Alcohol Consumption Affects Ability To Overcome Fear

Doctors have known for a long time that alcoholism is associated with increased risk of anxiety, such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), and that heavy drinkers are more likely to be involved in automobile accidents and/or domestic violence situations.

Now, new research by experts at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and UNC's Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, published online September 2, 2012 in Nature Neuroscience has determined that high alcohol consumption rewires brain circuitry, which suggests that it is more difficult for people who drink heavily to bounce back from a traumatic event in their lives. 

Thomas Kash, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine commented: "There's a whole spectrum to how people react to a traumatic event. It's the recovery that we're looking at - the ability to say 'this is not dangerous anymore.' Basically, our research shows that chronic exposure to alcohol can cause a deficit with regard to how our cognitive brain centers control our emotional brain centers."

For their trial, the experts split mice into two groups. The first was given the equivalent amount of alcohol for humans that is twice the limit allowed for driving. The second was not given any alcohol at all. The mice were then taught by use of small shocks to be scared of a certain sound the researchers played. 

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The researchers observed that when the sound played over and over without the shock, the mice who were in the no alcohol group eventually stopped being scared of the tone. On the other hand, the mice who had high exposure to alcohol were scared of the noise, making them stand completely motionless every time they heard it - for a long time after the shocks were not present.

The authors explain that these findings are very much like the ones seen in individuals who suffer from PTSD, with these people taking longer to get over a certain fear even when the situation is not one that they should be scared of anymore. 

They believe that this evidence stems back to the neural circuitry of the mice that were chronically exposed to alcohol. When analyzing the brains of the two different groups of mice, the researchers found that the nerve cells found in the prefrontal cortex of the brains of the mice who had been exposed to alcohol, were shaped differently than the mice who had not been exposed to any alcohol. They also noticed that NMDA, an important receptor in the brain was not as active in the mice who consumed alcohol.

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E-cigarettes are equally injurious to health

Electronic cigarettes are being marketed as a potentially safer alternative to normal cigarettes, but new research has shown that they are still causing harm to the lungs.

The study has also added new evidence to the debate over the safety of alternative nicotine-delivery products.

Electronic cigarettes are devices that deliver nicotine through a vapour, rather than smoke. There is no combustion involved but the nicotine in the device is still derived from tobacco. There has been much debate over the safety and efficiency of the products, but little scientific evidence to support either claim.

Researchers from the University of Athens in Greece aimed to investigate the short-term effects of using e-cigarettes on different people, including people without any known health problems and smokers with and without existing lung conditions.

The study included 8 people who had never smoked and 24 smokers, 11 with normal lung function and 13 people with either chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.

Each person used an electronic cigarette for 10 minutes. The researchers then measured their airway resistance using a number of tests, including a spirometry test.

The results showed that for all people included in the study, the e-cigarette caused an immediate increase in airway resistance, lasting for 10 minutes. In healthy subjects (never smokers) there was a statistically significant increase in airway resistance from a mean average of 182 per cent to 206 per cent.

In smokers with normal spirometry there was a statistically significant increase from a mean average of 176 percent to 220 percent. In COPD and asthma patients the use of one e-cigarette seemed to have no immediate effect to airway resistance.

Professor Christina Gratziou, one of the authors and Chair of the ERS Tobacco Control Committee, said: "We do not yet know whether unapproved nicotine delivery products, such as e-cigarettes, are safer than normal cigarettes, despite marketing claims that they are less harmful. This research helps us to understand how these products could be potentially harmful.

"We found an immediate rise in airway resistance in our group of participants, which suggests e-cigarettes can cause immediate harm after smoking the device. More research is needed to understand whether this harm also has lasting effects in the long-term.

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Americans turning from cigarettes to substitutes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While more Americans than ever before are quitting their cigarette habit, a growing number are also turning to large cigars and pipes, suggesting that gains in curbing tobacco consumption may be more elusive than previously thought.

The findings were outlined in a report released on Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Overall consumption of smoked tobacco products declined 27.5 percent between 2000 and 2011, but use of noncigarette smoked tobacco products increased by 123 percent in that same time.

One major culprit for the trend is likely price, particularly in the latter part of the decade as Americans grappled with a weak economy and high unemployment.

In 2009, a federal excise tax was enacted and as a result, pipe tobacco, loose tobacco and cigars were taxed at a significantly lower rate than cigarettes. Responses by the tobacco industry to the tax and resulting price shifts have further compounded the problem, according to the CDC.

