GOOD HEALTH NEWS

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HOW TO STAY <strong>HEALTH</strong>Y THIS WINTER As we welcome the winter weather into our daily lives we also enter into a vulnerability to sicknesses. It’s important to keep in mind what kind of foods we should consume in order to keep our bodies healthy so we can prevent from catching anything that will hinder us from our day to day schedules. It’s extremely vital to pay attention to what kind of foods provide the vitamins we need and might be lacking as the seasons come and go. One thing that many people lack during this season is Vitamin D which helps you activate your immune system. When your body is exposed to a pathogen, your T cells ( a type of white blood cell ) extend a receptor to search for Vitamin D. If you don’t have enough of it, however, the T cell will not be able to activate and your immune system will not be able to take action appropriately. Vitamin D is also important for bones, as it can increase calcium absorption when the body signals that it needs calcium. Populations with calcium intakes similar to omnivores in the United States, vitamin D is more important than calcium for preventing osteoporosis. Naturally, a great source of Vitamin D would be sunlight, if you have some time but if you don’t, finding replacements in food is fine as well. Great examples of sources of this essential vitamin are portobello mushrooms and fatty fish such as salmon and tuna. Vitamin C is another essential vitamin to be aware of and unlike Vitamin D it’s a lot easier to find great sources of this in foods. Vitamin C helps protect against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems and eye disease. It’s even hailed as one of the most effective nutrients and higher levels of Vitamin C may be the ideal nutritional marker for overall health. If you’re looking for great sources of Vitamin C try kiwi and mandarins as both have high concentrations of it. Another tip to keep sick free this winter would be to eat antioxidant rich foods. Eating an antioxidant-rich diet is one of the best ways to curb free radical damage in your body while also optimizing your immune system. Ideally, try to include a wide range of fruits and vegetables in your diet, as this will give you an equally wide range of antioxidants, which is important since each antioxidant has a slightly different impact on your immune health. For example, glutathione, found in whey protein, asparagus, avocado and parsley, has been described as the “most important antioxidant” because it empowers your immune system to exert its full potential by quenching free radicals, recycling vitamins C and E into their biologically active forms and regulating DNA synthesis and repair. To summarize, eat healthy and be aware of what essential vitamins you need in your body and how much of it you are intaking daily! After all, in order to fight off possible illness you need to have a strong body that is prepared for the brutal changes in winter weather. Keep in mind to stay active and eat the foods your body really needs. DID YOU KNOW Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet. It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. 2
3 TIPS ON ADAPTING ART PROJECTS FOR YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD Art is a great medium for children to explore their creativity and express themselves without fear of doing it the ‘right or ‘wrong’ way. Some parents and teachers may shy away from doing traditional art projects with their special needs children or students because they find it difficult, but there is no need for this. With a few modifications, any special needs child can participate in art activities comfortably. Comfortable Positioning: Modifying your child’s surroundings so that they can do their artwork comfortably is important if they have a physical disability. Some children will have no trouble sitting up, but others may need to work while lying on their stomachs. The main thing is to stabilize their position so that they are able to work with their hands easily. Make use of special chairs, swings, and even cushions and blankets to help prop them up. It is also helpful if all the art tools they will be using are within easy grabbing distance from them. You could try taping or tying down the art tools to the area where your child will be working in. Use the Right Art Supplies: For children who have CP or other neurological conditions, they may have difficulty with their hand functioning. Try giving them thicker and heavier Finger painting is a great medium you could try with your child brushes, markers, or crayons to use, since they may be easier to grip. You could also consider using assistive devices to help them hold these tools in place. According to the teachers at Bright Hub Education (http://www. brighthubeducation.com/special-edinclusion-strategies/69301-adaptingart-projects-for-special-needsstudents/), “Some children may need Velcro wrapped around to hold the brush or marker in place. Children with tremors or coordination problems will benefit from heavier art. They may also do well with a weighted cuff on their forearm, wrist or shoulders.”Play dough sculpting and finger painting are also great mediums you could try with your child! Group Art Projects: It’s great for children to work on their own individual projects by themselves; however, try changing it up once in a while by making it a group activity! Invite your child’s brothers and sisters or friends to join in on the art fun. It can be very helpful when you put children with different levels of abilities together, especially if your child with special needs is unable to do certain parts of a project by themselves. Not only will they have fun expressing themselves, but they can also learn how to work with others! Giving children thicker and heavier crayons to use will make it easier to grip. 3
Page 1: GOOD HEALTH NEWS January 2015 Volum
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