as most Americans are. Miso and other fermented foods also seem to improve the body’s resistance to exposure, and are a great idea anyway.

Stay well,

Kim Welborn

For more information from Kim visit her website Kim Welborn, Body Systems Counselor.

Let’s Begin 2011 on the Right Foot

the mom-team — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:57:12 +0000

Mom-Stuff.com Featured Resources to help you start 2011 on the right foot.

Tips to Help Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick
Setting New Year’s resolutions may be a time-honored tradition but unfortunately making last-minute vows during a champagne toast isn’t an effective approach. How can you ensure that you’ll stick with your goals beyond January 15th? You’ve got to make sure that your goals possess a “STICKINESS” factor. . . .

Setting Goals and Shaping your Future
Each year on the first of January, I take the time to reflect upon my goals from the previous year. I like to evaluate what I have accomplished, and review everything that has manifested throughout the year. It always makes me smile, how things have unfolded for the goals which had a strong enough WHY even if I did not really know at the time how I would get them accomplished…amazing how that works! . . .

Organizing For Taxes – For the Unorganized
My taxes are a mess, or rather doing them is. I run a small business to make it even worse, am I am semi organized at best. Today found me with a large pile or receipts for just about everything that needed to be organized and tallied and more . . .

To Sick for School?
Kids health questions. Is your kid to sick to send them to school. Parents can use the following symptom-based guidelines to help them decide whether to keep their child home or send them to school.

Recipe Overhaul
Do you have had a stack of recipes to go through each time you cook? Here is some great tips for recipe organization. I started with a spiral index card book in High school, then went onto a small ring binder for index cards, next was a small album with sheet protectors, and now I have FINALLY found a great strategy that works for me. Let’s go about this in 5 steps! . .

Help Your Child with Brain Development

the mom-team — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:15:06 +0000

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It is Deborah’s belief that every child has great potential that can be developed when we have an understanding of how children’s brains develop. Deborah has devoted her life to providing programs and materials that create this awareness for parents and educators.

Deborah has taught kindergarten, and pre-school. She has also created an innovative community based program called, Family Network. This service provided information and resources to parents and educators by pulling the entire community together in support of the needs of families. She has been the coordinator of a family literacy program that provided high school completion and English as a second language, early childhood education and parent education, for in-need families. This included creating a jail parent program, a home tutoring program, and an at-risk teens parenting program.

She taught in the early childhood associate degree program for several years and most recently has, as the early childhood specialist for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, provided numerous presentations on brain development.

Do you know that you have the perfect chance to make a difference in the brain development of the children in your life or community? Isn’t it wonderful to know that all of us have that opportunity? Did you know that 85% of a baby’s brain development will happen after birth? And do you realize that a great deal of the development will happen based on the experiences a child has in the early years?

It is my goal and passion to have everyone understand that experiences early in life have an impact on the developing brain. The good news is brain development isn’t as complicated as it may sound.

I have created braininsights™ materials to make brain development concepts apply to real life situations. Brain development isn’t about pushing children to learn more at early ages or having the perfect toys. It is about providing fun learning experiences and loving interactions with your child. Doesn’t it feel good when you know that in addition to physical needs, play and loving attention are the experiences a baby’s brain needs most?

Brain development can easily fit into your busy life. You just need to have ideas and information about what to do……… because children do not come with instructions.

It is my genuine hope that from this site and the materials I provide, you will gain insights about brain development and as a result, experience tremendous joy with the children in your life!

Please also inspire others…. We can make all make a positive difference through providing greater awareness! Let me know how I can help.

“Deborah is one of those people who can make you excited to learn and get involved. Her passion for educating people on the importance of early brain development is contagious! Her creation of the phenomenal brain development activity packets (ages zero-five) is exactly what parents, teachers, day care providers, students and anybody who cares about children need. Do yourself a favor, attend one of her seminars to learn how brain development can change the way you think.”

