When infants emerge from the womb their eyes look small, dark and puffy. The eyeball itself is about 75% the size of an adult eyeball, but will reach full size by the time the child is three years old. The conjunctive (or white) of the infants eye will appear bluish and the iris can be black, grey or blue. An infant’s vision is very limited and sensitive to harmful ultra violet rays. Although their eyes are not yet sensitive to light, the UV rays can still do damage. Let’s take a look at eye health in children and the necessity of sunglasses.
A newborn cannot focus or even coordinate the movement of both eyes together for two to six weeks after birth. Even then, the ability to focus is limited to distant objects. They do not see color until about four weeks, and then only bright colors like red and orange. By four months of age the child’s eyes will be moving in alignment with each other and be able to develop three-dimensional vision. The sharpness of vision is still poor, but by age two it should improve to 20/20. Children’s vision is at its best at age three, but studies show that over the next fifteen years of an average child’s life is when the most UV damage takes place. UV radiation from sunlight has been shown to cause a multitude of age-related eye problems later in life. Cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae growths and even skin cancer on the skin around the eyes are just a few maladies associated with UV exposure. Protecting your child’s eyes with good quality sunglasses will not only help keep their eyesight at its best (depending on genetic factors), but it will also help prevent eye problems later in life.
There are so many cute styles of children’s sunglasses available, some with branded characters and even some designed by high end design houses like Chanel or Louis Vuitton. However there are also hundreds of knock-off styles for sale at dollar stores that are pleasing to the child in terms of color and style. The price may be pleasing for parents, but beware of these cheap imitations. Often the frames are painted with lead based materials, which can be very harmful to your child’s health.
Some of the recommended features for children’s sunglasses are as follows:
100% UVA and UVB protection
Impact resistant lenses
Unbreakable frame construction and material
Large frames that fit closely to the face
Spring hinges that will adjust with the child’s head size
Neck strap
Children are active, far more than adults sometimes, so impact resistant lenses and nearly unbreakable frames are a necessity for safety and longevity of the sunglasses themselves. A foam stretchy neck strap that attaches at the end of each arm of the glasses will help prevent loss. A large frame style will shade more light from the child’s eyes and spring hinges help the glasses stay on the child’s head when they are active.
Sunglasses are necessary for children, even from birth. Not only do they protect the eyes from debris and injury, but they help prevent age-related eye diseases later in life. You do not need to get designer sunglasses for your child and pay a lot of money; you just need to find a middle ground between cheap and expensive.
If you are a parent of a hyperactive child with attention deficit perhaps one of the most difficult decisions you will face likely has to do with how to medicate your child. You will be faced with many options and perhaps your child’s pediatrician has already suggested one of the over prescribed stimulant medications so common in our schools today. On the other hand you likely have read a lot about the possible side-effect risks and are torn between safety and pharmaceutical solutions.
That said, what the statistics are telling us is that most parents say yes to stimulant medications. This observation is backed by facts provided by the Drug Enforcement Division of The U.S. Government stating that the manufacture of stimulant drugs has increased by an astounding 500 percent in the last 2 decades with half of the prescriptions being handed out by pediatricians.
These eye-popping statistics have given rise to the very real possibility that some doctors and parents are only focusing on the 70 percent success rate touted by drug manufacturers while virtually ignoring the possible side effect risks known to accompany these medications.
This scenario has created a mini-backlash and driven some parents to seek out natural side effect free herbal and homeopathic remedies for their child/children earlier rather than later.
The reason stimulant drugs like Ritalin and Adderall are often successful in treating ADHD is that they correct brain chemical imbalances which ultimately speeds up brain activity. While this might seem counterintuitive if your goal is reduce hyperactivity in a child with attention deficit it really is not with the accelerated brain activity helping improve both concentrate and length of attention span.
There are a number of herbs that mimic stimulant medications minus the side effect risks. Why don’t we take a look at two of herbs which are considered by some to be the most effective in treating hyperactive children with attention deficit.
Siberian Ginseng: Who hasn’t heard of ginseng these days. It is readily available as an individual supplement or can be consumed as an addition infused into other products such as herbal teas.
Ginseng is a natural brain stimulant that helps increase focus and improve both short and long-term concentration. The Siberian variety also has gained notoriety for its ability to normalize body function and moderate the release of energy by the body. Panax Ginseng used in many herbal medicines works slightly different by reducing stress, fatigue, and boosting immune system function.
