Parenting & Pregnancy

It perfectly is natural for you to worry about the welfare of your unborn baby. However, you do not want to concern yourself with things that are not be worried about when it does come to your baby. For example, more than a few mothers focus their attention on their baby’s kicking – which, of course, is a natural thing to do. At the same time, many mums also arbitrarily conclude that their babies should be kicking a certain amount each and every day. This leads to the obvious question of how many kicks from your baby should you feel on a daily basis.
 

Research studies have revealed that each baby individual baby develops his or her own sleeping and waking schedule while in the womb. In other words, every baby has his own activity pattern, a pattern that differs from one baby to the next. (This will carry over to the time when the baby is born as well. Each baby after he or she is born will develop his or her own unique activity patterns.)
 

In the end, there really is no set amount of kicks that you can expect from your baby on a daily basis. As you move later into your pregnancy, you likely will become more in tune with your baby’s movement patterns, however. You will start to recognize your baby’s own activity schedule.
 

You also need to keep in mind that if you are active, if you are doing other things that require your attention, you may not particularly notice your baby’s movements. Therefore, even though your baby may have been quite active, you simply may not have been aware of that activity.
 

There are a few things that you can do to “stir” your baby and encourage him or her to move if you have become “worried” about what is going on. These include:
 

Have You Become a Drug Dealer by Default?
 

One of the more alarming statistics in the United Kingdom and in many other countries the world over is the number of young children oftentimes very young children who are becoming involved with and who are using drugs. Of course, when a parent hears about the growing prevalence of drug use amongst children children these same parents imagine these youngsters getting ahold of drugs through other children, including older children, and from evil drug dealers that hang out ’round school play yards.
 

While these certainly are situations through which children get drugs, the stark and horrible reality of drug use and children in the 21st century is that many, many youngsters actually are getting the drugs they use from their parents’ own medicine cabinets at home. In short, if you have children, you run the risk of literally although unwittingly becoming a drug supplies to them.
 

In order to ensure (as best as any parent can) that your children are less likely to obtain medications from your own home there are some steps that you need to keep mind. First and foremost you must frustrate the ability of your children in being able to get their hands on any prescription medications that you have in your home. If you are a responsible parent, you lock away guns that you might have in your home. You need to understand that prescription medications can be lethal as well. Therefore, you really do need to keep prescription medications under lock and key.
 

Moreover, you need to keep track of the prescription meds that are in your home. You need to know how many doses are contained in a particular prescription and if some turn up missing you need to take action immediately.
 

As an aside, you also need to do your best to keep the lines of communication open between you and your children. Of course, this can be the challenge of a lifetime communicating with kids. But, you really must make the very best effort to keep the lines up and running.
 

In summary, you need to understand the risk that is presented by prescription medications. And, you need to take any all steps that are available to you to put up a wall between your children and the medications that you must keep in your home. In the end, the health and indeed the lives of your children depend upon your proactivity.
 

Children today are eating more and more junk food and we are slowly getting into a diet crisis, so what are the facts?

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey found that:
 

The Chief Medical Officer has compared the crisis in children’s diets to a health ‘time bomb’ which must be defused.
 

Children’s dietary health, in particular childhood obesity, is widely recognised as one of our most pressing public health problems.  The recent Foresight Report on Obesity makes grave predictions for the future state of the nation’s health unless we act now. Without action, 55% of boys, and 70% of girls, could be overweight or obese by 2050 and obesity will cost the country £45 billion a year.
 

Above is shocking, but why are our children always choosing junk food?
 

Children are constantly bombarded with junk food marketing.  £480m is spent each year advertising products high in fat, salt and sugar on television alone. 
 

Junk food marketing contradicts all the messages about healthy eating children receive, undermining their ability to choose better food and their parents’ efforts to feed them healthily. 
 

Research by the Food Standard’s Agency, and others, has shown that junk food advertising directly and indirectly influences children’s food preferences, purchasing behavior and consumption.
 

So what can we do to help stop this?
 

A series of surveys have demonstrated that the majority of parents are in favour of a protecting their children from junk food advertising.  A recent British Heart Foundation survey found that 68% of parents were in favour of pre-9pm junk food advertising restrictions, with only 7% against.
 