Visit her Deborah McNelis for more information http://www.braininsightsonline.com/

AS THE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL LETS DO A SELF-CARE CHALLENGE

the mom-team — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:10:19 +0000

I found this article at Mamapedia. Renee has some really good food for thought. After reading this article I am going to get her book and read it. Here is her article I wanted to share it with you and challenge you to do a self-care challenge. as you send your kids back to school.

Sometimes I feel like a broken record, constantly advocating the benefits of self-care and how it has transformed my life over the last ten years.

But this past week confirmed that this message is one we all need to hear, over and over again.

I recently led a workshop for woman entrepreneurs at all life stages on how to work less and experience more. I call this approach the Empowered Entrepreneur —a topic I’m very passionate about.

Toward the end of the workshop, after covering a lot of essential ground related to running a small business, I touched on the importance of self-care; especially, for moms. And interestingly, this arena is where the most lively, passionate, emotional dialogue erupted.

They all seemed to grasp that self-care—cultivating an awareness for and responding to their physical/emotional/spiritual/mental needs—was fundamental to their well-being. And, they understood intellectually that they couldn’t build a business—much less function—when they were exhausted, harried, out of synch with themselves and running on empty.

But, were they ready to change their behavior and mindset to be more compassionate, nurturing and responsive to their deepest needs?

My ah-ha moment and initial motivation to learn more about self-care (read The Transformative Power of Self-Care from my book), came after having my son and realizing how vital it was for me to teach him to honor and nurture himself—something my sweet mother who battled depression most of her life, was never able to teach me.

What will it take for you to make this shift?

Consider the following “gifts from self-care” I’ve received over the years. When we renew ourselves by attuning and responding to our needs:

1. We feel more generous and can avoid building resentments toward others who demand our energy and time.

2. We naturally feel more loving, which makes us better friends, partners, parents and more enjoyable to be around!

3. We validate and honor our own worth, our essence, which naturally enhances confidence and self-esteem and lowers susceptibility to depression and anxiety.

4. We feel more alive and whole; we’re able to function at our best and do more of the things we want to do.

5. We renew and restore our energy supply and create energy reserves so we’re able to weather unforeseen challenges more easily.

6. We’re more present and calm; we can respond wisely, intuitively and effectively to a variety of circumstances.

7. We begin to step into our personal power (realizing our potential), which is our birthright.

8. We feel good on the inside, which leads to looking good on the outside. Nurturing your essence—inside and out—promotes well-being and vitality.

AS THE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL LETS DO A SELF-CARE CHALLENGE

I invite you for the next thirty days to begin to become aware of how you’re feeling and what you need. Try a quick body scan before you even step out of bed in the morning. Just lie there for a moment and check in with your physical and emotional health. Are you overscheduled, do you need to lighten your load? Do you need to move your body or spend more time in nature? Are you dehydrated or are you eating something that is not enhancing your energy level? Do you need to say “no” to something or ask for help? Do you need to build in a day or evening to just rest (A radical concept, I know!). I have been focusing on self-nurturance for ten years and I still have a long way to go. But, hands down, this has been the most life-changing practice I have ever embraced. And the gifts that come from cultivating more compassion and love for myself, continue to greet me daily. I’d love to hear your comments around the theme of self-care. Cancer survivor Audre Lorde says it best, “Self-care is not about self-indulgence, it’s about self-preservation.”

Renée Peterson Trudeau is a nationally-recognized career/life balance coach, president of Career Strategists and the author of the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life. Thousands of women around the U.S./Canada are joining and becoming trained to lead Personal Renewal Groups based on the Guide, as a way to enhance balance and well-being in their lives.

As you send the kids back to school spend the next 30 days focus on your self-care.

The Better You consume, the Better You Feel

the mom-team — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:14:18 +0000

Mom-Stuff has added a new resource for you .

Patricia writes on diabeticmenus.org , giving

you the information you need to raise awareness

on healthy eating habits and its associated

benefits to support those living with

diabetes on a daily basis.

