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Back-to-School Physical: 3 Questions to Ask Your Child’s Doctor

(NEW YORK) August 10, 2010 – You help your child stay physically active. You set a good example by serving and eating nutritious foods. And you make sure there are healthy lifestyle choices at home and at school. But even as the quarterback for your child’s health, you still need some coaching. By talking with your child’s doctor, you can make an age-appropriate plan that’s a perfect fit for your child.

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Wellness Workbook

How to Achieve Enduring Health and Vitality

by John W. Travis, M.D., Regina Sara R

For more than 30 years, John W. Travis, M.D., and Regina Sara Ryan have introduced thousands to the concept of wellness, a practical whole-self approach to healthy living. From how you breathe to how you view the world, the 12 interconnected elements of the Wellness Energy System affect all aspects of your life: your disposition toward injury and illness, your relationships, your general level of happiness, and beyond. In an optimal state of wellness, you are less prone to disease, stress, and other life-depleting factors.


Madlynn is Kid of the Month

Top 10 Food Mistakes

Food Mistake #1: You reach for multigrain bread or cereal

Foods labeled 7-grain or multigrain may seem like the healthiest choices—especially with new findings showing that a diet rich in whole grains protects against heart disease, cancer, and other ills.

The famed Nurses' Health Study documented lower rates of heart disease and stroke among whole grain eaters. Experts don't know all the reasons behind the benefits, but they do know that intact grains are rich in fiber and nutrients—including vitamin E, B vitamins, and magnesium—that are stripped away when grains are refined into flour.

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Tips for a Healthier Holiday

The holiday season is a magnificent time of year, but it can also be challenging for families trying to eat healthy and stay physically active. Between family gatherings, parties, lots of food and traveling, healthy habits can get left in the cold. But the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, has tools and tips to help families stay healthy and physically active while still enjoying the holiday season.

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Ten Tips for a Healthier Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving provides the perfect opportunity to make healthier choices for your family meal. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, suggests the following tips to ensure a healthy and delicious Thanksgiving meal:

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Where the Bugs Are

Is there a more potent symbol of purity than the fluffy white snowflake, wafting from heaven and landing--ping!--on the tip of your tongue? Well, along comes the journal Science to spoil the fun, noting that bacteria called Pseudomonas syringe are lurking at the dark heart of many an earthbound crystal of frozen water. And if Frosty the Snowman is a target, what chance do the rest of us have?

A pretty good one, actually-- if you make note of the places where the bugs lie and swat them before they can do harm. Here's an updated to-disinfect list for all the surprising places (and people) contagion clings to.

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More Than a Fridge Filler: Clever Uses for Baking Soda

By Olivia Kuhn-Lloyd of Intent

As elements of spring start to peak through, I’m inspired to freshen up my beauty routine, which has always been minimal. Winter has taken its toll on my skin and hair and enough is enough! It’s time to peal back the curtain. Influenced by these ten beauty essentials totaling seventy-five dollars, I started to think about glow- and shine-inducing products that I already have on-hand and, my favorite of the bunch, baking soda.

How can my favorite multi-purpose (beauty) product enhance your grooming routines? Read on. (More than a dusted off Redbook list, these applications for baking soda are a compilation of research, polls, and personal use.)

Where to buy? For how much?
Baking Soda is ubiquitous. It does not vary by brand nor fall into different price brackets. It’s reliable and will always come to the siren call of your beauty needs.
It’s available. You can purchase it at supermarkets, bodegas, drug stores, and gas station mini-marts.
The price is right. The average drugstore sells baking soda for less than three dollars.

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10 things your hospital won't tell you

by SmartMoney

"Oops, wrong kidney."

Treatment errors are common, finding someone in charge can seem impossible, and patients sometimes wind up sicker than when they arrived. And here's a tip: Try to avoid hospitals late at night and in July.


In recent years, errors in treatment have become a serious problem for hospitals, ranging from operations on wrong body parts to medication mix-ups.

At least 1.5 million patients are harmed every year from being given the wrong drugs, according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. That's an average of one person per U.S. hospital per day.

One reason these mistakes persist: Only 10% of hospitals are fully computerized and have a central database to track allergies and diagnoses, says Robert Wachter, the chief of medical service at UC San Francisco Medical Center.

But signs of change are emerging. More than 3,000 U.S. hospitals, or 75% of the country's beds, have signed on for a campaign by the not-for-profit Institute for Healthcare Improvement to implement prevention measures such as multiple checks on drugs.

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Diets around the world

TODAY diet and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstorm looks at some of the diet secrets from around the world.

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Obesity and alternative medicine

TODAY nutrition and diet editor Madelyn Fernstrom discusses whether some unconventional methods can help to win the battle of the bulge.

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Consumer: fitness news
 

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Single Moms - find here resources on financial aid, scholarships, help with basic needs, food, prescription drugs, health care, housing, legal info, and much more...

