A hundred strokes and more

Among the few features that compose our appearances, one that girls and
boys equally worry about is hair. Boys start carefully tousling them as
soon as they learn to spell the word 'gel' and girls start caring as
soon as they comprehend the function of the looking glass. Though hair
loss is a phenomenon typically known to be associated with age, that
piece of information doesn't stop us from losing more hair from worry
when we see a tangled mass clogging up the bathroom drain when showering.

The visible part of the hair is called a shaft and beneath the skin lie
the root and the follicle. There are on average about a 100,000 hair on
the scalp and we lose anywhere between 50 to 100 strands every day. This
is because not all the hair is growing at any one point in time.
Baldness occurs when hair fall exceeds the number of hair growing.
Teens are generally not afflicted with hair loss (alopecia). The most
common form of hair loss that we've probably noticed is age-related and
is in part hereditary — male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness
(medically known as androgenic alopecia). Most men affected are around
30 years of age. However, often boys in their mid-teens are affected.
Their hairlines begin to recede at the temples, thinning out at the top
of the head. Women generally aren't affected as severely and not until
they are well in their advanced years. Girls, however, may sometimes be
affected early with a general thinning of the hair and should consult
their physician if so.

There are a few other more temporary forms of hair loss that might be
found in teenagers. One of the factors causing transient effects, that a
lot of people will be able to provide examples of, is stress. Hair loss
often follows at the heels of stress, especially when related to an
illness. The key is to work on mechanisms to cope with stress. And when
being prescribed medications, don't be afraid to ask what the side
effects are. Certain medicines for depression and acne can sometimes
lead to hair loss.
Poor diet — one deficient in protein, vitamins and minerals such as
iron, zinc etc., in addition to eating disorders such as anorexia and
bulimia, can be another cause. A diet rich in leafy green veggies, egg
whites, meat and Vitamin B supplements will help in this situation. Keep
an eye on the weighing scale, especially if on the lower side and avoid
crash dieting.
Adopt better hair care habits. Stay away from excessive dyeing, chemical
treatments, blow-dryers, straighteners or curling irons etc. If you are
keeping your hair pulled back in buns or braids too often, you need to
let them down to prevent permanent damage.

Hair loss, though cosmetic, is an awful thing to happen, and
particularly at an age when one is self-conscious as it is. For
androgenic alopecia, over the counter medications — namely minoxidil
sold as a spray or shampoo has shown to help in a small percentage of
people. However, keep in mind that both hair loss and growth might take
a few months to manifest. There are also many hair myths e.g that a 100
strokes with your hair brush at bedtime can improve hair growth; this is
just a myth since excessive brushing might even be harmful.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2011.

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Health risk from fish pedicures

People with weak immune systems or underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of infection from controversial fish pedicures, experts have warned.

Questions have been raised in recent months over the beauty craze which sees customers place their feet in tanks of water containing dozens of tiny Garra Rufa fish which nibble on dead skin.

While the pampering carries a "very low" risk for healthy clients, those with conditions including diabetes and psoriasis have now been advised against the indulgence.
The pedicures - which are popular in Asia - have been banned in some US states, including Florida, Texas, New Hampshire and Washington amid fears that infections could spread through open wounds.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) today issued new guidance after a panel found fish tank water contained a number of micro-organisms and that infections could be transmitted either from fish to person (during the nibbling process), water to person (from the bacteria which can multiply in water), or person to person (via water, surrounding surfaces and the fish).
While it advised certain individuals to avoid treatment, it said any risk was "very low" for healthy clients when spas adhered to strict codes of cleanliness.
Dr Hilary Kirkbride, consultant epidemiologist at the HPA, said: "Provided that good standards of hygiene are followed by salons, members of the public are unlikely to get an infection from a fish spa pedicure, however the risk will be higher for certain people.

"This is why we feel it's important for salons to ensure the client has no underlying health conditions that could put them at risk, and that a thorough foot examination is performed to make sure there are no cuts, grazes or existing skin conditions that could spread infection."

Garra Rufa fish - a type of toothless carp - have become increasingly popular in salons across Britain, in part because of their novelty value.
Dr Paul Cosford, director of health protection services at the HPA, said the risk posed by the fish tanks could be kept to a minimum if spas followed "strict standards of cleanliness".
"If a member of the public is concerned about the level of cleanliness of a salon they visit, they should report this to their local environmental health department," he said.
Anyone considering a fish pedicure can help reduce health risks by ensuring cuts or infections on the feet or legs are given time to heal before treatment.
Clients are also urged to wait at least 24 hours after having a leg wax or shaving to minimise the chances of contracting an infection.
The HPA guidance has been endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland.

