10 Fun, Easy and Cheap Summer Activities for Autistic Kids

Summer’s here. Now what?

It’s only the middle of the summer, and already your kids are climbing the walls looking for something to do.  If you are a parent of a child with autism, then you understand that your child finds comfort in structure.  If your son (or daughter) has spent the school year learning in a special education class geared towards children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), then he’s used to living by a rigid timetable with scheduled activities, naps, and mealtimes.  Your task is to provide a similar environment at home, while keeping up with your regular weekday routine, such as work, housekeeping, laundry, and local errands.  Support for Parents of Autistic Children

A little bit of structure can go a long way.

With a bit of planning, you can put together a day schedule of summer activities that meets both you and your autistic child’s needs.  Instead of planning long, overwhelming field trips that nobody will enjoy, take mini-field trips on assigned “family trip days.” Fill up the rest of your time slots with simple, inexpensive activities that are spaced far apart.  Allow for quiet spells, including your own “me” time.  Remind your child periodically what the agenda of the day is, in order to spare him of any surprises.  Have all your things ready the night before, including sunscreen, lunches and snacks, clothes, and craft materials, like paper, glue, markers, and child-safe scissors.

Here are 10 summertime activities that the whole family will enjoy:

See a sensory-friendly movie at AMC. Going to the movies can be stressful with small children, especially if you have children with special needs.  Why pay all that money on movie tickets and popcorn, when you know the dark room, the scary trailers, and the loud noises frighten your child?  AMC Entertainment offers special movie showings for families with autistic children.  The lights stay on, the volume is child-friendly, and your children can get up, move around, and talk without being shushed by angry moviegoers.  It’s like home, only with a bigger TV screen.Visit your local science museum. Science and natural history museums offer many fun activities for children of all ages.  Yearly memberships are often inexpensive, and allow you the freedom to visit whenever you like.  In addition, you’ll receive notification of special events.  Ask your curator what the quietest hours are for the museum, and plan your visit accordingly.Get a pool membership. All kids love the pool, and autistic kids are no exception.  Visit your local city council for a list of recreational pools in your area, including swim lessons.  Take advantage of pool time to practice some aquatic therapies for children with autism.Explore nature. Go on a nature walk with your family.  Some parks feature special trails for the handicapped or stroller-bound.  Have a picnic lunch in a shady grove.  Collect pinecones, acorns, branches, and other natural artifacts, keeping away from poison ivy or state-protected wildflowers.  When you get home, prepare a nature craft for your kids to do while you wind down.  Give them some glue, strong cardboard, and glitter, and show them how to make a leafy collage of their park souvenirs.  Or, supply googly eyes and pipe cleaners, and see who can make the scariest pinecone creature.  6 Great Diets for Autistic ChildrenMake a memory album. Bring disposable or digital cameras on all your ventures, and end each week by assembling photo album pages to go into your summer memory book.  Autistic children in particular will benefit from the visual reminder of all the fun things they accomplished.Visit your local library. Reading to your child is an essential tool for broadening their vocabulary.  Kids with ASD benefit greatly from story time, as it teaches them the words they need in order to better communicate.  Have an early dinner, and visit your library during the quiet evening hours.Play musical games. Music therapy is an essential part of special education classrooms.  All children, whether autistic or not, enjoy moving to background music.  Encourage your children to express themselves through dance by leading them in musical games, such as Freeze Dance or Musical Chairs.Make homemade play-dough. Autistic children require sensory experiences for brain development.  Commercial modeling clay can be expensive, so why not make it yourself?  The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions has dozens of simple science crafts you can do with your kids, including several formulas for play dough, including a scented clay made with applesauce, cinnamon, and white glue.Wash your car. Sometimes, what adults consider as chores can be fun activities for kids, and running a “car wash” is at the top of the list.  You supply the buckets, suds, and cloths, and your kids can go to town while you supervise in the shade.  Alert your friends and neighbors, and invite them to participate.Run in the sprinklers. If you water your lawn in the early morning or evening hours, send your kids outside to play tag under the watery sprays.  If you’re feeling adventurous, fill up a few water balloons and show them how to play Hot Potato.

