Have you ever been totally absorbed while reading a book, cooking or watching a movie? Did you zone out to the point where you didn't notice what else was going on around you? If so, you've experienced a type of trance-like state or focused attention that's similar to what happens to you during hypnosis.
Although its medical uses aren't entirely understood, hypnosis, when provided by a certified hypnotherapist or other qualified clinician, appears to help with a variety of health conditions. These range from helping to control pain to easing the symptoms of asthma.
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis, also referred to as hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion, is an altered state of consciousness. This state of consciousness is usually achieved with the help of a hypnotherapist and is different from your everyday awareness.
When you're under hypnosis:
-Your attention is more focused.
- You're more responsive to suggestions.
-You're more open and less critical or disbelieving.
The purpose of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique is to help you gain more control over your behavior, emotions or physical well-being.
It's not clear how hypnosis works. However, it appears to affect how your brain communicates with your body through nerve impulses, hormones and body chemicals, such as neuropeptides. Hypnotherapists say that hypnosis creates a state of deep relaxation and quiets the mind. When you're hypnotized, you can concentrate intensely on a specific thought, memory, feeling or sensation while blocking out distractions. You're more open than usual to suggestions, and this can be used to change your behavior and thereby improve your health and well-being.
Who is hypnosis for?
Hypnotherapy has the potential to help relieve the symptoms of a wide variety of diseases and conditions. It can be used independently or along with other treatments. For example, it's one of several relaxation methods for treating chronic pain that has been approved by an independent panel convened by the National Institutes of Health.
According to preliminary studies, hypnotherapy may be used to:
-Change negative behaviors, such as smoking, bed-wetting and overeating.
-Reduce fear, stress and anxiety
-Eliminate or decrease the intensity of phobias
-Treat pain during childbirth and reduce labor time
-Control pain during dental and surgical procedures
-Relieve symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
-Lower blood pressure
- Control nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
-Reduce the intensity or frequency of headaches, including migraines
-Treat and ease the symptoms of asthma
-Hasten the healing of some skin diseases, including warts, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis
Hasten the healing of some skin diseases, including warts, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis Although hypnosis may have the potential to help with a wide variety of conditions, it's not a magic bullet. It's typically used as one part of a broader, more comprehensive treatment plan rather than as a stand-alone therapy. Like any other therapy, hypnosis can be very helpful to some people and fail with others. It seems to work best when you're highly motivated and your therapist is well trained and understands your particular problem.
Isnt it a interesting topic to learn about, in the next part will let u guys know the myths of hypnosis....keep waiting :)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Children's Health Threats From Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke has a marked effect on the health of infants and children. They're more vulnerable than adults because they're still developing physically and generally have higher breathing rates, which means they may inhale greater quantities of secondhand smoke than do adults.
For children who live in households where someone smokes, the effects are worst during the child's first five years, since the child may spend the bulk of that time with a smoking parent or guardian. Ironically, infants are at the highest risk of secondhand smoke from their own mothers. A child who spends just one hour in a very smoky room is inhaling as many dangerous chemicals as if he or she smoked 10 or more cigarettes.
Here's a look at some of the main health problems in infants and children associated with secondhand smoke.
Growth and development
Women who are exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy are at higher risk of having babies of slightly lower birth weight. This can cause a host of health problems for the baby, such as cerebral palsy or learning disabilities. Women who actively smoke during pregnancy expose their developing baby to passive smoke — the chemicals may pass through the placenta — and put them at risk of lower birth weight. Scientists are studying the link between secondhand smoke and growth delays and congenital malformations.
A developing fetus exposed to secondhand smoke may also be at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But evidence that post-birth exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS is inconclusive.
Asthma and other respiratory problems
Secondhand smoke may cause asthma in children. In children who already have asthma, secondhand smoke can make episodes more frequent and more severe.
Secondhand smoke is also tied to lower respiratory infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, especially in those younger than 6. It's also associated with irritation of the upper respiratory tract and a small reduction in lung function.
Middle ear conditions
Children living in households with smokers are more likely to have a buildup of fluid in their middle ear, which is an indication of chronic middle ear disease (otitis media).
For children who live in households where someone smokes, the effects are worst during the child's first five years, since the child may spend the bulk of that time with a smoking parent or guardian. Ironically, infants are at the highest risk of secondhand smoke from their own mothers. A child who spends just one hour in a very smoky room is inhaling as many dangerous chemicals as if he or she smoked 10 or more cigarettes.
