Lose Weight Easy Ways

It’s only natural to want quick weight loss results once you make the commitment to shed a few pounds or more. But this is one area in which slow and steady is the way to go. “Permanent weight loss can only be achieved when one makes a lifestyle change,” says Peter Vash, MD, MPH, executive director of Lindora Medical Clinics in Costa Mesa, Calif. and assistant clinical professor of medicine at UCLA’s Center for Health Sciences in Los Angeles. Eating a healthful diet and sweating it out regularly are the best ways to reach your weight-loss goal. But here’s how to make those two pound-shedding tools work to your advantage.

One key to achieving healthy weight loss is to use your scale. “Weighing yourself is an important part of any weight loss program as it helps to hold you accountable and keep you on track,” says Dr. Vash. How often you do so is up to you — within reason. Vash recommends weigh-ins at least once a week — around the same time of day — and not more often than once or twice a day. Keep in mind small variances in the number on the scale can occur because of water retention or dehydration.

While we’d all like to snap our fingers and be instantly slim, it takes time and effort to see results — especially when it comes to exercise. At a minimum, adults should get 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity, coupled with two or more days of strength training all muscle groups to boost your weight-loss efforts. Exercise is crucial for both healthy weight loss in the short-term and maintaining a slimmer silhouette in the future.

Emotional support from family and friends can go a long way toward encouraging you to reach your weight-loss goal. If you’re in charge of the grocery store runs, rather than loading up on chips and cookies at the supermarket, buy fruits, vegetables, and whole grains — and convert the whole family to eating a healthy diet. Support groups are another great option to help you stay on track. Ask your doctor for a local recommendation or look online for Web-based support groups where you’ll be able to share weight-loss tips.

Changing your bad eating patterns is essential. “Giving in to food cravings promotes excess eating,” says Vash. “It is important to remove foods you crave (cookies, sodas, candy, chips, ice cream) from your home and office.” Giving in is a surefire way to slow down the weight loss process. Instead, opt for healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains, and use strategies to help stop a craving in its tracks. When your sweet tooth strikes, try to thwart it by drinking water, tea, or coffee with non-fat milk and artificial sugar.

While it may seem counterintuitive for quick weight loss, eating three meals a day is important when trying to shed pounds. Skipping breakfast can lead to excessive hunger, which can sabotage a healthy diet and cause you to overeat later in the day. Consider starting the day off with filling oatmeal or another whole grain cereal to keep you feeling satisfied longer. And don’t try to substitute a snack for a meal — your body will know the difference.

Binge eating — consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time — will get in the way of reaching a healthy weight. The disorder can be triggered by emotional issues or stress from being on a diet. Try to fight the temptation to overindulge with extra calories, which will only set you back. Instead, try taking a walk, going to the gym, or calling a close friend to get your mind off the desire to eat.

Almost everything is more fun with a friend, and that includes shedding pounds. Try to find a buddy to team up with on your quest for healthy weight loss. You can motivate each other by sharing recipes and weight-loss tips and by hitting the gym together. Both of you should keep a food journal as well, which helps encourage you to eat healthy foods. Consider recording a second log of your exercise routines, too.

It’s easy to fall for fad diets when looking for quick ways to lose weight. Any diet that promises immediate results with little to no effort should raise a red flag. Also, any eating plan that fixates on a specific type of food, restricts certain foods, or doesn’t consider counting calories should not be a part of a healthy diet.

One way to assist in healthy weight loss is to set some rules for yourself. “It is very important not to eat after dinner because that accounts for a large portion of excess weight gain,” says Vash. Avoid grazing and refrigerator-raiding at all costs as well as mindlessly eating while watching your favorite television shows. Also, never eat in the car. Not only will your vehicle be cleaner, but it’ll be that much easier to bypass your favorite fast food drive-thru and stick to your healthy diet.

Pay attention to what you drink as well as what you eat when looking for boost your weight-loss success. Alcohol, sodas, and even lemonade and juices are full of calories that can undermine a healthy diet. Instead of these sugary beverages, try drinking water (plain or flavored, regular or carbonated), tea, or coffee. Another weight-loss tip: If you do choose to indulge in a glass of juice, try watering it down to reduce calories.

source: Everyday Health

Healthy Family

Healthy Living Tips and Tricks

It seems that everyone is concerned with healthy living these days. This is a good thing; it is important to be concerned with your health and to look for better strategies to improve your life. On the other hand, it also seems like everyone has a quick solution for healthy living, for a hefty fee of course. It seems at times that you can't turn on the television or open a magazine without seeing a celebrity or doctor trying to get you to buy their new book detailing the latest miracle diet that will change your life, whether it is fresh ground wheat grass or a daily tin of Brazil nuts. The reality is that these diets are unnecessary. Healthy living is available to everyone, and does not depend on buying the latest diet book or the most expensive vitamins. All that you need to do is to start making healthy decisions.

