Guest guest Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008  Nine Ways Humor Can Heal Posted: 17 Jul 2008 10:41 AM CDT Contributed by: Nanci Baren When life has you feeling weighed down, laugh a little and feel your heart lighten. Of all my tools to combat stress-especially the stress of dealing with my illness or someone else's--humor is by far the most fun. And just like mastering the craft of writing, I'm finding that the longer I practice laughing at life (especially at its frustrations) the better I become at it, and the more situations and conversations and complications I can place into that category named "silly." G. K. Chesterton once wrote: "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly." And Proverbs 17:22 says that "a happy heart is good medicine." I'd add that human beings and their caretakers can heal and find joy again if they learn how to laugh. Here are just a few ways a dose of humor might transform something ugly and stressful to slightly entertaining, and, well, a tad less catastrophic. Click here to have a double income 1. Humor Combats Fear I know this first hand, having sat in the community room of a psych ward watching a video of a comedian poking fun at depression. Like everyone else in that room, I was scared to death of many things: that I would never smile again, or love again, or even WANT to love again. I was fearful of life. That panic didn't instantly transform into a hearty chuckle once the psych nurse popped in the funny video. But the climate of the room was noticeably different. Patients began to open up more, to share some of the details they had left out in the prior group therapy session. Humor disengages fear because it changes your perspective both on the past and the present. A traumatic childhood episode loses its tight grip on your heart if you can place it into the "ridiculous" category of other stories from the past. With a playful perspective, you can remove yourself from a marital problem that has you debilitated with anxiety. Laughter forces a few steps--some much-needed distance-- between a situation and our reaction. We all would do well to follow the advice of Leo Buscaglia: "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. And swing!" 2. Humor Comforts Charlie Chaplin once said, "To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it." I suppose that's why some of the funniest people out there- Colbert, Robin , Ben Stiller, Art Buchwald-have journeyed through periods of torment. There is an unspoken message hidden within a chuckle that says this: "I promise, you'll get through this." Just like the comforting hug of your mom when you were three. In fact, New York City's Big Apple Circus has used humor to console sick children since 1986, when they started sending teams of clowns into hospital rooms with "rubber chicken soup" and other fun surprises. "Its for the children, yes," explains Jane Englebardt, deputy director of the circus, in an "American Fitness" article. "But it's also for the parents who, when they hear their children laugh for the first time in days or weeks, know everything's going to be O.K." 3. Humor Relaxes Like any exercise, laughing relaxes you and works against the chronic stress that most Americans wear on their shoulders. Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., a heart surgeon at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, explains why this is so in a 2005 "Reader's Digest" article: "When you push any engine, including your body, to its maximum, every once in a while it slips a gear. The ways the body manifests that are: irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, and increased sensitivity to pain. When people use humor, the autonomic nervous system just tones down a bit to take it off high gear, and that allows the heart to relax."GET A FREE .INFO DOMAIN BY REGISTERING HERE. LIMITED PERIOD OFFER! GET PAID TO POST PICTURES GET PAID TO RECEIVE EMAILS 4. Humor Reduces Pain Apparently the psych nurses at Laurel Regional Hospital weren't the only ones gathering patients around the TV to watch funny flicks or videos. Dr. Elias Shaya, chief of psychiatry at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore also tries to instill the importance of laughter in his patients. Says Dr. Shaya: "I advocate finding ways to laugh by watching comedy or engaging in looking up jokes and sharing them." "Humor rooms," which encourage people to use humor in their recovery from any kind of illness, are now available in some hospitals. And science backs these efforts. In a study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, humor very definitely seemed to diminish pain. Says Dave Traynor, M.Ed, director of health education at Natchaug Hospital in Mansfield Center, Connecticut in "American Fitness": "After surgery, patients were told one-liners prior to administration of potentially painful medication. The patients exposed to humor perceived less pain as compared to patients who didn't receive humor stimuli." 5. Humor Boosts the Immune System Whenever I prick myself accidentally, I tell a joke, and my finger doesn't bleed! Well, not exactly. But if you are laid up in bed with a terrible strain of the flu that your four-year-old brought home from her play date yesterday, try to find an itsy-bitsy thread of humor in your situation, and you'll be back to work in no time. Or, better yet, dwell in the misery and stay away from the cubicle longer. In 2006 researchers led by Lee Berk and Stanley A. Tan at Loma University in Loma , California, found that two hormones-beta-endorphins (which alleviate depression) and human growth hormone (HGH, which helps with immunity) increased by 27 and 87 percent respectively when volunteers anticipated watching a humorous video. Simply anticipating laughter boosted ealth-protecting hormones and chemicals. In his "American Fitness" article, Dave Traynor explains a separate study at Arkansas Tech University, in which concentrations of immunoglobulin A were increased after 21 fifth graders participated in a humor program. (I'm nervous to hear about the details of that fifth-grade humor program, because my kids roar whenever you throw out a bathroom term.) Laughter was once again found to increase the ability to fight viruses and foreign cells. 6. Humor Reduces Stress The same research team in Loma , California, conducted a similar study recently to see if the anticipation of laughter that was shown to boost immune systems could also reduce the levels of three stress hormones: cortisol ("the stress hormone"), epinephrine (adrenaline), and dopac, a dopamine catabolite (brain chemical which helps produce epinephrine). Click to join r_e_a_c_h_o_u_t They studied 16 fasting males, who were assigned to either the control group or the experiment group (those anticipating a humorous event). Blood levels showed that the stress hormones were reduced 39, 70, and 38 percent respectively. Therefore, researchers suggest that anticipating a positive event can reduce detrimental stress hormones. 7. Humor Spreads Happiness I remember playing the game of "Ha" as a young girl at my third-grade slumber party. I would lay my head of my friend's tummy, and she would lay her head on another friend's tummy, and so on. The first person would start the chain of laughs with a simple, "Ha!" The second person, "Ha Ha!" The third, "Ha Ha Ha," at which point everyone would break into hysterics. About absolutely nothing. The way a person's abdomen tightens and moves when she says "ha" makes you want to giggle. My point: laughter is contagious. That's why there are 5,000 laughter clubs around the world-where people laugh for no reason at all. Say what? According to Dr. Shaya of Good Samaritan Hospital, "These clubs have exercises that teach how to move your face, how to laugh more intensely to involve the shoulders, then the belly." Laughing yoga classes are also popular today. 