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.

International Day of the African Child 2016

The day of the African Child 

The 16^th of June commemorated the International Day of the African Child across the globe. This day was designated by the African Union in 1991 to reemphasise the importance of the rights of African children and to bring awareness to the problems facing children across the continent. African children across our continent are presented by severe danger now more than ever. In Nigeria Boko Haram continues to attack villages within the North East of Nigeria. In Libya civil war continues to rage on and in neighbouring Egypt continued instability threatens the lives of young children. The East of Africa does not fare much better than their West and North African counterparts with continued civil war in Northern Uganda and increased instability at the Ethiopian and Eritrean borders. 

Although currently less conflict prone Southern Africa is also faced by numerous crises. Since 2014 Southern African countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi have suffered prolonged periods of drought and crop failure due to the effects of El Nino. El Nino refers to the abnormal warming of water temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean that result in extreme changes in climate around the globe. The El Nino phenomenon has been worsened by climate change.  According to the Food Aid Organization (FAO), Southern Africa has been hit by the worst El Nino event in the last 50 years. Lesotho, Malawi and Zimbabwe have all declared national disasters due to the severe drought, consequent crop failure and food shortages. With this is mind it is important to remember that in every conflict and crisis that currently faces African countries it is the children that suffer the most. Children are our most valuable assets but also our most vulnerable. Conflict and crisis have made it difficult to ensure that children’s rights as stipulated by the legal frameworks of the African Charter of Children’s Rights (ACCR) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCR) are respected. The purpose of reflecting on the condition of our continent is not to champion the narrative of the doomed African continent but to emphasize the plight of children across our entire continent.  

 At Nhaka Foundation we have witnessed the effects of El Nino and climate change on children’s rights to adequate and culturally appropriate food in our own country Zimbabwe first hand. During our interactions with teachers within the Goromonzi district many recount how students walk long distances of about 8 kilometers to and from school having had nothing to eat. The situation is so bad that some pupils arrive at school so hungry that they faint. The responsibility to protect and to ensure that children are protected in crisis is not just up to the government and organizations but to society at large. As the old African saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Many repeat the age old statement “children are the future”. However, we forget that the quality of life children enjoy will influence the type of future they have and the leaders they become. A child’s situation today shapes their tomorrow.  

The IDAC is not only designated to bring awareness to the importance of protecting the rights of African children but also to celebrate their achievements and dignity. The majority of images that are disseminated by the media often misrepresent the African child. The images the world sees of African children are usually those of dirty, naked vulnerable or starving children, though true, this is not the only one side of the African Child’s story. African children are also strong, valuable members of the global community with so much more to contribute to the world if given the chance and opportunity. 

At Nhaka Foundation we believe that African children are just as important as any other children in the various parts of the world and they also deserve to be treated as such. On this day as we celebrate African children’s lives, their resilience and their achievements. Let us also honour and remember the memory of those African children whose lives were cut short whilst the world watched and those that endeavour to uphold the rights of all children.

Until next time,

Shona Musimbe

Media and Programs Intern

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Fun Summer Foods for Kids

"The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children."  

                                                                   -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dear Parents,

Say “guacamole” 10 times real fast while jumping up and down on one foot.  Can you pronounce “jicama”?  Have you made starfruit (carambola), strawberry, and kiwi kebobs?

Making summertime memories and fun-filled adventures can be a challenge if you don’t plan.  Here are some ideas you can use to make this summer the best ever for your kids AND help them learn healthy eating habits on their terms:

• Every week between now and when school starts, ask your kids to pick out one new fruit or vegetable when you go shopping together. 
• Task the kids with researching what they choose, including its nutritional values, how to cut it up, and recipe ideas. 
• Let the kids decide how to eat each new vegetable or fruit.  Can it be eaten raw or does it need to be cooked?  Can you use it in a salad or as a snack? 
• Ask your kids to prepare a chart to track each week’s new treasure, what they made with it (if not eaten raw), and ask them to rate each item on a scale of “love it, it’s OK, or pass”.

Enjoy the summer.  Turn shopping trips into learning opportunities.  Go play! 

In gratitude,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Our Children's Mental Health

“The purpose of our existence is to seek happiness.” 