Which? found in 2006 that 79% of parents believe unhealthy foods should not be advertised during the times children are most likely to be watching television.
 

Ofcom found in 2004 that 81% of parents and carers wanted some form of regulation of the advertising of junk food products, while just 11% wanted no change at all.  48% supported a ban on junk food advertising before 9pm (24 percent opposed); 57% supported a ban on junk food advertising during children’s airtime; 24% supported a total ban on junk food advertising.
 

For more advice or to support the fight against junk foods visit - sustain 
 

Tags: obesity, child obesity, junk food, diet crisis, junk food crisis, unhealthy foods, junk food advertising,

Dr Rob Hicks and Yoplait registered dietitian Elphee Medici offers exclusive advice on nutrition for your child
 

Being a parent these days isn’t easy.  Not only do you have to be a chauffeur, a counsellor, a cleaner and an expert chef but now you also have to be a nutritionist as well.  Although getting your child to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg every day is important it’s not the only factor to consider when it comes to your child’s diet.  Research by Petits Filous shows that 9 out of 10 parents think their child is getting enough calcium, but parents are unclear how much calcium children actually need. 74% of parents wrongly believing that 2 portions of dairy a day offers sufficient calcium for their child when in fact at least 3 portions of dairy every day will meet calcium needs to help develop strong bones.
  

If you’re worried about whether or not your child is getting enough calcium, click below to watch an exclusive video hosted by Dr Rob Hicks and Yoplait registered dietitian Elphee Medici. They will talk you through ways of making sure your child gets enough bone building calcium in their diet, explaining which foods are good sources of calcium and how easy it is to meet all your child’s daily calcium needs through three portions of dairy every day. As well as all this Dr Rob Hicks will also be explaining the benefits of ensuring your child gets plenty of calcium in their early years as well as hints and tips to help your children develop strong healthy bones..
 

Click here to watch the video
 

For more information visit calciumeveryday.com
 

Tags: parents nutrition confusion, strong healthy bones, healthy bones, calcium, daily calcium, child’s diet, yoplait, nutritionist

If you are pregnant, you may be interested in learning more about dietary supplements that might be beneficial to you during the course of your pregnancy. Through this article you will be provided with some essential information about the use of dietary supplements during pregnancy. With this information, you will be able to make better decisions pertaining to the use of dietary supplements when and while you are pregnant.
 

When it comes to dietary supplements that can be helpful to a per5son who is pregnant, dietary supplements that include iron can be useful and appropriate. Oftentimes during a pregnancy and woman can end up having problems maintaining her iron levels appropriately. With this understood, many women oftentimes can benefit by using dietary supplements that do include iron in their formulations.
 

Dietary supplements that contain folic acid can also be helpful to a women who is pregnant. Dietary supplements with this type of formulation can work to ensure that a pregnant woman properly is supplied with necessary folic acid during the course of a pregnancy. This assists in maintaining both the health of the woman and of her child.
 

When it comes to dietary supplements for a pregnant woman, what is not included in the formulation of particular dietary supplements is as important as what is included in dietary supplements. There are some ingredients that need to be avoided when a pregnant woman is using dietary supplements.
 

The primary reason why certain ingredients that are common in many dietary supplements need to be avoided is that these ingredients have been demonstrated to cause fetal toxicity and different types of birth defects.
 

The primary types of ingredients that are common in many dietary supplements that must be avoided by a pregnant woman include: vitamin A, ephedrine, and caffeine. Once again, these are ingredients that need to be avoided all together by a pregnant woman. With this in mind, it is very important for a pregnant woman to fully explore and understand what precisely is included on the ingredient list of any dietary supplements that she may be considering using during the course and term of a pregnancy.
 

Finally, before a pregnant woman takes dietary supplements, she must take the time to meet with her doctor and have a serious and in depth discussion about dietary supplements that can be beneficial during a pregnancy and about dietary supplements that are safe for a pregnant woman to consume. You do need to remember that when you are pregnant and considering dietary supplements, those dietary supplements will effect you and your unborn child. You truly are eating and drinking for two.
 