Here's a look at some of the main health problems in infants and children associated with secondhand smoke.
Growth and development
Women who are exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy are at higher risk of having babies of slightly lower birth weight. This can cause a host of health problems for the baby, such as cerebral palsy or learning disabilities. Women who actively smoke during pregnancy expose their developing baby to passive smoke — the chemicals may pass through the placenta — and put them at risk of lower birth weight. Scientists are studying the link between secondhand smoke and growth delays and congenital malformations.
A developing fetus exposed to secondhand smoke may also be at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But evidence that post-birth exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS is inconclusive.
Asthma and other respiratory problems
Secondhand smoke may cause asthma in children. In children who already have asthma, secondhand smoke can make episodes more frequent and more severe.
Secondhand smoke is also tied to lower respiratory infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, especially in those younger than 6. It's also associated with irritation of the upper respiratory tract and a small reduction in lung function.
Middle ear conditions
Children living in households with smokers are more likely to have a buildup of fluid in their middle ear, which is an indication of chronic middle ear disease (otitis media).
Adult health threats from secondhand smoke
Health experts have recognized the relationship between secondhand smoke and health risks for decades. Research exploring these connections is ongoing.
Some of the known or suspected health risks include:
Cancer:
In 1993, the Environmental Protection Agency placed environmental tobacco smoke in the most dangerous category of cancer-causing agents, and subsequent research has upheld that status.
Secondhand smoke is a known risk factor for lung cancer. Experts believe that secondhand smoke is to blame for roughly 3,000 deaths from lung cancer in adult nonsmokers each year in the United States. Secondhand smoke is also linked to cancer of the nasal sinuses. It's also been linked to cancers of the cervix, breast and bladder, but the evidence hasn't been as compelling as the link to lung cancer.
Heart disease:
Secondhand smoke harms the cardiovascular system of nonsmokers in many ways. For one thing, it causes coronary heart disease, such as a heart attack. It also damages blood vessels, interferes with circulation and increases the risk of blood clots. It's estimated that some 35,000 nonsmokers die of smoking-related heart disease in the United States every year.
Lung disease:
Chronic lung ailments, such as bronchitis and asthma, have been associated with secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke is also associated with chest tightness at night and feelings of breathlessness after physical activity.
Some of the known or suspected health risks include:
Cancer:
In 1993, the Environmental Protection Agency placed environmental tobacco smoke in the most dangerous category of cancer-causing agents, and subsequent research has upheld that status.
Secondhand smoke is a known risk factor for lung cancer. Experts believe that secondhand smoke is to blame for roughly 3,000 deaths from lung cancer in adult nonsmokers each year in the United States. Secondhand smoke is also linked to cancer of the nasal sinuses. It's also been linked to cancers of the cervix, breast and bladder, but the evidence hasn't been as compelling as the link to lung cancer.
Heart disease:
Secondhand smoke harms the cardiovascular system of nonsmokers in many ways. For one thing, it causes coronary heart disease, such as a heart attack. It also damages blood vessels, interferes with circulation and increases the risk of blood clots. It's estimated that some 35,000 nonsmokers die of smoking-related heart disease in the United States every year.
Lung disease:
Chronic lung ailments, such as bronchitis and asthma, have been associated with secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke is also associated with chest tightness at night and feelings of breathlessness after physical activity.
Avoid dangers in the air you breathe
Secondhand smoke:
Breathing in the toxins in secondhand smoke can cause a variety of health problems, including lung cancer and asthma. Understand more and see how to avoid the dangers.
You don't smoke because you understand the dangers. But what about that thick cloud hanging in the air at your favorite restaurant? What about the haze left behind after your guests have departed after a night of partying? And what about the cigarette your spouse has left burning in an ashtray just a few feet away from your infant?
Are they all a danger, too?
Yes, they are. Compelling evidence indicates that secondhand smoke is a health hazard. And it's nearly as bad as smoking itself. Rich in toxic chemicals, secondhand smoke may play a role in causing or contributing to a number of health problems, from cardiovascular disease to cancer.
But secondhand smoke is often avoidable. Take steps to safeguard yourself and your loved ones from secondhand smoke.
Toxins in secondhand smokeWhat exactly is secondhand smoke? It's two different forms of smoke from cigarettes, pipes or cigars:
Sidestream smoke. This is smoke that wafts from the burning tobacco product. Mainstream smoke. This is smoke that the smoker exhales. Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke, passive smoking, involuntary smoking and a newer, more descriptive term, tobacco smoke pollution.
Regardless of what you call it, both types of secondhand smoke contain harmful chemicals — and a lot of them. Specifically which chemicals are present depend on the type of tobacco product, how it's smoked and the paper in which the tobacco is wrapped. More than 4,000 chemicals make up the haze of secondhand smoke. And more than 60 of the chemicals in cigarette smoke are known to be carcinogenic, which means they may cause cancer.
Some of the substances found in secondhand smoke that are known or suspected to cause cancer include:
Formaldehyde
Arsenic
Cadmium
Benzene
Ethylene oxide
Here are a few other chemicals in secondhand smoke that might sound familiar, along with their effects on health:
Ammonia — irritates your lungs
Carbon monoxide — hampers breathing by reducing oxygen in your blood
Methanol — toxic when inhaled or swallowed
Hydrogen cyanide — interferes with proper respiratory function
The dangerous particles given off in secondhand smoke can linger in the air for hours. Even breathing them in for a short time — as little as 20 or 30 minutes — can harm your health in a variety ways. And breathing in secondhand smoke over years can be all the more dangerous.
In my next post, i will tell u all the health threats for Adults and Infants
Breathing in the toxins in secondhand smoke can cause a variety of health problems, including lung cancer and asthma. Understand more and see how to avoid the dangers.
You don't smoke because you understand the dangers. But what about that thick cloud hanging in the air at your favorite restaurant? What about the haze left behind after your guests have departed after a night of partying? And what about the cigarette your spouse has left burning in an ashtray just a few feet away from your infant?
Are they all a danger, too?
Yes, they are. Compelling evidence indicates that secondhand smoke is a health hazard. And it's nearly as bad as smoking itself. Rich in toxic chemicals, secondhand smoke may play a role in causing or contributing to a number of health problems, from cardiovascular disease to cancer.
But secondhand smoke is often avoidable. Take steps to safeguard yourself and your loved ones from secondhand smoke.
Toxins in secondhand smokeWhat exactly is secondhand smoke? It's two different forms of smoke from cigarettes, pipes or cigars:
Sidestream smoke. This is smoke that wafts from the burning tobacco product. Mainstream smoke. This is smoke that the smoker exhales. Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke, passive smoking, involuntary smoking and a newer, more descriptive term, tobacco smoke pollution.
Regardless of what you call it, both types of secondhand smoke contain harmful chemicals — and a lot of them. Specifically which chemicals are present depend on the type of tobacco product, how it's smoked and the paper in which the tobacco is wrapped. More than 4,000 chemicals make up the haze of secondhand smoke. And more than 60 of the chemicals in cigarette smoke are known to be carcinogenic, which means they may cause cancer.
Some of the substances found in secondhand smoke that are known or suspected to cause cancer include:
Formaldehyde
Arsenic
Cadmium
Benzene
Ethylene oxide
Here are a few other chemicals in secondhand smoke that might sound familiar, along with their effects on health:
Ammonia — irritates your lungs
Carbon monoxide — hampers breathing by reducing oxygen in your blood
Methanol — toxic when inhaled or swallowed
Hydrogen cyanide — interferes with proper respiratory function
The dangerous particles given off in secondhand smoke can linger in the air for hours. Even breathing them in for a short time — as little as 20 or 30 minutes — can harm your health in a variety ways. And breathing in secondhand smoke over years can be all the more dangerous.
In my next post, i will tell u all the health threats for Adults and Infants
Monday, August 13, 2007
Laughter is the best medicine
Laugh your way to stress relief:
When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered. Here's why.
Whether you peal with giggles while re-enacting the most hysterical moments of a Monty Python movie or twitter away at the highbrow humor of a New Yorker cartoon, studies have shown that your laugh will do you good. Laughter helps you deal with a variety of maladies, including the stresses of daily life.
The benefits of a belly laugh:
Laughter's benefits on your health are no joke. A sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data are mounting about the things that laughter can do.
Short-term benefits:
A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body, beginning with your face. Laughter can:
*Stimulate your organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
*Activate your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling. *Soothe tension and tummy aches. Laughter can also ease digestion and stimulate circulation, which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
Long-term effects:
Laughter isn't only good for a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long haul. Laughter may:
*Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses. In fact, in one study, people with cancer who watched a humorous video showed less stress and an increase in a particular cell activity that's beneficial in fighting diseases such as HIV and cancer.
*Relieve pain. Research increasingly shows that laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
*Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier. One study of nurses who work in emergency rooms found that nurses who use humor in dealing with their patients and co-workers experience greater job satisfaction and feelings of personal accomplishment than do those who remain dour during their shifts.
How to have — or gain — a sense of humor:
Are you afraid you have an underdeveloped — or nonexistent — funny bone? Developing or refining your own particular sense of humor may be easier than you think.
*Put humor on your horizon. Find a few simple items, such as photos or comic strips, that elicit a chuckle from you or others. Then hang them at home, in your office or even on the visor of your car.
*Laugh and the world laughs with you. Develop a sense of humor about your own situation and watch your stress begin to fade away.
*Think positive. Look for the positive or the humorous in every situation and surround yourself with others who do the same.
*Knock-knock. Browse through your local bookstore or library's selection of joke books and get a few rib-ticklers in your repertoire that you can share with friends.
Know what isn't funny. Don't laugh at the expense of others. Some forms of humor are not appropriate. Use your best judgment to discern a good joke from a bad, or hurtful, one.
Laughter is the best medicine:
Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your hearty chuckle, take stock of how you're feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That's the natural wonder of laughing at work.
When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered. Here's why.
Whether you peal with giggles while re-enacting the most hysterical moments of a Monty Python movie or twitter away at the highbrow humor of a New Yorker cartoon, studies have shown that your laugh will do you good. Laughter helps you deal with a variety of maladies, including the stresses of daily life.
The benefits of a belly laugh:
Laughter's benefits on your health are no joke. A sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data are mounting about the things that laughter can do.
Short-term benefits:
A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body, beginning with your face. Laughter can:
*Stimulate your organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
*Activate your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling. *Soothe tension and tummy aches. Laughter can also ease digestion and stimulate circulation, which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
Long-term effects:
Laughter isn't only good for a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long haul. Laughter may:
*Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses. In fact, in one study, people with cancer who watched a humorous video showed less stress and an increase in a particular cell activity that's beneficial in fighting diseases such as HIV and cancer.
*Relieve pain. Research increasingly shows that laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
*Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier. One study of nurses who work in emergency rooms found that nurses who use humor in dealing with their patients and co-workers experience greater job satisfaction and feelings of personal accomplishment than do those who remain dour during their shifts.
How to have — or gain — a sense of humor:
Are you afraid you have an underdeveloped — or nonexistent — funny bone? Developing or refining your own particular sense of humor may be easier than you think.
*Put humor on your horizon. Find a few simple items, such as photos or comic strips, that elicit a chuckle from you or others. Then hang them at home, in your office or even on the visor of your car.
*Laugh and the world laughs with you. Develop a sense of humor about your own situation and watch your stress begin to fade away.
*Think positive. Look for the positive or the humorous in every situation and surround yourself with others who do the same.
*Knock-knock. Browse through your local bookstore or library's selection of joke books and get a few rib-ticklers in your repertoire that you can share with friends.
Know what isn't funny. Don't laugh at the expense of others. Some forms of humor are not appropriate. Use your best judgment to discern a good joke from a bad, or hurtful, one.
Laughter is the best medicine:
Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your hearty chuckle, take stock of how you're feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That's the natural wonder of laughing at work.
Nutrition for kids
You want your child to eat healthy foods, but what makes up a healthy diet? Which nutrients are necessary and in what amounts?
Nutrition for kids is in some ways similar to nutrition for adults. Everyone, regardless of age, needs the same types of nutrients — such as carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals — just in different amounts. Children differ from adults in that they have periods of rapid growth and development. And children generally have fewer nutrient stores to draw from, making proper nutritional intake essential for healthy growth and development.
So what's the best formula to fuel your child's growth and development? If you have concerns specific to your child's diet, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Girls and boys ages 2 to 3
Calories : 1,000 to 1,400; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 5% to 20% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 30% to 40% of daily calories Sodium 1,000 milligrams a day
Fiber :19grams a day
Calcium : 500 milligrams a day
Girls ages 4 to 8
Calories : 1,200 to 1,800; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,200 milligrams a day
Fiber :25grams a day
Calcium :800 milligrams a day
Boys ages 4 to 8
Calories : 1,400 to 2,000; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,200 milligrams a day
Fiber :25 grams a day
Calcium :800 milligrams a day
Girls ages 9 to 13
Calories : 1,600 to 2,200; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,500 milligrams a day
Fiber :26grams a day
Calcium :1,300 milligrams a day
Boys ages 9 to 13
Calories : 1,800 to 2,600; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level
Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,500 milligrams a day
Fiber :31 grams a day
Calcium : 1,300 milligrams a day
Girls ages 14 to 18
Calories : 1,800 to 2,400; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,500 milligrams a day
Fiber : 38gams a day
Calcium : 1,300 milligrams a day
Boys ages 14 to 18
Calories : 2,200 to 3,200; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,500 milligrams a day
Fiber : 38 grams a day
Calcium : 1,300 milligrams a day
Nutrition for kids is in some ways similar to nutrition for adults. Everyone, regardless of age, needs the same types of nutrients — such as carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals — just in different amounts. Children differ from adults in that they have periods of rapid growth and development. And children generally have fewer nutrient stores to draw from, making proper nutritional intake essential for healthy growth and development.