Ginkgo Biloba is used in many natural remedies as is widely thought to increase blood flow to many important areas of the body including the brain. It is also suggested that this remarkable herb works naturally to increase brain chemical levels (neurotransmitters) which in turn helps the brain to focus. But perhaps most important of all the positive changes triggered by Ginkgo is that the benefits derived from its use have a tendency to become permanent thus eliminating the need for long-term use.
The two herbs above can be found in many natural remedies formulated for hyperactive children with attention deficit. Practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine believe that the best remedies are those which combine multiple ingredients which both stimulate and soothe. Perhaps the reason why this method has been so successful in treating childhood ADHD is that the condition is accompanied by other disorders well over half the time thus making a multi-level approach the path of least resistance.
A word of caution in closing. Since herbal stimulants like those listed above work in a similar fashion as stimulant medications they should never be taken together.
Additionally, if you do decide that a more natural approach is an option worth trying remember to allow a little time for them to work. Generally speaking around two weeks is about the time frame most experts mention but this can vary depending on the combination of herbal ingredients and the delivery method.
A common misconception when trying to lose weight is the simply eating less food will lead to weight loss, odd as it may sound it is not simply a question of eating less food. Far from it, a crash diet, a sudden burst of exercise or any drastic change of lifestyle can sometimes do more harm than good. But why is that? Surely its food that leads to weight increase?!
Well, your body prefers slow changes rather than sudden changes in terms of food and exercise. Notice we mention exercise here, diet alone will not do help reduce weight loss. It is far more important to aim for a balanced and healthy diet that can sustain your weight reduction in conjunction with an effective exercise program.
But here, we will have a quick look at the first meal of the day, and perhaps in many ways, the most important. Breakfast!
Skipping breakfast is a common strategy for people trying to lose weight. In fact, many people feel they do not have the time for breakfast and so will skip this important meal, but there are several reasons why this is not a good idea. There is plenty of truth in the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and here are some of the reasons.
So tell me, what are the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast?
Eating a healthy breakfast speeds up your metabolism, which means that more calories will be burnt throughout the day. In this way, eating a good healthy breakfast can actually help you to lose weight.
A good breakfast helps you to restock or refuel vital energy stores, which have been depleted overnight. Lets face it, after a good nights sleep you have been without food (and water) for several hours. You know how you would feel during the day if you was to be without food for several hours. Well a healthy breakfast is the fuel that gives us energy for the day’s activities!
For many of us, perhaps due to work or a busy lifestyle, breakfast is the only meal of the day that includes vital nutrients such as calcium from milk and fiber and antioxidants from whole grains. These nutrients are important to our diets.
If you skip breakfast, you’re less likely to make it through to lunch without getting hungry. Becoming hungry during the day could lead to eating snacks, snacks which are often poor value in terms of nutrition. Eating a good breakfast in the morning is a lot better for you than eating snacks before lunch.
Eating a healthy breakfast helps to improve mental performance, concentration and mood throughout the day. That’s right, food for the brain!
Perhaps most importantly if you are aiming to for a balanced program of weight reduction, studies have shown that people who eat breakfast are more likely to maintain a healthy weight.
Paul McCartney wrote the Beatles’ hit “When I’m Sixty-Four” in 1966, when he himself was just sixteen years old. In 2011, the aging rocker will turn sixty-nine; hopefully by now he’s gotten his answer.
When the Baby Boomers sung that song in their teens to their girlfriends and boyfriends, the question “Will you still love me when I’m sixty-four?” seemed to be theoretical in nature. This year, however, the oldest of the Boomers will be celebrating their sixty-fifth birthday – a shocker for the generation that once insisted they would “trust no one over thirty.”
Boomers entering their fifties and sixties certainly have a lot to think about as they head towards retirement, but one thing they shouldn’t neglect is staying fit. Medical advances almost guarantee that the average Boomer will live longer than his or her parents, but quantity of life means little without quality of life. Quality of life depends upon keeping that aging and oft-abused body fit and trim. Otherwise, Boomers, expect the prescription drugs and surgeries to start pouring in on you. Here are some suggestions for Baby Boomers to improve and maintain their physical and mental health.
How to Lose Weight Fast If You’re a Boomer
If you’re overweight, your first task in your golden years’ health regimen should be to lose weight fast. By your fifties and sixties, however, years of accumulated injuries and the early stages of arthritis might make you grimace when you think about high-intensity cardio workouts. Sound familiar? If so, here are some suggestions for fat-burning workouts that are still easy on the joints.
Cycling – Cycling is often recommended by doctors as a knee-friendly alternative to running. Stationary bikes, in particular, can burn up calories without putting undue pressure on the knees. If you belong to a gym, try out a spin class. These group exercise classes usually last about an hour and provide an excellent way to lose weight fast.
