Wellness Posts

Coping with Bullies Who Text; When SMSing Becomes "Textual Harassment"

support@wellness.com — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:59:12 Z

Wellness.com - Coping with Bullies Who Text; When SMSing Becomes "Textual Harassment" by JerryWeichman

By now we know that online bullying can leave a trail of destruction in its wake. It occurs fast and can have long-lasting repercussions. But what about a bully who doesn't just try to tear you down by posting on your Facebook wall or anonymously on Formspring but who also attacks you directly via your cell phone?

When friends have a falling out, former besties can turn into bullies. Many times those who feel the most comfortable with their victim, such as ex-friends or boyfriends and girlfriends, turn to text bullying to hurt, embarrass, and intimidate their target. This sort of "textual harassment" is more common than most adults realize and happens on a regular basis.

Most often text bullying is in the form of name calling or threats. However, textual harassment can also be defined as the repeat sending mean, embarrassing, untrue, or hurtful message to or about someone and also includes sexting, or sending sexually suggestive texts.

By hanging onto a text message that is disparaging about another individual or a suggestive photo sent via text, it is typical for a bully commit what amounts to "textual blackmail." The bully uses the old text as ammunition to discourage a victim from reporting their bullying or to entice the victim to provide them favors.

Text bullying is especially harsh because it is direct message to the victim that can be received any time and any place. While a victim can attempt to evade an online cyberbully by shutting down their computer, it is not often that tweens and teens are without their cell phones. Victims feel like they cannot escape the text attacks.

And unlike cyber-bullying, many parents do not even consider to ask their teen about whether or not someone may be harassing them via their cell phone. As a result, the victim of a text bully often ends up feeling isolated, violated, and fearful.

While most victims of text harassment know the identity of their bully, it is not always the case. Some text bullies will send messages from a friend's cell phone or ask people to forward a bullying text to the victim. Even worse, many pay-as-you-go phones do not require proof of identity to purchase them and keep no record of the owner. Text messages sent made from these types of cell phones are basically untraceable. Text bullies use these phones to harass their victim, making it seem like "everyone hates you" while still avoiding identification.

Are you dealing with a text bully or know someone who is? Here are four tips for coping with "textual harassment":

Do not respond. It doesn't matter whether your response is an attack back or if you are trying to clarify or question something. Responding in any way simply serves to escalate the conflict. By replying to a harassing text message, you are telling your bully that you will reply to their behavior and they will continue to attack via text message.

Do not delete. If you can, forward the text messages to a place where you can print them or at the least, keep a record of the harassing texts you receive, including date, time, and the number they were sent from. You will need a record of the messages, and ideally the texts themselves, in order to make a report and end the harassment.

Do not keep it to yourself. While it may feel embarrassing or scary to show parents or another trusted adult the text messages you are receiving, it is critical that you reach out for help and support. Whether you decide to report the harassment to your cell phone provider, change your phone number, or file a formal complaint either through the school or law enforcement against your bully, an adult can help you navigate the process. Finally, if the texts are physically threatening in any way, it is key that you share them with police sooner than later.

Do not ever text revealing photos of yourself to anyone, even people you trust. When friendships or relationships end, these images can be passed around or posted online with negative (and even legal) consequences.

Jerry Weichman, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist focused solely on teen and preteen issues. Based out of his private practice at Hoag Hospital's Neurosciences Institute in Newport Beach, Dr. Jerry is also an author of a teen self-help book, "How to Deal," and a noted public speaker on teen-related topics including parenting, bullying, and adolescent coping skills. Overcoming a lower leg amputation as a child to eventually become a Division I college football player provided Dr. Jerry with unique perspective on coping with-and overcoming-difficulties during the adolescence. Keep up with his tips for teens (and parents of teens) at twitter.com/drjerryweichman or via his home page, www.drjerryweichman.com

Arthritis Awareness Month: Nutritional Considerations

support@wellness.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:51:54 Z

Wellness.com - Arthritis Awareness Month: Nutritional Considerations by Andrew Pacholyk

by Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac

May is Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis,: which means "joint inflammation" is a general term for over 100 different joint disorders with symptoms ranging from mild aches and pains to severe swelling and crippling pain. Alternative answers for arthritis include a acupuncture, effective exercise, dietary changes and controlling emotional stress. Take additional vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements can help to supplement major deficiencies. Touch therapies and hydrotherapy have also shown to be very beneficial. Learn more about how to improve your arthritis and get it under control, naturally. I will be featuring alternative answers for treating arthritis throughout the month.

Nutritional Considerations

In many cases good nutrition can play a big part in controlling arthritis. Some arthritis suffers might find relief from their symptoms by keeping a food diary. The onset of painful symptoms can be the result of food allergies. While most food allergies can cause the sniffles and a runny nose, it can also cause inflamed joints. It can be two to three days after eating a particular food to aggravate arthritis.