"Cigarette-like (tobacco products), formerly thought of as small cigars, have been modified slightly by the manufacturers .... so that they can be taxed at the lower rate," said Terry Pechacek, CDC's associate director of science and an author on the report.

As a result, such small cigars which resemble cigarettes are far cheaper, selling for about $1.40 per pack versus $5, Pechacek said. Younger consumers in particular are responding to the shift in pricing and consumption patterns.

"The rise in cigar smoking, which other studies show is a growing problem among youth and young adults, is cause for alarm," said Tim McAfee, director of CDC's Office on Smoking and Health.

McAfee cited a recent report from the U.S. surgeon general, which showed that nearly all smokers start before they are 26 years old, making young consumers the most important target for stopping the epidemic.

The CDC said tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., killing nearly half a million Americans each year.

Health issues linked to smoking include heart and lung disease, several types of cancer, reproductive effects and other chronic diseases, costing taxpayers $193 billion annually in direct health care expenses.

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Study finds mismatch between kids and vitamins

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Vitamin supplements are meant to fill-in where diet may be lacking, but a new study finds that U.S. kids may not be getting some of the most needed nutrients from their vitamin pills and the kids taking vitamins may not be the ones who need them the most.

Looking at the diets and supplement use of more than 7,000 kids, researchers found that between the ages of nine and 18 many had low levels of certain vitamins and minerals, and few took supplements, while younger kids had adequate levels of most nutrients and were possibly getting too much of some vitamins and minerals.

Most children under eight, for instance, got the nutrition they needed from the food they ate, regardless of whether or not they took supplements, the study found.

Even with the use of supplements, however, more than a third of children failed to get sufficient calcium and vitamin D. And users sometimes overloaded on essential nutrients such as iron and vitamin A. Zinc and folate were consumed to excess across all age groups.

"We don't know if these excessive amounts cause any harm," said Regan Bailey, a nutritional epidemiologist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, who led the study. But, Bailey and her coauthors note in The Journal of Pediatrics, their findings suggest that makers of children's vitamins should consider reformulating their products to better match kids' needs and modern diets.

Bailey's team used dietary surveys to assess mineral and vitamin intake among children between the ages of two and 18 who took part in a major government health survey between 2003 and 2006. About 40 percent of children between ages two and eight take a supplement, the study found. Supplement usage was lower among older kids - 29 percent of kids between nine and 13 years old took them and 26 percent of teenagers did.

White children were more likely than their black or Hispanic counterparts to take a supplement, commonly a multivitamin/mineral. Overall, supplement users and nonusers got roughly similar levels of 15 different vitamins and minerals from food sources alone. But users were also more likely to get recommended doses of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A and vitamin C from food than nonusers.

When supplement use was considered, researchers found users had much better nutrient levels than nonusers. Across all age groups, taking supplements improved intake of calcium and vitamins A, C, D and E. Calcium and vitamin D consumption often fell below recommended levels, however, even among kids who took supplements.

More than a third of kids using supplements did not get enough calcium. The recommended amount is between 200 and 1,000 milligrams a day for children up to age eight, and 1,300 mg per day for kids age nine and up and teens. Most children between ages two and eight who didn't take supplements failed to get adequate levels of calcium and vitamins D and E.

"This is unfortunate," Bailey said. "Calcium and vitamin D are critical during this age for bone growth and development." Teens fell short on several other essential nutrients as well, including magnesium, phosphorus and vitamins A, C and E.

Vitamin E is involved in immune function, vitamin A in vision and bone growth and magnesium promotes nerve function and cellular energy production. At the same time, supplement users were more likely to boost consumption of certain nutrients - such as zinc, folate, iron and vitamin A - above recommended upper limits.

The long-term effects of high doses of these micronutrients in children are unknown, the report noted. The bottom line, Bailey explained, was that for some kids who would have been deficient in some vitamins and minerals, supplements were a help.

"For older children, taking supplements added nutrients for which intake would have been inadequate from food alone," she told Reuters Health. Bailey added that the problem of overloading affected children under age eight the most. The findings highlight the gap between supplement formulations for children and their needs as identified in national research data, Bailey explained.

