Kids are flexible and bounce back from injury more quickly than adults, so we don’t often think about giving them massages. But massage therapy has many benefits for children. Massage lowers stress hormones—and stress is a big problem for kids in our fast-moving, achievement-oriented society. Massage can help calm children, giving them all the benefits of reduced stress, including better sleep and a lower risk of developing the many diseases that can result from stress. Massage also helps increase range of motion and decrease tension in the muscles, helping active children recover from physical injuries more quickly and prevent future injuries.
Community News
Book Club: Hack Your Anxiety
How to Make Anxiety Work for You in Life, Love, and All That You Do. What if anxiety is not a monster to be tamed, but a resource to be tapped? In this revolutionary book, Dr. Alicia Clark recognizes anxiety as the unsung hero in the path to success and happiness. It can become the motivating force that will lead to a better you, and The Anxiety Advantage aims to restore anxiety to its rightful place as a positive resource. Reclaim your anxiety as a powerful energy source, and bring yourself peace, growth and success.
Words to Live By
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
-John Wooden
Clean Eating: Matcha Green Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients: 2 frozen ripe bananas, 1/4 cup chopped ripe pineapple, 3/4 cup coconut milk, 2 tsp matcha green tea powder, 1 cup organic spinach or kale. Topping ideas: berries, coconut flakes, banana slices, chia seeds, almonds. Instructions: Add frozen banana slices, pineapple, coconut milk, matcha powder, and spinach to a blender and blend on high until creamy and smooth. Enjoy!
Black Seed Oil
Black Seed Oil
Black seed (Nigella sativa) is the new preferred therapeutic oil prized for its immune-boosting and antibacterial benefits to reduce respiratory, viral, and digestive ailments. This oil has been used medicinally in Middle Eastern cultures for millennia. Anecdotally, it’s been said to “cure everything except for death!” And the research is starting to back that up. Studies show that this versatile oil can regulate the immune system, benefit blood sugar, and has anti-cancer activity (Butt et al, 2010). Even though it’s known for its medicinal power, it can be used in cooking and food preparation. Look for a coldpressed black seed oil and for a synergistic blend, use oregano oil and black seed oil together. Look for a combination with vitamins A and D added to give your immune system the best tools to beat the bugs!
Citrus Oils Are Happy Oils!
Besides smelling amazing, citrus oils like bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and orange offer many health benefits. Limonene or D-Limonene, a natural compound found in citrus oils, has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Citrus oils have a positive effect on the lymphatic system, which helps your body detoxify. This can also help with problems such as poor circulation, allergies, cellulite, and fluid retention. The scent of citrus oils is a great mood booster, and you can add these oils to dish soap, hand soap, a carrier oil (for massage), or room freshening spray to enjoy them all day long!
DIY Nourishing Hair Mask
In the middle of winter, we need all the help with moisturizing that we can get! Luckily, ingredients like aloe vera can help soothe and moisturize winter dryness and itching. If you have a dry and itchy scalp or dry hair, try this nourishing aloe vera-based hair mask recipe. Combine about ½ cup of aloe vera gelly (increase amount if you have longer hair), a few drops of pure lemon juice, and 1 tbsp of coconut oil in a blender. Add mixture to hair and let sit for 30 minutes. Use shampoo on hair before wetting it, then rinse thoroughly.
Children Who Struggle to Read
A child who really struggles to learn to read could be among the 1 in 4 children who suffer from learning-related vision disorders. It’s important that parents and teachers recognize the signs and symptoms that indicate a vision problem (unrelated to glasses) that is interfering with a child’s ability to read and learn. To ensure a child is not suffering from a hidden visual dysfunction, a developmental visual evaluation is required. This evaluation looks at 16 other visual skills required for learning that regular eye exams do not address. Through vision therapy, these vision problems can be fixed.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Q: What did the pickle say to the sliced cucumber? A: Dill with it!
FUN FACT: Eating pickles increases good bacteria in your gut. A pickle can boost the probiotic content of any meal you eat. (find pickles without added sugar in the refrigerated section of your local health food store)
Mental Health for Moms
Remember the old saying, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”? It’s true, but it’s also another weight on those of us who are moms and feel like we’re responsible for everyone’s happiness. The stress of feeling responsible for kids, our partner, our work, and everything else in life takes its toll on our mental health. Still we push on, because it seems like everyone else has a grip and is doing just fine. Nothing could be further from the truth. Almost everyone struggles with mental health issues, which include anxiety, depression, negative thoughts, and a lack of joy. Talking to a professional can help improve mental health and your life overall so you can be the best mom possible.
Frustration-Free Denture Repairs
Super glue is a great adhesive for toys and shoes, but NOT for your dentures! It will build up around the broken edges of the denture and make it difficult or impossible to fix professionally. You may be left with uncomfortable or unusable dentures. Super glue can also cause gum inflammation or allergic reactions due to the chemicals it contains. Denture materials and super glue cannot bond in a way that will last or remain effective. Your saliva will dissolve the water-soluble glue, which will render it ineffective. Save yourself the frustration – let your denturist do the repairs!