Your Health Online


Going online can be a convenient way to research health care products and find answers to health-related questions. But taking your health online also requires some extra investigative effort on your part.

Know who’s on the other end. Before you hand over any personal or financial information, do some research to find out who you’re dealing with, and make sure the website is secure.

Consider the source. In a health search, always consider who’s behind the information. Government websites (sites ending in .gov) and university or medical school websites (.edu) are good bets.

Only buy prescription drugs from licensed, U.S. pharmacies. Reputable pharmacies should require a prescription, have a licensed pharmacist to answer questions, and provide a physical business address and phone number.

Talk to your doctor or health professional. Your doctor can tell you about the effectiveness and risks of a health care product. Don’t trust a website just because it looks professional.

Report online fraud. If you think you may be a victim of fraud, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FDA).

Going online can be a convenient way to compare prescription drug prices, research health products and services, answer health questions, or do some research ahead of your next medical appointment.

If you’ve spent much time searching or shopping online, you may already know the usual precautions to take - like making sure you have up-to-date security software on your computer. When you take your health online, the same rules apply, and so do a few others.

Tips for being smart and safe when dealing with health information and health care products online:

Consider the source.

When you’re looking for health information online, it’s easy to get a lot of misinformation along the way. Instead of a random search, try starting with trusted sources. Two great choices are MedlinePlus (medlineplus.gov) and Healthfinder.gov (healthfinder.gov), government websites that let you look up hundreds of health topics and the latest health headlines.

Wherever you start your health search, always consider who’s behind the information. Government websites (sites ending in .gov) are a good bet. So are university or medical school websites (.edu) and sites for trusted, nationally recognized health or research facilities, like the Mayo Clinic. Not-for-profit groups with a mission that focuses on research and teaching the public about specific conditions (whose sites typically end in .org), can also be good resources, but keep in mind that “.org” doesn’t guarantee a site is reputable. Scammers can set up bogus .org sites.

Only buy prescription drugs from licensed U.S. pharmacies..

What looks like an online pharmacy could be a front for a scammer or identity thief. The sites may use official looking seals and logos, promise money back guarantees, and “look” legitimate, but all of that can be faked. You could end up with products that are fake, expired, mislabeled, or the wrong dosage. They could even contain dangerous ingredients. Or, you might pay for a prescription and never get your order — or your money — back.

So how can you tell if you’re dealing with a legitimate U.S. pharmacy? To see if a pharmacy is licensed in the U.S., check with the state board of pharmacy where it’s based. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) at www.nabp.info has information on each state’s board. NABP also has a list of online pharmacies that meet extra NABP criteria and have been accredited through its Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program. Reputable pharmacy websites also should require a prescription, have a licensed pharmacist to answer questions, and provide a physical business address and phone number.

Talk to your doctor or health professional..

As you look for answers to your health questions, you might come across websites or ads for pills or other products that make some pretty big promises. They may say their product will cure a serious condition like arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and HIV-AIDS, or that one product will cure a range of conditions. Or, the ad might just be for a weight loss pill that says you can lose weight without exercising or changing how you eat.

The products may be called “scientific breakthroughs” or “ancient remedies,” or the ads may use scientific-sounding words like “thermogenesis,” or safe-sounding words like “natural.” Scammers can be creative. But the reality is that most of these products are useless, and at best a waste of money. Others are flat-out dangerous to your health.

Don’t trust a website just because it looks professional or has success stories from “real people.” The stories may be made up, or the people may be actors or models paid to praise the product. Instead, before you think about trying a health product, ask your doctor about it. Your doctor can tell you about the risks of a product, as well as how it could affect any medicine you’re taking or treatments you’re getting.

How to Report if You’ve Been a Victim of an Online Fraud

If you think you may be a victim of fraud, file a complaint with the FTC. You also can file a complaint with:

The attorney general's office in your state.
Your county or state consumer protection agency. Check the blue pages of the phone book under county and state government, or visit consumeraction.gov and look under “Where to File a Complaint.”
The Better Business Bureau.
Econsumer.gov, where you can report complaints about online and related transactions with foreign companies.

Report problems with a medication or medical device to the FDA.

 

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Utility Prices are Significant Expenses

by Randi Lynn Millward

I don't know about you, but my electric bill is sky-high. I've been running around the house unplugging everything in sight so as not to incur charges from my appliances using "phantom energy".

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Because you are somebody special!

by Annette Bridges

Since my trip to Italy, my husband and I have enjoyed a delicious breakfast routine that often includes French toast, fresh fruit and a yummy cup of cappuccino.

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Our Friendships

by Laurie Cesario-Overton

We all have those days when we get overwhelmed and it seems like every time we turn around there is another problem.

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3 Money Rules for Stay-at-Home Moms

As we all know, life is unpredictable. We lose jobs, get divorced and even become widowed...
Here are three steps stay-at-home parents should take to better manage their own and the family’s finances.

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You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options

How Life Works

If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.

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Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?

A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.

