Cascia Talbert's Blog, page 7

Try These 4 Fresh Summer Beauty Tricks

by Guest Author

4 Fresh Summer Beauty Tricks

The long-awaited summer season is finally here, and it’s time to go out and make the most of the beautiful sunshine. But it’s important to remember that, just like every other season, summer needs its own set of beauty tips and tricks. The sunny weather means it’s time for you to revamp your beauty regimen to avoid any sun damage and have fun with fresh skin care and beauty routines. A customized summer approach lets you enjoy summer while taking care of your skin, hair and body.  

Teeth Whitening

The warm summer weather means that there are numerous opportunities to take advantage of the sun and take great outdoor photos. If you are worried about having slightly discolored teeth, you can opt for a home teeth whitening kit like the ones from www.pearlywhites.com to ensure that you have the right look for those coveted summer photos. And you don’t even need to break the bank to get those pearly whites summer-ready! These home kits work effectively and are safe to use at home.

Get a Tan

We all know that a natural tan can give skin a healthy glow. The good news is that there are plenty of chances to get one by basking by the pool or seaside. Not only does a natural tan leave you looking good, but it also boosts your serotonin levels.

Ensure that you take proper care of your skin before and after a tan. Remember that the sun’s rays can be very harmful, so use a sunscreen with adequate SPF protection. Ensure that you stay hydrated and take moderate breaks during tanning. You can also use some suntan oils to help your body to absorb the sun and give you a great tan without the burn.

Go Bold with Colors

The summer season is usually filled with lots of pomp and color. So it’s only right for you to get in line with the program and display color, as well. If you are used to dull or neutral hues, switch things up by going for a bright nail polish for your fingers and toes. Think of bold colors, such as pink, orange and luminous color variants. Don’t worry about standing out (many people wear brighter colors during the warmer months). Choose bright shades that work for you. It also helps that most of these colors look great on every skin type. If you are up for it, you can experiment with some fresh hair color, as well.

Don’t Shave, Wax

While waxing is not the preferred choice for everyone, it is definitely the best way to get rid of those unwanted hairs before summer. If you love a smooth and clean finish, waxing will achieve this for you. Your skin tends to be more sensitive during summer, and shaving might leave you with razor bumps or even those pesky red shaving rashes. On the other hand, waxing will keep your unwanted hairs at bay for a longer period of time and will give you a cleaner look for the summer.

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The article Try These 4 Fresh Summer Beauty Tricks by Guest Author appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

4 Tips to Help You Succeed in College

by Guest Author

4 Tips to Help You Succeed in College

College is fun, but it can also be challenging and scary. One moment you are having fun with school friends, and the next you find yourself in a sea of unknown faces, feeling confused and lost. With the fall semester beginning in a matter of months, now would be a good time to get to know a few tricks to make your college experience a little smoother.

Here are 4 P’s–Perseverance, Personal Space, Professionalism, Protagonist–to help you succeed on campus:

You Snooze, You Lose

The first and most basic ground rule of any college: try.  

You can’t be bad at something unless you know what that thing is. The whole emotional and physical shift from grade school to university isn’t rainbows and sunshine. But give it enough time, and you can grow into the challenge. Don’t compare your success and failure to your classmates and friends. They’re here with an agenda of their own, and so are you. Your work should be a reflection of your credibility and PERSEVERANCE.

Tip: Make a routine, and try following it on most days. It’s okay to say no to some social events and parties. Get into clubs or an organization that genuinely interests you to help you stay focused on your studies.

That’s Your Spot

One of the things a lot of young people forget to take care of – their own self. While in college, your physical and mental clarity is as important as the F you’re trying to avoid on your grade sheet. When you get sick, you miss classes, miss your friends and miss out on other fun and important opportunities.  A healthy, appropriate working environment, with a clear head, keeps your PERSONAL SPACE in check, while helping you continue toward your bright future.

Tip: Get a complete medical check-up before you head to college. Pack yourself a medical aid box. Keep contact with the college counselor or a family member, and be honesty with your feelings about day-to-day things.