Water should be a very important part of any nutritional program. Water allows for the cleansing and free flow in the system. Water helps cushion and lubricate your joints; it also helps flush uric acid out of your body before it can set off painful inflammation in your joints.

Have dietary control over high fat, hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated and high saturated fat intake. These fats convert into a compound called
prostaglandin, which promotes inflammation and pain.

Limiting the amount of fat to no more than 25 to 35% of daily calories is recommended to promote good health.

A low-fat diet also helps lower high total and LDL (the bad) cholesterol levels, a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

The type of fat consumed is important. There are three types: saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated.

Saturated fats are found in meats, non-skim dairy products, and artificially hydrogenated vegetable oils. The more solid the product, the higher the proportion of saturated fats.

Monounsaturated fats are found in olive oil and canola oil.

Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3 fats, contained in deep-sea fatty fish (such as mackerel, salmon, and tuna), and omega-6 fats, contained in vegetable oils. The ideal combination of types of fats is unknown. However, a diet high in saturated fats is known to promote coronary artery disease, and a diet high in monounsaturated or omega-3 fats is less likely to do so. Therefore, eating fish regularly is recommended. Dark greens like spinach and kale, along with flaxseed and cold-pressed flax oil, raw walnuts and walnut oil, all contain plentiful amounts of the fatty acids known as omega-3s. Many fatty fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring also contain these valuable oils. Omega-3s convert in the body into hormone-like substances that decreases inflammation and pain.

Evening primrose, grapeseed and borage seed oils contain a fatty acid similar to omega-3 called gammalinolenic acid (GLA). Because these oils are not found in foods you normally eat, you have to get them from supplements. The effective dose is 1 to 2 grams daily.

Consider alternative, natural sweetners such as stevia or agave.

Consider the Full Spectrum Diet, which includes: phytochemicals (5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables daily), 30 grams of fiber, flavinoids (found in red and purple grapes, red wine and black tea).

Make soups using plenty of onions, garlic, green leafy vegetables, ginger, burdock root and tumeric root.

Consider juice therapy. Blend these fruits and vegetables for amazing juice combinations. Treat acidity with: grapes, orange, mosambi, carrot and spinach. Treat arthritis by blending together : Sour cherry, pineapple, sour apple, lemon, grapefruit, cucumber, beet, carrot, lettuce and spinach. Make these delicious remedy juices twice a day for 30 days. A vegetable-juice fast
significantly reduces pain for many patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Consider this juice fast. Carrot juice, celery juice, cabbage juice, or tomato juice can be used. Fast on nothing but the vegetable juice for one day during the first week to get started. Follow that by alternate fasting for two days during the next week (i.e., Monday and Wednesday) and three days during the third week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday).

While many opt for aspirin as their first course of action when they feel pain, Murleedharan Nair, PhD, professor of natural products and chemistry at Michigan State University, found that tart cherry extract is 10 times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation and pain. Only two tablespoons of the
concentrated juice is needed daily for effective results. Later she found also that sweet cherries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries have similar effects. Blueberries are also excellent pain relievers. They increase the levels of compounds called heat-shock proteins that decrease as people age, thereby causing inflammation, pain and tissue damage.

The power of green whole foods is essential for all day energy, greater focus under stress, sense of well-being, strengthened immune system, fewer food cravings and optimum synergistic balance of essential nutrients for total health. Green whole foods contain antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, active enzymes, bioflavinoids, chlorophyll and other phytonutrients necessary for optimial cellular metabolism, repair and protection! These ingredients contain the most powerful combination of nutrients ever known in any grain, herb or food. They contain almost all of the vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes necessary for the human diet, plus chlorophyll.

Spirulina Blue Green Algae: Spirulina possesses a complete protein richer than steak, abundant organically complex minerals, a wide variety of essential vitamins, and many beneficial enzymes. Spirulina is more than just a food. As with Chlorella it has been shown to be valuable with almost every aspect of health. These necessities are bio-available which means that they are easily assimilated throughout the digestive tract, giving instant access to vital
nutrients.Because of algae's high chlorophyll and high nutritional content it is an excellent part of a cleansing program.

Chlorella Green Algae: Chlorella's tough cell wall protects the valuable nucleus inside. When it is harvested it is instantly dried and the cell walls are gently cracked open. The nutrients inside retain full potency. Once in your body, the cracked open cells release their valuable nutrients. Because it is so easy to digest, your cells get the full benefit of this nutritional powerhouse. These necessities are bio-available which means that they are easily assimilated throughout the digestive tract, giving instant access to vital nutrients. The algae provides intestinal nourishment and has a soothing and healing effect on the mucous lining. It works to detoxify and purify our system.

Barley Grass and Wheat Grass: Eating barley and wheat grass is like eating a plate of green vegetables. These cereal grasses, are harvested young and are ecologically grown in nutrient rich soil. They are approximately 25% protein and contains all the essential amino acids, concentrated vitamins, minerals and fiber. They have been shown to increase our overall health by reducing
intestinal putrefaction and maintaining healthy blood another important component of cleansing.