How to eat healthy

The most important facet of your life that you need to change as you move towards healthy living is to start eating nutritious foods. Do not try to follow a trendy diet, just eat a balanced diet of nutritious foods. When you eat well, you lower your risk of many health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain kinds of cancer and osteoporosis. You will also give yourself more energy, allowing you to enjoy life again.

The most important group of foods, and the one that is most often the cause of poor diets, is fruit and vegetables. There is nothing particularly innovative about this advice; everyone knows that you need to eat your fruit and vegetables. The main problem is that so few people actually consume the seven to ten daily servings of fruits and vegetables they are supposed to have each day. And when they do eat fruit and vegetables, it is in forms that include added sugar, salt or fat.

The food group that we all eat too much of is meat. Try to limit your meat intake, and emphasize meat alternatives for your protein needs. While you definitely need meat or an alternative for the protein, most people eat far too much from this food group. You will be surprised at how little is actually required to get you through the day.

Get active

Once you have started eating well, it is time to go out and get some physical activity! Now, this does not mean that you have to incorporate a rigorous physical workout into your daily routine. Just including small amounts of physical activity in your life will make a difference. So take the stairs instead of the escalator, or walk to the corner store instead of driving four blocks. Start slowly and incorporate more physical activity into your life, and you will be amazed at how quickly the results will add up.

Have fun

The final component of healthy living is to have a healthy mind. Build up a strong peer group who will give you the social support you need to be truly happy. This will reduce your stress, which will only lead to a healthier body.

source : funny jokes (Go Article)

10 Great Family Fitness Exercise Ideas

Now that you've set the ground rules for sedentary activities, plan some family togetherness time. The idea is to get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. So, how can you get your family moving in a way that's fun and doesn't feel like a punishment? Here are some easy ways to reach that goal together.

1. Walk to school. Lace up your walking shoes and join the kids for a brisk walk to and from school each day.
2. Check out physical participation video games. "I'm delighted with some of the newer action toys such as the [Nintendo] Wii games. People have the ability to play tennis, bowling, baseball, skateboarding, and snowboarding," Shannon says. "Kids love them. I'm generally trying to get kids away from the TV, but in this case, if they are swinging a bat or dancing, it's great."
3. Build strong bones. Be sure to include bone-strengthening exercise as well, such as hopscotch, jumping rope, gymnastics, or volleyball — any "weight-bearing" activity, one that you do standing up.
4. Take a tour of the park. Make going to the park a reward for a job well done, a good test grade, or anything that deserves a positive non-food reward. When you get there, play a fast game of Frisbee or pitch a ball.
5. Turn birthdays into an active adventure. Make your presents for birthdays related to activities. Plan a family ski or snow-tubing day trip or visit a nearby zoo. A bike makes a great gift for every family member, as does a basketball hoop in the driveway and a badminton net in the back yard. Make sure that Mom and Dad are included in the bike rides and pick-up games, too.
6. Get to the playground. Muscle-strengthening exercise doesn't mean just weight lifting. Take the kids to the playground to swing on the bars, climb a tree, or play tug-of-war.
7. Go to the head of the class. To learn a new activity, take a class together, such as martial arts, dance, or yoga — a favorite among hard-to-please teen girls.
8. Walk the dog. Treat your dog to daily walks that include the entire family.
9. Plant a garden. Whether you choose fruit and vegetables or just some pretty flowers, get the kids involved in an organic gardening project. They'll get some brisk exercise digging, planting, and weeding. Then the whole family can enjoy the fruits of their labor with fresh produce and cut flowers.
10. Follow your kids' lead. "This year I bought my granddaughter the Playskool Dance Cam because she loves to dance," Shannon says. "It takes a picture of a child dancing and puts it on TV dancing with cartoon characters. My basic words of advice are 'go with the flow.' If your child shows interest in some activity, such as dancing, encourage it and go with her to participate."

