TV can shorten your life

Did you know that TV can actually shorten your life. Researchers in Australia studied a group of 9,000 individuals. They were separated into 3 groups. 1. Those that watch more than 4 hours of TV a day, 2. Those that watch between 2 and 4 hours and 3. those that watch less than 2 hours a day. In the end the group that watched 4 or more hours was 80% more likely to develop deadly heart disease than those in the less than 2 hour group. 80 percent! That is huge. The explanation seems to be related to the act of sitting. People are sitting too much in their daily lives. We move from sitting at a desk at the office to sitting in front of the TV at night. This could be expanded to screen time in general.

Do you know that on average people watch over 4 hours of TV and spend another 4 hours on the computer/video games - that's per day. If you sleep for 8 hours that means you are spending half of your waking time in front of a screen (or all of your leisure time if you work 8 hours a day!!). It also means that we are in deep trouble if we don't help our kids stop the trend. For more information about how this in affecting us check out the book the Plug-In Drug.

Why not spend a week in digital detox. (Actually the official digital detox week started on Monday April 19th and it ends Sunday April 25th.) That means spend the week eliminating non-essential screen time. (That is outside of the work environment) No facebook, no twitter, no computer games, no TV. Go out and talk to your neighbours. Walk or ride your bike. Get reconnected with the outside world.

Here are a couple more media-free activities:
1. Make a big indoor tent and sleep in it.
2. Go on a scavenger hunt.
3. Visit the library.
4. Daydream.
5. Throw a party to celebrate digital detox week!

Until next time,
Tara

Tara Annesley is a Naturopathic Doctor at Rise Up For Health. She is passionate about health in general and especially for families. With a special interest in fertility and birth she helps families take an active role in their health. For more information please visit our website www.riseupforhealth.com.

Now that we have some sunshine...

How much have you thought about your Vitamin D? Vitamin D is much more important for health than previously given credit for. Do you know with the increase use of sunscreen, the incidence of skin cancer has decreased but the incidence of many other cancers has increased? Vitamin D is an important factor in the body's ability to prevent cancer. It is also important with preventing the flu, improving mood, allergies, asthma and other immune regulation.

Right now is really when most people are at their lowest point for Vitamin D status. It's a great time to get your blood levels checked (25-OH Vitamin D), but it is also the time to start thinking about how you are going to build up your stores for next winter. I know - who wants to think about next winter... The sun is shining, the birds are starting to sing and spring is on its way. That also means the intensity of the sun is getting stronger. Great news for getting your own natural production of Vitamin D. Go outside! Spend time in the sun!

This winter I checked a large number of people's vitamin D stores and not one was optimal. Many were deficient. As a population we have become very fearful of the sun. Never mind the fact most of us spend our days working inside. That has led us to a position of deficiency.

So what to do with this beautiful sunshine? Go outside, spend time with the sun on your skin (not through a window - it doesn't work). Your body produces its own D it just needs the sun. As the intensity increases be more careful, but if you are going out just for a short time do you really need the sunscreen? Weigh the length of exposure, the time of day and your complexion. Really fair skinned people will burn quickly - so go out earlier in the day. Inside workers take a walk at lunch time. Wear a hat if it is too hot but let your skin see the sun. Work on it over the spring, summer and by the time fall rolls around again you will be in a much better state to cope with the winter.

Until next time,

Tara

Tara Annesley is a Naturopathic Doctor at Rise Up For Health. She is passionate about health in general and especially for families. With a special interest in fertility and birth she helps families take an active role in their health. For more information please visit our website www.riseupforhealth.com.