Klamath Lake Blue Green Algae: This remarkable plant grows 100% organically in the Upper Klamath Lake of Oregon. Blue Green Algae has more protein and chlorophyll by weight than any other plant or animal on earth. Klamath Lake algae is considered to be the most nutrient rich of the algaes.

Balancing pH Levels

When the body is too acidic resulting from an intake of acid forming foods, mucus forming, high fat foods, and toxic food residues, disease and infections are encouraged. This is especially true in cases of arthritis and rheumatic situations. Most foods are alkaline by nature, but often the more processed the foods are the more acidic they become. It is important to balance each meal with a ratio of 75% alkaline to 25% acidity in order to maintain better health.
Perfect body pH is 6.4, above is alkaline and below is acidic. It is important that your daily dietary intake of food naturally balances your body pH. Balancing the body's pH is achieved by avoiding foods that create acidic conditions in the body, which can help lessen pain and inflammation.

Foods that create acidity in the body include, meat, dairy, hydrogenated fats, wheat and sugar.

What You Should Avoid:

Research has shown the foods most often thought to aggravate arthritis include:

*corn, wheat, pork, oranges, milk, oats, rye, eggs, beef, tomatoes, eggplant and coffee.

*processed, packed and fast foods. Hydrogenated fats, margarine, shortening, lard, or products made with them such as cookies, pies, and packaged food.

*dairy products, yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, butter and cheeses

*wheat products

*alcohol

Eliminate: butter, all fried foods, margerine, red meat, shellfish, shortnings or tropical oils (such as coconut and palm oils).

Limit foods that have little or no fiber such as ice cream, cheese, meat, snacks like chips and pizza, and processed foods such as instant mashed potatoes or already-prepared frozen dinners. Too much white flour and refined sugar.

What you don't eat may be even more important than what you do eat. Avoid alcohol and sugar, because they tend to worsen the situation.

Curb your caffeine. One or two cups of coffee can work to kick you into gear in the morning, but its benefits usually end there. Too much caffeine (more than 24 oz a day) is just as bad as too much of anything. Drinking it throughout the day for an energy boost can actually backfire. Caffeine makes you feel like you have more energy, but you really don't. Cut back on caffeine to reduce the high and low effect. Excess coffee robs the bones of precious minerals.

Curb your excess protein intake as this can accelerate bone loss. Excess amounts include more than 140 grams of protein per day. 140 grams is equivalent to approximately a pound of chicken beef, pork, fish. This excess causes the body to excrete calcium and increases the rate of loss of minerals and nutrients.

Decrease phosphorus foods such as soft drinks, which are high in phosphoric acid, organ meat (liver, kidney), processed meat, which are especially high in phosphorus, fried foods and vegetable oil, which have a high level of omega 6 and can make inflammation worse. Sugar results in poor absorption of nutrients as does antacids, which neutralize stomach acid and result in poor absorption of calcium (heartburn and indigestion are caused by poor eating habits and NOT ENOUGH stomach acid!)

Reduce Processed and Refined Foods:

Avoid fried foods, white pasta, white rice, full fat dairy, white potatoes,
white bread (baguettes, bagels, pita).

Processed food can rob your food of nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to fight off stress and promote good health. Try to buy whole foods, unprocessed foods and try and stay away from "instant" foods, preservatives, artificial flavors, saturated fats, refined foods, hydrogenated food and MSG.

Reduce Sugar Intake:

Too much sugar can rob our body of essential nutrients. Simple carbohydrates from baked goods, pastries, most crackers and cookies, white sugar and sweets, soda and sweeten juices must be limited to a very small portion or completely removed from the diet. Synthetic sweeteners (Saccharin, aspartame, NutraSweet) can also be a culprit.

Food additives, such as colors, flavor enhancers, stabilizers, and
preservatives. Some of the main additives include sulphites, benzoates, and colors prefixed with FD &;C.

If you think certain foods may be making your arthritis worse, try to eliminate them from your diet, one at a time until you feel improvement. Just remember that arthritis symptoms tend to come and go, and relief could be coincident, try eating the trouble food again to if it causes symptoms.

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com/arthritis.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

Five Ways Moms Can Still Grow

support@wellness.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:16:21 Z

Wellness.com - Five Ways Moms Can Still Grow by Mia Redrick

As a mom, when was the last time you really did something for yourself? Odds are, you probably don't remember. Or if you do remember, it was quite a long time ago. The problem with motherhood is that we have a tendency to put our children's, husbands, and everyone else's needs before our own. It often feels like that's what we were meant to do.

Moms have the natural ability to nurture everyone around them, but the problem with motherhood is that we spend so much time nurturing everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves. A mom simply has to take care of herself and continue to grow in her own life, or it's only a matter of time before she finds herself unable to help her children grow.

Hare five simple ways moms can help themselves to personally grow.