8. Humor Cultivates Optimism Humor is like gratitude in that it nurtures optimism, and Dan Baker writes this in "What Happy People Know":"[Appreciation] is the first and most fundamental happiness tool...Research now shows it is physiologically impossible to be in a state of appreciation and a state of fear at the same time. Thus, appreciation is the antidote to fear." So if humor can change a perspective on a painful memory of the past or a gnawing issue of the present into opportunities to laugh at the inherent craziness of life at times, then a person can better facilitate his own healing. 9. Humor Helps Communication This is good marriage advice for anyone. But especially for the person prone to anxiety and depression. Most of 's and my fights end with one of us making a sarcastic remark that is met with a snicker, and then a yuk, and then a roar. Voila! The quarrel is magically resolved! Sort of. Humor is a way to articulate those truths that are so difficult to express otherwise. It's handy language for someone like myself that doesn't like to use big words, who is still fretting about her low verbal SAT scores because the college administrators didn't think they were funny. If only they had read this article! By Therese J. Borchard You may also like to read - The Nine Biggest Myths of the Workplace by Penelop... The NEW Age 10 Obscure Facts Difference Between a CV and a Resume: Ahmed Imam Out of the Box Thinking Posted: 20 Jul 2008 10:25 AM CDT Origin: Unknown Contributed by: Ahmed Imam Earn upto 6,250 per day A man eats two eggs each morning for breakfast. When he goes to the grocery store he pays 60 cents a dozen. Since a dozen eggs won't last a week he normally buys two dozens at a time. One day while buying eggs he notices that the price has risen to 72 cents. The next time he buys groceries, eggs are 76 cents a dozen. When asked to explain the price of eggs the store owner says, "The price has gone up and I have to raise my price accordingly". This store buys 100 dozen eggs a day. He checked around for a better price and all the distributors have raised their prices. The distributors have begun to buy from the huge egg farms. The small egg farms have been driven out of business. The huge egg farms sell 100,000 dozen eggs a day to distributors. With no competition, they can set the price as they see fit. The distributors then have to raise their prices to t he grocery stores. And on and on and on. As the man kept buying eggs the price kept going up. He saw the big egg trucks delivering 100 dozen eggs each day. Nothing changed there. He checked out the huge egg farms and found they were selling 100,000 dozen eggs to the distributors daily. Nothing had changed but the price of eggs. Then week before Thanksgiving the price of eggs shot up to $1.00 a dozen. Again he asked the grocery owner why and was told, "Cakes and baking for the holiday". The huge egg farmers know there will be a lot of baking going on and more eggs will be used. Hence, the price of eggs goes up. Expect the same thing at Christmas and other times when family cooking, baking, etc. happen. This pattern continues until the price of eggs is 2.00 a dozen. The man says, " There must be something we can do about the price of eggs". He starts talking to all the people in his town and they decide to stop buying eggs. This didn't work because everyone needed eggs. Finally, the man suggested only buying what you need. He ate 2 eggs a day. On the way home from work he would stop at the grocery and buy two eggs. Everyone in town started buying 2 or 3 eggs a day. The grocery store owner began complaining that he had too many eggs in his cooler. He told the distributor that he didn't need any eggs. Maybe wouldn't need any all week. The distributor had eggs filing up at his warehouse. Click to join r_e_a_c_h_o_u_t He told the huge egg farms that he didn't have any room for eggs would not need any for at least two weeks. At the egg farm, the chickens just kept on laying eggs. To relieve the pressure, the huge egg farm told the distributor that they could buy the eggs at a lower price. The distributor said, " I don't have the room for the %$ & ^* & % eggs even if they were free". T he distributor told the grocery store owner that he would lower the price of the eggs if the store would start buying again. The grocery store owner said, "I don't have room for more eggs. The customers are only buying 2 or 3 eggs at a time. Now if you were to drop the price of eggs back down to the original price, the customers would start buying by the dozen again". The distributors sent that proposal to the huge egg farmers but the egg farmers liked the price they were getting for their eggs but, those chickens just kept on laying. Fin ally, the egg farmers lowered the price of their eggs. But only a few cents. The customers still bought 2 or 3 eggs at a time. They said, "when the price of eggs gets down to where it was before, we will start buying by the dozen." Slowly the price of eggs started dropping. The distributors had to slash their prices to make room for the eggs coming from the egg farmers. The egg farmers cut their prices because the distributors wouldn't buy at a higher price than they were selling eggs for. Anyway, they had full warehouses and wouldn't need eggs for quite a while. And those chickens kept on laying. Eventually, the egg farmers cut their prices because they were throwing away eggs they couldn't sell. The distributors started buying again because the eggs were priced to where the stores could afford to sell them at the lower price. And the customers starting buying by the dozen again. Now, transpose this analogy to the gasoline industry. What if everyone only bought $10.00 worth of gas each time they pulled to the pump? The dealer's tanks would stay semi full all the time. The dealers wouldn't have room for the gas coming from the huge tank farms. The tank farms wouldn't have room for the gas coming from the refining plants. And the refining plants wouldn't have room for the oil being off loaded from the huge tankers coming from the oil fiends. Just $10.00 each time you buy gas. Don't fill it up. You may have to stop for gas twice a week but, the price should come down. Think about it. As an added note...When I buy $10.00 worth of gas that leaves my tank a little under quarter full. The way prices are jumping around, you can buy gas for $2.65 a gallon and then the next morning it can be $2.15. If you have your tank full of $2.65 gas you don't have room for the $2.15 gas. You might not understand the economics of only buying two eggs at a time but, you can't buy cheaper gas if your tank is full of the high priced stuff. Also, don't buy anything else at the gas station; don't give them any more of your hard earned money than what you spend on gas, until the prices come down..." Just think of this concept for a while. You may also like to read- Sharpen a child's thinking skills Ten Things you should NEVER include in your Resume... 