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Offer to barter

Dr. Marie - Advice for Pet Owners

A vetʼs office is a business that requires a lot of services. In many cases your vet may be willing to barter in exchange for veterinary services.

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How to Find the Best Car Loans for Single Moms

Financial Advice for Single Moms

The best car loans for single mothers might be just around the corner at your local car lot.

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Crystal Bowersox - A Single Mom And A Real American Idol

Read how the amazing Crystal Bowersox. the runner-up of American Idol Season 9, handles fame and life as a single mom, raising her 17 month old son.

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5 Ways for Single Moms to Save Money

Single moms are always looking for ways to save money, and for good reason... It’s important to find ways to cut corners on the little things that perhaps you don’t think about too often, because those are usually where your biggest money drains are.

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Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis

OPRAH.com

Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...

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Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan

by RealSimple

Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with the extra set of keys to your house?

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How to save $10,000

By Liz Pulliam Weston

If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that $10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as: Housing, Transportation, Food.

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The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget

by Renee Rayles

A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has

little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and then.

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Single Mothers &
Male Role-Models / Mentors

Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another equally-invested adult.

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Mom's Obesity Raises Newborn's Heart Risk

from the National Institute of Health

The more obese a woman is when she becomes pregnant, the greater the likelihood that her newborn baby will have a congenital heart defect, a new study suggests. The finding raises concerns because 1 in 5 women are obese at the start of pregnancy in the United States.

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The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip

By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman

... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.

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Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity

20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.

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Single Moms in the News

6 Best Celebrity Single Moms
Read about Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Williams, Reese Witherspoon, Kimora Lee Simmons, Mary-Louise Parker... read more

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

by Jeff Kinney

For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...

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Dangerous Supplements

What you don't know about these 12 ingredients could hurt you

by Consumer Reports

We Americans do love our dietary supplements. More than half of the adult population have taken them to stay healthy, lose weight, gain an edge in sports or in the bedroom, and avoid using prescription drugs.

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10 Superfoods That Should Be in Your Daily Diet

Supercharge your diet with these doctor-approved upgrades

As Told to Max Alexander, Best Life

My interest in what is now known as integrative medicine began many years ago when I was a teenager and witnessed my grandmother battle a breast-cancer recurrence. In those days, it was typical for patients receiving chemotherapy to be confined to a hospital bed. Nothing was done to stop her decline—not nutritionally, not physically, not really medically—and she eventually wasted away and died in her bed.

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The Twenty Healthiest Foods for Under $1

By: Brie Cadman

Food prices are climbing, and some might be looking to fast foods and packaged foods for their cheap bites.

But low cost doesn’t have to mean low quality. In fact, some of the most inexpensive things you can buy are the best things for you. At the grocery store, getting the most nutrition for the least amount of money means hanging out on the peripheries—near the fruits and veggies, the meat and dairy, and the bulk grains—while avoiding the expensive packaged interior. By doing so, not only will your kitchen be stocked with excellent foods, your wallet won’t be empty.


Read more about the great nutritional value of these twenty healthiest foods under $1: Oats, Eggs, Kale, Potatoes, Apples, Nuts, Bananas, Garbanzo Beans, Brocolli, Watermelon, Wild Rice, Beets, Butternut Squash, Whole Grain Pasta, Sardines, Spinach, Tofu, Lowfat Milk, Pumpkin Seeks, Coffee...

How to eat healthy on the cheap

TODAY diet and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom talks with TODAY host Meredith Vieira about some ways to cut down your grocery bill, while still buying nutritious foods.

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Take Your Licks

Icy treats for 160 calories or less — how cool is that?

by Loren Chidoni, Women's Health

When you're squeezing into last year's tankini, the dessert end of the freezer aisle seems taboo. But what would summer be without popsicles and fro-yo? Sucky, that's what. To find frosty goodies that won't test the limits of Lycra, we sampled 27 kinds. The result: these eight amazing, guilt-free indulgences — and one mother of an ice-cream headache.

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10 Reasons You're Not Losing That Weight

If losing weight were simple, Spanx would be just a screen name in an S&M chat room. But dieting is complicated: There are even ways to screw up without realizing it. For instance, who would ever think that working out in the a.m. or cranking the AC might be the reason you're not slimming down? Luckily, once you've ID'd these flubs, fixing them is nowhere near as hard as pulling on a pair of control-top hose.

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How to Be a Budget Organic

What's worth the extra cost, what's not, and how to save in other ways

by Cynthia Sass, RD, Prevention

With all the news about rising food costs, you may be wondering if the organic milk you've been putting in your cart is worth the extra cash. It is. Organic food is more expensive, but when it comes to the staples of your diet, organics are a worthwhile investment, with payoffs that might surprise you. The benefits influence your health today—and long-term.

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Eat your way to less stress

Whether you're anxious, irritable, angry or suffering from insomnia, Dr. David Simon discusses which foods can help.

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The truth about chocolate

Can this sweet treat be beneficial to your health? TODAY diet and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom has the answer.

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