1. Take yourself on a date. Just as married couples need regular dates and time alone together, you also need some time to yourself. A mom's days are full of requests and demands from everyone. She needs regular dates when the only demands she hears are from her own mind. You can never grow if you don't take a little bit of time to indulge your own interests now and then. Spend some time enjoying "me time" at your favorite bookstore or have lunch out with the girls one day. It can even be as simple as spending some quiet moments with your journal at the park.

2. Plan ahead and let others help you. As moms, we often feel the need to be super women. We find a way to bake three dozen cupcakes for our child's bake sale, work overtime to prepare for an important presentation for work, and still have a perfectly cooked dinner on the table at six p.m. The problem with this scenario is that it usually means that the things you need to get done, simply don't get done. Each night just make it a point to plan for the next day. Prioritize what you need to get done and rank your to-do's in order of importance. Figure out how to delegate some of your tasks and ask your family to help you. Chances are, they will appreciate being able to help "Super Mom" save the day
.
3. Write a self-affirmation statement that gives you power and repeat it to yourself every day. Remember that the things we focus on in life are the things that we enact. Writing a self-affirmation statement is one thing you can do to set yourself up for a successful way of life. It should affirm something you enjoy doing and set a goal for self-care. Affirmations are terrific ways to empower us. Identify two places where you will see your affirming statements several times per day. Some ideas for locations include the bathroom mirror, the steering wheel of your car, or on your work computer.

4. Blend the things you need to do with your family activities. It's been said that you should work smarter, not harder, and the same truth applies to motherhood. Get creative with the things you need to accomplish by doing them at the same time as your family activities. When you are choosing an activity for your child, ask yourself how you can care for yourself while caring for your children. Think about what you can bring with you while waiting in the carpool line. It might be a book on tape, your calendar, or a puzzle book that will take your mind off of work. If you've been missing out on exercise, take your kids to the park and let them play while you take a walk or run around the park.

5. Set a personal goal for yourself and then make time to meet it. Growing is all about meeting our goals, and you're the only one who can make time to do it. Only you know what you truly want to do, although you may have forgotten exactly what it is. Spend some time getting to know yourself again and remember all the parts you gave up in order to be what you think of as the perfect mom. Once you realize what it is you've been missing, set a goal to accomplish it, and then put yourself to the task. Get your family involved in your goal, and they're sure to cheer you along every step of the way.

Growing is something that comes naturally to all of us, and it's up to us to ensure that we don't forget to grow ourselves along the way. Take control of your life back and remember to nurture yourself so you can continue to nurture others.

Mia Redrick, Mom Strategist is a mom of three, author and speaker empowering one million mothers to practice better self-care. Redrick is the author of Time for mom-Me: 5 Essential Strategies for A Mother's Self-Care. For tips from The Mom Strategist visit www.findingdefinitions.com.

Healthy Habits: Introducing Your Family to Red Foods

support@wellness.com — Sun, 06 May 2012 12:31:20 Z

Wellness.com - Healthy Habits: Introducing Your Family to Red Foods by FreshBaby

In Japan, the color red signifies energy and power and is often used as a color for heroic figures. This is a good description because when you include red fruits and vegetables in your child's meals, they will grow up strong like superheroes.

Red foods are packed with lots of vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. Red foods also contain compounds called phytochemicals, which have been shown to have positive health benefits. Phytochemicals you might have heard about include flavonoids, lycopene, reservatol and capsaicin.

Make a game out of letting your kids choose one "superhero" red food to eat every day. Our favorite red foods include:

Strawberries - Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C, potassium, and folate. Strawberries are best fresh, for a special treat add them to yogurt, cereal and smoothies.

Tomatoes -Tomatoes are a great source of lycopene, potassium and vitamin C. They taste great fresh off the vine and cooked in sauces, stews and soups. Try them with scrambled eggs.

Red Peppers - A bright red pepper contains potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Red Peppers can be served raw as a snack or in salads, cooked in pasta and stir fry dishes or roasted in soups and stews.

Apples - The wonderful shiny red apple contains soluble fiber, pectin and flavonoids. For a healthy afternoon snack, slice an apple and top with peanut butter. Yummy!

Watermelon - You know its summer time when you see watermelons. Watermelons are packed with vitamin A, vitamin C and lycopene. A big slice of fresh watermelon is sure to put a smile on your little one's face.

Red Beets - Red beets contain iron, niacin and potassium. Start introducing red beets to kids in salads or roasted with olive oil and ground pepper. Pickled red beets are also a good introduction.

Red Grapes - Red Grapes contain flavonoids, reservatol and quercitin to help keep your heart healthy and strong. Grapes are a great snack. Freeze them for a hot summertime treat.