Here are some basic guidelines that can help you and your family make healthier food decisions.

* Eat lots of vegetables’ and fruits.

* Choose whole fiber foods over processed grain products.

Try brown rice instead of white. Substitute brown bread for white.

* Eat fish two or three times a week.

* Select leaner cuts of meat like those that end in “loin.”

* Remove the skin from chicken and turkey.

* Eat low fat dairy

* Drink water and low calories non-carbonated liquids.

* Use liquid oils for cooking as an alternative to solid fats.

* Minimize too-high calorie junk food like chips, cookies, cakes, and regular frozen goodies.

Find baked chips and reduced calorie snacks. Or have a bit of fruit instead.

* Watch your portion sizes. Even an excessive amount of “healthy” food can cause an increase in weight.

Tips:

* Compare labels of similar foods, then pick the one with smaller amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium.

* Adults should consume below 2400 mg. of sodium per day. If you have high blood pressure, you need to target even less.

* Try adding spices and herbs in your cooking to substitute for salt for enhancing flavor.

A bit of Exercise Goes a long way. Something that gets you up and moving is good for you.

Some benefits you can receive from adding exercise to your routine:

* Decrease your risk of developing diabetes type 2 symptoms

* Decrease your risk of heart problems and stroke Lower blood pressure and cholesterol

* Reduce blood glucose (sugar) levels if you have diabetes, that may lessen your risk of developing diabetes-related complications

* Relieve tension * Make it easier to slim down

* Provide you with more energy

* Make it easier to sleep better

* Build stronger bones and muscle mass

You do not need to go to a gym, play sports or use fancy equipment.

For the rest of the article go to Mom-Stuff Featured Articles.

For more great tips from Patricia on how to live with diabetes …. Articles such as

Your Guide to Diabetic Cooking

Visit her blog http://www.diabeticmenus.org/ her personal hobby website devoted to guidelines to eat healthy to prevent and manage diabetes.

Featured Blog-Feeding 10 for Under $10.00

the mom-team — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:46:34 +0000

Mom-Stuff ‘s featured Mom blogger, Jamie. the PolkadotMommy, has a new blog. It is Feeding 10 for Under $10.00. It’s a newer blog focusing on whole foods on a budget… Nothing to do with being gluten free, which is one of her other blog Looks Good in Polka Dots. WOW this talented mom is busy! I love this new blog. Make sure you visit and tell Jamie thanks for sharing with us. She is such a great resource for all of us moms.

HAPPILY FRUGAL MAMA

I’m a Mama to five, and one giant St. Bernard, Earthquake… I also do in home daycare. Hubs spends his day developing shoes. He travels the world over and prays I don’t blog about him. We are Catholic Christians. We are Republicans who believe in moderate-conservative views while holding strong beliefs toward Environmental Responsibility. I drink complicated coffee. I follow USDA nutrition guidelines. We eat organic and naturally. We try to avoid processed foods and all things artificial. My food budget goal is to limit our meal expense to $10.00 per meal. We are generally feeding 7-10 people at each meal. I’ve recently started working toward a traditional diet to improve overall health and reduce our grocery costs

Things We Eat Raw

I’m all for a more raw diet… afterall, there is no disputing that fresh food is good for you. That said… I’m a moderate Mama and believe that 50-75% raw is a great way to go.

For 50% raw, just make sure half of your plate at each meal is raw.
To reach 75% add raw snacks.
Simple, No?

