Advice from the experts
Lynne Brown

Do Sunscreens Really Prevent Skin Cancers?

Not long now and you may be heading off to your summer holiday at the sea, which brings me to the topic of sunscreens.  Being a sun-worshipper myself, with a strong belief in the therapeutic properties of sunlight, I will never be convinced that it is not good to get a healthy dose of the sun every day. It is essential for health, for life and for happy moods! Yes, too much sunlight can cause sunburn, and sunburn is a risk factor for skin cancer. But then one would assume that since sunscreens help prevent sunburn, they should reduce the risk of skin cancer too, right? Yet no study on melanoma or basal or squamous cell carcinoma has shown convincingly that sunscreens prevent the formation of new skin cancers or reduce the risk of melanoma. A few theories as to why this is so, have been put  forward, which include: The sorts of people who use sunscreen (e.g. fair-skinned) are generally at enhanced risk of skin cancer to begin with. Use of sunscreen makes people think they are not getting burned so they stay in the sun longer Sunscreen blocks out the UVB needed for Vitamin D production, but allows in the UVA, considered the melanoma culprit. Sunscreen blocks the manufacture of vitamin D which is linked to cancer-protective effects. The potentially carcinogenic effect of certain chemicals used in sunscreens More evidence pointing to sunscreens being the problem rather than the solution are these three astounding facts: Melanomas most commonly occur in countries that are less sun-exposed Are more common in indoor workers than outdoor workers and Most melanomas do not occur in typically sun-exposed parts of the body. I “pale” at the potential consequences of the current “keep your children out of the sun or slathered from top to toe in sunscreen” trend on the long term health of our children. Just to give you an example of how powerful sunscreens are, apparently a sunscreen with an SPF of 8 can reduce your ability to make vitamin D in your skin by more than 95%. Low vitamin D levels can cause bone disease and is linked with enhanced risk of cardiovascular disease and, yes you have guessed it, several forms of cancers. More than 200 epidemiological studies have confirmed that the anti-sun propaganda may well have led to a chronic deficiency of vitamin D, which may be contributing to increasing cancer incidence, including melanoma. You will be amazed to know that even in South Africa average serum vitamin D levels are dropping to levels insufficient to protect us against cancer and other degenerative diseases. Furthermore the recommendation that we should avoid the midday sun and rather get our sun exposure before 10am and after 3pm has also been reversed.  To maximize your vitamin D production and minimize your risk of malignant melanoma, the middle of the day (roughly between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) is the best and safest time. During this time you need the shortest exposure time to produce vitamin D because the protective UVB rays are most intense at this time- approx 15 minutes for light skins but longer for dark skinned people. As the sun goes down, the UVB is filtered out much more than the dangerous UVA. So get outdoors in the sun during the peak hours but DO NOT get burnt. Expose as much of your skin as possible till a slight pink colour says its time to cover up again. If you need to be in the sun for long periods cover up with a T-shirt and hat. Apply the same rules to your children. It is also a good idea to have your vitamin D levels checked by means of a simple blood test and if your levels are below 50ng/mL, and being in sunlight often enough is not an option for you, then it would be wise to take an oral vitamin D3 (not D2) supplement. Look for cholecalciferol and depending on how low your level was, take between 1000 and 5000IU daily.

October 22, 2014
Parenting Hub

Drugs And Our Children

The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) Committee suggest that infants as young as two years old need to be screened for high cholesterol, and children as young as eight years old should be put on prescription statin drugs. In a nutshell, they were saying: Research in children and adolescents has demonstrated that some potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease may be present at a young age and paediatricians must initiate the lifelong approach to prevention of cardiovascular disease in their patients by considering pharmacological intervention for patients 8 years and older. These guidelines were approved by the FDA even though statin drugs have never been tested on young children. In other words our own 8 year old children would be the guinea pigs! Some physicians warned that the AAP is being hasty in its recommendations, given the lack of data on the long-term effects of statins in children and uncertainties about the ultimate benefits for younger statin starters. “To be frank, I’m embarrassed for the AAP today,” Lawrence Rosen, MD, from Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, told the New York Times. “Treatment with medications in the absence of any clear data? I hope they’re ready for the public backlash.” New guidelines Fortunately these recommendations were replaced with a recommendation for cholesterol screening for all children age 9-11 with a retest at age 17, even in the absence of risk factors for heart disease. Is the conventional medical profession likely to follow this advice and place children as young as 9 years old on statin drugs, even without a single safety test having ever been conducted with children taking these powerful chemicals? Given the potential risks of harm from statins such as disruption of hormone production, including sex hormones, loss of cellular energy and muscle function, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction, mental confusion, amnesia and many more, is this what we want to see in our 9 year old boys and girls? The so-called specialists on the AAP committee say: “Kids are getting fatter, laying the groundwork for a future of cardiovascular disease unless something is done to stop the cascade”. Yes of course, something needs to be done  but does it have to be a drug intervention? What about a simple nutritional and weight management intervention? Treat them, don’t drug ‘em What if these children really do have high cholesterol? Well a nutritional therapist’s approach would firstly look at the underlying health problem in this case. Chances are that a child diagnosed with high cholesterol at the age of nine may have been a victim of dietary abuse. To imbalance a child’s cholesterol at such an early age would usually require the consumption of large quantities of junk food, processed and fried foods and trans fatty acids  with a dangerous lack of plant-based nutrients. A diet high in fresh, raw vegetables and fruit, sufficient fibre and the right proteins and fats, including omega-3 essential fatty acids, will achieve good results in a matter of weeks. Fresh, non-processed, living foods is what is needed here to reverse potential heart disease and normalise cholesterol. Behavioural drugs Children are also increasingly being prescribed drugs to manage behavioural problems. Does this mean children are becoming increasingly difficult to control or perhaps we are breeding Ritalin-deficient children? The redefinition of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 1994 led to a near doubling of the number of children diagnosed with this condition and an equal increase in the sales of Ritalin. In this crazy world we live in, what could be nicer than indulging in a bit of day dreaming? Yet today a dreamy child is diagnosed as having an illness and medical aids very kindly pay for their drug treatment. A disruptive child may quiet down on this medication and everyone thinks the problem has gone away, meanwhile the underlying issues remain unaddressed. A startling new study of thousands of Canadian children should make us think hard. It found that overall, these drugs have no long-term benefits whatsoever. If anything kids on Ritalin had worse outcomes than others. (However, for a small percentage of children, effective treatment for ADHD is a lifesaver and we should not lose sight of this.) Conclusion Are we creating a generation of druggies? Today it is not uncommon for school children to be taking powerful medical drugs just like their parents. Please keep your children drug-free and safe using nutrition and natural medicine and remember: Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it.

October 21, 2014
Meg Faure

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF CO-SLEEPING

Parenting is fraught with tough, controversial decisions. What makes the decisions tough is that there are such varied opinions and every ‘expert’, mum and family member seems to have a very firm opinion on how you should raise your baby. Without question, one of the most highly charged discussions revolves around co-sleeping. Should you? Should you? These are questions you will be asking yourself. The benefits of co-sleeping There is evidence that babies who co-sleep breastfeed for longer than babies who don’t. This is probably due to the fact that these babies have more free access to their mum’s breast for night feeds. Sleep researcher, James McKenna believes that babies who co-sleep have better immunity, possibly due to the benefits from breastfeeding. Of course there is above all the convenience of sleeping with your small baby. Instead of getting up to check on your little one or to feed her, you can simply roll over to check on or feed her. Some research indicates that children who share sleep spaces with their parents experience emotional benefits such as security, emotional stability and are in the long run more likely to be well-adjusted. The risks of co-sleeping In recent years, co-sleeping has become recognised as a risk factor for cot death or SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The American Association of Paediatrics recommends that parents do not co-sleep at all. An enormous amount of recent research points towards the risks of co-sleeping. Most of this research highlights where you co-sleep and the parent’s state whilst sleeping. Falling asleep on a sofa is very risky for the baby and has been conclusively linked to cot death. Likewise a parent who has had even one glass of wine or a painkiller should not co-sleep with their baby as suffocation is much more likely when a parent sleeps deeply while co-sleeping. Even removing these confounding factors, co-sleeping in a bed with your baby under 6 months of age does increase the risk of cot death (SIDS). The question is whether the risks outweigh the benefits and this is where the discussion on co-sleeping takes place. Co-sleeping safely If you are choosing to co-sleep, you can do so safely and be confident in deciding to do so, if you take the following into consideration: Your baby must sleep on her back. Do not have a pillow near your baby. Do not cover your baby with your duvet, or use an electric blanket or hot water bottle. Place your baby on the outside of the bed next to you, not between you and your partner. Have a sleep nest that creates a space for your baby in your bed. Do not co-sleep if your baby is exposed to cigarette smoke during the day. Do not drink alcohol or take any form of pain medication before bedtime. Managing co-sleeping with your newborn and young baby Co-sleeping with your newborn may feel like the most natural way to sleep. You can feed on demand through the night and don’t have to get up to feed or check on your little one. If you are on pain medication do not co-sleep with your newborn. The risk of suffocating your baby, rolling on her or increasing her body temperature with your body heat or blankets is increased. Making changes The safest place for your newborn to sleep is in a crib next to your bed or in a co-sleeper cot. At this age, your baby will find the transition to sleep in her own space easy. Moving your baby from your bed to her own sleep space becomes increasingly difficult after 6 months of age due to habits and expectations. Co-sleeping and toddlers While toddlers should sleep in their own space, strangely enough this is the time in which co-sleeping is most common. Making changes Since habits will become firmly entrenched at this age, now is the time to make the move. It is preferable to make the move to her own room before your baby is two years old, that is while your little one is still in a cot. Once in a bed, boundaries need to be instilled which raises another whole set of issues. If you need to in-still bed space boundaries, be firm and consistent. If you find the battle is too great, you can move to a halfway space – where your toddler has a sleep space next to your bed – a mattress on the floor is fine. At the end of the day, regardless of your baby’s age, you will need to make a call that you are comfortable with regarding sleep space and co-sleeping. Like all other parenting decisions – it’s a tough one and really there is no right or wrong – there’s what you do and don’t do.

October 21, 2014
Parenting Hub

Is Grassfed Really Better?

A lot of us are horrified by how animals are treated in feedlots and as a result, there is a decided trend toward pasture-raised animals. The newly-instated Grass-fed Association of South Africa, with its aim to establish an environmentally friendly and economically viable grass-fed meat industry, bears testimony to this. There are many reasons why grass-fed is indeed better, not the least of which the fact that putting beef cattle into feedlots and feeding them grains, goes completely “against the grain” for these animals. Grazing animals such as cattle, sheep and buck are endowed with the ability to convert grasses, which we humans cannot digest, into flesh that we are able to digest. They can do this because they possess a rumen, a 45 or so gallon fermentation tank in which resident bacteria convert cellulose into protein and fats. They are, on the other hand, very inefficient at converting corn and other grains, so we have to do this feedlot thing on a massive scale to feed all the meat-eaters of the world. However, it’s still cheaper and faster, so our meat supply is now almost all feedlot meat. But the unnaturally fast weight gain of animals in feedlots could not be achieved without enormous quantities of corn, soy-based (read GM) protein supplements, antibiotics and other drugs, including growth hormones. Apparently up to 70% of all antibiotic use around the world is on animals. This leads directly to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria with new “superbugs” increasingly rendering our antibiotics ineffective for treating disease in humans. We are brainwashed into believing that “grain-fed” beef is nutritionally superior, but is it? Producers are even rewarded higher grades for well-marbled flesh which is what you will get in grain-fed beef, however is this better for us? Marbled flesh is simply fat that can’t be trimmed off, as it lies within the flesh. A sirloin steak from grass-fed beef may have as little as half the fat of a steak from feedlot beef. However what’s even more important is the kind of fat. The high, imbalanced levels of omega-6 fat in grain and corn-fed animals tends to promote inflammatory processes, insulin resistance and interference with omega-3 fat metabolism. The fat in grass-fed meat is rich in desirable omega-3 fats, also found in  coldwater fish, flaxseeds and walnuts.  A grass-fed steak typically has about twice as many omega-3s as a grain-fed steak. Sadly though, when cattle are taken off grass and shipped to a feedlot to be fattened on grain, they immediately begin losing the omega-3s they have stored in their tissues.  Meat from pastured cattle may also be up to four times higher in vitamin E than feedlot meat, and much higher in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a nutrient associated with lower cancer risk. There are also environmental benefits to grass-fed beef – it is far less polluting, with their droppings becoming nutrients for the next pasture. Grain we feed our feedlot cattle accounts for a staggering amount of fossil fuel energy and vast quantities of chemical fertilizer. So grass-fed beef certainly has its advantages, but it is typically more expensive, and I’m not at all sure that’s a bad thing. Most of us eat far too much meat anyway! Meatless Mondays? What a brilliant idea! Grassfed vs Organic vs Natural It’s important to remember that organic is not the same as grass-fed. You may find organic beef and dairy products that are hormone- and antibiotic- free but the animals still spent their lives in a feedlot simply eating organically grown grain. What about the “natural” label? All that usually means is that the animal was raised in a feedlot but without growth hormones and antibiotics added to their non-organic feed. There can still be as many as 100 cattle, weighing from 350 to 600kgs, living in a pen the size of a basketball court.