Related reading:

8 Great Tracking Devices for Autistic Kids, GPS+

10 Great iPad Apps for Autistic Children

Special Needs for Special Pets: Animal Therapy Success Stories

Sources:

Autism: Summer Activities for the Autism Spectrum Crowd : Laura Shumaker : City Brights

5 Great Summer Activities To Do Outdoors With Your Kids | Autism Learning Felt

Leisure Activities For Kids With Autism | LIVESTRONG.COM

Activities For Kids With Autism | LIVESTRONG.COM

The Medford Sun – 10 inexpensive summertime activities for children with autism

Tags: amc entertainment, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), child with autism, children with autism, explore nature, family trip days, field trip, Livestrong, summer, summer activities kids autism

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 at 5:03 am and is filed under Autism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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12 Ways to Flavor your Drinking Water without Refined Sugar

Do you have a love-hate relationship with drinking water?

Many people do.  You need to drink more water during the summer season in order to avoid dehydration, that much is certain, but let’s face it- water is, well, plain.  Sometimes you want to quench your thirst with something that has some flavor- a little kick, a touch of sweetness, or just a cooling aftertaste.  Short of guzzling down sugary sodas, “energy drinks,” or highly concentrated fruit-ades, what other options are there?

Alternatives to soda

There’s no reason to feel guilty about craving flavored water, as long as you don’t substitute drinking water with sweet sodas, diet sodas, coffee, or caffeinated iced tea.  Stay hydrated while satisfying your sweet tooth by brewing up your own homemade flavored water, made with natural food ingredients.

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Below are 12 tips for increasing your water intake without sacrificing flavor:

1- Make it fruity. Fill up a pitcher of drinking water, and toss in some fresh fruit for added sweetness without the cavities.

Try it now: experiment with mixed berries, citrus fruits, or the spa special, sliced cucumbers.

2- Juice it. Instead of adding sweetened punch mixes, add some 100 percent natural concentrated fruit juice.  Apple juice concentrate makes an excellent sugar substitute for recipes that call for corn syrup or honey.

Try it now: Dilute one part pure mango juice with three parts water for an all-natural fruit-ade.

3- Pour in some bubbly. Sometimes you just gotta have something fizzy.  Resist the urge to grab a can of diet soda mindlessly from the cooler.  Plain club soda, seltzer water, or sparkling mineral water on ice is so much healthier, not to mention more refreshing.

Try it now: Make your own flavored seltzer.  Add grape juice or pineapple juice to a glass of sparkling water.

4- Ice, ice, baby. Ice-cold water tastes better than flat tepid water, hands down.  Keep bottled water in your refrigerator at all times.  Store a half-full bottle of water in the freezer for field trips; fill-‘er-up and you’ve got instant ice water.

Try it now: For parties, try something different.  Instead of regular, square ice cubes, invest in a few designer ice cube molds, and substitute fruit juice for water.

5- Drink herb tea. Commercially bottled iced teas are full of refined sugar, and many contain caffeine, which causes dehydration.  Make a jug of home-brewed decaffeinated iced tea, only leave out the sweet stuff.

Try it now: Boil a few cups of water.  Add several bags of herbal tea.  Allow to seep and cool.  Add ice and water, adjusting to taste.  Some flavor suggestions:  chai decaf, mixed berries, or lemon-chamomile.

6- Add a little electrolyte. Your body loses salty fluids when you perspire.  For that reason, many sports drinks contain small amounts of sugar, potassium, and salt.  Unfortunately, most electrolyte drinks contain too much sugar, in addition to food colorings and other additives.

Try it now: Make your own healthy sports drink by adding a small amount of salt and orange juice (a natural source of potassium) to your drinking water.

7- Great with grated ginger: Ginger extract is a healthy tonic that also adds a warm, spicy flavor to foods and beverages.  Beware, though, because ginger root is more powerful than it looks.