Adulting Isn’t Boring

Having made it to college in the first place is a pretty big deal. To maximize this experience, work on building a certain skill set that would help in the betterment of the community in some way or another. Unlike high school, building and maintaining your PROFESSIONAL decorum while helping the community is something that is a large part of the college learning experience. 

Tip: Participate in classroom discussion and the activities of a club or organization you join. Treat all your colleagues with respect.

Be Your Own Superhero

Changes are hard in life. But choosing a shortcut isn’t going to help you in the long run. So, be it your assignments, papers, projects or any other work that you find yourself completing, don’t plagiarize. Don’t be someone else. Be yourself. Figure out the kind of lifestyle you would want to build for yourself and keep track of your progress towards that goal.

Tip: This is your life, and you’re the PROTAGONIST of your own movie. If you feel you’re addicted to smartphones and it’s interrupting your ability to be fully engaged in your own life, look for a good mobile hangover cure. Take back control of your own life and achieve your goals.

Good luck to all the freshmen. Make good memories!

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The article 4 Tips to Help You Succeed in College by Guest Author appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Help Your Kids Build Oral Health Habits

by Guest Author

Help Your Kids Build Oral Health Habits

From the day you learned that you were pregnant to the day your child was born, you began to undertake a huge responsibility to ensure that he or she grows into a bright and healthy individual. One of your most basic duties as a parent is to help them build good oral health habits because will benefit your child for the rest of his or her life.

Oral Care: Why You Should Start Young

A child’s primary teeth, more popularly called the “baby teeth,” show up between ages 6 and 10 months. In three years, your child should already have 20 baby teeth. After that, they will grow 12 more as an adult. Most first-time parents will ask when they should start teaching their children to brush their teeth. The question sometimes seems pointless because children don’t develop teeth until they are several months old. However, experts highly recommend teaching them the value of oral hygiene as early as possible— even if they have yet to grow their first tooth, because it would engrave the habit in them from the beginning.

One of the best ways to do start teaching your child to brush is to regularly clean their gums using food-grade wipes or a soft piece of cloth wrapped around your index finger. You can do this after you give them a bath or any other time of the day. The important thing here is to do it regularly to help build the habit. Take note that experts don’t recommend using toothpaste on babies as they still don’t know how to spit. The point in doing this is to get them used to the habit of cleaning their mouth as early as possible.

If your your child is already old enough and refuses to brush, do not fret. We have gathered some tips you can use to encourage healthy habits and regular tooth brushing in your child.

Let Them Pick Out Their Own Dental Supplies

The flavor of your children’s toothpaste is sometimes the reason why they refuse to brush their teeth. To ensure that they like the dental products they use, bring them with you when going shopping for these. Show them all the age-appropriate products they can choose from and buy the ones they want. This way, your child will feel more involved in the process and show greater motivation with oral hygiene.

Make Brushing Fun

Like any other task, children are more engaged in activities that are fun and exciting. One way you can make brushing fun is to incorporate singing of nursery rhymes or any kind of song that lasts two minutes. This way, you can follow the Burke Dental dentist-recommended length of brushing without leaving your child irritated.

Show Them the Proper Way to Brush

The best way to teach a child is by modeling. The same is true with oral hygiene. Make sure to show your child how to properly brush their teeth and the other parts of their mouths. It can also serve as a bonding time between mommies, daddies and their kids.

Reward Them for Doing A Good Job

Some children might need more motivation to brush their teeth regularly. Experienced parents recommend rewarding them after completing a week of regular brushing through sticker charts that end in surprise prizes. You can also try coming up with a story about a superhero who defeated cavities by regularly brushing his teeth.

Teach Them About Teeth-Friendly Food

Aside from proper toothbrushing, eating good food is also necessary to keep your children’s teeth healthy. That said, be sure to encourage children to eat fruits and vegetables instead of processed and sweetened foods, like candies. The former will not only provide them with a healthy balance of nutrients. They will also help keep their teeth clear of cavity-causing sugar and other decay-inducing ingredients.

Introduce Them To a Friendly Dentist

One of the most common problems parents encounter with their children’s dental care is the fear of meeting the dentist. Most parents do not know that they should already be having their child’s dental check-up as soon as the first tooth appears, or after the first birthday.

