What exactly Acid Reflux Disease?

Around the entrance for a stomach is known as a valve, is a ring for muscle the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Normally, the main LES sales techniques as soon as nutrition passes delete word. If the L'ENSEMBLE DES doesn't tight all the way as well as if it frees too often, level of acidity produced by your personal stomach might move up inside your esophagus. This would cause indicators such as a eliminating chest pain described as heartburn. In the event acid reflux indications happen beyond twice one week, you have heartburn or acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD).

What exactly is Acid Reflux Disease?
You common trigger of acid reflux disease can be described as stomach crank called a hiatal hernia. The occurs when the leading part of the abdominal and CES move over a diaphragm, a good muscle of which separates your individual stomach at a chest. Regularly, the diaphragm helps keep stomach acid in our digestive system. But if you have a relatively hiatal laxitud, acid will move up with your esophagus in addition to cause regarding acid reflux disease.

However these are other usual risk reasons for gerd:


Eating great meals or simply lying down as a result of a meal
Unhealthy weight or exseeding weight
Eating huge meal plus lying upon your back and also bending at the a waist
Snacking dear to bedtime
Taking certain foods, just like citrus, tomato, chocolate, great, garlic, onions, or hot and spicy or sugary foods
Alocohol consumption certain drinks, such as alcoholic beverage, carbonated food and drink, coffee, or possibly tea
Tobacco
Being pregnant
Choosing aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle group relaxers, or even blood pressure prescription drugs
What Are the Regarding Acid Reflux Disease?
Usual symptoms of acid reflux disorder disease are:

Symptoms of acid reflux: a consuming pain or discomfort which can move inside of stomach with your abdomen or perhaps chest, or up in the throat
Regurgitation: a bad or bitter-tasting acid making a back up into your irritated or dental
Other associated with acid reflux disease comprise of:

Bloating
Weakling or dark colored stools or maybe bloody nausea or vomiting
Burping
Dysphagia -- some narrowing from your esophagus, of which creates the feeling of food stuff being bogged down in your in conjunction with
Hiccups the fact that don't let away
Nausea
Losing weight for basically no known good reason
Wheezing, free of moisture cough, hoarseness, or debilitating sore each and every time

How Is normally Acid Reflux Disease Defined?
It's time for it to see your health care professional if you have heartburn symptoms symptoms a couple of times in one week or whenever medications shouldn't bring durable relief. Problems such as symptoms of heartburn are the step to the associated with acid reflux disease, particularly if lifestyle changes, antacids, or acid-blocking medications lower these symptoms.

If perhaps these techniques don't allow or if you have had frequent as well as severe conditions, your doctor can order studies to confirm an analysis and check out other conditions. You may need one of these tests which include these:

Barium swallow (esophagram) can carefully consider ulcers or even narrowing within the esophagus. It all starts when you swallow an approach to00 help homes show up on any X-ray.
Esophageal manometry will be able to check the work of the wind pipe and smaller esophageal muscle.
pH following can research for acid as part of your esophagus. A chiropractor inserts a tool into your oesophagus and finds it on hand for one to two days so that you can measure the quality of acid in your own esophagus.
Endoscopy can scan for problems on your esophagus or simply stomach. This unique test calls for inserting long, flexible, lit tube off your gullet. First, a chiropractor will atomizer the back to your throat through anesthetic and share you a relaxing to make you more well-off.
A biopsy may be ingested during endoscopy to check types of tissue in a microscopic lense for irritation or malocclusions.

Can Heartburn or acid reflux Be Given Diet and Lifestyle Shifts?
One of the most methods to treat acid reflux disorder is to very carefully foods and even beverages which will trigger problems. Here are several other steps you can take:

Have smaller meal more frequently in the daytime.
Quit smoking.
Get blocks within head of this bed to enhance it at a minimum 4 inches tall to 6 long.
Don't have at least two to three hours previously lying down.
Have a shot at sleeping inside of a chair meant for daytime naps.
Don't be dressed in tight shirts or dresses or firmer belts.
When you're overweight and also obese, take measures to lose weight utilizing exercise together with diet shifts.
Also, you can ask your doctor irrespective of whether any relief medication could be activation your symptoms of acid reflux or various symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux.

Can Gerd Be Given Medications?
In some cases, lifestyle changes mixed with over-the-counter remedies are all you'll want to control the outward symptoms of gerd.

Antacids, that include Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, or Riopan, can counteract the acid inside stomach. But additionally may cause diarrhea or obstipation, especially if you unneccessary use them. You ought to use antacids that contain each of those magnesium hydroxide and simple designed hydroxide. Anytime combined, some might help balance out these stomach side effects.

Whenever antacids do help, a physician may have a shot at other treatments. Some an increased level of prescription. Your health care provider may indicate more than one choice or highly recommend you attempt a combination of medicinal drugs such as such:

Foaming specialists (Gaviscon) topcoat your abs to prevent poisson.
H2 blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) greatly reduce acid making.
Proton put inhibitors (Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, Aciphex, Nexium) also eliminate the amount of uric acid your ab makes.
Prokinetics (Reglan, Urecholine) can help tone the L'ENSEMBLE DES, empty your company stomach a lot quicker, and reduce acid reflux heartburn.

Don't include more than one types of antacid or possibly other medicine without your company's doctor's support.

Is Acid reflux disorder Ever Given Surgery?
In cases where medications can not completely take care of your outward indications of acid reflux disease and also symptoms happen to be severely changing your life, your health care provider could endorse surgery. There is two types about surgical treatment which is used to relieve regarding GERD in cases where daily by using medication genuinely effective.

The foremost recently recognized procedure will require surgically placing ring known as the LINX apparatus around the entry level of the gullet, the water pipe that leads the mouth to stomach.