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Health experts want strict implementation of PCPNDT Act

Berhampur: Health experts and activists have sought concrete steps for strict implementation of the Pre Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prevention of Sex Selection) Act, known as PCPNDT Act to prevent sex determination in Odisha.

Low male-female sex ratio in the state has direct linkage with misuse of technology for sex determination and sex selective abortion, they said at a workshop held here over the weekend on `Strengthening monitoring of PCPNDT Act implementation in Odisha`.

The workshop was organised by Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, state government and United Nations Population Fund (UNPF).

Several health activists and experts from Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkanagiri, Nabarangapur, Rayagada and Kandhamal attended the workshop.

The objective of the workshop was to sensitise NGO functionaries?on different provisions under the PCPNDT Act and to prepare a roadmap for local level action for its better implementation, said member secretary of OSLSA B C Rath.

The workshop assumed significance as the child sex ratio in the state stands at an all time low of 934 girls per 1000 boys.The child ratio dipped alarmingly to less than 900 in four districts of Ganjam, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal and Angul, said Deputy Director, family welfare R K Mishra.

Several judicial and health officers, including the chief district medical officer, Ganjam S K Patnaik discussed different aspects of the Act and problems faced in its proper implementation. 

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Smoking mothers' embryos 'grow more slowly

French academics in an IVF clinic took regular pictures of an egg from the moment it was fertilised until it was ready to be implanted into the mother.

At all stages of development, embryos from smokers were consistently a couple of hours behind, a study showed.The lead researcher, from Nantes University Hospital, said: "You want a baby, quit smoking".

Smoking is known to reduce the chances of having a child. It is why some hospitals in the UK ask couples to give up smoking before they are given fertility treatment.

As eggs fertilised through IVF initially develop in the laboratory before being implanted, it gave doctors a unique opportunity to film the embryos as they divide into more and more cells.

Researchers watched 868 embryos develop - 139 from smokers.In the clinic the embryos of non-smokers reached the five-cell stage after 49 hours. In the smokers it took 50 hours. The eight-cell stage took 62 hours in smokers' embryos, while non-smokers' embryos reached that point after 58 hours.

Senior embryologist and lead researcher, Dr Thomas Freour, told the BBC: "Embryos from smoking women, they behave slower, there is a delay in their development."On average it is about two hours, it is significant and nobody knew that before."

This study cannot say what impact the slower development has, or if this affected the chances of having a child.Dr Freour speculated that "if they go slower, maybe something is starting to go wrong and they wouldn't implant."

His advice was simple: "You should quit smoking, it couldn't be easier. What else can I say? You want a baby, quit smoking."Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, said it was an "interesting" study which pioneered the use of new technology.

"It uses a fancy piece of equipment called an embryoscope which allows scientists to watch in real time how embryos develop without disturbing them.

"It's early days for this machine but we need trials like this to test its potential, we know our current methods of embryo selection are based on what looks good down the microscope to a trained eye."The findings were presented at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) meeting in Turkey.

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Children born to older fathers may live longer: study

WASHINGTON — The children and grandchildren of men who reproduced later in life could enjoy life-extending genetic benefits, including being able to father children at an older age, a new study suggests.

Researchers at Northwestern University believe the process represents an unusually rapid evolutionary adaptation in which telomeres -- DNA found at the ends of chromosomes -- lengthen, which is thought to promote healthy aging.

"If your father and grandfather were able to live and reproduce at a later age, this might predict that you yourself live in an environment that is somewhat similar -- an environment with less accidental deaths or in which men are only able to find a partner at later ages," said Dan Eisenberg, lead author of the study.

"In such an environment, investing more in a body capable of reaching these late ages could be an adaptive strategy from an evolutionary perspective."

After analyzing the DNA of 1,779 young adults and their mothers in the Philippines, researchers found that children of older fathers not only inherit longer telomeres, but that the effect is cumulative across generations.

The researchers do not advise men to reproduce at later ages, as other research has shown that doing so raises the risk of passing on genetic mutations that can cause miscarriages or other health problems.

Co-author Christopher Kuzawa said more research would be necessary to see if the longer telomeres inherited from older fathers and grandfathers reduce the health problems and ailments that come with age.

"Based upon our findings, we predict that this will be the case, but this is a question to be addressed in future studies," he said.