Look for a pediatric dentist in your neighborhood, and schedule a consultation even if your child doesn’t have a tooth emergency, so they can become familiar with the clinic and the tools. If you have trouble finding a good dentist you can have a look at Dentists Perth to get a quality check up.

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The article Help Your Kids Build Oral Health Habits by Guest Author appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

The Injury Claims Process: What To Expect

by Guest Author

The Injury Claims Process: What To Expect

When you begin the process of a personal injury claim, it is important to retain personal injury lawyer from the state the accident happened in. If you are in New Jersey, it is important to retain a personal injury NJ lawyer with litigation experience. Most injury claims do not find their way to court though; most of these are settled outside of the courtroom. However, do not ignore the litigation experience, since you do not know how your claims process will go. In the event that your claims process is going to be settled, here is what to expect when you contact a personal injury attorney.

What to Expect When Working with a Personal Injury Lawyer

After your first meeting, your personal injury attorney will begin his investigations into the matter. He may usually enlist the help of a private investigator. The evidence he will look at will include the following:

Police reports of the accidentYour medical records following the accidentEyewitness statements from the scene of the accidentAny lost wages caused by injury from the accidentAny paid and accrued medical bills due to the injury or trauma sustained

After the personal injury attorney has gone through this evidence, with his advice, you will then propose an amount for settlement. If you have suffered a debilitating injury, it is good to consider that you will have lost wages for a good portion of time, probably even the majority of your life. The amount you propose should be higher than what you expect because the other party will always have a counter offer lower than your proposed amount. Be sure that the amount you finally settle on is your first proposed amount or one that is very close to it.

What to Expect From the Insurer

As you prepare your claims, the insurer will have already assigned your file to a claims manager. They will likely have an adjuster call you to offer a settlement amount. This amount is usually quite low, even before you can make out how much your claim is really worth. The adjuster will usually contact you before you have talked to a personal injury lawyer. It is advisable to ask the adjuster to talk to your lawyer, and route all negotiations through your lawyer since that is familiar territory for them.

The insurer will try to find any evidence pointing to your fault partly or wholly for the injury. Do not hide any important information from your lawyer because of this. The insurer will also look at the police report, witness statements and any photographic evidence available.

How Long Does It Take to Settle?

Various factors will affect the amount of time it will take to settle a claim. In the event that the case is clear-cut that the fault lies solely with the other party, compensation could take about a month from your first demand letter. Other factors, like the adjuster’s workload, the strength of your evidence and the viability of the claim, could drag out the process.

Ensure that your rights are protected by getting a reputable personal injury lawyer as soon as you can after your injury. Time is of the essence in this type of claim. Read more about personal injury lawyers on SK Law injury firm.

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The article The Injury Claims Process: What To Expect by Guest Author appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Be the Best Parent You Can Be With These 7 Tips

by Guest Author

Be the Best Parent You Can Be With These 7 Tips

Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook or a set of rules, which makes it hard for some of us to feel like we’re doing a good job. However, being a parent also doesn’t mean that there is only one right way to do things. Every parent is different and has different parenting methods. This is totally okay. However, if you’re really struggling with navigating the whole parent thing, there are a few things you can do to turn yourself around.

Schedule some ME time.

Being a parent can be extremely stressful, and it’s easy to take your stress out on those you love. Instead of being the mean parent or the unhappy parent, it’s important for you to spend some quality time with yourself to recharge and regroup. For some people, this ME time just means taking a walk or a drive on a daily basis by yourself. For others, it could mean getting involved in an activity that doesn’t involve your family. When you can step away from your family for a bit and focus on yourself, it will make you a better parent to those little ones who need you.

Quit the Bad Habits

We are all at fault for having a bad habit or two, but there are some bad habits that far outweigh others. For instance, if you have a bad habit of putting yourself or your family in danger, whether because of drug or alcohol abuse, intense gambling or criminal activity, then you need to find ways to stop this right away. Being charged with drug-related crimes, losing your family’s life savings or getting your family involved with the wrong crowd will jeopardize your relationship with your family. However, if you make the right choices to get your life back on track and put these bad habits behind you, you can restore your relationship with your children and spouse.

