Used in treating various health conditions in adults, pollen can also be administered to children although the recommended dosage varies depending on the kid’s age and general health state.

Health Benefits of Bee Pollen

This natural supplement has a variety of health benefits and medicinal uses, being used in treating allergies, respiratory conditions such as asthma or regular infections, gastrointestinal disorders as well as appetite problems. Moreover, this nourishing product improves the physical strength and performance, increases the general stamina and boosts energy levels.

Considered a wonder food by nutritionists as well as by users, bee pollen fights stress very efficiently and prevents nutritional deficiencies due to its high content of vitamins, minerals, proteins, amino acids, lipids and enzymes. Also, it is proven to improve the mental alertness and concentration and to sustain memory.

Being so rich in nutrients, pollen is also a great aid for the healthy growth and development of a child’s organism. However, all these benefits can be compromised when the recommended daily dose is exceeded, so it’s essential to know how much bee pollen a child can use on a regular basis and also to be aware of the potential side effects triggered by this product.

Recommended Dosage

For your kids to get the maximum benefits of bee pollen capsules, nutritionists recommend a daily intake of 0.5-1 tablespoon of pollen for children aged 2 to 6 years and 1-1.5 tablespoon for those aged 6 to 12 years. Teenagers aged 12 and over can take up to 2 tablespoons per day.

If your child is taking bee pollen for the first time, give him only one granule or two as the first serving, to ensure he is not allergic to this natural food. If you know your kid is allergic to honey or other bee products it’s better to avoid administering him pollen as unpleasant reactions may occur. However, if no adverse effect appears after the first serving, you can gradually increase the dosage to a tablespoon of bee pollen per day.

Potential side effects

The major risk when administering this natural supplement to children is the occurrence of allergic reactions, including swelling of the face and lips, hives, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats or even anaphylaxis which can be fatal.

For avoiding these adverse reactions an allergy test needs to be taken before giving the supplement to your child. This test can be done either by using a very low amount of bee pollen as the first serving (0.5 tablespoon or even less) or by scheduling an appointment with an allergist who will take a blood or a skin test.

Joshua Kane likes to research the benefits of natural supplements like bee pollen. Learn more about how you can improve your health and well-being by adding bee pollen to your daily diet.

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DHA and EPA, which are found in omega-3, are responsible for over 60% of the brain's total mass (in fats). And 50% of those fats are made of DHA. Thus, the duo, DHA and EPA plays a very significant role in brain development as well as its function.

Making Smart Babies
The brain, among all the organs in the body, has the greatest density of fat. While the child is still in the mother's womb, the fatty acids are associated to the brain cells as well as the retina of the eye on the last trimester of the pregnancy, however the process does not stop there as it goes on until the first year of the child after he or she was born. Polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFA, Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid are the most important fatty acids for both the brains and the retina. The amount of DHA received by the child in the womb mainly comes from the amount of omega-3 intake by the mother.

By now, you should have realized that omega-3 deficiency does not simply spring from the kind of food that a child eats and not eats. It all begins as early as pregnancy. It is already given that pregnant women should have a really healthy diet, but here's an added reason to that. According to a medical observation, infants born with weights were lower than the normal have mothers who consumed less polyunsaturated fatty acids as compared to mothers of infants who were born with normal weights. In addition, the first types of mothers also had lower levels of DHA and RHA in their red blood cells.

Take Your Pick
omega-3 fatty acids has lots of sources; but the healthiest, richest and safest option among all is fish oil. It has more abundant omega-3 as compared to vegetables and other plant sources in the likes of flax seed. The reason is simple; the omega-3 found in sources like flax seeds are in ALA form, this means that the body needs to process and convert it into DHA and EPA before utilized. Whereas the omega-3 found in fish oils are already in DHA and EPA forms, cutting your body the need to convert ALA to EPA and DHA.

You have a lot to choose from when scouting for omega-3 supplements for the kids. If you plan to take fish, it is very important that you get only fresh and purified fish oil products. The fishing industry, especially in the major ports all across the globe, are contaminated with toxins. It is important for fish oil products to undergo molecular distillation, a process that removes all the possible contamination there may be.

It is also essential to understand that not all fishes have the same amount of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically the elements that we are looking for, DHA and EPA. It is also true that not all fish oils yield the same level of omega-3.

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There is no cause for concern however as chemical pest control is a thing of the past. Most pest control companies today have adopted environmentally friendly techniques to exterminate the menace of pests from our homes. These methods strictly abide by the regulations laid down by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has prohibited the use of harmful pesticides such as DDT by pest control companies. 

