My Weekend Journal

Glucosamine is a sugar-and-amino acid compound naturally produced in the body and plays an important role in building cartilage, the firm, rubbery tissue that cushions our bones at the joints, and allows bones to move smoothly over one another. As we age, our body's capacity to produce glucosamine diminishes and the cartilage could break down and wear away. This could possibly result to joint pain and other diseases related with our joints such as osteoarthritis. Tests have shown that a daily supplement of glucosamine helps prevent the advancement of cartilage deterioration, reduce joint pain and helps stimulate the production of new cartilage. In addition, an increasing number of evidence showed that it is effective in easing inflammation and pain of osteoarthritis. Studies reporting helpful effects have generally used glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate. The use of these joint supplements has few side effects and considered safe when taken in recommended doses. The usual reco...

October is breast cancer awareness month. This month, I would like to join the pink ribbon challenge. Just click the pink ribbon to help one woman save life by getting free mammogram. You may join with me and pass the pink ribbon challenge. These links are ONLY for "Pink Ribbon Challenge" participants, any links not related to the Pink Ribbon Challenge will be deleted. Grab the code at Things We Share and post it in your blog entry. Please post only the Pink Ribbon Challenge actual post link here and help The Breast Cancer Site and National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc. by spreading the Pink Ribbon Challenge. Pink Ribbon Challenge® The Pink Ribbon Challenge® is an annual NBCF event that happens every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It combines the efforts of radio stations and syndicated programs nationwide, the support of top-name music celebrities, and most importantly listeners, to raise funds to provide free mammograms for underserved women. Unlike a...

My two boys had sore eyes last weekend. On Friday afternoon, my eight-year-old son, Kuya , arrived from school with red eyes. He got it from their teacher who chose to attend school despite having sore eyes. I am not sure how many other kids got the infection from her. I told Kuya not to touch his eyes to prevent further infection to the other eye and to lessen its possible spread to the whole household. He did follow me but eventually, while sleeping, he unconsciously rubbed his eyes with the face towel he kept on his bed. When he woke up the next day, he had two red eyes! My toddler got sore eyes too! We treated their eyes with Terramycin eye ointment and the redness were gone within a day.

I ’m a little bit nervous for baby’s second follow-up check-up to his pediatrician tomorrow. The doctor will decide whether baby will be re-admitted to the hospital. A week after hospital discharge, the phlegm came back and if it won’t be treated by the new antibiotic the doctor prescribed, baby will be admitted back to the hospital! After hospital discharge on April 16th, we were advised to see the doctor for a follow-up check-up on the 20th but when we went to the doctor’s clinic she was not available because she attended a conference in Manila and another doctor took her place. Her secretary did not even mention that when we called the clinic the day before the schedule. Her replacement is not affiliated with our health insurance so we decided to go to the health provider’s clinic. The doctor advised us to continue the medication. On April 25th, we went back to baby’s pediatrician. She gave us another antibiotic for his phlegm and advised us to come back on April 27th. If the d...

We've said "bye-bye" to the hospital this morning and were just so excited to come home. My baby is fine now although he still has the cough. There are at least four medicines to maintain - two antibiotics, salbutamol and zinc supplement. Giving those medicines is so difficult because baby would spit out the liquid. We have tried tricks like putting sugar on the spoon and let him have that sweet taste first then the medicine. The first try was successful but it does not work always. He would even spit out his sweet Vitamin C supplement. (*sigh*) At night, he still has nightmares. He suddenly cries while sleeping. Maybe he was dreaming of his hospital ordeal. My poor baby.

Since my baby was admitted to the hospital, it became my second home. From work, I go straight to the hospital and vice versa. The hospital room was a bit boring. There were no decorations like Acrylic and Oil Paintings by Lena Karpinsky . There was not even a wall clock hanging on the walls. How I wish I could hang the painting on my own room. It would certainly give life to our bare walls.

My baby was confined at Mactan Doctors Hospital last Thursday because he was showing some common symptoms of pneumonia like cough and difficulty in breathing. He does not have fever so the doctor set aside the possibility. His x-ray showed phlegm on his lungs that caused him to have breathing difficulties. Hubby was the one who went through all the agony of watching our baby endure all the pain from IV insertions and needles at the emergency room. The first IV insertion on my baby's left hand was unsuccessful so the nurse tried the needles again on my baby's left foot. Thankfully, the nurse hit the vein. Hubby really wanted to twist the nurse's head because he could feel baby's pain all because of the nurse's incompetence. On the third day, the doctor told us that they would transfer the IV. We were so concerned because this would be another painful experience for my baby. Two nurses came and set the IV. The nurse tried my baby's right hand. She had inserted...

