d-mars.com Health & Wellness 16

Health & Wellness Journal Health

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wellness

AUGUST 2012

INSIDE

State of HIV/STD in Houston Provided by the City of Houston It is inaccurate to assume that AfricanAmericans have higher rates of infection than other racial and ethnic groups.

PAGE 6

Cool Summer Drinks Refreshing cool summer drinks to cool you down. What’s your favorite?

PAGE 8

Eat and Exercise Right Sparkpeople.com While vacation is a time to relax and take a break from work, stress, and the usual routine, it shouldn’t be a break from your healthy habits.

PAGE 12

Laughter: The Best Medicine

By David Granirer Laughter is the perfect workout for anyone who doesn’t have the time or desire to participate in a regular fitness program.

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medical

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research

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sports

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fitness

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Lifestyle

Inspire, Inform & Educate

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beauty

16th Edition

2.

August, 2012

August, 2012 3.

Journal

Health & Wellness

Publisher’s Message

Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr. VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis

Our August focus is “Getting Back on Track.” If you fell off of the health and wellness bandwagon, now is the time to get back on it. We’ve provided you and your family with a host of inspirational articles in this issue that will assist you in improving your overall health and wellness quotient. In the words of the Nike slogan: Just Do It! As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support d-mars.com, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work.

Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

EDITING CONSULTANT Sharon Jenkins OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Johnny Ray Davis, Jr.

CONTENTS

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Onyebuchi Okoh C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ferland Antwine YK

Houston Youth Receive Opportunity to Smile For A Lifetime.......................................................... 4 State of HIV/STD in Houston........................................................................................................... 6 Cool Summer Drinks........................................................................................................................ 8 Exercise for Diabetes Prevention and Precautions for Diabetes..................................................... 9 Stress and How to Cope Using the Emotion Code......................................................................... 9 Discover the Best Ways to Cope With Asthma............................................................................. 10 Other People Have Found Help For Panic Attacks, Follow Their Lead!........................................ 10 Eat and Exercise the Right Way.................................................................................................... 12 How to Get Six Pack Abs, Fitness Secrets for a Flat, Toned Tummy............................................ 14 Laughter: The Best Medicine......................................................................................................... 15 Public Speaking is Not Your Enemy.............................................................................................. 15 He Who Laughs Last..................................................................................................................... 16 Tooth Decay: A “Preventable” Problem Affecting All Ages............................................................ 18 Is Your Child’s Diet Making Him Sick? ......................................................................................... 21

DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Maren Sederquist Nora M. Nagatani Krisanto Lin Joeden Dunne David Granirer Shulundra Gibson Michael Brickey Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade Atula Gupta Sparkpeople.com

MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.”

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–Tommy Lasorda

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4.

August, 2012

Houston Youth Receive Opportunity

to Smile For A Lifetime A smile is conta gious.

W hen you smile, t he world smiles back at you. But what about t he child t hat hides behind t heir smile?

Some children a re a fra id to smile because t hey a re emba rra ssed by t heir teet h.

Misa ligned teet h ca n lower a child ’s self-esteem a nd conf idence in t heir appea ra nce. Twent y percent of a ll children in t he United States a re living wit h moderate to severe ma locclusions. In today’s economy, t his situation ca n be hea rtbrea k ing for fa milies who do not have t he resources to pay t he cost of ort hodontic treatment. Ma ny of t hese children come from work ing fa milies living in povert y. Wit hout a ssista nce, t hese children have no hope of receiving t he treatment t hey need to become hea lt hy, productive members of societ y.

Empowering t he lives of children in t he communit y ha s a lways been a pa ssion for renowned Ort hodontist, Dr. Heat her Brown.

Dr. Brown ha s been able to impact t he lives of our yout h in a profound way by giving t he gif t of a smile.

L aunched t his yea r, Dr. Brown founded Houston’s f irst chapter of t he Smile For A Lifetime Foundation, Going The Extra Smile.

The Smile for a Lifetime nationa l foundation is a nonprof it, cha ritable orga nization wit h loca l chapters spa nning t he United States. Current ly t here a re 120 chapters in 40 states across t he U.S. wit h a movement to increa se t hose numbers to over 20 0 chapters, covering 50 states a nd Ca nada in t he next f ive yea rs. By t he end of 2012, over 90 0 young people will have received t he gif t of a smile wit h over f ive million dolla rs of or t hodontic ser vices donated. “Children a re of ten tea sed or

ostracized because of a n unbecoming smile a nd t his of ten prevents t hem from reaching t heir f u ll potentia l in life. A s founder of t he Houston chapter, it is my goa l to provide FR EE braces a nd FR EE or t hodontic treatment ever y yea r to si x yout h bet ween t he a ges of 10 a nd 18 who may not ot her wise be able to a f ford treatment due to fa mily income or ot her specia l circumsta nces,” says Brown.

The mission of t he Smile For A Lifetime Foundation is to create self-conf idence, inspire hope a nd cha nge t he lives of children in a

dra matic way. The gif t of a smile ca n do a ll t his for a deser ving individua l who, in turn, ca n use t his gif t a s a stepping stone to better t hemselves a nd t heir communit y. The foundation is used a s t he vehicle to ra ise awa reness about denta l hea lt h issues a f fecting children, such a s proper or t hodontic ca re, a nd identif y t hose children who wou ld most benef it from comprehensive or t hodontic treatment.

On Ju ly 28, 2012, Dr. Brown hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to a nnounce t he establishment of t he

Houston chapter of Smile For A Lifetime.

Specia l g uests a ssisting in t he ceremony were Cit y Councilma n L a rr y Green, Houston Citizens Cha mber of Commerce Boa rd Member Keit h Davis, U.S. Congressma n A l Green, Representative Cr ysta l Webster, Former NFL Players a nd Houston Texa ns A mba ssadors Eric Brown a nd Corey Brad ford.

A procla mation wa s issued

by Cit y Councilma n L a rr y Green a nd a cer tif ication of Congressiona l recognition wa s issued by U.S. Congressma n A l Green.

The 2012 winners; K ayla

August, 2012 5.

“A good deed is never lost.

No matter how fa r it goes, it will a lways come back to you.” The ef fects of t he Smile For A Lifetime foundation don’t just end when t he braces a re removed.

Dr. Brown hopes t hat each of t hese individua ls will understa nd t he va lue of t he gif t t hey received a nd will use t his gif t to better t hemselves so t hat one day t hey ca n pay it for wa rd a nd give back to t he communit y a nd help ot hers. A ll winners had to pledge to work Humphrey, At hena DeGuzma n, L eslie Herna ndez, Donnov yn Wa ller-Howa rd, April Johnson a nd Gabriella A lva rez were escorted

by Dr. Heat her Brown Ort hodontic s ma scot, Bugsy Brown. The winners were presented certif icates from Cit y Councilma n Green a nd a check from Dr. Brown in t he a mount of $36,0 0 0 which wa s t he cumu lative cost donated for t heir ort hodontic treatment.

