Take Control of Your Aging Health

Take Control of Your Aging Health
By Marge Pickering Picone

When you become an aging baby boomer the last thing you want to experience is the side effects. The stiff joints, aching low back, fatigue and memory problems starting to creep up out of no where. The ability to multi task is slowly diminishing. The ease of bending to put on your socks and shoes and forget womens pantyhose is a distant memory. You look in the mirror and wonder how you got here.

So stop right there. Take back control of your life. Some think it is easier said than done. Not so, take it one step at a time. Health over fifty becomes your own personal responsibility. What you eat is just as important (if not more) now than twenty years ago. Just because you strayed from eating properly until now doesnt mean you should give up and just rely on medicine. You can find better ways to eat, exercise for your ability and eliminate some of those bad habits. Turn your life into a new hobby and put the failure thoughts out in the trash.

Instead of trying to tackle all aspects of your life, try one step in each category per week and let your motivation to succeed take over. Each week do one more positive thing to improve the enjoyment of the age you are. If you sit and whine about where you used to be those moments of now will pass you by. Youre not going to get younger in chronological aging but you can get more youthful in your movements, looks, thoughts and health issues. Here are 10 Simple steps you can do starting today:
1.Park your car 3 spaces farther away than you do now and walk.
2.Eat fish 1 more meal per week than you do already.
3.Do stretching exercises or yoga (lots of discomfort feels like bone but is tight muscles.)
4.Add 2 glasses of water per day to get closer to your needed body amount of at least 8 8 ounce glasses per day.
5.Eliminate the starch from one meal of your diet and exchange it for vegetables and fruits.
6.Drink 1 less alcoholic drink than you normally do.
7.Lower your cigarette smoking by 1 cigarette less each day until you can quit.
8.Forgive yourself or someone else of a wrongful deed.
9.Compliment yourself for doing 5 positive things for yourself each day before bed.
10.Get to bed at a decent time to achieve 7 to 8 hours of sleep.late shows on TV can wait for weekends or use the recorder to watch at a better hour.

Health over fifty does not need to be a chore. Do something to improve your life. Smile at the reflection in the mirror and you will start to smile at others as well. Your life isnt just about everyone else and their needs. Your health, youthfulness, flexibility and quality is about you and what you are willing to do for the most important person in your lifeyou.

Enjoy!

More articles and blogs by this author can be found at http://www.aging-baby-boomer-guide.com. Marge Pickering Picone is a Nutrition Consultant for Professional Nutrition Services of Rochester, Inc. and the Founder of http://www.aging-baby-boomer-guide.com.

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5 Ways To Have Stronger More Physically Fit Children They Will be Happier and Healthier

5 Ways To Have Stronger More Physically Fit Children - They Will be Happier and Healthier
By Everte Farnell

As many of you know, my book The Barbarian's Guide to Success talks about not only making more money, but it also talks about having a successful family. Part of a successful family, is having successful children.

I was talking to a Phys. Ed. coach in a public school the other day. He was telling me some amazing things about the children he coaches. Apparently most of the children are in horrible shape. He was telling me that he has children twist their ankles when running on the track on a regular basis. Most have problems with any physical activity.

I heard a story on the news a few months ago that said the Army had to change its workout program in basic training because new recruits were getting stress fractures from the exercise. Now folks, all they do in calisthenics. Push ups and sit ups and jumping jacks. Stress fractures from that!

When I was a child we had to run laps regularly. We played hard, and were embarrassed to ask to go to the nurse. If one of us had to go to the nurse from running on the track we would have never lived it down.

My point is not that children should make fun of each other, but that many of our children are wimps.

I read an article a few years ago about how attitudes toward child rearing are changing. According to the article, fathers traditionally encouraged children to do things that were physical and mothers, traditionally, wanted to protect children from the potential harm that comes with such activity. I know this is not 100% true, as my mother encouraged me to play sports if I wanted to, but the article did say in general. According to the article, fathers are not encouraging their children as much. They are trying to protect the children more, much like what mother traditionally do. The result, kids that do very little or no exercising. Children that complain at the mildest ache or pain. In short, out of shape wimps. I did not believe it, but it seems to be coming true.

Now I know that you don't want your child to be a wimp, so here are a few things to help get them in batter shape:

1.Throw out the video games and turn the boob tube off. To many kids are spending to much time in front of the TV.

2.Cook meals and keep tabs on what your child eats. I know it is hard sometimes, but if you don't keep track they will be eating nothing but honey buns and Ho-Ho's. BTW Boston Market's non-fried chicken is as bad or worse than other restaurants. Eating out should be a treat not the norm. Cook a meal and sit down as a family and eat. Your children will be healthier, both physically and mentally.