The study appeared in the June 11-15 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Nissan Models Like the Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is an awesome car and should not be overlook at a Nissan dealership. Ask yourself the question "If I could drive any car in the entire world, what would I drive"? Although your answer may be a Lamborghini, my answer has to be a Nissan. This is because I have owned a Nissan my entire life and have had great success with it. There are many different ways that you can go about finding the absolute best car for you. Depending on your personal situation, both financially and perhaps if you are married or not, employees from different car dealerships can help you find the best Nissan suitable for you. Riverside Nissan will offer you a ton of different Nissan models, of all sizes and shapes. Nissan Ontario in particular is a super car dealership that I will always be a loyal customer to. I have found Nissan Fontana to be a very reputable dealership and a good place if you are searching for used cars around the area. Whether or not you are new to California, you will need to find a good Nissan dealership where you can not only purchase new cars from, but service them as well. My family and I came over to America from Bolivia, so we had never seen so many good looking cars. Of course, moving straight to California was probably one of the biggest changes anyone could ever have to go through. Almost every single thing was different and it was very hard to get used to. One of the most important things that we had to do was find a car (or dealership) to be able to get myself and my family around to different places. We had heard about "Nissan" before and there was a Fontana dealership near our new house. I took my family to the dealership and we were welcomed right away. I had been scared that we'd be treated like foreigners, but everyone was very nice and helpful. They understood exactly what we need and how much we could afford and were able to compile a list of possibly vehicles for us. It was all very easy and I am very thankful for the salespeoples help. If it were not for them trying so hard to vehemently sell their cars, we would not know exactly how many MPG each car gets, or all the cool interior designs that only the salespeople know. My family and I ended up choosing a used Nissan Maxima, and we have been thrilled with our decision since purchase. There have been no problems thankfully, and that was a plus by itself considering that usually used cars aren't in the best of shape. Ours ran perfectly and I have been very happy with our choice of both car and dealership. Finding the best Nissan model may take a bit of patience, but is always worth it in the end. That's why even if I could choose any other car in the world to drive, I would still choose a Nissan. Because the people and the cars keep bringing me back for more! As long as Nissan keeps making cars, I will keep being their biggest fan.

Fun Facts About the Human Body

·         The heart is the strongest muscle in the body.

·         The largest muscle in your body is located in your rear end.

·         The human neck has the same number of vertebrae as a giraffe’s neck.

·         There are 22 bones in the human skull.

·         The human skull is 80% water.

·         The average human head weighs about 8 pounds.

·         Your heart is just a bit bigger than your fist.

·         The heart pumps 36,000 gallons of blood a day.

·         The smallest bone in the body is in your ear.

·         The femur (thigh bone) is the biggest bone in the body.  

·         Your nose and ears never stop growing.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.       

California Health Insurance - Choose the Exact and Affordable Insurance Plan

California people have many alternatives when looking for an affordable health insurance plan. Because there are so many alternatives, it can be difficult finding the strategy that's best for you or your family members. Here's how you can get the right fit. Make sure you collect catalog and costs from a variety of insurance plan providers. Just evaluating the rates and the coverage part by part will give you a good option of what organizations have the best deals. California people have access to Anthem Blue Cross of California, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of California, and many more. Using a local independent broker can offer useful understanding on which company will offer the best fit for you or your family.

California Health Insurance Benefits

One choice you will want to create is how you want to stability protection and cost. Many of us are used to having low insurance deductible with appointment and prescribed protection before the insurance deductible. However, there may be a much better strategy for you. Disastrous programs, or programs with raise your deductible that need you to pay for all of your healthcare costs before any advantages conquer in, have been quickly becoming more popular.

Health Insurance Plans are usually very inexpensive compared to full benefit plans. It’s a great deal to makes sense for many California individuals and families to pay for all of their medical expenses until they reach the higher deductible, because they are saving on a monthly basis. Using our California insurance agents in your local area who understands the plans, pricing, and the ins and outs of each company is a valuable resource you should take advantage of.

Health Insurance Plans are normally very affordable when compared to complete benefit plans. So much so that it is practical for many California individuals and family members to pay for all of their medical costs until they reach the higher insurance deductible, because they are saving so much money per month. Using our California insurance broker in your community who is aware of the plans, costs, and the way it operates of each company is a useful source you should take advantage of. The most excellent way to find a California health insurance agent to aid you through the process is by filling out this short form. An insurance agent in your area will call you to get the process started and get you on the correct track to having worth California health insurance coverage and saving money.