A ll winners a nd g uests received a Smile For A Lifetime t-shirt, wristba nd a nd a wooden boomera ng. The well-k nown, boomera ng, is a t hrown tool designed to return back to t he origina l t hrower. Engraved on each boomera ng wa s t he quote,

ha rd in school, ma ke good grades, be a role model to t heir peers a nd demonstrate t he commitment to pay it for wa rd.

A ny child bet ween t he a ges of 10 a nd 18 who a re f ina ncia lly disadva nta ged a nd who, of course, ha s a signif ica nt aest hetic need for braces is eligible to apply. Each applica nt must f ill out a n application; provide t wo letters of recommendation, photos, a recent repor t ca rd a nd cur-

rent proof of income. Dr. Brown toget her wit h t he Smile for a Lifetime Foundation is look ing for wa rd to providing admirable young people in t he Houston a rea t he cha nce for a new smile. If you or someone you k now cou ld benef it from t he gif t of a smile, plea se ca ll (713) 665- 4 455 or visit w w w.drheat herbrown.com to apply. Applications a re accepted yea r round a nd a re ava ilable in bot h English a nd Spa nish.

Winners will be a nnounced mid-Ju ly of each yea r.

Dr. Heat her Brown is one of Houston’s leading Ort hodontists a nd she holds a top-level cer tif ication a s a n Invisa lign Premier Provider. Dr. Brown ha s received numerous awa rds for her outsta nding commitment to t he communit y.

She ha s been ser ving t he Houston communit y since 20 03. Each patient, from young children a nd teens to adu lts, is distinct a nd provides unique cha llenges a nd rewa rds. Wit h a practice located in Houston’s medica l center a rea, schedu ling a free consu ltation is ea sy a nd convenient. A stra ighter smile is wit hin your reach. Come visit Dr. Brown a nd her sta f f a nd you’ ll discover t he secret behind a beautif u l smile.

Dr. Heat her Brown Or t hodontic s 2636 Sout h L oop West, Suite 10 0 Houston, T X 77054 Ph: 713 665- 4 455 Email: info@drheatherbrown.com Website: www.drheatherbrown.com

6.

August, 2012

State of HIV/STD in Houston

Provided by The City of Houston

Working in partnership with the community to assess, plan, and implement effective public health strategies to reduce the spread of HIV, viral hepatitis and other sexually transmitted diseases in the City of Houston is at the core of our mission.

In the context of the HIV epidemic, Houston and Harris County face comparable challenges. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-vention (CDC), the Houston-Baytown-Sugarland, TX area ranks 12th highest in the nation for rate of AIDS diagnoses. In 2010, an estimated 1,430 cases of HIV were diagnosed in the area, and 21,170 people were estimated to be living with HIV at the end of 2009. African Americans account for 53.1 percent of new HIV diagnoses and 50.0 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the Houston Area.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reports that 1 in 30 African American males ages 45-54 are HIV positive in the Houston Area today, the highest rate of any subpopulation.

It is inaccurate to assume that African Americans have higher rates of infection than other racial and ethnic groups simply because they engage in more risky behavior. Research has overwhelmingly shown that individual risk behavior alone does not account for the disparities in African Americans with regard to rates of infection or transmitting it to others.

Determinants of health that have been linked to HIV/STD infections include (but are not limited to): stigma, education, discrimination, income, health literacy, access to quality healthcare, substance abuse, unemployment, and

differences in social networks.

Improving health outcomes for African Americans depends on an effective response to these issues.

1 in 30 African American males ages 45-54 are HIV positive in the Houston Area today The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) Bureau of HIV/STD and Viral Hepatitis Prevention is charged with developing an effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Houston/Harris County by improving our community response to HIV infection and associated risk factors, preventing the spread of HIV, maximizing health and social outcomes and coordinating effective and efficiently targeted comprehensive services for those at risk for, living with or affected

by HIV. The Bureau currently provides funding support to 14 community-based organizations, medical and research institutions to target and provide counseling, testing, health education, risk reduction, social marketing and linkage assistance to necessary medical care. With an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million consisting of federal, state, and local funding sources, it is one of only nine local health department programs that receive funds directly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for HIV Prevention Services.

August, 2012 7.

8.

August, 2012

Cool Summer Drinks

Frozen Slushie

Cherry Vanilla Smoothie

Lemonade with Berry Ice Cubes

Keep some canned fruit in your freezer and you can whip up this refreshing and fruity slush in a snap.

Ingredients 2 cans of fruit packed in heavy syrup (peaches and pineapple work especially well) Instructions 1. Seal the canned fruit in a zip-lock bag and place the bag in the freezer.

2. When the kids are hot and thirsty, submerge the bag in a bowl of hot tap water until the fruit is slightly thawed (about a minute).

3. Pour the syrup into a food processor and slide the frozen fruit onto a cutting board. Chop the fruit into small chunks and put them in the food processor.

Blend the fruit and syrup until smooth, from 30 seconds to 2 1/2 minutes, depending on the type of fruit. Serve immediately. Makes 4 half-cup servings.

This sweet-tart smoothie is an all-time favorite. Double the recipe and freeze the leftovers in paper cups. Your kids can have the first round for breakfast, the second for a wholesome dessert.

Ingredients 1 cup apple juice or cider 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups frozen pitted cherries Instructions 1. Blend all ingredients together. Serves 2.

This lemony, tangy drink gets sweeter, and prettier, as the cubes melt.

Ingredients 1 11.5-oz. can frozen concentrate strawberry or any berry mix juice 24 raspberries or 8 strawberries, sliced (optional) 2 quarts water 1 1/3 cups sugar (or more, to taste) 1 1/3 cups fresh lemon juice 8 lemon slices 8 mint sprigs Instructions 1. Pour the juice concentrate and 1 can of water into a pitcher.

2. Mix to combine, and then pour the juice into two ice cube trays, adding raspberries or sliced strawberries if you wish. Freeze.

3. Combine the 2 quarts of water and the sugar in a medium saucepan.

4. Bring to a boil and stir to combine. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

5. Strain the lemon juice through a fine sieve into the sugar syrup.

6. Chill. Slit each lemon slice once, from center to rind, and then press the slits onto eight glasses.

7. Fill each glass with 3 berry ice cubes and the lemonade. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Makes 8 glasses.

Source: FamilyFun Magazine

August, 2012 9.

