Random acts of kindness feel good. They feel good when you’re on the receiving side of the equation…and they feel even better when you’re on the giving side. But did you know there are health benefits, too?
Research is showing that people who help others actually become happier, healthier, and live longer than people who don’t.
It’s a reality of parenting life: you find yourself discussing the topic of ‘poop’ more often than you ever imagined possible. Otherwise interesting, well-rounded, and educated adults can fill entire evenings with stories of bathtub "incidents," mid-flight diaper changes, and adventures in toilet training. What, exactly, did we talk about before this fascinating subject entered our lives?
Sometimes, however, the poop isn’t quite so free-flowing as the conversation. Got a constipated kid? Read on.
Dark circles under your eyes—is there anything more instantly aging? If you don’t happen to be a middle linebacker, the dark smudge look is probably not what you’re going for. So what causes those pesky, persistent dark shadows under your eyes? And more importantly—what can you do about them?
It’s an under-recognized cause of sleep trouble in kids. But it’s not uncommon. It’s nothing sexy or new-age, and it’s not a new discovery.
I’m talking about iron deficiency.
Hands up: who’s familiar with bedtime battles? Just about all of us. But I bet, for some of you, iron is at the root of those battles, and you don’t even realize it yet.
It's time to call attention to an under-recognized health habit—and this one is free, has no calories, and you won’t need to make a trip to the health food store OR to the gym to reap the benefits. I’m talking about cuddling. Human touch—and I’m not even talking sexual contact, necessarily—simply hugging, cuddling, and snuggling, conveys substantial health benefits.
The other day I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I was passing by…and woah. The bags stopped me in my tracks. And I’m not talking Coach here.
I know I’m not alone in this. We’ve all been there, right? So...what causes under-eye bags? And, more importantly, how do we get rid of them?
Judging from the overwhelming response to a question about flu shots on YMC’s Facebook page recently, I’d say this is a hot-button issue with moms. And pretty polarizing. I’m not entirely surprised; these days vaccines are, shall we say, a tad…controversial. So it can be incredibly confusing to know what to do. Your best bet? To make a decision that works for you and your family, based on solid information. Not dogma, not propaganda, and certainly not fear.
“Me Time” is a very rare commodity for me these days, just like all moms. Stay-at-home moms have plenty of challenges, I know—I was there, once upon a time.
If you've got little ones, does it feel like your neurons are dying as you read Goodbye Moon (as lovely as it is) for the 246th time? If you've got older kids is their math homework making you break out in a sweat? There are many reasons for wanting to upgrade your smarty-pants quotient. But is there anything you can do?
My workdays at the clinic have been pretty full of mucus lately. Just about everyone who walks through the door is coughing or sneezing or clutching a sore throat or some variation of the above. And I’ve noticed, as always, a whole lot of confusion when it comes to colds and the flu.
I admit to needing a little distraction right now, in the aftermath of the unspeakable tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. At the same time, I admit to feeling somewhat guilty about entertaining that need. There are people out there who are suffering through a living nightmare, and I’m looking to soothe my own nerves? How self-absorbed. How trivial. Right?
But, the truth is, we all need to move forward. We all need to stay functional, for our own mental health, and for the health of our families.
So Kate Middleton is pregnant. (YAY!) But she’s also in hospital. (BOO!) She was admitted with hyperemesis gravidarum. (Um...say what?)
Hyperemesis is, essentially, a severe form of something many of us experience during pregnancy: morning sickness. But this is not a case of the Duchess being a bit of a princess (oh, poor me, I’m feeling a little sick...), because hyperemesis is a serious thing.
There’s something about cancer that induces fear in people.
Many, many patients sit themselves down in my office with various symptoms and signs, and if they let me peel away the layers, the actual fear of cancer is at the core of it all. It's their nasty little secret. Sometimes they voice it in a pseudo-joking way, “So I was thinking last night (ha, ha), what if this cough is cancer?” And then they get kind of serious, and the smile becomes a little wooden. “It’s not, though, right? Right?”
Seems like everyone is talking about going gluten-free these days, when just a few years ago hardly anyone had heard of the word. So, is gluten unhealthy? Are you doing yourself irreparable harm by eating it? Is it the underlying cause of your fatigue? Your gut troubles? Your acne? Your muffin top?
Got stress? (Who doesn’t?) Got time to soothe those worries away with regular spa appointments? Or chill out in the bath every night with a good book? Or go for a nice, long daily walk in the woods?
Um, no.
The problem with most of our stress-management tactics: they take too much time! Which is ironic, considering that much of mom-stress comes from not having enough time in the first place.
So here’s a quick stress-detox strategy that will hardly take any time at all:
Kids have been back in school for a while now, which means, of course, lots of shared germs. And (unfortunately)...critters, too! Yes, head lice is a common thing for many school-aged kids. If your little darling comes down with a case—what do you do?
Is it safe to colour your hair when you’re pregnant? Many, many women wonder about this. And, as with so many things, there is a lot of rumour out there, a lot of urban myth, and a lot of confusion. Is hair dye harmful to your developing baby? How much gets absorbed? Are there safe alternatives?
It’s BlissDom this weekend. I must admit, I’m fairly giddy with anticipation of this event. Mostly, I can't wait to finally meet all the fabulous women I’ve come know online. (Also, to be on a plane all by myself. I can read a book!
So, I’m facing down my 40th birthday. It’s two weeks away and, surprisingly, my mid-life crisis is holding off.
For now.
Anyone else remember that scene from When Harry Met Sally, where Meg Ryan is bawling her eyes out to Billy Crystal, and the cherry on top of her self-pity rant is: "And I’m going to be 40!" Harry says: "When?" She says: "Someday!" and continues wailing?
