People detox for a variety of reasons. The biggest reason to do a detox is that our body absorbs toxins through what we eat, what we drink and through the things around us. Detoxifying allows the body to get rid of the build-up of toxins so we can feel better.

Before you do a weekend detox, you’ll want to get a check-up. Your doctor will be able to tell you if there are any reasons not to do a detox or which type would be best for you. The goal of a detox is to feel better, but there are some health issues which may not be suitable for a detox or shouldn’t be done without a doctor’s supervision.

The easiest way to start a weekend detox is to begin with warm lemon water. Squeeze half a lemon into warm water or herbal tea. Drink this before you eat breakfast so your digestive system will be stimulated. It will also cleanses your liver and evens out the pH level in your body. You can also use a couple drops of lemon essential oil.

Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while you’re on the weekend detox. You’ll also want to cut out sugar in any form and caffeine. Be prepared if you drink a lot of coffee. Going cold turkey during the detox can cause you to have headaches or feel sick. You can lessen these effects by reducing how much caffeine you consume over the week leading up to the detox.

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids during a detox weekend. Eight to ten glasses of water each day is the minimum you’ll want to drink. You may even want to increase the amount to twelve or more glasses each day. I even put a couple drops of lemon essential oil in my water. Often I alternate with peppermint essential oil. Lately I’ve been using a new blend of oils called Slim & Sassy. I love the taste.

Eat raw fruits and vegetables during the weekend detox. Part of the goal is to clean the liver and clear the colon. Raw foods will help this process along.

The benefits of detoxing your body are numerous. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Increased energy
• Improved quality of sleep
• Decreased mood swings
• Regular bowel movements
• Reduced severity of infections
• Fewer allergic reactions
• Healthier skin
• A clearer mind

How often do you do a weekend detox? Most professionals recommend doing a weekend detox once a month. They also suggest a two-week detox if you want to rid your body of even more impurities. If I’m doing a detox of a week or more, I use the detox kit available through doTERRA along with the vitamins and supplements package. Contact me for more information.

Talk to your health professional and discuss your desire to learn how a weekend detox can get your health back on track. They’ll be able to help you choose the best type to do to get the best results. Once you try one weekend detox you may decide to do them more often, but you’ll want to verify with your doctor how often is best for you.

How a Weekend Detox Can Get Your Health Back on Track is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

photo credit: George Larcher

Some people swear that chicken soup can cure a cold. Others aren’t so sure.

Chicken soup has been prescribed since the 12th century as a way to fight off illness. Jewish philosopher and doctor Maimonides used chicken soup to treat a variety of health issues besides the common cold, but he highly recommended it for colds and other respiratory illnesses. Chicken soup is also called “Jewish penicillin” because it has been used so often to treat colds.

Before this question can be answered, let’s look at what goes into a pot of homemade chicken soup. Recipes will vary but most chicken soup recipes will consist of diced chicken, chopped carrots, onions, garlic, egg noodles, bell pepper and seasoning.

If we look only at the items on this list, we see that chicken supplies the body with zinc, carrots provide beta-carotene, onions and garlic are considered to be strong antivirals, egg noodles provide selenium and peppers contain salicylates. Each of these ingredients has medicinal qualities which, when combined, may provide the body with nutrients it needs to fight off the common cold.

The medical community may not be able to agree on whether or not chicken soup can cure the common cold, but they do agree that there are positive results from eating it. Consider the following:

• Steam from the soup loosens the congestion in your chest as well as loosening the mucus in the nose.
• The ingredients in the broth have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties which can soothe a sore throat and inhibits mucus production.
• Soup is a liquid so it helps fight dehydration often associated with illness.
• Chicken soup, according to a 1978 report, improves how the cilia inside the nose move so contagions can’t enter the body as easily.
• It doesn’t cause anyone to get overly sleepy the way over-the-counter medicine can.
• It provides the body with much-needed nourishment when the body is in a weakened state.

It would seem that chicken soup does provide many health benefits, but the medical community isn’t ready to start giving people prescriptions for it. Even if it doesn’t cure the common cold it tastes much better than traditional medicines which means people won’t object to taking it.

Does chicken soup really work against colds? There isn’t a definitive answer. It appears to help on some level. Does this mean that you can toss the over-the-counter medicines the next time you get a cold? That’s probably not a good idea, but you may want to consider cooking a big pot of chicken soup to go along with the traditional medicine your doctor recommends. Even if chicken soup doesn’t work, it’s still a nutritious and delicious way to help you feel better.