Exercise for Diabetes Prevention and Precautions for Diabetics

by Maren Sederquist, MES, CSCS, CPT

Do you have diabetes, or have you been told by your physician that you’re going to have diabetes if you don’t change your lifestyle? Along with changing your eating habits, exercise is essential for regulating your blood sugar.

The Diabetes Prevention Program -- a large study done in people with pre-diabetes -- showed that 150 minutes of physical activity a week (30 minutes, five times a week) helped prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In this study, people also lost 10 to 20 pounds by making changes in their eating habits. Your muscles use much of the sugar that your body produces, so it lowers blood sugar by decreasing insulin resistanc Research has shown that physical activity can: • Lower your blood glucose and your blood pressure.

• Lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol.

• Improve your body’s ability to use insulin.

• Lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.

• Keep your heart and bones strong.

• Keep your joints flexible.

• Lower your risk of falling.

• Help you lose weight.

• Reduce your body fat.

• Give you more energy.

• Reduce your stress.

4 Kinds of Activities That Help: • Bike or do another cardiovascular activity that’s easy on your feet. 30 mins, 5 x/week.

• Stretch 5-10 mins, 5 x/week after cardiovascular exercise.

• Strength train. 20-60 mins, 2-3 x/week.

• Be active throughout the day!

Some special things that people with diabetes need to remember: • Take care of your feet. Make sure your shoes fit properly and your socks stay clean and dry. Check your feet for redness or sores after exercising. Call your doctor if you have sores that do not heal.

• Make sure the weights you lift aren’t so heavy that you feel pressure in your eyes.

• Drink about 2 cups of water before you exercise, about every 20 minutes during exercise, and after you finish, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

• Warm up and cool down for 5 to 10 minutes before and after exercising. For example, walk slowly at first, then walk faster. Finish up by walking slowly again.

• Test your blood glucose before and after exercising. Do not exercise if your fasting blood glucose level is above 300 – your level can go even higher. Also, exercise is not recommended if your fasting blood glucose is above 250 and you have ketones in your urine. Wait until your blood glucose is lower.

• Eat a small snack if your blood glucose is below 100. Know the signs of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) and how to treat it.

“Maren Sederquist, MES, CSCS, CPT, is an internationally recognized fitness expert and owner of HealthFIT Professional Training, a personal training and fitness consulting firm providing in-home training in Silicon Valley.

She is the publisher of HealthFIT News - a monthly newsletter, and the HealthFIT News Blog, both devoted to keeping its readers fit for health and wellness. Subscription information, as well as past articles and tips, can be found online at http://www.healthfitonline.com or by writing to maren@healthfitonline. com.

Maren is also the founder of KidLifting, creating healthy families with exercises for parents to do with their kids. The DVD, articles and forum can be found at http://www. kidlifting.com.”

References and Resources: http://www.diabetes.org/, http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/, http://www.diabetesnet.com/, http://www.diabetes.com/

Stress and How To Cope Using The Emotion Code

“

Many people all over the world are dealing with stress on a daily basis.

The Emotion Code will help you heal and get you right back on track in life, doing things you love again and socializing with family and friends.

”

It is a prevalent problem in today’s society, although most people won’t admit to it.

It can be a very serious and debilitating problem for anyone, but especially in senior citizens. It can change your whole personality, if you were once a happy person you may appear anxious or upset all the time because of the stress. You could possibly lose interest in things that you once loved as well. It’s especially hard for the sufferer but also the loved ones that are seeing you go through this.

In really small doses stress can actually help you perform better and simply motivate you to give your best possible effort. It all depends upon each particular situation. It is simply your body’s way of protecting you from impending dangers and other things. It is supposed to offset your usual balance, as it is a release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.

But when you begin to feel like this all of the time, then you may have a problem.

There are many different warning signs of stress; you may begin to have

cognitive problems, emotional problems, physical problems and even behavioral problems. When you are constantly in high gear, it will take a toll on your body mentally and physically. Some cognitive symptoms you may begin to have would be possible memory loss, poor judgment, seeing only the negative in anything and constant worry. Emotional symptoms would include, moodiness, irritability, depression or just being unhappy.

The physical symptoms you may face are body aches, rapid heartbeat, frequent colds and often chest pains. And last but not least the behavioral problems are eating more or less, sleeping more or less than usual and isolating yourself from loved ones and friends. It is hard for younger people to deal with all those signs and symptoms, but for seniors it will be twice as hard. Senior citizens will have a harder time dealing with all that, because they are getting older and their bodies are starting to slow down.

There are ways to cope and get through this such as the Emotion Code. It will help you learn how to release trapped emotions and get through any particular problem you may be going through at any given time. The Emotion Code will

By Nora M. Nagatani help you heal and get you right back on track in life, doing things you love again and socializing with family and friends.

Although you may not always think you have trapped or unreleased emotions, you very well might, and that can take a toll on your physical and mental health.

Even though you may feel as if you are only person going through stress, you are not alone. Many people all over the world have this same problem. You just have to learn how to cope and using the Emotion Code will definitely help you out with that. Once your energy is back on track, you will begin to feel good and find joy in things once again.

Nora Nagatani, MA, CECP, is a practitioner and educator in the energy healing arts and a certified Emotion Code practitioner. She is based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, but works with clients from around the world. Sessions are conducted in person or on the phone. More information on the Emotion Code is available at her Web site -http://gracefullyage.com/emotion-code.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles. com/?expert=Nora_M_Nagatani

10. August, 2012

Discover The Best Ways To Other People Have Found Help For Cope With Your Asthma Panic Attacks, Follow Their Lead!

P

By Joeden Dunne

By Krisanto Lin eople who have asthma have

While asthma has been a recognized dis-

many more problems to deal

ease for many years, there are new devel-

with than people without it.

opments and procedures being discovered

Just being diagnosed for the

often. Since everyone is an individual,

first time can be very disturbing, and all

there may be some things you can do that

the details of learning how to live with it

help you personally. The process is really

can overwhelm nearly anyone. The infor-

a matter of trial and error, and you can

mation in this article can help you devise a

personalize your treatment plan through

plan that will make your life easier.

experience.

Your doctor will have many instructions

Ask your doctor if there are any other

and suggestions for you. You can also find

specialists who approach the treatment

out a lot of information for yourself by do-

of asthma differently than he does. Make

ing online searches and reading medical

sure your doctor knows you trust his ad-

literature. Ask your doctor to guide you to

vice, and are not looking to replace him.

legitimate sources of information, so that

Exercise is good for you, but exerting your-

what you read on your own will not con-

self too much and too fast can cause an at-

flict with his instructions.

tack. Look for a special exercise instructor

Take care to stay positive and look for new ways to improve your treatment plan.

who is trained to work with clients with Continued on pg 21

M

any people are seeking help for panic attacks nowadays, because anxiety and worry (two common reasons for attacks) seem to be at a very high level right now. Everyone is susceptible to getting a panic attack, but there are some people who can cope with anxiety and worry utilizing a few natural techniques.