Try it now: Peel and grate a piece of ginger root.  Press fresh shavings through a garlic press.  Catch the extracted juice in a small bowl.  Add to warm or cool water, adjusting to taste.

8- Make a fragrant watery bouquet. Fresh cuttings of herbs add a festive, pleasing touch to iced drinking water without the need for sweeteners.

Try it now: Chop up a handful of pungent peppermint leaves, and toss them into a glass decanter of water for a stimulating, hydrating drink.  Other refreshing options are lavender-mint, lemongrass, and parsley.

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9- Vinegar water. Many health experts extol the benefits of drinking diluted vinegar.  Some believe that drinking apple cider vinegar is helpful for promoting weight loss and supplying vitamin C, vitamin A, and many B vitamins.

Try it now: Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or raspberry vinegar to a tall glass of fresh drinking water.

10- Red, red, wine. While drinking glassfuls of wine, or any other alcohol, for that matter, is not a great way to stay hydrated, there’s nothing wrong with adding a bit of wine to a glass of sparkling water for flavor.

Try it now: One part of sweet dessert wine mixed with two parts sparkling mineral water makes a delightfully light, low-calorie, low-alcohol wine spritzer.

11- Have a cuppa. A cup of broth, that is.  Sipping soup is another great way to increase your water intake in a way that’s flavorful and nutritious.  Thick, creamy chowders don’t count as a hydrating soup, though many are healthful.  To avoid dehydration while suffering from a cold or flu, drink plenty of soupy broths.

Try it now: Add a low-sodium bouillon cube to a mug of boiled water, for a quick cup-a-soup.  Better yet, stir up a fresh pot of chicken or vegetable soup with basil, oregano, and dill.

12- Take this one to-go. Have you ever gone to a party where the only drinks offered were sodas, beer, and tap water?  Times like these, it helps to have a packet of sugarless drink mix on hand.  While it’s not as healthy as the above-listed options, considering the artificial sweeteners and the food colorings, it’s still a vast improvement over syrupy colas with caffeine.

Try it now: Check your supermarket aisle for a selection of powdered drink mixes that contain aspartame, saccharine, or sucralose.  Many come in single-serving envelopes for convenience while traveling.

Also read:

7 Days of Refreshing, High Energy Smoothies without Caffeine

10 Most Tempting Vegan Ice Cream Recipes

Sources:

How to Make Homemade Flavored Water – Alternatives to Soda

Eight Natural Ways to Make Water More Flavorful | Wise Bread

7 Ways to Make Water Taste Better – Healthy Living – Everyday Health

Tags: coffee, dehydration, drink more water, drinking water, energy drinks, flavored water, Food, health, homemade flavored water, hydrated, soda alternatives, tea, water, water intake

This entry was posted on Monday, July 18th, 2011 at 5:33 am and is filed under Diet and Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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11 Easy Strategies for Eating Healthy on a Tight Food Budget

Learn how to save money on while grocery shopping for food that promotes good health

Eating healthy, low-fat foods can be expensive.  Whole-wheat pastas and breads cost much more than their white-flour alternatives.  And because there’s a lower demand for specialty health food items, such as those targeted for gluten-free dieters, storeowners have to charge more in order to make any kind of profit.

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That doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthy foods without sacrificing your budget.  By following a few simple money-saving strategies, you can serve up wholesome, crowd-pleasing meals at a fraction of the price you would pay on restaurant food.

Here are 11 useful tips for healthy food shopping on a budget:

#1 Stay in the now

Whenever you buy out-of-season imported produce, keep in mind that you’re paying the bill for the gas and refrigeration, not to mention the damaging effect on the environment.  Buy fresh, locally grown organic fruits and vegetables that are in season, instead.  Shop your nearby Farmers’ Market for some great year-round savings on winter squash, spring berries, or summer watermelon.