Difficulties when a yeast infection is with no treatment

Yeast infections are normal occurrences for most women. Whilst they can require extremely not comfortable itching and burning sounds, they aren’t a major health and fitness threat quite often. However , if the yeast infection will be left without treatment ,, it can have a very significant bad impact on the part of the attacked woman. Many individuals who build yeast infections assume that just overlooking them is likely to make them recede, but that may be rarely the truth. If you have ever recently been tempted to help pretend similar to a yeast infection does not necessarily exist, read on for good receive proper treatment the very next time that you suppose that you may have developed one particular.

Rampant Yeast Can Affect Disease fighting capability Functioning

Particular amounts of abolish occur the natural way in your body and therefore are necessary for ideal functioning. Yeast, however , take place when an excessive amount of yeast occurs in certain body parts, usually often the vaginal location. Yeast are actually opportunistic creatures that prosper on wet conditions, thus it’s crucial to develop reliable grooming practices designed to lessen these ailments. Natural, effective ways to prevent yeast exist which can help women continue to be infection-free and cozy.

Yeast infections which can be allowed to move untreated may result in lowered immunity mechanism capabilities. With no treatment, the infection may spread additional parts of the body and also make you prone to the development of other sorts of diseases as well as conditions as a result of your immune mechanism being covered up. This is a good reason why you should search for immediate remedy at the 1st sign of your yeast infection. If you should choose never to treat a good yeast infection, the exact itching experience will develop in to a severely agonizing condition just where it will even be difficult so that you can urinate.

Fungus During the Period

Those who are encountering a candidiasis during their period are at risk of developing a critical condition in that this infection advances into the is going to. This can result in irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, bloating and various unpleasant signs.

Yeast Infections and also Conception

Should you and your mate are at present attempting to have a baby a child, some sort of untreated candida may make that will process challenging. The presence of get rid of may supply an unfriendly surroundings for ejaculation, most likely as the PH levels of the vagina are affected by yeast infections.

Yeast Infections Often Go away on Their Own

It may be true: fungus often cease to exist on their own as soon as they have work their program in your body. Still living with any untreated candida albicans is a unhappy experience for the majority of women. Regular itching, getting rid of, difficulty urinating and the impracticality of having lovemaking relations in the course of an active yeast infections aren’t items that most people enjoy going through. Challenging available normal treatments built to quickly eradicate the suffering of the people who have developed yeast infections, simply no reason is present to put develop the extreme soreness and even soreness involved in possessing this condition.

Without treatment , yeast infections may also be more likely to returning at a later date. They could even develop into chronic yeast infections, which will produce a high level for inconvenience, at the minimum, in anyone’s life. It truly is never smart to allow some yeast infection to end on its own. Although a lot of women happen to be embarrassed to ask for assistance whenever they realize that they may have developed a yeast infection, it truly is much better that will risk some unnecessary humiliation than to experience the irritation and using effects linked to a yeast infection.

Unusual Side Effects about Yeast Infections

A number of the more unusual side effects of untreated candida are severe headaches, mood swings, oral cavity problems like sores along with blisters, tiredness and intestinal difficulties.

An additional to receive quick treatment to get a yeast infection happens because there’s an off possibility that it may not be a a yeast infection at all. The symptoms of a vaginal yeast infections can simulate other disorders.

Both men and women can easily suffer from yeast, although ladies seem to be a lot more susceptible to these. Keep in mind, even though, if you have produced a candida fungus, it’s suggested that your loved one be dealt with as well. Thankfully, yeast infections are relatively easy to stop as well as treatment using successful natural methods.

Buying Life Insurance Over the Telephone the Safe and Easy Way

WHY WOULD I BUY LIFE INSURANCE OVER THE TELEPHONE?

Buying life insurance will never be exciting; however, it is becoming much easier and more convenient now that many companies are willing to allow their lowest cost products to be sold over the telephone. As a consumer you have the opportunity to deal with a real, and normally knowledgeable, representative who can provide you rates and information within minutes.

There is no longer the need to have an agent come to your home and spend hours trying to sell you something that won't fit into your budget. If you choose an agency that uses software designed to compare most the products available in your state, you will combine convenience with the lowest possible rate you are eligible for.

IS IT SAFE?
Yes, if you use common sense.

Applying for life insurance requires you to provide sensitive and personal information to the insurance company that will issue your policy. Use common sense in deciding with whom you share your Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and Driver's License Number with.

Here are some indicators that you are dealing with professionals:

• Have the people you have spoken with acted in a knowledgeable and professional manner?
• Have they asked you about your medical and personal habits history before they quoted you a rate?
• Have they clearly explained the application process and the procedures you must follow to obtain a policy at or near the rate you were quoted?
• Have they clearly explained that your policy may not pay a claim if you do not provide accurate answers on the application?

If the answer to all of the questions above is yes, then you have reason to be confident that you have made the right choice; however, if you have any lingering doubts there are a few more qualifiers you can look for:

• Have you been instructed to make your check payable to the insurance company and NOT the agent or agency?
• Have you contacted your state insurance department to confirm that the insurance company (NOT the agent or agency) is licensed to do business in your state?
• How did you find this company? Did they send you something in the mail; did you find their web site?

Again, if the answers are yes then you have found a winner. Let's face it: Very few crooks act like professionals.

HOW DO I FIND INSURANCE OVER THE TELEPHONE?
The internet has become the choice of many for fast and easy information. Type "Insurance by Telephone" or similar key words in the search field of your Internet Browser and you will get many pages of links to chose from. Look for toll free or other telephone numbers and begin calling. Ignore the sites that have only forms to submit your information. Most of them will have insurance calling you in an attempt to set up a visit to your home.