Apart from the regulations that have been imposed it has been found that the use of conventional pesticides such as DDT have proven to be ineffective in combating resilient pests such as bed bugs and other parasites. These insects have developed a certain amount of immunity towards these chemicals and advanced research has proven that in fact certain species of insects tend to proliferate despite the presence of pesticides in a given environment. Hence, most pest control companies today are beginning to use techniques such as biological pest control, and other non-toxic methods, which guarantee the complete safety of your child.

Biological pest control is one of the most popular techniques today. This is used for larger pests such as rats and mice. Pest control companies employ the use of predatory techniques where a cat or another animal is introduced into the pest environment to get rid of the creatures. This is an absolutely safe and effective technique where no chemicals are used.

Other non-toxic pest control measures include setting up traps around the home and by using sprays made out of plant and fruit extracts, which are perfectly safe and healthy for your infant. In addition, the use of non-toxic repellents such as pellets, are used to combat smaller pests such as ants and roaches. The pellets are placed around the places that are inaccessible to your child or infant.

Neutral substances such as rubbing alcohol are also used by pest control companies these days as an effective bed bug treatment. This is done by spraying only the affected area using an aerosol and is a very effective and safe method to cleanse a bed bug infestation.

If you have an infestation plaguing your living space, you can safely call your local pest control company. Apart from effectively getting rid of the infestation, most pest control companies today lay a great deal of emphasis on child safety and are committed to using non-toxic, environmentally friendly techniques that ensure the health and well being of your home. 

Cary Title writes for Bed Bugs And Beyond, a bed bugs toronto pest control company providing tips and tricks about how to secure your home against unwanted guests using pesticides toronto as well as heat treatments!

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There are some foods that are a natural source of this vitamin. Some of these are egg yolks, fish, liver and fortified milk. Vitamin D associates with other forms of vitamins and minerals to ensure the proper growth of the bones. Vitamin D also helps in the absorption of bodily nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus. Many people are of the opinion that only the consumption of calcium will make their bones healthy. This is a misconception, since there are quite a number of biological components involved in the development of our bones.

Some recent studies that were conducted in Europe indicated that the bone mineral content of a child is directly dependent on the content of Vitamin D in the body of the mother. This clearly means that if an expecting mother does not suffer from Vitamin D deficiency and has optimum levels of this vitamin in it, the child will have a greater amount of bone mineral content when he or she starts growing older. This study was done on children who were in their ninth year and whose mothers had consumed vitamin D during the time of pregnancy. The level of bone mineral density found in these children was relatively more.

Some few years back, research done on the health of bones proved that the intake of vitamin D minimizes the chance of people having fractures. Fractures are a result of weakened bones, and there are some diseases, like osteoporosis which makes the bone become weak and thin. This shows that Vitamin D provides strength to our bones. However, latest research has shown that Vitamin D can also strengthen the bones of the child if an expecting mother consumes supplements containing Vitamin D.

Studies have also indicated the development of the intrauterine and early postnatal systems contribute to the addition of the bone mineral content. This may not be immediate, but may happen at some later stage in life. All these also influence the chances of occurrence of osteoporosis. It is also these studies that suggest those women who are pregnant or those who are elderly suffer from the deficiency symptoms and results of vitamin D deficiency.

Researchers have showed that people who are exposed to the natural sunlight everyday have very few chances of having Vitamin D deficiency. However, the risk of having cancer of the skin due to over exposure to the sun prevents many people to use the benefits of sunlight exposure. Insufficient exposure to the sun further results in limiting the production of Vitamin D in the body, and this gives rise to the symptoms related to the deficiency of the hormone.

The author writes informative articles on health supplements. Find out more about vitamin D and pregnancy by visiting his website.

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Side Effects and Risks

When you complete an x-ray of the stomach area during your pregnancy, your unborn baby is exposed to radiation that can create changes in your baby's cells. Because of the changes that can occur in the cells of your unborn child, you are at in increased risk of giving birth to a baby with defects. In addition, your child may have an increased risk of enduring leukemia later in life.

Despite the risks you may face when completing an x-ray of the abdomen, most other types of x-rays, such as those taken of your limbs, do not expose your reproductive organs as an x-ray of the stomach area does, lowering the risks to your baby that are associated with these types of procedures.

Protection during X-rays

Though there are some risks of experiencing adverse side effects related to exposure to radiation, there are ways to help block and prevent it from affecting you and your baby as severely. One way of helping block some of the radiation that could affect your baby is by donning a protective lead apron and collar.

