By Brooke Strickland
Smartphones, laptops, Kindles,
iPads. The list goes on and on. Everywhere you turn it feels like
there is a new technology to learn about. It’s easy to become attached to
these gadgets, too. Your email is connected to them, texts are pouring
in, and it’s true that there is a benefit to that. But, when technology
takes over and it becomes an all-consuming part of your life, it can become a
powerful and even addicting force in your daily life. Even Silicon Valley
higher-ups are recognizing this force and are encouraging people to unplug from
technology for a bit.
Technology creators are aware of the
addictive force some of the devices have and video game makers are feeding on
it as well. Even Zynga/Farmville co-founder admits to encouraging
technology addiction. He explains that he has helped addict millions of
people to dopamine, a neurochemical that has been shown to be released by
pleasurable activities, including video game playing, but is also seen in other
types of addictions such as drug or alcohol use. We’re done with this
honeymoon phase and now we’re in this phase that says, ‘Wow, what have we
done?’ said Soren Gordhamer, who organizes Wisom 2.0, an annual conference he
started in 2010 about the pursuit of balance in the digital age. “It doesn’t
mean what we’ve done is bad. There’s no blame. But there is a turning of the
page.” [1]
The root of the source is that
humans long to be connected with each other. These devices give us a way
to do that, and in many cases, people become attached to the easy way to
interact and connect with one another in an instantly gratifying sort of
way. Some find it hard to balance regular life with the integration of
technology, so finding ways to unplug and recharge internally are important.
How can you do this? Try small steps. Turn off your phone at night
and leave it in another room. Don’t get on your laptop or Kindle before
bed. Read a real book. Enjoy a heart to heart conversation with
your spouse.
An email response can wait until the
morning. Recharging your soul and your relationships are more important.
Internet and technology addiction is
real. If you or a loved one is addicted, read more at www.hooked-on-games.com.
[1]
Richtel, Matt. “Silicon Valley Says Step Away From The Device.” New
York Times. July 23, 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/technology/silicon-valley-worries-about-addiction-to-devices.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general
Accessed July 26, 2012
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By Brooke Strickland
Tooth decay is nasty. And it’s
now a chronic part of many children’s lives due to poor hygiene and the lack of
consistent, regular brushing and flossing. Millions of school age
children have cavities because of this, and now, new research shows that
non-metal dental fillings in children can also contribute to behavioral issues.
The study analyzed data from a study called The New England Children’s Amalgam
Trial, and found that when compared with children that have metal fillings, the
children with composite or tooth-colored fillings made with BPA derivatives
have higher incidences of anxiety, depression, and social stress. Patients that
have fillings are exposed to BPA byproducts when the cavity is filled and
throughout the wear and tear, some of it can leak out into the body. Fillings
are still considered safe and effective methods of treatment, and BPA has been
found in much higher concentrations in other products other than dental
materials, but this study proves that there should be some kind of
re-evaluation of fillings and what goes into them.[1]
BPA , a chemical that can hinder
with how hormones work successfully in the body, has come under a lot of
scrutiny in recent years because of the harmful effects it can have on the
body. Some of these effects can include developmental problems in children and
heart disease in adults.
The key? Cavity prevention.
First up: avoid lots of sugary foods that can build up on the surfaces of your
teeth. Limit your kids’ sugar intake is not only good for their teeth,
but can also cut back on hyperactivity or other behavioral issues. Next:
parents need to stay on top of brushing and flossing with their kids.
Encourage them every night to brush and floss. Make it a routine. If you
have younger children, make a game out of it. Making it fun will help
them be an active part of their overall health and get them excited to take
care of their teeth. If your kids are older, an incentive or reward
program might do the trick.
The bottom line is, you only get one
mouth and taking care of it is essential.
[1] Wade, Leslie.
“Dental fillings linked to kids’ behavior problems.” CNNHealth. July 16,
2012. http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/16/dental-fillings-linked-to-kids-behavior-problems/ Accessed July 26, 2012.