Souce: Kid's Health Center

By Lynn Yoffee

Medically reviewed By Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

Regards,
Samuel Gultom
----------------------------------------------------
http://samuelgultom.blogspot.com
http://gultom.synthasite.com
http://samuelgultom.webs.com
http://samuelgultom.synthasite.com
http://sammy.dagdigdug.com
http://samuelgultom.blog.com
----------------------------------------------------



Samuel Gultom Store
Directory of Children Blogs
Baby-Parenting.co.uk


GSolusi Volt Stabilizer

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Vitamins and Minerals

What You Eat is Just as Important as How Much You Eat

Your body is growing a baby, and you need the right kind of fuel to do a good job. Vitamins and minerals help your body use the energy provided by foods. They also help repair and maintain cells and tissues. A prenatal supplement is a vitamin and mineral supplement you can take daily to make sure you're getting the right amount of certain important nutrients during pregnancy.

In general, you'll want to look for one that contains more of certain nutrients (such as folic acid and iron) that you may not be able to get enough of from your diet. Just as important is to find one that includes no more than the recommended amounts of other nutrients (particularly vitamin A) that can be harmful to your baby if you take too much.

This is one of the reasons that most prenatal supplements contain vitamin A at least partly in the form of beta-carotene, a nutrient that you get from fruits and vegetables that converts to vitamin A in the body. Unlike vitamin A from animal products, which has been known to cause birth defects when taken in high doses before conception or during pregnancy, beta-carotene is not considered to be toxic in high doses.

You may also want to take an omega-3 supplement. In addition to the many wonderful things omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to do, including improving the health of your heart, preventing cancer, reducing hypertension, and easing symptoms of lupus and other autoimmune diseases, it can also do some wonderful things for your baby. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids help improve brain and eye development in the fetus and baby. Plus, extra amounts of omega-3 can help you ward off depression.

Variety is the Key to Health
What are some good choices? Fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads and pastas, milk products, and low-fat protein sources such as lean red meat, beans, tofu, poultry and some fish. (See Food to Avoid for a list of fish that are off-limits to pregnant women.)

Folic Acid
If you eat well and have no specific risk factors, the experts do not agree about whether you need to take a prenatal supplement. So talk with your practitioner about what's right for you. But everyone does agree that you need to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid a day in addition to the folic acid you get from food.

Start taking folic acid at least a month before you start trying to get pregnant and during your first trimester. In fact, since half of all pregnancies are unplanned, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends that ALL women of childbearing age take 400 mcg of folic acid a day. That's because research has shown that doing this can reduce the risk of neural tube defects in your baby by up to 70 percent.

If you do take a prenatal supplement, it's likely to contain between 600 and 1,000 mcg of folic acid. If you don't take one, make sure you still take a separate folic acid supplement. If you've previously had a baby with neural tube defects, you'll need to take 4,000 mcg, or 4 milligrams, of this vitamin each day starting at least a month before conception; see your practitioner about getting a prescription for pills that provide this larger dose.

Women with Certain Health Issues
Women with dietary restrictions or pregnancy complications need to take a prenatal supplement - and not just for the folic acid and iron. This includes vegetarians and vegans; women who are lactose-intolerant or have certain other food intolerances; smokers and women who abuse other substances; women who are having twins or higher multiples; and women with certain blood disorders and chronic diseases. If any of these situations apply to you, talk to your caregiver about what kind of supplement is best for you.

Important Vitamins and Minerals:

• Calcium (1,000mg) Where to get it: Dairy foods, dark leafy greens, calcium-fortified soy milk, calcium-fortified juices and cereals
• Folate (folic acid is the synthetic form, available in supplements)(600mcg) Where to get it: Dried beans, peas, lentils, orange juice, oranges, dark leafy greens, soy nuts, avocados, broccoli, asparagus
• Iron (27mg) Where to get it: Liver, meat, seafood, prune juice, dry beans, wheat germ, oatmeal, tofu, soy nuts, grains
• Protein (70g) Where to get it: Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy foods, beans and legumes, nuts
• Vitamin C (85mg) Where to get it: Citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, dark leafy greens, broccoli, Brussel sprouts
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids (200-300mg)Where to get it: Salmon, walnuts, flaxseed, leafy-green vegetables

What the Experts Say
Your health care provider will most likely recommend you take prenatal multivitamins containing the recommended amounts of vitamins, including folic acid. Your prenatal vitamin is crucial throughout pregnancy to support the growth of the baby, so be sure you take it every day. In fact, your need for iron doubles during pregnancy, and you may not be able to get enough from your diet.