Swimming – Another cardio workout often recommended to people with joint issues is swimming. Swimming works out nearly every part of the body without minimal stress on the joints.
Yoga – Be warned: Not all types of yoga will help you lose weight. What yoga will do for you, though, is help you heal your joints and increase your flexibility so that high-intensity workouts become feasible for you again.
Elliptical machine – The elliptical machine, which looks like a stair step machine that moves in a circular fashion, is not as low-impact on the knees as swimming or cycling, but it is low-impact compared to running. Try out the elliptical machine at your gym to see if it works for you.
Eating Tips for Baby Boomers
When it comes to physical health, exercise is only one half of the equation. The other half of the equation, of course, is food. Fortunately, we know a lot more now about the best way to eat than we did in the 1940s and 50s. Unfortunately, however, the food landscape is fraught with much more danger today than it was when Boomers were growing up. Agribusiness didn’t exist yet in the 1950s, and fast food was still in its infancy.
Because the Boomers grew up alongside the food industry, it’s understandable that they picked up a lot of bad eating habits. Baby Boomers don’t need to become health nuts, but there are a few simple ways Boomers can improve their eating habits:
Stop with the fast food – For people who regularly eat fast food, switching to eating healthy leftovers from their own kitchen is one of the biggest steps they can take towards healthier eating habits.
Switch to water – Drinking filtered water instead of soda or coffee is another way Boomers can cut back on calories and improve health.
Avoid the middle of the grocery store – One easy way to make sure you’re buying foods that are good for you is to resolve to shop only on the perimeter of your grocery store. The perimeter of the grocery store is normally where the produce and meat departments are; the middle of the grocery store is stocked with rows and rows of processed foods. If you want to know how to lose weight fast, you would do well to start by eliminating as many foods as you can that emerge from boxes, plastic bags, cans, and jars.
The suggestions above provide a good place to start for Baby Boomers who want to enter their golden years with a healthy body and mind. A few minor lifestyle changes can make a big difference when it comes to your longevity and quality of life. Sixty-four might have once seemed like a long way away, but now that it’s just around the corner, don’t you think you owe it to yourself to make sure you feel as good at sixty-four as you did at thirty-four?
A Health and Wellness Coach will help you control the major factors that dominate your life, such as weight gain or loss, eating habits, exercise, stress, smoking, alcohol intake and many other aspects. Thus, your health conditions will be managed and you will become less prone or not prone at all to high blood pressure and diabetes. However, you cannot blame your genes, if you have it. You can only control it with the help of a good fitness coach. When you are under the care of a certified trainer, there are chances that you will meet your fitness goals faster than otherwise. Hence, make sure you appoint someone who has a genuine certificate in fitness and wellness training.
A Health and Wellness Coach provides services that are flexible and you can be assisted through phone or in person. Whether it is for individuals in a personal environment or a corporate environment, fitness coaches provide health tips and guidelines through books, articles, seminars and classes. You can appoint a personal trainer, doctor, dietician, or any other health professional, but if you want a complete package in one trainer, the Health and Wellness Coaches can be your best option. You do not have to pay a big amount for personal coaching as only those areas will be focused on that require attention.
The ever-increasing fitness industry is making a niche for itself. In this competitive world, it has been proved by Fitness Experts that health is as important as wealth. No wonder you read so much in the newspapers and watch a lot of programs on TV regarding health and fitness. This is benefiting the people in the fitness industry immensely. Fitness trainers strive to make people passionate about their fitness and health by providing the help required for them to emerge with a healthy body. Most trainers focus exercise. However, a Health and Wellness Coach will not only focus on exercise but also diet, hygiene and healthy habits.
With the help of a Health and Wellness Coach, you can look at the big picture, while attending fitness programs that encourage you to face the obstacles and find success in reaching your fitness goals. You are given the opportunity by your Coach to choose your goals and pursue them accordingly with the collaborative effort of you and your Coach. As health can be a problem at any age, whether an individual is a kid, teen, youngster or a grown up, awareness should be spread of living a healthy life.
Your Health and Wellness Coach will advice you on factors such as fitness, nutritional intake, weight management, stress handling and reduction, health risk management and discovering the hurdles that keep you from achieving your fitness goals. This type of Coach will provide you with guidelines on what to eat and what not to eat, how much to eat and when to eat. You will be also enlightened with the knowledge of your sleeping hours and your water intake. This coaching will help you control your stress levels and reduce them as well. As a result you will feel relaxed and content.