Things we eat raw:
Fresh fruit
Fresh veggies
Nuts & nut butters
Ice pops (that’s another post)
Salsa
Guacomole
Dehydrated (under 106 degrees F) fruits, veggies, seed crackers/tortillas, and fruit leathers
Sprouts
Smoothies

Things I have no desire to eat raw:
Any recipe that requires multiple expensive ingredients
Kelp pasta
Faux anything

I often make pancakes or french toast for breakfast. My children, like most, would eat until their belly aches if I let them. So, we have a two rule. Everyone gets two pancakes or two pieces of french toast. The rest of breakfast is fresh fruit. I slice up apples, oranges, bananas, etc… to fill them up. Difficulty level to reach 50% raw- EASY

At lunch time, I serve a portion of pasta, sandwich or other “main” dish. Then I add a large green salad, sliced fresh veggies (carrots, broccoli and snap peas are popular) and slice up some more fruit. Difficulty reaching 50% raw- EASY

For snacks, enjoy a frozen ice pop (raw), bananas and almond butter, veggie sticks and dip, or a smoothie. Difficulty reaching 100% raw- EASY (We try for one raw snack and one regular snack a day)

At dinner, my husband wants MEAT. I’m not much of a meat eater myself, but I can appreciate the need for a good protein. Everyone eats a larger portion of the “main” dish at dinner alongside fresh garden salad, veggie sticks, fresh fruit salad (with a little real whip for dessert). Enjoy a small glass of fresh juice made from carrots, apples and oranges. Difficulty reaching 50% raw- EASY.

The kids always want a before bed snack, this is the perfect time to whip up a raw smoothie or give them another ice pop. Visit my gluten free living blog

Looks Good In Polka Dots . Sharing our journey through gluten free cooking, becoming more environmentally responsible and raising a whole passel of children.

Thanks for visiting the Mom-Stuff Blog Tour sponsored by www.mom-stuff.com.We are so excited by your response to our tour. We are having so much fun and making so many new friends. This week’s mom blogger Jamie the PolkadotMommy, has been such fun to work with and to get to know better.

The mom-team will be giving away gifts to the people who make the most comments while following the blog tour. You can make comments here, on Jamie’s Blogs, Tweeter, Facebook or other social sites. Thanks for being a part of www.mom-stuff.com your moms resource site. Visit Mom-Stuff for your St. Patrick’s Day ideas. We have just added a fast and easy treat bag. Perfect for St. Patrick’s gifts. Remember on St. Patrick’s Day we are all Irish!

See you again tomorrow,

Dianne

Meet Jamie-Looks Good in Polka Dots

the mom-team — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:32:32 +0000

This week Mom-Stuff .com (the site with the hyphen) want to introduce you to Jamie at Looks Good in Polka Dots she will be the featured mom blog on my Mom-Stuff Blog Tour. She has a daughter who is gluten intolerant which has led her on a journey into gluten free food.

I am really excited to visit Jamie this week. We believe all of our moms will enjoy this week with her. Our blog tour has been so much fun I hate to see it come to an end. I need the break to get my taxes ready for my tax man. I hate tax time. The blog tour has been such a BIG success I am going to do it again in the future. So if you would like me to visit your blog contact me, Dianne@mom-stuff.com. TodayI want to share Jamie’s story with you about her daughter. This story is how I meet Jamie. I made a comment on her blog and she emailed me some very helpful advice. Jamie is the kind of mom I want to promote because she really wants to help other moms.

Sick Since Birth

Behavior is just one of the issues that prompted us to seek out a Naturopathic physician. Kenzie has had issues since infancy. At 9 months old, she underwent testing for some pretty scary diseases because she had failure to thrive. Going from 9lbs 7ozs at birth to only 16lbs 2ozs at 12 months. For several months early in her life, she had what I considered a severe case of baby acne over her entire face. It was horrible. Now I realize it may have actually been eczema caused from her food sensitivities. She would spend 20-30 minutes screaming, grunting and turning red trying to have a bowel movement. She also spit up much more than her older sister had, but not to the extent that anyone considered it “abnormal”. I was breast feeding and she didn’t have any foods introduced until 6 months. Then I went through the standard protocol of one food for a week, then adding another. I didn’t notice a reaction to any specific food, but the constipation and growth issues didn’t pop up until between 7 and 9 months of age. It was probably the addition of wheat and gluten containing foods that prompted this, but it was a slow reaction. Not one that I picked up on as a result of introducing a new food. The doctors didn’t even test for food allergies. Eventually, when all the “scary” disease tests came back normal… they decided to treat the symptoms and label her a “difficult child” regarding the behavior. At 9 months, I was instructed to start offering her a bottle of formula after each breast feeding to ensure she was getting enough nutrition. She wouldn’t drink formula. So, the Doctor prescribed Pediasure instead. Everyday she would get a can of Pediasure with fiber, usually in two servings offered in a sippy cup after she finished nursing. In addition, she was given Miralax once a day in a small amount of diluted juice. This combination helped with the constipation, but she remained a relatively small child.