HOW DO I GET THE BEST RATE?
Finding the lowest rate that you qualify for is more about what you shouldn't do than what you should. Here is a list of things you should not do if you want to pay the lowest arte you are eligible for:

DO NOT provide false information about your health or personal habits during the quote or application process. Life and disability insurance rates are based on your actual health and personal habits, not on what you would like them to be. State insurance regulations require insurance companies to issue a policy at the rate you qualify for. There are no exceptions! This means you cannot negotiate, ask for a discount, or provide false information in the hope that you will get a better rate. Be honest during the process and you will receive the best rate offered by that company.

DO NOT deal with any agency that does not use rate comparison software to develop a quote. This new technology allows for the comparison of literally hundreds of different companies in order to provide you the best rate you are eligible for as long as you answer each qualifying question as accurately as possible. For example: five (5) pounds of weight might make the difference whether Company A or Company B is the cheapest. Give the representative the truth and they will find you the lowest rate.

DO NOT believe you are entitled to, or will receive, a discount or special price from anyone. Any licensed agent making such an offer is violating state insurance law. YOU ARE NOT AN EXCEPTION! Consider this: normally only greedy people get conned.

DO NOT delude yourself into thinking that a referral from your CPA, broker, lawyer, tax person, or a friend will get you the lowest rate. Remember, the object is to pay the lowest rate, not subsidize someone's drinking buddy. As previously stated, there are no discounts. You will have to decide whether to do business with anyone that considers violating the law to be an acceptable business practice. If you want to do business with a referral, use the qualifiers detailed earlier in this article. If the referred agent passes those standards, you should receive a competitive quote.

SUMMARY
It is now possible to make an unpleasant task easier and less expensive. If you combine the tools listed above and a little common sense, you have reason to be confident that you have paid the lowest rate you are eligible for.

Brit girls go there to get ripped off

We all know that women make better drivers; that's why women's car insurance is so cheap. But did you ever wonder if a woman might make a better car mechanic?

Well, chances are, no, you didn't. For the majority of women, a career in car repair is about as appealing a prospect as one in plumbing, or refuse collection. It took a Frenchman named Herve Malige to do the wondering for us, and, following that, to recruit some women and find out.

His unique project runs at the Base 34 training centre, near Montpellier. This year's intake of 15 women, all aged between 22 and 38, includes former air hostesses, beauticians and a nurse. They expect to graduate in June 2007 and hopefully found their own repair business together.

That too would be unique; there are currently no garages in Europe run by an exclusively female staff. The nearest all- female car repair business to Mr Malige is in Montreal, Canada, and he wouldn't be able to get a service there: the mechanics insist that all their customers be women as well.

Herve explained why ladies are better under the bonnet, saying, "What is needed today [in mechanics] is rigour and methodical diagnostics. Women are strong at identifying the causes of breakdowns - they methodically check everything."

Finding the bonnet release
Herve's work demonstrates that women have the potential to outdo men in the field of car repairs in just the same way as we do on the roads.

But woefully few of us are living up to that potential.

In fact, one in ten female drivers in the UK admitted she couldn't even find the bonnet release in her car, let alone check the oil or change a tyre. It's no wonder that women drivers' failure to carry out basic checks has lead to almost a million breakdowns, according to motor insurance provider InsureandGo.

The problem isn't our ability - it's perhaps because most women just aren't interested in what goes on beyond the steering wheels and pedals. The vast majority of us leave repairs and maintenance up to someone else, even if it means a trip to the garage or a call to the breakdown firm.

But consider that we spend £4 billion every year in the UK on unsatisfactory repair work - that's based on an average £125 of your money wasted every time a job is botched, done unnecessarily or overcharged for - and all of a sudden there's a good reason for getting a bit better informed!

What we can do to prevent breakdowns
All too often, women leave car repairs to the men in their lives, when, as we've proved, they're capable of doing a much better job by themselves. And when dad, brother or boyfriend isn't around, we all too readily fork out expensive call-out fees for a breakdown mechanic; generally to do a job the average woman could do with her eyes closed if she just took a little interest in her car.

For the seven million female motorists who say they know nothing whatsoever about car maintenance, femalefirst.co.uk recommends your first port of call should be an often overlooked source of info - the car's manual. This tell you all sorts of dull but vital information about tyre pressures, fuses, fuel capacity, etc - stuff that'll get a whole lot more interesting as soon as you break down!

Most manuals have a log section at the back where you can make a note of fuel consumption and mileage, and when certain engine parts are due for replacement. Keeping this up to date takes care of the majority of preventable breakdowns; it also ensures you won't get caught short with the petrol dial in the red again.

Need an oil change, fan belt, windscreen wiper blade, etc? Sounds like a nightmare, but chances are replacing everyday consumables like these is a piece of cake. If you're feeling brave, get hold of the Haynes manual for your car (http://www.haynes.com), which explains how to do it all through straightforward language and easy-to-follow diagrams. After all - men can manage it...

The trouble with garages
No matter how well you maintain your car, sooner or later you're bound to end up taking it to a garage - whether for an MOT, a service, or a repair job.

Unfortunately, most of us find visiting the auto centre about as much fun as a trip to the dentist's. 57% of the women interviewed by InsureandGo said they felt intimidated in garages, and a whopping 84% expected to be ripped-off.

Sadly, both these fears are born out by a substantial body of consumer surveys and mystery shopper research.

In 2002, the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) carried out a mystery shopper survey that involved putting test cars in for a service at 250 UK garages. It's shocking enough that, in 40% of cases, mechanics didn't bother to give the cars a full service before handing them back; but it's particularly alarming that the figure rose to 58% when the researcher was a woman.