3. Along the lines of number 2, pack a lunch. School lunches are the worst and most children eat out of a vending machine at school. Take a few minutes and pack a lunch, its worth it. They'll do better in school and be healthier and happier.

4.Teach your younger children to ride their bike and make your older ones play some sports. The older kids don't have to be sports stars, but make them play tennis or swim or SOMETHING.

5. Kick the kids out of the house. Make them go out and play. To many children spend to much time indoors. Too much sun is harmful, but too little is as well, Savvy?!?

So make the kids get stronger. Make them run and play. Forget the video games. If they want to shoot something they can do it with cap guns. (Don't tell me about the teen shooting stories on the news. Every single one of my friends and I played with cap guns and none of us killed someone. The problem with those kids ain't toy guns, it is something way more serious.)

At the end of the day, make them move. They need it.

And with that I will say

Get the Barbarian Mind Set and keep it. Stay tr to yourself and your family, the rest will take care of itself.

Everte Farnell is a author and speaker and professional coach. In May of 2003 Everte was a divorced broke single father. Two and a half years later Everte is a happily married father of two. The company he and his wife worked to build supplies his family with a six figure income, and his children are happy healthy and well adjusted. He lives a life that many dream of. It is the life that he dreamed of in May of 2003.

In October of 2005 he released his book The Barbarian's Guide to Success and is dedicated to helping other realize their dreams. He is a straight forward, politically incorrect, figure and makes very little time for detractors. He often says So many 'coaches' have made their money by coaching. I do everything I coach. It is important that people know that I have faced or do face the same challenges they face. Life is an integrated process. Your professional life must support your personal and family life and vice versa, otherwise you will never find true success. Everte Can be reached at his web page http://www.successfulBarbarian.com

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Cleaning Tips for a Healthy Home and Body

Cleaning Tips for a Healthy Home and Body
By Angie Black

When spring cleaning time comes round, it's important to remember these basic cleaning tips. To ensure you are doing more good than harm, you must be aware of your environment and what it means to have a safe home. Many people have become 'brainwashed' into believing that being clean has a chemical smell. The smell of your fabric conditioner, air freshener and all purpose cleaner are all chemical smells and should not be associated with a 'clean' smell. The truth is there is no such thing as a clean smell. Fresh air is the cleanest smell you can get. The following cleaning tips have been written to guide you in your spring cleaning mission as well as your everyday cleaning.

▪ To eliminate odors, you can use 1/4 cup of white Vinegar and a cup of water. Bring toboil and allow to simmer for about 30 mins to an hour. - A completely natural way of eliminating odors in your home.

▪ If you have wooden floors, you can clean them with tea! Use 2 tea bags per cup of hot water and allow to cool. - No need to rinse.

If you want to deodorize your fridge, use baking soda.

▪ Baking soda is great general natural cleaner.

▪ Lemon juice is natures own disinfectant.

The following cleaning tips are things to avoid in your spring cleaning.

▪ Never use air fresheners. They contain dangerous chemicals and are not good for your health. They also have no real purpose unless you believe that your home requires a chemical smell to be clean.

▪ Don't use scented products. This includes anything which contains a fragrance.

▪ Do not use pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or fertilizers. They are very toxic. Instead you can use diatomaceous earth, nematodes and boric acid. See your health food shop or pet store for supplies.

▪ Do not use cleaning products which contain toxic chemicals. There are plenty of natural alternatives available.

It is a fact that the air inside the average home is more toxic than the outside air, even in the most polluted cities. The above tips will help to reduce the toxins in your home. To further improve the air quality in your home, the following tips should help.

▪ Invest in an indoor plant! A number of plants are known for their ability to remove toxins from the air. These include: English Ivy, Aloe Vera, Boston fern, Spider plants, Golden pathos and Philodendrons.

▪ Open the windows! - Especially when cleaning.

▪ Don't use fabric conditioners. There are some natural fabric conditioners available or you can use baking soda. Also avoid dryer sheets.

▪ Use natural, fragrance free cosmetics.
Avoid Hairsprays - use plain Aloe Vera gel.
Avoid scented deodorant sprays - Use mineral crystal stones (or spray) or any unscented, petroleum free products.
Use an unscented shampoo and soap - best if they do not contain sodium laurel sulphate or propylene glycol.
Essential oils are the best form of fragrances as they are natural, non-toxic substances.

Branching away from our 'cleaning tips' topic, there are a few other guidelines that you should try to stick to.