As time went on, Kenzie became a screamer. Throwing horrible fits and stomping her feet for no apparent reason. She would get up in the morning and stand beside my bed, screaming and thrashing around. Nothing would calm her down until she was done. Most of the time, she didn’t even know what she wanted. In between the fits, she was a happy child who was exremely active. She started walking at only 10 months and followed her then almost 3 year old sister all over the house.

Kenzie is so fidgety, that I have always called her my “dirty child”. Everything she touches ends up all over her! Every bit of food, art mediums, dirt, etc… I thought I was the Queen of Stain Removal before Kenzie. Something about the combination of her saliva and chocolate caused spots to set for life!

While my 7 year olds can play calmly, Kenzie is hyper-reactive. She can be in the middle of quiet play and suddenly she is having a crisis. She also has a tendency to be a bit rough with her younger sister, likely to hit or push at an alarming frequency.

As far as illnesses go… she is sick all the time. From September until Spring, she has a constant cold. Runny noses… coughing… wheezing. She coughs so hard she will vomit. We rely heavily on an inhaler so she can return to normal breathing. Everytime she gets a cold, it settles in her ears. She will wake up crying. I try to treat as few of these as possible. When her ear starts hurting, I put a couple drops of Floxin in and usually that nips it without having to search out antibiotics.

Potty-learning wasn’t achieved until nearly 4 years of age. And we still have night-time isues. If Kenzie has to go to the bathroom… it is a RIGHT THIS MINUTE emergency. This is getting better and I have faith that in the next year she will have full bladder control. In the meantime, we keep a change of clothes in her backpack… just in case and I get her up to potty before I go to bed at night.

Right after she turned 4, we were prompted by a family friend who has been a nurse for over 20 years. She said that Kenzie had the presentation of a child with food allergies and that Doctors often miss it because they don’t see the child everyday. We were spending the week at the lake house with several families and she saw Kenzie all day, every day during that time. We removed all preservatives, dyes and artificial flavors. Going to foods labeled “All Natural” or “Organic”. This made a huge improvement in the behavior, but didn’t affect the blotchy face, itchy skin and other physical symptoms she had. The MD Allergist we saw did a standard skin prick allergy test. Nothing showed reactive. He basically said that it was our imagination that foods were causing behavior issues, and that our expectations of how she reacts to certain foods will cause her to act that way. Funny, since we had NO clue what foods might be prompting her reactions. He then went on to say that reflux was his favorite diagnosis for kids that had belly aches and coughed at night. So we went home with samples of children’s Prevacid SoluTabs (both dyed pink and flavored w/ artifical strawberry) and a prescription for more to add to our inhaler and Zyrtec she was already taking. He said that the test was just too hard for young kids and the best thing to do was treat for it and see how things went. I have a differnt opinion and chose to not treat my child for some illness she probably doesn’t have. We chugged on with our diet modifications until it was apparent that we needed someone who would look further for an answer. That’s when we went to visit the Naturopath. I had long conversations with her about what was going on and my concerns with the behavior/food relationship. I also shared my concerns with ADHD and that I didn’t want my child labeled by a MD and then medicated to “fix” the problem. Now we have some answers. And are hopeful that removing the Wheat, Gluten, Gliadin, Milk and Whey from her diet will help us even more.