#2 Go for frozen

Frozen veggies are just as healthy as fresh, and in many cases, they’re even cheaper.  Why buy fresh kiwi or strawberries for your morning smoothies, when you can find them in the frozen aisle for less money?  Buying frozen saves money on wasted produce, too.  Giant bags of frozen peas, carrots, and corn are delicious, healthy fillers for many soups, casseroles, and salads, too.

#3 Can it

Sure, if you could afford to have fresh salmon steaks every evening for dinner, you would.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t make a delicious and nutritious meal using canned salmon, tuna, or chicken as your base ingredient.  Think outside of the recipe box.  Make salmon burgers, tuna pasta salad with capers, or instant chicken soup with rice.

Related: Nine Healthiest Canned Foods: Many Contain Vitamin B12

#4 Shop around

You’re not likely to find everything you want in one store, at least, not if you want to save money.  An important savings strategy is to keep track of which store offers the best deals on your favorite health food items.  Instead of wasting money (and energy) on gas bouncing from one grocery store to the next, assign a day of the week to each particular market.

#5 That’s my list and I’m stickin’ to it

There’s no room for spontaneity on a tight food budget.  Before you go out the door, make yourself a list of need-to-buy cheap food items, and stick to it.  Shop around the perimeter of the store to avoid pricey, and often unhealthy, temptations.  If you see a healthy food staple on sale, buy in large amounts.

#6 Think big

Generally, the large economically sized items are most cost-effective.  Buy food in bulk whenever you can.  Ounce for ounce, a scoop of organic grains, spices, or legumes from the bin costs less that its pre-packaged alternative.  In the produce section, scan the aisles for giant sacks of potatoes, onions, apples, and oranges.

#7 Get back to the basics

Instead of buying flavored yogurts, minute rice, or instant oatmeal, stock up on large containers of plain yogurt, brown basmati rice, and 100% natural oats.  Besides being easier on your wallet, these plain simple food staples are much healthier than the processed versions.

#8 Work the system

Be on the alert for weekly store specials by subscribing to various email lists and circulars.  Comb the Sunday paper for coupons, but only pick out the ones for food items that you were going to buy, anyways.  Don’t be tempted by “buy one, get one” deals on expensive convenience foods that you wouldn’t ordinarily purchase.  Sign up for a store Rewards card; occasionally, you’ll receive extra savings on already marked down foods.

#9 Copycat that

Don’t be lured by the convenience of packaged snack foods like Larabars or baked Lay’s potato chips.  Instead, try making your own copycat versions at home.  The internet is chock full of copycat recipes for whatever your stomach craves.  Not only will you pinch pennies by making it yourself, but you can modify the ingredients to serve your special dietary needs.

#10 Go fridge pickin’

If you’re low on stock, scour your refrigerator for potential dinner ingredients.  With some leftover stew, a half-empty can of carrots ‘n peas, and mashed potatoes you can make shepherd’s pie.  Be inventive- pretend you’re on a reality cooking show, and see what you can concoct with a handful of basic healthy food ingredients.  You can name your culinary creations titles like “Everything Enchiladas,” or “Cream of Corn Casserole Soup.”

#11 Grow your own Victory Garden

Celebrate your victory over inflated organic food prices by cultivating your own green thumb.  You don’t have to be much of a farmer to plant your own tomatoes or squash, and your family will eat healthier as a result.  As you become more experienced, try expanding your home crops to include a short row of corn, sweet peas, and a few patches of lettuce.  The sky (and ground space) really is the limit!

Remember that the cheapest foods might cost less in the supermarket, but they ultimately cost more in the way of doctor’s bills, diet plans, larger clothing, and orthotics- not to mention your own mortality.

