E. Coli: The Good, the Bad, and the Deadly

In most circles, a conversation about the potentially harmful E. coli bacteria would probably include spoiled food, upset digestive function, and even death. But, would it surprise you to find out that E. coli is a natural part of the human digestive ecosystem and is not always harmful? The truth is that most E. coli bacteria contribute much to the health of humans and are actually categorized as beneficial bacteria. The problem comes when mutations occur.

The Good Side of E. Coli

Living in large colonies in our gut, E. coli and other beneficial bacteria maintain a harmonious relationship with every human being on Earth. All human beings have a very close symbiotic relationship with E. coli and other microbes that take up residence in our stomach and intestines. Intestinal bacteria begin to multiply and flourish the moment we are born and continue to stay with us for the entirety of our lives. In fact, they are quite necessary for health and we benefit from them in many ways.
Beneficial colonies of bacteria, which include E. coli, help us break down food into usable, digestible molecules of nutrients. Through this process, the bacteria in our gut produce vitamin K– a vitamin that is not readily available from food sources – and some B-complex vitamins. E. coli and other beneficial bacteria also keep the populations of harmful strains ............read more

Holiday Overindulgence: What to do When You Eat Too Much

To many people, the holidays are a time of temptation enticing them to overindulgence in unhealthful food, but all is not lost just because you blew it at the holiday meal.   Listed here are six no-nonsense tips on how to deal with holiday overindulgences. 

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Holiday Weight Management Strategies

With holiday stress and holiday fare comes holiday weight gain.  This article offers some practical guidelines for managing sweet,seasonal indulgences.  Please purchase usage rights for your blog, website, or newsletter  here.

Teen Pregnancy: Risk Factors and Intervention

We like to think of our society as progressive and capable of solving our social ills one problem at a time, but the fact of the matter is that, among industrialized nations, the U.S. leads the way in teen pregnancy.  Currently, 4 out of every 10 girls in the U.S. will become pregnant by their 20th birthday.

What Causes Teen Pregnancy

Aside from the obvious answer of engaging in sex, the factors that contribute to a teen being at-risk for teenage pregnancy can become very complex.  Some of the risk factors include:
* Living in poverty.
* Being the child of a single parent, or being the child of teen parents.
* Being reared in an abusive environment.
* Involvement in drug and alcohol use and abuse.
* Having low self-esteem.
* Poor performance in school.
* Being in multiple foster care homes.
* Ongoing family conflict.
* Lack of parental supervision.

Approaches to Intervention

There have basically been three strategies for bringing down the numbers associated with teen pregnancy since they reached an all-time high in the ‘90’s:
* Abstinence-only educational programs.  The Institute of Medicine reports that of 13 studies done evaluating abstinence-only educational programs, none have had a positive......read more

The Collision Between the Teenager and Mid-Life Parents

There are many parents that are, at least, in their late 20’s or early 30’s when they begin having children.  And there is an ever-increasing societal trend to wait even later to start a family.  This puts parents square in the middle of life when their children become preteens and teenagers.  Although more studies are being done, it’s safe to say that part of the problem that parents have in dealing with their teens is, to some extent, exacerbated by their own battle with middle age.

During this period, adolescents are exploring a seemingly limitless future, while, simultaneously, parents in mid-life are feeling the constraints of life.  While your child is searching for freedom, you are busy bearing the brunt of parental, financial, and other responsibilities to the best of........read more

Natural Deodorant: A Better Alternative

Are you paying attention to what goes under your arms? Commercial deodorants contain many toxic chemicals, but there is an alternative. Go natural.

Making the switch to natural beauty and personal care products is probably one of the smartest things you can do for your health. Commercial antiperspirant deodorant, for example, contains some very toxic ingredients. The majority contain one or more of the following:

• Aluminum. A known neurotoxin, aluminum is what blocks the sweat and is contained in virtually all commercially available anti-perspirants. Unfortunately, aluminum is also one of the prime suspects in the ever-increasing rates of Alzheimer’s and

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Social Media: Understanding It and Finding Balance

There is really nothing all that new about social media sites if you consider that many of them were beginning to grow in popularity in the ’90s.  So why is the question of teens and social media a trending topic now?  The answer may be rooted in the fast advance of technology.

Social media has been around almost as long as the internet itself, but only with the implementation of technological devices and extensive and increased access to broadband internet connections has the ability to network on social media become the norm in homes, offices, and schools.  Now that technology is easier to understand, use, and access, social media is all the rage, especially among teenagers.

As it is with many other issues in society, there are two sides to the social media coin. True also is the fact that it is the limitless access to social media that produces the negative effects.  According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, children and teens are spending upwards of seven hours a day attached to and engaged in some sort of digital device. Over the last decade, there have been numerous studies to confirm that........read more