By Dr. Payman Danielpour and Dr. John Layke
The holidays and all the celebratory feasting are behind us, which means we need to get in shape and make 2013 a positive year. Lots of women work out daily and watch their weight, but after several pregnancies find themselves at a loss. They complain that their breasts are small and saggy. They complain that no matter how many crunches they do, their tummies are loose. So when do you know if your a candidate for surgery or if you really can work out those inches. (more…)
Festive Holiday Recipes
By Catherine McCord
Gingerbread Pancakes
Prep Time:15 minutes, Cook Time: 12 minutes, Total Time: 27 minutes,
- Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
Teen Parenting Challenges
Compassion begins with the parent’s ability to feel what the teen is feeling.
By Dr. Nelly Franoody-Zahiri
In the accelerated rush of our society today, it has taken me a decade to see what has been forgotten in Peace Learning Parenting. Parenting with the focus and the intention of knowing and feeling that we are all connected and that families do much better collectively when interacting and sharing values rather than perceiving each other as competitors in a highly individualistic society. To achieve this healthy emotional and social balance, and in order to stay connected, I suggest we add to our daily vitamins the following 5 Cs:
- Compassion
- Communication
- Co-operation
- Culture (meaning sensitivity to other Cultures) and
- Conservation.
These are the Big Cs for Peace Learning Parenting. (more…)
Nutrients for Healthy Skin
By Rebecca Casper
As a medical skin specialist and health fanatic, I am often asked about the correlation between food and skin.
Can you really blame that piece of pizza you ate last night for your new blemish? Do skin/hair supplements really work? Traditionally, most would say no. I say yes!
There is a growing amount of research suggesting a link between bad eating habits and acne breakouts. While the idea is still not a standard view between dermatologists and skin care specialist, it does make sense when you think about the function of the skin. When you eat, your body takes what it needs and “disposes” of the rest. 1/4 of that elimination is done through your skin. (more…)
Family Game Ideas
Games you can play as a family with multi-age appeal.
By Nathalie Kunin
Playing games as a family is lots of fun, but sometimes it can be a bit challenging: too many ages, too many instructions, too many parts, takes too long…and parents who are just too tired! Here are 6 games that you can pull off the shelf that combine multi-age appeal, education and just plain old fun! The games are travel-friendly and easy to learn. Only one has a game board, and the others fit in the palm of your hand. All can be played in teams and promote family bonding. (more…)
Prevent Your Kids from Sports Related Injuries
By J.R. Rogers
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, High school athletes account for an estimated 2 million injuries each year. Overuse injuries are responsible for nearly half of all sports injuries to middle and high school students. Since 2000 there has been a fivefold increase in the number of serious shoulder and elbow injuries among youth baseball and softball players.
How does injury occur?
An Injury stems from the muscles inability to absorb force. When the muscle doesn’t absorb force properly, the joints, ligaments, and bones have to absorb the force. This now creates the injury. Think of a car: if the struts and shocks become weak and don’t absorb the force of the road, all of the bearings and bushings will get ruined over time. (more…)
Tween Skin Care Tips
Tips on teaching your girls how to care for their skin.
By Anna Yuhan
A day in the life of a tween can be stressful. Keeping up with schoolwork, extracurricular activities and friends are hard enough without having to worry about your skin. Many busy girls come home from school, do their homework, eat dinner and go to sleep without washing their faces before bed. As a result, they can suffer from breakouts and may not know the cause.
Research has proven that one of the secrets to helping young women have confidence starts with them being comfortable with how they look and feel. Without a lot on the market to choose from, young girls end up either using their mother’s skincare or nothing at all. As the mother of two tween girls myself, I know how important it is to maintain good skincare habits. I want them to be confident about who they are, and good skin can really affect self-esteem. All young women should have access to affordable products and accurate information about taking care of themselves from an early age. (more…)
Are You Spending Too Much?
By Natalie Do
“Something’s gotta give,” Anne ponders after looking at her overwhelming schedule. She has to leave the office by 5 p.m. to pick up her son. Knowing that she can’t fit in everything, Anne cancels her lunch and moves the dentist appointment to tomorrow. She has to rearrange her priorities to make her day work.
What Every Mom Should Know About The Early Years
Statistics on early childhood care and adult success.
By Negin Ascher
When life gets crazy, it’s easy to miss opportunities to nurture our youngest children. In fact, statistics indicate that very few Americans truly understand the impact of a child’s earliest years. In California, the state’s financial commitment to early care and education declines with each successive round of budget cuts.
Yet, we know now that there is a biological window of development that, once past, can hardly be revisited. We know that the earliest years are the time of greatest development and brain formation and the best predictors of eventual educational attainment, social contributions and even happiness. (more…)
Spooky Halloween Recipes
By Catherine McCord
Chocolate Tofu Pudding Pots (Serves 4)
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 14 oz package soft silken tofu (i like house foods soft silken or mori-nu firm silken)
- 1/3 cup pure cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup agave nectar (feel free to use a little more if you want it sweeter)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 24 chocolate wafers (i like using famous chocolate wafers) gummy worms (i know, it’s candy. if you think of a healthier “worm” substitute, go for it. or, you can leave them out altogether.)
- 4 small clay flower pots