With Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday it’s time once again for National Women’s Health Week. It’s easy for women, especially moms, to put the needs of others before their own; particularly in regards to health. But for one week each year it’s time to put ourselves first, make our health a priority and start fresh with a clean bill of health.
States and cities across the country are hosting events and activities to help women get their health back on track. The Oklahoma State Department of Health is focusing on the high obesity statistics by encouraging women to eat right and exercise. They are also focusing on maintaining good health particularly before and during pregnancy to help ensure a healthy baby. They aren’t the only ones. Other cities and organizations are focusing on other areas of health such as arthritis , menopause, and even sexual health.
Letting your health fall to wayside is easy to do but for the sake of yourself and your family it’s important to address areas of concern, seek treatment when necessary, and take the steps you need to in order to live a healthy emotional life as well as physical life.
Health care has been a hot topic for debate in the last couple years, especially with the passage of Obamacare . While most of the debate has been at a national level, individual states are dealing with their own healthcare issues. Today Planned Parenthood announced that they have filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas because of legislation passed in the 2011 session barring Planned Parenthood from receiving funding through the Women’s Health Program.
The Women’s Health program, which does get money from the federal government, provides birth control and other health services for women on Medicaid. The program does not however provide funds for abortions or abortion referrals. Because the program does receive funding from the federal government, the Department of Health and Human Services is involved as well. For more information you can read the full article here .
Living in the US it’s easy to take for granted the medical care that is available, especially during pregnancy . With prenatal care, eating a healthy diet, and taking a daily vitamin supplement you can greatly increase the likelihood of having a healthy baby. Unless you have a high risk pregnancy you are free to travel to Seattle or anywhere else your heart desires, stay physically active, and continue many of your regular activities. And with government agencies like the FDA and EPA we generally don’t worry about the safety of the food that we eat when pregnant, or so we thought.
A recent article by USNews.com details a new study conducted for the Children and Family Research Institute in British Columbia on the presence of pesticides in foods that we eat here in the US and the effect that it has on pregnancy. Those in the sample group with the higher level of exposure had babies that were on average 1/3 of pound less in weight and the pregnancies were 3-4 days shorter. Although the research is significant, there are ethical as well as legal restrictions on more extensive testing.
In this day and age, children are more likely to stay indoors and get less exercise because of technology. Between television, video games, and portable electronic devices, there are few reasons that kids can see to go outside and play. Do you have a big backyard that your kids just seem to ignore? If so, here are seven great ideas that can un-glue your children’s eyes from computer screens and get them playing in the backyard.
1. Swing-set: It is a staple at local parks, and even adults like to swing on them every once in awhile. It is great exercise for the legs, and it is nice on a hot day because of the breeze swinging creates.
2. Slide: A twisting spiral type of slide is the most fun, but a tall, straight slide can also create a momentary thrill. With the options in Swing Set Accessories, it’s easy to find something your kids will love!
3. Seesaw: This is of course best if you have at least two children who are rather close in age and size. It is much easier to play and balance that way.
4. Sandbox: These can get messy, but they can provide hours of fun. Add buckets, shovels, water, toy dump trucks, and sandcastle molds for the ultimate time-consuming outdoor activity. Just make sure they wash-up well when they come inside.
5. Trampoline: Jumping on a bed is fun, too, but a trampoline is much better. Your kids can go as high as they want without hitting the ceiling, breaking the bed frame, or getting into trouble. This is perfect for kids with a lot of energy.
6. Kiddy Pool: This is a seasonal item, but it can still be a worthy investment. It is a great way to cool off in the summer, and water toys make it fun.
7. Sports Equipment: A basketball hoop, volleyball net, and other sports equipment like balls, bats, and rackets can inspire your kids to develop their athletic skills.
Even if you just add one or two of these things to your back yard, it can almost certainly get your kids outside, for at least a little while. Having a visual reminder, like a swing-set or a trampoline, can keep the idea in that back of their minds: Yes, there are ways to have fun outside that don’t involve electronics.
Give your kids a reason to put down those video games!
