[Body]
As doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and providers in Pediatrics and Neonatal Medicine we advise parents on the best ways to foster health and well being for their children and their family. As professionals in the medical field we often fall short in taking our own advice, which in the end affects our own health and our lives. We give parents brochures and pamphlets to supplement the conversations we have. It's called anticipatory guidance. As adults have access to information from a myriad of sources including books and magazines, resources online, and our associations. If anything we probably have an abundance of information with a lack of taking the next steps towards using the information to live our best life. This is true for our health, our wealth, and our overall well being.
It is, however, meant to bring this truth to your awareness and encourage you to seek ways to restore balance to your body so it can do what it does best - heal itself.
High fructose corn syrup - As ubiquitous a sweetener as it is, I will label read until I find something without it. I have read that it is not a "bad" ingredient, but I just do not like it. It will always be a cheap, long lasting sweetener that manufacturers use instead of regular sugar to keep cost down and make the product last longer on the shelf. Fine for that but not for Healthy living advice my Health and living advice body.
Buy a good bra: you have probably heard comments about how your breasts get bigger when you are pregnant. This is true, and remains true after pregnancy during the time you are nursing. Good support for your fuller, heavier breasts is important. It helps them not get as saggy after, and relieves your upper back of the pain that comes from supporting heavier bosoms. So, go get fitted for a new bra after you get pregnant, and as your breast size increases.
I am not one to suffer in silence, much as I'd like to be stoic and brave in the face of my own mortality. I complain. Often loudly. This, it turns out is not such a bad thing. And here is the real advice - when something feels wrong, go do something about it. I can never understand someone who says, "I'm scared to go to the doctor in case it's cancer." WHAT? If I thought I had cancer - and many times I've thought exactly that (I've had three prostate biopsies) - I would be instantly out the door and on the way to see my doctor.
The most important group of foods, and the one that is most often the cause of poor diets, is fruit and vegetables. There is nothing particularly innovative about this advice; everyone knows that you need to eat your fruit and vegetables. The main problem is that so few people actually consume the seven to ten daily servings of fruits and vegetables they are supposed to have each day. And when they do eat fruit and vegetables, it is in forms that include added sugar, salt or fat.
Getting Help: Having the courage to get help is what separates those who succeed from those who fail. Getting help in the areas mentioned above can be achieved through the use of a coach, mentor or reading self help books and materials.