Passive smoking worsens asthmic children's health

Washington, May 2 (IANS) Children exposed to passive smoking continue to suffer in terms of health, says a new study.

Results showed that 53 percent of children exposed to passive smoking were likely to make three or more visits to a physician or emergency department due to wheezing in the past year; sleep disturbed by wheezing one or more nights per week and restricted activity due to wheezing.

"National asthma guidelines have advised avoidance of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS-passive smoking) for patients with asthma for decades, but it is unclear to what degree these recommendations are being followed..." said Lara J. Akinbami, medical officer, National Centre for Health Statistics, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, who led the study.

Researchers undertook this investigation after co-author Brian Kit conducted a study showing that 53 percent of children with asthma were exposed to smoke from cigarettes, cigars or pipes from 2005 to 2010, according to a National Centre statement.

Investigators analysed data from the 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 972 children aged six to 19 years who had been diagnosed with asthma and had reported having asthma at the time of the survey.

These findings were presented Tuesday at the Paediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston, US.

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Gulf seafood safe despite oil spill concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) — Photos of fish with sores may raise concern about long-term environmental effects of the massive BP oil spill — but federal health officials say the Gulf seafood that's on the market is safe to eat.

After all, diseased fish aren't allowed to be sold, said Dr. Robert W. Dickey, who heads the Food and Drug Administration's Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory.

"It's important to emphasize that we're talking about a low percentage of fish," Dickey stressed. "It doesn't represent a seafood safety hazard."

Two years after the oil spill, scientists cite lesions and other deformities in some Gulf fish as a sign of lingering environmental damage. They can't say for sure what's causing the fish ailments or if there really are more sick fish today than in the past.

As marine biologists study the threats to the fish, here are some questions and answers about the safety of seafood:

Q: What keeps sick fish off the market?

A: Every wholesaler and seafood processor must follow longstanding FDA rules on what constitutes a safe and usable catch. Fish with lesions or signs of parasites or other disease aren't allowed, Dickey said.

Q: What about oil contamination that's not visible?

A: Federal and state laboratories tested more than 10,000 fish, shrimp and other animals for traces of certain chemicals in oil to be sure they were far below levels that could make anyone sick before commercial fishing ever was allowed to resume. Gulf Coast states are continuing that testing today as a precaution. Some species clear oil contaminants from their bodies more rapidly than others, the reason that fishing resumed before the oyster harvest. The FDA says that someone could eat 9 pounds of fish or 5 pounds of oyster meat a day for five years and still not reach the levels of concern for a key set of chemicals.

Q: But what about the oil compounds that scientists have reported finding in the bile of some fish?

A: Bile shows what a fish recently ate, but the fish's digestive system goes on to process and eliminate contaminants so they don't build up in edible tissue, Dickey said.

Q: Are there other reasons to pay attention to seafood safety?

A: Definitely. A California company recently recalled some yellowfin tuna used to make sushi because it was linked to an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning. And every year, health officials warn people with certain health conditions to avoid eating raw oysters — they may be contaminated with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria that typically is found in warm coastal waters between April and October.

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Cucumber and Grilled Tomato Salad

Ken Haedrich, cookbook author and FamilyFun contributor, came up with this simple salad as a way to take advantage of both summer's bounty and the fiery flavor of the grill. The result is a jazzed-up version of the traditional cucumber and tomato salad that's a great accompaniment to any grilled meat.


Ingredients

* 3 English cucumbers, seeded and sliced about 1/4-inch thick
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
* 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus a little extra for brushing the tomatoes
* 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
* 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

* 3 large ripe tomatoes
* 2 tablespoons red onion, minced
* 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
* Pepper
* 1/2 to 3/4 cup crumbled feta

Instructions
1. Put the sliced cucumbers in a large bowl, sprinkle them with the salt, then set them aside for 30 minutes. Spread the cucumbers out on a double layer of paper towels, pat them dry, then put them back in the dried bowl.

2.Whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, mustard, and sugar in a small bowl, then pour the dressing over the cucumbers and toss until the slices are evenly coated. Cover the mixture and place it in the refrigerator.

3.Prepare the grill for cooking. As the coals are heating, halve each tomato and scoop out the seeds. Slice a bit from the rounded end of each tomato half, so that it can sit flat. Brush the tomatoes with olive oil.