Some pregnant women need to take a 30-milligram iron supplement during their second and third trimesters to help prevent anemia. Your health care provider will recommend one if you need it. Your provider also may recommend a calcium supplement if you are unable to consume dairy products. Never take a supplement that contains more than the Daily Value (DV) of vitamins and minerals without talking to your health care provider, because large doses of certain vitamins (such as vitamin A) may harm your baby.

source : Pregnancy-Info

7 More Vital Vitamins for Pregnant Woman

When you are pregnant it is important that you fully appreciate the significance of vitamins and minerals. They are essential for the healthy development of your unborn baby. Therefore, you need to know what the various vitamins do and more importantly how you can make them a part of your diet. In this article there are seven of these important vitamins and minerals in greater detail

1. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine):- This vitamin helps your baby's brain and nervous system develop. In some cases it has also been noted to reduce morning sickness. Pyridoxine can be sourced in; bananas, watermelon, chick peas and chicken breast.
2. Calcium:- This mineral is essential for the development of your baby's bones and your need for this mineral will increase greatly during pregnancy. Calcium deficiency can lead to osteoprosis (porous bones) and reduce the strength of your baby's bones. Calcium is contained in lots of dairy products such as; milk, cheese, yogurt, spinach, tofu and broccoli.
3. Vitamin E:- This vitamin helps a baby's muscles and red blood cells to develop. A lack of Vitamin E has been linked with low birthweight, whilst getting too much of this vitamin has been associated with stillbirth. It is therefore vital that you ask for your doctor's advice before considering Vitamin E supplementation. You can get Vitamin E in a number of foods including; vegetable oil, nuts, and fortified cereals.
4. Iron:- This mineral plays a major role in the development of red blood cells which are required for the healthy development of your baby. Iron is also an important mineral in the growth of the placenta. Iron can be sourced from; red meats, vegetables, grains and fortified cereals.
5. Protein:- Protein is one of the core building blocks in all your baby's body cells. The need for protein increases during the second and third trimester of your pregnancy. Many dietary products are rich in protein including; meat, fish, eggs, cheese and tofu. It can also be found in supplements such as bars and shakes.
6. Vitamin B1 (Thiamin):- This vitamin is essential for the development of your baby's central nervous system. Not getting enough Thiamin can put your baby at risk of beriberi which can damage the baby's heart and lungs. Foods which contain Thiamin include; whole grain foods, wheat germ and eggs.
7. Zinc:- This mineral is highly important for cell growth in your unborn baby. Zinc also promotes the production of enzymes such as insulin in pregnant women. Zinc can be found in; red meats, poultry, beans, grains and dairy products.

Vitamins and minerals are a crucial part of any pregnant woman's diet. I hope this article gives you some guidance on which vitamins you need and where you can find them. However, for professional advice on the vitamins and minerals you will require during your pregnancy you should consult your doctor.

source : Article Base

Working Together With My Mom's

I always love when I play with my parents. Since they are very busy during working days, so we use to play on Saturday. There are more fun if both my parents playing with me all day. What should you expect as a toddler,,,, playing is my world.

Last Saturday, my Mom's got sick, so she did not go to work. I was very worry for her, she look pale and tired. My Mom asked me if I could play with her while she was at home. It very please to me because I have my Mom play with me.

"Working together with my Mom's"

Sunday in the family
by Janne Marie

Following lines are addressed to those who need a little color in the life of the couple, who want to find the festive atmosphere of the beginning, who want to escape from the routine on Sundays and want to try something else. Neuro-linguistic programming is a very interesting, saying that doing the same thing, you get the same result. Change occurs when you do something else than before. Definition of frustration is to do the same things and expect different results.

Many people complain that the husband or wife is, for years, in a certain way. These people should ask themselves what to do, so some of their behavior to be different. What can change in attitude to each? It's sort of negotiation and is recommended to start with small things that can be done without too much effort for each of the partners of the couple.

It is important to know that it existed in a couple, he and their design, which we call the relationship of the couple. An essential element of functionality that couple relationships is the life that is manifest. By this we mean a residence, home, where we are together, but what We call the framework and create psychological space for each couple as their relationship. With these elements, sometimes it is enough just to change the space and, leaving the routine, we can achieve spectacular results.

Without financial and psychological costs high, we can try over the weekend that's going or why not, and during the week, a change of environment in two, with one essential rule: every quarter of an hour spent together each of the other two to give something, a gesture, a kiss, a melon ice cream, a star, a handshake, a gesture of tenderness ... Or more, depending on how rich is each within his soul.

Do many couples are aware of the joy of being together in one weekend? To spend holidays together in an extraordinarily pleasant, without millions to spend, without drive for hours. You can choose to start the morning at 10.00 and never drink coffee at home in the kitchen. There are terraces quiet and clean, with palm trees and swings, on Sunday mornings when regular customers of these places are asleep, after reveling in the night.