Even better? Check out some other natural ways of dealing with colds to use with your chicken soup. I’ve recently started using essential oils, and I swear by their medicinal qualities. I still go to the doctor if they don’t work or things seem to be really bad. You just have to use your best judgment. Since I started using them though, I’ve found that most the time I can combat what ails me or Andrew with the essential oils.

Does Chicken Soup Really Work Against Colds? is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

Daniel wasn’t doing well in school, and he was very busy. Every week, in addition to school, he had drum lessons, tennis lessons, chess club, swimming meets, religious instruction, and karate.

Not surprisingly, he was up to all hours of the night finishing his homework. Daniel’s Mom worried because Daniel kept having meltdowns and she didn’t know why.

Daniel wasn’t suffering from low confidence. He was suffering from having too much to do.

Keep in mind that school is your child’s most important activity. If your child is involved in too many outside activities, this constant running from one thing to the next gets in the way of school success. Help them choose two or three things they love doing. Even two is enough.

When kids have too much to do, they often appear to have emotional problems, learning problems, poor study skills or poor work habits. In fact they just don’t have the time to do their homework. They’re involved in so many activities and have so many chores that they end up with no time to play, relax and unwind. It’s as if these kids are attempting to squeeze school into their busy schedules.

Kids obviously do better in school and in everyday life if they aren’t stressed-out, too tired, over-scheduled and burdened with hours of homework.

When kids are overwhelmed, parents need to help monitor the amount of work and activities, in and out of school. It’s a parent’s job to protect their kids from having too much to do.

photo credit: chefranden

Strategies and Recommendations:

Together with your child, make a schedule of his day. Put in the activities he’s involved in or wants to be involved in. Include the time it takes to get to the activity and get home. Be sure to include dinner.

Now how much time is left? Is there enough time for homework? Does finishing homework mean he’ll have to stay up too late.

If you see that he has no time for homework or only time for homework when he should be getting ready for bed, talk about what can be changed. Let him decide what to drop and what to keep. Don’t insist that he drop an activity he loves, such as playing on a team, or practicing guitar.

Many children aren’t getting enough exercise. Physical exercise helps not only build strong bodies but also improves brain function. So it’s a good idea to encourage one activity that involves moving such as sports or dance.

The earlier in the school year, you and your child work on their schedule, the better. It’s easier to drop an activity early on than wait until your child is totally involved. Dropping something later can be more complicated and disappointing.

For kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders, one scheduled activity is plenty. Even though they don’t have much homework, they need lots of time for playing. Playing is a learning activity.

Older elementary school kids can usually manage two activities. For tweens and teens, three is the maximum and for some that’s too many. If teens are taking several AP classes and have lots of homework, two activities may be all they can handle.

When you’re helping your child fill in their schedule, remind them that school will include activities that take more homework than usual: doing a science project, studying for final exams, a senior project, a college-like term paper, studying for PSATs or SATs. When these deadlines come around, kids need to have the time available to do their best job.

Helping your child carefully select a couple of outside activities now gives your child time for homework, class projects and other things that pop up like birthday parties, family gatherings, going to their school’s football games and sleep-overs.

You’ll find more strategies on how to help your child in school with Dr. Linda’s FREE “School Success Tips.” Subscribe today at www.drlindasblog.com

With your subscription, you’ll receive the first chapter of “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids.” This award-winning book, written by Dr. Linda Silbert and her husband Al, includes a preface by Al Roker, Co-host of NBC’s Today Show. And you’ll also get our mini-ebook, “Top 25 Homework Tips.”

Linda Silbert, Ph.D.
P.O. Box 68 Mahopac, NY 10541
845-628-7910
www.drlindasblog.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Linda_Silbert

Stressed Out Kids – Too Many Activities Get in the Way of School Success is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

Saturday afternoon it was a little swollen and red and starting to hurt bad enough that I was having a hard typing. Not a good thing when your income comes from your time on the computer. I still didn’t think much of it though. I put some antibiotic ointment and a bandage on it and went about my day. By Saturday night the swelling was more than obvious and the redness had been joined by some blueish purple. I re-bandaged it adding a couple drops of essential oils to the mix. I didn’t get to bed until around 1 a.m. as that’s about the time the pain medicines I had taken finally kicked in enough to allow me a small degree of comfort. I went to bed with it throbbing, but hoping for the best.

At 5 a.m. the pain was so bad it woke me up crying. It was radiating down my arm. I got up and took off the bandage to find there was now a pretty good size puss pocket along the cuticle. I took a rag and held it on the puss pocket while running hot water on it. The water was so hot that it stung, but I was hoping I could get it to pop and drain. I did that for about 15 minutes before I finally gave up. I re-bandaged it and laid back down. I tossed and turned until a little after 8 a.m. The medical clinic I normally go to is closed on Sunday, but had an after hours number. When they finally called me back, they advised me to not wait until they were open on Monday to get it seen. I needed it taken care of today so it wouldn’t get worse. (Note to self: Next time I pull a hang nail, remember to put antibiotic ointment or essential oils on it right away so this does not happen again.)