Safe Guarding Your Baby

Despite the protection offered by a lead covering, one of the best ways you can protect yourself and your baby from radiation exposure accompanying x-rays during your pregnancy is by making sure you inform health care professionals if you are pregnant or may be pregnant. Prior to completing an x-ray, informing your doctors and nurses of the life within you can help them assist you in making the safest choice possible.

If you have a child who must endure an x-ray, insuring you do not experience radiation from the x-ray they are receiving will require you to seek help from someone else who can hold them during the procedure. Experiencing radiation from an x-ray when it is not necessary for you to go through the process of getting an x-ray is an unnecessary risk.

Accidental Exposure

X-rays may have been completed before you realized you were pregnant, making it easy to panic about the results of the procedure and the radiation your baby was exposed to. Although there are risks for receiving an x-ray during your pregnancy, the risks are very minute. Radiation treatments, on the other hand, may be something more significant to worry about. Contacting and informing your doctor if you have received radiation procedures or had contact with radiation can create awareness among your caregivers and ensure you receive the best care possible for your situation.

Jerry is a programming veteran that develops medical imaging software designed to help doctors, radiologists and other medical professionals operate their practices more efficiently.

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Shopping for eyeglasses for your child can be a daunting task. There are so many styles and colors to choose from. How do you know which is right for your child? Whether your child will be a part-time or full-time wearer of eyeglasses, there are several things you should keep in mind.

Plastic or Metal Frame?
Children's eyeglasses are made of metal or plastic. Plastic used to be the recommended choice because it was more durable and cost less. Now it is not uncommon for manufacturers to make durable, lightweight, and inexpensive metal frames as well. However, the composition of the metal may vary, so check with your optician as to what materials are present in the metal. One thing to be aware of about metal frames, however, is that your child may be allergic or have a sensitivity to the metal components, so if any rashes or irritation occurs with the frames, nickel may be the culprit (http://www.allaboutvision.com/buysmart/kidseyewear.htm).

Choosing a Pair

Once you determine the type of frame you're looking for, the important part starts—choosing the actual frame. When shopping with your child for their eyeglasses, remember:

1. Style: Everyone wants to be the cool kid, and that can be hard if you're wearing goofy-looking glasses that take up most of your face or make you look like a nerd. Almost all kids will get teased by their classmates and friends when they see them with glasses for the first time. Most children will say that style is the most important aspect when deciding on a pair of eyeglasses. So as a parent, you will need to exercise some flexibility.Remember, the goal is to have your child wear the glasses (http://www.allaboutvision.com/buysmart/kidseyewear.htm). If your child ends up being embarrassed and refuses to wear them, you will end up having wasted a huge chunk of money—without even improving your child's vision.Have your child try on several styles and colors that they like and help them decide on one that will look best with their facial features (http://www.zoodles.com/blog/index.php/2010/08/a-parents-guide-to-childrens-eyeglasses/).
2. Proper fit: Although style is very important to most children, they won't wear even the coolest eyeglasses if they don't fit. Glasses that keep falling off their nose or that have to be constantly adjusted will quickly frustrate your child. Metal frames tend to fit better because they often have adjustable nose pads. Plastic frames don't have this feature, so they often are too big for smaller noses. Check out silicone nose pads—they are soft, comfortable and have a non-slip surface. You can always have an optician examine the glasses for proper fit before purchasing and readjust frames after you buy them (http://www.allaboutvision.com/buysmart/kidseyewear.htm).
3. Warranty: Be realistic. Most kids are active and will eventually break their glasses. Make sure you have some kind of warranty (many glasses come with a free one-year warranty) in case the inevitable does occur. And don’t spend a fortune on one pair of glasses—it is sure to be the first of many. Having to replace a pair of glasses each time can be costly (http://vision.about.com/od/eyeglasses/tp/kids_glasses.htm).

Time to Go Shopping!
When the optometrist tells your child they need glasses, hopefully, as a parent, you'll be armed with the information you need to ensure you choose a pair of comfortable and stylish eyeglasses your child will enjoy wearing.

Sara Roberts is a content contributor for Just Eyewear, an eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses retailer.

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Babies are not the only recipient of massage benefits. Caregivers also benefit greatly from massaging their infants. Massage helps caregivers tune into their babies needs and cues, promotes bonding, and eases symptoms of post partum depression.

Babies can receive their first massage, as long as they medically stable, the same day they are born. More and more often NICUs are utilizing massage as a way to help parents be involved with their babies care and gain confidence caring for their new baby in addition to other benefits. It can also be introduced later- there is not an open and shut window during which massage may be introduced.