So, besides breaking down far more often than other drivers, the seven million women who don't know anything about their cars are leaving themselves vulnerable to the botching and overcharging of unscrupulous mechanics.

The DTI figures prove garages target women for crooked mark-ups because they know they'll away with it - and that's why four out of five women expect to be ripped off.

Once again, the obvious solution for women drivers is to find out more about their cars. That way, you've a much better chance of getting the ten-point inspection you paid for rather than the three-point one they could only be bothered to do.

What we can do at the garage
Reports by the National Consumer Council suggests that two factors, specific to the car repair industry, mean motorists are at risk of being exploited when visiting a garage.

First of all, we don't know as much about the car as the mechanic does. If he says a job or replacement part is an essential, we have no choice but to pay for it; if he misses a fault or fluffs a repair, we have no way of knowing about it.

The other reason motorists make easy targets for an unscrupulous mechanics is that we're very often in a bit of a panic. You've heard of panic buying when there's a fuel shortage or a big storm coming? Well, having our cars break down elicits a similar reaction in most drivers; we just want the thing fixed, money-no-object - at least, not until the mechanic hands over your bill.

So the best advice for female motorists visiting a garage is to work against these factors. Always try and diagnose the fault before taking your car in for a repair. Even if what you say isn't the source of the trouble, it will show the mechanic you're a lot more savvy than the woman who turns up with no idea other than 'it makes a funny rattling sound'.

Also, turn back to your trusty manual and specify what brand of replacement parts you need. If possible, ask the mechanic to show you what's broken before leaving him alone with your car. That way, if you can't identify the part yourself, you'll at least be able to see if any actual work has been done in the area when he's finished.

To take care of the panic buying factor, spend as much time as you can afford shopping around for quotes on your job. Ask the garage you choose to confirm the estimate in writing so you avoid any unpleasant price-hikes once the work is done.

Above all, try to be calm and self-assured at the garage. If you suspect you're being duped, say as much. Even if the mechanic is charging a fair price, he won't begrudge you for questioning it. And don't be afraid to walk away from a garage. After all, with 26,000 car repairing outlets in this country, there's plenty more fish in the sea.

To recap...
We all knew women make better drivers; now we know they make better mechanics, too. It doesn't mean you have to put on overalls and invest in some nice spanners, but there's no excuse not to dust off the manual and find out a bit about your car.

Just a basic knowledge of car maintenance will dramatically cut down the number of trips you make to a garage - and it'll mean you get good service and a fair price when you do visit one.

Author Bio
Katy Lassetter, CoverGirl Car Insurance Services are specialists in women's car insurance and can provide fast, free quotes in seconds- just go to http://www.covergirlcarinsurance.co.uk or call 0800 195 48 52 today. 

Shingles Natural Treatment

In the past ten years recent studies and research with alternative treatments for shingles has shown it possible to recover in less than one week and to reduce outbreaks of lesions and pain in three days.

Shingles is a serious health condition and it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations. Traditionally, most doctors prescribe painkillers for the temporary symptomatic relief of the pain and an antiviral drug to suppress the virus. This form of treatment with drugs reduces the severity and frequency of outbreaks but does not eliminate it from the body. This course of treatment can take six weeks or more and does very little for the patient. The pain associated with shingles can continue long after the initial outbreak.

Some doctors prescribe steroids or itch-relieving creams that contain steroids. Recent studies question the effectiveness of steroids in relieving shingles and suggest avoiding any treatment with steroids. Monitoring by your doctor is recommended, if steroids have been prescribed. It is best to find alternative treatments with your doctor and to seek out natural remedies.

The virus herpes zoster causes shingles and is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles is an infection of the central nervous system and may affect the elderly, those with a compromised immune system, anyone under severe stress or those who have been exposed to the chickenpox virus again. Symptoms may include burning, itching, or pain in one part of the body. A few days later, blisters and a rash appear. The infection may run along a nerve path and look like a branch of a tree. Shingles usually appear on the trunk area and the chest but can also be found on the face. Shingles can cause blindness if it affects the eyes. If an outbreak occurs on the face the patient should get immediate medical care.

Natural Remedies For Shingles
A good starting point for treating shingles is a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables. A good diet and reducing daily stress will help boost your immune system

A simple remedy for lesions is to apply a cool or cold wet washcloth or towel to the affected area. A wet towel can be put into the freezer for a while after wetting it to make it colder.

Eliminate sugar from your diet and add these important nutrients to your daily diet - vitamin E, vitamin B12 and vitamin C.

* Vitamin C is suggested with an initial diagnosis of shingles. You may start with 1,000 mg. (+)

* Vitamin E taken daily before meals may reduce the pain of shingles (Study published in the Archives of Dermatology) (+)

* Vitamin B12 injections may reduce the pain of shingles (Study published in the Journal Geriatrics) (+)

(+) It is recommended that you consult with your doctor before starting any vitamin program.

* E capsules can be squeezed directly onto lesions.

* Avoid heat as well as tight clothes and itchy fabrics like wool.

* Calamine lotion may relieve the pain and help dry the lesions.

Shingles is a serious illness and before starting any treatment program you should consult with your doctor. Shingles is the same virus as chicken pox. You cannot catch shingles from someone else unless you've never had chicken pox. If you have shingles you should use caution being around pregnant women who have not had chicken pox - you could infect both the woman and her unborn baby. 

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities!

Dear Friends, 

The health and well being of every child is important for children to lead an innovative and successful life. However, research from the Zimbabwe Demographic Survey shows that 84 out of every 1,000 children are likely to pass away before they reach five years old. Most of these deaths are due to infectious diseases that could be treated with the right primary health care. These deaths do not allow Zimbabwean children to live the full and prosperous lives they deserve. Most of these diseases go untreated because of the lack of doctors in the clinics and inability for parents to pay for a visit to the doctor. 

