How to Avoid Shrinking!

Calcium is one of the most important nutrients for a woman especially as you age and your bones start losing mass Taken in the right ratio with magnesium calcium also contributes to the health of tendons, the heart muscle and the nerves.

One of main benefits of eating calcium rich foods, especially for women, is that it can help prevent the development of osteoporosis. This is a condition where bones become porous as the result of aging. It is a silent disease that progresses slowly through the years with no symptoms. Over time all of the bones may become fragile but usually the hip, spine and wrist are especially affected.

Dairy products are the highest source of calcium with evaporated milk being the richest source at 675 mg per cup. One ounce of Parmesan cheese is a distant second at 390 mg of calcium. One cup of ordinary 1% milk has 297 mg of calcium per cup.

In the greens department, collards are the highest source of calcium at 357 mg per cup. Kale follows at 206 mg and 1 stalk of broccoli at 158 mg. Iceberg lettuce is the lowest source at 27 mg of calcium per cup.

A cheap and abundant source of calcium is canned fish. A three-ounce can of sardines contain 372 mg of calcium, which is, much more than a glass of milk.

There are also many treats that are loaded with calcium. For instance the reason pizza can be so healthy for you is because 1 ounce of Mozzarella cheese has 207 mg of calcium per ounce. Ordering your pizza with double cheese is not such a bad idea.

Another great source of calcium is nut. An ounce, which equals roughly a handful of almonds, has a whopping 307 mg of calcium. Hazelnuts are also a rich source at 240 mg an ounce. If you must buy your kids cookies, make sure they have nuts in them (unless of course your child has allergies!)

If you love soft ice cream then you will be glad to know that it is one of the riches sources of calcium clocking in at a delicious 237 mg of calcium per one cup serving. Regular hard ice cream is also a good source at 1276 mg per one cup serving.

Although the levels of calcium found in raw vegetables and fruits are much lower than other foods there are still some decent sources as long as you eat a lot of them. One of the richest sources is carrot. One medium carrot is 27 mg. Grapefruit is also a fairly rich source of calcium at 20 mg.

There is a lot of debate about whether you should take calcium supplements or not. Like any nutrient, calcium is best absorbed if it is eaten as a food. If you are going to take it as a supplement it is best to take coral calcium, which comes from a living source as opposed to calcium that is sourced from a quarry.

So to avoid becoming the incredible shrinking woman or man as you age, make sure you get as much calcium as you can from your diet!

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History of the Baby Shower

Nowadays it is customary for the Baby Shower to be thrown before the birth of the baby. These events are planned anywhere from six-months to just a couple of days before the blessed event. Probably the optimum time to throw a party is in the third trimester of pregnancy, but not too close to the actually expected birth date. This spares the mother undue stress, as even happy stress can take its toll. It also gives her time to sort out and put away her loot.
Then of course there are those babies that arrive early and show up as an unexpected guest at their own baby shower!

Although it is traditional to throw the baby shower before birth, it is still perfectly acceptable to suggest that a baby shower be thrown after the baby is born. It is especially acceptable to suggest this if for some reason, nobody else has volunteered to engineer the event. Showers are also thrown after the adoption of a child and in this case, the child can be much older than an infant.

The baby shower has come along ways from the days when it was never thrown before the baby’s birth. This presumption was based on an old superstition, that all of the presents and celebration might attract they eye of Lilith, an evil angel, who may spirit the baby’s soul away. The sad truth is that most babies did pass away during birth so nobody wanted to celebrate something that may not happen.

Showers have also mutated over the years into Jack and Jill events, where both sexes, including the father of the child and his friends, are invited to celebrate along with the girls. Unlike women’s baby showers, which have a focus on games, these showers are more about circulating with family and friends and sharing a good meal in honor of the expectant mother. It is the most contemporary way of holding a shower and furthermore there does not have to be a diaper pin or baby shower game in sight!

It is also traditional to throw the shower at a best friend or relative’s house, rather than at the expectant mother’s house to spare her the hassle of a mess to clean up the next day. It also gives her privilege of being able to say good-bye and leave the party. She may feel the need to rest, rather than feel pressured to entertain guests who are in no hurry to leave. However some mothers do feel more comfortable at home and throwing it at her house may save her a lot of transportation and the hauling around of her goodies. Rule of thumb — when in doubt be sure to ask the mom to be if she wants a shower at her house. The answer could be no!

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