Often what works for one person will work for another. This is why programs work so well. A proven technique that works for many different people, and is backed up by a ton of testimonials, is bound to be adopted and sought after by many more people!

could actually come into play in your life, if so, then start to question how likely it is that they really will. Many times when you weigh the likelihood of something negative occurring, you will see that the chances are pretty slim.

Additionally, you may want to start telling yourself more positive things in place of those negative thoughts. For instance, if you are starting to become anxious about losing a job, then start to create a new, more positive, thought about being promoted.

Often times, changing your thoughts to something more positive will allow you to feel better and relieve you of the anxiety that you are feeling. Relieving anxiety is a great help for panic attacks.

Three Techniques That Can Help Panic Attacks 3. Challenge Your Fears 1. Pay Attention to Unrealistic Thinking Anxiety and worry normally occur when the mind begins to race with thoughts that begin with “What if?” We start off by wondering what will happen if a negative situation occurs, and soon we are staring down the worst case scenario. Our minds have a way of taking a simple thought and turning into an irrational thought that causes us panic.

Pay attention to your thoughts. Pay attention to the fact that you are starting to make up stories in your head or when you are heading towards the worst case scenario. Once you start to pay attention to your thoughts you will have more control over the direction they go. You will stop being a victim to your thoughts and stop allowing them to rule your emotions.

2. Start Challenging Your Thoughts With The Facts When you start to recognize your irrational thoughts, you can then start to question them and challenge them. You may want to question whether they are stories that you are starting to make up in your head or whether they are based on real occurrences that could happen. You will find that most of the time they are stories.

However, if you find that your thoughts

Attacks are often caused by fears and phobias. One form of help for panic attacks it to face your fears and phobias head on, and experience the worst of what could happen. This has helped cure many people who have recurring attacks.

For instance, if public speaking makes you anxious and causes panic attacks, then you can gradually expose yourself to more and more people to overcome your fear.

Starting small by facing one person may be scary, but it will expose you to your fear and allow you to deal with the feelings rather than become anxious about them.

The more you face your fears and the more people you speak in front of, the more your fears will start to reside.

In the end, remember that there is preventative help for panic attacks as well.

A healthy diet, adequate exercise, stress reduction, and living a simple life are all ways to reduce your chances of having an attack. But if you are suffering from panic attacks right now then following in other’s footsteps (proven methods that work) is the best way to start relieving your panic attacks.

Many panic sufferers all over the world have discovered help for panic attacks and you can too http://www.panicattackselfhelp.net

August, 2012 11.

12. August, 2012

Eat and Exercise the Right Way V

acation season is here! You deserve a break, after spending the last few months becoming a fitter, healthier you, right? While vacation is a time to relax and take a break from work, stress, and the usual routine, it shouldn’t be a break from your healthy habits.

With a little planning, you can enjoy your vacation and still maintain your current weight and fitness level. Whatever your plans – a family road trip, a tropical cruise, a sightseeing tour, or relaxing on the beach – you can avoid packing on those dreaded vacation pounds by packing some healthy foods and workout gear instead.

• Plan exercise and stretching breaks as well. Just three 10-minute pit stops add up to 30 minutes of activity. Go for a quick jog or walk, stretch and run around with the kids. Back in the car, you’ll be more alert and energetic.

• Avoid coffee and caffeinated drinks.

While they do give you a short energy burst, the drop when caffeine wears off can make you even more tired. For stable energy levels, drink plenty of water and eat healthy, whole foods that keep blood sugar levels from spiking and dropping.

• Be wary of fast food and roadside restaurants. If you have no other options,

• While trekking through the airport, take every opportunity for extra movement.

Use the stairs, pass on the people movers and carry your own luggage.

• Instead of sitting around before boarding the plane, use the time to walk.

You’ll arrive early enough to fit in 15-20 minutes of walking, so take advantage of it. After all, you’re about to sit for an entire flight.

• Call the airline 48 hours in advance to see if a meal is offered. Typical in-flight dinners can have as many calories (over 1,000) as a fast food meal, and even more fat! Special order a diabetic, lowfat, vegetarian, child, or religious meal.

Or, pack your own lunch to ensure you get exactly what you want.

• Flying can easily dehydrate you, so drink plenty of water. Drinking one glass per hour in flight will ward off dehydration and jetlag.

• It’s okay to get up and walk through the aisles a few times when you are feeling antsy during a long flight.

You can avoid packing on those dreaded vacation pounds by packing some healthy foods and workout gear.

Cruise Control

Roadies If you’re traveling by car, you’ve already spent a lot of time planning your course.

We all want to make good time, but it’s also important to schedule several breaks into your itinerary, especially if you have kids: • Pack a cooler full of healthy snacks, and even complete meals. Chopped veggies, fresh fruits, bottled water and juice, lowfat yogurt, peanut butter sandwiches, popcorn and pretzels make easy travel fare.

• Don’t skip meals, and try not to go more than 4 or 5 hours without eating. Being famished at mealtime may hinder your ability to make healthy choices and trigger overeating. Plus, constant energy levels will keep you alert at the wheel.

• Avoid eating full meals in the car. Take time to stop, relax and enjoy your meal.

This way, you can pay closer attention to your hunger and satiety signals.

choose the healthiest possible items and keep portion sizes small. One way to avoid excess calories and fat is to hold the mayo, special sauces, cheese and dressings. Also opt for non-breaded items and kid-sized portions. Read up on more “menu watch words” here.

Frequent Flyers Despite appearances – a plethora of fast foods, snacks and lots of sitting around – flights and airports offer plenty of nutritious food and opportunity for activity, if you know where to look: • Try to eat a healthy meal before you arrive. You’ll be less likely to munch on high-calorie snacks just because they’re around or you’re bored.

• If eating in an airport, it’s worth it to spend the time searching out healthy foods. Look for salads, fresh fruit, vegetable-based soups and baked chicken.

Cruises offer so many opportunities for fun and exploring. But they are also known for their rich, gourmet food that is available round the clock. You don’t have to totally deprive yourself to stay in shape. Moderation, along with participation in the many opportunities that cruises offer for fitness, will keep you sailing smoothly: • At buffets, fill your plate only once.

Load 50% of your plate with vegetables and choose small portions of other foods you want to try.

• If you splurge and eat a rich meal, try to balance it out with a healthy, vegetable meal. Eat lighter the rest of the day.