He will start the morning swinging in a rocking chair could be the first step towards a day when you can float. After coffee, you can take a stroll in a little park and, guaranteed, this equates to one in the Garden of Eden. Tell are flourished, their smell is the divine right, the roses have bloomed and you can stroll hand, admirandu them. Sit on a bench, smelling Tell and taking you by the hand. You, more mature this time to renew your vows of love. You look at kids who run and remember those moments when your children were the same age, their smile, happiness, joy ... Or you can now build a future where your child to run the little park.

In gardens and parks miracles happen every Sunday. You can then pass through the market to buy strawberries, which was to enjoy the afternoon together. Then, towards evening, out of the house, no matter how housework should be, to admire the musical fountains, even an air of celebration. Or take a romantic walk. You can kiss as a teenager, when all dreams were possible. Somewhere, in a park after 22.00, all will have an unreal beauty. All is for you two. Do you think that would be a shame that so much beauty to be wasted?

Learn How to Build Self Esteem and Encourage Your Child
By Jenny Gandhi

Like a bud to a flower that blossoms to share its fragrance with the world, a child is as delicate. And the nurturing shapes his future where he would either stand tall or cow down.

Shaping a child is like shaping clay, you have to start from the beginning and work your way to the end with extreme caution but with gentle and loving hands. However unlike clay, you don't get a second chance with a child. You can put all the clay back together and start again but with a child, what is done is done. Hence it's even more caution with care.

Building a child's esteem is no small play; it makes your black hair grey, steals away years of your life and still will not look done. Hence you have to learn how to build self esteem and encourage your child from the beginning. After all parenting begins from babyhood.

Small instance could leave large impact on your child's mind. Reason why you should not overlook something that went wrong as petty. If another child pushed your kid, everyone laughed and you told your son to forget it, that's the first wrong step. Of course it's no eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth syndrome that you have to imbibe. But you have to teach your child to stand up for himself. Don't let your child crumble inside. Tell him to ask the child why is he hitting him or complain to the nearest adult he can reach.

Most of all before you preach to a child you have to be a living example. If you go around bullying people, your kids will do the same. If you are a coward yourself and do not stand up to situations, do not expect your child not to follow you. Children are like monkeys, they ape every action. From how you eat to how you handle situations.

Building self esteem begins at home. Small assertive acts make a positive impact on your child. Below are a few ways to learn how to build self esteem and encourage your child

• Praise your child for finishing homework
  
• Appreciate him for switching off the lights
  
• Thank him for doing the dishes or keeping his room tidy
  
• Give him a hug every time he does well in a test
  
• Reward him for not procrastinating
  
• Cook his favourite dish every time he keeps his word
  
• Take him to the movies or the place that they like for doing well in test or for coming home in time after play.

"I love play with my computer"

Regards,

Samuel Gultom
----------------------------------------------------
http://samuelgultom.blogspot.com
http://gultom.synthasite.com
http://samuelgultom.webs.com
http://samuelgultom.synthasite.com
http://sammy.dagdigdug.com
http://samuelgultom.blog.com
----------------------------------------------------

Samuel Gultom Store
Directory of Children Blogs
Baby-Parenting.co.uk

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

u-Hits Directory - A high-traffic, human edited & SEO friendly general web directory.

Ten Ways To Save Green

Sure, you know that saving the earth is important, but buying "green" products can be super-expensive. But there

are affordable ways to do your part to lessen your environmental footprint — you'll even save some cash at the same

time.

Go Shopping (for New Appliances)!

If your appliances are from the mid-'90s or before, they're probably so inefficient that it makes sense to replace

them. Look for appliances with the Energy Star label, which means that they use 10 to 50 percent less water and

energy than standard models—a substantial savings on your utility bills. (According to Department of Energy

calculations, a new clothes washer can save you up to $110 a year on your energy bills.) Find more information on

the Energy Star program.

Break Out the Baking Soda

Baking soda is a nontoxic substance that helps regulate pH, getting rid of bad odors caused by too much acidity

(food, BO) and two much base (fish and smoke). Plus, it's a gentle cleanser. Make a paste with BS and water for a

chemical-free way to shine your silver, pour it down the sink and run warm water to deodorize, or use it to scrub

the tub.

Slay (Energy) Vampires

Energy vampires are electronics (like TVs, DVD players and cell phone chargers) that still use energy even when

they're turned off. Guess what? This wasted power can add up to 20 percent to your energy bill. The best way to cut

down on energy-sucking is to unplug your appliances when they're not in use, or plug them all into a power strip and

turn that off. If all that switching is too much of a hassle (and let's face it, having the clock on your DVD player

is convenient), at least unplug your cell phone charger when it's not in use.