Get Involved

Getting involved in your child’s life can help you be a better parent. For instance, if your child wants to play a sport, maybe you can volunteer to coach or assist. By doing this, you’ll be spending quality time with your child while doing something they love to do. In addition, it allows you two to create a bond over something that’s special for the two of you.

Find Time for Fun

Everyone has a busy life, and if you are constantly working or berating your children for grades or poor behavior, then it’s going to reflect poorly on your relationship. Instead, try to take some time every week for a fun activity. Maybe this simply means watching a movie together, grabbing some ice cream, meal prepping or taking a trip to their favorite store. It doesn’t really matter what you do as long as you make it fun. This will end up being one of the things they remember about your time together, so be sure to find the things that will interest them and foster a closer relationship with them.

Let Your Child Make Mistakes

No matter what you want for your children, understand that your child is going to make mistakes. If you become angry at them every time they make a mistake, it will have a negative impact on your relationship. Instead, be sure to let your child make mistakes, but be there to help them through it. Let them know what they did is wrong and how they can fix it. This will help you openly communicate and create a stronger bond.

Set Aside Personal Time

If you have more than one child, set aside personal time for each one individually. This will help that child feel special, and it will allow you to get to know a little bit more about their personality, thoughts, desires, etc. Plus, every child likes being the center of their parents’ attention, so give them this little bit of your time to create a stronger bond between you.

Know You’re Not Alone

There are a lot of parents out there who feel just like you. By understanding you’re not alone in your feelings, you’ll have a greater time putting your focus on your children and being the best possible parent you can be. Schedule time with other parents on a regular basis to help you feel connected with others who are going through the same challenges and phase of life.

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The article Be the Best Parent You Can Be With These 7 Tips by Guest Author appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Managing Summer Stress

by Rachel Duran

Summer Stress

First let’s talk about stress, and what is it?

Let’s define the word “stress”; it can be recognized as feeling overwhelmed, burnout, anxiety or fear. In other words it feels like your whole world is sitting on your shoulders. Stress usually has a negative connotation and can have a total impact on our feelings, such as emotional, physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The fear and anxiety start to set in. However, stress can be good as well? Yes, stress can be good, so take a breath! When you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnout, anxiety or fear it can cause stress in the body. However, stress can be invoked from an upcoming event, stimulus, or demand. Often these types of stress can result in rewards, positive attitude, increased self-esteem and gratitude. It can also be perceived by our attitudes, values, personality, and even by our moods.
We can experience two different kinds of stress; such as positive stress (eustress) and negative stress (distress). I am human, so, therefore I get stressed out! We all do from time to time! Stress can be a major energy drainer! I try to be very careful how I react to a stressful situation. I try to remember that life happens, but I can control how I respond to it (it’s all in the attitude). It makes all the difference.

Research has shown that long term stress can influence the mind and body negatively. Repetitive or sustained stress (the kind that never ends) such as a long commute to work, money worries or a toxic relationship). Chronic stress levels can drain our energy, and make us feel like staying in bed with the covers over your head. We can feel heavy in our bodies. We must try to learn to control our reactions. I believe we react to stress in different ways with emotional, physical, mental and spiritual reactions. For example, emotional eating, mental fog, physically fatigued, frustrated and spiritually exhausted. We know life can throw some curve balls and we often react negatively which often results in a negative outcome.

When your body is under short-term stress, your body releases the hormone cortisol. The body releases this “fight or flight” hormone, which is a response of the sympathetic nervous system. This can increase fats and sugars within your bloodstream to get your brain and muscles to react in a quick burst of energy. This can be an impulsive reaction that is difficult to control. When the stress has passed, your body can return to its normal relaxation state which is created by the parasympathetic nervous system.

When under chronic stress your body will release cortisol consistently and such long-term exposure to elevated cortisol wears your body down physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It can leave you vulnerable to colds, hormone imbalances, weight gain, illness and conditions from diabetes to cancer. Chronic stress is epidemic in our busy world we live in today. This is especially true for women! Make some time for an hour, or weekend to blow off some steam and get refreshed.