• If ordering dessert, don’t make it a daily habit. And when you do, split it with someone else.

• Most cruises offer a healthier “spa menu.” Order from this when you can.

And, when ordering at any meal, be very specific about what you do and do not want. You can omit ingredients and specify how you want something to be cooked (steamed instead of fried).

• Plan for fitness every day. Cruises usually offer complete gyms, aerobics classes, trainers, running tracks and pools.

Go dancing in the disco in the evening and play plenty of beach games when docked. Take a morning walk around the track while enjoying the sights and fresh air.

Staying Inn Shape As the demand for healthy eating and exercising rises, hotels are responding to their guests. There’s no reason not to work out or eat right just because you’re away from home. Calling ahead and working with the concierge will help you find all the things you need to make your vacation a healthy one: • When checking in, refuse the mini-bar key. Not only are the prices outrageous, but the choices are not the healthiest.

Instead, find a nearby health food store or grocery and stock up on good-foryou snacks. If your room/floor has a fridge or microwave, you can also get enough foods to prepare healthy meals.

If a coffee maker is all you get, buy instant soups or oatmeal and prepare them with the hot water.

• If ordering room service, be specific about what you want, whether or not it is on the menu. Most places will accommodate your healthy requests and substitutions.

• Before leaving home, find out what fitness opportunities the hotel offers.

While most will have a pool, others may offer tennis, walking paths, bike rentals and full gyms. Then, pack the appropriate clothes, shoes and gear.

• If your hotel does not have a gym, ask if they are affiliated with a nearby local gym. Many will offer day passes at a discount for hotel guests.

• Ask the concierge about healthy restaurants, markets, parks, trails and maps.

• Design your own hotel room workout.

All you need to pack is some lightweight, cheap equipment: resistance bands, a jump rope and a sticky mat. Most bands will come with illustrated exercises. You can also do push-ups, crunches, lunges, squats and triceps dips on a chair.

Remember to pack walking shoes, a swimsuit, exercise equipment and loose, comfortable clothing. And with all that time in the sun, don’t forget shades, a hat and plenty of sunscreen.

It’s worth the time it takes to plan ahead for a healthy trip, but be realistic. You probably won’t lose weight on vacation, but maintenance is possible. Remember, vacation (like exercise) should be fun!

Try new things, sightsee on foot, go rock climbing or surfing, and definitely enjoy the good food without total deprivation.

Being healthy is a lifestyle, not a quick fix.

So, follow these tips to return home with plenty of memories and souvenirs, not extra pounds.

This article has been reviewed by Becky Hand, Licensed and Registered Dietician Article reprinted from SparkPeople.com

August, 2012 13.

14. August, 2012

How to Get Six Pack Abs, Fitness Secrets for a Flat, Toned Tummy

W

hether you’re just starting an exercise program, or you’ve been at it for years, there is one thing on everyone’s wish list: a toned stomach. Welldefined abdominal muscles are glorified as being sexy, healthy and youthful. You may have seen one once—the rare person who seems to know the “secrets” of perfect abs.

Does he know something that you don’t?

Is it possible for you, a regular person, to achieve the abs of your dreams?

You may be surprised to learn that you can train less and see better results—yes it’s true! And you don’t have to buy any special equipment. All you need is your body and the proper training knowledge.

But first, it’s important to understand the anatomy of the rectus abdominis (or abs, for short). They run down the front of the torso, from the center of the ribcage to the pubic bone. It’s a common myth that the abs are made up of several different muscles (such as upper and lower abs).

The fact that the word “abs” appears to be plural doesn’t help this case. But in fact, it is one long sheet of muscle that just happens to look like several small muscles. This is due to a unique feature called “tendinous inscriptions.” These inscriptions run across the muscle and down the center, giving it that “6-pack” (but more accurately, 8-pack) appearance.

“If the abs are one muscle,” you may be wondering, “then why do certain exercises seem to target different areas?” Actually, all abdominal exercises target the entire muscle, but during some exercises, you just happen to feel it in one region of the muscle a little more.

The abs are grouped with a few other muscles that are collectively referred to as the “core,” which also includes your obliques (which run diagonally across your middle), transverse abdominis (a long muscle that runs horizonally beneath the rectus abdominis), and lower back (erector spinae muscles along the spine). Some experts also consider the hips to be part of the core. Many people focus on training the abs but forget about these other muscles, which are also important. A good rule of thumb is that every time you train your abs, you should also target the obliques and lower back as well.

When it comes to training for abs of steel, here’s what you need to know: Burn fat. You may be surprised to know that most people actually DO have strong, defined abs…they just happen to be covered by a layer of fat. This is because the abs are actually involved in balance and stabilization during all kinds of every day movements and exercises. All the crunches (or other exercises) in the world won’t burn the fat on top of the muscle. To accomplish this, you need a combination of regular

cardio (aerobic) exercise and a healthy diet to create a caloric deficit necessary to lose weight. Your SparkDiet and exercise program will help you achieve your weight loss goals.

Don’t crash diet. Some people will swear that a key to their flat abs is what they eat—or don’t eat. Whether they omit dairy, milk, wheat, sugar, or something else, you do not have to drastically change your diet (or limit certain foods or food groups) to lose the belly bulge. Simple, healthy eating habits (not deprivation) will help you drop excess weight from all over the body.

Be realistic. For visible abdominal definition, your body fat percentage has to be pretty low—that’s about 8 percent body fat for men, and 14 percent body fat for women. To put this in perspective, “healthy” ranges of body fat are 14%-17% for men and 21%-24% for women. It may be impossible for some people to reach such low percentages without going to extreme measures. Remember that women are genetically predisposed to store more fat around the belly and need minimum levels of body fat to be healthy and menstruate.

You’ll have to decide if washboard abs are worth going to extremes or not. For most people, simply flattening the stomach and losing a few extra pounds is a realistic, attainable goal.

Train the abs like you would any other muscle. You should strength train all of your major muscle groups, which typically involves 1-3 sets of 8-15 repetitions per exercise. There is no need to do 50, 100 or thousands of crunches each day. In fact, if you are doing your exercises correctly, 8-15 repetitions are all that you need to feel the muscles working and get results.

The key is to focus on your form, by deeply engaging your abs throughout each movement. This is commonly described as “pulling your naval towards your spine,” or “scooping” the abs inward and it will help you engage more muscle fibers (especially the transverse abs), making each repetition more effective.

Just like you should allow your biceps, for example, to rest 1-2 days between workouts, the same is true for the abs. They also need time to rest, recover and rebuild to get stronger. Aim for no more than 3-4 abdominal training sessions per week.