4.Over the hottest coals, grill the tomatoes until they're lightly charred, about 60 to 90 seconds per side, turning once. Transfer the tomatoes to a plate to cool.

5.Coarsely chop the tomatoes into large chunks, then add them to the cucumbers, along with the onion, parsley, and pepper. Toss the ingredients to blend them evenly. Transfer the salad to a serving dish and top it generously with the feta. Serves 8. Nutritional Information

Per serving (1 cup):
Calories 125
Total Fat 9 g (13% DV)
Saturated Fat 3 g (14% DV)
Cholesterol 13 mg (4% DV)
Sodium 285 mg (12% DV)
Total Carbohydrate 9 g (3% DV)
Fiber 2 g (9% DV)
Sugars 6 g
Protein 4 g (8% DV)
Vitamin A (24% DV)
Vitamin C (34% DV) (Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.)

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Fruit versus vegetables: What's better for kids?

Inspection your child refuse to eat his vegetables day after day can be very discouraging. Not to mention frustrating. Many children have an intense dislike for vegetables but will gladly gobble up a bowl of fruit in 30 seconds flat. Megan Alsford, an accredited practising dietitian from Nutrition Australia, reassures parents that this behaviour is completely normal. “Veggies are often the first foods kids refuse to eat when they start to exert their independence at the dinner table," she says. The key to successfully getting your kids to eat their veggies is “gentle persuasion and persistence”, says Alsford. And, in the meantime, adding a little bit of extra fruit to their diet may not be a bad idea.


Why are vegetables so important?

Vegetables are nutrient-rich and full of fibre. They are very useful to the digestive system and help prevent constipation, which means that kids who eat very little in the way of vegetables can find going to the toilet hard work. “Vegetables also help to prevent diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart disease and some cancers," says Alsford. And although it’s fairly rare, children who don't eat vegetables are more at risk of developing a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Will extra fruit make up for a lack of vegetables?

Both fruit and vegetables are made up of essential nutrients that kids need for growth, good health and development.

“Each fruit and each vegetable has its own unique mix of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals," says Alsford. “To help make sure you capture as many nutrients as possible, you need variety”. If your child’s vegetable intake is not ideal, serving more fruit can help, “as a lot of the nutrients are the same in fruit and vegetables”.

However, warns Alsford, it’s very important to continue to offer children a variety of vegetables every day, and not just the types you know they like. Remember, it can take up to 10 times for kids to try and like a new food.

Are vitamin supplements recommended?

If you are worried that your child is not getting enough nutrients, it’s best to make an appointment to see a dietitan, recommends Alsford, before you decide to administer any vitamin supplements.

“While we can put all the vitamins and minerals into a supplement, we can’t quite get them to act the same as when they come from real foods," says Alsford. Ensuring your child has a balanced diet is definitely the most effective way of giving kids all the nutrients their little bodies need.
Tips to get your kids more interested in vegetables

When it comes to healthy eating, the best thing you can do as a parent is lead by example, says Alsford. “It’s not fair to expect kids to eat foods you won’t eat," she says.

Here are some other ways to help your children increase their veggie intake:

* Offer some veggies to snack on while you are preparing their lunch or dinner – something like a few carrot sticks or a cup of frozen peas always goes down well.
* Offer vegetables as an entre, before the main meal. The more creative your presentation, the better. If your kids are hungry, the chances of them eating their veggies will be greater.
* Try veggies in different ways; some kids like them raw, others prefer them soft-cooked, while others have a preference for partially cooked and slightly crunchy veggies.
* Grate veggies into your kids' favourite meals – bolognaise or other tomato-based sauces can hide grated carrots, zucchini and mushrooms very well. Or you could try mixing chopped cauliflower into plain rice.

The most important tip is to not to make a fuss. Always offer and keep offering vegetables every day, and let your child choose whether he is going to eat them or not. Eventually, you will find a way to give him something he enjoys. Do some experimenting, stay calm and don’t give up.

Thanks: kidspot.com.au/familyhealth/

The Best First Food for Baby

Is infant cereal (also known as baby rice) the best first food for baby? Are there alternatives to baby rice that may be a better option?


Why is baby rice so commonly introduced as baby's first food?

Well, there are several reasons - the main one being that it is the first food most frequently recommended to parents by pediatricians and medical professionals.

There is also an element of tradition - after all, it was the first food that many of US received as babies and offering baby rice has become established and widely accepted as the 'norm' when transitioning infants to solids.


