Pink Power

You might have noticed it - pink is everywhere! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pink is the designated color. A whole month dedicated to this one devastating type of cancer is not to take away from the seriousness of the many other deadly cancers, but to remind us as women a few simple steps we can take to keep ourselves and each other healthy.

Jill Savage, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Heats at Home, asks on her blog today "What have you done about breast cancer this month?"

Click the question above or here to access Jill's blog.

4 Perspectives on H1N1 - the Virus & the Vaccine

Click here to read 4 perspectives on the H1N1 virus and whether or not you (or your children) should get the vaccine. You can also read the highlights of the article here.

Sleep Incentives For Moms

Catching at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night can help you

• be slimmer :: lack of sleep is linked to obesity. Sleep is just as important for your weight as exercise!
• be cold-free :: fewer than 7 hours of sleep a night makes you 3 times more likely to catch a cold than those who get at least 8 hours of sleep per night
• be smarter :: proteins build up in the brain when it hasn't had time to rest, making it harder to process information and learn
• have a healthier heart :: not getting enough sleep puts you at risk for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems

found in the September 2009 issue of Parenting magazine - read more on sleep strategies at http://parenting.com/sleep

Keeping Your Home Safe From Illness

80% of all illnesses are caused by germs that we touch. Face it, sickness is inevitable ... especially when you have young children. However, there are precautions we can take during the cold and flu season to protect ourselves and our families in the best way possible:

BEDROOMS

1. Wash sheets once a week in hot water (or immediately for soiled linens).
2. Keep pets out of beds - their fur is a magnet for all sorts of germs and allergens.
3. Change the changing table covers every few days, and wipe down the changing table with hot water and soap at least once a week.

BATHROOMS

1. Wipe down sinks, counters and toilets once a week.
2. Store toothbrushes at least once inch apart. If someone has been sick replace that toothbrush.
3. Clean bath toys once a week.

KITCHEN

1. Wash hands before touching food. Use hot water and soap. Wash again after handling food.
2. Replace sponges once a month.
3. Wash dish towels often.

PLAY AREA

1. Have kids wash hands before and after playing, especially before and after a playdate.
2. Wash stuffed animals often. Let air dry.

Germ-Wise

3 Germ Hangouts In A Mom's Day (according to a University of Arizona study)
Grocery carts - 55% of carts are contaminated with fecal matter. Make sure you have a safe hand sanitzer on-hand when shopping.
Playground equipment - Feces, urine and even blood can be detected on tested equipment. Make sure you and your children wash up after playtime.
Kitchen sink - Up to 500,000 germs per square inch can hang out around your sink. Make sure that this area is being cleaned thoroughly each week (hot water and soap are sufficient to kill off the bad stuff).

H1N1 Virus Information

There seems to be a panic that comes across one's face when the words "Swine Flu" or "H1N1" enter the conversation, especially in mom-circles. Here are some facts about the virus and what we can do as mothers of young children to protect our families:

FACTS

• H1N1 Influenza A Virus is termed "swine flu" because it is the flu virus that swine get late fall/winter just like humans do. It is NOT the same as the seasonal flu we see each year.
• The symptoms of "swine flu" are similar to that of the regular flu, but there may be a gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea) associated with it. These symptoms can linger 4-5 days in most people, up to 10 days in children.
• Swine flu is less easily transmitted than the seasonal flu because it is not airborne. It is transmitted through droplets (sneezing, etc).
• If you or your child gets swine flu, you more than likely will not die. Most people who contract the virus do not die, contrary to how the media has played swine flu-related deaths.
• Typical season flu vaccines are targeted to the top 3-4 strains of seasonal flu that are most likely to affect the majority of the population. The H1N1 vaccine is targeted solely to the swine flu, so if you are a family who vaccinates regularly you will need two separate flu shots this year - one for seasonal flu, one for swine flu.
• There are two ways of administering the H1N1 vaccine - a mist through the nasal passages and a shot. The nasal mist is NOT recommended for certain groups, including pregnant women. The shot is safe for virtually anyone. The virus cells present in each of these two vaccines is slightly different, which is why certain people are encouraged to take the shot over the nasal mist.

HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES?

1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Avoid antibacterials as they are no more effective than regular soap. Most antibacterials also contain high amounts of Triclosan, a pesticide actually, and can create Super-Bacteria that are resistant to the antibacterial agents. Safer antibacterial cleansers include CleanWell, which can be found in Target stores.
2. Stay hydrated. Drinking water helps flush toxins and other impurities out of our systems.
3. Eat healthy. Make sure you are getting enough fruits and veggies, which are high in several vitamins and nutrients that help your body fight off illness. Avoid sugar, as this can compromise your immune system up to 40% over a 4-hour time period. Click here to get some other healthy options.
4. Sleep. Get enough rest. This is your body's time to recharge. Neglecting this part of your day can make you more susceptible to illness. The average adult needs 6-8 hours of sleep. Newborns need up to 18 hours of sleep per day, toddlers 12-13 hours, and preschoolers around 10 hours.
5. Stay home when you are sick. This is a no-brainer. This not only protect your weakened immune system from additional illnesses, but it protects others from what you have as well.
6. Watch where you sneeze - When you sneeze, sneeze into the crook of your arm as opposed to your hand. Our hands touch virtually everything we see, whereas not much comes in contact with your elbow-region.
7. Exercise - This helps strengthen the cells in your body that fight off illness.
8. Hands off! Avoid touching your face with your hands. If you do touch your face make sure you wash or sanitize your hands promptly.
9. Relax - stress can compromise your immune system. Make sure you find time to laugh and enjoy each day.

References

Swine Flu Newsletter

10 Tips for Flu Season

Turn Off Week 2009 (9/20-9/26)

September 20-26 marks Turn Off Your Television Week. People everywhere are accepting the challenge to unplug for one week and discover new avenues of entertainment, be it solo or family-oriented.

Up for the challenge? Wonder what you could possibly do without TV all week? Check out this resource found at SimpleKids.com (click link or image to left).

Spring Cleaning for People With Allergies or Asthma

Check out this short article about how to spring clean your home when someone in your house has allergies or asthma - from the seventh generation blog

Speak Up

Did You Know?

• In today's modern world, babies are born with nearly 300 industrial chemicals in their blood?
• Many of these chemicals are associated with a range of serious diseases and conditions: cancer, autism, ADHD, learning deficits, infertility, and birth defects.
• The American government has almost no authority to protect people from even the most hazardous chemicals on the market.

Did You Also Know?

• There is something you can do about it ... and it takes less than one minute to do it.

The Kid-Safe Chemicals Act is a strong and effective law that will require the United States to regulate the use of toxic chemicals. Click here to send an email to your state legislator and implore them to support this law. Without your voice our legislators will not know that this issue matters to you, and our kids will continue to be subjected to toxins.

While you are at it, leave a comment after this post and let other MOPS moms know that you have contacted your Congressmen!

Veggie Time!

Do you have a child that won't touch a vegetable? A child that runs and hides when you say the v-word?

.

The Green Parent has shared 15 ways to get your kids to eat vegetables. You might be surprised at what they recommend! {click here to read the article}

Energy Boosters

excerpted from Simplemom.net. click here to view entire article

Ask yourself these 3 questions

1. Do you feel exhausted at the end of your day?
2. Do you need that first cup of coffee in the morning to get going?
3. Do you experience dips in your energy mid-morning or
   mid-afternoon?

If you answered yes, read on, because your body is telling you something
important ...

Click here to read the entire article: 16 Energy Boosters That Won't Leave You Depleted from Simplemom.net