13 Things your car mechanic would NEVER tell you (... Presented By: Ads by Pheedo 5 Foods for a Better Mood Posted: 22 Jul 2008 09:54 AM CDT 5 Foods for a Better Mood Contributed by: Nanci Baren 1) Oatmeal Oatmeal may help if you find yourself feeling irritable and cranky. It is rich in soluble fiber, which helps to smooth out blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar into the blood.Oatmeal is also a great food to help you stick with your diet plan, because the soluble fiber in oatmeal forms a gel that slows the emptying of your stomach so you don't feel hungry quickly.Other foods high in soluble fiber are: beans, peas, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apples.What to try:Add tasty toppings to oatmeal, such as: Low-fat granola and skim milk Coarsely chopped apple or unsweetened chunky applesauce with cinnamon Strawberries and sliced almonds 2) Walnuts Walnuts have long been thought of as a "brain food" because of their wrinkled, bi-lobed (brainlike) appearance. But now we know that walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a type of fat that's needed for brain cells and mood-lifting neurotransmitters to function properly and possible help some people with depression.Other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, flaxseeds, and omega-3 fortified eggs.What to try: Instead of reaching for a muffin as a snack, try walnuts and an apple. The fiber and good fat will also curb your appetite for longer. Try mixing crushed walnuts into yogurt as a snack. Sprinkle walnuts over salads. 3) Tea Although caffeine has been shown to lead to a more positive mood and improved performance, it's a fine line. Too much caffeine can make you dependent and make you nervous, irritable, hypersensitive or bring on headaches. What to try: A good strategy is to limit yourself to no more than one 8 oz. cup of coffee a day. Instead of that second cup, try making a cup of green tea. You can find it in teabag form in most grocery stores. Another option: chai. It's an Indian tea made with regular black tea plus spices such as cardamom and cinnamon. The spices also add a natural sweetness to the tea, which may help you cut back on sugar and sweeteners. If you're in the mood to try a new herbal tea, consider rooibos. Rooibos is a reddish brown tea that tastes more like regular black tea than other herbal teas. Like chai, rooibos also has a hint of natural sweetness, which makes it a good option for people trying to lose weight. Try hot rooibos tea plain, with a wedge of lemon, or with milk. It also makes a great iced tea. Rooibos can be found in health food stores, some grocery stores, online, and increasingly, in cafes and restaurants that serve herbal tea. 4) Salmon In the past few years, research has suggested that vitamin D may increase the levels of serotonin, one of the key neurotransmitters influencing our mood, and that it may help to relieve mood disorders. We get vitamin D mainly through exposure to sunlight and in lesser amounts, through food. But a recent study found that in Boston, exposure to sunlight during the months of November through February does not produce any significant amounts of vitamin D in skin. What to try: Canned salmon with bones is rich in vitamin D. It is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Subscribe to REACHOUT Instead of tuna for your sandwiches, opt for canned Alaskan pink or sockeye salmon with bones. Choose water-packed salmon, which is lower in calories than the oil-packed. Other foods high in vitamin D are fortified milk and fortified soy milk. 5) Lentils A member of the legume family, lentils are an excellent source of folate, a B vitamin that appears to be essential for mood and proper nerve function in the brain. Low levels of folate have been linked to depression. In fact, a Harvard study showed that 38 percent of depressed women are deficient in folate. Although researchers don't yet fully understand the connection, folate deficiency appears to impair the metabolism of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, neurotransmitters important for mood. A cup of cooked lentils provides 90% of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid. A healthy bonus: lentils contain protein and fiber, which are filling and help to stabilize blood sugar. Other sources of folate include: fortified breakfast cereals, green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, liver, and beans. What to try: Toss cooked lentils with cherry tomatoes, sliced bell peppers, and carrots for an easy salad. Try making lentil soup. If beans make you gassy, use Beano. You may also like to read - What Kind of Paranoid Are You? How and Why to Exercise the Mind? Kaizen The Hidden Structure and Fibonacci Mathematics Golden Rules for Career Success Posted: 23 Jul 2008 09:43 AM CDT Contributed by: Bharathi Sarkar 1. Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask.2. Never bring your boss a problem without some solution.3. You are getting paid to think, not to whine.4. Long hours don't mean anything; results count, not effort.5. Write down ideas; they get lost, like good pens.6. Always arrive at work 30 minutes before your boss.7. Help other people network for jobs. You never know when your turn will come.8. Don't take days off sick-unless you are.9. Assume no one can/will keep a secret.10. Know when you do your best-morning, night, under pressure, relaxed; schedule and prioritize your work accordingly.11. Treat everyone who works in the organization with respect and dignity, whether it be the cleaner or the managing director. Don't ever bepatronizing.12. Never appear stressed in front of a client, a customer or your boss.13. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: In the course of human events, how important is this?14. If you get the entrepreneurial urge, visit someone who has his own business. It may cure you.15. Acknowledging someone else's contribution will repay you doubly.16. Career planning is an oxymoron. The most exciting opportunities tend to be unplanned.17. Always choose to do what you'll remember ten years from now.18. The size of your office is not as important as the size of your pay cheque.19. Understand what finished work looks like and deliver your work only when it nis finished.20. The person who spends all of his or her time is not hard-working; he or she is boring.21. Know how to write business letters-including thank-you notes as well as proposals.22. Never confuse a memo with reality. Most memos from the top are political fantasy..23. Eliminate guilt. Don't fiddle expenses, taxes or benefits, and don't cheat colleagues.24. Reorganizations mean that someone will lose his or her job.25. Get on the committee that will make the recommendations.26. Job security does not exist.27. Go to the company Christmas party..28. Don't get drunk at the company Christmas party.29. Avoid working at weekends. Work longer during the week if you have to. Moreover, don't stay late in night, it doesn't creates impression rather shows lack in your productivity.30. The most successful people in business are interesting.31. Sometimes you'll be on a winning streak and everything will click; take maximum advantage.32. When the opposite is true, hold steady and wait it out.33. Never in your life say, "It's not my job."34. Be loyal to your career, your interests and yourself.35. Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart. Use them whenever you have an opportunity.36. People remember the end of the project. As they say in boxing, "Always finish stronger than you start." Proper Usage of Water Posted: 25 Jul 2008 09:46 AM CDT Contributed by: Gayatri Y Wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl rather than with running water a five minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath (although a power shower will use the same amount of water as a bath in less than five minutes) try not to leave the tap running when you brush your teeth – rinse out from a tumbler instead Eggs release nutrients when you boil them. If you use the water once it's cooled for watering houseplants, they will appreciate the extra nourishment Resist the urge to start your washing machine or dishwasher until you have a full load. The average wash needs about 95 liters. A full load uses less water than two half loads use the minimum amount of water required when making a cup of tea – so you'll save energy as well as water keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of running taps to get cold water Use the dirty water when cleaning a fish tank on your houseplants. It's rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which are excellent fertilizers you can use less water by turning the hot tap down, rather than the cold tap up cotton wool and tissues should be put in a waste bin rather than flushed down the toilet Turning the taps off when you brush your teeth can save up to five litres a minute. Use rainwater for garden watering and washing machines. This can save up to 50% of household water use (according to the Environment Agency) spray taps on hand basins save up to 80% of the water dual flush and low-flush toilets can cut household water by up to 20%, and save more than half the water used in flushing toilets plan your building's plumbing system so that both water and energy savings can be made Girls drop out of school either because they have to help fetch water or because there aren't adequate sanitary facilities in school toilets. Millions of school days are lost as a result.Water scarcity affects some parts of the world more than others. Today, 800 million people live under a threshold of "water stress." As rivers dry up, lakes shrink and groundwater reserves get depleted, that figure will rise to 3 billion in 2025, especially in parts of Asia and Africa. There is an urgent need to reduce waste and invest in infrastructure to "harvest" rainwater or increase storage. Most water use is in agriculture. Farming uses up to 70 times more water than is used for cooking and washing. Many countries have to import more than half their food needs because they do not have enough water to grow more food. If we do not change the way we use water, the amount needed for a rapidly growing world population will double in the next 50 years. Corruption makes responding to the problem of scarcity more difficult. Up to 40 percent of water is lost to water leakages in pipes and canals, one of the main causes of which is illegal tapping. The increase in the cost of water, as a result, affects the poor more than others.But the water crisis hits cities in the rich world as well — Houston and Sydney, for example, are using more water than is replenished. Australia is the world's driest continent, where increasing salinity in water is threatening agriculture. Large parts of Europe are affected by recurring droughts. ''Water is a precious commodity, and more importantly, it is life. Wars are fought over who will have control of water. Many die daily due to lack of freshwater and there are people who wash their pavements daily!'' You may also like to read - The Seven Deadly Sins of a Relationship User Information for the Rainy Season in Mumbai Bill Gates' 11 Rules of Life Presented By: Ads by Pheedo The Benefits, Method and Background of This Universal Life Energy Technique Explained Posted: 04 Aug 2008 10:54 AM CDT Contributed by: Nanci Baren Reiki, a Japanese healing technique, is gaining popularity in the United States as more and more people seek natural treatments for the mind and body. Composed of two Japanese words -- Rei, which means "God's wisdom or the Higher Power," and Ki, which is "life force energy" -- reiki is often interpreted to mean "universal life energy." During a Reiki session the practitioner places his or her hands on or over the client's body, delivering healing energy that breaks up negative blockages and restores positive energy flow. This ancient form of energy healing is based on the idea that we all have an invisible "life force energy" (or Ki) that flows through our bodies and causes us to be alive. This energy, however, is often disrupted by our own negative thoughts and feelings (both conscious and unconscious ones). If your Ki becomes too low, you are at an increased risk of becoming stressed out, sick, tired and unhappy. "Ki is flowing in everything that is alive including plants, animals and humans. When a person's Ki is high, they will feel strong, confident, and ready to enjoy life and take on its challenges. When it is low, they will feel weak and are more likely to get sick," says Lee Rand, founder and president of The International Center for Reiki Training. How Does Reiki Work? Reiki (pronounced "ray-kee") is a gentle, hands-on technique in which a practitioner channels the healing energy through their hands and into the client. The energy naturally flows where the negative thoughts and feelings are attached, thereby clearing any blockages and restoring a normal flow of energy. In other words, Reiki clears and heals the clouded energy pathways and allows the life force to flow through again. "As Reiki flows through a sick or unhealthy area, it breaks up and washes away any negative thoughts or feelings lodged in the unconscious mind/body thus allowing a normal healthy flow of Ki to resume. As this happens, the unhealthy physical organs and tissues become properly nourished with Ki and begin functioning in a balanced healthy way thus replacing illness with health," Rand explains. It's said that anyone can perform Reiki, but you first must be attuned to the energy by training with a Reiki Master. While it is possible to be born with the ability to use Reiki, most people must first be attuned to it (by training with an experienced Reiki Master) before they can channel it to someone else. Reiki Benefits to the Mind and Body Reiki is most commonly used as a tool for stress reduction and relaxation, but its benefits seem to extend much further. Scientific studies regarding Reiki are still few and far between, but those that have been done, along with a host of client testimonials, have found that Reiki: Helps relieve pain Eases the symptoms of depression and anxiety Alleviates the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis, lupus, fibromyalgia and thyroid goiter Promotes better sleep Reduces blood pressure Instills peace in terminally ill cancer patients Creates deep relaxation in the body and helps relieve stress Supports the immune system Helps the body to rid itself of toxins Helps the body to recover after surgery and chemotherapy, and reduces some drug side effects "A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and well-being. Many have reported miraculous results," according to the International Center for Reiki Training. Meanwhile, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is sponsoring scientific studies to find out more about how Reiki works and how it may help with various diseases. Where Can You Find a Reiki Practitioner? Reiki is offered at many locations across the country, including hospitals for cancer patients, emergency rooms, nursing homes, hospices, OB/GYN units and health spas, but you can also find individual Reiki practitioners. You may also like to read - The Nine Biggest Myths of the Workplace by Penelop... The NEW Age 10 Obscure Facts Difference Between a CV and a Resume: Ahmed Imam Presented By: Ads by Pheedo Does Chicken Soup Have Healing Powers Posted: 04 Aug 2008 10:54 AM CDT Contributed by: Nanci Baren You've likely heard it proclaimed throughout your entire life: chicken soup is good medicine. Whether it was your mother, grandmother, or a 's soup commercial handing out the advice, a steaming bowl of chicken soup has been touted as the cure for just about every ailment, from