Tags: dietary, supplements, dietary supplements, iron levels, folic acid, fetal toxicity, birth defects, vitamin A, ephedrine, caffeine

Importance of using natural health care products.
 

Women have always been interested in keeping themselves healthy and looking great. The modern woman has come to realize that she wont live forever, but aging does not have to take the toll it once did on her face and body. There are now many solutions available to aid women in their quest for long lasting health and beauty. Women seem to be accepting the idea that taking care of their face and body is not necessarily a sign of vanity, but instead a way to keep good overall health.
 

Unfortunately, not enough women realize the importance of using natural health care products. There are actually many convincing reasons to use natural products. First of all, regular health products are filled with chemicals. This is bad for a couple of reasons. All of those excess chemicals tend to do a lot of harm to your body. The skin in particular is susceptible to injury from chemical exposure or overexposure. In addition, when those chemicals enter your body through your pores, there is no telling what the long-term effect on your health might be. Secondly, as commercial products are manufactured, the process necessary to make them can be environmentally harmful. Finally, when non-organic products are thrown away, they often end up polluting the earth as well. With naturally made products, none of these concerns are there. They are made out of all natural ingredients that dont carry the risk of harming your body. There are no chemical side effects. And perhaps best of all, they are made in a way that is respectful of the environment.
 

Women require different health and hygiene products than men, because their bodies are different. For example, men have to shave their faces, which often results in dry and damaged facial skin. Women, on the other hand, have to shave their legs. Women also sweat less and therefore need softer and less powerful deodorants. There are many organic health care options for women. Skin care products, hair care products, deodorizers and perfumes, and cleansing products can all be made naturally.
 

As long as women can recognize the need to take care of their bodies and keep up their appearance, they can also appreciate the benefits of using natural care products. In fact, more and more women are realizing these advantages. As a result, the demand for natural care products is increasing and they are being made in greater quantities. In the long run, many women will be pleased they switched to organic products, because their bodies will feel healthier and the earth will be in better shape.
 

Tags: natural health care, healthy women, looking great, natural products, organic products, skin care products

Why should it be done?
 

Measles, mumps and rubella are diseases with serious complications:
 

 
There has been some controversy about the MMR vaccine in recent years, owing to a study published in The Lancet in 1998 by Dr Andrew Wakefield.  His initial study appeared to show a link between the MMR vaccine and autism and/or bowel disease. But subsequent work and other studies have been unable to prove any association with these conditions.
 

MMR is the combined vaccine to prevent the following diseases:
 

 
People are not given the MMR vaccine if they: 
 

 
Very few children are unable to have the MMR vaccine for medical reasons.
 

Tags: mmr, mmr vaccine, mmr vaccine information, measles, mumps, rubella, viral meningitis, encephalitis

The Benefits of Soy Protein in Your Family’s Diet
 

Soy protein products can be good substitutes for animal products because, unlike some other beans, soy offers a “complete” protein profile. Soybeans contain all the amino acids essential to human nutrition, which must be supplied in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. Soy protein products can replace animal-based foods–which also have complete proteins but tend to contain more fat, especially saturated fat–without requiring major adjustments elsewhere in the diet.
 

While foreign cultures, especially Asians, have used soy extensively for centuries, countries like the United Kingdom and the United States have been a bit slower in moving dietary soy beyond a niche market status. In many countries, soybean is a huge cash crop, but the product is used largely as livestock feed.
 

With the increased emphasis on healthy diets, that may be changing. Sales of soy products are up and are projected to increase, due in part, say industry officials, to the fact that many governmental authorities in different countries have concluded that soy should in incorporated into a person’s diet.
 

To qualify for the claim that soy is a solid addition to a diet, most governmental agencies with oversight of dietary claims set a standard that foods must contain at least 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving and fit other criteria, such as being low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium. The claim is similar to others the agency has approved in recent years to indicate heart benefits, including claims for the cholesterol-lowering effects of soluble fiber in oat bran and psyllium seeds.
 