Pack a Bottle

According to one estimate, Americans go through more than 30 million water bottles a year. If you're drinking that

water on the go, you're probably throwing the bottle in the garbage — and that adds up to a lot of trash. Fill up a

reusable water bottle and you can stay hydrated, cut down on waste and save cash. If the bottles of water you buy in

a store are about $1 each, this baby will pay for itself in about eight uses.

Cruise in the Slow Lane

Gas mileage drops considerably when you go over 60 mph. According to the Department of Energy, you pay about 20

cents more per gallon for each 5 mph you go over 60. Over time, that's a lot of extra fuel, and cash! Excessive

accelerating and heavy breaking can also make your car less efficient, so make it a smooth ride. For more ways to

save on car expenses, go to fueleconomy.gov.

Plant a Tree — Seriously

Adding trees to the south, east and west side of your house shades your home, keeping it cooler. That means savings

of up to 25 percent on your home cooling costs. Get more ideas from the government's Energy Savers Web site.

Print on Both Sides

Whether you're at work or in your home office, whenever possible, print on both sides of your paper to reduce your

consumption. Or, even better, store files and emails on your computer, so you're not using any paper at all.

Go Native

Try to use plants and flowers that are native to your area in your garden. The benefit? Because they're already

adapted to the soil and water conditions, you won't have to use as much fertilizer and water to get them to grow.

For more information and lists of regional plants, go to plantnative.org.

Say, "It's Vintage"

Shopping at thrift stores like Goodwill or buying used goods on eBay can be super-cheap, but it's also eco-friendly.

Why? There's none of the energy consumed that would be used in manufacturing and transporting something new. Plus,

you're reusing furniture and clothing that might otherwise get thrown away. No need to say it's a thrift-store find.

Just call it "vintage" or "antique."

Get Your Kids in on It

Visit The Greens at meetthegreens.org, an interactive site for teens and tweens that features animated clips, a

blog, games and more. Hosted by two cartoon middle schoolers, the show teaches kids ways they can conserve and save

the environment. Will it get your kid to do the laundry — line-drying, of course? One can only hope.

source:Everyday Health


Other Ten Ways To Go Green

How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time? Staff members at the Worldwatch Institute, a global environmental organization, share ideas on how to GO GREEN and SAVE GREEN at home and at work.

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let's start now.

We've partnered with the Million Car Carbon Campaign to help you find ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. This campaign is uniting conscious consumers around the world to prevent the emissions-equivalent of 1 million cars from entering the atmosphere each year.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life.

#1
Save energy to save money.
State of the World
State of the World 2009:
Into a Warming World

* Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
* Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
* Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
* Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
* Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.


#2
Save water to save money.

* Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
* Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
* Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
* Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.


#3
Less gas = more money (and better health!).
Bicycle Commuters
World Watch Magazine

* Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
* Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
* Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.


#4
Eat smart.

* If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
* Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
* Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
* Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.


#5
Skip the bottled water.

* Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
* Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
* Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.


#6
Think before you buy.
Low Carbon Energy
Low Carbon Energy Report

* Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
* Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
* When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
* Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.


#7
Borrow instead of buying.

* Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
* Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.


#8
Buy smart.
Climate Change Reference Guide
Climate Change Reference
Guide

* Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
* Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
* Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).


#9
Keep electronics out of the trash.

* Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
* Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
* Recycle your cell phone.
* Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.


#10
Make your own cleaning supplies.
Million Car Campaign

Join the Million Car Carbon Campaign by purchasing your Earth-Aid kit today.

* The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
* Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

source:Worldwatch Organization.



Regards,

Samuel Gultom
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
http://samuelgultom.blogspot.com
http://gultom.synthasite.com
http://samuelgultom.webs.com
http://samuelgultom.synthasite.com
http://sammy.dagdigdug.com
http://samuelgultom.blog.com
----------------------------------------------------

Samuel Gultom Store
Directory of Children Blogs
Baby-Parenting.co.uk

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Shy Kids - Samuel Gultom

What is Shyness?

Outward Signs - One of the difficulties of being shy is that it is very often impossible to hide your shyness from other people. Signs of shyness include frequent trouble talking, stammering, stuttering, blushing, shaking, sweating hands.When these things start to happen, the shy person often becomes more upset and less able to deal with the current conversation or situation. Please keep in mind that these things happen to everyone sometimes. We all get nervous in new situations and then the more the nervousness is thought about, the more nervous we may become.

Inward Signs - Many shy people have both inward and outward signs of shyness. However some people can act confident on the outside, but feel miserable on the inside. While these people act very self-assured on the outside, inside they have a racing heart and almost constant thoughts on how the conversation is going, how they look, if the other people in the room like them, and how quickly they can leave the situation and return home.

source: shykids.com

Some children are naturally outgoing while others are more selective in their friendships. Most parents accept that. But how do you know if shyness is a problem for your child, and what are some strategies for overcoming shyness?