Here are a few tips to blow off some steam and get refreshed:

1. Breathing is an excellent way to blow off some stress. The breathing I’m talking about is being mindful, aware and focused on the breath itself. This will help release the stress. Now try breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. (Deep breathing increases the oxygen in your blood and relaxes your body and mind).

2. Take some time for a yoga class it is a great way to learn different types of breathing. Don’t have time? YouTube has some great yoga videos for 20-30 minute practices.

3. Take a meditation walk to get out of your head (healing the mind from every day busy to-do-list can be refreshing for the soul). Appreciate the beauty about you as you take this meditation walk, listen around you to the trees, sky, wind, animals, etc.). You’ll be surprised what you can hear and see and how it can relax you.

4. Embracing a positive mood can have a direct impact on your mood. Have you ever noticed when you’re in a low mood, your energy is low? When your mood is positive, your energy follows. (thinking positive may reduce stress, boost your mood, and take away worry and fear).

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The article Managing Summer Stress by Rachel Duran appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Stay Happy And Healthy With These Supplements

by Guest Author

Stay Happy And Healthy With These Supplements

Dietary supplements have grown from a niche habit to a daily routine in many people’s lives. While there are some common vitamin and mineral needs, people also have personalized nutritional requirements to achieve optimal health. For example, a nursing mother may invest in high quality probiotics for her infant, while middle age men may take something like Prostagenix or pine pollen capsules to support their general prostate health. But what about the mother whose children may be older than 2 or 3 years but still require general care? Specific supplements, such as kratom capsules, can help an individual achieve optimal health at any age.

Peace of Body

To put things in perspective for those that might be considering Reneu supplements, even if you aren’t dealing with a blatant health issue, there’s a very good chance you may still need some form of dietary supplement in order to be at your best. Thirty percent of all women are deficient in one or more important vitamins and minerals. If there was no such thing as multivitamins, that number could actually be closer to 75 percent.

Antioxidants: There is a wide array of antioxidant vitamins that are beneficial for good health, but the most popular ones are vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin E. The role of antioxidants is to reverse the damage that free radical molecules inflict upon cells. As research develops, we are finding that this damage is linked to a variety of different health issues, from immune dysfunction to poor vision. In addition to immunity and vision, some studies show that vitamins A and E together help protect the skin from signs of aging.

Do you find that you’re getting fatigued or winded when you’re not even doing any sort of strenuous activity? You may be dealing with iron deficiency, which isn’t uncommon for women, especially as they age. Part of the reason for this being so common is because iron plays an essential role in producing red blood cells and carrying oxygen throughout the body. Another reason that women need to pay attention to their iron levels is that blood loss from your period depletes the natural stores of iron you already have in your body. If you want some added support, along with iron supplements, try eating lean red meats and dark green leafy vegetables.

Magnesium is notable because it’s the type of mineral that may not get the attention that other ones do (like calcium and potassium), but it is no less important. Magnesium has an important role in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps in muscle function, heart rhythm, immune support and general energy production.

Peace of Mind

If you find yourself feeling stressed out from the struggles of juggling parenting and/or other responsibilities, your nutritional status may be to blame. Mental health and brain function can stem from certain nutritional deficiencies in some circumstances, but some supplements are now trying to tackle this issue head-on. Supplements can be used to improve your daily nutritions. You can take supplements like Morning Complete to improve your energy levels and overall wellbeing. Green maeng kratom capsules also relax the body and mind, helping you think more clearly and focus on your tasks.

Calcium: This may sound like an odd place to bring up calcium, considering that most people know it for its support of bones and teeth. While those functions still hold true, you may not know that calcium may also be able to help with certain PMS symptoms. In one study, women who supplemented with calcium saw significantly lower levels of tiredness, appetite changes and depressive symptoms compared with a placebo.

Vitamin D: Ideally, you would get the bulk of this vitamin from exposure to sunlight, but that can be difficult to achieve if you live in an area with few sunny days or have to spend a lot of your times indoors. As a result, this is an important vitamin to monitor. Vitamin D plays an essential role in skeletal health and also in preventing mood disorders and maintaining a healthy hormonal balance.