Winter Walks

Here where I live, we still have lots and lots of snow (thanks to an unseasonal snow storm over the last few days!). Now I absolutely love the snow and can't get enough, but I know full well that other people have different opinions!! So what does one do with children who need to get outside but have had their fill of skating and sledding? The answer is the "Winter Walk". In our family, we partake in two kinds of winter walks: the neighbourhood walk, and the forest walk. I personally prefer the forest walk, but sometimes my children ask to walk around the neighbourhood instead. We like to make an adventure out of both kinds by infusing some "detective work". Here is what we do:

Neighbourhood Walk

As we walk, we try to find:

*a brown dog,
*two people shovelling,
*a fire hydrant,
*three mailboxes,
*a house with a blue garage,
*a friend's house
*a house with a number "5"

You get the idea. This list can of course be customized to the preferences of your child(ren), and by all means, let the child(ren) come up with most of the ideas! Not only will they be more engaged, but suddenly they're more focused on beings detectives, than realizing how far they have walked (for the reluctant walkers, this is nice!). Be sure not to walk too far, as it's nice to arrive home with them wanting more.

Forest Walk

As we walk, we try to find:

*critter tracks,
*branches in the shape of letters ("y" and "t" are usually everywhere!),
*things that are up high. (Encouraging your children to look up is a wondrous experience, because there are often nests, birds and other creatures, if you're really lucky).
*great spots for photo opportunities.

We also listen for:

*animal sounds
*the beautiful noise of swaying trees
*silence!! Encourage your children to relish in the silence of the forest.

We also take deep breaths of the cool, fresh air as we walk, letting it fill our bodies.

Whatever winter activity you choose, I wish you lots of fun!

Christine Marrin, a former elementary teacher, has relished her role as mom for almost ten years, realizing that the most profound learning of her life has been at the hands of her children. Walking beside them and sharing their journey has been spiritually fulfilling in a way she never imagined. For more information on Spiritual Parenting, she can be reached at 905-836-6877.

Massage Techniques to Alleviate Congestion in Babies

As adults, we take for granted how easy it is to alleviate nasal congestion by merely blowing our nose! For a baby, nasal congestion can be an overwhelming and painful experience. Most parents rely on the aspirator and humidifier. Both are important tools for the cold and flu season; but have you considered massage? Massage holds many benefits besides the obvious relief of symptoms. When massaging the sinuses, jaw and ears, you encourage drainage and, in turn, can prevent a possible ear infection. Massage is also an excellent preventative tool; as it assists in the elimination of toxins. Here is a quick massage routine you can try with your little one. Be sure to practice before your baby is actually suffering from congestion. You will both feel comfortable with the massage and it will come as second nature to you when your baby wakes at 3am with congestion pain!

Facial Massage
Place a small amount of non-nut oil (less than the size of a dime) in your hands; rub your hands together to warm the oil

Massaging the jaw:
1. Cup hands under child’s head just behind the ears; then slowly glide the hands along the jaw towards the chin; repeat 3 times
2. Using 1 or 2 fingers (depends on size of child), make small circles from just below the right earlobe down to the chin; repeat on left side; massage each side 3-4 times
3. Using 1 or 2 fingers make small circles around the outline of the child’s lips; starting at the middle of the upper lip & working both sides simultaneously to meet at the middle of the lower lip

Massaging the sinuses:
1. Glide your forefingers down each side of the bridge of the nose, follow the cheekbone across & then end the stroke on the temples. You are essentially making a semi-circle under the eye. Repeat 3-4 times
2. Make small circles along the eyebrows, using 1 or 2 fingers, ending at the temples. Repeat 3-4 times.
3. Place fingertips at the middle of the hairline. Glide hands away from one another, ending at temples. Repeat, moving hands down forehead slightly, until last set of strokes are following eyebrow line.

Massaging ears (use extremely light pressure around ears!):
Using 1 finger, make small circles starting at the point where the top of the ear attaches to the head, massage around behind the ear, down to where the lobe meets the head, and around in front of the ear until you are back at the top of the ear. Repeat on other ear.

Finishing massage:
1. Glide fingertips from forehead down each side of the face, meeting at the chin
2. Finish with a kiss on the nose! “All Done!”

Nicole Meltzer, RMT, CHt is co-creator of Balanced Body Mind Spirit. Through her specialization in fertility issues, prenatal & pediatric care she helps parents conceive & achieve balance while on their journey into parenthood & beyond. To learn more, visit www.balancedbodymindspirit.com