“Shyness is a combination of basic genetic makeup and your life experience,” says psychiatrist Andrew Harper, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and medical director at the UT Harris County Psychiatric Center. “There are always going to be people who are less comfortable around new folks or less likely to initiate conversation.”

Overcoming Shyness

Dr. Harper says that he is concerned about shyness in a child if:

• It is causing a problem for the child, such as preventing them from making friends.
• There is reason to believe it is a sign of underlying anxiety or depression.

In those instances, you should probably seek professional medical help to understand the situation and develop coping strategies.

But otherwise, you and your child might be able to find ways to overcome shyness at home with the following tips:

• Shift the focus. Talk about your shy child’s special strengths. Your child might not be a social butterfly but may be a great listener who is always there for friends. Take time to emphasize strengths that may be underappreciated.
• Assess the shyness. Find out if the shyness appears to others to be something more negative, like snobbery, and come up with ways to address that misunderstanding.
• Practice new situations. Help kids anticipate situations with new people — have your child practice strategies to use during these situations with you.
• Plan conversations. Work together to come up with some ideas for things your child can talk to other children about.
• Highlight body language. Encourage your child to make eye contact and smile when talking to people.
• Rehearse overcoming shyness. Urge shy kids to write down what they want to say in a phone call, conversation, or presentation, and practice saying it out loud.
• Join the club. Find groups that are doing things your child enjoys, such as sports, art, drama, or outdoors activities. Sharing a common interest will give your child a way to meet new people in a low-pressure environment.

It also helps just to let your child know that everyone feels a bit shy or awkward sometimes. “Acknowledge it a bit,” says Harper. “Everyone feels awkward in new situations, like a new school. It’s okay to feel a little bit awkward, but realize it’s likely to pass.”

Signs of Abnormal Shyness

Shyness can be part of a social anxiety disorder. Talk to a professional if your child’s shyness cannot be overcome and has any of the following qualities:

• Physical symptoms, such as sweating, nausea, or shaking.
• Forgetfulness during conversations and difficulty speaking around other people.
• Intense fear of being watched or judged by others.
• Fear of embarrassment that leads to avoidance of activities.

Keep in mind that some shyness and social anxiety may be permanently a part of your child’s brain chemistry. A study published in the online journal PLoS One showed that the brains of very anxious individuals may actually function differently from people who are less anxious and shy — and this brain chemistry does not change over time.

But remember that while anxiety and paralyzing shyness may need to be treated, garden-variety shyness is no cause for concern.

Source:EverydayHealth

Regards,

Samuel Gultom
----------------------------------------------------
http://samuelgultom.blogspot.com
http://gultom.synthasite.com
http://samuelgultom.webs.com
http://samuelgultom.synthasite.com
http://sammy.dagdigdug.com
http://samuelgultom.blog.com
----------------------------

Samuel Gultom Store
Directory of Children Blogs
Baby-Parenting.co.uk

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Supermarket : Unhealthy Foods

The Top 10 Most Unhealthy Foods in Your Supermarket.

You might want to consider taking the following unhealthy foods off the menu if you want to live a long and healthy life . The food you put into your mouth every day plays a much bigger role in how healthy you are than your genes.

1. Margarine

The process used to make a liquid oil opaque yellow and spreadable produces an incredibly unhealthy product that hardly qualifies to be called a food. It doesn’t matter if you start with the best quality extra virgin olive, the final product is still an unhealthy food.

Promoted as a cholesterol free and healthier choice than good old butter, margarine is the ultimate source of trans fats, which rather ironically elevate cholesterol and damage blood vessel walls. Even more ironic is the fact that margarine is still recommended by health authorities including the Australian Heart Foundation who also promote reducing dietary trans fats. Clever loopholes in labelling allow margarines to claim that they are ‘virtually’ trans fat free. Margarine is a good example of a politically correct unhealthy food.

What about the new cholesterol lowering margarines?

Save your money, you’ll be getting a dose of the very same phyto sterols by using extra virgin olive oil liberally in your diet. Most fruits and vegetables also contain phyto sterols. Flaxseed or linseed meal, nuts, seeds and legumes are all rich sources of phytosterols.

For a more detailed overview of the processes involved in making margarine, visit the Stop Trans Fats website

For more info on the dangers of trans fats:
Today Tonight Report: The Truth about Trans Fats

2. Breakfast Cereals

These cleverly marketed, attractively boxed ‘foods’ are in my opinion one of the most unhealthy foods in your supermarket.