So what's the best formula to fuel your child's growth and development? If you have concerns specific to your child's diet, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Girls and boys ages 2 to 3
Calories : 1,000 to 1,400; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 5% to 20% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 30% to 40% of daily calories Sodium 1,000 milligrams a day
Fiber :19grams a day
Calcium : 500 milligrams a day
Girls ages 4 to 8
Calories : 1,200 to 1,800; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,200 milligrams a day
Fiber :25grams a day
Calcium :800 milligrams a day
Boys ages 4 to 8
Calories : 1,400 to 2,000; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,200 milligrams a day
Fiber :25 grams a day
Calcium :800 milligrams a day
Girls ages 9 to 13
Calories : 1,600 to 2,200; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,500 milligrams a day
Fiber :26grams a day
Calcium :1,300 milligrams a day
Boys ages 9 to 13
Calories : 1,800 to 2,600; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level
Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,500 milligrams a day
Fiber :31 grams a day
Calcium : 1,300 milligrams a day
Girls ages 14 to 18
Calories : 1,800 to 2,400; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,500 milligrams a day
Fiber : 38gams a day
Calcium : 1,300 milligrams a day
Boys ages 14 to 18
Calories : 2,200 to 3,200; could be greater depending on age, growth and activity level Protein : 10% to 30% of daily calories Carbohydrates 45% to 65% of daily calories (at least 130 grams)
Total fat : 25% to 35% of daily calories Sodium 1,500 milligrams a day
Fiber : 38 grams a day
Calcium : 1,300 milligrams a day
Is your child a picky eater? Use these practical tips to avoid mealtime battles.
Your preschooler has refused to eat anything other than peanut butter sandwiches for the past two days, and your toddler would rather play than eat anything at all. Sound familiar?
If children's nutrition is a sore topic in your household, you're not alone. Many parents are distressed by what their children eat — or don't eat. However, most kids get plenty of variety and nutrition in their diets over the course of a week. Until your child's food preferences mature, prevent mealtime battles one bite at a time.
1.Respect your child's hunger — or lack thereof. Young children tend to eat only when they're hungry. If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal or snack.
2.Stay calm. If your child senses that you're unhappy with his or her eating habits, it may become a battle of wills. Threats and punishments only reinforce the power struggle.
3.Keep an eye on the clock. Nix juice and snacks for at least one hour before meals. If your child comes to the table hungry, he or she may be more motivated to eat.
4.Don't expect too much. After age 2, slower growth often reduces a child's appetite. A few bites may be all it takes for your child to feel full.
5.Limit liquid calories. Low-fat or fat-free dairy products and 100 percent fruit juice can be important parts of a healthy diet — but if your child fills up on milk or juice, he or she may have no room for meals or snacks.
6.Start small. Offer several foods in small portions. Let your child choose what he or she eats.
7.Boycott the clean plate club. Don't force your child to clean his or her plate. This may only ignite — or reinforce — a power struggle over food. Instead, allow your child to stop eating when he or she is full.
8.Leave taste out of it. Talk about a food's color, shape, aroma and texture — not whether it tastes good.
9.Be patient with new foods. Young children often touch or smell new foods, and may even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. Your child may need repeated exposure to a new food before he or she takes the first bite.
10.Eat breakfast for dinner. Who says cereal or pancakes are only for breakfast? The distinction between breakfast, lunch and dinner foods may be lost on your child.
11.Make it fun. Serve broccoli and other veggies with a favorite dip or sauce. Cut foods into various shapes with cookie cutters.
12.Recruit your child's help. At the grocery store, ask your child to help you select fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Don't buy anything that you don't want your child to eat. At home, encourage your child to help you rinse veggies, stir batter or set the table.
13.Set a good example. If you eat a variety of healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow suit.
14.Be sneaky. Add chopped broccoli or green peppers to spaghetti sauce, top cereal with fruit slices, or mix grated zucchini and carrots into casseroles and soups.
