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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Cardio Exercise---Is it Okay for Kids?

As adults we wonder which cardio exercise is better for us. We want to burn off as much fat as possible! Scientists discovered that during intensive exercises, your body burns glycogen, which is a form of stored carbohydrates that are stored in your liver and muscles for energy. During low intensity exercises, your body will burn a lot of fat. These exercises can include running or swimming. But have you tried to get your kid to go running or swimming for the sake of exercise? You were probably met with groans and objections.

Kids need cardio, just like adults. The question is how to get them to indulge in cardio exercise, whether it is high or low intensity. Here are a few simple suggestions:

• Trick them—but don’t lie to them. Encourage them to join you on a fun outdoor walk. Don’t talk about the benefits of walking. Host a swimming party at the local pool and have the children compete to see who can swim the most laps in the least amount of time. These exercises are great for kids.
• Make it fun for them. An Urban Rebounder can be used by anyone. This is great for the rainy days when your kids are full of energy they just have to expend. Made like a small trampoline, this piece of equipment is endorsed by NASA and can be enjoyed while watching television!
• Let them be like mom and dad. If you have gym equipment in your home, allow your children to create their own gym. Using adult equipment may injure little bones and joints. Find home gym equipment for them at www.fitnessandkids.com.
• Get up a sports team. Not all kids are in organized sports. Get up a neighborhood baseball league or tennis team. Team sports will provide great cardio exercise!

Cardio exercise will juice up your metabolism even after you have completed your workout. What this means, is that your body will continue to burn body fat hours after you have stopped. And the more cardio you do, the more energy you and your kids will have.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Four Ways to Take Care of Your Kids' Dental Health

Next to obesity, dental care for kids is one of the crucial health concerns for parents. According to recent health statistics, at least one-fourth of American kids between the ages of two and five and half of the kids between 12 and 15 have some sort of dental problem. How can you keep your kids’ mouth healthy?

1. A stitch in time saves nine. For the first few days immediately after your baby is born, make sure you wash the mouth of your baby regularly. Use a wet washcloth to clean your baby's gums after every meal. When it is time for the baby's teeth to erupt, use fluoridated toothpaste and a soft brush to brush the teeth of your baby gently.

2. Involve your kids in an oral healthcare program at a very early age. Involving your kids with a pediatric dentist at an early stage will make sure that your kids take good care of their teeth. Starting from your kid's first birthday, you should schedule a regular oral health appointment with the dentist. Make sure that they brush their teeth regularly twice a day, once in the morning and again at evening or night.

3. Teach your kids proper brushing techniques. Tell your kids that it is essential that they regularly spit out the toothpaste after the brushing is over! If they are too young to spit the toothpaste on their own, they should use non-fluoridated toothpaste until they are old enough to spit out the toothpaste all by themselves. In fact, as soon as your kid is two or three years old, you should start teaching them proper brushing techniques. You should also teach them how to floss gently. As your kids become older, they will be able to do it all by themselves!

4. Teach your kids how to eat properly: Teaching your kids good eating habits and advising them to avoid eating junk foods such as chocolates and candies will go a long way in keeping their teeth in good health. Find healthy recipes at Fitness and Kids.

Teaching your kids the value of maintaining good oral health is key. As a parent, insist that your kids follow good oral hygiene rules. Taking these steps will make sure that your kids don't suffer from diseases such as gingivitis or cavities later in life.