Family Life
Increase Fertility by Eating and Avoiding the Right Foods
Congratulations! You have decided to start a family and are looking for some fantastic tips on how to boost your fertility naturally with foods. Well, you have come to the right place. The truth is your diet can play a major role in your fertility, as it has the ability t...
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Early Detection for Newborns at Risk of Autism
Early detection of autism is important, and there may be a way to detect if a newborn is at risk. Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine found that abnormal placental folds and abnormal cell growths called trophoblast inclusions may be used to identify newborns that a...
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Managing Allergies to Pets
People love their pets like family and will gladly accept almost any sacrifice to have them as part of their lives – whether buying expensive food and toys, cleaning up dirty paw-prints on the rug, or replanting countless flowers dug up in the yard. But dealing with aller...
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Is Your Child Constipated?
There’s a lot of confusion about what “regular” means. That’s because different specialists will cite different norms for what is considered normal or healthy when it comes to children’s bowel movements. And although you may hear that famous quote that “everybody’s differ...
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Sustained Stress Increases Risk of Miscarriage
In an effort to study whether stress plays a significant role in miscarriages, researchers went to the heart of sustained stress, in two towns near the Gaza Strip. Since 2001, the Israeli town of Sderot and nearby Kiryat Gat have been under the constant threat of bombings...
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Borax Isn't Really a Safe Household Cleaner
I've used Borax for countless functions over the years, including as part of a paste (with some added water) to scrub the tub. 20 Mule Team Borax is truly "all natural" as the company proclaims, but all natural doesn't necessarily mean non-toxic. The E...
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Backyard Burial
Theres something appealing about the return to family cemetery plots on land where the decedent lived. And theres obviously a very, very long tradition of this. It’s what families did for generations -- burying their loved ones on the family property. It’s done more typically ...
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Cell Phone Use In Pregnancy & Hyperactivity
Yale School of Medicine researchers found that exposure to radiation from using cell phones while pregnant affects the brain development of fetuses, and could possible lead to hyperactivity. The results are based on studies conducted on mice. The researchers exposed pregnant m...
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EWG Releases Online Cleaning Products Guide
Chances are great that if you use conventional household cleaners, they contain toxic ingredients. It is difficult to determine exactly what ingredients many cleaners contain. Only seven percent of the cleaning products adequately disclose their contents, according to the Envi...
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Vitamins for Dogs and Cats
As a pet owner, you have likely come across many vitamins and supplements for dogs and cats, readily available at your local pet supply store. It is important to understand the purpose of additional supplements and to monitor your pet’s intake of them from various sources in ...
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Does Bribery Work?
Does bribing your kids work?Giving a child a choice empowers him/her unlike punishment, rewards, or bribes. The use of these methods belongs to the authoritarian system and the firm establishment of power. In a system of equals, a job gets done because it needs doing, an...
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How To Bury Your Pet, Naturally
When it comes to sending a favorite furry friend off into the grand beyond, cremation is the most common practice, but a natural home burial is also commonplace – for those with yards.If this is the option that works for you, you may want to check in with any local ordina...
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Beach Safety For Dogs
This summer, a day at the beach can be an enjoyable experience for the entire family, including Fido! Ensure your trip is fun and safe with some extra planning and preparation for your pet. Before heading out, be sure to check the ordinances for the beach you plan to visit, ...
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Loving Your Senior Pet
As a dog owner, you are conscientious about your pet’s healthy diet and exercise routine. As he ages, it is important to be aware of his day-to-day demeanor and habits. Caring for an aging pet often requires some special considerations and adjustments to a daily routine. Wi...
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Things To Do Before You Get Pregnant
Your life is going to change when you get pregnant, that is a fact. So being of the preventative mindset, I believe it is best to be as prepared as you can be, prior to doing the deed. Here are a few tips to get you thinking about what you can do to ensure a healthy home for y...
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Prenatal Vitamins Before Pregnancy?
Many women know the importance of taking prenatal vitamins while they are pregnant. But did you know that studies show it may be just as important to start taking prenatal vitamins even before you conceive?Recent research links taking prenatal multivitamins in the months ...
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Eating Disorders In Children
Believe it or not, recent studies show that boys and girls as young as 7 years old are suffering from body image and eating disorder issues. More and more kids are struggling to live up to the unrealistic images they see in the media and are willing to put their lives at...
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Tips For Pet Grooming In The Winter
When the weather outside is frightful, your canine companions are most likely spending a lot more time indoors. It might seem that pet grooming is not necessary during the chillier winter months because pets are not as active, or because a longer coat will help keep the...
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Children's Nutrition: Colorful Plates
Parents of picky eaters ask themselves the same question every day: how do I ensure my children are getting the nutrition they need? When a child’s palate is limited to only a handful of food choices, we naturally worry that he is not receiving all the vitamins, mineral...
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Heavy Metals and Kids Health
Aluminum, copper, mercury and lead are words we are familiar with and associate with things like piping and industry. Today however these heavy metals are far more prevalent than many of us parents realize and are subsequently affecting the delicate health of our childre...