Check out some related subjects:

Boost Weight Loss- Snack on These 6 Yummy Treats

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15 Gluten-Free Glitterati, from Aniston to Zooey

Sources:

11 ways to save money on healthy food – Healthy Living on Shine

10 Easy Ways To Save Money On Organic Food – My Money (usnews.com)

Eating well on the cheap: saving money on healthy food

10 Ways to Save Money on Food Shopping

Tags: budget, cheap eating, cheap food, cost of food, Eating Well, food cost, grocery, healthy eating, investing, money, personal finance, price of food, prices, save money food shopping, saving, saving money, strategies

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 at 5:48 am and is filed under Diet and Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Best Clothes for Fibromyalgia Pain- 6 Helpful Dressing Tips

Dressing for success in spite of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is an “invisible disease” that causes much suffering to its victims; fibro patients experience intense pain at the slightest touch, even in the absence of any discernable skin or muscular injuries.  Many sufferers also experience “fibro fog,” which is a sign of chronic fatigue syndrome, a comorbidity of fibromyalgia.  Allodynia is a specific condition in which fibromyalgia patients feel that their “clothes hurt.”

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What are the symptoms of allodynia?

Allodynia is an overreaction to sensations that are not painful to non-fibro patients, particularly in relation to clothing.  People in the fibromyalgia circle refer to it as “Princess and the Pea Syndrome.” Common complaints are:

Shooting pains in arms caused by wristwatches, rings, or braceletsItchiness and skin irritation produced by wearing hot, manmade materials or tight, constricting clothingPainful pressure on ribcage or abdomenSensitivity to sewn-on clothing labels and tags, or anything rubbing against the skin

100 Best Sites for Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Information

What kinds of clothing are worst for fibromyalgia pain?

What works for some doesn’t always work for others; you might be more comfortable in loose, flowing caftan, while other fibromyalgia patients prefer skintight stretchy leggings and a sports top.  When it comes to socks, tight diabetic hosiery might give you long-lasting relief from foot pain.  Some people can’t stand the feel of tight or padded socks, and walk comfier in thin, no-show athletic socks.

Below is our list of 6 most helpful tips for dressing without fibromyalgia pain:

1- Don’t get strapped down. Tight bra straps and underwire shaping are the biggest causes for complaint among fibromyalgia sufferers.  Unfortunately, most of us cannot afford to go without.  For office clothing, consider wearing thick vests over comfortable cotton shirts, in lieu of form-fitting tops that require a shaping bra.  Check out JoAnn Fabrics- they sell a bra strap extender for just $1.99.  Some great alternatives to pokey wired bras are cotton sports bras, or Spanx Bra-llelujah! Wireless Front-Closure Bra.2- Loosen up. Tight button-down collars, stuffy ties, and tight jeans are not for you.  Around the house, it’s fine to lounge around in super comfy drawstring pants and oversized tank tops, but your boss will probably frown on flannel pajama pants as your new office attire.  Choose clothes that are comfortable, but not sloppy.  Long, breezy cotton dresses are acceptable in or out of the office, as well as rayon wide-legged trousers.3- Waist not, want not. If elastic waistbands are driving you nuts, then consider wearing low-riding bikini underwear instead of high-waist briefs.  For outerwear, opt for low-rise cotton pants paired with a longer-length top for tummy coverage.  Be on the lookout for clothing items that feature covered elastic waists.  Don’t be shy about investigating the maternity clothing stores; Maternity pants and skirts have a low elastic waist that tucks under the tummy, and are really comfortable!  In fact, many moms are reluctant to switch back to their old waist-hugging jeans.  Alternatively, you can get the same results from a pair of wide, drawstring pants.4- Forgo fashion labels. Clothing tags and labels are murder on the tactile-sensitive.  Many clothing manufacturers such as Old Navy and Hanes make nonirritating tag-free shirts, pants, and socks.  If ripping the tag out is not an option, hop on over to your neighborhood tailor, and she’ll be glad to carefully remove the tag without causing any damage to the fabric. In a pinch, you can also wear underwear, socks, or pajama tops inside out, and nobody need ever know.5- Be kind to your feet. Fibromyalgia pain is similar to diabetic neuropathy.  For that reason, many fibro sufferers find relief by wearing form-fitting diabetic socks.  Other key features to look for are seamless toes and non-ribbed socks.  Comfortable shoes should be made of leather or cotton.  Some favorites include handcrafted loafers and sandals from San Antonio Shoes (SAS).6- Drape yourself in comfortable fabrics. Omit polyester, or any manmade clothing material, from your fashion wardrobe.  Instead, buy comfortable, breathable apparel made from natural fibers.  Check the clothing label (before ripping it out) for 100% cotton, silk, Tencel, rayon, or modal, in addition to 5% spandex.  WinterSilks is famous for their silky long underwear, but they also manufacture a full range of comfortable clothing for men and women.