In 2010 the World Health Organization reported that Zimbabwe had less than two doctors for every 10,000 people. The price to visit a general practitioner in Zimbabwe is now at $35 with further visits for the same illness is another $30 per visit. Then, if someone needed to see a doctor during the weekend it would cost $60, and $70 for night visits. These prices do not even include medication costs. With an unemployment rate of 92 percent in Zimbabwe, and wages as low as $382 per month and a familial living cost of about $655 per month, many Zimbabweans do not have the financial stability to pay for doctor’s visits. 

In order to try and bridge this gap, the Nhaka Foundation has worked with local clinics and their nurses to carry out health assessments for ECD students in the schools they sponsor. The Nhaka team, along with a nurse goes to the schools and assesses the children’s health. Each child’s height and weight are recorded, and then the nurse tests the child’s heart rate, eyesight, and hearing. The nurse also inspects them for ringworm, which is becoming an overwhelming problem in rural schools, and other skin conditions. 

Once all the evaluations are done, the nurse and the team evaluate the results to see if there are any overwhelming problems with the children at the school, which, if any, children are facing malnutrition, and what medications are needed in order to improve the children’s health. The team then tries to come up with innovative ways to help the children be as healthy as possible. 

The Nhaka Foundation strives to “leave a lasting legacy” for the children of Zimbabwe. In order for a legacy to be made, children’s health and well being needs to be looked after. With the help from local clinics and nurses, the Nhaka Foundation strives to make sure the children are happy and healthy so each and every child can leave their own legacy. 

Until next time, 

Katie Shields 

Volunteer Intern

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Ignoring Diabetes Gets Complicated

"I chalk up the fact that I got diabetes to my body saying, 'Dude, you have been doing wrong for way too long'." 

                                                                --Randy Jackson

Recently, a friend told me her husband had a problem with his vision. He needed two surgeries on the good eye before they could operate on his bad eye.  It was a tough lesson in taking ownership of one’s health.  

I asked my friend if her husband had his A1C level checked recently and she said he had not been to the doctor in a while and she had no idea what his A1C result was.  Having diabetes comes with a lot of decisions to make if you don’t want complications, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or vision loss or blindness.  Diabetes affects the entire family, as my friend is learning right now.  When ignored, diabetes becomes a much more expensive disease with the price of physical complications plus lost wages and time away from work.  

Let's talk about how uncontrolled diabetes can affect the eyes.  High blood sugar slows down the circulation of the blood.  Blood flow to the tiny vessels in the eyes can be affected.  This is called diabetes retinopathy.  If not detected early, it can lead to loss of vision and blindness. Controlling diabetes - by taking medications as prescribed, staying physically active and eating a healthy diet - can prevent or delay vision loss.

Here is the list of questions I have created for anyone recently diagnosed with diabetes:

1. How often should I check my blood sugar?
2. What times of day are best for me to check by blood sugar? 
3. What are my daily blood sugar goals to prevent complications? 
4. What happens if my blood sugar is too high and what do I do about it?
5. What happens if my blood sugar goes too low and what do I do about it?
6. Can I keep eating pasta and drinking sodas whenever I want?  What about fruit juice, bread, and grains like wheat? 
7. What eating changes do I need to make?
8. What is the A1C test and how often should I have it done?
9. What should my A1C be?
10. What about my blood pressure?
11. What about my cholesterol levels? 
12. How does stress affect my blood sugar?
13. What tests do I need and at what frequency? 
14. Do I need to see any specialists?
15. Do I need to exercise?
16. How can my family help me?
17. What do I need to do besides check my blood sugar?
18. If I don’t check my daily blood sugars, don’t monitor my A1C levels, don’t get an annual dilated eye exam, don’t check my feet regularly and don’t see a doctor regularly, I’ll still be OK, right? 

Sadly, the last question is the only one my friend’s husband ever asked since being diagnosed.  Having diabetes means getting educated by one’s doctor or by others on your team so that the plan for preventing complications is crystal clear to you.  Having diabetes means taking deliberate actions to maintain control and manage diabetes so that it does not control you.  In my experience working with patients, not all doctors are good teachers.  They often say to a patient, “Go to the bookstore and pick up a book about diabetes.”  Books can help to educate us but they often don't give us all the answers we need.

The reason I started Growing Healthy Kids, Inc. was because of people like my friend’s husband. Since successfully working with adults with diabetes and knowing that diabetes is controllable, preventable, and reversible, I focused on educating parents about preventing diabetes.   Obesity in children is a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes in children.  Obesity, like diabetes, can be reversed and prevented.  

Mothers and fathers who have diabetes can educate their own families so that their children can learn healthy eating habits, the importance of being physically active and staying at a healthy weight.  The younger kids are when they learn good habits, the longer they will enjoy the benefits of good health. Ignoring diabetes gets complicated because diabetes has complications.  We can replace ignorance with awareness. 

Speaking of controlling diabetes with healthy eating, here’s one of my favorite new recipes.  It is even more special because of the delicious mangoes my neighbor gave me last week from her tree!

BLACK RICE SALAD WITH MANGO AND PEANUTS

Black rice has more antioxidants than blueberries, according to a study by Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.  Known as “forbidden rice”, this delicious, nutty rice has a black bran coating has outrageously high levels of protein, fiber, and antioxidants, including vitamin E and anthocyanin (which gives the rice its black hue).