Infected Thumb Before - The picture came out kind of blurry. I had to use my left hand to take it so wasn't too steady. This was taken in the ER.

I then attempted to call every urgent care facility in a 50-mile radius. The only one I found open on Sunday required an upfront payment of $100 to see me. (Note to self: Get an emergency fund in place.) Since I didn’t have that, I ended up going to the ER. It’ll cost me more, but at least I didn’t have to come up with anything up front.

They ended up having to cut it open and drain it. I was screaming and crying which made Andrew cry. The nurses were awesome with him. One came in the room and got him. They took him out to their area with them. One even let him play on her iPhone to distract him. I’m forever grateful for that. I tried so hard not to cry because I knew it would upset him, but there are times you just can’t be strong for somebody else no matter how badly you want to.

In the end, they got it drained and sent me home with pain medicine and antibiotics. We missed church which was disappointing for both of us. But after a nap, we’ll still do an Easter Egg Hunt here at home. And then Andrew is going to read me the Easter story from the Bible.

Infected Thumb After - After it got drained and wrapped. Andrew thought this was cool. He wants his wrapped too, but he was quick to clarify he didn't want the infection or pain to go with it.

You never realize how much you use something until you can’t. Yesterday I had to go to the store and I couldn’t even put enough pressure on my thumb to turn the key to start my car. I ended up having to lean over with my left hand to turn the key. And cooking and cleaning and typing have not been easy either. I sure hope it heals fast. I’ve got Easter festivities with Andrew and a deadline to finish.

I hope your Easter is blessed and less eventful than mine.

Easter in the ER is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

It is with much sadness and an extremely heavy heart that I let you know that my sister passed away on February 9th. She was a single mom and leaves behind two children. I struggled with whether or not to share the cause of death, and my family’s right to privacy in this difficult time. However, I also know that by sharing her story, it might save somebody else from going through what we are going through. I think she would have wanted that. If sharing our heartache saves somebody else, then I’ll do it. Basically, a couple of the medications she was taking for her Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and a few other health issues decided to interact badly and took her from us much too soon. I’m not going into details about what exactly it was she was taking because bottom line is that it doesn’t really matter. Any medication has the potential of doing the exact same thing, apparently at any time. These are medications she’s been on for several years. Why it chose now to react badly we will never know. And it happened in an instant. I beg you to research what you are taking. Read the caution statements. Ask your doctor and your pharmacist if they need to be taken together or with time in between if you are more than one.

I have so much I want to say, yet at the same time, just writing this post I have tears streaming down my face. I’m having a hard time focusing so I’ll keep it at this for now. There will be many posts coming over the next few weeks and months as I deal with this and try to find the new normal to life.

Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers as we adjust to life without her.

Goodbye My Sister, My Friend

Stephanie Smith

1974-2011

The Blog Post I Never Thought I’d Have to Write or Goodbye My Sister, My Friend is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

Even before being diagnosed with high blood pressure I had been researching the condition and trying to find out more information as to what I can do naturally to lower it since I had suspected for a while that I had it. Now that I’m officially diagnosed and on medications, I’ve continued researching high blood pressure because I don’t want to have to be on the medications very long. In my research I came across this article about green tea and how it helps lower blood pressure. I had recently started drinking green tea due to its weight loss benefits, but I have kind of been hit and miss with it. Now that I know it helps with blood pressure too, you can bet I’ll be sticking to it a lot better now.

Green Tea is considered a natural cure for high blood pressure because it inhibits ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) and lowers blood pressure without the nasty side effects.

Many factors can cause arteries to narrow – plaque buildup, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, alcoholism, stress, certain diseases such as diabetes, or a “signal” from the body.

This signal is the release of an enzyme called ACE. ACE starts a chain reaction that causes the tiny muscles surrounding the arteries to clamp down, making the arteries smaller and driving up blood pressure.

Preventing this “clamping down” of the muscles and keeping the arteries from narrowing is an important step in preventing this issue.

If you have this problem and you choose to see a conventional doctor, chances are pretty good that the doctor will tell you that you’ll have to take drugs , probably for the rest of your life.

If you’re willing to try some natural remedy such as changes in your diet and lifestyle as well as drinking green tea everyday, though, there’s a good chance that you can bring the numbers into normal range – or at least reduce it somewhat. Losing just a little weight can work wonders, too and green tea also can assist you with weight loss.