▪ Try to eat organic foods - free of harmful chemicals.

▪ Wear only natural fiber clothes. Never purchase 'anti wrinkle' or 'permanent press' garments. These clothes have been treated with dangerous chemicals that do not wash out.

Hopefully, these cleaning tips and more have given you an idea of how to proceed with your spring cleaning tasks. Remember that everything that you breathe in and everything that comes in contact with your skin is being absorbed into your body. If a product is not fit to eat, than you shouldn't really be in contact with it.

Happy cleaning! its great exercise and is often more fun with music. Put on your favorite dance music and get ready to burn some calories!

Angie Black is the webmaster of cleaningnatural.comThis site discusses the dangers of common cleaning chemicals and tries to promote natural products. Vistit the site at http://www.cleaningnatural.com.

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Make Eating Healthy Foods Fun

Make Eating Healthy Foods Fun
By Kadence Buchanan

Children everywhere in the world have an on-going love affair with junk food such as hamburgers, pizza, candy, soda and salty foods like potato chips and french fries. Unfortunately, it's hard to find a single child who has these same strong feeling for the healthy food that they need such as grains, vegetables, fruits and foods reach in nutrients such as meat, beans, fish and nuts.

Fortunately, there is one tied and tested strategy to make kids eat the kind of healthy food that some of them may not want -- that's by making it fun.

That's right, make eating healthy food fun. And how do you do that? Here are some tips:

(1) The Sneak Attack. Try sneaking in some of those fruits and vegetables along with the kind of food they like, say, making muffins out of bananas or apples. There are lots of vegetables the you can throw in when you're serving the kids pizza. You could also make them look funny by arranging them creatively on a plate or making them stand up like people. Sure, some people don't want their kids playing with food, but if it will help them get healthier, it may be worth the effort.

(2) Funny Name Game. If your kids are below the age of four, here's a nifty trick that gets them every time. Give the fruits and vegetables funny names and concoct elaborate stories. Some stories will end with these funny-named vegetables getting swallowed alive by the giant child. In another version, the vegetables run for cover and hide from their enemies by entering a big cave that happens to be your child's mouth where they quickly get gulped down.

(3) The Taste Test. Kids dislike vegetables because they don't like the taste. Therefore, make the healthy foods taste better and your child will love them. For instance, put peanut butter on celery or add a dash of flavor to broccoli with ranch dressing. I'm sure you can think of dozens of ways to spruce up healthy food.

The key is to find creative ways to make your children enjoy eating healthy food. And once they've acquired a taste for it, eating healthy foods will be second nature to them.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Food, Home Improvement, and Outdoors

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Simple Tips for Good Health

Simple Tips for Good Health
By Lucy Denim

Many people take for granted very simple ways to healthy living and eating. Our foods are full of toxins, chemicals and preservatives so when you eat try to think natural which is the best way to know your eating right.

If we go back thousands of years when man had no supermarkets and no packaged goods but just simple food then we can relate that to how we should be eating in the 21st century. Back then man would eat food straight from the fruit trees, vegetables that have no chemicals in the soil and free of pesticide spray. Men and women would have been much healthier as they would have also had to work hard to gather their food and we all know that exercise is a vital part of healthy living.

Instead of buying your vegetables from the supermarket which are usually full of chemicals and pesticides consider taking a visit to your small local fresh fruit & vegetable store. Not all of these small fresh fruit & vegetable stores are are that much better as many of them still buy their stock from the same growers as the supermarket chains. The best way to judge if the produce is free from toxins & chemicals is to take it in your hand and take a look at the produce. Study the leafs in greens, do they have a look of been nearly perfect and pest free? If the leaves looks like they have had some harmless insects nibbling at the leaves then thats a good sign the produce has not been sprayed. Do the tomatoes looks pale and without blemishes? If so they have been grown in a hothouse artificially. You are the best judge, use your own discretion and ask the shop keeper directly if the produce is organic and free of sprays & chemicals.

You can also find particular sections in supermarkets & fresh fruit & vegetable stores that cater especially for organic foods which is probably one of the best guarantees that the food is free of toxins. You can also find fresh fruit & vegetable stores that only sell organic foods which is usually the best places to buy.

Eggs are another food source we all need but can be unhealthy to eat due to the chickens been bred in cages and they get no exercise and the eggs contain traces of chemicals from the artificially produced eggs. The eggs also have less natural vitamins, minerals and proteins so we don't get the full benefits of what natural eggs would normally contain. To be assured your eggs are going to be good for you then buy farm range eggs that are organically grown.

