health

Listen to My NABBW (National Association of Baby Boomer Women) Teleseminar on Celiac Disease

  In addition to my work as a children’s author, I am dedicated to bringing awareness to celiac disease, which is caused by an autoimmune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, leading to damage to the small intestine and a variety of serious physical and mental symptoms.   I had the honor and pleasure of delivering a teleseminar on celiac disease with Anne Holmes, the “Boomer-in-Chief” of the NABBW, National Association of Baby Boomer Women.   Follow the link below to have a listen or download the teleseminar as an MP3:   http://attendthisevent.com/?eventid=14823489   Enjoy! …

Advice, Children's Health, Cooking, gluten-free, healthy eating, Helpful Tips, women
17 Comments

Don’t Wait to Get Tested for Gluten Issues

     If you suspect that you may have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten, it’s important to take action now. Studies show that the longer the length of time before a celiac diagnosis, the greater the chance of developing serious health risks.      Untreated celiac disease can actually be life-threatening. Celiac people are more likely to be afflicted with problems relating to malabsorption, including osteoporosis, tooth enamel defects, central and peripheral nervous system disease, pancreatic disease, internal hemorrhaging, organ disorders (gall bladder, liver, and spleen), and gynecological disorders. Untreated celiac disease has also been linked to an increased risk …

Advice, gluten-free
28 Comments

The Negative Health Influence of Loneliness: The Importance of Friendship

     In studying women’s health issues and meeting women in my work, it’s clear that loneliness is not only not fun, but it’s actually unhealthy. Researchers have recently asked if people who are alone are at greater risk of dying, and studies are showing that they are—if they feel lonely.      Recent studies are confirming the negative health indicators associated with loneliness. One study found that drug use among young people was higher among those who said they were lonely. Older lonely people tended to have higher blood pressure and poorer sleep quality and were found to be more tense and …

Children's Author, Children's Health, Friends, Research, women
17 Comments

What to Look for in Healthy Friendships

What should you look for in a good friend whose companionship will bring health and happiness to you instead of just raising your blood pressure? There are a few things you should ask yourself before befriending someone. First of all, make sure to choose a friend who has positive things to say to you. Every once in a while, a good friend may need to tell you something that might be tough to hear—“hard truths”—but these remarks should be very infrequent and you should generally walk away after spending time with them feeling better about yourself. Also, look for friends …

Children's Author, Children's Health, Friends, moms, parenting, Research, women
20 Comments

Eat Better, Sleep Better

     How much sleep you get can make or break your day and also your health. Read on for some tips for how to get a better sleep by some simple changes to your diet.      Eating more plant carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains, can have a significant impact on your slumber. These foods help to produce a gradual, steady rise of blood insulin, helping the entrance into the brain of the amino acid tryptophan, a neurotransmitter that helps induce sleepiness and improve mood. (This explains why a glass of warm milk before bed can help …

Advice, Children's Author, healthy eating, Helpful Tips, moms, women
29 Comments

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 Book, Friends, women
13 Comments

Some Helpful Sleep Tips

     The National Sleep Foundation offers a few tips which I’ll pass along. First, make sure bedtime is a routine and relaxing affair; keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and cool. Make sure to exercise regularly, but make sure you don’t exercise in the evenings, as this can interfere with your ability to fall asleep. Next, avoid caffeine for at least eight hours and alcohol for a few hours before you go to sleep. You may not think your cola from dinner at five o’clock is disrupting your sleep at midnight; not only can it prevent you from falling asleep, but …

Advice, Children's Author, Children's Health, healthy eating, Helpful Tips, moms
8 Comments

Get Some Sleep!

      You know what a difference it makes when you’re well-rested. How much sleep you get can make or break your day and also your health. However, sometimes no matter how early you hit the hay, getting a restful sleep can be tough, especially as you age. There have been times when healthy sleep eluded me, but luckily I’ve learned a few things about how to get a healthy sleep naturally, and now I’m happy to say that it is rare that I don’t catch a solid night of peaceful sleep.       About 70 million Americans experience sleep problems ranging …

Children's Author, Helpful Tips, moms, Research, women
13 Comments

Grocery Shopping for Healthy Family Eating

     As the mother of three grown children, I know how hard it can be, even with the best of intentions, to eat a healthy diet yourself and make healthy foods for the rest of the family. With just a few simple tips, you can totally change your eating habits for the better.      It all starts with grocery shopping, for which you must make like a Boy Scout and “be prepared.” It is best to create a menu for the week with breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks determined for each day before you even make your grocery list. Choose …

Advice, Children's Author, Children's Health, Cooking, family, healthy eating, Helpful Tips, moms, parenting, women
9 Comments

Understanding the Link between Osteoporosis and Celiac Disease

     Medical researchers have noted for quite some time that osteoporosis and celiac disease commonly appear together. If you have either condition, it’s important to understand this link and to know what symptoms to look for. Being informed on this subject can have priceless health benefits.      Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the bones to be less dense than they should be, making them more fragile and more likely to break.  Many people with osteoporosis don’t realize they have the condition until they break a bone. Sometimes the fractures are major breaks, or there can be dozens or hundreds …

Advice, gluten-free
6 Comments