Also read:

Staying Fit with Fibromyalgia: 13 Pain-Free Workouts

Why More Fibromyalgia Patients are Taking Tai Chi

15 Handy Household Tools for Chronic Pain Sufferers

Sources:

Poll: What Clothes are Worst for Fibromyalgia Pain?

Allodynia: Weird Pain Related to Fibromyalgia

How to Dress for Less Fibromyalgia Pain

A Checklist for the Symptoms of Allodynia

Tags: allodynia, bras, clothes, clothing, diabetic socks, dressing for fibromyalgia, elastic bands, fibromyalgia clothes, fibromyalgia pain, fibromyalgia pain clothing, fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), getting dressed, my clothes hurt, numbness, pants, pressure, sports bras, tender points, tingling, waistbands

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 at 4:42 am and is filed under Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

The Best- and Worst- Cooking Oils for Heart Health

Following a low-saturated fat diet cuts your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other life-threatening illnesses.  Use a variety of wholesome nut and seed oils for everyday healthy cooking.

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Start a collection

When it comes to cooking with healthy oils, variety is indeed the spice of life.  It’s important to stock your kitchen with a selection of flavorful, low-in-saturated-fat oils.  Many are rich in vitamins, monounsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids.  For all-purpose cooking, olive oil and canola oil are versatile staples that work in most recipes, save deep-frying or searing.  Other oils are ideal for cold salad dressings- a few drops of dark toasted sesame oil add a rich smoky flavor to Oriental chicken salad and pasta.

Low smoking point oils:  (Use raw in salads, dips, and sandwich spreads)

Flax seed oil adds flavor to pasta salads or yogurt dips, and provides alpha-linolenic acid, a heart-healthy form of omega-3. Health experts link flax seed oil with reduced risk for cancer, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
Wheat germ oil is another exceptional disease-fighting agent. Rich in vitamin E, wheat germ has antioxidant properties for combating free radicals, thus lowering your risk of suffering from a heart attack or cancer. Use wheat germ oil sparingly in marinades and spreads, as it contains 17% saturated fats. Wheat germ oil also boosts your immune system and promotes healthy brain functioning.

Medium smoking point oils:  (Use for stir-frying, baking, and sautéing)

Canola oil, with only 7% saturated fats, is one of the healthiest cooking oils across the board. Canola oil imparts a mild, clean flavor to “oven fried” chicken nuggets and potato sticks.
Walnut oil is a surprisingly healthy source of omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to being low in saturated fats. Walnut oil has a medium smoking point, so only use it for quick sautéing over a medium flame.
Hemp oil is omega-rich cooking oil that is gaining popularity in alternative medicine circles; to prevent rancidity, store hemp oil in the refrigerator.

High smoking point oils: (Use for searing or browning)

Almond oil and hazelnut oil are the choicest oils to use for high-heat cooking, with only 7% saturated fats. Nut oils have a distinct flavor that enhance dishes like seared salmon cutlets, or “blackened” Cajun chicken.
Olive oil is a flavorful runner-up that is slightly higher in saturated fats (14%). “Light” colored olive oil has the highest smoking point, while less refined extra virgin olive oil is more suited to medium-high cooking temperatures.
High-oleic sunflower oil is also low in saturated fats and holds up well under high heat.

Oils that should stay shelved

Whichever oil your prefer, stay away from coconut oil, which packs a whopping dose of 92% saturated fats and has absolutely no health benefits.  Palm oil is another contender for our “worst oil ever” award, packed with 52% artery-clogging saturated fats.