So can a modest cutback in salt. One study done have shown dropping about eight pounds and reducing sodium intake by 25 percent allowed half of the participants to lower their blood pressures enough to stop taking medications.

Natural remedy reduces your risk of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which eventually also reduces complications such as this.

Researchers found that the catechins in green tea has significantly lowered blood pressure and triglyceride levels, while raising the “good”. Green tea is clearly an effective aid in the battle against this problem.

Green Tea As a High Blood Pressure Natural Remedy is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

I didn’t start soon enough. I’ve been monitoring my blood pressure at home and this week it finally scared me bad enough to go to the doctor. My dad died of a heart attack because of his high blood pressure so I’m a little freaked out.

OK a lot freaked out.

So now I’m regulated to taking a pill every night and going to the doctor every 4 or 5 days until they can decide what medication and dosage is going to work best to manage my high blood pressure. So I’ll keep doing what I can naturally. And doing what the doctor says. And praying that I can keep from worrying about it. That isn’t going to help anyway.

Andrew is freaking out and suddenly very clingy. He knows that high blood pressure is the same condition his Papa died of, so he’s having a really hard time with it. I wish I knew what to tell him.

Today, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

Follow my progress and those I’ve teamed up with over at Plus Size Bloggers.

Weekly Weigh In – This is getting embarrassing is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

photo credit: masonmasteka

Well another week down and another pound lost. I suppose I should be grateful for the one pound, and a part of me is happy due to the fact I’m doing almost nothing to achieve  it. My frustration is why I’m not doing anything. Granted I’ve been crazy busy.

And on top of that, this week has been really stressful with Andrew. He’ll be 9 next month, but he’s acting 15. You know what I mean. The crappy attitude, smart mouth, and general disrespect of a teen. I’m so not ready for this. Oh wait, that probably should be a different post. {Note to self: new post opportunity}

Anyway, back to the other, ok so my new goal this week is to work out on my Cardio Glide at least 3 times a week, and a short walk at least twice a week. Hopefully that will make a difference.

Follow my progress and those I’ve teamed up with over at Plus Size Bloggers.

Weekly Weigh In – This isn’t going so well is a post from: Staying Home with My Son

photo credit: cam_rich345

I mentioned on Monday how I’m going to try to lose some weight and take control of my health. Well let’s just say that’s not going so well. LOL

I started with trying to give up Coke. A long time ago I was addicted…like 4 or 5 a day had to have it addicted. I cut it out once and only had it occasionally like when we went out to eat or something. Then when I got pregnant I stopped drinking it all together because it started having this nasty aftertaste to it. It been about 8 years or so since I’d had a Coke. I had tried it now and then since I had Andrew, but it still had that same nasty taste. Well, last summer I finally was able to have a sip and that taste was gone. Then another sip and another and another and well you get the picture. Then when I made the 3-day drive out to Georgia to visit my family, I started drinking it again pretty regular just for the pick me up for the drive. Not long after I got home I realized I was back up to drinking it daily and sometimes a couple times a day. Then suddenly I’d catch myself having two or more a day here and there. I’d try to buy it in bulk at the grocery store “to save money” from driving to the corner gas station once a day, but that backfired on me because then it was readily available and I was drinking two to three times as much.

A few weeks ago I decided I needed to at least get it back down to once a day and go from there. So I bought the smaller bottles they sell now. And I started drinking one in the morning and one in the evening. I eventually got myself down to one a day and only when I was really stressed would I have a second one. Then yesterday I only had one left. I drank it in the morning and decided that was it. I wasn’t buying anymore. I did it once, I could do it again. Not to mention I know cutting out Coke will help with my weight loss goals. Well, I woke up this morning with a killer of a headache. Like I thought I was going to die if I didn’t put my head through a wall headache. Now me and headaches have a history. And let me tell you this was one of the worst I’d had in a very long time. Out of curiosity, and to make sure I was right, I went up to the store and grabbed one Coke. And sure enough within an hour or so the headache had dulled. It’s still there. Mocking me. Tempting me. But I will keep reminding myself why I’m doing this.

Other than that it’s not too bad. I’m trying to do some mild walking until my new exercise machine gets here. My ankles are swollen like balloons and my ankles hurt, but I haven’t died yet so I figure I’m doing fine. I forgot to weigh myself on Monday, so I weighed myself today. I’m not going to share the actual weight, but I did get a weight loss ticker so you can watch my progress. It’s over there in the sidebar under the Plus Size Bloggers button. My goal for the 14 weeks is 30 pounds. I hope that 2 pounds a week is reasonable.

Until next time…

Goodbye Coke. It’s been fun. is a post from: Staying Home with My Son