Our body needs oxygen to function properly. When our body uses oxygen, it produces toxic by-products called "free-radicals". These "free radicals" cause damaging effects on our healthy cells and cause inflammation and infections, aging, alterations in immunity, degenerative arthritis, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants prevent and repair the cell damage caused by free radicals and may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection. Normally, our bodies can supply its own antioxidants. However, when there is rapid production of free radicals, our bodies will need an additional supply of antioxidants from external sources. A recent study conducted by researchers from London found that 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily can reduce the risk of stroke by 25 percent. Boost your body’s antioxidant level by consuming these foods: Antioxidants Antioxidant Sources Carotenoids broccoli, spinach, squash, m...

[photo: ruudvisser.com] Watermelon is a good source of vitamins A and C. It also contains potassium and fiber. Watermelon contains high levels of antioxidant called lycopene. Lycopene is very effective at trapping cancer-promoting agents called free-oxygen radicals. Now that summer is here, we have more reasons to enjoy the taste of this sweet fruit and its health benefits. An easy way to savor its flavor is the Watermelon shake! We only need to combine the following ingredients in a blender: [photo: nestle] 3 cups watermelon, cubed 2 cups ice, crushed 1/2 cup milk 2 tbsp honey or sugar This tastes great if chilled for about 15 minutes! Enjoy the summer!

Corn is the second staple food of Filipinos and has always been an important food for centuries. Eating corn has a lot of health benefits. Depending on the variety, corn is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Yellow corn has pro-vitamin A and has almost twice as much iron than white corn. White corn does not have any pro-vitamin A but it has more thiamin and niacin than the yellow variety. The protein content of white corn is slightly more than that found in the yellow corn. Both varieties contain the same amount of calcium. White corn is considered as a low glycemic index (GI) food. Glycemic index is the glucose response of an individual to a food as compared to a reference food, like white bread. It is the ranking of food that tells whether a food will raise blood sugar levels dramatically, moderately or just a little. Low GI food, like white corn, helps in the proper control and management of diabetes mellitus. It delays hunger pangs and promotes weight loss in overweight people. ...

The weekend was so tiring. We just stayed at home but the household chores and the baby consumed all my energy. I wish I have even just a day to lay my back flat on bed and take the complete rest I need. Since baby got sick, I rarely had enough sleep. With the dark circles around my eyes and the dizzy feeling caused by stress, I would be compared to a walking zombie. A new household help came tonight. I wish she would be different from the previous nannies. My baby had changed his habits since he got sick. Before, he laughs a lot and would cry only when he is hungry or sleepy and when something is bothering his diapers. But now, he seldom laughs and often cries. I still have to adjust to his new ways and I wonder if his new nanny could do the same. With my baby’s new habit, I would not be surprised if the new nanny would only last for a month or so.

Would you like to take me as your pet? Everyone has a real need to nurture something or someone. For people who have few companions, animals provide family and friendship, something to care for and to be recognized by. Pets provide love and affection, as well as supply a sense of security and protection. Aside from the emotional benefits, pets also bring physical health benefits to pet owners. Taking care of a pet encourages action. Pets need to be walked, fed, groomed and given fresh water. They also need lots of playing and petting. Walking the dog out a few times a day can benefit the cardiovascular system and keep joints flexible. Consistently doing these kind of simple exercise enable pet owners to carry out the normal activities of daily living. Experts say, if a person suffers from heart disease or stress, a cuddle a day may keep the doctor away. However, if hugs are hard to come by, the next best thing may be a dog or a cat in the lap.

Our minds often are cluttered with lists of things to do, challenges in the home or workplace, relationship issues, and many more. To keep memory loss at bay, remember to make healthy food choices, do regular exercise and stay active. Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables . These contain antioxidants called flavonoids that protect and nourish brain cells. Flavonoids can reduce damage to the brain and improve cognitive impairment. Although recent research supports that an intake of flavonoid-rich foods plays a vital role in reducing the risk of developing dementia, researchers feel more studies are required to make any sort of nutritional recommendation. Exercise your mind . Keep the mind healthy by learning new things. If you continue to challenge yourself, your brain continues to grow. Challenging the brain with mental exercises can maintain and stimulate increased cognitive ability. Reduce stress . Stress contributes to memory lapses. Regular moderate exercise, like walk...