15.Keep it separate. If your child isn't a fan of various ingredients thrown together, you might "unmix" the food. Place sandwich fixings outside the bread, or serve the ingredients of a salad, casserole or stir-fry separately.
16.Stick to the routine. Serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. If the kitchen is closed at other times, your child may be more likely to eat what's served for meals and snacks.
17.Minimize distractions. Turn off the television during meals, and don't allow books or toys at the table.
18.Don't offer dessert as a reward. Withholding dessert sends the message that dessert is the best food, which may only increase your child's desire for sweets. You might select one or two nights a week as dessert nights, and skip dessert the rest of the week. Or redefine dessert as fruit, yogurt or other healthy choices.
19.Expect some food preferences to stick. As kids mature, they tend to become less picky about food. Still, everyone has food preferences. Don't expect your child to like everything.
20.Know when to seek help. If your child is energetic and growing, he or she is probably doing fine. Consult your child's doctor if you're concerned that picky eating is compromising your child's growth and development or if certain foods seem to make your child ill.
Your child's eating habits won't likely change overnight. But the small steps you take each day can help promote a lifetime of healthy eating.
If children's nutrition is a sore topic in your household, you're not alone. Many parents are distressed by what their children eat — or don't eat. However, most kids get plenty of variety and nutrition in their diets over the course of a week. Until your child's food preferences mature, prevent mealtime battles one bite at a time.
1.Respect your child's hunger — or lack thereof. Young children tend to eat only when they're hungry. If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal or snack.
2.Stay calm. If your child senses that you're unhappy with his or her eating habits, it may become a battle of wills. Threats and punishments only reinforce the power struggle.
3.Keep an eye on the clock. Nix juice and snacks for at least one hour before meals. If your child comes to the table hungry, he or she may be more motivated to eat.
4.Don't expect too much. After age 2, slower growth often reduces a child's appetite. A few bites may be all it takes for your child to feel full.
5.Limit liquid calories. Low-fat or fat-free dairy products and 100 percent fruit juice can be important parts of a healthy diet — but if your child fills up on milk or juice, he or she may have no room for meals or snacks.
6.Start small. Offer several foods in small portions. Let your child choose what he or she eats.
7.Boycott the clean plate club. Don't force your child to clean his or her plate. This may only ignite — or reinforce — a power struggle over food. Instead, allow your child to stop eating when he or she is full.
8.Leave taste out of it. Talk about a food's color, shape, aroma and texture — not whether it tastes good.
9.Be patient with new foods. Young children often touch or smell new foods, and may even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. Your child may need repeated exposure to a new food before he or she takes the first bite.
10.Eat breakfast for dinner. Who says cereal or pancakes are only for breakfast? The distinction between breakfast, lunch and dinner foods may be lost on your child.
11.Make it fun. Serve broccoli and other veggies with a favorite dip or sauce. Cut foods into various shapes with cookie cutters.
12.Recruit your child's help. At the grocery store, ask your child to help you select fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Don't buy anything that you don't want your child to eat. At home, encourage your child to help you rinse veggies, stir batter or set the table.
13.Set a good example. If you eat a variety of healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow suit.
14.Be sneaky. Add chopped broccoli or green peppers to spaghetti sauce, top cereal with fruit slices, or mix grated zucchini and carrots into casseroles and soups.
15.Keep it separate. If your child isn't a fan of various ingredients thrown together, you might "unmix" the food. Place sandwich fixings outside the bread, or serve the ingredients of a salad, casserole or stir-fry separately.
16.Stick to the routine. Serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. If the kitchen is closed at other times, your child may be more likely to eat what's served for meals and snacks.
17.Minimize distractions. Turn off the television during meals, and don't allow books or toys at the table.
18.Don't offer dessert as a reward. Withholding dessert sends the message that dessert is the best food, which may only increase your child's desire for sweets. You might select one or two nights a week as dessert nights, and skip dessert the rest of the week. Or redefine dessert as fruit, yogurt or other healthy choices.
19.Expect some food preferences to stick. As kids mature, they tend to become less picky about food. Still, everyone has food preferences. Don't expect your child to like everything.
20.Know when to seek help. If your child is energetic and growing, he or she is probably doing fine. Consult your child's doctor if you're concerned that picky eating is compromising your child's growth and development or if certain foods seem to make your child ill.
Your child's eating habits won't likely change overnight. But the small steps you take each day can help promote a lifetime of healthy eating.
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