                                                           --Dalai Lama

“Love life.”  Those were the only words on a sign carried by a friend, Steve Fugate, on his 34,000 mile journeys around the United States.  Steve has lost both of his children.  His response to this horrible loss was to walk around the country-several times.  His precious children are both gone.  But this man fiercely loves life and by sharing his story, he teaches others how to love life.

In my work with people struggling from a lifetime of living with mental health issues, I often meet families who struggle because a child has a mental illness.  Some parents will do anything for their child and others decide that doing nothing and walking away is the best they can do.

Some conditions, such as bipolar, emerge in children when they are in their late teens and early twenties.  Learning disabilities are rampant among those I serve.  As someone who has always loved to read (I drove baby sitters crazy reading by flashlight under my covers late at night), it is heartbreaking to work with individuals with dyslexia who have never known what it is like to spend a Sunday lost in a good book. 

I want to introduce you to two people I have met in my journeys working with people with disabilities:

Alex, a wonderfully smart man who did not learn to read until he was 18. He is bipolar and has dyslexia.  No one noticed him struggling to read until he had lost his youth.  He shared that he tried to commit suicide several times because he knew he was different but did not know why.  He has spent a lifetime of regret wondering what would be different is someone had noticed his disability earlier and intervened sooner. 

Roger, a caring man who has never been able to keep a job more than a few months because of his disabilities until now because he is getting the supports he needs.  He has bipolar, learning disabilities, and barely reads, with no ability to understand numbers.  He struggles every day of his life with things most people take for granted.  He shared with me that when he was in public school, teachers knew he could not read or do math but they passed him from one grade to another anyway.  He said he felt ashamed to ask for help because he was the child and all the adults in his life just turned away and looked the other way.

Who are we as a country if we cannot recognize when a child is struggling with school work or missing school for unexplained reasons?  What kind of country are we that we allow children who through no fault of their own have dyslexia, learning disabilities, depression or attention deficit disorder to not be properly diagnosed and effectively treated? It takes a village to grow healthy children. 

Just as all children deserve access to healthy foods and time outside in nature, all children deserve access to mental health services and all children deserve happiness.  A young man called me this week to say that when he went to his first appointment for mental health care he was told that his copays were $40/visit, beyond his means.  Why should taking care of bipolar or social anxiety disorder cost more than a well child visit? 

We can do better.  Learn about the mental health resources in your community.  We are the village.  Help a child.  Listen.  As Steve Fugate knows too well, kids are really good at holding in their feelings.  Often we find out something is wrong when it is too late.  

Be the change you want to see in the world.  These are our children. Their mental health is directly related to the health of our communities.

For more information about mental health, please visit the National Institute of Mental Health website at www.nimh.nih.gov.

In gratitude,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

A birth certificate: the Right to Identity

Dear Friends,

Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCR), of which Zimbabwe is a signatory, every child has the right to a name and a nationality. Under the birth and death Registration Act [5:02] of Zimbabwe it is mandatory to register the birth of a child within six weeks of their birth. The responsibility of registering the birth of a child is placed on the parents however society places this duty more on the mother. Under this law the occupier of the house the child is born in, headman in the village, caregiver, hospital officials, and any other person above 18 present at the birth can register the birth of a child.  Although a birth certificate may seem insignificant particularly to individuals who have them they serve many purposes and are essential to a child’s survival. 

Without a birth certificate children are vulnerable and susceptible to human trafficking by people who target vulnerable groups. Furthermore, without a birth certificate a child grows up stateless; meaning they do not belong to a nation and cannot vote, obtain any other national documents, be a beneficiary of certain state benefits, enrol into school or enter a civil marriage. To secure employment formally in Zimbabwe one requires an identity card and without a birth certificate as adults these children will not be able to take identity cards. Thus, without a birth certificate a child can never be formally employed as an adult. If a child under 18 without a birth certificate commits a serious crime and is liable to serve jail time the child will serve a sentence in a prison with adults as they cannot prove their age. Furthermore, there are certain sentences such as the death penalty that cannot be given to a child under 18. However, without a birth certificate to prove they are a child they can be sentenced to death. This document is therefore, an important tool in ensuring that children’s rights are respected in a court of law. Despite the importance of this document, according to UNICEF, one- in- three children under the age of five in the world are denied this right and do not have birth certificates.  According to a 1998 study done by UNICEF globally, rural populations have less access to legal registration and rural children are among the highest numbers without birth certificates. 