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Playing iPad danger for Toddlers

Children today are more skilled use of various gadgets. No wonder if it was not yet 2 years old was your child already likes to play a variety of applications and exciting games on the iPad.
Special applications for toddlers are now widely available, such as Baby Touch: Peekabo or Fish Games, the average claim charged educative. Some even promise useful applications to improve hand-eye coordination and focusing ability of infants to toddlers age 2.5 years.
The parents were not worried about letting their baby fun tinkering with gadgets because they can make their kids smart fast. Preoccupation of children to parents gadgets are also utilized for a moment to rest or do something else. The term is a digital babysitter.
However, the iPad Is that as safe for children's development? Recently experts from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents returning to limit the time they are toddlers, especially those who were aged less than 2 years, in front of the television screen.
In published reports, the researchers found the time to watch TV for too long will disrupt "the talk" between child and parent, which are important for speech development of children.
Are the effects of watching TV too long to play a iPad? It is not clear. "We do not have the data," said Dr.Ari Brown, a pediatrician and member of the AAP.
The effect may depend on the manner of use. According to Tanya Altmann, pediatrician and author of Mommy Calls, guidelines for children should be the same when using the iPad as a guide to television.
"Basically the iPad application is the latest version of the video games that often we play in the child's childhood. Because it's probably not much benefit to the child," he explained.
Besides applications in advanced gadgets that can not teach a child is considered crucial skills as they can get from the world of three dimensions.
"There is an application building blocks game, but we certainly do not want this to replace the real thing. Babies must learn from the real world," said Dr.Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, in Seattle, USA.
Although the experts agreed would benefit less toddler playing gadget, but for older children educational games proven applications that could be positive. In a study by the U.S. Department of Education Martha Speaks proven applications in the iPhone improve your vocabulary of children aged 3-7 years to 31 percent in two weeks.
Rose Luckin, a professor from the University of London, to find gadgets such as tablet PCs can increase social interaction central to the learning process. He found children aged 5-6 years that records the daily activities at the school on a tablet PC and show it to parents, tend to learn better.
"The positive benefits of technology like the iPad is able to enhance the focus of communication between parents and children," he said.
Also according to Luckin, use moderation is the key. "If the kids just sit for hours playing iPad alone, I'm not sure he would be able to benefit. This tool can enhance the interaction of parents and children, not just away," he explained.
If parents only have limited time with their children, experts advise to turn off the gadgets at home rather than let their children alone fun.
"We know parents can not always be together 24 hours a son. But at certain times that we can allow the child is restricted to explore his own game. We can not let it stimulated externally at any time," said Altmann.

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Playing in Outer Space Prevent Farsightedness for Children

Children are more frequently known to play outdoors more intelligent, more streamlined and also more powerful than many children who move in the room.Another benefit is that children rarely have eye disorders.
Disease nearsightedness or myopia (nearsightedness) is a condition where thesufferer can only see objects clearly at close range. At a distance, objects appear blurred, so if forced head became dizzy.
According to research, in some Asian countries myopia cases in children up to 80percent. The use of glasses or contact lenses is a solution to overcome the myopia.But actually, the risk terjaidnya myopia can be prevented by simple means, ie moreplay in the outdoors. This is evident in research conducted by Dr. Anthony Khawajafrom the University of Cambridge.
He found, for every hour a child spends playing outdoors, the risk of developingmyopia is reduced to 2 percent. He researched it on the 10,000 children in China.
Khawaja has not found clear why outdoor activities improve eye sight at a distance.He suspects there may be an effect on long-distance views. In addition, the outdoor play space will also reduce the time children do activities with the view at close range such as reading, browse the internet or playing video games.
However, activity in the room was not bad for each eye. The proof, one study found a"lazy eye (lazy eyes)" or amblyopia, can be improved by playing video games.

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Facing Cancer in Children

Having a child with cancer is very sad, even for families who brave though. The best approach is to be honest with children about illness and always give support.

Cancer most often affects children is leukemia, lymphoma, retinoblastoma (eye cancer), and bone cancer is a type of cancer that primarily affects children.

The goal of cancer treatment the children not only cope with cancer but also helps the child can continue to behave normally in accordance with the level of his age. Even though your child is important to be supported and comforted, it is also important to maintain life as normal as possible.

That means kids stay abreast of the schedule, rules, and family activities. This means parents are not being overprotective or overly protective of her.

"The key word was just one, give the fullest support possible. Do not ever shunned and ostracized. Permanent view of him as the children in general, without having to be protected, "Erwin said Fauzi, coordinator of volunteers Yellow Ribbon Foundation Children Indonesia, who met in Dharmais Hospital on Wednesday (07/06/2011).

According to Erwin, protection will encourage excessive psychological and emotional condition of a child to become unstable. So rather than cure, but it will generate a cancer cell.

"If the mood is not comfortable it will encourage the cancer cells in the body become more active," he added.

In addition to providing support and freedom, the one thing that is not less important is being honest about the child's illness. "Children who are not informed about the disease would imagine something that is absolutely untrue," he said.

For example, a child may think that his cancer illness is a punishment for him due to a delinquency or a specific error.

"It was agreed with that by telling, would make the child become less stressed and feel guilty. Children are entitled to know about his illness. Regardless of age, "he explained.

Furthermore, Erwin said, children who know the real situation will be easier to be invited to cooperate especially in the treatment process that must be lived. In addition, cancer discuss with the child will bring the atmosphere of the family become closer and simple way to deal with it.

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Boys Should also Vaccinated with HPV

HPV vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer in women, it is suggested also given to boys. The decision was unanimously taken by the council committee on immunization United States (The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices).

The decision was considered excessive public because the HPV vaccine itself has not been popular among teenage girls, especially if recommended for boys.

In the U.S. recorded a new 49 per cent young women who received one of three HPV injections are recommended. Only a third of teens who get the vaccine completely.

Council committee said at least young women vaccinated with HPV increase the need to look for new ways to prevent this cancer. The experts stated that the main key is to routinely vaccinating boys to prevent the spread of HPV virus through sexual contact.

In practice, the newly introduced HPV vaccine since 2006 is a lot of obstacles. Some parents are not convinced of the safety of this vaccine, especially on new products. Many of the parents who do not want to think their daughters will have sex, or they did not want this vaccine is the reason for teens to freely engage in sex.

An estimated 75-80 percent of men and women infected with HPV during their lives, but most do not develop symptoms of the disease or cause disease. Some types of triggering infections genital warts, cervical cancer and other cancers, including cancers of the head and neck.

HPV vaccine approved by the experts to be given to boys and girls aged 9-26 years. Council committee also recommends boys ages 13-21 be vaccinated.

Decisions taken by the council committee was also based on scientific evidence that says the HPV vaccine to prevent anal cancer in men and also allegedly prevent throat cancer. The research focused on homosexual men and found to be effective up to 75 percent to prevent anal cancer.

Meanwhile, some doctors argue that the vaccine campaign relating to homosexuals is not the right strategy. Some parents even want to emphatically say no to the vaccine in children because children are not likely to be homosexual.

Nevertheless the council committee argued that most parents agree to give vaccines on his son to protect adolescent girls. The survey of 600 pediatricians last year also said nearly 70 percent of family physicians would recommend the vaccine to boys if needed.

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Cancer in the Year 2030

Twenty years later the doctor no longer raise your hand facing cancer patients. Nanotechnology is able to assemble an atomic-scale tool, then, the predicted cancer treatment device capable of producing an efficacious.

Nanotechnology in 1997 through the hands of clever scientists at Cornell University succeeded in forging a formidable six-string guitar atomic scale. With the layout of the base to the tip as it is misguided on the composition of a train, a series of 20 guitars of this size can penetrate the cross-piece of a human hair. That glimpse kesubtilan level of nanotechnology, which is still a technology-imagined-imagined technology in the industry vanguard.

Towards 2030, as prophesied by theoretical physicist Michio Kaku in his book, Physics of the Future (2011), this young technology will revolutionize cancer treatment because of its success to create nanoparticle carriers as well as wrapping depilatories to arrive right on target: cancer cells.

Nanoparticles like a smart bomb: destroying specific targets right in the heart of the defense, while its closest neighbors-especially the more far-there securely. The pattern of attacks like that's what distinguishes the contrast on the future of cancer treatment with chemotherapy, medical efforts until now deal with cancer patients.

In chemotherapy, the cancer depilatories drenched in blood circulation and swim along until it reaches the cancer cells. Patients who had undergone chemotherapy nausea usually face, hair fall, and the body weakens. Nanoparticles will drastically reduce and even eliminate punishment for punishment's.

How so? Yes, bisalah, depilatories because cancer can not be left naked to enter the bloodstream. He was given a security outfit similar molecular capsule form. Personal politely called nanoparticles were then plunged into the blood circulation to arrive right in the heart of the defense cancer cells. There the nanoparticles penetrate the walls of cancer cells and ejects substance from the thresher to cancer cells collapsed one by one.

Key words in the episode "collapse of our cancer" this is the size. The diameter of the nanoparticles ranges from 0.00000001 to 0.0000001 meters. Rada big to be able to penetrate a blood cell, but enough dwarfs to escape into the cancer cells are irregular pores and much larger than the diameter of the nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles can freely enter into cancer cells and release the drug over there, whereas healthy tissues are more microscopic sukatannya completely untouched. That's why doctors do not need an elaborate system of pilotage to guide nanoparticles achieve goals.

Nanoparticles not only can be entered and then ejects depilatories cancer cells, but also kill cancer cells right away because it can absorb light of certain frequency that makes it to heat up, vibrate, and-with it-destroying the cancer cells from the inside to the walls.

Optimistic

What is the basis for optimism with visions kenubuatannya Kaku on the treatment of cancer patients waiting for this deadly disease manifest by 2030?

The optimism was based on records of the drafters of literary biography of Jules Verne, author of Paris in the Twentieth Century. Written in 1863, it predicted the prophetic novel Paris in 1960 with a glass skyscraper buildings, air conditioners, televisions, elevators, trains berlaju high, gas-fueled cars, fax machines, even something that leads to the internet. With amazing accuracy, Verne describes modern life in Paris 100 years before all of that into a reality.

The Verne biographers noted that, although not a scientist, Verne met diligent scientist contemporaries plied them with questions about their vision for the future. Unlike the novelist who has-been, Verne realized that, as said Kaku, "science is the engine that shook the foundations of civilization, pushing it into a new century that was dripping with awe and wonder astonishing".

Rigid-once again-is a leading theoretical physicist. Field studies with field studies sekubu Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. He was also a pioneer of the theory, string theory precisely in elementary particle physics which had debuted in the 1990s.

Kaku writes in Physics of the Future took the same route traversed by the road which compose Verne Paris in the Twentieth Century. He was interviewed at once entered the laboratory 300 leading scientists and technologists, mostly based in the U.S., which has come in the future through their lab. Fourteen of them Nobel laureate of physics, chemistry, and medicine.

Based on that interview, he describes how the science of human destiny and change our daily lives ahead of 2100 relating to computers, artificial intelligence, the treatment of cancer and genetic diseases, nanotechnology, energy, and space travel. For example, before entering the 22nd century prophesied we will control computers with sensors so that the brain, like a magician, will be able to move things around us with the power of the mind.

Treatment of cancer with nanoparticles in 2030, said Kaku, already showing bright spots. A group of scientists at the University of California at Santa Cruz have created gold nanoparticles 20-70 nanometers in diameter, with a peptide and infrared light as a vibrator, managed to shed their skin tumors in mice.

Basic science to menaikkelaskan this innovation so that it can be applied for the treatment of human cancers are being built. Since acceleration is often taking place in the world of research, it is quite possible nanoparticles for cancer treatment will find actualization long before 2030.

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Beauty lies in the lens

In high school there are divisions and cliques, maybe not as distinct as those in Mean Girls or Freaks and Geeks, but they are still there. The groups give rise to a number of stereotypes and labels. One such example is that of the ‘nerd’—the typical hallmark of one are the spectacles. However, with the coming of Harry Potter and even some Indian movies such as Kal Ho Naa Ho, spectacles aren’t considered as dorky anymore. There are stories of kids deliberately doing poorly at the eye doctor’s (ophthalmologist) to get a prescription. However, the wish to be rid of them, at least on occasion, still persists every now and then.

In this scenario, the contact lenses make their entry. They may be used to just correct the vision, but some may also want to use coloured lenses. Parents and ophthalmologists are reluctant in allowing the use of contact lenses in preteens and teens. Firstly, the eye continually changes throughout the first 20 years, when finally the vision becomes static. Secondly, contact lenses are high maintenance and failing to adhere to the lens care regimen can have permanent consequences for the eyes.

Considering the risks and responsibility involved, no ophthalmologist will be quick to approve the use of lenses. But, if you must, then precautions are necessary. Here are a few to guide you:

Before buying contacts, visit your eye specialist with a list of all the relevant questions. Buy them from a reputed optician; don’t sneak off with your friend to a dingy shop where they are available on sale. Negotiate with your parents to allow you their use on a trial basis. The most widely used lenses are the soft lenses. Also get a case and a recommended lens solution to go with it. The most convenient to use are the daily wear disposable lenses but they are expensive. Lenses are available in a wide price range depending on brands, how frequently they need to be replaced, quality, etc.

Learn how to properly insert and remove the lens. Perhaps watch a video or ask someone to demonstrate it for you. Handle them only after washing your hands and always deposit your lenses in the case at the end of the day, in the respective right and left side. This can be a hassle in people with different visual acuity in different eyes. Do not reuse lens solution or solution that has expired. Lenses should be never washed with water because it can contain very harmful bacteria. Regularly rinse or air dry your lens case whenever lenses have been removed, perhaps by turning it over so the solution cleans it. Again the case is not to be cleaned with water either. The lens solution should not be put in another bottle. And most importantly, never share lenses and follow the additional instructions of your doctor and on the labels.

If you ever experience redness, itching, dryness, sensitivity to light, blurry vision, visit your eye specialist immediately. Contact lenses affect the tear film of the eye and natural protective barriers to infection, prevent the surface of the eye from getting adequate amounts of oxygen, can injure the eye mechanically, and finally, can allow germs to grow with improper care.

With dust and humid weather, lens care becomes even more essential. Always keep your lens case and a backup of glasses with you. Remember, using contact lenses is not the same as using hair gel, so if you must, I suggest you invest in a chic pair of specs.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2011. 

 

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The reason why Bosses Won’t End Offering Health Care Coverage

Critics of the Economical Care Act argue that the law really encourages
businesses to quit providing health insurance coverage by imposing a
penalty on large employers whose workers receive tax-payer subsidies
within the state-based exchanges. Considering that the penalty is lower
compared to cost of providing benefits, bosses could have an incentive
to dump their personnel into the exchanges, increasing the costs to
taxpayers, the critics say.
But other health economists have long said that this kind of evaluation
— advanced by Douglas Holtz-Eakin and others — misses the complexities
involved in employer decision making and today Linda Blumberg, Matthew
Buettgens, Judy Feder and John Holahan of the Urban Institute are out
with a new review describing why companies would be discouraged to dump
their workers:
The bottom line is that many workers' firms will be dominated by workers
who'll get greater benefits and, through the tax system, better
financial aid through employer provided coverage than through newly
created insurance exchanges. The strength of employee choices may be
difficult to read in the short term, and some employers may find quick
profit in benefit reduction as markets adapt to new circumstances. But
over time, protection cutbacks inevitably would make the workers that
employers most prefer to keep worse off, and if those workers desired
employment elsewhere as a result then the firm could be worse off as
well. It is therefore unlikely that many employers currently providing
insurance coverage will change their decisions to offer it.
[...]
In general, if an employer drops coverage, better-paid workers will be
worse off. Even if they receive higher cash wages to offset the loss,
they will face taxes on these wages which, keeping overall compensation
at the level of their value to the firm, will not be offset. Exchange
benefits will also be unattractive, relative to employer provided
benefits, for better-off earners. Exchange-based subsidies are limited
to plans with an actuarial value no greater than 70 percent, a value
much lower than provided by the typical ESI plan (85 percent).
The whole report is worth reading here. Generally, my take is that we've
seen fluctuation in the employer health insurance market before reform
and will continue to see changes as we move through implementation. But
employers, who are very interested in controlling their health care
costs, will likely continue to offer insurance for the forseeable future
and when they don't, Americans will have a sensible and affordable
options to fall back on.

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Healthcare Reform = Zero cost Preventive Care? Not Precisely

Under the new health care law, "preventive care" is meant to be
absolutely free with no deductible or co-pay. So I went for a physical
last month – and got billed $730.

You call this absolutely free?
I got my "free" physical last month. But several days ago, the bills
began coming in: $600 worth of "laboratory services, " $70 for
"radiology services, " and $60 for "diagnostic services. " Since this
was definitely an error, I called my insurance company. What did they
say? That much of what constituted my preventive care wasn't covered by
the new law.
Of the seven laboratory services (translation: blood and urine tests)
performed on me, only three were in theory covered: the urinalysis,
cholesterol screening, and PSA screening. I use the word "theoretically"
due to the fact even those tests weren't absolutely free. I was charged
for them because, according to my insurance company, my doctor's office
failed to properly code them when they were submitted.
I guess chest X-rays mustn't provide enough "strong scientific evidence
of their health benefits" to move muster either, because that radiology
service also wasn't covered, nor was the EKG I was presented with. As my
insurance company pointed out, they don't fall into the category of
routine preventive services as described by the U. S. Preventive
Services Task Force, the government agency that chooses exactly what
preventive care insurance companies should be paying for. Also not
covered was the cost of drawing blood: Although the blood tests noted
above are covered, based on my insurance company, you're on your own
when it comes to extracting the blood you want tested.
Net result? The only cost my insurance company paid for my annual
physical was $80 for the office visit.
It's not as bad as it sounds
While a lot of the expense of my physical wasn't covered, much of it was
radically reduced by virtue of the discount I receive through my
insurance provider. For example, while the lab work totaled $612, after
the discount, it came to only $57. 25. And I can go back to my doctor
and ask them to recode and resubmit the covered tests, which would
reduce the bill further. I also got a significant discount on the chest
X-ray, reducing the price from $70 to $26. 64, and my EKG went from $60
to $20. So the cost of my physical, while not free, was still
negligible. Disappointing, but still money well spent.
I just wish someone had told me that my "free" physical wouldn't
actually be free. Then maybe I could have discussed my options with my
doctor, been prepared to see the bill and most important, I could have
avoided a half-hour on the phone demanding an explanation from various
representatives of my insurer.

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10 Tips for Balancing Busy Schedules and Healthy Family Meals to Eat Better, Eat Together

Planning family meals ahead of time is essential; develop systems that make the purchasing, preparing and partaking easier.

Keep it simple. Family meals don't have to be elaborate to be healthy and effective. Come up with easy ways to balance your meals with simple vegetable side dishes or fruit and yogurt desserts.

Have healthy food on hand and eat from your freezer or pantry on busy weeknights. Prepare double batches of food when you're less rushed so you can cook once, eat twice.

The family meal does not have to be dinner; breakfast or lunch may work better in some households.

Toughen up. Prepare one meal for the whole family to enjoy. Include all five food groups and everyone should be able to find something they'll want to eat.

Turn off technology and tune into each other. Make conversation the focus of family meals, but keep it light. The dinner table is not the place for discipline.

Share the work. Enlist help from the family to plan shopping lists, make lunches, set the table, pour the milk and clean up.

Eating as a family is truly comforting for toddlers, teens and adults. Family meals can become a cherished tradition for the whole family.

Dump the guilt. Family meals may not happen every day, and that's OK. Make the most of your family meals when they occur.

Family meals aren't always easy, but they're always worth the effort. Start or strengthen your family's commitment and take the Eat Better, Eat Together family meal pledge today!

About Dairy Council of California Through its nutrition education programs the Dairy Council of California promotes nutrient-rich choices from all the food groups and regular physical activity as the foundation for optimal health. Healthy Eating Made Easier®.

About Meals MatterMaintained by the registered-dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California, MealsMatter.org is a free family-nutrition and meal-planning website dedicated to helping families improve their eating habits with nutritious meals and snacks.

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Making Halloween Healthy

Halloween is a annually chance to dress up in costume and stock up on sweets. However for parents who support healthful choices and small junk food, this day can be a struggle with your little monsters.

Young children in America consume an average 60-100 grams of sugars per day, and our nation’s childhood diabetes and obesity rates are scarier than any ghoulish costume.

Over the one hand, you intend to let kids enjoy and enjoy the holiday. On the other, you don't choose to undermine all the work you do the rest of the year sustaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, as well as the harm candy can do to kids’ oral health. And you don't need to confuse kids with compounded messages.

Try keeping the candy indulgence down to one night, on Halloween. Then take the rest of the candy and find a way to diminish the supply. You can let your kids pick a handful of their favorite treats to keep, and to keep it somewhere so they can have one piece a day until it’s gone.

Halloween often signals the start of Halloween season, but Halloween is only one day. Keep the indulgence down to only one day, not the week or month of October (as many stores would have you believe it should be). This way if you indulge, you still do so minimally. It also helps to look for products that are sweetened naturally, with fruit juice or another organic sweetener.

Another helpful tip is to make sure to take a walk on Halloween! Instead of driving from place to place, make sure you do your trick-or-treating or Halloween visits by foot or on bike. A healthy activity can help to counteract the candy indulgence and to teach good habits everyday. If you host a Halloween party yourself, look up some extra healthy snacks to cook up to balance out the less healthy choices.

Parents can also set up the leftover candy as a payment system. Kids can trade in their candy for a small toy or some extra allowance. This way the treats are gone, and replaced with something more useful or healthy.

Lastly, hand out alternatives to Halloween candies, such as stickers, temporary tattoos, plastic Halloween jewelry, dried fruit, crayons or mini bags of pretzels.

We hope your Halloween is a fun-filled, healthy and happy, ghoulishly good time! Let us know your healthy Halloween tips below, and how you deal with leftover candy!

Here are 15 ways to use leftover candy from kidshealth. org.

How do you handle making Halloween healthy? What do you do with extra candy? Tell us in the comments.

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Tips for maintaining eye health

One must follow a regular eye-care routine to maintain eye health and
avoid infections or disorders.

Every day, we expose our eyes to dust, sunlight and other environmental
factors which may, over a period of time, affect our vision. Working
professionals, in particular, should take extra care to combat the
effect of countless hours spent in front of computers. Moreover,
associated conditions like headache, concentration problems and vision
related learning problems are causes for concern as well. To avoid this,
it is important to follow some basic guidelines for maintaining eye
health. Here they are...

Balanced diet: Maintaining a nutritious diet program packed with vital
fruits and vegetables is a key factor in promoting good eye health. Use
foods that have high levels of vitamins A, C and E. Thus, consuming
sufficient quantities of carrots, broccoli and other vitamin-rich foods
is highly recommended. Apart from this, you can also opt for salmon
which has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids - an essential nutrient for
maintaining overall eye health.

Improve your immune system: Boost your immune system by avoiding adverse
lifestyle habits like smoking or alcohol. A major side effect of smoking
is that it affects the blood circulation around the eyes. According to
experts, frequent smoking is associated with increased incidence of
cataract, macular degeneration and optic nerve damage. Although,
moderate consumption of alcohol does not affect the health of your eyes,
excessive drinking may lead to slow pupil reaction, blurred vision,
double vision and reduced color vision.

Routine eye check: Besides improving your overall immune response and
diet habits, it is mandatory to go for a comprehensive eye examination.
Many times, we are not even aware of any underlying eye condition and
may attribute those frequent headaches to overwork or stress. Also,
certain eye diseases like diabetic eye disease or age-associated macular
degeneration do not have any warning signs and the only way to detect
them is by undergoing such eye tests.

Eye exercises: Surprised? Yes there are certain eye exercises that can
help you improve your eye muscles and relieve stress. This is
particularly important for those who suffer from eye strain problems
associated with long working hours in front of the computer. Computer
Vision Syndrome can be treated with the help of simple eye exercises.
Start by slowly opening your eyes and then moving them in all directions
one at a time. Another technique involves opening your eyes and then
looking to the left and up. Hold for two seconds and then close your
eyes to relax. This can be repeated by looking to your right-down,
right-up and left-down.

Know your family eye history: There are certain eye conditions that are
hereditary. Thus, knowing your family history of any eye disease or
condition is a must to take precautionary measures and improve your eye
health.

Protective eye wear: While performing any kind of sports activity, make
it a point to use protective goggles or eye wear. There are many safety
shields and safety glasses that are specially designed to provide
protection against any form of sporting activities associated with eye
injuries. Also, to protect your eyes from the harmful effect of the
sun's ultraviolent radiations, you can use sunglasses and other forms of
protective shades.

Get enough rest: Like the rest of your body, it is equally important to
give proper rest to your eyes to prevent them from eye strain and
fatigue. Refrain from spending unnecessary hours in front of the
computer or television screen.

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what’s the definition of Health2.0?

Our definition is currently focusing on user-generated aspects of Web2.0 within health care but not directly interacting with the mainstream health care system. That means, a) search, b) communities, c) tools for individual and group consumer use. But clearly there are blurring boundaries between all these, and the question of connecting Health2.0 user-generated content to the wider health care system—which hasn't exactly adopted Web1.0 with a flourish yet—is coming into closer focus as more clinicians and organizations start to use these technologies to communicate with consumers.

Health 2.0 (as well as the closely related concept of Medicine 2.0) are terms representing the possibilities between health care, eHealth and Web 2.0, and has come into use after a recent spate of articles in newspapers, and by Physicians and Medical Librarians.A concise definition of Health 2.0 is the use of a specific set of Web tools (blogs, Podcasts, tagging, search, wikis, etc) by actors in health care including doctors, patients, and scientists, using principles of open source and generation of content by users, and the power of networks in order to personalize health care, collaborate, and promote health education. A possible explanation for the reason that Health has generated its own "2.0" term are its applications across health care in general, and in particular it potential in public health promotion. One author describes the potential as "limitless."

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vitamin supplements is safe ?

2 analyses this week raised gnawing anxieties concerning the security of nutritional vitamin supplements and a host of questions. Should everybody be taking them? Which ones are most risky? And if you do take them, how can you pick the safest ones?

Vitamins have long had a “health halo. ” Most people consider they’re good for you and at worst might simply be unnecessary. The industry calls them an insurance policy against bad eating.

But our foods are increasingly pumped full of them already. Even junk foods and drinks frequently are fortified with vitamins and minerals to offer them a healthier profile, so the danger is increasing that we’re obtaining too much. Add a supplement and you could exceed the upper limit.

“We’re realizing they’re not as harmless as the industry might have us believe, ” said David Schardt, a nutritionist at the consumer group Center for Science in the Public Interest.

This week, a report of almost 40, 000 older women identified a slightly higher risk of death among those using dietary supplements, such as multivitamins, folic acid, iron and copper. It was just an observational study, though, not a rigorous analyze.

Another analyze discovered that men taking high doses of vitamin E — 400 units a day — for 5 years had a a little bit greater risk of prostate cancer.

As many as one-third of Americans take vitamins and nearly half of people 50 and older take multivitamins, reviews advise. Americans spent $9. 6 billion on vitamins last year, up from $7. 2 billion in 2005, based on the Nutrition Business Journal. Multivitamins top the list, at nearly $5 billion in sales.

Yet there isn't any obvious facts that multivitamins reduced the risk of cancer, heart disease or any other chronic health problems. No authorities agency advises them “regardless of the quality of a person’s diet, ” affirms a truth sheet from the federal Office of Dietary Supplements. And vitamins aren’t necessary to undergo the rigorous testing required of U. S. -approved prescription medicines.

Some trends, such as the antioxidant craze over vitamins A and E and beta-carotene, backfired when reports discovered more health risk, not less. And studies that find more disease in people with too little of a particular vitamin can be misleading: Fixing a insufficiency so you have the right daily amount is different from supplementing beyond suggested amounts.

The easiest way to obtain vitamins is to eat foods that normally contain them, said Jody Engel, a nutritionist with Office of Dietary Supplements. “Foods produce more than just vitamins and minerals, such as fiber and other ingredients that may have good health results. ”

Schardt adds: “It’s almost difficult to overdose on the nutrients in food. ”

Some people may require more of certain nutrients and should talk with their doctors about supplements:

— Postmenopausal women concerning calcium and vitamin D to guard bones.

— Women preparing for pregnancy regarding folate, or folic acid, to prevent birth defects.

— People over age 50 and vegans who might need vitamin B12. “As we get older, a number of us no longer produce enough acid in the stomach to extract the B12 in food, ” Schardt explained.

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health methods for athletes playing winter sports

As an athlete taking part in physical activities during winter, you must constantly take extra precautions due to the extremely cold weather. Cold temperature can seriously influence an athlete, especially if he or she is going to be outside for an extended time period. Even just simply exercising outside during winter requires more precautions.

Stay hydrated
Remaining hydrated during winter sports is often a misstep by many athletes, since they usually don't feel dehydrated, possibly due to cold weather. Throughout winter sports or exercise, it is equally necessary to obtain enough amounts of water, simply because sweat still occurs, which removes liquid from the body. An athlete needs to be consuming plenty of sports drinks or water just before, during and after a sport, even if he or she isn't feeling thirsty. The only difference in remaining hydrated in winter season is that you don't have to put ice in the drink, and you ought to try to maintain the drink a little warmer than normal. During winter, you might want to get a sports drink and leave it sitting out for about an hour before delivering it outside, that way it won't freeze up while you're enjoying sports.

Understand the indicators of hypothermia
An athlete playing winter sports need to realize the indicators of hypothermia, and he or she need to know the indicators of frostbite. Hypothermia appears when a person has been outdoors in the intense cold for a period of time, and it might be fatal if not handled immediately. Some of the most telling signs of hypothermia include slurred speech, vision changes, loss of focus, and numbness in extremities. An sportsman might also detect uncontrollable trembling and loss of color in hands or face. These kinds of symptoms may come on immediately to an athlete, even if he or she is outfitted properly, and should be taken critically immediately. If an athlete notices any of these signs or symptoms, he or she will need to get indoors to a warm environment, so that the body can steadily thaw back out to prevent permanent injury.

Do not over layer your wardrobe
It is vital that an athlete taking part in winter sports does not overdress, which means the layers of clothing needs to be moderate. Although wearing layers is advisable, it may be very bad too, because the athlete will think warmer than he or she really is. If an athlete wears a lot of layers, then he or she will sweating way too much. Sweating excessively lead to dehydration, and it can also make the environment feel colder on the skin than it really is, which can cause hypothermia. You want to feel a little chilled when you step outside, since then you are still capable of feel the weather changes on the body, and it will help you notice signs of hypothermia. Sweating excessively is just as bad as not sweating enough, and this is a middle ground a winter athlete has to figure out in order to stay healthy.

Wear the right footwear
Shoes are an important aspect to winter sports, because it is often snowy or frozen outside. If an sportsman does not wear appropriate shoes, then he or she is gonna endure a fall or other severe pain. The type of shoes an athlete should be wearing in winter largely will depend on what the weather conditions are normally like in that area. If an athlete lives in a snowy or icy region, then he or she needs to be wearing footwear with studs or good quality tread. You want to make certain the shoes have excellent tread, since this is what can help the foot stay on the ground in snow or ice, or you could use studded shoes. Snow footwear are not a superb option for a winter athlete, because these types of shoes hurt athletic ability and also can be harmful. If an athlete lives in a cold atmosphere but does not have snow, then he or she should just wear athletic shoes that are well insulated for the outdoors. In winter, wearing the proper type of shoes is just as important as wearing the proper clothing, and can go a long way in preventing injuries.

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5 Points that Internet Porn Discloses Concerning Our Brains

From a massive trove of sexual Web searches, neuroscientists draw out some startling lessons in invisible desire.

With its expansive range and unprecedented potential for anonymity,
the Internet presents words to our deepest desires and most uninhibited opinions. Influenced by the wealth of unfettered expression available on the web, neuroscientists Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam, who met as Ph. D. candidates at Boston University, began plumbing a few chosen search engines (including Dogpile and AOL) to produce the world’s largest experiment in sexuality in 2009. Softly tapping into a billion Web searches, they explored the personal activities of more than 100 million men and women around the globe. The result is the first large-scale scientific study of human sexuality in more than half a century, given that biologist Alfred Kinsey famously interviewed greater than 18, 000 middle-class Caucasians concerning their sexual habits and printed the Kinsey reports in 1948 and 1953.
Building on the work of Kinsey, neuroscientists have long made the situation that male and female sexuality are present on various planes. But like Kinsey himself, they have been hampered by the dubious dependability of self-reports of sexual conduct and choices as well as by small sample sizes. That is where the Internet is available in. By accessing raw data from Web searches and employing the help of Alexa—a company that calculates Web traffic and posts a list of the million most desired websites in the world—Ogas and Gaddam shine a light on invisible desire, a quirky realm of lust, fetish, and kink that, like the far side of the moon, has barely been glimpsed. Here is a sample of their interesting results.

Age is vital, but youth is not the only attractor
The most important male cue of all is chronological. Age characterizes sexual hunts, mature Web site content, and pornographic videos. On Dogpile, terms explaining age are the most typical type of adjective in sexual hunts, showing up in one out of every six of them. When a man’s desire software evaluates a woman’s presence, one of the most prominent criteria is age—and not just youth, either. Many sexual searches on Dogpile consist of certain ages, such as “naked 25-year-olds” or “sexy 40-year-olds. ” Though the popularity of adult women doesn’t quite reach that of teens, it is worth observing that more men search for 50-year-olds than search for 19-year-olds. There is a rather alarming quantity of searches for underage females, but you may be equally amazed to discover there is considerable erotic interest in 60- and 70-year-olds. At one high-traffic porn site, the one most popular term users enter into the search engine is mom. On AOL, 1 out of 4 individuals who searched for sexually attractive mothers (MILFs) also searched for teens. Though the total number of granny searches amounts to less than 8 percent of the total youth searches, there are more sexual searches for grannies than for some common fetishes like spanking.

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Ozzy Osbourne: Health Tips

Some might say the Doctor is insane, but that’s probably in the past now, when it comes to Ozzy Osbourne.

The singer’s new book, "Trust Me, I’m Dr. Ozzy," hit stores on Tuesday; it’s a health advice collection of the best of his columns from Rolling Stone (US) and the Sunday Times (UK), with some additional material thrown in.

Ozzy launched the project at an in-store signing in Huntington Beach, California on Tuesday evening.

The virtual launch began earlier in the day on Ozzy’s social networks - Twitter and Facebook - with the introduction of a week-long series called "Dr. Ozzy's Seven-Day Guide To Better Living."

Dr. Ozzy offered his first better-living tip:

"Always get a 2nd opinion — even if it means calling the doctor's cell from 6ft underground to ask if he's 100% sure you're dead."

As part of his week-long series, "Dr. Ozzy's Seven-Day Guide To Better Living," Ozzy offers up better-living tip #2:

"If you write to Dr. Ozzy to ask if something is right or wrong...you know it's wrong."

And tip #3:

"Tattoos - You can do it yourself, but I’d advise not to, as things can go wrong when you’re stabbing yerself with a rusty fork."

With more than 15 tattoos, Osbourne knows a thing or two about the process. One of his most famous is the letters O-Z-Z-Y across the knuckles of his left hand - which he created himself, as a teenager, using a sewing needle and some Indian ink.

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