Pregnancy is an exciting, joyous, emotionally charged time for new parents-to-be. It can also be a bit intimidating knowing that the health of your baby depends so much on how you take care of your own health. Most of the time, pregnancy goes smoothly for both mom and baby. To maximize your chances of a successful pregnancy, however, there are a few tips you should follow:
- Early Medical Care. As soon as you find out you are pregnant, you should schedule an appointment with an OB/GYN. Studies have shown that women who obtain early pregnancy care have healthier babies.
- Get Your Rest. Your body goes through an unbelievable amount of changes during pregnancy. Fluctuating hormones can cause you to feel easily fatigued, especially in the first and third trimesters. Make it a point to get in bed on time at night, and go ahead a nap during the day if you need it.
- Eat Healthy. As your baby grows and develops, extra nutrients and minerals from your body are redirected to assist with this development. It is most important that you are eating healthy, nutritious foods throughout your pregnancy to maintain both yours and your baby’s health.
- Take Your Vitamins. Sometimes, getting adequate nutrition during pregnancy can be challenging, especially if you are suffering from morning sickness. Prenatal vitamins are designed to make sure your body is getting everything it needs to sustain a successful pregnancy. Vitamins like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and folic acid for pregnancy is important.
- Get Some Exercise. Exercise during pregnancy is healthy for both you and your baby. You will, however, need to discuss any exercise program with you OB/GYN before beginning, especially if the program features abdominal exercises. Daily walking is an excellent exercise you can do safely while pregnant.
- Plan Ahead. Most women naturally experience a phenomenon known as “nesting” when they approach their due date. This is an almost uncontrollable urge to prepare the nursery, purchase and put away baby clothes, and generally make sure everything is ready for baby’s arrival. It is easy to over exert yourself when nesting strikes, however. Try to do little things throughout your pregnancy so that when the nesting impulse does hit you, you will be less likely to overdo things; there won’t be much to do.
It should go without saying, also, that if you experience any abnormal symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately. Things such as preterm labor can be stopped if they are treated promptly.
As you age, it is natural for your activity level to decrease and for aches and pains to develop. Some pain is normal, but stiffness and pain felt around one or more joints can be a sign that inflammation has settled in and symptoms of arthritis have begun. If you are one of the estimated 50 million Americans with arthritis, try one of these alternative remedies for pain before taking a prescription medicine.
Supplements
- Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acid, which reduces inflammation and morning stiffness. These acids are found in fish such as mackerel and salmon.
- Glucosamine relieves pain, increases joint mobility and reduces deterioration of cartilage. A study by the National Institute of Health showed glucosamine relieved pain more effectively when combined with chondroitin.
- Chondroitin strengthens joints by helping cartilage absorb water to keep joints lubricated and reduce pain.
Herbs and Spices
- Turmeric is a spice used in many Asian dishes to give the food color and flavor. Studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory properties in turmeric help relieve pain.
- Ginger relieves soreness in joints and reduces inflammation. It is available in capsules, extracts or you can add dried ginger to your food.
- Olive leaf extract is popular in the Mediterranean to ease pain and inflammation from arthritis.
- Willow bark tea reduces pain and inflammation but it may take a few days of use to show results.
Nutrition
- Juices, such as pineapple, pomegranate and cherry are used to relieve symptoms of swelling, pain and inflammation. Combinations of beets and berry wine, cranberry and blackstrap molasses or apple cider vinegar and honey have also been helpful in reducing pain and inflammation for some people.
- Studies recommend lowering the amount of fat in your diet and limiting dairy products, caffeine and sugar.
- Fresh vegetables, fruits with low acid content, fish, soybeans and avocados are helpful for treating symptoms of arthritis. In addition, you can eat cherries and pineapple frequently to ease inflammation.
Oils
- Some natural oils will sooth the pain of arthritis. Massage hot castor oil, arthcare oil, emu oil or camphor mixed with coconut oil on affected joints. You can also soak in a hot Epsom salt bath or massage hot vinegar on the sore joints for relief.
One or more of these natural remedies may be the right one for you and can help you to stop your arthritis pain without the need for potentially dangerous medications.
Excess belly fat is a problem for many women. Its the type of thing that can creep up on you – and suddenly its there… And you say to yourself – “where did that come from??” For some reason fat in this area seems to be harder to get rid of. Well the solution is to target belly fat with a combination of exercise and diet.