How many of us buy white sugar or use white sugar when buying a drink from a caf? Most likely over 80% of us... Instead of having white sugar which is very bad for our health when too much of it is consumed, buy raw sugar which is less refined or even better use honey to sweeten your drinks and food. Honey is a very healthy food but make sure you buy it unfiltered and honey that has not gone through any processing or heating. The best place to buy honey is straight from the owners of bee hives. If you do have to buy your honey from a store then look for a dark natural color with traces of honey comb and read the label.

Another over consumed everyday food source is salt, apparently most people eat 2 sacks of salt a year more than they need. That is an awful lot of salt but its in nearly every packaged food and nearly all foods from your local restaurant, cafs or fast food outlet. Aways insist on salt free food when buying from these places and most restaurant & cafs will be happy to prepare a special dish free of salt for you although at a slightly higher price but it's well worth it. We all need some salt but not so much, only use natural sea salt or kelp in our meals and do so moderately.

Lucy Denim writes part-time about nutrition and is in charge of the Health & Beauty department at DiscountSaver.net - http://www.discountsaver.net/coupons.asp?savediscount=healthbeauty

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10 Tips to Maintain Health and Beauty

10 Tips to Maintain Health and Beauty
By Paul W Wilson

Beauty, health, and nutrition are all integrated. If you eat a balanced diet you will be able to maintain your physique and glowing beauty externally and good health internally. A balanced diet is one that provides all the nutrients you need, the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat.

To achieve goals you need to ensure a good balance in your diet, introduce variety into your meals, and practice moderation. The basis of nutrition lies in your height, weight, dimensions, and your daily energy needs. Once you know this you can compute what your daily calorific needs are and set goals for weight maintenance, gain, or loss. By regulating your diet you can be active as well as happy.

You must:

1.Eat sensibly. Include a variety of foods in your diet such that the 40 nutrients that are required by your body are present. Make use of a food pyramid and calorie chart to prepare tasty and nutritious meals. Follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued each year.

2.Eat plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. They will supply you with essential vitamins, minerals, and protection from several diseases.

3.Maintain your weight at a healthy level. Successful weight management is one of the golden keys to good health. By doing is you will lower considerably the risk of many diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis.

4.Learn self control, eat moderate portions. The secret lies in eating everything but in small portions. Dont give way to gluttony or greed.

5.Make a time-table for your meals and how many calories will be in each meal. Never fast, starve yourself, or skip a meal. Eat when your body demands sustenance but not huge quantities.

6.Practice moderation. Good health does not lie in eliminating carbohydrates or fats. Include all your favorite foods but balance them with the rest of your diet. If you indulge your taste buds by eating pizza one day, then try and do so at lunch time, never eat pizza late at night. Ask for low fat cheese and healthy toppings. Eat just enough to satisfy your craving not all 12 slices. Get a few friends to share you sin. The days you indulge, eat sensibly the rest of the daysalads and fruits will help you make up for the binge.

7.Be sure your meals each day include all the food groups.

8.Plan to exercise every day. Either walk or take up aerobics, dancercise, or join a gym. Exercise will not just burn calories but put a glow into your skin, tone your muscles, and strengthen your bones. Exercise also removes accumulated toxins from your body.

9.Maintain a dairy in which you record your goals, and what you eat each day. Review your week objectively and create a table that shows at a glance what you did right and what you did wrong. This will help keep you on the right track.

10.Celebrate each victory. Give yourself a present or take yourself out every time you achieve a goal.

By eating healthy, one can live a complete and rounded life without diseases, reduce stress greatly, look and feel great, be happy from within and without, age well, produce healthy progeny, and live life to the fullest.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/health/, the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Health Forum, including topics on health care, Children's Health Issues, addiction, Cancer, fitness equipment, Burns & Injuries and more. He also freelances for submit free press release http://www.1888PressRelease.com/Medical-0-27.html

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Three Simple Tips For A Healthy And Happier Family

Three Simple Tips For A Healthy And Happier Family
By Dr. Charles Sophy

What is family? Check any dictionary and youll define family as a group of persons sharing common ancestry. But a family is so much more than a simple biological relation to another person. A family can also be two or more people who share goals and values and have long-term commitments to one another.

At its core, a family is a social group that must be nurtured and maintained in order to grow and thrive. As with all social groups, communication and interaction in the form of a communal gathering are integral to survival.

The concept of the family gathering has been in existence for millennia. Its not a modern creation but rooted in the traditions and histories of our own particular cultures and ancestry. A family gathering, whether its a daily shared meal, a special gathering over the holidays or Sunday visits with grandparents, has an impact on the development of our family units and us as individuals within the unit.