Omega-3s: As mentioned before, some mood and stress issues may be rooted in the brain not receiving the proper nutritional support it needs. Omega-3s are probably the most popular option when it comes to brain support. Not only does it help with behavioral function, but also with cognitive performance and reduced inflammation. If you’re feeling down, consider making a quick stop to your doctor’s office to see if these essential nutrient levels are low. Determining your specific nutritional needs can support your health and happiness for life.

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The article Stay Happy And Healthy With These Supplements by Guest Author appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Supporting Your Loved One With Breast Cancer

by Kerri Haack

When I found out, as an adult, my first loved one was diagnosed with breast cancer, I handled it badly.  I stress ate McDonalds. It was my younger cousin and I was on a road trip to be with her and the rest of my family for my Grandmother’s funeral.  

At my Grandmother’s funeral, she was as serene about it as an angel.  It was early stages of her diagnosis. Perhaps it hadn’t sunk in to her, perhaps she was putting on a brave face.  She had meetings already set up with her patient advocates and would be soon finding out her treatment plan. They had prepared and planned well with a great funeral home.

The next time I had a loved one diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn’t do much better.  A month prior, I had been in communication with one of my closest girlfriends, that she had to go in for a secondary mammogram because something “popped” on the first one.  We reassuringly discussed how frequently that happens. She had the secondary mammogram and I kept checking in on her next appointment.

When she called me that night to tell me what had happened at her appointment, luckily I had two good girlfriends over.  They refilled my champagne glass while my expected future nursing home roommate gave me her diagnosis. After we got off the phone, I hoped that I gave reassurance and love, but my pillow and my husband’s arms took the brunt of my worries and fears that night.

I would hope, if you ask either my cousin Clare or my friend Michele how I responded, they would tell you I was supportive.  While I can’t even imagine the emotional mind game that a breast cancer diagnosis gives, having to deal with the well-intentioned but crippling comments and behavior of the people who love you can add its own level of hell to an already tough path.

The Diagnosis

What do you say?  Your loved one has just told you their soul crushing news and you want to tell them everything that’s in your heart about how much you love them.  So you say, “I’m sorry” almost automatically. According to Michele, perhaps rethink that automatic response. “I’ll tell you it’s very hard for someone to not say “I’m sorry” when you hear someone has a sickness/disease/family issue or anything.  It’s a person’s natural response. Does a person ever really want you to feel sorry for them? No, but we say it anyway because it comes naturally. I’m guilty of this. Since I’ve been diagnosed, I do my best to not say “I’m sorry” when I hear not so good news.  I try to be a good listener and supportive.”

“The best thing came from a friend who hugged me and told me she would be here for me every step of the way..” Michele told me.  And, if you are receiving the news over a channel that doesn’t allow for physical touch, Michele suggested, “letting the person know you are here for me to vent and support me and my family is helpful.”

And stop trying to find the “bright side”.  “It’s very hard to hear “there’s a gift” or “silver lining” in the darkness of early acceptance,” Clare told me. “I would say, it’s nice if people can say, “I’m here to listen if you are up to talking about the diagnosis, and options, but I understand if that’s hard”. Listening, hugging and sitting in the pain with them are some of the best ways to support a loved one as he or she tells you of their diagnosis.

Support Through Treatment

In some cases, breast cancer treatment can be a grueling battle.  When my friend Michele started her chemo, I emailed our friends (at her request) and said, “Getting chemo means she sits in a chair for 3-4 hours while they pump her full of chemicals.  She doesn’t know how her body will respond to it, so she’s obviously nervous. They do expect hair loss and further damaging effects, but not until the second session, about three weeks later.”  And this after having had surgery to remove the cancer!

While your loved one goes through this battle, how can you show them you care? Clare told me, “I think, while it’s great when people ask how they can help, it’s most awesome when people who know a person diagnosed well enough Just Do things, like “I’m making you and your family dinner, any diet restrictions?” Michele suggested Meal Train as a source for organizing friends for food. “Meal Train is wonderful to have while going through chemo or after you’ve had surgery.  Having it every other day during the week was very helpful to my husband and I. I could rest and he could work without having to wonder what to fix for dinner.”

Gifts and tokens of love help. Michele said, “one of my top gifts that I loved was from friends from college. They had individually wrapped gifts which had notes on each of them telling when to open.  This was awesome. For example, one note said, “when you want to stick it to cancer, open me”. Inside were heart shaped stickers.” Some other gift idea suggestions from Michele, “If you know they are going to lose their hair, send a pretty scarf, turban or beanie.  They will always think of you when he or she wears it.” In general, both Michele and Clare appreciated spontaneous cards, personal notes, and reminders of being loved.

Communication Helps

Never underestimate the power of reaching out to talk.  Michele said, “Receiving personal phone calls from family and friends are the best.  A lot of times when a person is going through chemo, we are alone at home. It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”  But, also understanding if communication is limited, it isn’t about you, it is about what your loved one is going through.  

Clare told me, “I realized I needed to slow down and do less, which felt like withdrawing to some people I knew.  The people who mattered accepted that I wasn’t up for as much electronic or phone communication and they sent book recommendations and candy and just let me know they cared.”  However, Clare noted, “The only time I would recommend pushing is if someone is really slipping into week after week of anxiety – then a loved one or friend can be a big support in really saying, let’s find more help, because this seems so so hard right now.  Maybe we can make it just a LITTLE easier and that would be worth anything. Asking how your loved one is sleeping can be the best way to see how it’s going, because when I slept well, everything was better.”

Offering to step in to help, can come in a myriad of ways, but knowing they might say no should always be an option. Clare said, “I was grateful to have a friend offer to set up a web fundraising site for me, but the best people will offer and also graciously accept when someone says “no thanks” without really pressing about why.  Maybe just say, “Let me know if you change your mind.” Another big thing is to offer to go to appointments, but again don’t push too much if they say no.”

When You Feel Helpless

This was a struggle for me, wishing to take this burden away from my loved ones.  Living away from both of them, wanting to offer support, but feeling unable to do much.  For Michele, I set up a Facebook group which she hand selected the people that would join it.  Before each treatment day, I would post a reminder and her friends and family would fill the page with funny memes, jokes and videos to help entertain her during her treatment.  She said it helped her receive support, “especially for someone who isn’t ready to share their story yet with the rest of the world.” As Clare noted to me, “It’s very hard to go into detail about prognosis and treatment with everyone.”

If your loved one hasn’t found any resources, you can help them find some, even from across the country. Clare found true friends through myBCteam – the social network for women facing breast cancer.  She also recommended Gilda’s Club for the person diagnosed and their partner/family. Michele recommended finding a local breast cancer support group.

And, if you are wondering about what happened after treatment with Clare and Michele, I have good news to share.  Clare just had her first child! Yes! After fighting breast cancer! Michele has recently completed her chemo and is seeing her peach fuzz grow in; she is also looking to get breast reconstruction surgery.  She’s joined a mentoring program, ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis to help other women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I can see in both women something beautiful Clare told me about, “the skills you develop to cope with the diagnosis and treatment actually change priorities, and might mean there is personal growth that starts in unexpected ways.”

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The article Supporting Your Loved One With Breast Cancer by Kerri Haack appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

3 Ways to Handle a Family Crisis

by Guest Author

3 Ways to Handle a Family Crisis

Make no doubt about it. There will be difficult situations that will disrupt the happiness in your family. But simply just accepting family crises as a fact of life is not the only thing you can do. It is also important to learn how to move past these crises. Happiness is, after all, crucial to maintaining a healthy family, and it is our job as parents to make sure we can recover from whatever it is that disrupts our families’ health and happiness.

Let It All Sink In

A difficult situation can be burdensome, especially if it is something that affects everybody emotionally. We can get angry and sad, which are natural parts of being emotional creatures. However, wallowing in these emotions for too long won’t help us in the long run.

When faced with a family crisis, we should ideally take some time off of our usual schedule and routine to reflect and navigate our way through. Rather than play the blame game, determine a healthy way to move forward. A sibling or a parent diagnosed with a terminal disease is a difficult thing to accept, but it is important to realize that we can’t resolve the crisis unless we respond to such a crisis in the right way. Give yourself time and space to process and think. This can make it easier for you to respond to the situation and make better decisions.