One of the studies, conducted over nine weeks at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 1999, found that soy protein can reduce plasma concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol but does not adversely affect levels of HDL, or “good” cholesterol, which at high levels has been associated with a reduction in heart disease risk. Another often-quoted study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1995, examined 38 separate studies and concluded that soy protein can prompt “significant reductions” not only in total and LDL cholesterol, but also in triglycerides, another fat linked to health problems when present at elevated levels.
 

Other studies hint that soy may have benefits beyond fostering a healthy heart. At the Third International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease, held in late 1999, researchers presented data linking soy consumption to a reduced risk of several illnesses. Disorders as diverse as osteoporosis, prostate cancer, and colon cancer are under investigation.
 

Soy protein also is found in many “meat analog” products, such as soy sausages, burgers, franks, and cold cuts, as well as soy yogurts and cheese, all of which are intended as substitutes for their animal-based counterparts.
 

Since not all foods that contain soy ingredients will meet the required conditions for the health claim, consumers should check the labels of products to identify those most appropriate for a heart-healthy diet. Make sure the products contain enough soy protein to make a meaningful contribution to the total daily diet without being high in saturated fat and other unhealthy substances.
 

Tags: soy, soy protein, soybeans, soybean, healthy diets, chronic disease, soy milk, saturated fat, saturated fats

If you are trying to access some basic information on pregnancy, you may have encountered the term IUD pregnancy. In this regard, you may be wondering what is meant by the term IUD pregnancy.
 

First of all, it is important that you understand how an IUD works in order to understand what is meant by an IUD pregnancy. An IUD is also known as an Inter-Uterine Device. An IUD is a form of contraception in which the device itself is fitted inside a woman’s body and actually works to block contact between sperm and eggs .. a barrier, if you will.
 

With that said, no form of birth control has proven to be 100% effective. Thus, there are some instances in which a woman who has been fitted with an IUD still becomes pregnant. In some instances, the pregnancy that occurs is what is known by the slang name of IUD pregnancy.
 

In point of fact, a so-called IUD pregnancy really is a ectopic pregnancy, although it is an ectopic pregnancy that has been caused by the presence of the IUD in a woman’s body.
 

In general terms, an ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs and develops outside of the woman’s uterus. In other words, the fertilized egg does implant within the uterus as happens in a “normal” pregnancy. Because of the presence of the IUD, the smaller sized sperm managed to “slip” through and fertilize an egg. But, the fertilized egg — being larger in size — is not able to move into the uterus. Thus, it will implant (in some manner) elsewhere in the woman’s reproductive tract — usually in the fallopian tube. Again, when this turn of events is caused by the presence of an IUD in a woman’s body, it oftentimes is referred to as an IUD pregnancy.
 

A so-called IUD pregnancy can be dangerous. In any case, it is impossible to carry an IUD pregnancy to term … in order for a pregnancy to carry forth to full term, in order for a healthy baby to develop, the egg must implant within the woman’s womb.
 

An IUD pregnancy can have serious health consequences for a woman. As a result, it is important for a woman who believes that she may be experiencing an IUD pregnancy to seek medical attention promptly. A failure to seek prompt medical attention can result in serious medical problems and — in the worst case scenario — even death.
 

Tags: IUD, IUD pregnancy, inter-uterine device, ectopic pregnancy

If you think your baby or child is ill, you likely will want to appropriately take his or her temperature. In this regard, many a parent does not know exactly to to appropriately and accurately take the temperature of a baby or a child. In this regard, there are some different types of thermometers that can be used to take the temp of a baby or a child. Each has a different process for use.
 

The American Academy of Pediatrics sets forth the manner in which you should properly take a baby’s of child’s temperature.
 

Rectal:
 

Finding a Doctor for Your Baby
  

In this day and age you actually have some pretty significant choices and options available to you when it comes to finding a health care provider for your baby. For example, you can chose a doctor/physician in general practices who will have basic medical education and background. On the other hand, when it comes to your baby’s health care needs, you can select the services of a pediatrician who will have the more generalized medical background but also at least three years of specialized training in child health.
 