October 20, 2014
Good Night Baby

Confessions Of A Sleep Therapist

There is a saying that goes: “The cobbler’s children go unshod”. Simply put, the son of the shoemaker has no shoe…. Very often, the cobbler spends so much time looking after his customers’ needs that he has no time for his children’s. I often find myself in the same predicament. Imagine the pressure I feel when we go on holiday with friends. Because I am a sleep therapist, everyone assumes that my child never, ever, EVER wakes up. So when my little fella has a rough night, I feel like I am under the spotlight, and that my friends might be changing their opinions of my chosen passion. Or when we have friends over for a grown-up meal, my child decides that playtime extends beyond 7pm, leaving me pink-faced while explaining how he usually goes down without any fuss. Luckily, my mom’s sage remarks that children are God’s way of keeping us humble have really helped me to take child-rearing, and sleep-training, in my stride. My best laid plans for a solid sleep routine can go awry in an instant! My child remains a two year old, and toddlers will test boundaries continuously. I am NOT a supermom (as hard as it is to admit!), and with that realisation, I have decided to share some of my confessions about parenthood and my son’s sleep patterns. And once you read these, I am sure it’ll bring back memories of your own faux pas’ concerning raising your little ones… I once forgot my son in the car I once stopped to pick-up my domestic worker shortly after my son was born and I forgot him in the car! I was so new to parenting that I completely forgot I had a child! (Don’t judge me J) I gave my son sedatives to make him sleep Before I became a sleep specialist, and before I knew there was help (or that programmes existed to help parents craft the children’s sleep habits) I took a nurse’s advice and sedated my child to get him to fall sleep. I could not take the 45 minute wake-ups anymore and I was desperate. What made me feel even worse, was that the sedatives did not even help! I often sneak into my son’s bedroom to watch him sleep I know I must be disturbing his sleep patterns, but sometimes I just can’t help myself and silently sneak into his room and watch him sleep. I don’t think I can ever grow tired of his peaceful, relaxed little face. Maintaining a disciplined sleep pattern is just too much of an effort sometimes Consistency is incredibly important for all children; especially toddlers. However, when our family recently spent a few nights’ camping in the Kruger National Park, we had to share a tent with our toddler. Bedtime came, and the excitement of seeing wild animals for the first time, coupled with being able to hear every word the adults were saying was too exciting for him, which caused bedtime to become a disaster. Instead of staying consistent with our sleep “rules” I gave him some milk before bedtime, thinking it would keep my sanity during our time of relaxation (insert gasp here). However, we paid the price. We woke up five times during that night with the little guy asking for more milk. On the second night, we reverted to our better judgement and stuck to the routine he was accustomed to and our little sleep superstar slept his usual 11 hours without a peep… IN A TENT! Hail the routine! Sometimes Barney becomes my best friend If you have been following my newsletters you know that I am not an advocate of any television before bedtime. But on days when the line in Pick-‘n-Pay is too long, when road construction has made me late for ALL my meetings, when my e-toll account arrived in my post-box…. These are the days that I require a mere 10 to 15 minutes of recollecting myself during the so-called “suicide hour”. During this time I cuddle my toddler on the couch and realise that  Barney’s “I love you, you love me” song makes for a lovely mantra while mentally deciding what to prepare for dinner. Today is about celebrating your efforts at raising children! You are doing the best you can, and rest in the fact that you already know what’s best for them. Laugh about your shortcomings and mistakes, and enjoy the journey of helping these little people grow up to be responsible, well-adjusted adults. Viva parenthood!

October 20, 2014
Lynne Brown

Vitamin Antagonists

Do you think you eat healthily enough and yet you are still prone to frequent occurrences of infections and other health challenges? Perhaps your nutrient intake and the nutrients your body makes are, to a significant degree, being cancelled out by vitamin antagonists. A vitamin antagonist is essentially the same thing as an antivitamin. It is a substance that blocks or inhibits the chemical action of a vitamin in the body. Processed foods are one of the main causes of vitamin loss in our bodies, with refined white sugar and flour being top of the list of culprits that deplete our vitamin stores. However there are many other vitamin antagonists such as artificial stimulants, drugs and, above all, stress. Stimulants Caffeine for example depletes the body of the B vitamins. The high tannin levels in tea can also cause iron depletion if drunk in excess. Alcoholic beverages deplete B vitamins as well as vitamin C from the body. It is also well known that cigarette smokers have lower Vitamin C levels than non-smokers do. A single cigarette can deplete as much as 35 mg of Vitamin C from the body. Calcium & phosphorus are also depleted in cigarette smokers. Our bodies need sustainable energy, not energy artificially boosted by the short-lived highs from these negative stimulants. When one’s metabolism is stimulated artificially many enzymes, vitamins and minerals are used. These artificial stimulants whip up the heartbeat and flow of blood and oxygen to the different parts of the body and brain. It is like throwing benzene on a fire: The fire will burn higher and brighter, but only for a short time, after which it will be completely burned out and the body feels a loss of vitality and energy. Drugs Drugs or medicines are serious stress producers in the body. Because vitamin C reacts with any alien substance in the bloodstream, all drugs can be considered to be vitamin C antagonists. Birth control pills are anti-vitamins, especially of riboflavin, B6, B12 and folic acid. Aspirin interferes with digestive processes and can result in stomach bleeding. It may result in especially high losses of Vitamin C and A, folic acid and calcium and potassium. Diuretics are drugs prescribed medically to promote weight reduction, or to relieve pressure of retained fluids. They work by increasing the flow of urine which in turn results in great losses of B and C vitamins and the minerals potassium and magnesium. All laxatives, including the herbal types, are vitamin antagonists. Mineral oil, commonly used as a laxative, absorbs the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K which are then eliminated with the stool together with calcium and phosphorus. Beta blockers, drugs taken mainly for hypertension, decrease nocturnal melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone which basically tells your body to go to sleep, and this probably accounts for some of these agents causing insomnia.Statins (cholesterol lowering drugs) reduce production of an enzyme known as Co-enzyme Q10 which is, ironically, essential for heart health. Antibiotics suppress the growth of the beneficial or friendly bacteria population in the gastrointestinal tract and consequently the synthesis of vitamin K and may result in yeast infections and gastric problems.Antacids containing aluminium hydroxide can result in bone demineralization due to decreased absorption of phosphates. Anticonvulsants given to epileptics may result in folate, vitamin B12 and D deficiencies. Cortisone is an antagonist of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and blood-thinning medications may destroy vitamin A in the body. The solution This has been only a partial listing of a few specific vitamin antagonists or antivitamins. We know that all drugs and medications have side-effects, some of them serious. In many cases these may simply be the result of deficiencies in specific nutrients that these drugs have created in your body. If you’re a coffee or Coke addict or need to be on drugs for a specific health condition then it would be a good idea to supplement with a good quality whole food multivitamin and mineral supplement which should cover most of the bases. Alternatively consult a nutritionally-based health care practitioner to determine deficiencies that your specific medication or lifestyle may be causing and address these accordingly Stress Finally the greatest thief of all, robbing the body of nutrients and producing many free radicals, is stress. We might not come face to face with a lion everyday but we do experience numerous everyday stresses. Surgery, accidents, overly exhausting work or exercise, lack of sleep, exposure to extremes of heat or cold and emotions such as fear, hatred, anger, worry and grief, all produce great levels ofstress in the body. The B vitamins, vitamin C as well as proteins and minerals, are all depleted and/or can not be assimilated as a result of stress. And don’t think for a minute that the other vitamins can be properly or fully utilized when the body is under stress—they can’t!

October 17, 2014
Parenting Hub

Depression and Suicide: The Unseen Killers Suicide in South Africa takes its toll

South African Stats 1)      10% of all non-natural deaths in adults and 9.5% in youth are due to suicide. 2)      +/- 23 a day, virtually 1 every hour. 3)      Nearly two-thirds of all suicide victims were aged between 20 and 39 years. 4)      Nearly 1 third of recorded suicides in SA are in Gauteng and a 1.5x increase in suicidal deaths in the Transkei over the past five years. 5)      There were 4.6 male suicides for every 1 female suicide. 6)      1 in 4 SA teens have attempted suicide. 7)      1 in 3 hospital admissions for suicide involve youth. 8)      Less than 1% of mental hospital beds are for children and adolescence. 9)      70% of South Africans who attempted suicide had a mental health disorder. 10)   75% of people will not get the mental health treatment they need. Following the recent suicides of celebrity comedian Robin William, as well as numerous South Africans across the country that have made headlines, it is important to note that at least 10% of all non-natural deaths in adults and 9.5% in youth in South Africa are due to suicide. Globally, according to the WHO, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds, with 1 person committing suicide every 40 seconds. For every person that dies by suicide, between 10-20 people attempt it. According to Prof. Lourens Schlebusch, there are at least 23 suicides a day in South Africa – which may be underestimated due to the stigma involved in suicide. However, data on suicides and other unintentional injury deaths are not systematically tracked by any agency in the country making accurate statistics hard to come by, says SA’s largest mental health NGO, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). Suicide is a preventable tragedy and with appropriate help, treatment, and support, lives can be saved. Through raising awareness of the magnitude and scope of the problem, increasing psycho-social support and providing free counselling to those in need of help, and implementing grassroots suicide prevention strategies. SADAG’s Solutions to Suicide: Teen Suicide Prevention Despite the increasingly concerning rate of teen depression and suicide –  1 in 4 South African teens have attempted suicide and 1 in 3 hospital admissions for suicide involve youth – most schools don’t have counsellors or psycho-social support systems in place. SADAG initiated a school-based suicide prevention programme – Suicide shouldn’t be a secret – that goes class by class to empower youth to identify symptoms of depression and warning signs of suicide in themselves, their peers and loved ones; where to go in their communities for assistance, and how to contact SADAG. SADAG also trains teachers because giving power and advice to first-line responders helps them better cope in suicide crises. Counselling Containers in Townships There are many communities in South Africa that lack any access to mental health care. Dieplsoot is an example with an ever-increasing population of at least 200 000. SADAG has established a counselling container in Diepsloot that not only provides free counselling to residents but also outreach programmes with schools, churches, community groups, the police and clinics, and local shopping centres. Container Counselling units can help entire communities and provide easy access, education, support and save costs. A Counselling Container costs R600 000.00 per year to run, which includes providing the counsellors, phones, brochures and materials, talks and support to the members of the community. SADAG’s National Suicide Crisis Lines SADAG has been operating the national suicide prevention crisis lines (0800 567 567) for over 12 years with no funding from the Department of Health– despite the massive costs involved in helping callers on the lines. SADAG says the line needs to be available 24 hours a day but without funding this is simply not possible. “Our lines run 7 days a week from 8 am to 8pm but depression and suicidal thoughts don’t stop when our lines close”, says Chambers. Depression and suicide cross all racial, gender and socio-economic boundaries – affecting males and females, married and single, wealthy and poor, young and old. “Many people think that depression is a ‘female’ issue but statistics show that there are at least 4 male suicides for every one female suicide”, says Chambers. More education, resources and awareness by the government is needed. They need to be having with NGO’s working in the field.   Suicide is a critical issue in South Africa but it can be reduced and prevented. There is treatment for depression and other mental health issues, help is available. SADAG not only runs a 15-line toll-free counselling and referral centre but also offers community outreach, education and counselling to under-resourced communities, in schools, and in corporations. In addition, SADAG works with the South African government and medical aid schemes to increase political commitment and funding for mental health care and ensure that sufferers are treated equally. SADAG can be contacted on 0800 21 22 23, 0800 12 13 14, or www.sadag.org

October 16, 2014
Paarl Dietitians

Brain Food For Exams

Our brain, a mass of fat and protein weighing about 1.4 kilograms (equal to 3 bricks of butter), is the organ that makes us human, gives us the capacity for art, language, moral judgments and rational thought. It’s also responsible for each of our personality, memories, movements, and how we sense the world. So, one would think that it is the organ that we would take the most care of. We have days dedicated to heart, kidney and bone health, but how often do we take time to appreciate our brain and make sure we are looking after it! What we eat can have a direct impact on how well our brain works. Our brain is a hungry organ and reportedly uses 20-30% of our daily energy intake. Relative to its size and weight, that is rather demanding and if we don’t take in adequate nutrition, our brain is going to go hungry. None of us feel good when we are hungry, so just imagine how your brain must feel when it goes hungry. Just by skipping breakfast alone, you can adversely affect brain functions like fluency when speaking, ability to solve problems and motivation to tackle tasks. What we need to realise is your brain works just like your car. Just like your car requires good quality petrol, oil, water, brake fluid and other components to function well, so does your brain. The nutrients key to your brains health and function include glucose, vitamins & minerals and other essential chemicals. If you want to keep your brain fit and healthy and make sure it serves you well, keep reading to learn more about food and brain health. Glucose = carbohydrate = brain power The ability to concentrate and focus comes from the adequate supply of energy – from blood glucose – to the brain. The glucose in our blood comes primarily from the carbohydrates we eat – foods including fruit, vegetables, cereals, bread, sugars and lactose in milk. Eating breakfast and regular meals containing some carbohydrate ensure you will have enough glucose in your blood. Low GI carbohydrates are the best choice as they will ensure a steady supply of glucose to your brain. Not having enough glucose in the blood makes us feel weak, tired and our minds cloudy. This may happen when we don’t eat enough carbohydrate-containing food e.g. when you are following a low carbohydrate diet or if you have an erratic eating patterns. However, though glucose ensures good concentration and focus, once your blood glucose is within the normal range, you CANNOT further boost your brain power by eating more carbohydrates and increasing your glucose levels. This will not make you smarter but only cause you to gain weight! Your dietitian would be able to guide you on how much carbohydrates you need to prevent weight gain. Choose fats wisely Our brains are made of around 40% fat, and our cells need fats to maintain their structures, therefore an adequate supply of healthy fat is needed to maintain brain health. Healthy fat choices include the mono-unsaturated fats like olive oil, avocado pear, nuts and seeds and omega 3 rich foods like pilchards, sardines, salmon, trout and walnuts. If you don’t like fish you may decide to take an omega 3 supplement. Make sure your omega 3 supplement has a high proportion of the active ingredients – Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Take up to a total of 1g/day of these essential fatty acids every day. We stock various omega-3 supplements at the practice that meets the recommended dosage. Include protein at each meal Tryptophan is one of the building blocks of protein, and has been shown to play a role in depression. Studies have shown that adding pure tryptophan to the diet of people with depression can improve their mood. Tryptophan is found in most foods like seafood, dairy, nuts, seeds and legumes, but is found in the largest quantity in turkey, chicken and red meats. Protein also contains essential nutrients and eating it little and often helps to keep us feeling full, which in turn, can prevent overeating. Fresh meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and eggs are the best sources of protein. Fill around one-third of your plate with a protein food. Don’t forget your fruit and veggies and wholegrains Wholegrain cereals, peas, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables are rich in a range of vitamins and minerals that your body needs in order to function well. These foods are also rich in B vitamins, (including folate) and zinc, which evidence suggests is important in managing depression. Try to eat at least five different fruits and vegetables daily to get all the vitamins and minerals you need. Drink enough fluid Water makes up 85 percent of the brain weight. So, it is but natural that lack of water can lead to brain shrinkage. Researches have shown that dehydration not only shrinks the brain tissues but also adversely affects concentration and memory. So, how much water is required by the body every day? Drink water according to your body weight. Dividing your weight in kilograms by 30 gives the amount of water in litres a day. For example, if you weigh 75 kg, drink (75/30= 2.5) 2.5 litres of water spread out over a day. Be careful of caffeinated beverages though. Caffeine may affect your mood and may lead to withdrawal headaches and to low or irritable mood when the effects wear off. Drinks such as coffee, cola, energy drinks, tea and chocolate all contain caffeine. Avoid all energy drinks, and try to limit intake to three cups of coffee, or five cups of tea a day. Alcohol also has a dehydrating effect. Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to B vitamin deficiencies, and can make you more depressed or anxious. Try to limit intake to no more than two to three drinks on no more than five days per week. Try to include a super food each day Super foods

October 15, 2014
Parenting Hub

Healthier Environments Build A Healthier Nation

This World Heart Day the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA is putting the spotlight on creating heart-healthy environments, enabling people to make positive changes that can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. World Heart Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD). This year the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSF), in partnership with the World Heart Federation, is putting the spotlight on creating heart-healthy environments, enabling people to make positive changes that can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. “South Africans are at high risk for cardiovascular disease and our unhealthy lifestyles are largely to blame,” says Dr Vash Mungal-Singh,CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA. “Up to 70% of our women are overweight or obese, one in two women and over a quarter of men are physically inactive, and 23% of our children 2 – 14 years are overweight or obese. Although the picture looks bleak, South Africans can reduce their risk by creating heart-healthy environments that encourage a healthy lifestyle”. The HSF recognises that not all individuals have the best opportunities to make heart-healthy choices. For instance, some people often lack access to healthy foods or to safe spaces to be physically active. However, all is not lost, even small changes can give big results and you can start in your home. Heart-healthy homes Put the spotlight on your home and see what you could change to make it heart-healthy. Making just a few changes can help reduce your own and your family’s risk of heart disease and stroke. Stock your home with healthy food options Limit pre-packed or processed foods that are often high in sugar, fat and salt Incorporate fresh fruit and vegetables in your meals Use less salt at home Prepare healthy school or work lunches at home Be physically active – aim for 30 minutes five times a week Limit TV watching Ban smoking in your home Recognise your CVD risk “This Heart Awareness Month we’re making it easier for South Africans to know their CVD risk by offering free blood pressure tests throughout the month of September,” says Dr Mungal-Singh. “One in three South African adults, 15 years or older has hypertension and the majority of them are unaware that they have the condition. High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and strokes, and I urge all South Africans to take this opportunity to get their blood pressure tested”, she adds. Once you know your CVD risk, you can make a plan to improve your heart health and your healthcare professional can also advise on appropriate treatment options where necessary. Heart-healthy communities Ensure that your communities become places where people thrive and have opportunities to make heart-healthy choices. Start a walking club in your community, it is safer to walk in a group and can be just the motivation you need to get up and out the door Make a complaint when you see smoking zones located near playgrounds, schools or close to entrances of public buildings Cycle or walk to school or work if you can Take the stairs or go for a walk in your lunch break Ask for healthy food at your work canteen and children’s school Heart-healthy nations The HSF urges national policymakers to provide more opportunities for people to make heart-healthy choices. Provide safe environments like cycling paths and urban parks where people can be active – safely Regulate the amount and reach of fast-food advertising on TV and radio Enact legislation to tax unhealthy foods and support locally produced fruit and vegetables Ensure timely detection of CVD and cost-effective treatment to modify risk factors in high-risk individuals Book an appointment at any Clicks Clinic for a FREE blood pressure test during the month of September. Call 0860 254 257 to book an appointment. For more information about heart health, contact the Heart and Stroke Health Line on 0860 1 HEART (43278).    

October 14, 2014
Parenting Hub

ADHD and Diet – is there a link and what should parents of a child with ADHD consider?

What is ADHD? Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome diagnosed in many children. The exact percentage of children with ADHD is not known but figures are estimated at about 3-5% of school age children¸ with the incidence being slightly higher in boys. The main symptoms of ADHD are reduced attentiveness and concentration, excessive levels of activity, distractibility and impulsiveness. Some children may be affected by other behavioural problems. Sometimes children outgrow the symptoms or learn to control them; in some cases symptoms may persist into adulthood. ADHD can have a significant effect on families particularly when a child’s ability to learn is compromised. This can have a knock on effect on the child’s self-esteem and put stress on the rest of the family particularly when the child has difficulty focussing on essential activities or controlling impulsive behaviour. Is there a link with diet? For some time there has been much controversy regarding whether or not diet can trigger symptoms of ADHD. It was first suggested by Feingold in the mid-1970s that there was a possibility that food additives and natural food constituents could affect children’s behaviour, particularly those with ADHD. Scientists began to look into the theory with further research being conducted. Unfortunately many of the studies are small or flawed, and thus there is little consensus about how such additives might contribute to ADHD symptoms. Artificial additives… Recently the link between diet and additives has been explored in a study in Britain. The results of this study led the UK’s Food Standards Agency to urge food manufacturers to remove six artificial colouring agents from food marketed to children in Britain.  They looked at the effects of the preservative sodium benzoate (E211) and six artificial food colourings on hyperactivity in 153 preschoolers (3 years old) and 144 students (8 or 9 years old). For six weeks, the children consumed foods and drinks free of sodium benzoate and the six colouring agents. At certain intervals, the children consumed plain juice or juice containing one of two additive mixes every day for a week. Mix A contained the preservative plus the colourings sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), tartrazine (E102), and ponceau 4R (E124); mix B contained the preservative plus sunset yellow(e110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104), and allura red AC (E129).  The investigators found a mild but significant increase in hyperactivity in both age groups of children, regardless of baseline hyperactivity levels during the weeks when they consumed drinks containing artificial colours. Sugar… With the belief by some parents and health professionals that refined sugars trigger hyper-activity, the evidence for this has also been reviewed; however assessing the effect of “sugars” on behaviour can be tricky as there are several different types of sugar added to foods, for example: sucrose, glucose and fructose. Unfortunately there are only a few reliable studies that have been conducted. The studies show that sugars may affect a small number of children. We do know that these days in some cases children are having well over double the recommended daily added sugar intake and so to avoid excess empty calories if for no other reason, families should be aiming for a reduced added sugar intake. Omega-3’s… Because fatty acids perform a number of functions in the brain, including helping brain cells to communicate, researchers have explored whether a deficiency of omega-3 fats might contribute to symptoms of ADHD. There are some studies which do show an improvement, none have definitively resolved the question of whether omega-3 or omega-6 supplements might help children with ADHD. Further studies are being conducted to explore this. Where does this leave the parent of a child with ADHD? Getting to the bottom of whether you child’s behaviour is affected by diet, can be tricky but not impossible. One of the most important principles to remember is to choose a balanced diet with the correct proportion of macronutrients and micronutrients from meats, wholegrain starches, dairy, fresh fruit & vegetables and the good oils like olive and canola. This will ensure that your child’s diet is providing an optimal source of all the important nutrients and prevent any deficiencies which might exacerbate symptoms of ADHD. Choose wholegrain cereals as the basis for meals. These will provide slow release energy and prevent any peaks and troughs in sugar levels which can also affect moods and behaviour. Whole-grains are also rich in b-complex vitamin and minerals Choose wholegrain and rye breads, cereals, pastas and rice instead of sugary cereals and refined breads Have meat or meat alternatives twice per day, a portion roughly size of your child’s palm Try to serve oily fish twice a week to optimise intake of omega-3’s Try homemade salmon fish cakes or a sardine pate Opt for fresh fruits fruit, milk or yoghurt and nuts as snacks between meals These provide slow release energy and are a great source of good fats and minerals Try fruit kebabs or a homemade fruit smoothie Avoid excess sugar Excess refined carbs in the form of excess sugar leads to excess energy which will need to be expended or stored somewhere!!! Avoid carbonated beverages, fruit juices, cordials, sweets, chocolates, cakes and biscuits – have as a treats on special occasions or a day of the week rather than every day Consider an exclusion diet if necessary Preferably do with dietetic and/or medical supervision Look at avoiding additives particularly in the form of artificial E-numbers (E102, 104, 110, 122, 124, E129) & sodium benzoate (E211) as well as other more specific foods like chocolate if necessary. In certain cases an appropriate option might be a few foods diet with gradual re-introduction of foods to determine if any are causing symptoms. REFERENCES: McCann et al (2007) The Lancet DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3 : Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial Diet & ADHD Behaviour CSPI Review (1999)

October 13, 2014
Parenting Hub

When Children Are anxious About Making Mistakes It Inhibits Their Learning

I often see children who are anxious when faced with new challenges, worrying that they might make a mistake. The fear of making a mistake over-powers and inhibits their ability to think clearly, listen to instructions and plan how they actually will do the task. Therefore, they do worse in the task than they actually can do. Probably the most important lesson to teach our children is that it is acceptable to make mistakes. Yes, it is acceptable to get things wrong! There is so much a child can learn from his mistakes. Teach your child that if he never makes a mistake, he is not learning anything new. I regularly tell this to the children I work with, explaining that if they don’t make any mistakes it means they already know how to do the task; there’s nothing new being learnt. I love to see the smiles of relief on their faces, when they make this realisation! Their anxiety drops and they become energised to take the risk of making mistakes which is such an important part of learning. Children often think of mistakes as being something negative, to be avoided at all costs. Corrections are given as homework tasks with the result that it feels like punishment. A big red cross through incorrect work gives very negative feedback about mistakes. In my work I often see the more diligent children struggle the most with this; becoming immobilised in their learning through fear of making mistakes. We cannot allow that; we have to maintain and cultivate their diligence and turn it into the rewarding sense of success. One of my first tasks with these children is to remove the anxiety of failure and replace it with a sense of challenge. A chance to make a mistake is a chance to learn something new. Here are some helpful tips: When you present a new learning challenge to a child who is anxious about making mistakes, be calm and supportive. Tell him “here is a new challenge, something new to learn. Let me show you how and then you can try it yourself.” When you see that he is about to make a mistake let him make the mistake. Watch his reaction. If he has not noticed his mistake, say to him “look and check, there might be something you want to change”. This shows him that you are comfortable that he made the mistake and also that you believe he will be able to deal with it. If he is unable to correct his mistake or becomes anxious say to him “let’s see how we can fix this mistake and then you’ll have learnt something new.” Teaching children strategies for finding and correcting their own mistakes is powerful teaching. It teaches them planning and organisation in their approach to tasks. It also develops meta-cognitive thinking processes of analysis and making connections in our thinking. Most of all, it teaches them that mistakes are not a problem; we find them, correct them and learn something new!

October 9, 2014
Parenting Hub

High blood pressure is killing South Africans

South Africans have one of the highest rates of hypertension worldwide, so this Heart Awareness Month the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA is encouraging South Africans to “Beat the pressure and get tested” by offering free blood pressure tests to the public When’s the last time you got tested? Your blood pressure that is. Hypertension or high blood pressure is called the “silent killer” for a reason. People don’t usually show any signs or symptoms and once they realise that they have high blood pressure, it is often too late. In fact, one in three South African adults, 15 years or older has hypertension and the majority of them are unaware that they have the condition. High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and strokes, with statistics showing that there are about 130 heart attacks and 240 strokes daily in South Africa. This year, to celebrate Heart Awareness Month, the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSF) in partnership with Clicks is offering free blood pressure tests for the public at all Clicks Clinics nationwide, by appointment for the month of September, and is encouraging South Africans to: “Beat the pressure. Get tested”. Along with urging South Africans to get tested, the HSF is also encouraging South Africans to lower their salt intake by following simple steps, like adding less salt to their food when cooking, tasting their food before they add salt and adding less salt to their food at the table. “South Africans eat far too much salt, more than double the recommended daily allowance,” says Dr Vash Mungal-Singh, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA. “And what they don’t realise is that a high salt diet is a key contributor to high blood pressure and high blood pressure is one of the leading causes for heart disease or stroke”. One also needs to take into account the cultural perceptions around salt. In many South African communities salt use and consumption is linked with health, cultural and spiritual beliefs. “In traditional, lower to lower-middle income communities, there is a widely held belief that salt has considerable health benefits, particularly in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Additionally, there are some strong beliefs in rural and lower income communities that food left unsalted will be eaten by the Tokolosh,” says Dr Mungal-Singh. “In rural and township communities, salt is added liberally to food as it is considered a cheap flavourant. It is also added generously to meat to preserve it from the elements, which is particularly common amongst road side butchers. These cultural perceptions and practices around salt are another challenge we are faced with in South Africa,” adds Dr Mungal-Singh. Encouraging South Africans to lower their salt intake is important but first we need to educate them about the dangers of a high salt diet and that’s where Salt Watch steps in. Salt Watch is driven by a multisectoral coalition, supported by the National Department of Health, and is a member of World Action on Salt and Health. The HSF has been mandated as the implementing body of the Salt Watch campaign, a national public awareness and education campaign to encourage South Africans to reduce their salt intake. Fortunately, in 2013 the Minister of Health signed legislation to make salt reduction in the food industry mandatory, helping to achieve the government’s target to reduce salt intake to less than 5 g a day by 2020. This makes South Africa the first country globally to legislate salt levels to help reduce the amount of salt that the public takes in from processed foods. Every hour in South Africa, five people have heart attacks, 10 people have strokes and 10 people die from heart disease and stroke. But the good news is that 80% of these premature deaths (before the age of 60) can be prevented with a healthy balanced diet, being physically active regularly and avoiding smoking. Take your health into your hands from today by going for a free blood pressure test and lowering your salt intake. Book an appointment at any Clicks Clinic for a FREE blood pressure test during the month of September. Call 0860 254 257 to book an appointment. For more information about heart health, contact the Heart and Stroke Health Line on 0860 1 HEART (43278).

October 9, 2014
Good Night Baby

Interesting Information About Your Infant

I was recently in the United States for 10 days to attend a Sleep Sense Conference. The content was phenomenal and REALLY has rekindled my passion for providing children and parents in South Africa the gift of a Good Night’s Sleep. However, I think what struck me even more than the content was how much I missed my beautiful dirty-handed, Barney-watching, bambino of 20 months. They certainly do possess such a huge part of our hearts, and I was just overcome with the sense of responsibility that a child is in our lives and how much of who we are, is centered on them. I always tell my clients that there is NOTHING I take more seriously than the responsibility of working with your child. I thought I would share some interesting facts I learned during the conference that you might never have heard of: The first three days of a baby’s life determines breastmilk supply going forward It is vital for your new-born baby to be breastfed as much as possible in the first three days, as new studies have proven that this will ensure a constant milk production in the future. It is suggested that parents leave the pacifier or dummy in the drawer for the first few days and try to enjoy the bond with their newborn. Paediatric Chiropracting can solve ear aches, constipation and even stuttering  One of the world’s leading pediatric chiropractors shared amazing testimonies of what chiropractic treatments can achieve for you and your family. Zink might be the reason for your child’s picky eating It has been proven that sufficient amounts of zinc can actually improve and change our taste buds. A leading cause for children being picky eaters is insufficient amounts of zinc. Autistic children rule households An informative session with an Autism specialist explained the importance of being aware of the signs of autism. The earlier it is detected, the more effectively it can be treated with behaviour therapy. Autism also does not need to be the reason for your child to not sleep well. Boys sometimes need more help with sleep Boys’ and girls’ brains develop completely differently and for the sake of brevity, in simple terms girl’s brains develop front-to-back, and boys’ from back-to-front. When the structure of the brain is analysed, suddenly you can understand why boys often need a little more help to be taught how to sleep well.

October 7, 2014
Mia Von Scha

Introducing A New Baby To The Family

We forget sometimes that wonderful events, like a new arrival in the family, can also be pretty stressful. If you look at the scale of life’s most stress-inducing events, the arrival of a new baby is up there with death in the family, divorce and losing a job. And often the one who feels this the most is the older sibling of the new arrival. So how can we help them to cope with this world-changing adaptation to their family? Accept that this is stressful event. We sometimes become so focused on the positives that we forget that there are downsides, and we forget to discuss these downsides with our existing child. The age of the child will determine what kind of discussion you have, but it can be helpful for a while before bringing up the subject of the new baby to discuss how in life all things have an up and a down side to them. Then when you bring up the topic it can be a continuation of this and you can ask your child to help you to figure out the ups and downs of having a new baby. Children cope better with all changes if they have some background information. Read them books and watch movies about families having a new baby. Discuss with them the reality of a new baby. We sometimes want to brush over this and just focus on how fun it will be for them to have a new playmate, forgetting that children process the world very literally – a child may assume that they will be able to play soccer or snakes and ladders or hopscotch with the new baby from day one and then become bitter and disappointed when confronted by the reality of a crying, sleeping blob! Take a look at your current situation and how your child is getting their needs met. We all need some certainty, variety, to know that we are significant and loved, to have growth and challenges and a sense of contribution. Once you know how they’re currently meeting these needs, look at which needs will be challenged when the new baby comes and start finding alternative ways to meet these needs beforehand. For example, if their need for love and attention is currently all being fulfilled by you and you know you will have to divide your attention, start having a grandparent or friend come round and spend extra time with them long before the baby is born so that this becomes an alternate source of love and attention that they are used to and happy with. Think about where your child will be when you go to have the birth. Will they stay with a grandparent or aunt or friend? Start making this a regular occurrence long before your due date so that they can become comfortable wit the arrangement and even have it as something they look forward to. Start implementing waiting times. There will be times with a new baby where your older child will have to wait for something while you are feeding or changing or putting the baby to sleep. Get them used to this beforehand. A realistic waiting time will differ depending on your child, but you can safely say that they can handle about one minute for every year of their age. Ask a one year old to wait a minute, a two year old to wait for two. Start doing this regularly when they ask for something or need your help so that they are used to this and don’t blame your lack of immediate attention on the baby. Once the baby arrives, make sure that you set aside special one-on-one time EVERY DAY with your older child. They will need some extra love and attention. Keep in mind that the baby does not know what it is like to be an only child and will not fuss if they don’t get your undivided attention – your older child will. And never say that you can’t do something because of the baby – find another reason. A very helpful exercise to do as a family is to all take turns saying what you do and don’t like about the new baby. This gives your child an opportunity to vent feelings in a safe and open way and reinforces your discussions on the good and bad in all things in life. It can help for parents to go first and to genuinely be open about things they don’t like (for example, dad may say that he doesn’t like the baby taking away all his time with mom) – this shows the child that it is ok to have negative feelings, that he/she is normal, and won’t get into trouble for feeling resentful or angry or unloved. Children who are given an opportunity to express their negativity are less likely to act it out in destructive ways. Getting used to a new sibling can be tough, and even if you implement all of these suggestions you may still find your child becoming angry, resentful, jealous, sullen and even regressing in behavior. Know that this is perfectly normal and be patient. Punishing a child for acting out on feelings they don’t know how to process or express only adds to the negativity. When in doubt, add some extra love and kindness. Good luck!

October 6, 2014
Parenting Hub

Heart-Healthy Lunchbox Ideas To Keep Your Kids Going

Packing a school lunchbox for your child can be much healthier than giving them money for the tuckshop or sending them to school with take-away meals. These foods are usually laden with unhealthy fats, salt and sugar. A balanced, heart-healthy lunchbox can help your children ensure they are getting sufficient nutrients needed for health, improve your child’s concentration at school, and help them form healthy habits that can help protect against obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke later on in life. And an added bonus is that it is great for the budget too. Keep in mind these five essentials that make for a heart-healthy, balanced lunchbox: A lean protein – anything from tinned fish, a boiled egg, beans or lentils, to lean meats, such as skinless chicken or trimmed beef. A complex carbohydrate – this means choosing whole-grain or high fibre starches, such as whole-wheat bread or seed breads, whole-wheat pita breads or wraps, whole-grain crackers or whole-wheat pasta. These high-fibre options provide more fibre, vitamins and minerals and release energy more slowly. Reduced fat diary – such as low fat milk, unsweetened yoghurt or reduced fat cheese. Healthier nibbles – Try to include at least two different colours of fruits or fresh vegetables in the lunchbox. This ensures a variety of vitamins and minerals. Plain unsalted nuts provide protein as well as a good dose of essential fatty acids. Home-popped popcorn makes a great snack, or you can even include healthier treats occasionally, such as home-baked bran or fruit muffins. Water is still the best drink to include in your children’s lunchbox. Add some fresh lemon slices or mint leaves and freeze the bottle overnight as this makes for a refreshing drink, especially on those hot summer days. Here are some tips for tasty lunchboxes when you’re working against the clock: If you are short of time in the morning, prepare your child’s lunchbox the night before and keep it in the fridge so that you can simply grab it on your way out in the morning. When cooking for dinner, make a bit extra and pack the leftovers into your lunchbox for the next day.. Leftover chicken can be added to a sandwich or whole-wheat wrap with grated carrot, lettuce, tomato and a slice of avocado for a delicious meal. Keep your kitchen stocked with convenient snacks that can be added to the lunchbox: small packets of plain, unsalted nuts, dried fruit, or small tubs of unsweetened yoghurt. Don’t forget fresh fruit. These are easy to transport, take no preparation and are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Compiled by Jessica Bacon, Registered Dietitian at the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA

September 29, 2014
Munchkins

Peace In The Home

The ‘peace in the home’ diagram The purpose of this ‘Peace in the Home’ diagram is to encourage you to stand back and see the situation in perspective. It depicts the different aspects of parenting to consider when you are confronted with a situation. This was inspired by the book ‘Kinders, Tieners en soortgelyke rampe’ written by Professor Johan Mostert PhD, AOG seminary, Springfield, Missouri. The following sections provide us with ‘checkpoints’ in the form of questions we need to ask ourselves: Could the problem lie with me (as parent)? Could it be them (the children)? Could it be us (our communication)? Is the time invested in our relationship sufficient? Is this particular issue negotiable? Do I need to step back (regaining objectivity)? After reading through these chapters, I trust you will be able to approach each situation with renewed confidence and make the right choice to achieve peace in the home. Peace is not something you wish for; It’s something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away. – Robert Fulghum Could it be me? Life is the art of drawing without an eraser. – John Gardner When we are challenged with a situation, the first question we need to ask before reacting is ‘Could the problem lie with me?’ As a parent you could be reacting instead of responding because of situations happening in your life. You could be stressed, ill, going through something traumatic like a death in the family, divorce and the like. Your first reaction could be to take out your frustrations on your child. If the problem lies with you, you can choose to do something that will help you think straight. Phone a friend, read a book, take a walk, pray, meditate, whatever it would take to redirect your thoughts so as not take it out on your child when he is innocent (this time!). Happiness is not a value but a result; a result of the practice of good values. – Cloud and Townsend Anger and shouting Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears. – Barbara Johnson Often moms ask me in a seminar, ‘But what do you do when you get so angry that you just want to explode?’ The main reason why parents get ‘SO ANGRY!’ is that they have let it go and let it go so many times, that they then explode. Instead, they should deal with it the first time and not allow the behaviour to continue. When I deal with over nine-year-olds, they often tell me about their anger issues. They hasten to add that they feel really bad about themselves when they do get angry, and wish that, if there was a way to stop, they knew how. I try to use the analogy of the highway that they drive on to go on holiday. When you are on a highway, you know exactly where you are headed, provided that you stay on that highway. However, if you choose to take one of the exits, you will land up at a different destination. The choice is yours. This applies to anger as well. When you know you are building up to an explosion, you know where you are headed. If you choose an alternative route, you could have a different outcome. No one can make you angry: you choose to be angry. Try to break the pattern by choosing a different off-ramp. Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. – Mark Twain A very important off-ramp is to ensure that you have some ‘me-time’. If you don’t take care of yourself, nobody else will. think of how many people it would take to replace you, and the cost! As a parent you are priceless! It is a juggle to keep all the balls up in the air, but make sure one of those balls has time for you to relax and enjoy some sort of hobby or time with friends. Your tank needs to be filled so that you can give to others out of the overflow. By making time for yourself, you will be in the head space to deal with whatever comes your way. If you have neglected yourself, you will almost certainly be in an over-reactive state. In my experience I have found that the main reason why parents become so angry is because they repeat instructions over and over. This then builds up into a screaming match and they are simply ignored until they totally lose it. If they have no other form of discipline, shouting becomes the only ‘effective’ tool. But it is actually counter-productive because the parents feel guilty afterwards and end up indulging their children out of guilt; the children abuse this opportunity and the cycle repeats. Guilt-based parenting ‘Poor Simon, he is so used to having all our attention. I don’t want him feeling neglected when his brother arrives.’ ‘I only see Peter every second weekend so I feel I have to spoil him to make up for lost time.’ ‘I had to suddenly start working full-time, so I don’t want to fight when I walk in the door.’ ‘It’s my fault that he is sleeping in my bed, so why should he suffer now?’ ‘We have moved so many times, I am sure it is unsettling for him.’ I often hear parents making excuses for not dealing with a child’s misbehaviour. Although the statements above, amongst many others, are relevant, they cannot be a reason not to establish and maintain boundaries and consequences in the home. Let us deal with them one by one. Having a sibling is a privilege. There are sometimes wonderful lessons in character building that can be learnt on ‘fast forward’ when a sibling arrives. The most important one is to learn that the whole world does not revolve around

September 26, 2014
Parenting Hub

Vitamin D – Are You Getting Enough

“I have never seen any medical diagnosis as widespread and so profoundly affecting peoples’ health and well-being as the current epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency.”  — Dr. Soram Khalsa, M.D.- ‘The Vitamin D Revolution‘) At a seminar held for the Association for Nutritional Therapy in Cape Town a while back, we learned that most South Africans, even those who do spend plenty of time outdoors under our powerful sub-tropical sun, are vitamin D deficient. I decided I had to put this somewhat incredible statement to the test. Being a sun worshipper who spends a lot of time in my garden, if I proved to have low vitamin D levels, then I would have to believe that most South Africans have. So I took myself off for a blood test for 25-hydroxyVitaminD (or 25(OH)D), the only reliable way to know what your levels are. Well blow me down! In the middle of our South African summer I only just made it into the 50-75 ng/ml range, recommended by Vitamin D experts. Apparently one needs to be in this range to really benefit from the protective or therapeutic properties of Vitamin D. Well now I understand why there is such a hoo-ha about vitamin D deficiency being at the root of a plethora of modern day degenerative diseases. Needless to say 2000IU per day Vitamin D3 was immediately added to my supplement regime and 6 months later, mostly Winter months, I’m thrilled to report that my level had risen to 71 ng/ml. Remember the new school of thought is that the right time to expose your body, without sunscreen, to direct sunlight is when your shadow is shorter than your height. Well have you noticed this is never the case on a Winter’s day? Not even at midday. So taking vitamin D supplements in Winter seems to be non-negotiable. I would have preferred to simply eat more Vitamin D rich foods however it is extremely unlikely one can get enough from one’s diet. Apparently two servings of fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines or mackerel would have to be consumed every day. Most of us would have to resort to canned fish which is definitely not ideal. There is a ton of research which links higher levels of vitamin D (and/or increased sun exposure) with reduced risk of a range of conditions including diabetes, multiple sclerosis, several forms of cancer (including skin cancer), arthritis, heart disease and depression. Ha! and we thought vitamin D was only good for keeping healthy bones and teeth! Who can expect to have low vitamin D levels? The elderly, anyone who does not get enough sun exposure and people who have cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis or suffer from depression. Also if you are prone to chronic fatigue, memory loss or dementia, joint, muscle and back pain, muscle weakness, bone fracture and falling risks, it can do no harm to have your vitamin D3 levels checked. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are at considerable risk of being deficient, which puts the child at risk too of future health problems. For teenagers suffering from depression a simple vitamin D deficiency may be the cause. In a recent study vitamin D supplementation in depressed teenagers resulted in increased well-being, improvements in depressed feelings, irritability, tiredness, mood swings, sleep difficulties, weakness, concentration and pain. If you decide to go for the 25-hydroxyVitaminD blood test and don’t know what to do with the results please seek advice on the appropriate vitamin D dose to supplement for your particular circumstances. It all depends on your starting level, how much sun exposure you are able to get and your present health profile and diet. Most people will need more than the generally recommended 400IU daily intake. Vitamin D supplementation is safe, however overdosing, although unlikely, can result in toxicity, so, if in doubt, rather seek professional advice. It is also very important that you take a D3 supplement as opposed to D2. If you really think about it, disease is much more likely to be due to a deficiency in some vitamin/mineral complex than in a deficiency of a drug.

September 25, 2014
Lynne Brown

Chromium Fights Atypical Depression

The classic picture of depression is someone who doesn’t eat enough, doesn’t sleep enough and loses weight. But according to Patrick Holford, world-renowned nutritionist and director of the Brain Bio Centre in the UK, they are seeing more and more patients who are gaining weight, feel tired all the time, crave carbohydrates and experience rejection sensitivity. This form of depressive illness is known as atypical depression and affects about 40% of depressed patients. Since 1999 numerous studies have shown that people with this kind of depression often get instant relief, by taking a chromium supplement daily. One study even reports that more than 60% of the patients in the trial went into complete remission after just 6 weeks. Best news of all is that, as a non-prescriptive nutrient, chromium formulations are extremely affordable and have shown no side effects. Why it works Chromium is an essential trace mineral that enhances the action of insulin in the body. As such chromium deficiency may lead to abnormalities of blood sugar metabolism, which could result in many of the symptoms that characterize atypical depression. The typical Western diet is low in chromium because food processing and modern farming techniques may cause losses of chromium from food. Chromium keeps levels of glucose in the blood stable. Glucose is the most important nutrient for the brain and in order for our brains to work effectively we need a steady supply of it. Any imbalance in this supply results in a range of symptoms, depression being one of them. In addition to its blood sugar-regulating effect, chromium appears to alter the body’s response to serotonin, one of the major brain chemicals involved in depression. Carbohydrate cravings The authors of many of the studies have concluded that the main effect of chromium was on carbohydrate craving and appetite regulation in patients with depression. Some suggest that physicians and mental health professionals should be alert to patients who report carbohydrate craving as it may signal the possible presence of a more serious underlying medical condition, such as atypical depression. The use of antidepressants and mood stabilizers that are commonly prescribed to treat depression may worsen carbohydrate cravings. Conclusion I firmly believe that chromium supplementation offers a new treatment option for depressed patients who crave carbohydrates and for patients who often find it difficult to stay on prescribed medications because of side effects such as sexual dysfunction and weight gain. Chromium shows promise as a simple, safe and inexpensive therapy for a common and sometimes debilitating condition. As Patrick Holford puts it: “For many people chromium is the missing link”.

September 23, 2014
Lynne Brown

Ditch The Sugar

You know what is wrong with most dietary advice for managing weight? Firstly, the simplistic assertion that all we have to do is control calories in and calories out, and secondly, the belief that sugar and sweets are relatively benign foods.  Many diets allow the intake of refined sugars in sweets and desserts as long as the overall caloric intake is controlled.  The rationale is that by allowing yourself to eat a small amount of sweets, you won’t feel deprived. There are many factors that influence our ability to avoid weight gain, and one that is often overlooked is stress.  Stress reduces serotonin (the happiness hormone), causing low moods and carbohydrate cravings, which make us dive into the candy.  But many recent studies attest to the dangers of over-consumption of sugar, one being that sugar raises triglycerides – blood fats that are deposited as fat in our fat cells. Elevated triglycerides are now known to significantly raise risk for heart disease.  Even children can have high triglycerides which puts them at serious risk of cardiovascular events in adulthood.  All sugars consumed in excess of our caloric needs are quickly converted to triglycerides, but when more than 50% of the sugar is in the form of fructose, the production of body fat increases significantly. Fructose from corn is now the cheapest form of sugar and is used in most soft drinks. Sugar also depletes chromium and magnesium, two minerals that are needed to properly process glucose.  Without them our insulin receptors simply don’t function properly.  (If you crave carbs, especially sugar, you will greatly benefit from 400mcg of chromium taken with meals. Apart from reduced cravings you will experience improved mood and energy.) So, the more sweet stuff you eat, the more you deplete the very nutrients that are needed to help your cells metabolize the sugar in them, which could indirectly lead to insulin resistance. Elevated triglycerides are seen frequently in people with diabetes. But you don’t have to be diabetic. Anytime you take in carbohydrates in amounts that exceed the body’s requirements for energy, the excess glucose is converted to fat which may lead to raised triglycerides. The current American Heart Association recommendations for lowering triglycerides are to reduce intake of fats but these measures will have limited impact if a person’s carbohydrate intake (not fat intake) remains too high.  The research is pretty clear that it is carbohydrates, not fats, that have the biggest impact on triglycerides and the sooner dietary recommendations are updated, the better. Low sugar and starch diets are the most effective for lowering triglycerides and managing weight. So, if you want to be a weight-watcher you do need to take it easy on the sweet stuff.  Watch for hidden sugars like sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup and HFCS on labels in processed foods.  Starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice and pasta are also high in glucose and need to be avoided too if you’re serious about not packing on the pounds. But not wanting to be a complete killjoy, and because I can’t resist a bit of chocolate either, here’s an amusing quote that frees us all of too much guilt: “Research tells us that fourteen out of any ten individuals like chocolate”. Sandra Boynton, “Chocolate: The Consuming Passion”

September 22, 2014
Parenting Hub

Beware The “All Cheese, Fat And Meat You Can Eat” Diet

Although I am in favour of the Paleo/Banting/Ketogenic Diet and see it as a fundamentally healthy way of eating that mirrors the diet we evolved to eat and is in accordance with our innate physiology, alarm bells are ringing! This diet in the hands of followers who have scant knowledge of nutritional needs of the body or harm that can be done by toxic chemicals, becomes dangerous! I see people losing unwanted kilograms but at what cost? Here are some of the dangers I see: Eating only protein and fat and totally avoiding vegetables – any man’s dream! I hear of people eating just eggs, bacon and more bacon for breakfast. Some may even have a 400g steak for breakfast – nothing else! So what’s the problem with this? Firstly no acid-alkaline balance. Your vegetables are alkaline-forming and proteins, oils and fats are acid-forming. You need a balance or else disease will prevail. Cancer thrives in an acidic environment. High protein diets can lead to acidosis setting the stage for osteoporosis, hormonal imbalances and gut dysbiosis and can potentially lead to kidney stones, arthritis and gout. Secondly, you’re missing out on essential nutrients and anti-oxidants found in vegetables. Without them you are putting yourself at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as oxidised or rancid cholesterol which can result in arterial plaque and inflammation. Thirdly, processed meats such as bacon are known to be potentially carcinogenic (cancer-forming) due to the nitrosamines formed during frying. Even non-processed meats, if from commercial sources and not from grass-fed animals, are full of toxins such as xenoestogens, antibiotics and growth hormones. Remember too that toxins are stored mainly in fat cells so the more fat you are eating from feedlot animals, and not those reared on the veld, the more toxins you are taking in. Fourthly, there’s the matter of “eat all the cheese you want” statement. There are good cheeses and bad and the bad ones from feedlot animals are just as high in the toxins mentioned for meat. Processed cheese is also high in sodium and eating too much of it can result in magnesium and potassium imbalances, never mind that cheese is also highly mucous-forming and constipating! Perhaps you find that you were but are no longer losing weight on this diet? My guess is you’re one of those eating too much protein. Did you know that a significant percentage of excess protein will ultimately be converted to sugar and stored as fat? You simply have to stick to the rules: protein portions should be no bigger than the area and thickness of the palm of you hand, minus fingers. And you simply have to include 5-7 cups of vegetables and fruits daily to benefit from this type of eating plan. Without the fibre provided by these foods constipation will be the order of the day. They are also your anti-oxidants, neutralising free radicals and slowing down ageing. This diet is also devoid of all grains so if you’re not eating organ meats, nuts and seeds then watch out for vitamin B deficiencies including biotin. If hair-loss occurs or your stress levels rise, a vitamin B supplement would be adviseable. Also have your homocysteine levels checked. High levels can cause hardening of the arteries and to reduce these levels you need most of the B vitamins which are abundant in whole grains which you are no longer eating! My intention is not to throw cold water on an eating plan that is working for you, all I ask is that you do not compromise your health for the sake of weight-loss. The good news is that two positives have come out of everyone “banting” these days: the harmful refined carbs are out and the no-fat and low-fat myths have been busted! Hoorah!

September 18, 2014
Mother Nature Products

Potty Training Essentials

Is our big boy or girl ready? This challenging question is raised by parents around the world and what parent doesn’t want to get their child out of nappies! On average children start potty training between the ages of 2 to 3 years. Once you have gone through our signs of readiness there really is only one way to find out – give it your best go. Signs your toddler is ready: Starting potty training earlier doesn’t necessarily mean finishing early; so be patient. In their first year babies don’t have bladder muscle and nerve control. This is something that develops at differing ages from child to child. Here is a checklist of signs they are ready: Shows general interest and independent thought Is co -ordinated (running, walking, balance) Follows simple instructions Developing a regular toileting routine Has dry periods of 2 hour intervals Can pull pants up and down Dislikes the sensation of being wet or soiled Grunting or squatting during bowel movement Shows an interest in the toilet Dancing or hopping about when bladder is full or during bowel movement Preparation for Potty Training: Equipment: sturdy potty or an inner seat to fit over your toilet, block to stand on to reach the toilet, bright and fun cloth potty training pants (such as Mother Nature Potty training pants) which have an absorbent saddle, bed mattress protector (such as Mother Nature’s breathable version), rewards chart . Introduce them to the toilet or potty. Let them learn by imitation by watching you spend a penny. Give them a plausible explanation as to why they must use the toilet and explain the reward system if using this system. Don’t be too pushy or angry as this will only aggravate their fear or stubbornness. Inform the playschool or carers that potty training has begun. Start off with day training by sitting them on the toilet for a few minutes at a time and then progress to night time. Tried and tested tips by our really wise parents: We asked our panel of parents what worked for them and this is what they came up with: Remember the three P’s: patience, positivity, praise Call your child the “king or queen” of their “throne” Familiarity is king: introducing them early to the toilet, regular hourly visits to the bathroom, learning from their parents Let your child lead you: they will let you know when they are ready Sing songs, read stories and make “ssswwiss” sounds while they are seated Reward ideas: small chocolates, biscuits, favourite food, play outside, stickers, allowed to flush, get to wash hand afterwards, get to draw on the toilet with a washable koki, dye the toilet water with food colouring Clap hands and cheer when they get it right Create a happy toilet story: An example is that the “yuk-yuk” goes to the sea to feed the fish when it is flushed and then say good bye Use cloth nappies as opposed to disposables and get your child trained earlier Make it seem like a fun and exciting game Easy clothing: dress girls in dresses for easy action or remove bottom clothing in the beginning phases Boy tip: put 5 Cherios in the bottom of the potty and get them to aim ‘n shoot Remove smelly odours caused by accidents by covering the spot with salt then vacuuming it up ½ hour later Remember it’s not mission impossible so hang in there folks! Messy Potty Tip: Use Mother Nature’s biodegradable & flushable liners to line the bottom of the potty. After use, flush them down the toilet! No need to deal with a messy, dirty potty! Night Time Advice: Lay-off liquids at least 1 hour before bedtime Take them to the toilet before their bedtime as well as your bedtime. Perhaps set alarm for midnight to take them again. And ensure they go to the toilet as soon as they wake up When Things Go Wrong: Potty training is not always a smooth sailing process as some children can be extremely resistant to the potty training process. Children who are refusing to potty train may be experiencing confusion about what’s expected of them, as well as emotional fears, painful physical sensations, or just general rebellion. Causes may include: Wilfulness to control the situation by refusing to co-operate Fear of the toilet or negative potty training experience Medical reasons – speak to a paediatrician Psychological reasons: life crisis, negative comments or teasing by family members which in turn leads to lack of confidence & shame Problems more common in boys Immaturity of the nervous system in recognising the sensation of being wet during sleep or the sensation of a full bladder Other medical causes of enuresis are: sleep apnoea (snoring), pinworm infection, diabetes, family history. May need to be referred to a urologist for evaluation We hope these tips are useful in successfully navigating your child out of nappies; on their path towards an independent and happy, wholesome life!

September 16, 2014
Parenting Hub

Rheumatic Heart Disease: The forgotten killer

The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA is putting the spotlight on this forgotten killer and urging parents to be vigilant of a sore throat. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common acquired heart disease in children in many countries of the world, especially in developing countries. The global burden of disease caused by rheumatic fever currently falls disproportionately on children living in the developing world, especially where poverty is widespread. The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSF) is putting the spotlight on this forgotten killer and urging parents to be vigilant of a sore throat. RHD is a chronic heart condition caused by rheumatic fever which is an autoimmune reaction to an untreated streptococcal infection, known as strep throat. Rheumatic fever occurs somewhere between 2 and 4 weeks after a strep throat (characterised by a sore throat, pain when swallowing and swollen glands). The symptoms of rheumatic fever include tiredness, joint pain, fever and a rash, often visible on the chest. The ironic tragedy of this situation is that controlling a strep throat is effective and inexpensive. Antibiotics can treat a strep throat preventing the development of rheumatic fever. For those who develop rheumatic fever, regular antibiotic injections can prevent them from contracting further strep infections and causing progressive damage to heart valves. “Rheumatic heart disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children and young adults in South Africa and there is a need to prioritise prevention of the disease and the control of rheumatic fever,” says Dr Vash Mungal-Singh, CEO of The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa. The decline of rheumatic fever in developed countries is believed to be the result of improved living conditions and availability of antibiotics for treatment. Overcrowding, poor housing conditions, undernutrition and lack of access to healthcare play a role in the persistence of this disease in developing countries. “Rheumatic heart disease is a sentinel condition of poverty and of health inequality; its persistence marks the failure of our health systems to address the non-communicable diseases of the poor. Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are neglected diseases that require immediate attention”, says Professor Bongani Mayosi from Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Chair of the World Heart Federation Working Group on Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease. Rheumatic fever commonly strikes young children between the ages of five to 15 years. It causes inflammation and damage to several parts of the body, particularly the heart, joints and central nervous system. About 60% of all acute rheumatic fever cases will develop into rheumatic heart disease. Untreated, rheumatic fever can lead to severe heart valve damage. This heart valve damage can result in stroke, congestive heart failure and death. In fact, it is the most common cardiovascular disease in young people under 25 years of age. Although it is a reaction to a common infectious disease, RHD is a chronic condition that kills or debilitates young people in their most productive years. Treatment of this disease is expensive and complicated, and can even involve the replacement of heart valves. A heart valve replacement can cost around R50,000, placing an enormous burden on the healthcare system. In addition, many South Africans may die whilst awaiting the life-saving operation. Fortunately the World Heart Federation has developed a detailed action plan to reduce 25% of the premature deaths from rheumatic fever and RHD in young people under the age of 25 by the year 2025. Rheumatic heart disease facts: The global burden of disease caused by rheumatic fever and RHD currently falls disproportionately on children and young adults living in low-income countries and is responsible for about 233,000 deaths annually. At least 15.6 million people are estimated to be currently affected by RHD with a significant number of them requiring repeated hospitalization and, often unaffordable, heart surgery in the next five to 20 years. The worst affected areas are sub-Saharan Africa, south-central Asia, the Pacific and indigenous populations of Australia and New Zealand. Up to 1 per cent of all schoolchildren in Africa, Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean region, and Latin America show signs of the disease. Globally, up to 80 million people suffer from RHD, and up to 460,000 people die from RHD each year, with nearly 300,000 new cases detected every year. However, cases of rheumatic fever are greatly underreported.  

September 15, 2014
Munchkins

The Words We Use

Once a word leaves your mouth, you cannot chase it back even with the swiftest horse. –Chinese Proverb Teachers and parents play a very important role when it comes to protecting our children from being shamed. The words we speak and the attitude and response to a child’s behaviour can be damaging or encouraging. Think of comments you remember from childhood. What emotion does it bring up in you? Here are some examples of statements that can be emotionally damaging when used regularly: You always. You never. What were you thinking? Why can’t you be like your brother? What did you do THAT for? You idiot! You’ll never amount to anything. You are an accident waiting to happen. Typical you! You irritate me. You make me mad. You’re so slow/sloppy/clumsy/irresponsible. You’re naughty/impossible. You embarrass me. Your brother is the apple of my eye/the best at … You are such a nerd. You can’t ever do anything right. You have no dress sense. If you experienced these derogatory words as a child, it is very easy to fall into the trap of repeating the cycle with your own children. Please do not hesitate to ask for help. A cycle can be broken! It takes so many positive words to cancel out the negative effects of the above kind of remarks. Positive statements are far more effective. They can build a child’s self-confidence and independence and contribute towards a positive relationship with you. Find opportunities where you can say things like: I am so proud of you for trying. You did such a good job. You are amazing/considerate/helpful. I love the way you help your sister. That was kind to… That was thoughtful. Are you really already old enough to …!? That must have taken a lot of effort. You’re such a good friend. That was quite a sacrifice. I can’t believe you remembered to … That was very brave/courageous of you to … Thank you for being so understanding. I know that was hard for you. The emphasis needs always to be on ‘I love you, but I don’t accept what you have done’ or ‘I love you but I cannot accept your behaviour’. Do not be tempted to say things in the heat of an argument. If you need to, remove yourself from the situation and resume the conversation later. Or, tell your child that you will think about a punishment and post it on the refrigerator later. Your word needs to be your word. That way, they learn to trust you so that when you say, ‘I love you’, The will know you really mean it. This is why I encourage a time-out from a young age because time-out is even a good practice for adults; removing themselves from a situation to calm down and gain a different perspective of the situation or to think about an appropriate response. Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. – Viktor E Frankl ‘It’s mine!’ Without giving it much thought, parents automatically say things like, ‘Don’t touch that, it’s mine.’ How many times does a child hear that from the time that they are crawling babies? then, when The are toddlers and a friend comes to play, parents are shocked to hear them snatch a toy away and say, ‘No, it’s mine.’ We need to emphasize the fact that, yes, it belongs to Mommy, Daddy, or a friend, but that is not the reason not to touch. The reason should rather be: It’s hot. It’s not your turn. It could break. I do not want you playing with it. And the like. When children are fighting over toys, I have often heard a parent say, ‘Well, after all it is his toy.’ That is not the point. Having possession of any item does not give you the option of being selfish, but simply affords you the right to share it at an appropriate time, with a good attitude. Johnny, Johnny, Johnny! It often happens in a home visit that while I am talking to the parents, the child will be doing something they shouldn’t. The parents then start randomly saying the child’s name over and over. The parent knows what they are implying, but generally the child does not. Theyhave learnt to ignore their name because there is not an instruction that follows nor a consequence to their lack of response. Rather say, ‘Johnny, look at me’ or ‘Johnny, stop running’ or what- ever the instruction is, but not just ‘Johnny’ randomly in different tones. This eventually just goes right over their heads. Make every word count The same applies when your child calls you. Do not ignore his ‘Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!’ Parents often learn to block out noise to be able to cope. However, tune in when your child is calling you, and respond immediately, either by answering or by showing the hand signal.

September 11, 2014
Parenting Hub

How To Encourage Healthy Eating Habits In Children

Practical tips for parents to help their children start eating better… Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits Getting children to eat healthy can be a real challenge. Creating healthy eating habits will keep your kids feeling great and contribute to a healthy lifestyle that they can continue to maintain their whole life. We tried to encourage good eating habits with our children from a young age. We only have healthy snacks in the house and also lots of tasty fruits within reach of little fingers. We try and sit together most evenings and have dinner. At the weekend we go shopping togetherand the kids help prepare some of the meals. Here are some ways to develop your child’s healthy approach towards eating- Go food shopping together Involve your children in food shopping and let them help you select the fresh fruit and vegetable and other healthy options. Show them the variety of the colours of the produce and talk about what you could make using them. Children may be more willing to eat or try foods that they were involved with choosing. Also, enjoy this time together with your children. Let your kids help you cook Whatever age your children are, they can help out in the kitchen. The younger children may not be able to chop vegetables, but they can help in tearing up lettuce for a salad or set the table. The older kids can stir sauces or measure out ingredients. Making home cooked meals is healthier for the whole family and sets a great example for kids about the importance of food. Ready prepared meals tend to have more fat, sugar, and salt. Also, save eating out at restaurants for special occasions. Encourage smart snacking Continuous snacking may lead to overeating, but snacks that are planned at specific times during the day can be part of a nutritious diet, without spoiling a child’s appetite at meal times. You should make snacks as nutritious as possible, without depriving your children of occasional chips or biscuits especially at parties or other social events. Try not to allow snacks at least one hour before dinner, and if they do have something, make it as healthy and light as possible: baby carrots with cream cheese or apple slices. Enjoy dinners together Eat meals together as a family as often as possible. Try to make mealtimes pleasant with chatting and sharing. If mealtimes are unpleasant, children may try to eat faster to leave the table as soon as possible. They then may learn to associate eating with stress. Eating and Television Eating meals and watching TV at same time makes it difficult to pay attention to the hunger and may lead to overeating.Discourage eating meals or snacks while watching TV. Try to eat only in designated areas of your home, such as the dining room or kitchen. Avoid the allure of bribes Try not to use food to punish or reward your children. It can certainly be tempting to say no TV, dessert, or whatever else they want unless they eat their dinner. But this can create an uneasy relationship with food in your child. Instead of making them feel pressured into eating when they don’t feel like it, give them options to choose from. Make healthy food choices yourself Children learn by watching their parents so make healthy food choices yourself. Set a good example by eating variety of nutritious foods and snacks. Also, do not overeat and keep a positive approach towards food. Teaching your child healthy eating practices early in life will help develop an approach to eating food with right attitude. Other tips Encourage your children to choose water when they are thirsty. If they do have fruit juice, dilute it with water and stay away from soft drinks. Cut down on the amount of fat in your family’s diet. Include low fat dairy products, lean meat, fat free cereals or breads. Allow sweets and desserts in moderation. Don’t curb them completely. Just teach your child to eat small portions of it. Eating slowly helps to detect hunger and fullness better. Encourage your child to eat slowly.   With determination, planning, thinking out ideas, and focus, embracing healthy eating habits for children can become simple and less stressful. There’s no better gift a parent can give their kids than a lifetime of healthy choices.

September 10, 2014
Munchkins

Guilt and Shame

Guilt is a very important and healthy emotion. We can hold it up in contrast to who we want to be, thereby realizing a need to change our behaviour. When we have done something wrong, our human nature actually longs to be found out, pay the price, be forgiven and move on. When an offense is overlooked, ignored, or kept secret, shame is the outcome. Guilt says: I have done something wrong. I deserve punishment. I can be forgiven/relieved of guilt/make restitution. I can learn from this. I can become a better person. Shame says: I am bad. I don’t deserve to be forgiven. I feel judged. I hate myself and understand why others hate me. I deserve it because there is something wrong with me. I cannot talk about it, nobody will understand. Shame can lead to all sorts of other problems such as OCD, addictions, violence, bullying, suicide and perfectionism. It can be paralyzing. (Reference Brene Brown.) Teachers and parents have the power in their words and actions to shame children in a way that can scar them for life. It is so important for a child to be able to distinguish between having done something wrong and being someone bad. When you are guilty of something, you are able to change it, but when you are bad, it is out of your hands. This brings about a feeling of hopelessness. This is another reason why I believe in focusing on the child’s behaviour (‘You are not listening’) instead of who he is (‘You are naughty’). Embarrassment is: Something that has happened that we can laugh about later. Something that happens to everyone. Fleeting. Funny but normal. This emotion is the least powerful or serious because it is usually fleeting, e.g. toilet paper stuck under your shoe. Humiliation is: Not deserved. When I have been punished unfairly. Sometimes confused with shame. When handled incorrectly, can change to shame. Humiliation can be inflicted in private or in public and is undeserved, e.g. a teacher could humiliate a pupil in public for having a bad grade, but the bad grade could have been due to something unavoidable. Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing we are flawed and therefore unworthy of acceptance and belonging. – Dr Brene Brown When a child does not feel safe, accepted or that they belong, their ability to concentrate is hampered. Shame happens in the primal or survival part of the brain. It responds in one of three ways: Fight – The stand up against; start attacking; there would be exaggerated retaliation; there is no differentiation between a small current trigger or larger historical trauma; Flight – The move away; withdraw; hide; retreat into themselves; Freeze – The moving towards; trying to please and appease others; performing so that they can be accepted. Parents or teachers who trust and accept unconditionally are needed to help the child move out of survival mode (limbic system) and into the reasoning part of the brain (prefrontal cortex). This is achieved through conversation that can bring them out of their dark hole to help them see and think through the situation more clearly. When this is successful, children are more able to develop empathy towards others, which in turn helps to set appropriate boundaries. Boundaries are necessary for the formation of healthy relationships, creating a feeling of acceptance and belonging.

September 10, 2014
Munchkins

Food Affects Behaviour

‘You don’t have to like it, you only have to eat it!’ In my previous book ‘Raising Happy, Healthy Children’ I covered diet extensively with the help of a clinical nutritionist, Sally Ann Creed, with whom the book was co-written. However, I think it is important to reiterate that what we eat affects the way we behave. The two go hand in hand. You cannot discipline a child who is being fed incorrectly, and conversely, you cannot enforce healthy eating if you have no discipline in place. Feeding a child sugar and expecting them to sit still is like expecting an intoxicated person to walk a straight line. We would all agree that alcohol affects our brain, but some people struggle to accept that food, also, can affect our brain, responses and general well being. If malnutrition makes you ill, why would the opposite not be true? Some foods can also affect behaviour and hormone functions in teenage years. Mood swings, aggression, loss of concentration, passivity, irregular or severely painful menstrual cycle, bad skin, memory loss and other problems can all be connected to a food in- tolerance or deficiency of some sort. It would be wise to check this out with your doctor or a nutritionist that you trust. I read a bumper sticker that said, ‘If you ignore your health, it will go away.’ This is so true. Sometimes people say to me, ‘Well, I do not eat vegetables and look at me, I’m fine!’ To which I respond, that sounds like saying, “I do not have to service my car. It is running just fine.”But when it has a costly breakdown that could have been prevented with a simple timely service, you regret it. We need to train our children in healthy eating habits so that as adults they will not be picky eaters but rather enjoy the full spectrum of fruits, vegetables, proteins and other foods that are freely available today. If you do not teach this, who will? To sum up, studies show that a healthy diet consists of three meals per day and two snacks. Each meal should contain a healthy form of protein. Here is a suggestion of a healthy routine for the whole family (the portion size is adjusted accordingly): Breakfast: Cooked oats, sorghum, quinoa or millet porridge (not the instant kind). For variations with the porridge add cinnamon, cashews, almonds, grated apple, banana, local honey, organic coconut oil or combinations of these. Adding raw cacao can also quickly turn it into a special chocolate breakfast. Keep in mind that grains are best absorbed by the body when they have been soaked, preferably for anywhere from 1-12 hours. This ‘increases digestibility, and eliminates phytic acid’ according to Integrative Nutrition. You can make the porridge by pouring boiling water over it and leaving it overnight to soak, and just topping up with boiling water in the morning to heat it up. Or for a faster option, you could just pour the boiling water over your porridge in the morning, cover it, and it’ll be ready in three minutes (that’s right, you don’t need the microwave or stove). For an incredibly delicious special treat, add egg yolks into hot porridge (first stir some hot porridge into the beaten egg yolks before adding to the hot porridge). Then beat egg whites till stiff and fold in gently. Serve with cinnamon and xylitol. Another breakfast option would be any variety of free-range eggs with whole grain bread if you wish (don’t be fooled by multi-grain; whole grain ingredients should be the first on the ingredient list if you have bread) and/or tomatoes, mushrooms, sautéed onions, peppers, etc. Mid-morning: Variety of fruit, nuts and seeds (not peanuts), plain full cream yoghurt (flavoured and/or sweetened yoghurts can do more harm than good, even the probiotics in them could become ineffective because of the sugar content); or Cracker breads with any nut butter (almond, cashew) or cream cheese; Green smoothies. Blend at least three organic kale leaves (or spinach, or any type of leafy green) with filtered water (this helps to blend it to a smooth consistency, rather than having bits of greens to chew). You get more benefits from leafy greens when they are blended. You could also add chia seeds and/or raw oats at this point to be ground up. The nyou can add banana (frozen makes for a more frothy smoothie) and any combination of these and other ingredients: nut butter, cacao, berries (again, can be frozen), nuts, coconut oil, carrot, raw beetroot (don’t judge it until you try it – it’s a pleasant surprise), maca, pear, etc. Try to have more vegetable than fruit where possible, just adding the fruit for some sweetness. If your children prefer a sweeter taste, you could add a touch of local honey (which can help with seasonal allergies) or xylitol. You can also blend in ice if you like a more frothy smoothie. Lunch: Half of the plate should be filled with a variety of vegetables (raw/ steamed/roasted). A quarter of the plate with a healthy carbohydrate (e.g. quinoa, sweet potato, basmati or brown rice, healthy pasta, whole grain bread, etc). It’s better if you can include complex carbohydrates, as oppose to simple. A quarter of the plate with protein (lentils, fish, red meat, chicken, eggs, beans, etc). At least 10-20% of your food needs to consist of healthy fats (coconut oil, olive oil, oily fish, avocado, nuts, etc). Mid-afternoon: Crudités with a protein (hummus, white cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese, meat, fish, lentils, red kidney beans). You could try making this more appealing by creating a pattern or picture out of the food. Supper: Same make-up as lunch, but try to make something different so that you’re not serving the same thing on one day. You could, however, keep some dinner as leftovers for lunch the next day. It’s always more convenient for families if you can cook once, eat twice. This would typically happen around 8 am, 10