So WHY has infant rice cereal always been considered the best first food for baby?

* It is relatively bland in taste - some experts say that this makes it more acceptable to babies because - when mixed with breast milk or formula - it tastes familiar to them.
* You can mix it to a fairly thin texture, which is believed to be ideal for babies making the transition from an all-liquid diet to a more solid one.
* It provides necessary iron - most baby rice is iron-fortified to boost babies' levels of this essential dietary element at a time when they become depleted (around 6 months of age).
* It is believed to be relatively non-allergenic, making it a safer option as a first food.
* It is said to be very easily digested.
* It is believed - by some - to help babies sleep through the night by keeping their tummies full for longer.
* It is gluten free, meaning that it can be given to babies under 6 months of age (please see this page for more information about gluten).

For quite some time, these reasons for introducing baby rice before other foods have not been greatly challenged - indeed, infant cereal is still one of the most popular weaning foods in the developed world.

More recently, however, parents are 'reading up' on infant nutrition and questioning commonly held beliefs regarding feeding practices. With more information available - and parents being able to 'compare notes' via the internet - they are more likely to challenge pediatric advice regarding solid feeding issues than ever before.

Furthermore, the previously held notion that anything in a packet marketed for babies is automatically a healthy choice is beginning to fade away... and many parents have doubts over the necessity of those little packs of commercially prepared baby rice.

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Connecting With Your Baby

Bonding is the extreme addition that produces between mother and father and their kid. It creates mother and father want to shower their kid with really like and love and to protect and feed their little one. Connection gets mother and father up in the nighttime to feed their starving kid and creates them aware of the kid's broad variety of whines.


Scientists are still learning a lot about bonding. They know that the powerful connections between mother and father and their kid provide the kid's first model for romantic relationships and nurture a sense of security and positive self-esteem. And parents' responsiveness to an little one's alerts can impact the kid's social and intellectual progression.

Why Is Connection Important?

Bonding is essential for a kid. Studies of baby apes who were given design mothers at shipping revealed that, even when the mannequins were made of soft material and offered system to the kid apes, the children were better served when they had live mothers to socialize with. The kid apes with design mothers also were more likely to encounter from lose heart. Experts suppose that lack of bonding in individuals children can cause similar issues.

Most children are prepared to rapport instantly. Parents, on the other hand, may have an assortment of thoughts about it. Some mother and father encounter an extreme addition within the first moments or times after their kid's shipping. For others — especially if the kid is implemented or has been placed in extensive proper care — it may take a bit longer.

But bonding is a process, not something that arises within moments and not something that has to be limited to developing within a certain interval after shipping. For many mother and father, bonding is a result of daily caregiving. You may not even know it's developing until you observe your kid's first look and instantly understand that you're filled with really like and joy.
The Methods Babies Bond

When you're a new mother or father, it often requires a while to understand your baby and all the techniques you can interact:

* Reaching becomes an beginning language as children react to skin-to-skin get carry of. It's relaxing for both you and your kid while promoting your kid's healthy progression and growth.
* Eye-to-eye get carry of provides significant interaction at close variety.
* Babies can follow moving things with their eyes.
* Your kid tries — beginning on — to mimic your facial movement and actions.
* Babies prefer individuals comments and appreciate vocalizing in their first initiatives at interaction. Babies often appreciate just enjoying your interactions, as well as your information of their actions and conditions.

Making an Attachment

Bonding with your kid is probably one of the most fulfilling factors of baby proper care. You can begin by cradling your kid and carefully drawing him or her in different styles. If you and your associate both carry and contact your baby regularly, your little one will soon come to know the difference between your variations. Each of you should also take the opportunity to be "skin to skin" with your baby by positioning him or her against your own epidermis when providing or cradling.

Babies, especially early children and those with medical conditions, may react to baby rub. Because children aren't as powerful as adults, you'll need to rub your kid very carefully. Before trying out baby rub, be sure to educate yourself on proper techniques by checking out the many books, videos, and websites on the subject. You can also get carry of your local medical center to find out if there are sessions in baby rub in your area.

Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding are both natural times for bonding. Infants react to the smell and contact of their mothers, as well as the responsiveness of the mother and father to their needs. In an straightforward shipping, care providers try to take advantage of the youngsters aware interval soon after shipping and motivate providing and positioning of the kid. However, this isn't always possible and, though ideal, immediate get carry of isn't necessary for the future bonding of the kid and mother or father.

