Danny the Dragon author

Testing for Celiac Disease is Easy!

     As hard as it is to get a celiac diagnosis in the U.S., the diagnosis isn’t difficult to test for. Simple blood tests detect the disease over ninety percent of the time. The diagnosis is then confirmed by an upper endoscopy. A small, flexible tube is slipped into the mouth of the sedated patient, down his esophagus and stomach and into the first part of the small intestine, where biopsies are taken and then examined for changes seen in celiac disease. If you suspect that you or someone you know may have celiac disease, make an appointment right away …

Advice, gluten-free
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Celiac Diagnosis Is on the Rise

     There is good news for the millions of Americans who suffer from celiac disease, or coeliac disease, and gluten intolerance—celiac diagnosis among adults is on the rise. Not only does this mean that more and more people are experiencing relief for their painful symptoms, but the door is opening for gluten intolerance support around the country.      Says Dr. Peter Green, MD, Professor of Medicine and head of the Celiac Disease Research Center at Columbia University, a higher rate of diagnosis means a higher rate of support. Dr. Green personally diagnoses 2,400 people a year at his center and …

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Health Benefits of Choosing Good Friends

     An author, researcher, and humanitarian, not only have I come across the benefits of friendship in my work, but I’ve experienced them personally. It’s important to be aware of other research which suggests that one should be careful to select positive friends, as the stress that comes from bad friends can negate the health benefits of having their friendship.      Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology at Brigham Young University, has found that dealing with people who arouse conflicted feelings in us can raise blood pressure more than dealing with people we don’t like. Participants were hooked …

Advice, Children's Author, Friends, moms, women
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Boost Your Mood and Boost Your Health

     Start looking at the glass half-full! Keeping oneself in a good mood is likely to stretch your life span. Studies show that people with a positive way of looking at things—even just regarding the aging process—can increase their life span by seven years. Stress and negativity can lead to overall bad health, affecting the heart, immune system, and endocrine system. Choose whatever healthy mood-boosters you know work for you—such as reading a good book, baking cookies, or taking a relaxing bath. Tina Turbin

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Study Shows Friendship May Lengthen Life

     Having friends certainly makes you feel good. Now studies are showing that they may in fact be good for you! According to a recent Australian study, there’s evidence that friends may actually help your life last longer.     The study, which was conducted by the Centre for Ageing Studies at Flinders University, followed about 1500 older people for 10 years and found that those with a large network of friends were outliving those with the fewest friends by 22 percent. By contrast, close relationships with children and relatives had almost no effect on longevity. Lynne C. Giles, one of the …

Advice, Children's Author, Friends, moms
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Turn off the TV—Tips for Families

     Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does—television, that is. One of the best decisions I made years ago for myself and for my family was to cut down on television drastically. At first this may seem like a daunting task, but with a few simple tips, parents find it’s much easier than they suspected it would be.      First of all, there is the matter of reducing the amount of TV your family watches to just a few shows a week. In order to do this, I recommend a family meeting to discuss your goals …

Advice, Children's Author, family, Family Time, Helpful Tips, parenting, television
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