When Kindergarten started this year, Daddy was making bets on how long it would be before we were called to the Principals office. I was sure that with the right direction she would be fine. Turns out, she is doing fine. Good even. The Teachers are aware of our needs and how to direct her toward success. I pack ALL of her snacks and lunches, not allowing any substance from joint snack items or school lunches to pass her lips. The staff is great at staying in touch with me, saying that Kenzie was more red and blotchy today or having more fidgeting than normal. This helps us stay on top of what foods might be prompting her reactions, both physical and behavior.

With the diet modifications we have made, Kenzie should hopefully return to normal body function and feel like a “normal” child at school. I worry about her teen years… will she get rebellious and decide she wants to eat the foods she shouldn’t have? What if she does and then there isn’t an immediate response? Will she understand that eating something once may not affect her, but bringing these offenders back into her diet may cause life-long health and behavior issues?

Our child is not a “problem”. She is an amazing… smart… funny and loving child. She can put together a puzzle in a quarter of the time it would take me. She is going to be a whiz with math and science, and might need a little help to slow down and take her time when writing. She is starting to focus on her letters more… instead of sending her eyes wandering all over the room and saying “I don’t know”.

We are embarking on the changes needed to help her be able to succeed and I am positive it will help!

Thanks to everyone following our Mom-Stuff Blog Tour. Visit Jamie at Looks Good in Polka Dots. Make comments, make tweets, follow Jamie on Twitter, invite friends, and tell your friends about how much fun we are having. Mom-Stuff is giving gifts to the moms who make the most comments so join in the fun.

Mom-Stuff .com has posted our St. Patrick’s Day ideas.

Visit the Mom-Stuff Blog Tour tomorrow for some more great information from Jamie at Looks Good in Polka Dots. We believe in moms helping moms. Life is a circle around here. Come and join us.

Dianne-from Mom-Stuff

Prevent Swine Flu – Good Advice

the mom-team — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:39:54 +0000

This article was just passed on for us to share with every mom. www.mom-stuff.com is happy to pass this on. We hope everyone can keep their family healthy during this flu season.
Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institution s like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know. I like the preventive approach. We don’t have anything to lose, salt water won’t hurt you.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face. Wash after touching doors, shopping carts, ect.

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t like salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected o ne. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

23 Ways To Improve Your Life

the mom-team — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:06:42 +0000

23 Ways To Improve Your Health

and Change Your Life-in two or three minutes.

By Dr. Kathleen Hall. You can find this and other great articles at www.pinkmagazine.com! This article is shared with you by www.Mom-Stuff.com

If you are the kind of woman who puts yourself last on your own to-do list as you work to pursue your dream and make a difference in the world (while caring for so many others), here are a few simple things you can do to change your life – without taking a whole lot of time from living.

1. Play an online game. A few minutes of playing Scrabble, Word Whomp or PoppIt will make you feel less stressed and more alert mentally than before you played. Check out pogo.com and see for yourself.

2. Sing. Singing your way to work releases physical tension, oxygenates the blood, exercises your muscles and liberates suppressed emotions. The University of California found that Immunoglobulin A, a protein used by the immune system to fight disease, increased 150 percent during singing rehearsals and 240 percent during performances.

3. Go barefoot. “It feels great to walk around the house barefoot, especially after my morning three-mile run,” says Roxanne Housley, vice president of sales and marketing for Canyon Ranch. The soles of your feet have more than 7,200 nerve endings.

4. Text a message to a friend. It’ll boost your serotonin and endorphin levels. According to a California Department of Health Services study of 7,000, people who had the strongest social ties had dramatically lower rates of disease and premature death versus those who feel isolated and alone.

5. Jump rope. A woman of average weight (130 to 155 pounds) can burn about 25 calories by jumping rope at a moderate speed for two minutes. “Not only is it fun and a wonderful balance and agility exercise,” says Michael Hewitt, Ph.D., director for exercise science at Canyon Ranch, “but the mild jarring force of skipping rope also provides a bone health benefit.”