Adoptive mother and father may be concerned about bonding with their kid. Although it might happen earlier for some than others, implemented children and their mother and father can rapport just as well as natural mother and father and their children.

Bonding With Daddy

Men nowadays see their children than men of past years did. Although men regularly desire closer get carry of with their children, bonding regularly occurs on a different routine, partly because they don't have the beginning get carry of of nursing that many mothers have.

But men should recognize, beginning on, that bonding with their kid isn't a matter of being another mom. In many cases, men reveal unique actions with their children. And both mother and father advantage greatly when they can assistance and motivate one another.
Early bonding actions that both mom and dad can encounter together include:

* taking part together in labor and delivery
* providing (breast or bottle); sometimes dad forms a unique rapport with kid when handling a middle-of-the-night providing and baby diaper change
* reading or performing to baby
* giving the kid a bath
* replicating kid's movements
* resembling kid's cooing and other vocalizations — the first initiatives at communication
* using a front kid service provider during schedule activities
* letting kid encounter the different designs of father's face

Building a Support System

Of course, it's simpler to rapport with your kid if the individuals around you are encouraging and help you develop confidence in your increasing a child capabilities. That's one reason experts recommend having your kid stay in your room at the medical center. While looking after a kid is frustrating at first, you can advantage from the psychological assistance offered by employees and start becoming more assured in your capabilities as a mother or father. Although rooming-in often is not possible for mother and father of early children or children with unique needs, the assistance from the medical center personnel can create bonding with the baby simpler.

At first, thoughtful for a baby can take nearly all of your attention and energy — especially for a nursing mom. Connection will be much simpler if you aren't fatigued by all of the other things going on at house, such as cleaning, foods, and laundry. It's helpful if men can give an extra boost with these daily tasks, as well as provide plenty of general psychological assistance.

And it's OK to ask close relatives and friends for help in the times — even weeks — after you bring your kid house. But because having others around during such a transition interval can sometimes be unpleasant, frustrating, or traumatic, you might want to ask individuals to drop off foods, walk the dog, or watch any of the new kid's friends outside the property.

Factors That May Affect Bonding

Bonding may be late for various reasons. Parents-to-be may type images of their kid having certain psychological and physical attributes. When, at shipping or after an adopting, you meet your kid, reality might create you adjust your mental image. Because a kid's encounter is the primary tool of interaction, it performs a critical role in bonding and addition.

Hormones can also significantly impact bonding. While nursing a kid in the first hours of life can help with bonding, it also causes the outpouring of many different testosterone in mothers. Sometimes mothers have difficulty bonding with their children if their testosterone are shooting or they have postpartum depressive disorder. Connection can also be late if a mothers fatigued and in pain following a lengthy, difficult shipping.

If your kid stays a while in extensive proper care, you may initially be put off by the amount and difficulty of equipment. But bonding with your kid is still essential. The medical center personnel can help you handle your kid through spaces in the isolette (a unique baby's room bassinet). When your kid is prepared, employees will help you carry him or her. At the same time, you can invest a while watching, pressing, and talking with your kid. Soon, your kid will recognize you and react to your voice and contact.

Nurses will help you learn to clean and feed your kid. If you're using breasts use products you've injected, employees, including a lactation advisor, can help you create the move to nursing before your kid goes house. Some extensive proper care units also provide rooming-in before you take your kid house to ease the move.
Is There a Problem?

If you don't think you're bonding by plenty of time you take your kid to the first appointment with your kid's doctor, discuss your concerns at that appointment. It may be a sign of postpartum depressive disorder. Or bonding can be late if your kid has had significant, unexpected wellness concerns. It may just be because you encounter fatigued and confused by your newborn's introduction.

In any event, the earlier a issue is determined, the better. Medical service providers are accustomed to dealing with these concerns and can help you be better prepared to type a rapport with your kid.

Also, it often helps to reveal your thoughts about bonding with other new mother and father. Ask about increasing a child sessions for mother and father of children.

Bonding is a complicated, knowledge that needs time. There's no magic bullet and it can't be forced. A kid whose basic needs are being met won't encounter if the rapport isn't powerful at first. As you become more comfortable with your kid and your new schedule becomes more foreseen, both you and your associate will encounter more assured about all of the amazing factors of increasing your little one.