Vary your program. Every exerciser should add variety to their exercises to keep the body surprised and continue seeing results. Try to change up your exercises (both cardio and strength) at least every 4-6 weeks, if not more often. This will help prevent plateaus and allow you to progress from easier to more advanced exercises as you become stronger.

Here are some of my favorite abdominal exercises. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for each to ensure proper form and effectiveness.

• 15-Minute Abs Workout Video. This video shows several effective exercises, but 15 minutes of abs is a lot of work!

Try working your way up to finishing it gradually, and allow for plenty of rest between sessions.

• Modified Plank. This yoga pose is a great core strengthener—especially when you need a break from crunches.

It strengthens the deep transverse abdominis muscle, which can help reduce back pain.

• Crunches on a Ball. As boring as they may seem, studies show that crunches done on a stability ball are the most effective exercise for the abs.

• Seated Twist with Medicine Ball. You don’t have to hold a weight to feel this exercise, which also works the obliques.

• Reverse Crunch with Ball. No, it doesn’t target your “lower abs” (we busted that myth above), but this is a great variation to regular crunches. The ball adds challenge, but you can do this with just bent legs and no ball.

• Pilates. This gentle, yet effective, form of exercise focuses on strengthening the body from the center. It involves precision and concentration. With practice, individuals can expect better core strength, flatter abs, improved posture and a more balanced body.

Don’t forget the lower back! Include at least one lower back exercise every time you work your abs. These muscles work together all the time. Strong abs help prevent lower back pain, but so does a

strong back. Remember that when focusing on that muscle group, you should feel the muscles working—which is not the same as back pain. Do not attempt any exercise that actually hurts your back in any way.

Pulling the abdominals in tight will offer greater support for the back during each of these exercises. Here are my top picks: • Back Extensions.

Simple and straightforward, you’ll feel the back working after just a few of these!

• Swimming. This Pilates exercise is a great for the entire core, especially the lower back.

• Slow Swimming with Ball. This advanced move targets the whole core to help you balance on the ball as you engage the erector spinae.

There you have it—the real “secrets” to getting toned, flat, and strong abdominals. Now that you understand the abs and how to train them, you are equipped to reach your goals. Soon your friends and family will want to know your secrets!

Article reprinted from SparkPeople.com Advertise TODAY in d-mars.com Business Journal Call Us TODAY! 713.272.9511

August, 2012 15.

Laughter: The Best Medicine W

By David Granirer MA, North America’s Psychotherapist/Stand-up Comic

e’ve all heard the saying “Laughter is the best m e d i c i n e ,” b u t now it’s scientifically proven!

According to Dr. Lee Berk of the Loma Linda School of Public Health in California, laughter strengthens the immune system and lowers levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. After a bout of laughter, blood pressure drops to a lower, healthier level than when the laughter began. Dr. William Fry of Stanford University found that “twenty seconds of guffawing gives the heart the same workout as three minutes of hard rowing.” Another year-long study of heart attack victims done at the Oakhurst Health Research Institute in California found that of those who spent half an hour a day watching comedy videos, 10 percent had a second heart attack, whereas 30 percent of those who did not watch had a second attack.

Public Speaking is Not Your Enemy: Don’t Let Stage Fright Hold You Back From Your Goals.

By Shulunda Gibson, Contributing Writer to help you relax. Slow, deep breathing can serve to regulate the cycle.

I

Since laughing is something people can do sitting down, costs no money, and requires no special exercise equipment or skill, it’s the perfect workout for anyone who doesn’t have the time or desire to participate in a regular fitness program.

So here’s a tip for the next time you feel stressed and need a wellness break. It’s called the Smile Time-Out. Take a deep breath, smile, exhale, and say “Aaah” while visualising all your muscles and cells smiling. Then add to that a memory of a time you felt really good and laughed and laughed.

Remember, even when you fake a smile or laugh, you get the same physiological benefits as when it’s the real thing, because your mind is smart, but your body is stupid and can’t tell the difference!

David Granirer gives laughter in the workplace presentations for hundreds of organizations throughout North America. For more information call National Speakers Bureau at 1-800-6614110 FREE 1-800-661-4110 or go to http://www.psychocomic. com For information on David’s products, contact him directly at: (604) 205-9242 FREE (604) 205-9242 or Email: david@ psychocomic.com or www. psychocomic.com

t’s almost your turn to speak. It seems like time is racing. If it would only slow down…The closer it gets to your debut, the more tense your muscles become. You’re sweating. You feel butterflies in your stomach. Your pupils are dilated and your mouth feels dry. You’re thinking…what if I forget my speech? What if I sound stupid? Suddenly, your name is called. You walk up to the podium and nothing comes out or worse…you begin to stutter. Then, you take a deep breath, deliver your icebreaker and take a sigh of relief at the end of your successful speech. If that sounds all too familiar, you have a serious case of stage fright.

It is also known as fear of public speaking, performance anxiety or communication apprehension.

Stage Fright is the #1 fear of most Americans with fear of death coming in at #2. Could this mean that there are people out there who would rather die than speak in front of a group?

It can be tragic and paralyzing.

This reaction is not only triggered by large groups but an individual can experience the same reaction when it comes to speaking up in a meeting, talking to a stranger in a coffee shop, or introducing yourself at a party. Researchers have linked fear of public speaking or performance to a fear of judgment, lack of experience speaking, being ill prepared and negative encounter of hostility or misunderstanding by a past audience.

This fear can be overcome by first remembering you cannot get rid of the feelings associated with it. They are a normal stress reaction that causes a Fight or Flight reaction in the body when it perceives you are under attack. This stress reaction can be managed with the following tips: • Wear something that makes you feel confident • Arrive early so you can set up, settle in, warm up your voice and do deep breathing

• Remember you are the expert, which is why you were invited to present the information before the group, which leads to the next tip…

• Speak from the heart.

Transition from your head and internal apprehensions by telling yourself, “It’s not about me.” The information you’re delivering is for the growth, development and enlightenment of your audience.

• Know your material and prepare ahead of time if at all possible • Know your speaking style and incorporate your personality into the speech • Of course, there is the ageold tip of imagining your audience naked. I simply scan the 4 corners of the room and/ or transfer the thought of the audience staring at me to looking at the audience.

You can practice scanning the room for the pleasant faces.

• Imagine you are having a conversation with the audience.

If by chance you do make a mistake, remember we all are human and make mistakes. It’s okay! Laugh about it later but keep going. Your audience might not catch it. Don’t be deterred from your focus. It’s about the message you are delivering.

Attitude, skill and knowledge will help to reduce error and mistakes when speaking. If you have a speech or voice challenge that affects your skill and ease of speaking, your attitude about it can determine if the deficit is actually a distraction. Trouble shooting during the preparation process can help you overcome hurdles.