Family gatherings are the cornerstone of successful and happy families and we all need to work to include communal activities as part of our daily family routine. The gathering does not have to be a formal affair that includes every cousin, Aunt or Uncle you have. A simple meal together with your immediate family unit can provide a vehicle for communication that otherwise may not get to be expressed.

Lets gather at Olivers home:

Oliver, at ten, is the oldest of three children. He has a 4-year old sister and a 5-year old brother. Oliver is a warm and friendly child with a gentle nature. Never one to antagonize his peers, Oliver has become increasingly aggressive and confrontational with his peers. Over a six month period, Olivers behavior has deteriorated to the point where he became isolated from his peers his play dates have virtually disappeared and he spends most of his weekends sitting in front of his Nintendo playing by himself, rather than engaging in activities with his siblings. Both Mom and Dad noticed a change in his behavior yet attempts to discuss the matter with Oliver were met with I dont know replies.

When Olivers deteriorating behavior began to translate to his school work, Mom and Dads anxiety over the welfare of their child reached critical levels and they sought help.

Through individual and group sessions, it was discovered that a vital piece of the family dynamic was missing from the portrait. With a young and growing family, Dad works until 7-8 pm each evening. Mom usually has dinner on the table @ 6pm but does not dine with them, preferring to wait until her husband returns. Due to Dads hours, Dad rarely has dinner with his family. In fact, they almost never had a meal as a family.

Oliver is at a critical stage in his development when he will slowly explore his independence from his family. It is important that the comfort of home and the closeness of the family continue to engage Oliver and provide him with guidance and direction as he moves into his teenage years.

Olivers deteriorating behavior is a warning signal that he is reacting to a family unit that he was not particularly connected to and that he was losing interest and direction.

To re-engage Oliver in the family, Mom and Dad began a regular family meal each evening, allowing that time to be a place where all could vent and discuss the events of their day and any other issues etc that they felt they needed to share. Not only did the regular meals allow Oliver the opportunity to share his life, it also allowed him to make his parents aware of homework challenges and together they worked to clarify difficult concepts and engaged in extra practice homework.

Having a supportive and loving forum that all members of the family had a lasting impact deepening their relationships and increasing their self-confidence.

Here are three simple tips you can use today to increase Family Happiness:

1. Assess Take a look at your family know each ones strengths/weakness

2. Connect Be aware of how connected your family is to each other

3. Construct A forum for your family to share feelings and issues on a regular basis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance.

Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the Keep Em Off My Couch blog, provides real simple answers for solving lifes biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.com.

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Keeping Your Family Daycare Clean and Healthy

Keeping Your Family Daycare Clean and Healthy
By Christine Groth

One of the number one reasons that a daycare is successful is because its clean. When you enter the daycare not only does it look clean and organized, but it also smells clean. I hate to say it, but your nose is your best weapon against defense. If you think it smells bad, then it will certainly leave a lasting impression on the parent who comes to visit your daycare center.

So Im here to give you some pointers on how you can keep your daycare clean and sweet smelling. It will cause you to do some elbow work but it will be well worth it in the long run. Increased enrollment, increased positive word of mouth equals money.

1.Clean and sanitize daily. Each day you should be making a solution of 1 tbsp. bleach per gallon of water; this will be used to wipe down all hard surfaces that contract germs. Examples would include: door handles, kitchen tables, toys shelves, kitchen counters, bathroom areas, bathroom toilet lids. All toys that are mouthed by children should be sanitized each day, and toys that are played with and have hard services should be wiped down once a week.

2.All carpets in your daycare should be steam cleaned every 3 months.

3.Use air fresheners when its too cold out side to open windows, but when its warm be sure to keep your windows open and circulate the fresh air.

4.Wash sleeping bags, sheets, pillows, once a week in a soap and bleach solution.

5.Sanitize your diaper pail each week, and make sure you get those nasty diapers out of your daycare A.S.A.P. in the outside trash. If might mean going out to the trash 2-3 times per day, but its worth it to get that stuff out of the house.

6.Make sure you clean up right after lunch. Children will often drop food on the floor and if you have a parent who visits you for an appointment you certainly would not want to leave the impression of food lying around.

The six steps above are a good place to start, there are of course many other items to clean and for too many of us cleaning seems to be endless but its necessary in everyday life and especially business.

(c) CG Groth Inc.

The Daycare Queen, Christine G. Groth, is the creator of The Guide to Instant Daycare Profits. To learn more about this step-by-step program and to sign-up for her FREE How to Start a Daycare tips and articles, visit http://www.startingadaycaretips.com

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