If you find this photo blurry, then stress has taken you. ;-) We cannot avoid stress totally but we could try to keep it to a minimum level. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun, and the resilience to pressure and challenges. Keep a stress journal. A stress journal can help you identify the true sources of stress in your life and the way you deal with them. It can help you process your thoughts and feelings. Take a break, even for only a few minutes at a time. Use this time to relax and meditate. Simplify your life. Decrease your number of activities if you are already overwhelmed. Learn to say no so you can focus on things that are more important to you. End each day on a positive note by reading an inspiring book, reflecting on something positive that you did or that happened to you that day, or listen to soothing music. Use aromatherapy oils like ylang-ylang to calm the mind or unwind, or peppermint and orange to invigora...

Teaching your child to practice good hygiene habits at a young age helps them maintain it throughout their growth. Aside from keeping them healthy, having good hygiene promotes a child’s self-esteem, sense of responsibility and good appearance. Here are some simple tips to help you make good hygiene a lasting habit of your child’s life: Teach by example. Children naturally imitate adults. If you show them you practice good hygiene habits, they would likely follow you. Help your child make hygiene a habit. Make sure they do their hygiene practices regularly to the point of making them a routine. Make it fun. Liven up bath time with tub toys, puppet washcloths or crayon soaps. Allow them to make choices. Encourage your child to select its own shampoo, toothpaste, or toothbrush. This is fun. More importantly, this will help develop their sense of responsibility for and interest in personal hygiene. Reward with words. Always compliment your child’s efforts at good hygiene, even if ...

Eyeglasses are not only a vision correction tools but a fashionable accessories as well. They have become a part of our personal image and expression. Our personal taste, lifestyle and look are the best guide on choosing the right eyeglasses that would provide us the most flattering look. Purchasing eyeglasses online often is more convenient and less expensive. Online stores provide attractive bargains that would certainly meet your needs and budget. Zenni Optical has gained enough positive references as the cheapest and most reputable online store. Zenni Optical has a wide selection of fashionable prescription eyeglasses and the cheapest starts at only $8 per pair and the shipping is only $4.95 no matter how many pairs you order. Check out the great online experience of a satisfied customer who had personally made purchases at Zenni Optical. Zenni Optical takes considerable pride in being able to deliver a very high quality product of great durability, safety and comfort at trul...

Eyeglasses have become the ultimate fashion accessory that adds just the right tweak of style for your look. Even those who do not need eyeglasses are now wearing them just to get the stylish appearance. The fashion ruling is not to just follow hot fashion trends but to express individual style. Choose a pair of eyeglasses that compliment your look and lens that flatter your eyes! Zenni Optical believes that eyeglasses are definitely a personal fashion and style item. To that end, they strive to provide a fashionable and stylish product at the lowest possible price. They manufacture their own sunglasses using the latest modern materials to maintain its high quality and durability. Their eyeglasses are inexpensive and so affordable because they bring their own product direct from their factories to satisfied clients. Zenni Optical takes pride in offering great deals on eyeglasses at the lowest possible prices. They give the best value for your money. Shopping for the right eyeglas...

Are you trying to get rid of your pimples? I just learned one home remedy from Ms. K through her TV program Rated K. The treatment is so affordable and so easy. You could actually get the cure straight from your backyard (or your neighbor's, lol!). Just pound the malunggay leaves and apply the juice to the affected area. Research shows that malunggay has anti-inflammatory effect and could indeed help treat pimples!

NearVision SM CK ® (Conductive Keratoplasty) is an FDA approved non-laser refractive eye surgery designed to treat and improve the vision of people with presbyopia, Greek for “aging eye”, a progressive condition that causes near vision to fade with age. If you are considering NearVision CK, you first need to choose a refractive surgeon who is experienced with the procedure such as Dr. Thierry Hufnagel from Stahl Eye Center. Your doctor will examine your eyes thoroughly to determine if you are a good candidate for the treatment.

A broken heart (or heartbreak) is a common metaphor used to describe the intense emotional pain or suffering one feels that are usually associated with losing a loved one, through death, divorce, breakup, moving, rejection, or other means. It also refers to the physical pain one may feel in the chest because of the loss. Although "heartbreak" is usually a metaphor, there is a condition appropriately known as "broken heart syndrome" where a traumatizing incident triggers the brain to distribute chemicals that weaken heart tissue. Sudden emotional stress caused by a traumatic breakup, the death of a loved one, or even the shock of a surprise party can trigger the condition. Broken Heart syndrome is clinically different from a heart attack because the patients have few risk factors for heart disease and were previously healthy prior to the heart muscles weakening. Today, the condition is also referred to as stress cardiomyopathy, stress-induced cardiomyopathy or apic...