In terms of timing baby’s first massage, a caregiver should wait until the baby is in a quiet alert state and in a warm environment so the baby does not become chilled. The warm environment also promotes relaxation. The massage should be relaxed and not rushed. Baby and caregiver should be tuned in to each other and the caregiver should be responsive to babies needs. This quiet attention promotes trust and bonding between the infant and the caregiver. If the infant has other needs that require attention those should be met first before beginning the massage. If the baby becomes fussy or cries the massage can be continued later or tried again another day. It is important for the baby to associate a massage with positive feelings as opposed to a negative experience.

It is never too early to begin massage as long as the baby is stable; also it is never too late for an individual to be introduced to massage.

Learn how to do a proper massage on a baby with this great DVD system:

Check out the Happy Baby Massage DVD Today!

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It is important for Mama to consume organic food if she is planning on nursing. What Mama eats is passed to baby- so if your primary reason for choosing green is to limit the effects of chemicals on your infant- this would be a key way to start. I would also opt for BPA free baby feeding products such as bottles, sippies, and later baby food.

Another important area to choose natural and organic products is baby skin care. Infants have delicate and sensitive skin chemicals can irritate it (full disclosure- so can natural products if the baby is allergic). But bathing in chemicals and then lotioning up in chemicals is pretty darn unappealing. So I would look for organic products here as well.

In terms of clothes and diapers; I use cloth diapers. Some are organic and some are not. For me, it was a choice between non organic cloth dipes and disposable ones. Cloth won out but I was still able to find a few good deals on organic cloth ones. I was less choosy about clothes though. If I could do it again I would look for more organic sleepers and blankets as they spend so much time in them as infants.

Since babies put almost everything they can get their hands on in their mouths. Choosing natural products here is also relatively important. Remember though that, babies do not need an entire toy store to amuse them a few toys will do.

Check out this great ebook on how to use all organic products for your baby and what the benefits are:

The Organic Baby EBook

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Heather Maynard, LMT, NCBTMB, a Certified Baby’s First Massage Instructor, and Certified massage therapist in Wheaton, Illinois indicated that there are a few key items to remember when massaging newborns.

First, the caregiver should wait until the infant is in the ‘quiet alert state’ and should always wash his or her hands first. Natural oils such as grapeseed, olive oil, jojoba oil, or apricot oil should be used in place of mineral oil. This is because mineral oil can clog pores and often gets into baby’s mouth as they tend to suck on their hands. The caregiver should use gentle firm pressure, enough to avoid tickling the baby, be extra gentle on the baby’s head and fontanels. Massage on the infant’s spine should be avoided as should massage when the infant has a fever. Caregivers should take care to keep their baby warm when massaging; systematically massage areas of the baby’s body and cover the parts of the infant that are not being massaged with a warm blanket. When massaging a newborns stomach, massage in a clockwise circular motion following the natural path of digestion. Last, follow your baby’s cues. If she begins to fuss, stop and try something different to see if she settles. If she begins to cry- meet her other needs and continue the massage later or another day.

Infant massage makes a great addition to the bedtime or bath-time routine and helps the caregivers and baby unwind and reconnect with each other as well as relax and transition into sleep.

Infant massage does not need to be a formal experience. It can be laid back and should be enjoyable for both the caregiver and the baby. It is a great way to bond and encourage trust and communication between the baby and the caregiver.

Want to see how proper baby massages are done?

Check out the Massage for Happy Babies DVD Today!

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The Medicator by Munchkin:

So are you like most parents out there that dread giving you baby any medication because you just know that they are going to fight you the whole way and then once you finally get it in they will spit it out. Well, I have just found a product of your dreams! If only you had thought of it first-- you could be making millions I tell you:)

The Medicator by Munchkin is a medication dispenser that helps you to give your baby medication with ease and without discomfort to baby. The dispenser looks like a little bottle with measurements on the side so you can accurately give him/her the right amount of medication. The baby doesn't taste the medication as it bypasses the taste buds and goes gently down the throat taking gagging and spitting out of the picture. It really is a wonderful little invention for everyone involved and can be used from birth.

The negative points about this product that I have read from some moms is that the number measurements on the side wear away over time making it hard to measure accurately. The top is also difficult to screw on and it does not have a top to cover the nipple in order to keep it dust free. All that said, I still think it is a product worthy to be bought and used with delight!

The Medicator - Purple Offer by: BabyEarth Price: USD 2.95

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