A family practitioner will also have the same more generalized medical education and background but will additional have three additional years of specialized training in regard to child and adult related health issues. In some cases, families are electing to utilized the services of a nurse practitioner for more routine health related issues. Such a professional will have what amounts to a master’s level education in nursing and works in collaboration with a doctor or a physician’s assistant. Mentioning a physician’s assistant, this professional has at least two years of medical training at a bachelor’s level and also works under the supervisions of a physician.
 

You need to closely consider the health care and medical needs of your family members as you go about determining which type of health care professional will be able to meet those needs in the most appropriate, comprehensive fashion. Of course, when special circumstances arise, you may need to consult with a specialist. However, for more routine health care related issues, any one of the professionals mentioned a moment ago may be perfectly suitable to your needs.
 

No matter what type of health care professional you do select, you will want to meet that provider in person before you make the final decision to engage his or her services. When it comes to medical and health care, you simply do not want to make that decision sight unseen and without doing your research. You would never think of buying a car without checking it out thoroughly first. The same needs to be true when you are making the far more important decision as to who will be providing health care and medical services to your family, including your children.
 

Tags: Doctor, baby, health, physician, pediatrician, health care, medical services, baby’s health

One of the most difficult experiences for a parent is watching his or her child go through the teething process. A baby going through teething obviously can end up being in a great deal of discomfort. With that understood, there are some steps that a parent can take in order to make the entire teething process a bit easier and a bit less painful for a baby.
 

The typical symptoms of teething include excessive drooling, chewing on hands, chewing on other objects including toys, and a loss of appetite. A baby engages in the chewing behavior on his or her own because chewing on items actually does reduce the pain associated with teething at least on a temporary basis. Chewing is a baby’s natural response to the pain associated with teething and can properly be utilized by a parent to assist a child in getting through the teething process a bit more easily.
 

The general steps that a parent can take to assist a baby in dealing with teething include:
 

If you have spent any time at all watching the news on the television, reading the newspaper or taking in news reports online, you likely have heard that staph infections are becoming more and more common and more and more difficult to resolve. Drug resistant staph infections are becoming a real medical problem the world over. And, babies and children are suffering from these infections in increasing numbers.
 

With this in mind, there are some very specific steps that you can take to work to prevent the spread of staph infections. Medical experts and health care professionals have developed a plan of action that you need to follow when it comes to preventing the spread of staph infections, particularly when it comes to your baby.
 

Your Family’s Health and Fitness: Adding Soy Into the Diet …
 

For consumers interested in increasing soy protein consumption to help reduce their risk of heart disease, health experts say they need not completely eliminate animal-based products such as meat, poultry, and dairy foods to reap soy’s benefits. While soy proteins direct effects on cholesterol levels are well documented, replacing some animal protein with soy protein is a valuable way to lower fat intake. “If individuals begin to substitute soy products, for example, soy burgers, for foods high in saturated fat, such as hamburgers, there would be the added advantage of replacing saturated fat and cholesterol [in] the diet,” says Alice Lichtenstein, D.Sc., professor of nutrition at Tufts University. Whole soy foods also are a good source of fiber, B vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 essential fatty acids, all important food components.
 

The typical heart expert recommends that soy products be used in a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, and lean meats. They also emphasize that a diet to effectively lower cholesterol should consist of no more than 30 percent of total daily calories from fat and no more than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat.
 

Nowadays, a huge variety of soy foods are on shelves not only in health food stores, but also increasingly in mainstream grocery stores. As the number of soy-based products grows, it becomes increasingly easy for consumers to add enough soy to their daily diets to meet the 25-gram amount that FDA says is beneficial to heart health. According to soybean industry figures, the numbers add up quickly when you look at the protein contained in typical soy foods. For example:
  

 • Four ounces of firm tofu contains 13 grams of soy protein.
 • One soy “sausage” link provides 6 grams of protein.
 • One soy “burger” includes 10 to 12 grams of protein.
 • An 8-ounce glass of plain soy milk contains 10 grams of protein.
 • One soy protein bar delivers 14 grams of protein.
 • One-half cup of tempeh provides 19.5 grams of protein.
 • And a quarter cup of roasted soy nuts contains 19 grams of soy protein.
 