Cherries - Cherries are considered a nutritional super food because they are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins and, they taste great! Remove the pits to make it easier for little ones to enjoy this delicious treat.

www.FreshBaby.com

National Fertility Week: Treating Unexplained Infertility

support@wellness.com — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:08:00 Z

Wellness.com - National Fertility Week: Treating Unexplained Infertility by Andrew Pacholyk

by Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac

This week is National Fertility Awarenss Week. Especially close to my heart, helping woman get pregnant naturally has been my specialty for many years. This week, I will review the many ways to help increase fertility in both woman and men.

Unexplained infertility is a Western diagnosis which indicates the doctor cannot find any medical explanation for why there are fertility issues. When the issues listed above due not seem to exist, a diagnosis of unexplained infertility will often have a laboratory panel which shows hormonal level "within the normal range". Even though no medical explanation can be found, conception does not seem to occur. This does not mean that there is not a problem.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the best way to treat this diagnosis. TCM gynecology looks at the subtle changes in the hormonal system based on signs and symptoms the body gives off as clues. The menstrual flow and menstrual cycle are the first areas that can revel a cause. If implantation appears to be the problem, then it is important to look at the menstrual blood and the consistency, color, and amount.

The main issue in TCM is stress! Stress is a fertility killer. When there is an issue of unexplained fertility, it is a good idea to look at your lifestyle. These problems can complicate fertility:

1. Balance Your Day: set boundaries with work, family, friends, exercise. To much of ANYTHING is not a good thing. Although we are constantly reminded that MODERATION is the key, we seldom recognize it in ourselves. Plan your day out on paper. Divide your time evenly and stick to it.

2. Improve How You Work: work smart. Do not allow the "fires you put out" each day to become uncontrollable. Allow a certain amount of time for these issues as well as new projects, clients or meetings.

3. Get Exercise: If you are saying, how can I exercise, when I have so much to do, this is all the more reason why you need to jump start your metabolism. Exercise is what your body instinctively wants to do especially under stress: fight or flight, and it works. It burns off some of the stress chemicals which tension produces. Therefore, a tired muscle is a relaxed muscle. Regular exercise builds stamina that can help anyone battle stress. But even something as casual as a walk around the block can help you burn off some of the tension that you carrying around as well as, increase blood circulation.

4. Take A Look At Food: Carbohydrates provide glucose for energy. Excessive carbohydrates can increase blood sugar levels to dangerous levels, which then makes your body shut down to protect itself. Protein is important because it allows the brain to synthesis the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, which help keep your mind attentive and alert. Excessive protein levels make the organs of digestion work much harder to process this food and robs your energy stores. Find the balance for YOU. Listen to your body! It will tell you what makes you feel good and what does not. Especially in the long term. If you have issues with excess heat, look at eating foods that have a cooling nature. If you have excess cold, look at eating foods that have a warming nature. Neutral foods help to regulate our system.

5. Prepare for Better Sleep: Overthinking is a culprit that will rob you of great energizing and restorative sleep. Turn off that mind by starting to wind down early. Give yourself "quiet time". Utilize the power of peaceful music, a good book, diffusing essential oils, warm milk or tea before you lay down.

6. Manage Your Best Energy Times: Take advantage of your natural energy highs. Do your most strenuous work, thinking, planning, exercise when you have your greatest energy. Note the time of day when you feel your best and when you feel your worse. Expand your energy where it is most needed, pull back where you feel you can.

7. Keep Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially on hot, dry, windy days. If you're doing strenuous exercise, drink some fluids before the activity begins. You should also drink at regular intervals (every 20 minutes or so) during your activity and after the activity ends.

8. Boost Your Hormones: Reduce sedentary behaviors such as watching television and using computers. Being in one place for long periods actually slows metabolism and energy production. Proper nutrition is crucial for hormone balance. Essential fatty acids and nutrients such as vitamin A, B6, zinc, magnesium, and antioxidants are key factors to hormonal balance and therefore fertility.

9. Learn To Do Nothing: Our urge to drive ourselves to greater accomplishments, creates other issues such as exhaustion. Create/allow a few hours in your week to simply relax and do nothing. If you cannot find a few hours, it is time to rethink your priorities and commitments.

10. View Your Lifestyle: If illness is not the cause of your fertility, then it is a lifestyle issue. Are you creating unnecessary stress for yourself? Are there ongoing problems in your life that may be causing prolonged anxiety or depression? Consider counseling or talking about your issues with family, career personal or your doctor. Find the issues that are taking you away from a vital, fertile life!

11. Use the Power of Positive Thinking: Trying to get pregnant can often put a major strain on your relationship with your partner. Sometimes couples feel too tired and stressed to have intercourse or it feels to mechanical due to the pressures of trying to conceive. Keeping a positive attitude is imperative to getting pregnant because it improves your overall mental health; studies have found that positive thinking decreases levels of stress and the risk of depression, which in turn led to increased odds of getting pregnant. Many women feel "hopeless", "damaged" and "inadequate". These mental processes will decrease your chances of getting pregnant. Address the emotional component.

