Health, Fashion, Parenting and Women Related Issues

Wondering what you can do to nurture healthy, vibrant skin from the inside out? Tackle stress! Make Dr. Amy’s seven habits — which are the heart and soul of her book, The Mind-Beauty Connection — part of your life. Then, watch every inch of you — but especially your face — start to look younger, less stressed, more alive. Each step chips away at the nonstop pressure and tension that can age you 6 years or more. Use the 9-Day Renewal Plan to get the stress wrecking-ball rolling.

1. Practice Deep Breathing
Shift your body’s balance of oxygen versus carbon dioxide in favor of energizing, stress-squashing oxygen by doing slow, controlled breathing exercises. Here are three good ones.

How often? Aim for twice a day.

Why do it? When you focus on your breathing, you’re not focusing on anything else (your to-do list or the late babysitter). That mental shift helps remove stressors, bringing you to a deeper level of consciousness, a place where you can put things into perspective. Read more

Breastfeeding for emergency preparedness focus of WHO

This week is world breastfeeding week. According to the WHO, breastfeeding could save millions of lives, especially in the event of a public emergency. Breastfeeding is not a lifestyle – it is a way to reduce healthcare spending, promote women’s health, and ensure a lifetime of better health for breastfed infants and children. This year, breastfeeding as a part of emergency preparedness is a focus of the World Health Organization.

World breastfeeding is an annual campaign that takes place August 1 to August 7, designed to educate, promote, and encourage breastfeeding throughout the world. This year’s focus is on emergency preparedness and the importance of breastfeeding. Mother’s milk is more plentiful than bottled formula and water and could sustain vulnerable infants and children in the event of a local or national emergency.

Mothers who breastfeed provide a lifetime of health benefits that continues to adulthood through enhanced immunity, less risk of allergy, love, and early bonding. Optimal nutrition comes from mother’s milk. Read more

Feeling frazzled? Reach for foods that really fight stress, like these seven wonders of the high-wired world.

1.Berries, Any Berries

Blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries. They’re not just delicious; they’re jammed with antioxidants, which is why they’re great at countering the skin-damaging free radicals generated by stress. Eat them one by one (like healthy M&M’s) when the pressure is on. If you’re a jaw clencher, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another. Or whirl up a Berry Dessert Slush.

2.Guacamole

Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and your body needs in order to maintain nerves and brain cells. Scoop up the creamy goodness — which comes from healthy monounsaturated fats — with whole-grain baked chips or raw veggies. If you’re watching calories, dip instead of scoop: 2 tablespoons have about 55 calories. Try this simple recipe for Avocado Fiesta Salsa.

3.Nuts

Almost all nuts are good sources of vitamins B and E, plus selenium and zinc, but some nuts have more than others, so cover your bases by mixing them up. Just an ounce — a small handful — will help replace those stress-depleted Bs (walnuts); give you a good dose of selenium and zinc (Brazil nuts), which are also drained by high anxiety; boost your vitamin E (almonds), which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress; and may even lower your blood pressure by helping your arteries relax (pistachios). They’re high in calories, so don’t overindulge.

4.Oranges

People who take 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and better-behaved blood pressure than those who don’t take it. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a big, juicy orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will steady your brain cells, and you’ll get a bunch of C as well.

5.Salmon and Other Fatty Fish

The omega-3 fatty acid in salmon, called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), isn’t just good for your skin. Studies show people who eat ample amounts of DHA have a much lower incidence of depression, aggressiveness, and hostility. So this healthy fish may even help road rage! Some people report improvements in mood within days or even hours of eating omega-3-rich meals. Serve Double Sesame Salmon with Mango-Avocado Salsa for dinner this weekend.

6.Spinach

Spinach and other happy greens (the dark, leafy ones) contain folate, a B vitamin that appears to be essential for mood and proper nerve function in the brain. Two cups of cooked spinach gives you the 400 micrograms of folate recommended to pick up your mood. And you’ll love this recipe for Sauteed Spinach with Pine Nuts and Golden Raisins.

7.Dark Chocolate

The antioxidant flavonols in dark chocolate (check labels; you want 70% or more cacao) help keep your blood pressure steady and your mind sharp. They may also help counter cellular damage caused by stress. Try this when you need a mental lift: Microwave 8 ounces of vanilla almond milk on medium for 1 minute, and then stir in an ounce of dark chocolate till it melts (heat triggers antioxidant release). Delish. Just show a little restraint; chocolate packs a lot of calories.

Trip up your wakefulness, and doze off with these handy bedtime snacks (try to stay within 200 calories, and eat about an hour before bedtime). They’re light, but high in carbohydrates, which boost the brain’s sleep chemical (serotonin) without overloading your digestive system.

* The classic PB&J (go easy on the PB, and try it on a rice cake); top off with a glass of low-fat or skim milk or a cup of herbal tea with a combo of chamomile and valerian
* A banana with 1 teaspoon nut butter of your choice
* A small bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat or skim milk
* Fruit and cottage cheese
* Whole-wheat crackers and goat cheese
* A homemade oatmeal-raisin cookie with low-fat or skim milk