Tags: soy, protein, cholesterol, soy diet, soy protein, roasted soy nuts, soy nuts, soy milk, tofu

One of the times in a woman’s life at which she becomes more susceptible to a vaginal yeast infection is when she is pregnant. With this in mind, this chapter has been prepared to provide you with some basic and essential information about pregnancy and yeast infections. Armed with this information you will better equipped to avoid having a yeast infection when pregnant. Moreover, you will be in a better position to more quickly deal with and then resolve a yeast infection that might occur during the course of a pregnancy.
 

Studies have in fact demonstrated that yeast infections are more common in women during pregnancy than at any other point in their lives. Specifically, women are more prone to yeast infections during the second trimester of a pregnancy.
 

It is important to understand that a yeast infection during pregnancy does not normally have any negative impact or effect on the pregnancy itself. However, with that said, a yeast infection during pregnancy can be far harder to deal with and resolve than in any other situation or circumstances. In addition, a yeast infection during pregnancy can be particularly uncomfortable as contrasted against yeast infections at other times in a woman’s life.
 

The reasons that yeast infections are more common during pregnancy actually are rather simplistic. When you are pregnancy, your body undergoes very significant changes. The chemical and hormonal changes that occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy are immense. This includes changes in the vaginal environment.
 

For example, when a woman is pregnant, there is more sugar contained in the vaginal secretions. Because there is more sugar, there is more of the substance that yeast can feed upon. This ends up causing a significant imbalance in the vaginal area and increases the fungus in the vagina. In the end, this state of affairs results in a vaginal yeast infection.
 

As a pregnant woman, you need to be on guard for some of the more common symptoms of a yeast infection. When pregnant it is vital for you to begin treatment of a yeast infection immediately if you want to best ensure a more timely resolution of the condition. Again, you need to keep in mind that a yeast infection during pregnancy in most instances will end up being harder to treat and resolve than at any other point in time in a woman’s life.
 

Tags: pregnancy, yeast infections, vaginal yeast infection, pregnant, fungus, yeast infection

Steam showers were once only found in spas and at health clubs. They have become so popular that many homeowners are installing them in their bathrooms or converting existing showers into steam showers. Steam showers are just like regular showers but with an added bonus: a steam generator produces water vapor inside the shower stall. The result is a cross between a shower and a steam bath. How’s that for a little slice of heaven after a long day at the office?
 

A sauna can improve your health in several ways. It improves your immune system, leaving it stronger; increases and improves blood circulation; helps the body to detoxify and release harmful substances through the skin; deep cleans the pores or your skin; eases tension out of your body and relieves stress.
 

A sauna strengthens your immune system by inducing a fever-like state in the body. Your body produces an increased amount of white blood cells just as it would if you were ill.
 

You realize that when you sit in a sauna you’re going to sweat. Saunas originated in Finland and according to Finns a proper sauna will cause you to sweat a quart of fluid an hour. Sweating makes your heart pump harder and provides many of the benefits of aerobic exercise. It does not however take the place of aerobic exercise. Your heart pumps more blood, faster, which increases your blood circulation. Proper circulation helps blood move nutrients throughout your body, eliminates toxins, and improves the function of almost every organ system throughout your body.
 

When I was growing up, every beauty magazine included an article about the benefits of steam cleaning your skin. We didn’t have the benefit of a steam shower back then; we were instructed to pour boiling waters into a bowl and lean over it with a towel draped over our head to keep the steam trapped inside. This was awkward but effective. Steam saunas give this same treatment to your entire body. Many Finns believe that the body is at its most beautiful thirty minutes after a sauna.
 

Saunas are very effective at relieving stress by relaxing the muscles and creating a general sense of well being. Aches in your joints and muscles eases up after a session in a sauna shower. A sauna shower can relax you into a restful, restorative sleep and you wake up the next morning feeling healthier and more energetic. A bit of aromatherapy can enhance this procedure, although many prefer to enjoy their saunas without the addition of essential oils. In Finland purists insist that only birch bark should be added.
 

Combine a sauna with a steam bath and you will find relief from respiratory problems. A sauna shower can give relief to asthma sufferers, people with bronchitis or sinusitis, and helps anyone who has seasonal allergies. It can be a very effective method of breaking up a head cold. The steam soothes breathing passages and increases the moisture content in the nose, throat, and lungs. Some people will add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to their steam shower to give bolster the immune system. This turns your steam shower into a mega vaporizer and is very soothing.
 

Tags: showers, steam showers, sauna, steam bath, immune system, asthma sufferers, benefits of steam

Research reveals parents are unaware of the real risks of a high salt diet.
 

Although most parents know that a high salt diet is linked to high blood pressure, few are aware of just how seriously an excess of salt can affect them and their children.  Research reveals that only a quarter are aware that high salt intake is linked with conditions as serious as stomach cancer. Less than 1 in 5 realise that too much salt can lead to osteoporosis.  Only 19% are aware that a salt excess in their child’s diet can aggravate the symptoms of asthma.  These statistics are troubling and suggest that this is an area that parents really need more guidance on.
   

This research conducted by the Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) and Netmums is particularly worrying because a high salt diet can be damaging to children’s health.  Trials conducted as part of the research show that eating a high salt diet in childhood pushes blood pressure up.  Children who eat more salt were also shown to have a higher blood pressure than children who eat less salt, which could lead to health difficulties as they get older.
  

The key to keeping your child on a low salt diet is to make sure that they stay well under the maximum daily limit for salt.  The 6g a day figure has been pushed quite strongly in the media, but it is important to remember that this is the maximum daily limit for adults.  Children should actually be eating much less than this.  A 4-6 year old, for instance should not be eating more than 3g a day, and a 2-3 year old should eat no more than 2g a day.  Considering a single slice of bread can contain 0.5g of salt and a bowl of cereal with milk contains 0.7g of salt it is easy to see how the daily limit can be reached very quickly.
    

For more information on how keeping your child’s salt intake low watch this video: or visit www.actiononsalt.org.uk/
 

Tags: salt, high salt diet, low salt diet, children’s health, higher blood pressure, eat less salt

Water and Your Health
 

It is important for you to fully understand that there really is not substitute for water in your daily diet. Through this blog, you are provided with an overview of how important water is in your diet.
 

Soda Pop, Coffee, Juice, Milk — Does Not Add Up
 

Many people assume that because they drink a good deal of liquids throughout the course of the day that they are meeting their water requirement. In point of fact, drinking other liquids simply does not take the place of water.
 

Certainly, if a person drinks a reasonable amount of low fat milk and fruit juice on a daily basis that man or woman (or child) is doing something healthy for his or her body. However, simply because the consumption of a reasonable amount of low fat milk or fruit juice is healthy does not mean that a person is satisfying his or her daily recommended allotment of water.
 

When experts maintain that a person needs to drink a certain amount of water each day to remain health they mean that a certain amount of water must be consumed.
 

The only type of beverage that can be considered a water substitute are certain types of decaffeinated green teas. Some of these specific kinds of teas have the same effect on the body as does pure, unadulterated water.
 

Of course, there are some beverages that actually cause harm to the body over the long term if they are not consumed on a limited basis and in moderation. This includes such drinks as coffee, soda pop and similar types of beverages. Indeed, because of the diuretic effects of caffeine and the high sodium content in many soda pop products, by drinking these items a person will actually need to consume more water to make up for the losses sustained by the body through the drinking of such beverages.
 

Additionally, it is acceptable to garnish a glass a water ever so slightly in order to add a bit of dash to its taste. By this it is meant that a person can spruce up the taste of a glass of water with a wedge of lemon or lime. However, overdoing or adding other flavoring to water can end up defeating the purpose of drinking water in the first instance. Again, in order for water to be effective and to do its intended job function in the body, it must be pure and unadulterated.
 

Shedding Pounds with Water
 

In the vast majority of cases, a person who is carrying around extra weight can and will lose some of that burden by drinking an appropriate amount of pure water each and every day.
 

There actually is documented science behind the claim that drinking an appropriate amount of water can aid in weight loss and in keeping weight off. The kidneys depend on water to operate efficiently. Because most people do not drink enough water, most peoples kidneys are not performing in a peak manner. As a result, the liver kicks in and spends part of its functioning aiding the kidneys in their job.
 