Embrace the nerves and make the energy work for you. Think happy thoughts and reprogram your brain to associate positive thoughts with public speaking.

Tell yourself something like, “I’m going to talk to some new friends today.” “Wait until they hear what I have to say… they will love it.”….And they will!!!

16. August, 2012

He Who Laughs Lasts A s Michelle Pritchard put it, “You don’t stop laughing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop laughing.” Cultivating a sense of humor is one of the best ways to stay youthful.

Our society tends to regard humor as frivolous. Few activities, however, are as mentally demanding and intellectually stimulating as humor. Humor requires appreciating other perspectives and understanding cultural norms and expectations. It is no accident that one of the eleven tests on the world’s most respected IQ test asks people to arrange cartoon pictures to tell a story.

For people who are learning a language or culture, understanding the culture’s humor is one of the last skills they master. Telling or joke or relating a humorous event requires great judgment and insight in knowing whether someone is likely to find something funny. What is funny to one person might be dumb or even offensive to another person. Telling a joke also requires timing and acting skills .

Humor helps you develop perspective and not take yourself too seriously. Laughing uses a lot of muscles and stimulates your immune system.

Just as physical fitness is a “use it or lose it” proposition, your ability to understand humor declines with age unless you exercise your sense of humor on a regular basis. The phrase “someday you’ll laugh at this” illustrates how humor also helps us put pain in perspective.

Cartoons like Peanuts (Charlie Brown) and Ziggy prompt us to not take ourselves too seriously. Dilbert’s satire assures us that we’re not crazy but sometimes our jobs are. The Family Circus helps us appreciate how children perceive the world, enabling us to be more sensitive to their needs and nourish our childlike sides. Doonesbury and political cartoons lampoon our political processes and help us see when “the emperor has no clothes.” Humor’s ability to get us to appreciate others’ perspectives is a great antidote for racial, political, and international problems.

Personal challenges for humor might be: 1) remembering even two jokes when a stand-up comedian says one after another and has you in stitches, 2) telling a joke and getting a laugh, and 3) developing your own jokes. Joking with young children provides a great opportunity to exercise humor and not worry about looking foolish or blowing a punch line.

Of course you do have to reciprocate by listening to a lot of knock knock jokes–over and over. When you listen to young children trying to make up their own jokes, you realize how much a person has to understand for humor to work.

In short, humor is an art form that exercises our minds.

Appreciating humor can keep you “mentally fit” and add fun and enjoyment to your life. It is a great stress reliever.

Humor also reveals our anxieties and reinforces stereotypes. Unfortunately, much of the humor about age reinforces negative conceptions of aging. If you want to live a long, healthy, vital life, be alert to ageist humor and challenge it. Examples of negative humor about aging include remarks about being over the hill, an old geezer, an old bitty, and having a senior moment.

Ageist humor can subtly reinforce negative stereotypes.

Consider this joke: The newspaper sent a reporter to interview a man about reaching his hundredth birthday. The reporter asked, “Of what are you most proud?” The centenarian said, “I’ve lived 100 years and haven’t an enemy in the world.” The reporter exclaimed, “Truly inspirational!” The centenarian replied, “Yep, I’ve outlived every last one of them!”

On the surface this joke appears to be positive. Beneath the surface, however, it suggests a negative, stubborn personality.

Consequently, it is a joke you need to detect and reject.

By contrast here are two examples of positive humor about aging: A younger construction worker teased an older worker about his age. Older worker: “Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is? I’ll

By Michael Brickey, Ph.D

bet a week’s wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that building and you won’t be able to wheel it back.” Braggart: “You’re on, old man. Let’s see what you got.” The old man grabbed a wheelbarrow by the handles and said, “All right. Get in.”

Doctor: “At 106 years old why on earth would your grandfather want to get married?”

Patient: “Did I say he wanted to?”

The joke showed the older worker as physically active, mentally sharp, and assertive.

You may be thinking that it’s harder to find a joke with a positive image of aging than it is to find a joke that is flattering to blondes, but like the last two jokes, they are out there, waiting to be found.

A 60 year old woman went to a doctor for her annual checkup.

Doctor:“You have the body of a 35 year old and are in terrific shape. You might live forever. How old was your father when he died?”

Patient: “Did I say he was dead?”

Doctor: “Oh, how old is he? Is he very active?”

Patient: “He is 82 and loves ski, surf, and sky dive.”

Doctor: “Well, how old was your grandfather when he died?”

Patient: “Did I say he was dead?”

Doctor: “Wow! Is your grandfather very active?”

Patient: “He is 106 and loves to run in marathons. He is getting married again next week.

This joke challenges our stereotypes and stretches our imaginations.

The longevity humor challenge is to have your radar tuned to notice when humor has implications for longevity. If negative, spit it out. If positive, savor it and remember it. If you have some positive jokes about aging, I’d love for you to hear from you so I can share them with others.

Dr. Michael Brickey is President of the Ageless Lifestyles Institute and author of Defy Aging. His new book, 52 baby steps to Grow Young, gives two-page-a-week practical steps for developing a youthful mindset at every age.

Further information is at www.DrBrickey.com and www.52babysteps.com.

August, 2012 17.

18. August, 2012

Tooth Decay: A “Preventable” Problem Affecting All Ages”

By Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade

T

ooth decay affects more than one-forth of children in the U.S. aged 2-5 years of age and half or those aged 12-15 years of age. One -fourth of U.S. adults aged 65 or older have lost all of their teeth, according to the Center for Disease Control. With a very personalized dental care program designed just for you, tooth decay can be a thing of the past. A cavity is a bacterial infection that is not only treatable, but it’s also preventable!

From the outset, you can prevent cavities for your baby or young child by not allowing them to fall asleep with a bottle of juice or milk. The acids in these beverages can cause severe decay!

For school aged children, untreated cavities can cause pain, absences, difficulty concentrating, and poor appearance problems that greatly affect a child’s quality of life. Sealants protect there chewing surfaces of the back teeth from the most common “pit & fissure” cavities. Teens are notorious for paying minimal attention to healthy eating and oral hygiene, making this age group particularly vulnerable to cavities.

For orthodontic patients, regular in office cleanings are vital to prevent rampant decay from occurring next to the braces.

Don’t rely on self exams! Tooth decay is still a problem for adults today. Decay can form along or underneath old fillings and crowns often making it necessary to replace older restorations. Root decay due to receding gums and dry mouth are common with age. The lack of saliva diminishes your ability to protect your teeth against cavities. We’ll advise you on ways to stimulate natural saliva production to help neutralize decay causing acids!

Remember we’re here to help you with any dental concerns you have from cavities to cosmetic corrections!