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What Is Amniocentesis?
If you are close to or on the other side of 35 years old and pregnant, you have probably been offered the option of doing an amniocentesis. An amniocentesis is a screening procedure that extracts amniotic fluid from the uterus and examines it for genetic disorders or chr...
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Healthy Egg Nog Recipe
Sugar free, dairy free eggnog with a baby makin’ twist...yep, you heard that right. Holidays are just around the corner, and I for one am craving a little delicious nog. I try to steer clear of the commercial eggnog (non-organic dairy, that is loaded with refined sugar and oft...
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Immune Boosters For Kids (And Adults)
Your immune system is your bodys natural defense against illness and disease. Keeping your immune system healthy will ensure that your body will know exactly what to do when you are exposed to a cold, the flu, or other infections. It also knows exactly what to do if you ...
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Natural Head Lice Treatment
Most parents dread lice - the pesky little critters that love to set up house in our children’s hair. We dread even the word because we know if its being tossed around at school that it means that one of the students is infected – or rather infested. This also means tha...
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Hair Loss After Pregnancy
Many women are surprised to find out that starting at around month 3 post partum, they begin losing hair. At first they may not even notice, as it may simply be a few strands here and there. But eventually it becomes hard to ignore with several – maybe dozens - of strand...
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Dog Boots & Dog Sweaters: Pets In Winter
With the chilly air and the early arrival of ice and snow in many areas of the country, please remember that it is also important to take precautions with your furry friends to ensure they stay warm and safe.Outdoor SafetyIf your dog spends a significant amount...
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Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
With the economic changes of the past few years and an unwelcomed slew of natural disasters, there is widespread overpopulation of healthy, adoptable pets in animal shelters across the United States. Throughout the month of October, the American Humane Association is spotlight...
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Can Parents Do Anything To Prevent Autism?
With autism statistics sharply on the rise, many parents are asking whether they can do anything to prevent the condition from affecting their unborn or newborn children. While in the past many doctors and experts would have dismissed this possibility, claiming that auti...
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Recognizing Childhood Illnesses
One of the less pleasant things about having children is the childhood diseases that come with the territory. As much as we parents try to protect our little guys from getting sick or feeling unwell, there is only so much we can do. Children simply get sick – often from ...
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Fertility and Age
More and more of us are waiting longer to have our children. These days in urban centers around the country it is almost more uncommon for educated, career-minded women to have a child under 30 then it is to have one over 35. Times have changed for us and women are wanti...
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Baby's Immune System
As with all other organs and systems in the body, a newborn is not born with a fully developed immune system at birth. Rather, their immunity - a protective function consisting of cells, proteins, and organs - grows and strengthens with time, striving with each new day t...
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Bad Dog Breath
If your canine’s kisses are tough to stomach, you are not alone. But do not ignore the warning signs of foul breath, as a few extra steps in your pet care routine could help make those nose-to-nose moments more enjoyable.The Cause of Canine HalitosisThere are ...
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Pet-Friendly Fruits For Your Dog
There is nothing better during the hot summer months that the sun-ripened and refreshing taste of fresh fruit. While you are kicking back by the pool and enjoying a tasty fruit snack, feel free to share some of it with Fido. Just like humans, most healthy dogs thrive best on...
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How To Pump Breast Milk
For mothers who choose to breastfeed, the one downside that is commonly noted is the lack of freedom they have to leave baby for more than an hour or so at a time. Since breastfed newborns rely strictly on mom for their existence, new moms have little flexibility to leav...
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Making Sense of Baby's Dirty Diapers
For new parents even changing a diaper can be daunting. Its not the physical act itself that is particularly challenging but rather interpreting the contents. Just how do you know that the color and consistency of what you find in your little one’s nappy is what it is su...
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Keep Your Pets Cool This Summer
With the summer in full swing and more time spent outdoors, you can definitely include your pets in the family fun. Just like when you take precautions for your own health while in the sun—like staying hydrated and applying sunscreen—it is important to be proactive and ...
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Protective Strategies For Diarrhea
At some point in your young child’s life they will probably develop diarrhea. This protective mechanism results from their body’s attempt to expel a pathogen or substance that has caused them irritation or an upset of sorts. Diarrhea can range from being a minor irritati...
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First Foods For Baby: What and When?
Many debates abound over what foods to introduce first and at what exact point we should introduce them to our growing babies. We often hear one opinion from our mothers and quite possibly another from our doctors. Our best friend can give us advice on what the moms in h...
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Pet Food Allergies
“Gluten-free” and “wheat-free” are common terms arising in human nutrition topics, and most recently in pet nutrition. It is important that new pet owners as well as those who find themselves taking too many trips to the vet's office should be well informed about p...
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Take Your Dog To Work Day
Mark your calendars! National Take Your Dog to Work Day, a holiday that started in 1999 to celebrate and promote pet adoption, is June 24th. But before you invite your four-legged friend to join your morning commute, take some time to plan and ensure that the day is sa...
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