Recently, the Nhaka Foundation programs team held a parenting meeting at Mwanza Primary School in conjunction with the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) to discuss the issue of birth certificates affecting the community. During this meeting parents themselves also expressed how a birth certificate secures rights to a lot of other documents such as a passport. In addition, many children without birth certificates in the Goromonzi area have had to drop out of school when they reach Grade 7 or are sent back to lower grades because they cannot register for the ZIMSEC examination.  A representative of the Legal Resources Foundation pointed out that, often parents realise the importance of this document too late such as when it is required for the child to register for the national final primary examination at grade 7 or when a child is meant to travel abroad. LRF also explained to parents that a birth certificate allows children to participate in national sports activities and when they are older they may be able to participate in global events. Without a birth certificate young children are vulnerable not only today but also in future. An education is a valuable asset but without a birth certificate many opportunities will be closed off. 

One issue that must not be overlooked is the role of parents and families. Children‘s development and their future successes are integrally linked to their families and parents. Speaking to parents at Mwanza revealed that parents wanted to secure this right for their children but there were several obstacles that prevented them. Each situation was unique and often complicated. Some parents explained that they did not have birth certificates themselves, and had no living relatives to attest to the fact that they knew of their birth parents and birthplace. Others were guardians of children whose living relatives had abandoned them or whose parents had died. 

In situations where a child does not have a birth certificate the role of the parent is paramount as they must not give up in order to secure their child’s future. Parents must attempt to pursue all avenues in order to ensure that their children have this right although processes may often be complicated and long. Parents must look ahead and at the end goal that a birth certificate will give their children an opportunity to succeed. At Nhaka Foundation we believe in leaving an inheritance for the next generation that will help them in their own endeavours and aid them in reaching their full potential long after their parents and guardians are long gone. A birth certificate is part of leaving a lasting legacy for the next generation. 

Until next time,

Shona Musimbe,

Programs/Media Intern

Nhaka Foundation 

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Tomatoes, Diabetes and Alzheimer's

“The idea that your risk for Alzheimer’s is tied to diabetes may seem inconceivable at first.  But it makes sense when you consider the relationships shared between these two ailments.  Diabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugar.  And elevated blood sugar is toxic to brain cells.”  

                                            --David Perlmutter, MD, author of The Grain Brain

Heirloom tomatoes from my local farmer's market

I love tomatoes in the summertime.  When tomatoes show up at the local farmers markets, it makes my heart sing!   There is nothing is better on a summer day than a sliced tomato with fresh mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of fig-infused vinegar! 

If you read Wellness Wednesdays, then you know about the connection between high blood sugar and Alzheimer’s.  Starting with my first book, Healthy Living with Diabetes: One Small Step at a Time (www.ourlittlebooks.com), raising awareness about the connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s has been part of the mission of the Growing Healthy Kids organization.

With the growing incidence of diabetes and prediabetes in the U.S., it is surprising to me that more health care professionals are not actively involved in educating their patients with diabetes about this connection and doing everything in their power to teach their patients how to control and reverse diabetes.  Eat less sugar and wheat; they feed an inflammation that affects the health of our brains. Eat more tomatoes, squash, and broccoli.  Food matters!

Below is a recipe I adapted from The Grain Brain Cookbook by Dr. Perlmutter.  Enjoy!   

GROWING HEALTHY KIDS:  Our Recipe Collection

Roasted Tomatoes

Ingredients:

• ·        4 large ripe but firm tomatoes
• ·        8 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• ·        2 Tablespoons almond flour
• ·        1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• ·        2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ·        Pink Himalayan sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut each tomato in half crosswise.
• Combine cheese and basil in small bowl.  
• Spoon equal portions of the mixture on the cut side of each tomato half.  
• Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. 
• Place tomatoes, cut-side up, on a baking sheet.  
• Bake about 10 minutes.  If desired, place under broiler until top is bubbling.

Serve immediately.

In gratitude,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.