And it’s not just me who thinks this.

According to Dr. Peter Dingle, a Western Australian Toxicologist and author of “My Dog Eats Better than Your Kids” and “The DEAL for Happier, Healthier, and Smarter Kids”, McDonalds makes a more nutritious breakfast than Cornflakes!

Even Choice Magazine agrees with me. They looked at the top 10 selling children’s breakfast cereals and concluded that you may as well have a candy bar for breakfast they were so high in sugar and lacking in nutrients. Iron man food they most definitely are not.

Besides the addition of sugar and refined salt, breakfast cereals are made from highly processed grains. You might start off with a nice healthy whole grain but by the time you’ve puffed it or turned it into a nice crunchy flake, you’re left with something your body no longer recognises as food. The process used to make the little ‘O’s, pellets, shreds, flakes and other shapes in your cereal bowl is called ‘extrusion’. The extrusion process damages the nutrients and proteins in the grain leaving them devoid of nutrients, highly toxic and not much more than empty calories – watch this space, they will be the trans fats of the future. For more info on the dangers of the extrusion process read Dirty Secrets of the Food Processing Industry by Sally Fallon

3. Refined Vegetable Oils

A diet high in omega 6 polyunsaturated vegetable oils has been linked to an increased risk of:

• Cancer
  (Escrich E, et al. 2006. Are the olive oil and other dietary lipids related to cancer? Experimental evidence. Clinical and Translational Oncology).
  (Peskin BS, Carter MJ. 2008. Chronic cellular hypoxia as the prime cause of cancer: what is the de-oxygenating role of adulterated and improper ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids when incorporated into cell membranes? Medical Hypothises.)
• Melanoma
  (Vinceti M et al. 2005. A population-based case-control study of diet and melanoma risk in northern Italy. Public Health and Nutrition)
• Learning disorders
• Allergies
• Immune suppression
• Heart disease
• Atherosclerosis (hardened plaques in your arteries)
• Reproductive problems

A pretty impressive list for a food we’ve been urged to consume more of for the last 20 years.

Polyunsaturated vegetable oils are highly fragile and easily damaged and subject to rancidity producing huge amounts of free radicals. The refining process also strips them of their natural antioxidants including vitamin E which in turn depletes your body of valuble antioxidants when you eat them.

The only oils in my kitchen include sesame oil, ghee and coconut oil for cooking, olive oil for salad dressings and butter to turn steamed vegetables from boring to mouth watering.

4.Doughnuts

According to Carla Wolper, Nutritionist at the New York Obesity Research Centre, “When it comes to health, the only thing good about them is the hole”.

Break down a doughnut and you’re left with nothing but refined sugar and flour, artificial flavors and partially hydrogenated oil. They’re also loaded with trans fats – hello heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Despite the fact that they’re about as healthy as a packet of cigarettes, doughnuts are increasingly used in school fundraisers these days. And we wonder why as a society that diabetes and obesity are set to cripple our health care system in the next decade.

Even if you live by the mantra of ‘everything in moderation’, treat doughnuts like rat poison rather than a food.

5. Soft Drinks

Your average can of soft drink contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar (about 150 calories) as well as artificial food colours and sulphites. Sulphites are well known triggers of asthma and other allergies. Diet soft drinks are just as unhealthy, artificial sweeteners like aspartame are potent ‘excitotoxins’ to the brain and nervous system and have also been linked to an increased risk of obesity.

Soft drinks are definitely not a ‘soft’ option in the junk food stakes, they increase your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Soft drink are a particularly unhealthy food for children as they are a significant risk factor for impaired calcification of growing bones – you wouldn’t dream of letting your child smoke a cigarette or drink a glass of wine as a ‘special treat’ so it makes no sense that it’s OK to give a child a can of cola as a weekend treat.

According to a report in the medical journal of Australia, “There is much to be gained by reducing children’s intake of soft drinks and little — except excess weight — to be lost”. Not to mention healthier bones and teeth.

The easiest way to stop yourself and your family drinking soft drink is to simply stop buying it. If it’s not in the fridge you can’t drink it.

Sarah Luck
Natural Health Consultant
Sydney
www.TheNaturalHealthHub.com

Regards,

Samuel Gultom
----------------------------------------------------
http://samuelgultom.blogspot.com
http://gultom.synthasite.com
http://samuelgultom.webs.com
http://samuelgultom.synthasite.com
http://sammy.dagdigdug.com
http://samuelgultom.blog.com
----------------------------------------------------

Samuel Gultom Store
Directory of Children Blogs
Baby-Parenting.co.uk

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner