Xoçai™ Healthy Chocolate

Excessive sugar is a serious health threat for United States children. Do you know how much sugar your Chicago son or daughter is really consuming? I am children’s nutrition advocate Richard McLain.

Here are some popular Chicago kid’s snacks with more sugar than I realized:

Yogurt covered raisins
Fruit Roll-ups, Gushers, and Fruit By The Foot
Quaker Rice Cakes
Yoplait yogurt
Gogurt
Juice drinks: Capri Sun, Minute Maid
Flavored milk

The next time you and your kids are shopping for snacks at your United States grocery store, Chicago convenience store,  or Illinois ball park snack bar, read the labels. Sugar content varies among brands.

Limiting the amount of sugar in your United States child’s diet is an important step toward better lifelong eating and oral health. To hear about another great way to improve your child’s nutrition in IL, call me today!

Richard McLain 847-340-7589 rm@richardmclain.com

No United States parent wants their child to be exposed to Internet pornography, however, this tragedy occurs everyday. Why is there such a disconnect?

Some United States parents may not realize that their young child can navigate the computer like a pro. Others may believe that their child would never go looking for inappropriate material.

If you think your Chicago kids are too young to worry about it, don’t be so sure. IL parents continue to report that they found out too late that their child was exposed. I urge you to take precautions now.

With Internet pornography increasing everyday and young people succumbing to this cybermonster, Chicago parents wonder what they can do to prevent this from ever happening to their kids.

This advice bears repeating: United States parents should put the computer in an open area so that it can be monitored. In addition, many forms of web protection are available for free. Though it is time-consuming, United States parents would be wise to only allow their child use the Internet with Mom or Dad present.

Talk to your kids and ask them if they have encountered Internet pornography. Ask them what they did or what they would do in such a situation. Though this is a secondary concern: explain to them that certain web pages and ‘pop ups’ contain viruses that can damage the computer. Open communication is essential.

If your United States children have encountered pornography, perhaps at a friend’s house, emphasize its destructive nature and teach them that what they saw is degrading to men, women, and healthy relationships. Internet pornography is a plague with many United States victims, including children. It is up to United States parents and youth leaders to help United States children be safe online.

My name is Richard McLain and I care about Internet safety for United States kids. For more information about child raising topics, or to hear about a new healthy kids snack, contact me today at rm@richardmclain.com.

Richard McLain
http://mxi.myvoffice.com/chocolatehealthtoday/
847-340-7589
rm@richardmclain.com

As IL parents, we know our children’s health includes physical, mental and social well-being. Most Chicago parents are aware of the essentials in keeping their kids healthy; providing nutritious meals, making sure they get adequate sleep and physical activity, and guaranteeing their safety.

It is also necessary for our Chicago kids to receive regular checkups with their IL health care providers. Not only will these visits track your Chicago child’s development, but will aid in averting health problems.

According to the NIH, besides regular checkups, school-age United States and Chicago Suburbs children should also see their Chicago doctor for:

• Significant weight gain or loss
• Sleep problems or change in behavior
• Fever higher than 102
• Rashes or skin infections
• Frequent sore throats
• Breathing problems

I would love to share more children’s health information with you. Please call me today!

Anyone in Chicago Suburbs who transports kids in their car should regularly review the child safety seat regulations. IL and federal laws are periodically updated. Chicago Suburbs parents who think their six year-old doesn’t need to be in a booster seat may be surprised to learn that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that children stay in a booster seat until their height and weight exceed the manufacturer’s limits.

Complete recommendations can be found at http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS

Here are some quick facts for Chicago Suburbs parents:

• Keep infants and toddlers rear-facing as long as possible.
• Upgrade child safety seat when child reaches max height and weight for each particular model.
• Most IL Wal-Mart, Target, and Babies-R-Us stores carry safety seats for all ages.
• Chicago Suburbs children are ALWAYS safer in the back seat and those under twelve should never ride in the front seat.

I am X Power Squares distributor Richard McLain. Thanks for visiting my Chicago Suburbs children’s health site. If you would like information about a terrific nutritional product available in Chicago Suburbs, call, text, or email me today.

Richard McLain
847-340-7589 rm@richardmclain.com
Chicago Suburbs X Power Squares

Hello Chicago! Welcome to today’s children’s health and nutrition blog. Today, we are discussing seasonal allergies. Many Chicago parents wonder if their child’s sneezing and runny nose are temporary symptoms of a cold or seasonal allergies. Generally, colds also come with aches and a low fever and last only a week, while allergies can persist for an entire season. Chicago doctors are seeing new cases of seasonal allergies among people of all ages, especially adults. Is this an unintended result of more aggressive germ-fighting in childhood?

‘Researchers speculate that thanks to antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers and other powerful germ-killing products, kids today are less likely to be exposed to the bacteria and viruses that help the immune system shift into gear and prevent them from developing allergies and asthma as they grow up.’¹

Regardless of the possibility that allergies may persist into adulthood, there are several steps Chicago parents can take to help their child get through the allergy prone months with minimal discomfort:

Replace your filters (AC and furnace) at least every two or three months, and look for MERV ratings of 11 or 12 for maximum efficiency filters. Though it may be difficult during the hot Chicago months, remember to keep your windows closed at home and in the car. Check pollen levels online and try to have your child wait until evening to go outdoors when pollen counts are lower.

Have your child shower before going to bed to wash allergen out of his or her hair and skin so it won’t transfer to bedding and increase irritation during the night. You can also use plastic or allergen-proof covers for your child’s mattress, box springs, and pillows for extra protection.

Your Chicago doctor can test your child to determine the specific allergens and prescribe safe and effective medications.

For more information on children’s health and Xe Energy Drink nutritional products contact:

Richard McLain
http://mxi.myvoffice.com/chocolatehealthtoday/
847-340-7589
rm@richardmclain.com

¹Beth Howard, “Breathe Easy: How to Prevent and Treat Fall Allergies,” Family Circle, October 17, 2011, http://www.familycircle.com/health/concerns/allergies-asthma/fall-allergies/?page=4, accessed on November 9, 2011

United States parents know that sleep is important for their child’s health. If your Chicago Suburbs child has a hard time falling asleep, you may want to try a bedtime snack. Well-chosen evening snacks can help ease the transition to sleep.

Eating too much before bedtime is never a good idea for anyone, but a small snack may be just the ticket to dreamland for little ones in United States. Foods containing the amino acid tryptophan are a natural sleep aid, especially if they are coupled with carbohydrates, which help make tryptophan more available to the brain.

Bedtime foods you can purchase at your local Chicago Suburbs grocer include soy milk, dairy products, nuts, seeds, and legumes, such as lentils or chick peas. These foods coupled with a healthy carbohydrate make the perfect bedtime snack. Your Chicago Suburbs kiddos will be visiting the sandman before you know it.

Try a glass of soy milk with a few whole grain crackers or string cheese and apple slices. Low-fat cottage cheese with pineapple helps my munchkins fall asleep.

I am a local X Power Squares representative and a children’s health advocate. If you live in Chicago, United States, or Illinois and would like to learn more about children’s health contact me today!

Richard McLain
847-340-7589
rm@richardmclain.com
X Power Squares
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