INGREDIENTS:

• ¾ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• 2 Tablespoons liquid coconut oil
• 1 Tablespoon coconut aminos (or use Bragg Liquid Aminos)
• Salt, to taste
• 3-1/2 cups water
• 2 cups black rice
• ½ red, orange, or yellow pepper, seeded and diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1 cup finely chopped red onion
• ½ cup unsalted, dry roasted peanuts
• 6 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 small firm ripe mango or avocado, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, whisk together orange juice, lime juice, coconut oil, coconut aminos, and a pinch of salt.  Whisk to blend.  Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat water to boiling.  Season lightly with salt and add black rice. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 25 minutes. 

Remove pan from heat and let stand, covered, for 15 minutes. 

As rice stands, add red pepper, celery, cilantro, red onion, peanuts, scallions, mango or avocado, and jalapeno to the large bowl containing dressing.  Stir to coat ingredients.

Add black rice, stirring gently until coated.

Allow to sit for 30 or more minutes for flavors to blend.

SOURCE:  Coconut: The Complete Guide to the World’s Most Versatile Superfood by Stephanie Pedersen, 2015

If you or a loved one has diabetes, get help now.  Start at nih.gov or click here.

In gratitude,

Nancy L. Heinrich, MPH

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Saving Our Children

"My diabetes is such a central part of my life...it did teach me discipline...it also taught me about moderation...I've trained myself to be super-vigilant...because I feel better when I am in control."

                                                                         --Sonia Sotomayor

Today, diabetes reared its ugly head when I least expected it.  While shopping for fresh vegetables, I saw a man suddenly slump over the bananas.  I rushed to his side, assisted him to a chair, and got a manager’s attention.  

When asked if he had diabetes; he replied yes.  An employee was immediately dispatched to get orange juice for the customer.  Was it a low blood sugar event?  It very well might have been.  Only the doctors in the emergency room will know.  I am saying a prayer that he receives the help he needs.  

The threat of low blood sugar - plus other complications such as high blood pressure, peripheral neuropathy, kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy, and gastroparesis - is a very real scare for millions of Americans living with diabetes.  Managing diabetes is not spectator sport.  Successfully managing diabetes takes work, vigilance, and education.  It requires knowledge about healthy eating habits and importance of daily fitness routines.   Can diabetes be managed?  Yes. 

The question for parents is, can diabetes be prevented?  Yes.  What does it take to do that?  The same as managing diabetes:  work, vigilance, education, and knowledge about healthy eating habits and the importance of daily movement.  Making decisions to ensure that our kids stay at a healthy weight. Choosing foods and drinks without added sugars.  

ALL kids deserve access to healthy foods.  ALL kids deserve parents who are informed and health literate.  ALL kids deserve the opportunity to erase their nature deficits to ensure their mental health is balanced with their physical health. 

Without informed and health literate parents, our children’s risk of developing diabetes is greatly increased.   Diabetes is a preventable disease, only if we dare to become embarrassed and do whatever it takes to ensure our children’s health – and lives. 

In gratitude,

Nancy L. Heinrich, MPH

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids

All about teacher training!

Hello Friends, 

Since you last heard from us, Nhaka Foundation had many great days out in the field, conducting teacher training. Everyone from Head Masters, to Teachers in Charge, to Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers have gone through training workshops with Dr Lea Ann Christenson and the Nhaka team. These educators are already amazing at their job, and the purpose of Dr Lea Ann’s training was to re-emphasize the foundations of teaching ECD. She went over everything from how children learn, the importance of speaking two languages, Universal Design for Learning, Literacy, Pre-math, and tying it all together by having the teachers write a lesson plan with the information they learned during the training. 

In order to do so Dr Lea Ann had the teachers get creative by basing a lesson on a children’s edition of the Scholastic magazine that she handed out to every person at the training. Scholastic magazines are simple to read, non-fiction magazines that aid in children’s oral language development, and literacy. Each magazine is focused around a certain topic such as ants, classroom rules, and different holidays, like Valentine’s Day. While some of the magazines were the same, the teachers’ creative energies steered them in different ways to orchestrate a lesson they would teach. While every idea was different, each and every teacher made sure his or her lesson touched upon literacy, building academic language through specific vocabulary words, pre-math, and of course play! 

Dr Lea Ann and the teachers then also discussed how the lesson could be adapted through Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is a framework to guide educators about the best ways to educate all children in the classroom, to make sure all children; even children with special needs understand the lesson taught in order to broaden each and every child’s horizon of knowledge. The fun of ECD training did not stop there! Dr Lea Ann also implemented teaching strategies that teachers could use in their classroom into the training. Tactics such as “turn and talk” where a question is asked, and then you turn to the person next to you to discuss possible answers. Switching the people you are working with in order to meet new friends to discuss possible answers with. 

And finally, what I think was the most fun was Dr Lee Ann drawing every name randomly out of a bowl to have the teachers come up and share a rhyme they sing in their classroom. Everyone at the training had a good laugh, while participating in singing and dancing to the rhymes, and most importantly, all the teachers learned new rhymes to bring back to their own classrooms.  Today’s children are tomorrow’s future. Teachers take up the outstanding duty to teach and train children in order to make sure their futures are bright and filled with knowledge. This teacher training reinforced skills that Zimbabwe’s teachers already know and use in order to motivate them to keep up the great work they are doing in educating our children. 

Until next time, 

Katie Shields 

Nhaka Volunteer 

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Foods for Happy, Healthy Kids

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."  

                                                                        -Walt Disney

Dark chocolate is one of my favorite foods.   A simple daily pleasure is enjoying several small pieces every afternoon.  Dark chocolate (look for chocolates with at least 70% and where cocoa, not sugar, is the first ingredient) promotes good moods, lowers blood pressures, and produces satiety.  