the common cold to a nasty scrape on the knee. But is chicken soup, in and of itself, really a "medicine" of sorts? Does it actually possess healing capabilities, or is its magic all in our heads? Before there was soup, there was broth, which people used to pour over a piece of bread in a bowl. That bread was known as "sop." From sop came the word used for today's winter favorite, soup. Back in the Day Around the 12th century trusted healers started to prescribe "the broth of fowl" for their ill patients. It was during that time that Egyptian Jewish physician and philosopher, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimonides, started to write extensively about the benefits of chicken soup. The ancient healer wrote, "The meat taken should be that of hens or roosters and their broth should also be taken because this sort of fowl has virtue in rectifying corrupted humours." Maimonides used his 'fowl brew' to treat such things like hemorrhoids, constipation, and even leprosy. He strongly believed and especially praised the brew's healing power for respiratory illnesses like the common cold. Since then, many researchers and scientists have pondered the question of whether or not chicken soup has any real health benefits to patients suffering from a cold. Some have even done experiments to see if there is such proof. Is the Proof in the Soup? Dr. Rennard, MD at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, thought his family's chicken soup really did work, but as a scientist, he wanted proof. "One day we were discussing chicken soup," Rennard explains. "My wife says that grandma says this is good for colds, and I said maybe it has some anti-inflammatory action." Rennard tested his theory and added his wife's home made chicken soup to white blood cells, called neutrophils. To his surprise, the soup did slow the neutrophils. In fact, he claims that chemicals in the broth-based elixir clears a stuffy nose by inhibiting inflammation of the cells in the nasal passages. Dr. Rennard did admit that there needed to be more studies conducted, but believes his findings are one more piece to complete the puzzle. Since Dr. Rennard's findings in the early 1990's, several studies have since agreed with his results, and show chicken soup as a "relief" for the common cold, not a "cure." All research agrees that the soup helps break up congestion and eases the flow of nasal secretions. In addition, many say it also inhibits the white blood cells that trigger the inflammatory response (causing sore throats and the production of phlegm.) Chicken soup is a soup made by boiling chicken parts or bones in water, with various vegetables and flavorings. The classic chicken soup consists of a clear broth, often served with small pieces of chicken or vegetables, or with noodles or dumplings, or grains such as rice and barley. In the United States chicken soup is considered a classic comfort food. The "Guts" of Chicken Soup When you are feeling under the weather, it seems that everything hot helps to make you feel better. However, the good thing about chicken soup is that - properly prepared such as the recipes below - it is loaded with valuable nutrients. This includes: Chicken: Chicken contains an amino acid called cysteine, a substance released when you make the soup. This amino acid is similar to the drug acetylcysteine, which is prescribed by doctors to patients with bronchitis. It thins the mucus in the lungs, making it easier to cough out. And hot chicken vapors have been proven more effective than hot water vapors in clearing out the cold in your nose. Carrots: Carrots, one of the routine vegetable ingredients found in chicken soup, are the best natural source of beta-carotene. The body takes that beta-carotene and converts it to vitamin A. Vitamin A helps prevent and fight off infections by enhancing the actions of white blood cells that destroy harmful bacteria and viruses. Onions: Onions, another chicken soup regular, contains quercetin, a powerful anti-oxidant that is also a natural anti-histamine, and anti-inflammatory. Final Note While chicken soup isn't a cure for a cold, it does help alleviate some of the annoying symptoms that come with it. And, if nothing else, it definitely is a delicious, comforting meal that helps keep your body hydrated. To get the full benefits, of course, we recommend homemade chicken soup using only natural ingredients. The next time the cold bug has you down, stay warm, get a lot of rest, and try slurping away on one of these three chicken soup recipes (maybe you can coax someone else into making one of them for you!) Dr. Rennard's Chicken Soup 1 large roasting chicken or baking hen (6 to 7 pounds) 1 package chicken wings or drumsticks (10 to 12 pieces) 10 medium carrots, peeled 3 large onions, peeled and quartered 3 parsnips, peeled 1 large sweet potato, peeled 2 turnips, peeled 6 stalks celery 1 bunch parsley salt and pepper to taste Wash the whole chicken and chicken parts. Place in 8-quart soup pot, fill three-quarters full with water and bring to a boil. Add carrots, onion, parsnips, sweet potato and turnips. Simmer covered for 1-1/2 hours. Add celery and parsley and cook for another 45 minutes. Spoon out the chicken and bones. Remove the vegetables along with a small amount of the broth; puree, then stir back into the soup. Salt and pepper to taste. Rennard, M.D., is chief of pulmonary medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The recipe actually is a time-tested family recipe, handed down by his wife's grandmother. Thai Chicken Soup This is a mild but spicy chicken soup, flavored with the very unique flavor of galangal ("kha" in Thai) which creates a heavenly taste when combined with hot chile peppers, coconut milk, lime leaves and lemongrass. Ingredients 16 fluid ounces organic chicken soup broth 4-5 kaffir lime leaves, shredded 4 or 5 2 inch pieces fresh lemongrass, bruised to release flavor 1 inch cube (or a bit more) galangal sliced thinly 4 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons lime juice 4 oz organic chicken breast cut into smallish bite sized pieces 5 fluid ounces coconut milk small red Thai chili peppers, slightly crushed (to taste) coriander (cilantro) leaves to garnish. Note the number of red peppers is a personal choice. It can be as few as half a chili per diner, to as many as 8-10 per diner, but the dish should retain a balance of flavors and not be overwhelmend by the chili peppers. We suggest about 8-12 chili peppers for this recipe. Method Heat the stock, add the lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, fish sauce, and lime juice. Stir thoroughly and bring to a boil. Add the chicken and coconut milk, then the chili peppers. Bring back to the boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer for about 2 minutes (until the chicken is cooked through). Amish Chicken Noodle Soup 3 lb. grass-fed chicken 2 qts. water 2 tsp. salt 1 1/2 c. organic chicken stock 2 c. celery, chopped 2 c. carrots, chopped 1 tart apple, chopped 1 c. onions, chopped Dash pepper 4 c. egg noodles Place chicken in kettle with 2 quarts water. Cover until tender (about 2 1/2 hours). Remove chicken from kettle and strain broth. De-bone chicken and return to kettle with strained broth. Add chicken stock, celery, carrots, apple, onions, and pepper and cook until vegetables are tender. Add noodles and cook 8-10 minutes You may also like to read - Palmistry in a Nutshell Evolution of Alphabets (VERY interesting) How to Improve Your Memory & Exercise Your Brain (... Test your Neurological Skills (Excellent) Non-violent Parenting Posted: 07 Aug 2008 10:46 AM CDT Contributed by: Jc. K.C. Padmesh