A couple of months ago, we became Best Friends with the only allergist in our small town.  Actually, he’d probably call us HIS best friend first, since I think we single-handedly financed his in-ground pool he just had installed at his home.  Our younger son, now three and a half, was once again going down a road we do not like to travel:  the never-ending Sniffle-Lane and the Ear Infection Highway.  Multitudes of visits, tests (”pokes” on the back - not well-received), nose-swabs and bills later, we discovered that our little guy is allergic to absolutely - NOTHING.  Not even dust (which I welcomed with open arms, realizing my possible days of tedius dusting were now, well, dust).  Our son was (and is) the victim of Germs.  He has a perpetual Cold.  And the nice best-friend-doctor classified him with Vasomotor Rhinitis.

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The flu.
RSV
Bronchitis.
Pneumonia.

Our bodies fight off many germs and viruses each day, including the ones that lead to such nasty illnesses such as these (and more).  There are a few simple things you can do to keep your body healthy and strong to ward off serious illnesses.  These are also great practices when you ARE sick, if for nothing else than to protect others with whom you come into contact. Read more…

Clorox has teamed up with Heidi Murkhoff, author of the What to Expect book series, to provide a guide for families entitled What To Expect Guide To A Healthy Home.  It gives practical advice on keeping your home clean and healthy.  And, it is provided free of charge from clorox.com.  To order your own copy, go to www.clorox.com and follow the link.

Much attention has been given to childhood obesity in the news recently.  While our focus shouldn’t be on how “fat” or “skinny” a child is, we should concentrate on healthy eating habits.  By offering and reinforcing healthy foods into our children’s diet and keeping them physically active, we can give them a defense against many issues related to childhood obesity.  And the earlier we start, the better.  Children who are overweight can have a variety of health-related issues, such as breathing problems, joint pain, even diabetes. Read more…

With the heat of summer upon us, it is a good time to remind ourselves about hydrating our bodies.  Make sure you and your family are getting enough water each day.  When we keep our bodies well-hydrated, germ-fighting cells are carried through the bloodstream in a more efficient manner.  Our lungs and airways are better protected with a layer of moisture.

There is an easy way to check to see if you are getting enough fluids - a sort of dehydration test.  Pinch your thumb and forefinger together.  If the skin stays flattened when you open them, your body may not be getting enough liquid.  However, if it bounces back, then your body is getting an adequate supply of fluid to keep your skin and tissue elastic.

And, make sure you are hydrating with the right fluids.  Caffeine will actually have an adverse affect on hydration.  Sodas are not only full of sugars and artificial sweeteners, but they are also chock-full of sodium.  Juices also have a high sugar content, so limit the amount of juice you and your family drink in a day.

Your best source of hydration is the natural choice: water!