Archives for March 2017

Our children are the most precious things in our lives, and as parents, we want to do what’s best for them. Keeping them happy and healthy is our number one priority. However there are a number of challenges that parents have to deal with in order to do this. Here are a few tips and tricks for keeping your child’s health in check.

Healthy Diet

As adults, we have the ability to eat things we’re not especially keen on because we know it’s good for us. Children haven’t developed this, and will generally point blank refuse to eat what they don’t like- and let’s face it, it’s usually the things their bodies need! Getting nutrition into picky kids can be a struggle, but there’s plenty of tricks you can try to make it easier. If fruit is the issue, try blending it up with some almond milk, yogurt or fruit juice into a sweet tasting smoothie. Something that even fussy children usually enjoy! Use a food processor to very finely chop vegetables and cook them with ground meat, and use as a base for different dishes. Once it’s all cooked together, there are no obvious pieces of veg, but it’s jam-packed with the good stuff. And just keep trying them with different things, keeping calm and relaxed so that issues don’t develop around food.

Exercise

When kids are naturally full of energy, making sure they get enough exercise isn’t difficult. If you take them out of the house to an area where they can naturally play and run around, they’re sure to burn off all of the energy they need to with no hassle to you. You could take their bikes to the park, or a ball to kick around. They could play on a trampoline in the back garden, or explore a soft play area. Children from age six need around an hour of activity a day with most of the hour being moderate to vigorous activity. But provide them with somewhere they can have fun, and they’re sure to do the rest!

Health Conditions

Health and youth tend to be things we see as interlinked, and while many health problems don’t develop until we’re older, children can be affected too. Just like adults, children can be affected by bone and hip issues, you could see surgery options from DrAllison.org for more information. Certain cancers can also crop up, and infections such as meningitis. Getting prompt medical advice when your child is unwell is the key to catching things early. Going on a first aid course for children is also a useful thing for a parent to pursue, you then have some basic knowledge of what to do if anything goes wrong.

Mental Health

The world can be a scary place for a child. Starting school, meeting new people, learning new things and overcoming obstacles. Building up a child’s confidence makes it easier to deal with life’s challenges. Be a positive role model and practice confidence in your own life which children will mirror. Use plenty of positive reinforcement, and set them small challenges which they can overcome which will build their confidence further.

Pixabay Image

Have you ever blamed the wrong side of the bed for your bad morning mood? It’s an excuse most of us use when we start the day on the wrong footing. But, have you considered that ‘the wrong side of the bed’ is a construct that, instead of helping, actually hinders your mood? When you attach a cause to a bad mood, you give it life. Grumpiness with meaning is justified. Instead of snapping you out of that mood, making excuses encourages you to fester in it. So, next time you start to utter that much-used phrase, think again. Instead, realize that there is no wrong side of the bed, only wrong mindsets!

Waking up on the right side of the bed every morning is half the battle, but it won’t take you all the way. Keep the right side mentality going all morning to ensure your day is a good one. Something many of us are guilty of is ‘mood checking’ when we wake up. Do you ask yourself how you’re feeling first thing? Get out of the habit. If you look, you’re more likely to find. You may think your checking in is a way of keeping in touch with feelings, but it can be harmful. Instead, get straight out of bed and start your morning routine. Don’t give yourself time to decide whether you’re in a bad mood on not. Assume that you aren’t and get on.

Public Domain Pictures Image

Of course, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. As such, a good breakfast is a step in the right direction. If it helps perk you up, get a cup of coffee to wipe away last remnants of sleep. You could even familiarize yourself with something like chemex brewing. Brewing your coffee will smell amazing and give your brain a boost straight off. Make sure that you avoid a fat filled breakfast. A fry up may seem like a good way to start the day, but it’ll leave you feeling bloated and lethargic before you’ve begun. Head, instead, to the fruit bowl. Get creative by making smoothies, or fruit salads. Who said healthy had to be boring? If you’re used to having something heavier, take a banana or two along with you, too. You need to ensure you have enough energy to keep you going until lunch.

Pixabay Image

Last on our list of morning magic is what you do while you eat breakfast. Many of us use it as a chance to catch up on the news. That’s fine, but it can be a depressing sight. With positivity in mind, it’s worth saving your news fix for another time. Instead, you could listen to music that makes you feel good. Or, you could spend the time listening to natural sounds that relax you. If you like, you could even listen to a CD of positive affirmations that you can remind yourself of throughout the day. Anything to keep your head happy as you set off for what lies ahead!

There is plenty about being older to look forward to, no matter who you are. But there are also certain aspects of the experience which are likely to be less favourable. By far, one of the areas of life that often worsen with age is one’s health. None of us want to experience ongoing health problems, and yet for many elderly it is likely to be unavoidable. Fortunately, there is usually something that can be done to prevent the various health problems which can occur in later life. And where there is not necessarily a preventative measure in place, there is still often a way to at least treat the condition. Let’s take a look at some of the main health concerns for the elderly, as well as the preventions and cures.

Image Credit

Arthritis

Something that affects a large proportion of the elderly is arthritis. This is a condition which affects the bones; it is the most common health concern which the older generation are likely to experience, and it can lead to a great deal of pain in the long run. This pain can soon mean a much less positive quality of life, and it can be surprising just how quickly it can make a noticeable difference in this respect. The most important thing for anyone who is developing arthritis is to work closely with their doctor to ensure that they minimise the chance of it worsening over time. As for prevention: avoiding clicking knuckles and taking good exercise are both effective.

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a serious, degenerative disease which affects a lot of elderly people, and its effects can be extremely damaging, especially if left untreated. It is a disease which is caused by a combination of a number of environmental and genetic factors, and in terms of prevention there is currently research being carried out to discover whether it is possible to keep Alzheimer’s at bay using antibodies. Once it is developing already, however, the most important thing is to find some decent quality memory care, such as https://www.parcprovence.com/contact-us/. The level of care makes a huge difference to the ongoing quality of life of the individual affected.

Image Credit

Metabolic Syndrome

According to the official statistics, about 75% of adults aged over 60 are what is considered obese or overweight. Although this is often a result of poor lifestyle decisions, possibly from many years prior, it is also true that it can be related to something known as metabolic syndrome. This is a combination of factors which put together radically increase the chances of becoming overweight. These factors include: a high waist measurement, poor cholesterol, a high blood pressure, and others. The best prevention here is ongoing care for one’s body from as young an age as possible. That way, you should be much less likely to develop this syndrome and become dangerously overweight. Exercising a decent amount, eating a good balance of foods with little to no saturated fats – these are both important in this respect, and the difference to be noted is huge. See http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/aging-health-challenges for more information on this subject.