Non-Violent Parenting An episode in reverse psychology Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K.Gandhi Institute for Non-violence, in his June 9 lecture at the University of Puerto Rico, shared the following story as an example of "non-violence in parenting": "I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbors, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go to the movies. One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father ask me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced. When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, 'I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together.' After hurriedly completing my chores, I went straight to the nearest movie theatre. I got so engrossed in a Wayne double feature that I forgot the time. It was 5:30 before I remembered. By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me, it was almost 6:00. He anxiously asked me, 'Why were you late?' I was so ashamed of telling him I was watching a Wayne western movie that I said, 'The car wasn't ready, so I had to wait,' not realizing that he had already called the garage. When he caught me in the lie, he said: 'there's Something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn't give you the confidence to tell me the truth. In order to figure out where I went wrong with you, I'm going to walk home 18 miles and think about it.' So, dressed in his suit and dress shoes, he began to walk home in the dark on mostly unpaved, unlit roads. I couldn't leave him, so for five-and-a-half hours I drove behind him, watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie that I uttered. I decided then and there that I was never going to lie again. I often think about that episode and wonder, if he had punished me the way we punish our children, whether I would have learned a lesson at all. I don't think so. I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing. But this single non-violent action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday. That is the power of non-violence." You may also like to read - The Seven Deadly Sins of a Relationship User Information for the Rainy Season in Mumbai Bill Gates' 11 Rules of Life Help Children Avoid Backpack Injuries Posted: 09 Aug 2008 11:56 PM CDT Contributed by: Nanci Baren According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 7,000 children were injured last year due to overloaded backpacks, some weighing as much as 45 pounds. Experts recommend that backpacks weigh no more than 10 percent to 15 percent of a child's weight, but the average backpack weighs in at 20 percent. "In fact, 10 percent to 19 percent of children miss school or sports activities every year because of pain caused by heavy backpacks," says Dobbs, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital. "And 30 to 50 percent of adolescents complain of pain related to backpack use." Dobbs says pediatricians can help their patients avoid injuries from using backpacks by stressing to them the following: • Limit personal items. • Don't carry the pack by hand or sling it over one shoulder. Use both straps over the shoulders to distribute the weight evenly. • Wear backpacks over the strongest muscles, located in the midback. "Adolescent girls ages 11 to 16 are most at risk, which may be attributed to the rapid growth spurt they experience during this age range and the susceptibility of rapidly growing spines to back pain. In addition, girls often weigh less than boys, but still carry the same amount of backpack weight," Dobbs says. "Kids who walk to and from school are also more likely to suffer back pain from heavy packs because duration of use increases the risk of injury." Treatment for backpack pain usually involves prescribing anti-inflammatory medicine for 10 days. Physical therapy is sometimes recommended. "These types of injury are usually temporary, and pediatricians can reassure parents that the extra weight doesn't cause structural or long-term damage to the spine, nor does it cause scoliosis," Dobbs says. "But since backpacks are a fun and popular way for kids to express their own sense of style, it's important that physicians stress safety precautions to patients and their parents." You may also like to read - Non-violent Parenting Does Chicken Soup Have Healing Powers The Benefits, Method and Background of This Univer... Avoid Superbugs at the Gym Posted: 09 Aug 2008 11:58 PM CDT Contributed by: Nanci Baren Following a few simple rules can help people avoid catching the drug-resistant "superbug" MRSA at the gym, a physician specializing in infections diseases says. "The real bottom line is common sense hygiene," Dr. Parada of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood told Reuters Health. "It's wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands," along with wiping down equipment before and after using it, and keeping a towel between you and shared equipment including weight machines, benches, and yoga mats, he explained. MRSA, a.k.a. methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and other bugs can live on surfaces, especially warmer, wetter ones, Parada said. However, he added, the health risks of not exercising are far greater than the danger of acquiring an MRSA infection while working out. "Don't use 'I might catch something in the gym' as an excuse not to engage in healthy activities." Hospital-associated MRSA has been around since 1961, and became a problem during the 1970s, Parada explained. Those at risk included dialysis patients, nursing home residents, and people who had to take a lot of antibiotics. "Your average Joe walking around healthy, going to high school, going to work in the morning was at very low risk," he said. Then in 1999, the first cases of community-associated MRSA appeared. These strains developed independently of hospital-associated MRSA, and infected healthy people in the community with no known risk factors. Subscribe to REACHOUT Usually the community-associated MRSA infections are limited to skin abscesses and boils, Parada said, but on rare occasions they can progress to pneumonia or more serious skin infections. "They've been rare, but they've been unexpected, and they've made a lot of news," he said. "That's what's driven a lot of this noise about MRSA." At present, 5 to 10 percent of people harbor MRSA on their bodies, and the great majority of them are perfectly healthy. Parada's own research found that 7 percent of people admitted to his hospital tested positive for MRSA. "The bulk of those people who screen positive have no prior history of MRSA and are completely surprised to know that they are walking around with MRSA on their skin," he said. The reason why some healthy people develop community-associated MRSA infections remains unclear, Parada said, although studies are underway to determine if genetic factors may be involved. So, while MRSA could be lurking in your gym -- or on your own body -- simple hygiene is the best way to protect yourself, and others, from getting sick, according to Parada. "The real take-home message from this is, people should be much more concerned about their overall health," he said. "Getting out and doing exercise is positive." You may also like to read - Evolution of Alphabets (VERY interesting) How to Improve Your Memory & Exercise Your Brain (... Test your Neurological Skills (Excellent) Sleep Apnea May Trigger Nighttime Heart Attacks Posted: 09 Aug 2008 11:59 PM CDT Contributed by: Nanci Baren The blood pressure, nerve, and hormonal changes wrought by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may increase the risk of heart attack during the night, new research