The net result of this transference is that the liver ends up breaking down less fat than it would under optimal circumstances. As fat accumulates within the body, weight increases.
 

By ensuring that the body is properly supplied with an appropriate amount of water, all of the bodies organs will be in a position to function far more effectively. In other words, and as has been said, not only does a person enjoy the benefits of losing weight through the healthy ingestion of water, but a person will be well on his or her way to living a truly healthy life.
 

Tags: water, health, healthy life, pure water, unadulterated water, weight loss

Six Reasons Why Are Doctors, Nutritionists and other Dietary Experts are Turning to the Mediterranean Diet
 

Introduction:
 

In recent years, doctors, researchers, scientists and nutritionists have taken a close look at the Mediterranean diet. Nearly universally, these experts and professionals have come away from their examination of the Mediterranean diet with positive perceptions of the dieting scheme.
 

There are a number of reasons why experts of all sorts — from doctors to researchers to nutritionists — look favorable upon the Mediterranean diet regimen. By considering the benefits of the Mediterranean diet that have been identified by experts, you will be able to better determine if the Mediterranean diet is right for you.
 

Low in Saturated Fat
 

On the surface, a person giving only a cursory review of the Mediterranean diet might conclude that it is not a healthy diet plan because it is high in fat. Concluding that the Mediterranean diet is high if fat and harmful is an erroneous conclusion.
 

While it is true that the Mediterranean diet does derive a significant percentage of its calories from fat (around thirty percent daily in most instances), the calories come primarily from olive oil and consist of unsaturated fats. In other words, being low in saturated fat, doctors are recommending the Mediterranean diet for their patients.
 

A Plentiful Array of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
 

Doctors are recommending that their patients eat at least six servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the course of the day. Many of these same doctors are turning to the Mediterranean diet because as a matter of routine people who follow this diet program are eating more than the minimum recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, rather than using processed fruits and vegetables, the Mediterranean diet features an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables.
 

Low in Red Meat
 

Many doctors can be found encouraging their patients to limit the amount of red meat that they include in their diets. Limiting red meat in a diet can assist in lowering the levels of bad cholesterol, helping to reduce the indigence of heart disease and some cancers.
 

Low in Fatty Dairy Products
 

Another reason that doctors favor the Mediterranean diet is found in the fact that the diet plan is low in the consumption of fatty dairy products. More and more doctors are encouraging their patients to use only low fat or non fat dairy products. People who follow the Mediterranean diet actually use very little dairy on a day to day basis. For example, a heavy egg eater on the Mediterranean diet eats for eggs a week. Many do not eat eggs at all.
 

In addition, milk is used within the diet in limited fashion. Heavy creams and sauces are not on the Mediterranean menu at all.
 

Helpful in Preventing Diseases
 

One of the primary reasons that doctors recommend the Mediterranean diet for their patients rests in the fact that the diet program has been demonstrated as being helpful in reducing the risks of certain diseases, including:
 

– cancer
 

– heart disease
 

– cardiovascular disease
 

– hypertension
 

– diabetes
 

– obesity
 

A Ready Source of Fiber and Whole Grain
 

Finally, doctors recommend the Mediterranean diet for their patients because it is high in dietary fiber and whole grains. Both fiber and whole grains have proven important in preventing disease and in maintaining an overall sense of wellness and good health.
 

Tags: mediterranean diet, nutritionists, dietary experts, hypertension, heart disease, obesity

Developing a Healthy Life Weight Management Program:
 

The Importance of Water
 
If you are contemplating a diet — if you are considering a health eating plan for your life — you need to make certain that you include drinking the proper amount each and every day in the calculation. Without ingesting an appropriate amount of water on a daily basis you will never be able to obtain the full benefits of any sort of diet. Indeed, in the absence of the right quantity of water each day, you really will not have established a solid healthy eating program for your life.
 
In the final analysis if you truly are interested in not only losing weight and keeping weight off but also in living a long, enjoyable and healthy life, you need to pay attention to what and how you eat — and drink.
 
The Essentials of Water