6. Look into the eyes of someone you love. The brain chemical oxytocin is produced during bonding experiences. This hormone increases trust, according to a study in Nature.

7. Breathe consciously. Concentrate on your breath – inhaling and exhaling to a count of four. “I practice Pilates, and breathing allows me to concentrate on the movement and eliminate all distractions,”
Housley says. “I also find that a couple of deep in hales and exhales help me focus just before a presentation or meeting.”

8. Place a vase of flowers on your desk. A behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School reveals that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when freshly cut flowers are present.

9. Hug someone. A team from the University of North Carolina studied the effects of hugging in 38 couples and found that hugs reduce blood pressure, which cuts the risk of heart disease.

10. Chew gum. It curbs your appetite while increasing mental alertness. U.K. psychologists found that people who chewed throughout tests produced significantly better scores than those who did not.

11. Do a breast self-exam. Just a couple of minutes can save your life. “By doing this regularly, you become familiar with how your breasts look and feel normally and are equipped to recognize any changes,” says Deborah Lindner, M.D., an expert with Bright Pink, a national nonprofit for women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

12. Enjoy color. Keep a shawl in your favorite color in a drawer nearby and occasionally wrap yourself in it. Behavioral science researchers have found that we can use color to positively affect our blood pressure, stress, energy level and even our ability to get a good night’s sleep.

13. Eat chocolate! Just a little, left to melt slowly in your mouth while you saturate your taste buds, will make you happy and even boost your immune system. German researchers found that a 30-calorie piece of dark chocolate – about the size of a Hershey’s Kiss – not only helps lower blood pressure but also raises levels of nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels.

14. Forgive somebody. Anger has been strongly associated with chronically elevated blood pressure and with aggregation of platelets, which may increase vulnerability for heart disease – especially if the expressions of anger are frequent and enduring, according to a study in Psychological Science.

15. Laugh! Laughter actually makes blood flow more efficiently. Artery diameter increases 22 percent during laughter and decreases 35 percent during mental stress, according to a study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

16. Show gratitude. Write a note to someone who has made a difference in your life. Long-term research has found that individuals who report a high level of gratitude and optimism have a 23 percent lower risk of health-related death.

17. Floss your teeth. It might actually be the secret to longevity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that people with gingivitis and periodontitis have a mortality rate that is 23 to 46 percent higher than the rate for those who don’t. Poor gum health is linked to increased rates of cardiovascular disease and strokes.

18. Lift weights. Keep a 5-pound weight (or a heavy book) by your desk and lift it repeatedly for a minute with each hand. One 12-month study of postmenopausal women conducted at Tufts University discovered 1 percent gains in bone density, 73 percent increases in strength and 14 percent increases in dynamic balance with just two days per week of progressive strength training.

19. Dance. Close your office door and let loose. The many benefits are obvious. Dancing gives you a certain “high” through the release of endorphins and reduces stress, decreases blood pressure and improves coordination.

20. Encourage yourself. Giving ourselves positive messages combats negative self-talk. Research tells us that our thoughts and emotions release powerful chemicals into our bodies that affect our mental, physical, and spiritual health and well-being. One affirmation to try: “I am strong. I am resilient. Keep letting go.” Go to mindfullivingtv.com for more.

21. Keep dried blueberries in your desk drawer. “Berries have the highest density of antioxidant phytochemicals of nearly all foods,” Hewitt says. Antioxidants are thought to help protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals and the chronic diseases associated with aging.

22. Use aromatherapy. Keep a little bottle of your favorite scent in your office and bring it out as needed. Lavender, chamomile and vanilla help you relax. Peppermint and orange provide mental clarity.

23. Let someone pull in front while driving. About 8 percent of the heart attacks among people in one German study were directly related to traffic. Let people pass if they are in a hurry; they could be injured, or in labor, or just late. The release of stress hormones can be lessened by practicing compassion

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