suggests. OSA is a common problem in which tissues in the back of the throat temporarily collapse during sleep causing numerous, brief episodes of interrupted breathing. The condition, which can cause extreme daytime sleepiness, can be effectively treated with a special breathing device that alleviates the blockage by pushing air into throat. The body changes that occur with OSA may lead to blockage of the coronary arteries and heart attack, Dr. Virend K. Somers and associates explain in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. If OSA is a trigger for a heart attack, a peak of heart attack symptoms would be expected during the night. To investigate this premise, Somers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues studied 92 heart attack patients in whom the time the chest pain began could be documented. The patients underwent overnight sleep tests 2 to 3 weeks after their heart attack. OSA was identified in 64 patients (70 percent). Those with and without OSA were generally similar in terms of their health background and current medications. From midnight to 6 am, the frequency of heart attack was higher in OSA patients, whereas from 6 am to noon, it was higher in patients without OSA. All told, patients with OSA were 6-times more likely to have to have a heart attack at night compared with patients without OSA. These findings suggest that nighttime heart attacks may contribute to the increased likelihood of nighttime sudden death that has been reported in OSA patients, Somers' group concludes. The researchers recommend that patients with a heart attack at night be evaluated for OSA. SOURCE: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, July 2008. Copyright Reuters You may also like to read - The Seven Deadly Sins of a Relationship User Information for the Rainy Season in Mumbai Bill Gates' 11 Rules of Life Ritalin May Prevent Fatal Falls in Elderly Posted: 10 Aug 2008 12:01 AM CDT Contributed by: Nanci Baren Getting old isn't just about body aches and pains. As we get older, our risk of falling greatly increases. Old bones don't heal like only one dose of Ritalin, seniors walked with a steadier gait and performed better on a standard screening test for fall risk, Prof. Hausdorff found. "Our study suggests that it may be possible to reduce the risk of falls in older adults by treating cognitive deficits associated with aging and disease," Prof. Hausdorff said. "This is consistent with a growing body of literature which has demonstrated that walking is not a simple, automated task, as it was once believed," he explains. "We've taken this idea a step further and shown that you can capitalize on this dependence on cognitive function and use it to reduce the risk of falls." Knowing how to improve cognitive functioning could lead to fewer falls -- and fewer related deaths -- among America's senior population. "Some have estimated that more than 50 percent of seniors who break a hip from a fall will die within the year," says Prof. Hausdorff. This is partly due to a vicious cycle fueled by a fear of falling and subsequent inactivity, causing elderly patients to spiral into further decline. In the recent study, Prof. Hausdorff gave Ritalin to 26 healthy seniors who resided in independent living arrangements. They were assessed for fall risk before taking a single dose of Ritalin or placebo administered in a double blind fashion. The subjects were then asked to perform the "Timed Up and Go" test, during which they were asked to stand up from a chair, walk at a normal pace for about ten feet and then turn around, walk back and sit down. The longer it takes to accomplish the task, the greater the fall risk. Those who took Ritalin performed the test quicker and had less variability in their "stride time," a common sign of instability, researchers found. Preliminary research on patients with Parkinson's disease also shows that Ritalin may help decrease the risk of falling even in the face of this common neurodegenerative disease. What can seniors do to prevent a potentially catastrophic fall now? "Remain active, that's been well-established," says Prof. Hausdorff. "Our findings indicate that it's also important to look at falls and relate them to one's cognitive functioning. It's important to strengthen your muscles, but seniors need to strengthen their minds as well." You may also like to read - Unknown Facts about the Universe Planet Facts WHY DRINK WATER? Dr. Brett Narayana Murthy's wife Sudha Murthy's Real Life Ex... Toxic Chemicals Found in Common Household Products Posted: 10 Aug 2008 12:02 AM CDT Contributed by: Nanci Baren A University of Washington study of top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found the products emitted dozens of different chemicals. All six products tested gave off at least one chemical regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, but none of those chemicals was listed on the product labels. "I first got interested in this topic because people were telling me that the air fresheners in public restrooms and the scent from laundry products vented outdoors were making them sick," said Anne Steinemann, a UW professor of civil and environmental engineering and of public affairs. "And I wanted to know, 'What's in these products that is causing these effects?'" She analyzed the products to discover the chemicals' identity. "I was surprised by both the number and the potential toxicity of the chemicals that were found," Steinemann said. Chemicals included acetone, the active ingredient in paint thinner and nail-polish remover; limonene, a molecule with a citrus scent; and acetaldehyde, chloromethane and 1, 4-dioxane. "Nearly 100 volatile organic compounds were emitted from these six products, and none were listed on any product label. Plus, five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic 'hazardous air pollutants,' which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to have no safe exposure level," Steinemann said. Steinemann chose not to disclose the brand names of the six products she tested. In a larger study of 25 cleaners, personal care products, air fresheners and laundry products, now submitted for publication, she found that many other brands contained similar chemicals. Because manufacturers of consumer products are not required to disclose the ingredients, Steinemann analyzed the products to discover their contents. She studied three common air fresheners (a solid deodorizer disk, a liquid spray and a plug-in oil) and three laundry products (a dryer sheet, fabric softener and a detergent), selecting a top seller in each category. She bought household items at a grocery store and asked companies for samples of industrial products. In the laboratory, each product was placed in an isolated space at room temperature and the surrounding air was analyzed for volatile organic compounds, small molecules that evaporate from the product's surface into the air. Results showed 58 different volatile organic compounds above a concentration of 300 micrograms per cubic meter, many of which were present in more than one of the six products. For instance, a plug-in air freshener contained more than 20 different volatile organic compounds. Of these, seven are regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws. The product label lists no ingredients, and information on the Material Safety Data Sheet, required for workplace handling of chemicals, lists the contents as "mixture of perfume oils." Manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients used in laundry products and air fresheners. Personal-care products and cleaners often contain similar fragrance