August, 2012 19.

20. August, 2012

August, 2012 21.

Is Your Child’s Diet Making Him Sick?

By Atula Gupta

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Diet related problems Unhealthy eating may lead to lot of complications in a child’s life. Sometimes even those ailments that we thought could only affect adults. Some problems may be, Obesity–According to the USDA kids between the ages of 2 and18 are daily consuming more than hundred calories extra which is stored in their body as fat. This may lead to health problems like heart trouble, Blood pressure, body aches etc.

Heart Diseases–When your child consumes more of cholesterol rich food, the inner walls of the arteries develop a layer of fatty tissues. With time this layer may become so thick that it blocks the blood supply from the heart to the organs. This leads to a heart attack. So more of fatty food at a younger age means increased risk of heart problems very early in life.

Other blood circulation related problems –Arteriosclerosis is the term used when fatty layers start building inside the artery walls.

Though this condition is present in almost everyone, those eating fat rich diet frequently are more at risk. When this happens, the blood circulation in the body is not proper.

The passage of the blood flow becomes so

Asthma is a condition that responds there are triggers in your environment, work to eliminate or minimize them.

Dust, mold and smoke are well known asthma triggers, and your exposure to them can be virtually ended when you eliminate their sources. Pet dander is also a common trigger, so if you have a pet and cannot make a space for it to live outside, keep it out of your bedroom at the very least.

The habits to look out for

• Eating in a haste • Paying very little attention to the kind of food being eaten • Eating when depressed, frustrated, irritated or angry.

• Eating too much junk food on a regular basis • Drinking high amount of colas and packed juices.

• Skipping breakfast, lunch or dinner regularly • Eating a quantity much more or too less than recommended for the body type, age etc.

• Eating while watching TV, studying or traveling • Eating snacks at any time, which are mostly fried, have high fat or high sugar content.

• Habitually eating candies, chocolates, ice cream • Making any time a Dessert time.

respiratory problems. mostly to the environment you live in. If

hildren nowadays live by few diet rules. Either they overeat, under nourish themselves or eat every little thing least beneficial to their health. And it is not just their health that’s taking the toll. It is affecting the way they talk, walk, sleep, think, feel and react to situations.

If your child is complaining about a frequent migraine, stomach ache, vomiting sensation or is just not her same chirpy self, maybe it is time for you to look deeply into her dietary habits and check if that is what is making her sick.

Some seemingly normal habits that lead to abnormalities in your child’s body system may be,

Continued from pg 10

Your family and friends can help prenarrow that the blood on the artery walls exerts more pressure, which is what we refer to as high blood pressure. Unhealthy eating has made children as young as 10 – 15 years showing symptoms of high BP. Diabetes — Children usually suffer from type I diabetes in which their pancreas is unable to supply enough insulin needed to break up the sugar and send energy to different cells.

The unutilized sugar thus remains in the blood and harms blood vessels, heart, kidney, eyes etc.

Osteoporosis–Bones need calcium for their strength and most children avoid having calcium rich food products like milk to supply this calcium to the bones. This leads to the bones becoming weak, porous and brittle, a disease called osteoporosis. Though the symptoms of this ailment are seen in adulthood it is especially in the teen years that bones gain their strength. So if at that age your child is not getting enough calcium, chances of osteoporosis become stronger.

Anemia–It is caused by blood iron deficiency and is mostly seen in teenage girls who consume less of iron rich food like red meat, spinach etc.

Vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation Irregular food habits can cause a number of digestive problems in young children. If your teenage daughter seems to avoid eating or vomits frequently, chances are she is on a diet and conscious about her looks and body weight. Vomiting and diarrhea may also occur when the body cannot accept any more food or because of the irregular eating becomes too weak to digest the food.

Another important food product that children try to avoid are fibers that are needed to easily remove the waste products from our body and are found in fruits and whole grain The result of less fiber intake is Constipation.

Dehydration–Consuming lesser amount of water is what causes the body to become dehydrated, tired and weak. Dehydration may also be the side effect of diarrhea as the body looses a lot of water during that time.

Children must therefore drink as much as 8 to 10 glasses of water each day to keep the body well hydrated.

Oral health–It has been seen that both overeating and under eating can cause many

diseases related to the mouth like scurvy, tooth cavities and plaque due to too much sugar, gum diseases, loosing of tooth enamel due to too much intake of soft drinks etc.

vent your environment from affecting

Eating disorders–There are two main kinds of eating disorders that have become a cause of worry for parents of adolescent children.

Anorexia is a self-imposed starvation where the child may feel hungry but refuse to eat.

Even if they do eat, they try to vomit or take laxatives and diuretics. Bulimia is another disorder where teenage girls usually eat a lot i.e. binge and then purge i.e. vomit it out.

Both disorders are life threatening if not controlled.

in your car. Smoke permeates fabric and

your health. Any smokers should smoke outside, and never allow anyone to smoke can continue to affect you after the smoke itself is gone. It is also important to keep your stress levels as low as possible, so try to live a life of peace.

Asthma medications consist mostly of inhalers, and medications designed to pre-

Remedy and precaution

vent an asthma attack. Using an inhaler

Healthy eating has to start from home. If your child is not already into the fast food life make sure it stays that way by providing unlimited healthy food choices at home.

Some of the things you can incorporate into your life are,

can be tricky at first, but practicing while

• Take guidance from the food pyramid.

• Make sure your child’s daily calorie intake is as per her age, activity level.

• Try new recipes, new products to add variety to the meals.

• Keep a daily count of her carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, mineral, fat, sugar intake.

• Limit fat consumption. Switch to oils instead of solid fats for cooking purpose.

• Choose healthy snacks like yogurt, carrot sticks, tuna sandwich etc.

• Limit cola, added sugar drinks consumption.

• Give them food at regular intervals so that their blood glucose level is balanced throughout the day.

• Introduce to an interesting physical activity.

• Be a role model. Let healthy eating be a part of your life too.

toms get much worse if they are in contact

With a little care and conscious efforts from your side, you and your child can say good-bye to diet related problems forever.

doctor to talk about your problem.

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com/?expert=Krisanto_Lin

your doctor or a nurse supervises can help.

Some people with pets are able to tolerate their own pets, but their asthma sympwith other pets. If this is the case with you, be wary of visiting locations where other animals are kept. Horse stables and zoos can be especially troublesome.

Asthma is a disease that cannot be cured, but you can learn to manage it. Use the valuable tips in this article to live a relatively normal life in spite of your disease.

Those tips above are very helpful to treat your asthma. Come to this website if you want to learn how to use home remedies for asthma to control your asthma. Read this article before you visit your allergy Article

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http://EzineArticles.

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