12. Improve Your Chances: Your chances of getting pregnant each month greatly depend on your menstrual cycle and even more so, on ovulation. That is why timing intercourse is an excellent way to improve your fertility chances. In my practice, I have women begin a basal body temperature (BBT) chart. This charting is a great way of seeing and understanding your menstrual cycle, ovulation and period. Get started on your BBT chart now and learn better ways to predict your ovulation time and get acupuncture!

Andrew Pacholyk, MS L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com/infertility.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

10 Ways to Help Your Kids Do Better in School

support@wellness.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:26:15 Z

Wellness.com - 10 Ways to Help Your Kids Do Better in School by SteveReifman

Parents are their children's first and most important teachers. In this critical role parents have the greatest impact on their kids' academic, physical, social, and moral development and the greatest impact on their children's motivation to learn. In my experience, parents are typically eager to do everything in their power to contribute to their children's success in school, but they're not always shown how to do this. The following suggestions will help parents empower their kids to be the best they can be.

1. Commit yourselves to playing an active role in your child's education. Frequently, many parents leave the responsibility for their child's education solely with the teacher. No matter how satisfied you may be with your child's teacher (and I hope you are very satisfied), this practice is unwise. Remain involved on a consistent basis, and feel free to ask questions and raise any concerns that you may have about your child's progress.

2. Repeatedly express to your child how important it is to work hard, take school seriously, and achieve as much as possible academically. Explain all the benefits that come from learning, such as increased pride and confidence, greater educational and career options, and a greater ability to participate in community affairs and activities. You can never repeat this message too many times.

3. Develop a homework policy with your child. No television until all homework is complete? No play time? Discuss these issues with your child so that both of you are clear about your family's expectations for home study. Then be sure to hold your child accountable with regard to these expectations. Completing homework should not require a nightly battle.

4. Provide your child with a quiet study area. If possible, supply a desk and a spot to keep all necessary books and materials organized. With or without a desk, however, it's critical that your child have a consistent, well-lit place to study that is free from distractions. Providing such an atmosphere will not only enable your child to have an easier time studying, but also it will send a clear message that you think doing homework is an important priority.

5. Encourage your child to complete homework activities as independently as possible; offer help only when necessary. Giving too much assistance may cause your child to become too dependent on you while not giving enough may cause frustration. Strive to achieve the right balance so that your child exercises responsibility while you still remain actively involved in overseeing their efforts, both on daily homework activities and during long-term projects and test preparation.

6. Respond promptly to all notices that your child's teacher and the school office send home. Do your best to stay on top of these matters.

7. Discuss school events and happenings with your child as frequently as possible.

8. Be sure that your child gets enough sleep each night and eats a nutritious breakfast each morning. Students perform significantly better academically and are able to put forth consistent effort when they are well-fed and well-rested.

9. Be sure that your child takes to school each day all needed supplies. Of particular importance is a sturdy folder or binder in which students can securely transport homework papers and other important documents to and from school.

10. Encourage your child to exercise as much as possible. More is being written every year about the importance of exercise and its powerful impact on the brain. Exercising before school has been shown to improve children's focus and attention.

Following these suggestions dramatically increases the likelihood that students will be successful in school. Specifically, when parents consistently emphasize these priorities, kids will be more responsible, organized, and motivated. In addition, they will work with greater focus and greater purpose and be far more likely to maximize their considerable potential.

Steve Reifman is a National Board Certified elementary school teacher in Santa Monica, CA. He is also the acclaimed author of several books, including Changing Kids' Lives One Quote at a Time and Eight Essentials for Empowered Teaching and Learning, K-8, and the creator of the Chase Manning Mystery Series for kids 8-12. For tips and strategies on teaching the whole child, visit www.stevereifman.com.

Food Choices For Spring

support@wellness.com — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:20:25 Z

Wellness.com - Food Choices For Spring by Andrew Pacholyk

by Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac at Peacefulmind.com

When eating along with the seasons, there are two elements that should be taken into account. The "nature" of the food and the "flavor" of the food. The nature of the food refers to the foods innate temperature ie: cold, hot, warm, cool or neutral. Eating a moderate amount of all flavors sweet, salty, pungent, bitter and sour can help to keep your body balanced and regulated.

Sour taste is attributed to the liver and gall bladder, therefore adding some sour foods in your diet during Spring can improve the liver's function. Consider apple, apricot, grape, grapefruit, hawthorn fruits, kumquat, loquat, mandarin orange, mango, olive, peach, pineapple, plum, raspberry, small red or adzuki bean, strawberry, tangerine, tomato, vinegar.

To help tonify the liver, concentrate on eating chlorophyll rich foods such as spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, wheat brass, klamath blue green algae Other green foods that are beneficial are kale, parsley, and collard greens.

Apple cider vinegar is beneficial as it's bitter/sour taste has a detoxifying afect on the liver. Also consider lemon, lime or grapefruit juice in place of vinegar. Other bitter foods that can be used for detoxification purposes include rye, romaine lettuce, asparagus, amaranth, and quinoa.