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By Brooke Strickland
I
feed my daughter a scrambled egg every morning. The reason? The
health benefits of eggs are incredible and far outweigh any negative things
you’ll hear about them.
Did
you know that eggs are great for your eyes? They can help reduce the risk
of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. They contain high
levels of lutein, vitamin D, and zeaxanthin, has only 70-80 calories, 9
essential amino acids, and contains 6 grams of high quality protein.
Because they’re high in protein, you’ll feel fuller for longer and you’ll snack
less in between breakfast and lunch. In addition, they contain choline,
which has been shown to help improve adult brain function and helps prevent
fetal brain development and prevent birth defects with pregnant women.
Eggs
have gotten a bad rap in years past, but in fact, there are a lot of positive
reasons why you should incorporate them into your diet on a regular
basis. Need some cooking or recipe ideas on how to incorporate these
little beauties into your health regimen? How about adding them
into a scramble chocked full of fresh broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, and
spinach? Talk about a healthy and filling way to start your busy
workday! Or, add them into a breakfast burrito full of potatoes and
veggies. How about a frittata with spinach, tomatoes, and ham? Or
even better, make hardboiled eggs and include them into your lunch or snack
time routine at work. An egg and smoked salmon sandwich is a decadent way
to eat them, or make an egg salad and pile it onto fresh-baked bread for dinner.
There
are hundreds of ways to eat and enjoy eggs. The important thing to
remember is to not load up the egg with a lot of cheese or greasy meat, which
adds fat and unnecessary calories and additives. Eat the egg as it comes
to get the most nutrients out of them. They’ll become your new best
friend!
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By Brooke Strickland
Sleep deprivation for new parents is
a shocking introduction to parenthood. Everyone talks about preparing for
it, but there’s nothing really that can prepare you for the amount of sleep
you’ll lose in those first few months of your newborn’s life. While the
moments with your new little one are precious and fly by quickly, they can also
feel like they’re going on forever, because with sleep loss, everything seems
worse. And according to a recent survey from BabyCenter that asked 1,000
new moms what their number one complaint was, sleep deprivation and exhaustion
are at the top. In fact, 29% of new mothers can’t remember the last time they
slept a full 8 hours. [1] This is
draining – no doubt! Fatigue can certainly overrun everything going on in
your life and can make you feel forgetful, cranky, and generally unhappy.
So, how do you get your baby to start sleeping through the night?
Sleep training techniques are
discussed in great length among pediatricians and parents. After all,
after days, weeks, and months of losing sleep, you’re likely desperate to find
something that helps your baby sleep for a long stretch of time. Author
of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler offers
several tools for teaching your baby that bedtime is near. We won’t go
into all of them here, but there are a couple key tips that medical
professionals and parents alike can agree on. We’ve included them here.
- Routine:
Babies and toddlers love routine. They thrive on it, really.
So finding a routine that works for you and your kids on a nightly basis
is key. Pick a bed time and stick to it. About an hour before,
dim the lights and have your kid participate in some activities or
routines that help him or her wind down. Read some books. Take
a warm, soothing bath. Sing songs. While you can’t really
teach a newborn to sleep through the night until they’re at least 4 months
old, there’s no harm in starting them on a nightly routine as early as a
few weeks old.
- White noise:
White noise is your baby’s friend. Babies don’t always need a quiet
room to sleep in. In fact, white noise is soothing to them, as it mimics
sounds they heard while in the womb. So look for noise that is low
pitched and rumbly and see if it works in soothing them to sleep.
Most of all, take some moments to
yourself as a parent. Try to get a 10 minute nap in here, take a walk and
get some fresh air when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and most of all, try to
make the most out of the moments with your little blessing.
[1] Karp, Dr.
Harvey. “Sleeping babies and kids make happy parents.” June 9,
2012. CNN.com. http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/09/sleeping-babies-and-kids-make-happy-parents/?hpt=he_bn6 Accessed June 28, 2012.
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