Related Reading:

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Sources:

Heart-Healthy Cooking: Oils 101- Cleveland Clinic Health

Choosing Healthier Oils

What is Wheat Germ?

Flaxseed Health Benefits, Food Sources, Recipes, and Tips for Using It

Tags: diet nutrition, fats, Food, grocery shopping, health, healthy eating, heart healthy, low fat, natural diet, nutrition, nutrition nutritious foods, pantry storage, special diets

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 at 5:34 am and is filed under Diet and Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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12 Fermented Foods that are Good for your Gut- Probiotics

Include these anti-inflammatory fermented foods in your diet.

Whether you suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you know that the best way to treat your tummy right is by following a diet rich in probiotic foods.  Probiotics are live microorganisms that occur naturally in aged foods,  such as pickles and yogurt.  Consider them your allies in fighting your body’s war between good and evil, bacteria-wise.  When it comes to preventing gastrointestinal inflammation, the health benefits of probiotics are unrivaled.

Gut Bugs:Winning the Bacteria Battle

Twelve great foods that contain probiotics are:

1- Yogurt: Yogurt is an old standby for people who understand the health benefits of probiotic foods, and for good reason.  Many brands of yogurt contain live cultures that aid in preventing inflammation caused by antibiotics and irritable bowel syndrome.  Keep in mind that not all yogurts are alike- only the ones that are marked “active cultures” or “live cultures” on the label have potent probiotics.2- Kefir: Kefir is a popular European drink that contains a mixture of goat milk and fermented kefir grains.  In addition to antioxidants, kefir is also rich in lactobacilli and bifidus bacteria.3- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a nourishing drink that adds creaminess and rich flavor to Ranch salad dressings, pancakes, and cornbread.  It is also an excellent source of probiotic cultures.4- Sour cream: Sour cream is a fermented condiment that contains healthy bacteria.  Use it sparingly, as it is high in fat.5- Miso: Miso is a traditional Japanese condiment that consists of a fermented paste produced by soybeans, barley, or rice.  It adds a salty, smoky flavor to soups and sauces.  Natural Treatments for the Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease6- Tempeh: Tempeh is an excellent vegetarian source of vitamin B12.  Produced from fermented soybeans, tempeh is a meatier alternative to tofu and makes a satisfying centerpiece in vegan main meals.7- Natto: Natto is another soy product featured in Japanese cuisine, containing bacillus subtilis.  It has a pungent quality that true lovers of vegetarian cookery enjoy.8- Sauerkraut: This fermented cabbage began its gastronomical career as a popular German condiment; today, hot dog enthusiasts all over the USA delight in topping their frankfurters with tangy sauerkraut.  The 20 Do’s and Don’ts of the GERD Diet9- Kimchi: Kimchi is a traditional Korean condiment made of assorted pickled vegetables.  Like sauerkraut, kimchi contains fermented cabbage, in addition to onions, carrots, and garlic.  Unlike sauerkraut, kimchi has a hot ‘n spicy kick to it.10- Kombucha tea: Kombucha tea, a health food staple that contains live cultures, is an ancient tonic that promotes healthy gut bacteria.11- Pickles: Dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, or half-sours: any way you slice them, pickled cucumbers are a tasty, crunchy source of gut-friendly probiotics.12- Unpasteurized olives: Naturally fermented, unpasteurized olives have a unique, full-bodied flavor that is lacking in traditionally bottled pasteurized olives.  Like all olives, they are equally beneficial for preventing heart disease.