Understand That There’s a Way Out

It’s easy to lose hope when confronted with a crisis. It’s normal to feel this way, but remind yourself that not all is lost. Tackle the problem head-on. The first step to address a family crisis is to look for workable solutions. It may look like you are powerless in dealing with a crisis like your pregnant teen, but there is  way to handle it. Keep an open mind and allow your child to take part in handling the challenge. You can also ask for advice from close relatives or parents who were able to overcome similar experiences in the past.

Remember that whatever the world throws at you, there is always a solution.

Provide Support

A family member who is undergoing a crisis should always find solace in the words of siblings, parents and other relatives. After all, they also act as emotional pillars to lean on when things get tough. Instead of blaming others for an unwarranted crisis, provide advice and emotional support for a family member who is on the receiving end of a difficult problem. The same can also be said for a loved one who is coming to grips with having an STD. In the latter case, keep an open mind and avoid making assumptions. You can assist your child or partner in a diagnosis by visiting testing centers across the country, including treatment and STD testing centers in San Diego or Los Angeles. Visiting one of these centers can help provide you with the information you need to make healthy decisions for your family as you move forward.

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The article 3 Ways to Handle a Family Crisis by Guest Author appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Ginger May Help You Lose Weight And Feel Great

by Andrea Crawley

The old wives’ tale might be true: ginger helps when you try to relieve a queasy stomach during pregnancy. It can also work by getting rid of mucus build-ups in the intestines and breaking down candida. It can also help cure nausea or seasickness brought on by chemotherapy. If you eat ginger in small amounts it can also reduce the severity of motion sickness. Ginger may also help you lose weight.

When using ginger might seem like it is helpful for a few symptoms. Your body will probably tell you it is working, but unless you are one hundred percent sure you need to stick with your high blood sugar and take other steps to stop nausea caused by low blood sugar. If you do not take precautions and use caution it can even lead to hypoglycemia. Keep in mind that ginger can cause a mild rash when it irritates the skin, particularly around the nose and cheeks. However, if you do get a rash it is usually only temporary and will go away on its own.

If you have an ongoing problem with your blood sugar and the feeling is getting worse you should see your doctor. The doctor will probably recommend a trial of insulin to bring your glucose levels back up. Your doctor may also suggest that you try ginger may help keep your blood sugar from remaining low after meals. You may also consider using natural insulin products including that from arrowroot.

However, if you are suffering from nausea caused by diabetes, high blood sugar, or a chronic disease like cancer, ginger may not be enough to help you. In these cases you need to add more supplements to your diet. One of the best natural ingredients you can use for this purpose is guarana. Guarana contains a lot of antioxidants and some people believe it can actually prevent cancer. They also say that ginger could help protect the body against free radicals that could also lead to heart disease. Free radicals are made by stomach acid, cigarette smoke, and pollution.

Now here are two things you could do to see if ginger may help you. The first is to make a ginger and avocado smoothie. You would take the smoothie and blend in two cups of yogurt. You could also add a dash of vanilla extract and two tablespoons of guarana. It is best if you add the yogurt to the smoothie while it is still cold so that it does not curdle.



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Next you could eat the yogurt that you have blended and two ounces of guarana. You should be able to feel a difference in how your stomach feels after you eat. You should also consider how your stomach responds to this. If it is too gassy then you might be adding too much ginger or if it is too flat then you might be getting guarana too soon. The idea is to find what works for you and make sure that you are not overdoing it.

There are other things that ginger may help with such as cramps and bloating. This is why it is good to use ginger in any recipe where you normally would use a cream or milk to add that extra bit of moisture. In fact, if you have a spicy salsa to make with fresh ginger and tomatoes then you should use guarana instead of the milk and sugar to add that extra zip to your meal.

It is believed that ginger may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is a very common type of cancer and there are many things that are thought to help fight it such as exercise and diet. It is possible that ginger may help to boost the immune system by inhibiting the growth of certain cells. This could be the answer to getting rid of your prostate’s bothersome symptoms.

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The article Ginger May Help You Lose Weight And Feel Great by Andrea Crawley appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.