There are only two things you need to do to eliminate belly fat:
- Undertake a regular cardiovascular exercise program
- Eliminate all processed foods
Cardiovascular Exercise
Cardiovascular exercise also known as aerobic exercise or cardio is the type of exercise that increases your heart rate for an extended time period. Be aware that abdominal exercise alone will not get rid of belly fat. It may strengthen your muscles – but they will be hidden behind a layer of fat. Cardio involves exercising to the point of being out of breath and keeping going. Examples are running, bicycling, aerobics, swimming etc. Before undertaking a cardio program always consult a doctor.
You should attempt to do this type of exercise on a regular basis – five days per week and for around 40 minutes. If you do this you will burn off calories and strengthen your heart and major muscle groups. It will also do wonders for your mind and help to relieve stress.
Eliminate Processed Foods
Processed foods start of as regular foods which are then treated and altered to give them a longer shelf life and to make them more palatable to consumers. Vital nutrients such as fiber and vitamins are removed and often they are enriched with preservatives, trans fats, sugar and sodium. All processed foods should be eliminated as it encourages belly fat and general ill health.
Replace processed foods with natural, organic, healthy foods including nuts, fruits and vegetables. There are certain foods that are natural fat burners and these include citrus fruit, almonds, walnuts, oats, salmon and eggs. Be wary of the amount of carbohydrates that you ingest and always stick to whole grains. Drink lots of pure water as this is essential to your daily health and essential for a detox diet.
Make these changes and make it part of your new healthy lifestyle. Shed that belly fat and enjoy health!!
Always check with a medical doctor before dieting or starting any type of exercise program. As a last resort if you have tried everything you can also consider cosmetic surgery / liposuction as a way to get rid of fat
Image via Creative Commons.
Individuals refer to legal resources for various reasons. Some of them are personal relationship based, such as prenuptial agreements between intimate partners prior to marriage, or restraining services after the relationship has fallen apart. This does not mean to imply a flippant attitude toward domestic violence and its associated life trauma and transition circumstances, but to emphasize that the need for legal services in this area is strong and is also available as a necessary option. Domestic violence is a crime that occurs on a daily basis, in this country, one of which it is actually illegal, and the statistics demonstrate that we all know someone who has been the victim of spousal or partner abuse, whether we know it or not. And your local family law firm is one avenue for information and support.
Victims of domestic violence come from all walks of life, ages and demographic backgrounds. There is no guarantee that your partner will not become abusive at some point in the relationship though there are some standard red flags that you can look for that indicate the chronic abusive potential. Meanwhile, most relationships contain some kind of aggressive conflict at some point. Maintaining appropriate respect and boundaries during arguments and disagreements can be difficult, though it is essential to healthy relationships. And while abusive relationships have certain common elements, they are unique to the individuals and specific circumstances. So, how do you prevent abuse in your relationship? Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent or control your partner’s behavior. In fact, control and power over the other is a frequent cause of abuse. The only thing you can actually take control of is your response to the behavior and the situation.
This is where the services of a domestic violence shelter, as well as local law enforcement and legal resources can come into play. More research is being done through criminal justice degrees online and in classrooms to find the causes of domestic abuse and to find ways to best prevent it. Abusive relationships are confusing and emotionally traumatic enough, but when children are involved they become that much more complicated and difficult to deal with. Abusers tend to be expert manipulators and children are one of their most effective tools. Threatening to take the children away from their mothers might sound outrageous on the outside, though in the confusing world of abuse, many victims fall prey to believing this is possible. This is particularly true when they feel they are alone and without resource. It’s important to know that wherever you live there are options available for all areas of support. There’s a lawyer in Las Vegas , Denver, Seattle, and every other major city that specializes in family law. And there are numerous hotlines available to direct you to your nearest support center. As was mentioned before, you cannot control the actions of your abuser, but you can control your response. Take control.
Finding an apartment can be a time-consuming and confusing task. Unfortunately, whether single, part of a couple, or head of a family, women are often left with the lion’s share of the work when it comes to finding a home. It is because women see a potential residence as a home and not just a place to sleep that makes the process even more difficult.