Dark chocolate

Recently I did a taste testing with some elementary age kids.  We compared several different kinds of dark chocolate, looking at the cocoa vs sugar contents.  The amazing thing was that almost all the kids preferred the dark chocolates where the first ingredient was cocoa, not sugar.  We did a “compare and contrast” between the dark chocolate and milk chocolate; when the kids left they had a solid understanding of why dark chocolate is a better food choice.

The fact is that besides being a delicious AND healthy treat, dark chocolate is one of the foods that promote good moods.  Here are more good mood-promoting foods for kids:

• Fruits and vegetables, especially dark-skinned berries such as blueberries and blackberries
• Oily fish such as wild salmon and tuna, which promote brain health
• Turmeric, the spice which makes curry yellow and contains some of the highest levels of anti-oxidants of any food on the planet

Ella Chabot (L) shopping for locally grown veggies at a farmers market in Johnson City, TN

Print the following list of ideas to bring healthy, good mood foods to your kitchen pantry, dinner table, and lunches for school or work:

1. Teach them about good foods such as dark chocolate, leafy green vegetables, and dark-skinned berries that promote good moods, increase focus, and prevent attention deficit disorder. 
2. Give them a day a week when they get to plan a dinner for the family. 
3. Shop together at your local farmers market (find one near you at www.localharvest.org).
4. Buy age-appropriate kitchen tools and invite your children to chop and cut vegetables and fruits with you (a favorite choice in the Growing Healthy Kids Test Kitchen is  always the lemon squeezer).
5. Give your kids choices ("Do you want to cut up red peppers or snow peas?")

Veggies for happy, healthy kids 

Create healthy, lifelong memories with your children by ensuring they have access to good foods.  

In gratitude,

Nancy L. Heinrich, MPH

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Learning at the Library

"I wouldn't say that processed meals, ready meals and takeaways aren't relevant; it's just that over the past 40 years there have been 3 generations of people who have come out of school and and gone through their home life without ever being shown how to cook properly."  

                                              --Jamie Oliver

Summertime is a great time for kids. Three months of playtime!  Sometimes playtime comes with passive learning, when kids don’t even know they are learning. 

I recently taught a workshop for elementary age kids at a public library called, "Becoming a Nutrition Detective".   While everyone sampled gluten-free crackers with the sun-dried tomato hummus made in the Growing Healthy Kids Test Kitchen, the kids learned about reading food labels.  It was a powerful lesson for not just the kids but also for the parents who sat quietly around the perimeter of the room. 

Our message is clear:

• ALL kids need access to healthy foods.
• Eliminate added sugars (one clue: common sugars end in “-ose”.)
• Less ingredients is better than more.
• Identify foods and drinks with high fructose corn syrup and food dyes.  Make the commitment not to consume them.
• Can you pronounce the ingredients?  If not, don’t eat them.   
• Buy vegetables from the farmers near where you live.
• Teach your children to cook.  

Learning at the Library with Growing Healthy Kids

Make learning fun.  Every day is an opportunity to improve the life of a child.  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Eat healthy foods. 

In gratitude,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

Equipping Teachers

Dear Friends,

The Team at Nhaka Foundation has been busy with preparations for our training workshops with Heads, Teachers in Charge (TICs) and ECD teachers and will be held on the 1^st,5^th 6^th and 7^th of  July respectively. The training workshops shall be facilitated by Dr Lee Ann Christenson, an Associate Professor in the Early Childhood Development Department, at Townson University, in the United States of America and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary’s Goromonzi District Trainer Mrs Mushawatu. We anticipate that teachers, Heads and TICs from the fourteen schools we work with will be in attendance. 

Our aim for the ECD teacher training workshops is to increase the capacity of teachers to enable them to meet the developmental needs of their students, to facilitate dialogue between teachers concerning teaching techniques as well as to aid teachers to develop their ability to innovate with media. In addition, our aim with the Heads and TICs workshops are to conscientise these individuals on the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) and to develop their ability spread awareness about the benefits of ECD to parents and caregivers. 

When ECD was implemented in 2005 under the recommendations of the Presidential Commission Inquiry on Education and Training or better known as the Nziramasanga Commission, there was very little understanding about its importance. Although many have begun to understand the importance of ECD there still remain many misconceptions about ECD and misunderstanding among some community stakeholders and parents. It is essential that key stakeholders, parents and caregivers understand that ECD is more than just about children playing. 

Children at very young ages learn through play. Play develops their physical and cognitive abilities. Many naysayers of ECD argue that it is merely an extra cost for schools and serves no purpose as children just play all day. However, ECD is the foundation of all future learning and for future academic success of any child. Our teacher training is part of efforts to campion the importance of ECD and to ensure that teachers and educators can spread the word about the pivotal role of ECD.   

This is why at Nhaka Foundation we are partnering with ECD experts in order to provide the neccesary tools to equip the teachers working with young children in communities.

Until next time,

Shona Musimbe

Media/Programs Intern

Natural home remedies part two

Natural home remedies part two

Back through popular need, home remedies post #2. Whilst not being a replacement medical attention, it is best to seek your physician when you really feel you have to as well as please get these natural home remedies with a feed of sodium. Here you decide to go and enjoy.