Consider eating these food for Spring:

1. Fruits and nuts: apples, dates, lychees, longans, walnuts, peanuts, chestnuts.

2. Cereals, grains, and legumes: brown rice, corn, millet, oatmeal, sorghum, soybeans, black gram, adzuki bean, red kidney bean, broad bean.

3. Meat, poultry and fish: chicken, turkey, shrimp, carp, eel, chicken eggs.

4. Vegetables, seaweeds, potatoes, onions, carrots, chives, scallions, radishes, daikon, broccoli, asparagus, lettuce, cooked spinach, coriander, cauliflower, garlic, leeks, eggplants, Chinese cabbage, yams, sweet potatoes, celery, common mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms.

5. Herbs, spices, condiments, oils such as perilla leaf, peppermint, dandelion, honeysuckle flower, basil, parsley, wolfberry (gou gi berries), fleece-flower root, licorice, astragalus, rhubarb, ginger, pepper, honey, sesame oil.

Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com/spring.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

Japanese Food for Your Little Ones

support@wellness.com — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:01:21 Z

Wellness.com - Japanese Food for Your Little Ones by FreshBaby

Edamame and shitake mushrooms are two very common Japanese cooking. Edamame (pronounced ed-ah-MAH-may) are little green gems - packed with protein and loads of nutrients. Including Shitake mushrooms in this puree is a great way to introduce your baby to the distinctive taste of umami.

-Shitake and Edamame Puree-

4 oz. Shitake mushrooms, stems removed
1 Tbsp. olive oil
12 oz. (2 cups) shelled edamame
3/4 - 1 cup water
1 tsp. soy sauce, optional

Directions: Bring 6 cups of water to boil in a stock pot. Add edamame and cook for 4 minutes. Drain edamame in a colander and place them in a blender or food processor. In a small saute pan, heat oil over medium heat, add mushrooms and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add the mushrooms, soy sauce and 3/4 cup of water to the edamame in the blender. Process until the mixture is a smooth puree. If needed, add additional water.

Spoon the puree into your So Easy Baby Food Trays, cover and freeze until ready to use. Serve as a vegetable dish for your baby's meal with mashed brown rice, meats or fish.

-Toddler Treat: Okonomiyaki-

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style pancake and is very popular with kids. There are restaurants all over Japan that specialize in making Okonomiyaki. These places have special tables with a griddle built into them. Families are seated around the griddle, they cook their Okonomiyaki and eat them. We chose to make this dish with cabbage, green onion and shrimp, but you can use almost any shredded vegetable and chopped meat combination.

-Okonomiyaki Pancakes:-
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
3 Tbsp. water
3/4 cup Nappa cabbage, shredded
5 cooked shrimp, chopped or 1/4 cup cooked chicken, chopped
2 green onions (green parts only), chopped

-Okonomiyaki Sauce:-
3 Tbsp. ketchup
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. soy sauce

Directions: Combine flour and baking powder in a medium size mixing bowl. Gently mix in the water and egg. Next, add the cabbage, shrimp and green onions and mix them together thoroughly.

Heat a skillet over medium heat and lightly oil. Spoon the okonomiyaki mixture in to the skillet to make 2 pancakes (about 4-inches wide).

Cook about 4-5 minutes and turn it over with a spatula and cook an additional 4 minutes. Both sides should be a light golden brown and the pancake will be firm in the center.

Serve on a plate and spread the sauce over the okonomiyaki

www.FreshBaby.com

The Secret Advantage of Chores for Toddlers

support@wellness.com — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:59:13 Z

Wellness.com - The Secret Advantage of Chores for Toddlers by Alyson Schafer

Does your toddler do chores around the house? I know, I know, you're probably thinking what could a toddler possible do? They can hardly walk, talk or blow their own nose. How could they possible be responsible for helping around the house? Chores from the youngest age are not only possible; they also have secret advantages.

Why So Young?
Starting chores at a really young age sets the expectation that everyone in the family should pitch in, at least to the best of each person's ability. Harness the toddler's "ME DO IT" attitude that is the hallmark of their budding independence. Starting chores at a young age allows you to capitalize on your toddler's natural curiosity and their desire to learn, imitate and become masterful at a variety of skills from flushing the toilet to using a vacuum.

If you wait until your child is older to introduce chores, they are more likely to feel you're punishing them instead of feeling proud of being given responsibility. They'll whine "why me?" "why now?" After all, adults always did everything before.

Why Chores are Important
Children who are raised always being served develop a self-righteous outlook and come to expect service from others. Chores are the antidote! Giving children jobs to do ensures that your child experiences the "give and take" of life. Helping out and participating in making the home function is also the natural way that children come to feel a sense of their importance and belonging in the family.

Helping others is part of the glue that makes the family cohesive. It helps your family to work more like a team. One for all and all for one! Having jobs around the house also helps build a child's self-confidence and self-esteem as they learn they are competent at handle life and can conduct themselves in a positive worthwhile way.