Related Reading:

15 Steps to Better Digestion

Crohn’s Disease Suggested Dinner Menu, plus Recipes

Ten Foods to avoid if you have Inflammatory Bowel Disorder

101 Helpful Sites for Kids ‘n Teens with Crohn’s (and their Parents)

On the Run with Crohn’s? 6 Ways to Ease Public Restroom Anxiety

Sources:

Top 10 Probiotic Foods to Add to Your Diet

Top Probiotic Foods You Are Not Eating | The Conscious Life

The Best Probiotic Foods | LIVESTRONG.COM

13 Natural Probiotic Food Sources

Tags: anti-inflammatory fermented foods, Crohn's, Crohn’s Disease, foods that contain probiotics, gastrointestinal disease, IBD inflammatory bowel disease, IBS, irritable bowel syndrome IBS, Livestrong, probiotics, probiotics health benefits, ulcerative colitis

This entry was posted on Friday, July 22nd, 2011 at 5:25 am and is filed under Crohn's Disease. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

Is it Chronic Fatigue or Fibromyalgia? Four Ways to Tell

How to tell if you have fibro fog, chronic fatigue, or both

Most people who have fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) also suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as the two conditions share comorbidity with each other. Not only are 80 to 90 percent of all chronic fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue sufferers female, they share many of the same symptoms, such as severe chronic pain and mental exhaustion.  If that’s the case, then how does one tell the two conditions apart?

7 Reasons You Have Brain Fog…And What to do About It

Common symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

In order for you physician to diagnose CFS or FMS, you must exhibit some of the following symptoms:

Extreme mental fatigueMuscle or joint painDifficulty sleepingUnusual headachesIrritable bowel syndromeForgetfulnessLightheadedness

Suffering from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue? B12 to the Rescue!

We know what features CFS and FMS have in common; what criteria do physicians use to tell them apart?  The basic difference is; fibromyalgia is more about the pain, while chronic fatigue is mostly about being tired all the time.  However, that’s only a rough description.

Here are four distinguishing traits of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue:

1) Statistics

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia syndrome, compared with 1 million who suffer from chronic fatigue.  If you suspect one of the two, seek a fibromyalgia diagnosis first.   A rheumatologist often determines fibromyalgia, while an infectious disease specialist is more likely to diagnose CFS.

2) The substance P factor

Fibromyalgia patients have 300% more substance P, a chemical that your brain uses to spread pain signals throughout your body.  The more substance P your body emits following an injury, the stronger your body’s reaction to pain.  If you have fibromyalgia, then you suffer three times the amount of muscular pain or joint aches than people who don’t have chronic illness.

3) It’s in the zone

There are approximately 18 distinct pain points throughout body that signal fibromyalgia syndrome.  To receive a diagnosis, fibromyalgia sufferers must exhibit soreness in at least 11 of these specified zones.  Conversely, chronic fatigue patients have no connection with the 18 pain points.

How to Tell if Chronic Pain is Fibromyalgia: 18 Pressure Points

4) Chronic fatigue is viral

Chronic fatigue syndrome patients have higher levels of an antiviral enzyme, RNase L, leading experts to believe that CFS is the result of an autoimmune disorder following exposure to a virus.  While fibromyalgia patients usually begin to exhibit pain symptoms following an emotional trauma or physical injury, CFS generally appears because of a viral infection, like mono or the flu.  Chronic fatigue sufferers often complain of residual flu-like symptoms and sore throat, in addition to exhaustion following physical exercise.  CFS patients feel tired all day, even after sleeping a full eight hours.

Related reading:

100 Best Sites for Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Information

Staying Fit with Fibromyalgia: 13 Pain-Free Workouts

Why More Fibromyalgia Patients are Taking Tai Chi

15 Handy Household Tools for Chronic Pain Sufferers

Best Clothes for Fibromyalgia Pain- 6 Helpful Dressing Tips

Sources:

The Common Threads of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Fibromyalgia Center – Everyday Health

Difference Between Fibromyalgia and Chronic fatigue syndrome | Difference Between |  Fibromyalgia vs Chronic fatigue syndrome

What is the difference between fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue?

Tags: CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic fibromyalgia, diseases, fibromyalgia fatigue, fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), fms, mental fatigue, physical fatigue, symptoms of cfs, symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, symptoms of fibromyalgia, treatment for cfs, treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome

This entry was posted on Monday, July 25th, 2011 at 5:38 am and is filed under Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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