Over the last decade the internet has dramatically changed the way that people search for and choose a place to live. Daniel Drimmer has been a ground-breaking part of the evolution of residential real estate in Canada. Beginning with his founding of Transglobe Property in 1994 through his formation of the new Starlight Apartments in 2011, Drimmer has been at the forefront of integrating new technologies to get the best information to anyone hunting for an apartment in the major cities of Canada.
Drimmer was one of the first to employ internet tools like virtual tours and interactive maps that are now staples of any rental real estate website. These tools are especially helpful for women who are searching for a new home. Maps provide a context for the potential apartment or condo, letting women see in an instant the neighborhood and community features of an area. Knowing where schools, community services, transportation, and shopping are in relationship to a potential apartment can help women quickly locate the best prospects for themselves and their families.
Video tours may seem cliche today, but when Drimmer and other digital pioneers first started using them, the internet was still in its infancy. Most tech-savy apartment hunters wouldn’t dream of setting an appointment to view a unit that they hadn’t already vetted through a virtual tour of both the specific unit and the property on which it sits. Originally these tours were simple floorplans intercut with still shots. Today, the best tours are professionally produced streaming video clips available for viewing on both computers and smart phones.
Another innovation of the internet is perfect for the busy 21st century women: online lease applications. It makes sense that after spending time doing research into neighborhoods, specific properties and viewing virtual tours of a place, that potential tenants should be able to submit their application online. Carving out time to visit a property in person is difficult enough. Having to make repeated trips to fill out applications, return forms, etc., is much more work than most women have time for. The ability to quickly fill out and submit the form online, as well as viewing digital copies of the lease agreement and other documentation, is a valuable time saver.
Real estate visionaries like Daniel Drimmer have made apartment hunting much more efficient and accessible. And that makes it so much easier for women to find, apply for, and acquire the perfect rental home.
Think solar power is new? Think again.
As long as 2,300 years ago, people were trying to harness energy from the sun. Both ancient Greeks and tribes of Native Americans built houses into the sides of hills. This would heat the houses passively day and night; days as the sun shined overhead and nights, as the heat stored in the hills was released. About 2,000 years ago the Romans used glass panes in their windows to capture heat from the sun and heat their homes. They also erected the first houses made of panes of glass, similar to our modern greenhouses or conservatories, in order to sprout seeds and grow labile plants.
Solar power remained at this stage until Horace de Saussare invented and built the first solar collector in 1776. His cone-shaped collector trapped enough power to boil ammonia. The vapors from the boiled ammonia gas moved objects. It also served as a crude refrigerant. De Saussare built solar collector that were later used as cooking devices. Sir John Herschel on his expedition to South Africa in the 1830s used one of these solar hot boxes.
It wasn’t until 1861 that Auguste Mouchout built a solar-powered steam engine. It was costly, hard to maintain and not suitable for sale on a commercial scale. Mouchout’s steam engine incited more development. In the 1880’s the first photovoltaic cells, forerunners of today’s solar panels, were created. Unlike today’s versions, which are made of silicon, the first photovoltaic cells were made of selenium. Their efficiency was only one to two percent. By 1891, American Clarence Kemp patented the first solar water heater.
The Czochralski process, invented in the 1950s, was the first efficient way to pure crystalline silicon. With pure silicon crystals, Bell Laboratories made a photovoltaic cell with an 11 by the mid-1950s. By the late 1950s, architect Frank Bridgers built an office building with solar heated hot water. Not long after, a solar cell of less than one watt powered a small satellite launched by the United States.
Cheap oil prices dampened research and development on solar power. With the oil embargo of the 1970s, people once again look to solar power as an inexpensive, renewable and non-political source of energy. The U.S. Department of Energy underwrote a program to test over 3,000 different photovoltaic systems.
The Gulf War of 1991 spurred more interest in solar power. During this decade, more than one million homes in the United States switched to solar power.
Today, solar power is everywhere. Cities and suburban town install more and more solar panels on utility poles. Homeowners put panels on roofs and business owners cover carports with solar panels. There are more options than ever for solar panels for homeowners. Five solar thermal plants are under construction in the California Desert; another is operational in Nevada. With solar power, the sky is really the limit.
Emily is a blogger and contributing writer for residentialsolarpanels.org, a company that helps consumers learn how to become a solar panel installer and answers many other questions about the benefits of incorporating solar power into businesses as well as homes.