Too Busy?
Yes, it would probably be easier and faster, and who we kidding - a lot better quality job if we just grabbed the broom and swept the kitchen floor ourselves. Many parents simple say they don't have time to supervise and teach a toddler how to help. I think you don't have time NOT to. Children who don't feel connected to the family or important in the home will engage their parents through misbehavior instead.

I'd much rather be teaching a happy toddler how to use a broom and make cookies than yelling at one to stop jumping on the couch! A competent child can do more things independently and in the long run that will free up more time for you.

But what CAN they do, really?
Here is a list of a few ideas of jobs your 2 or 3 year old could get started on.
1) Pick up unused toys and put in the proper place.
2) Put books and magazines in a rack.
3) Sweep the floor or use a hand held dustbuster
4) Place napkins, plates and silverware on the table. The silver is on but not correctly at first.
5) Clean up what they drop after eating.
7) Wipes up own spills.
8) Carrying boxed or canned goods from the grocery sacks to the proper shelf. Putting some things away on a lower shelf.
9) Clear own place at the table. Puts the dishes on the counter after scraping the leftovers off the plate.
10) Fill the toilet paper rack with rolls of toilet paper.
11) Clean a mirror or windows with spray bottle and paper towel.

Alyson Schafer is a psychotherapist and one of Canada's leading parenting experts. Alyson is the best selling author of 3 parenting books; "Breaking The Good Mom Myth" and "Honey, I Wrecked The Kids" and her latest, "Ain't MIsbehavin". Alyson is the media's go-to person and speaks regularly on parenting issues involving kids of all ages. For tips on discipline, bullying, sibling rivalry and other daily parenting issues visit www.alysonschafer.com.

5 Marriage Myths

support@wellness.com — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:49:37 Z

Wellness.com - 5 Marriage Myths by Bob

With the divorce rate around 50% it's no surprise that many couples want to do everything they can to strengthen their marriage. The problem is that many couples believe certain myths about their marriage and spend time trying to correct those very myths.
Below are 5 of the most popular myths concerning marriage and why they aren't as true as you have been told.
1. Your marriage has a 50% chance of ending in divorce. While this is statistically correct, it doesn't mean that it applies to your marriage. You can strengthen your marriage by doing simple things together that will create a bond that lasts a lifetime. In fact, couples that take a walk together each evening and have a "date night" every week are much less likely to get divorced than the average couple.
2. Your spouse is your best friend. Actually your spouse isn't supposed to be your best friend - that would be boring. What makes a marriage sizzle is having a partner that has enough in common with you while also possessing other qualities, both frustrating and fascinating. A best friend is someone who is usually similar to you. They aren't different enough from you to inspire the passion that you'll want in a marriage. Therefore, don't be surprised if you have more in common with others than with your spouse. This can be a good thing!
3. Don't go to bed angry. Sometimes it's best to resolve a conflict immediately. Yet there are other times when this isn't possible. Some conflicts take longer to resolve than others and trying to "fix the problem" before you go to bed can often lead to the problem simply being ignored. Instead, promise to finish the discussion the next day and make time for the difficult conversation. It isn't easy to be with your spouse when they're angry, which is why couples often try to minimize conflict. Great couples get angry with each other, but they continue to discuss a problem until there is a solution, even if it takes several days.
4. Don't fight in front of the kids. To be honest, this is horrible advice. Children who never see their parents "fight" don't learn how to handle conflict. They tend to avoid disagreements in their own (future) relationships and assume that their parents never disagreed. It's not bad for parents to disagree in front of their children, so long as they do so in a polite and safe manner. This means no threats, name calling, or violence. Handle yourselves like civilized adults and teach your children how to handle disagreements successfully. Children will learn that you can love someone while also disagreeing with them. This understanding actually makes them feel more secure.
5. Having a Baby Brings You Closer. Whoever thought this up has never had children. I'm not saying children aren't wonderful. I have 4 myself and they are also a lot of work. The first few months after a new baby arrives are exhausting. It is a mixture of wonder and stress as parents cope with lack of sleep and the new mom often goes through a period of recovery after giving birth. A baby doesn't cause a couple to grow closer. Instead, the bundle of joy enhances the parents' current relationship. A bitter couple will become even more bitter. Those healthy marriages in which each partner listens and helps the other will find that the addition of a new baby will make them feel more love for each other.

Although these myths are well intended, they often cause harm to a couple when they try one of these and it doesn't work. What is most important in a marriage is simply each partners willingness to try to care for their spouse. They may not do it perfectly, but when each person feels the other genuinely cares, the marriage will thrive even when they don't follow a checklist of things to do.

Bob Grant, L.P.C. is the author of the bestselling relationship book, "The Woman Men Adore...and Never Want To Leave." For the past 20 years he has provided unique and powerful insights for thousands of men and women in over 50 different countries. You may visit him at www.relationshipheadquarters.com.