chemicals, Steinemann said. And although cosmetics are required by the Food and Drug Administration to list ingredients, no law requires products of any kind to list chemicals used in fragrances. "Be careful if you buy products with fragrance, because you really don't know what's in them," she added. "I'd like to see better labeling. In the meantime, I'd recommend that instead of air fresheners people use ventilation, and with laundry products, choose fragrance-free versions." You may also like to read - The Effects of Change On The Manager More (un)Known Trivia Three Factors That Can Turn Success into Failure [... Subscribe to REACHOUT Presented By: Ads by Pheedo Indians better at English than the British, say lecturers Posted: 14 Aug 2008 11:23 AM CDT Source: Indian Express Students from India and other former colonies have better English language skills compared to their local British counterparts, academics feel. Many undergraduates in British universities have such low competence with spelling, punctuation and grammar that despairing lecturers often spend time teaching the basics of English to the English. Lecturers say that international students from India and other former colonies often have higher standards of basic English than their British colleagues in the same classroom. Some of the most common mistakes are in spelling, often using 'their' when students mean 'there', 'who's' for 'whose', 'truely' for 'truly', 'occured' for 'occurred' and 'speach' for 'speech'. An Indian-origin university lecturer said that British students even in their second year of degree study, use 'atrocious' English language in their assignments. He said that he often found it challenging to figure out what students wanted to express in English. International students, in contrast, had better English language skills, he added. English language standards have deteriorated to such an extent that one leading academic has been forced to ignore common errors altogether. Ken , a senior lecturer in criminology at Bucks New University, told The Daily Telegraph that many students failed to apply basic rules, such as 'i' before 'e', except after 'c'. The words 'weird', 'seize', 'leisure' and 'neighbour' are regularly misspelt by students, he said. Some universities have already extended courses by a year to give weak students extra tuition in core subjects that they failed to pick up in the classroom. Bernard Lamb, a Reader in genetics at Imperial College London, said those from Singapore and Brunei made fewer mistakes in their work, despite speaking English as a second language. Many British students appear to have been through school without mastering basic rules of grammar and punctuation, or having their errors corrected, he said. Writing in the Times Higher Education magazine, said mistakes were now so common that academics should simply accept them as 'variants'. He wrote: "Teaching a large first-year course at a British University, I am fed up with correcting my students' atrocious spelling. But why must we suffer? Instead of complaining about the state of the education system as we correct the same mistakes year after year, I've got a better idea. University teachers should simply accept as variant spelling those words our students most commonly misspell." Jack Bovill, Chairman of The Spelling Society, said, "All the data suggests that there are more and more students at university level whose spelling is not up to scratch. Universities are even finding they have masters-level students who cannot spell." You may also like to read - Proper Usage of Water Golden Rules for Career Success 5 Foods for a Better Mood Out of the Box Thinking Help your baby sleep through the night Posted: 14 Aug 2008 11:24 AM CDT If you haven't had a good night's sleep since your baby was born, you're not alone. Sleepless nights are a rite of passage for most new parents. But don't despair. You can help your baby sleep all night. Honestly! Developing a Rhythm Newborns sleep 16 or more hours a day, but often in stretches of just one to two hours at a time. Although the pattern may be erratic at first, a more consistent sleep schedule will emerge as your baby's nervous system matures and he or she goes longer between feedings. By age 3 months, many babies sleep up to five hours during the night. By age 6 months, nighttime stretches of nine to 12 hours are possible. Encouraging Good Sleep Habits For the first few months, middle-of-the-night feedings are sure to disrupt sleep for parents and babies alike. But it's never too soon to help your baby become a good sleeper. Encourage Activity during the Day. When your baby is awake, engage him or her by talking, singing and playing. Surround your baby with light and normal household noises. Such stimulation during the day can help promote better sleep at night. Monitor Your Baby's Naps. Regular naps are important — but sleeping for large chunks of time during the day may leave your baby wide awake at bedtime. Follow a Consistent Bedtime Routine. Try relaxing favorites such as bathing, cuddling, singing or reading. Soon your baby will associate these activities with sleep. If you play bedtime music, choose the same tunes each time you put your baby in the crib. Put Your Baby to Bed Drowsy but Awake. This will help your baby associate bed with the process of falling asleep. Remember to place your baby to sleep on his or her back, and clear the crib or bassinet of blankets and other soft items. Give your Baby Time to Settle Down. Your baby may fuss or cry before finding a comfortable position and falling asleep. If the crying doesn't stop, speak to your baby calmly and stroke his or her back. Your reassuring presence may be all your baby needs to fall asleep. Consider a Pacifier. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick. In fact, using a pacifier during sleep may reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But there are pitfalls, too. If your baby uses a pacifier to sleep, you may face frequent middle-of-the-night crying spells when the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth. Expect Frequent Stirring At Night. Babies often wriggle, squirm and twitch in their sleep. They can be noisy, too. Sometimes fussing or crying is simply a sign of settling down. Unless you suspect that your baby is hungry or uncomfortable, it's OK to wait a few minutes to see what happens. Keep Nighttime Care Low-Key. When your baby needs care or feeding during the night, use dim lights, a soft voice and calm movements. This will tell your baby that it's time to sleep — not play. Respect Your Baby's Preferences. If your baby is a night owl or an early bird, you might want to adjust routines and schedules based on these natural patterns. Keeping It In Perspective Some babies sleep for long stretches at night right from the start, only waking for feedings. Others have trouble lulling themselves back to sleep. Take as much time as you need to understand your baby's schedule and ways of communicating. If you're frustrated with your baby's sleeping habits — especially if your baby still needs attention several times during the night by age 6 months — ask your baby's doctor for suggestions. Remember, getting your baby to sleep through the night isn't a measure of your parental skills. It's simply a goal you're working toward. The result will be a good night's sleep for everyone. You may also like to read - · Nine Ways Humor Can Heal · Management for Retirees · Five Most Common Feng Shui Myths · Native American Code of Ethics · 6 ways you're wasting gas /petrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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