September 8, 2014
Parenting Hub

First Aid For The Common Cold

At this time of the year, every second person either has one or is getting over one. Firstly how do you know it is just a common old cold and not the flu? Symptoms of a cold are: Sore throat, runny nose or congestion, sneezing and mild or no fever. Should these symptoms develop into moderate to high fever with bodily aches and pains, you’re probably looking at flu. What to do? At the first signs of a cold (usually tingling in the nose, a scratchy throat and smarting eyes), start taking a supplementing of buffered vitamin C with bioflavonoids (preferably not ascorbic acid) at a dose of 1g every 30 minutes. You should be feeling a lot better after the third dose however continue at this high dose for the first day, till bowel tolerance is reached and stools become loose, then cut back on the dosage. For the next few days take 1g at least 3 times a day until you feel you have recovered completely. Zinc supplements have been shown to significantly reduce the severity of cold symptoms, as well as the length of the illness, but try to start within 24 hours of the onset of common cold symptoms. Take a 30mg capsule every 2 hours or suck zinc lozenges. Supplements of garlic extract may also reduce the days you suffer. Studies have reported significant improvements for the number of symptoms, the number of days and incidences that people felt under the weather, as well as a decrease in days missed at work. Raw, fresh garlic works better than cooked but the downside to fresh garlic is that the breath odour can stay as long as 2 days, so it is not appropriate to those who are in close contact with others. In this case take a supplement that leaves no odour on the breath. Timing is key so these supplements need to be on hand in your first aid cabinet to use as soon as cold symptoms manifest. What else can you do? Stay hydrated! Proper hydration allows for efficient transmission of your body’s most critical communications and helps eliminate toxins and foreign invaders so you can clear infections more efficiently. Pure water is of course the best hydrator. Get proper sleep. A deep, restorative sleep cycle is fundamental to your body’s repair process and supporting your immune system. A number of studies have demonstrated that failing to get enough sleep has numerous consequences for physical, mental and emotional health. Also don’t forget to take vitamin D daily, especially in winter when most of get almost no sunshine. Recurrent colds may just be due to a vitamin D deficiency. You probably need to take at least 4000IU vitamin D per day in Winter. Is the flu vaccine really necessary? A major review of flu vaccines appeared in the prestigious journal Lancet in which the author screened a massive 5 700 articles and found only 31 studies worthy of inclusion. The author, Professor Michael Osterholm, like many other researchers, concluded that there was only good evidence for a moderate efficacy in healthy adults, and no real evidence of protection in those over 65 years, or in children. This is a pity because the fact is that most healthy adults don’t die from the flu, and the ones that could do with the protection are the elderly and young children. Numerous studies are showing that everyone would be much better off taking vitamin D in high doses. This is safer than the flu vaccine and does not have any side-effects. Vitamin D does not kill the flu virus; it simply improves the resistance of the body to all viral infections.

September 4, 2014
Parenting Hub

How to Stop Your Child’s Whining

Few things are more irritating to a parent’s ears than the sound of whining. It’s not just the tone of the voice but the repetition that is torture to us. Most kids whine at some time or another but you can break the whining habit and reinforce positive behaviour pattern in your kids. Why do they do it? Whining generally starts when children are toddlers and it is often a natural response to the overwhelming feeling of being out of control. Your child might have had a particularly busy day or feeling tired or hungry. They also don’t have the vocabulary to fully express themselves and their frustrations so they resort to whining. Children also tend to build up emotions and let them out in different ways. Unfortunately whining is one of them. Your child may not even realise that they are whining. Call their attention to the behaviour by demonstrating what they sound like. You can record their voice and play it back to them or you can mimic them and let them hear how it sounds. Diet and behaviour are often connected and sugar can definitely affect your child. Sweets, soft drink and other packaged foods are sometimes packed with sugar and you can exceed your child’s tolerance for it. Once the sugar high is gone, the low then comes. And with the low comes whining. Pay attention to your child’s eating habits, and make connections to their behaviour. Perhaps some simple changes will make all the difference. Plus, whining is generally effective and often works so they continue with the behaviour. Stop the whining Spend time listening to your children and getting to the bottom of what they really want. Is it your time and attention? Spend some focused time together reading or cooking, or doing something else the child enjoys. Connecting in this way can make a huge difference for your family. Ask your child to repeat their message without whining. Tell them you can’t understand when they whine and to speak in a normal voice. Ignore them until they comply. Try and remain patient and don’t get angry as this can often make things worse. To reinforce proper behaviour, tell the children when they’ve done a great job and that you are glad they are using their words properly. It makes them want to continue the good behaviour. You could try and call the whining something else, like the “moaning minny”. So when your child whines you can say “oh no, it sounds like moaning minny is back, let’s try and get rid of her”, this might also lead to a laugh or giggle which is also a good distraction. Talk to your kids. Explain how whining makes you feel and discuss acceptable ways that they can express themselves the next time they feel like whining. Keep it friendly and don’t bring up problems from the past. Talk about solutions for the future. Try and be consistent in your message that you pass on and let them understand that whining is unacceptable behaviour in your family and will never get them what they want. The more you give in to the whining, the more your child will use it against you. Respect works both ways. Listen and speak to your child respectfully and then ask them to treat you the same. Whining also becomes much less frequent as children get older so remember that “this too shall pass”.

September 3, 2014
Parenting Hub

‘White Gold’ – Help Decrease Infant Mortality

In South Africa, one premature infant dies every 20 minutes. In the fight against this unnecessary loss of life, International Breastfeeding Week is calling on mothers to breastfeed their babies and donate breastmilk to help decreasing infant mortality and malnutrition. The South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR), currently the largest human-milk-banking partner of the South African Department of Health, warns that breastfeeding rates in South Africa are dangerously low with only 7,2% of South African women breastfeeding. These low rates result in the loss of the most vulnerable members of our society, including 20,000 babies under 1,8kg and 70,000 babies under 5kg annually. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) of Africa credits breastfeeding as the single biggest influence on decreasing infant mortality and malnutrition, especially in the least developed countries of Africa. Based on this core belief, SABR is urging mothers to breastfeed their own babies for at least the first six months of their lives, to ensure optimum growth and development. “We believe that breastfeeding, access to mothers-own-milk, donated breastmilk and education are the keys to unlocking infant survival”, says Stasha Jordan, breastfeeding activist and executive director at SABR. “We are calling on all mothers to donate breastmilk at local breastmilk-banks to ensure that the young lives that do not have access to their mothers’ breastmilk get the best chance of a healthy start to life.  Not just during International Breastfeeding Week but on an ongoing basis. Whilst International Breast-feeding Week reminds us of the importance of ‘promoting, protecting and supporting breast-feeding’ we should live every day to ’empower inspire and counsel’ mothers and communities in breastfeeding and ‘baby-friendly’ care for the most vulnerable. Educating mothers living in poverty and with HIV and AIDS about safe infant feeding practices is also a key focus for the SABR, to ultimately avoid vertical transmission (from mother to baby) of HIV and AIDS. “We invite mothers with babies to visit our milk-banks across the country to learn more about home-methods for heat treatment of breastmilk and through this, promote food security in a continent where poverty and malnutrition are rampant,” says Jordan. In the previous financial year, the SABR had 889 donors and supplied breastmilk to 1295 infants, which contributed to saving an average of 5,000 premature infants from infection and mortality associated with lack of breastfeeding, since its inception in 2003. “Health care professionals and mothers are becoming increasingly sensitised to the importance of the use of breastmilk in perinatal care, which is in turn increasing the need for more breastmilk-banks across the country,” says Jordan. In realising the value this ‘white gold’ holds, the SABR, in partnership with the Free State Department of Health, has recently expanded human-milk-banking to a further four provincial hospitals, bringing the countrywide total 44 human-breastmilk-bank facilities. “Despite great success over the past ten years, the lives that need to be saved remain many, says Jordan. “We have a mammoth task ahead of us to turn around infant mortality rates in Africa, therefore we need the support from the breastfeeding community to help drive the change toward higher breastfeeding rates and ultimately lower infant mortality.” In reducing premature infant mortality rates, over-stretched hospitals also save millions of Rands annually, which advances the healthcare of the entire nation over the long run. To get involved and alleviate the challenges faced by the SABR, including low breastfeeding rates in South Africa, sourcing donor mothers when so many women are HIV positive, and funding for the operation of the milk-banks, please visit www.sabr.org.za or call 011 482 1920 or e-mail: [email protected]. About South African Breastmilk Reserve The South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR) was founded in 2003 as the first registered human-milk-bank in South Africa. The main objective of the SABR is to facilitate the establishment of human-milk-banks in as many communities as possible, with the aim of providing human milk (and the necessary equipment and funding) to babies in need, particularly babies orphaned as a result of AIDS. Today the SABR supplies in excess of 60 hospitals and is constantly working to gain favour for human milk banking in these hospitals, including: Bloemfontein Universitas, Bloemfontein Pelonomi; Boitumelo Hospital; Bongani Hospital, Dihlabeng Hospital; Edenvale (cnr); Kalafong Hospital; Kimberley Hospital; Manapo Hospital; Netcare Alberlito (cnr); Netcare Blaauwberg; Netcare Cuyler PE; Netcare Femina; Netcare Kuils River (cnr); Netcare Olivedale; Netcare Parklane; Netcare Parklands; Netcare St Augustine’s (cnr); Netcare The Bay; Newcastle Provincial H; Northdale (cnr); Pietermaritzburg H Complex; Potchefstroom Hospital; SABR Head Office; Sandton MediClinic; Tembisa Hospital; Witbank Hospital.

September 2, 2014
Parenting Hub

Leapfrog Unveils Leapband

Prima Toys South Africa has just announced the launch of the Leapfrog LeapBand, the first wearable activity tracker for kids, to get them active and learning whist having the most awesome time doing so. The LeapBand combines playful physical activities with a personalised virtual pet to encourage them to keep going, and track their progress. With over 50 different activities and challenges the child’s physical movements are tracked through the LeapBand, so the more active the child is, the more points their earn with their virtual pet. As the child earns points through play, they can unlock additional games, challenges, levels of play and virtual rewards.  The band is styled with kids in mind, including an accelerometer, high resolution colour screen, rechargeable battery and water-resistant design.  The device also doubles up as both a cool digital and analogue watch. With fun activities such as ‘leap like a frog’, ‘pop like a popcorn’, or ‘spin like a helicopter’ and many, many more, ,kids will love the interactive aspect of getting fit. Leapband is available at all leading retail outlets at the recommended retail price of R499.00 About LeapFrog LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is the leader in educational entertainment for children. LeapFrog’s award-winning product portfolio helps millions of children achieve their potential by delivering best-in-class curriculum through engaging content, fun multimedia learning platforms and toys. The Learning Path, LeapFrog’s proprietary online destination for parents provides personalised feedback on a child’s learning progress and offers product recommendations to enhance each child’s learning experience. Through the power of play, LeapFrog’s products and curriculum help children of all ages prepare for school and life success. LeapFrog’s products are available in more than 45 countries. LeapFrog is based in Emeryville, California, and was founded in 1995 by a father who revolutionised technology-based learning solutions to help his child learn how to read. Come see the learning at www.leapfrog.com. TM & © 2013 LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

September 1, 2014
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