Acne breakouts and Pimples
Rub the actual acne region with a refreshing garlic clove.
Drink at least 8 8oz glasses of drinking water a day. Much more in the summer.
Blend one portion of cinnamon in to 3 areas of honey. Utilize as a wash.
Dab quite a few toothpaste (paste, not gel) on acne before mattress; this helps dry up the zits.
Pour just a little salt right into a small bowl, put in a few falls of h2o and mix until it becomes a insert. I've noticed using a small toothpaste (paste, not gel) to this blend gives it some extra kick. Make use of this recipe in order to exfoliate. Usually do not leave upon overnight. Clean your face and also rinse off.
Cooking Soda being an exfoliate
E vitamin gel tab. Use like a facial moisturizer in it.
Honey along with oatmeal as being a facial clean and use on.
Dark Groups Around Eye
Cucumber cut. Cover eye with cucumber slices. With regard to 15 minutes.
Spud slice. Include eyes along with Potato pieces. For a quarter-hour.
Lead the healthier lifestyle. Get lots of sleep, normal water and a multi-vitamin wouldn't harm.
Make a substance out of one tsp. tomato juice, 0.5 tsp. blueberry juice in addition to 1 teaspoon. of flour. Apply about eyes. Keep on with regard to 10 minutes prior to rinsing.
Hydrate with additional virgin extra virgin olive oil or e vitamin.
Try utilized Chamomile green tea bags (cool bags) more than eyes regarding 15 minutes.
Human dynamo
Try consuming an apple company or a couple of
Mix a single tomato, one particular orange, just one clove associated with garlic. Regarding best outcomes, use a juicer.
Aloe Vera Fruit juice. One of naturel best detoxifiers.
Gum Within Hair
Generally there a few of these. Right here they are:
Use baby essential oil
Try almond butter
No stick food preparation spray
Glaciers
A mixture of cooking soda together with water. Apply it within hair, clean it out.
Insect Bites
The paste regarding baking soda pop and waters.
Aspirin tablet. Works well with bee stings. However for bee stings, try to take away the stinger.
Make use of calamine cream.
Hangover
Presently there seems to be many of these also however I could inform you what I i did so for a after effect. I am not really suggesting a person try it however it worked for me personally.
First off, an individual wake up having a sour belly and massive head ache.
Alcohol dehydrates, so the time to rejuvenate your body using water. Consider using a glass involving water having one tea spoon of sugars. Water to be able to rehydrate, glucose for the bitter feeling within your gut. Occasionally I will consider something for your headache. Aspirin or Advil whatever you would like.
Next, ice-bag for the head. I did previously stick our head below cold water fllow in the washing sink.
Whenever your stomach is actually settled straight down a bit, plus depending on exactly how your sensation, time for breakfast time.
Bad Breath
Attempt some parsley. This meals garnish will be rich in chlorophyll, a green flower compound which kills the particular bacteria that will cause smelly breath.
Use the fruit juice of a split lemon, 1 teaspoon connected with salt. Gargle.
Brush your teeth using a couple pinches of preparing soda. Whenever done, remember to brush again by using regular tooth paste (optional).
I'm certain this is the suggestion of the banquise, but these would be the ones I understand of. These types of home remedies have been in no way an alternative to a Physicians care if you feel that you may want to see a Doctor, please do this.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Sleep=Growing Healthy Kids

"Sleep is the golden chain that ties our health and our bodies together."  
                                                           --Thomas Dekker

Cell phones.  I always ask kids where they keep their cell phones at night.  The most common answer is, “on my bed” or “next to my bed”.  

All parents need to know that having a cell phone within 10 feet of a child’s brain can interfere with brain development and the ability to get a good night’s sleep.  It is frightening how many parents are not educated about the dangers associated with children’s brain and cell phones.

“Sleep hygiene” is the habit of preparing one’s body and mind for restful sleep: no caffeine at least 6 hours before bedtime, no TV or video games at least an hour before bedtime, no vigorous exercise right before bedtime, and creating one’s bedtime as a peaceful sanctuary.  Add “cell phones charging in another room” to this list. 

Talk with your family.  Ensure that everyone with a cell phone is charging them someplace other than right next to their heads at night.  Start a new family habit and move all electronics out of the bedroom.   At least unplug any electronics in the bedroom at night so the blue and red lights do not interfere with sleep.

Make sure your kids are getting enough sleep (see “Wellness Wednesdays” published August 19, 2015:  “Sleeping for Good Grades and Good Health”).  Not getting enough sleep is associated with being overweight and with poor academic performance.  Make sleep a priority.  Your brain and your body will thank you!  

Everyone deserves to "sleep like a baby" and ALL kids deserve to be Growing Healthy Kids.

In gratitude,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: The Recipe for Happy, Healthy Kids

"Most cooks try to learn by making dishes.  Doesn't mean you can cook.  It means you can make that dish.  When you can cook is when you can go to a farmers market, buy a bunch of stuff, then go home and make something without looking at a recipe. Now you're cooking." 

                                                                                       --Tom Colicchio

What are the essential ingredients that parents need to ensure their children are both happy AND healthy?  Keep the following ingredients on hand at all times:

• A house filled with love and respect
• A kitchen where kids can learn to cook
• A family dinner table to eat together as a family most nights of the week and to share gratitude
• Hugs and laughter (unlimited quantities)
• Fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruits (more vegetables than fruits)
• Regular bedtimes so kids get enough sleep every night (key to helping kids AND adults stay at a healthy weight)
• The habit of turning off all computers and digital devices at least one hour before bedtime

By keeping your house and pantry well stocked with the above ingredients, you are well on your way to ensuring your children are healthy for their lifetime.

Wellness Wednesdays is celebrating its 300^th article for parents with this recipe.  As we approach our nation's Independence Day, celebrate your family and create your own recipes for healthy foods, healthy children, and healthy lives.  

Connect with local farmers at your local farmers markets.*  Teach your children about the benefits of eating locally grown foods from farmers who use non-GMO seeds and organic farming methods.  Celebrate health.  Celebrate life!

In gratitude,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

*To find a farmers market near you, go to www.localharvest.org or click here.