urban parenting magazine march 2014

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URBAN M A G A Z I N E Parenting MARCH 2014 * N a t i o n a l N u t r i t i o n M o n t h * M a r c h 2 0 1 4 SUPERFOODS for Age-Defying Beauty 6 THE 8 REASONS WHY YOU HAVEN'T FOUND MR. RIGHT! Single Moms Is your Child Good for Nothing? DIY SNACKS FOR KIDS DELICIOUS to sneak fruits and vegetables in your family's diet 10 Ways

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Urban Parenting's March issue is celebrating National Nutrition Month! We've provided shocking tips, and information that will blow your mind! Read Now!

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Page 1: Urban Parenting Magazine March 2014

URBANM A G A Z I N E

ParentingMARCH 2014

*Nation

alN

utr

itio

n Month*

Ma

rch

2014

SUPERFOODSfor Age-Defying Beauty

6

THE 8 REASONS WHY YOU

HAVEN'T FOUND MR. RIGHT!

Single Moms

Is your

Child Good

for

Nothing?

DIY SNACKS FOR KIDS

DELICIOUS

to sneak fruits and vegetablesin your family's diet

10 Ways

Page 2: Urban Parenting Magazine March 2014
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3www.urbanparentingmagazine.com U R B A N PA R E N T I N G

contents14

10 ways to sneak

some extra fruits and

vegetables in your

family’s diet

22Is your child

“Good For Nothing”

18Single Mom -

The 8 reasons why

you haven’t found

your Mr. Right

247 Reasons -

Why you should be

using coconut oil

05

06

Why we need to take risk

Delicious DIY snacks for kids

MORE IN THIS ISSUE... 08

10

16

The not so perfect parents

5 tips to keep your marriage exciting

6 Superfoods for age-defying beauty

Page 4: Urban Parenting Magazine March 2014

4 www.urbanparentingmagazine.comU R B A N PA R E N T I N G

Urban Parenting Magazine

PUBLISHER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

How to Contact Us

Published 11 times a year by Urban

Parenting Magazine LLC., in West Palm

Beach, FL. Editorial submissions and

reader correspondence are welcome. We

reserve the right to edit, reject or

comment on any material submitted. We

are not responsible for the return of

unsolicited material. Urban Parenting

Magazine is available online and at

numerous locations within diverse

communities free of charge. Publication

and distribution of the magazine does not

constitute an endorsement of

information, products or services. The

publisher reserves the right to reject any

advertisement or listing which is not in

keeping with the magazine's standards.

Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Any

reproduction in whole or in part is

prohibited without written permission.

Wilson Manigat

Debbie Manigat

Founded by Wilson and Debbie

Manigat in 2013

www.UrbanParentingMagazine.com

[email protected]

Office: (954) 560-8326

Correspondence:

Urban Parenting Magazine

P.O. Box 222911

West Palm Beach FL 33422

Editor’s NoteCome on- you can do it!It's time for you to face yourself in the mirrorand make a daily plan for stepping out inhealth.

What's your reason to get fit?

Maybe you need to shed the baby weight frompregnancy or there's a college reunion comingup and you have to be the sexiest person in theroom. Or maybe you want to fight heartdisease, diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson's disease,and even cancer... yep, research states thatadding exercise into a well balanced diet canprevent the above. Exercise also has beenproven to reduce stress, ward off anxiety andfeelings of depression, boost self-esteem, andimprove sleep. Plus, what about your spouseand kids? They are always watching and willfollow your lead. Be a fit role model and showthem an active example of health, yet anotherwin- win... I don't know about you, but thosesound like pretty good reasons to me! So areyou ready to handle our Fit Family Challenge?

Get up and start today, even if it's just a quick10 minute walk- that's better than nothing...Here's what Urban Parenting want to see youtackle for your health:

1) Wake up 30 min.'s earlier- pray, meditate,reflect and try a power cardio work out!

2) Ride a bike to do your errands instead ofusing your car.

3) Walk your dog 1 block further than usual each week or volunteer to walk a friends dog (they'll loveyou for it- so it's a win-win!)

4) Have fun- take dance lessons!

5) After dinner, make it a habit to take a walk around your community and invite your family to joinyou!

6) Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work or for play!

7) Park your car in an area that forces you to walk a significant distance everywhere you go-challenge yourself and try it- this works!

Document your fit family journey and video tape yourself working out with your kids. Upload it toYouTube with Urban Parenting's Fitness Challenge in the title and you could win an UP FamilyFitness Pack!

(*Remember to consult your doctor when building a healthier you and seeking to incorporate thebest exercise plan for you into your daily routine. Details of Fit Family Challenge on our website:www.UrbanParenting.com)

Debbie C. ManigatEditor-in-Chief

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5www.urbanparentingmagazine.com U R B A N PA R E N T I N G

A soldier may have to take a risk and run

thru gunfire to save another injured

soldier, to complete their mission, or just

to secure an area from being overrun by

enemy troops, after going days with

little to no sleep, but if a soldier wants to

get promotions and eventually lead men

into battle they also need to take risks.

These risks are not unlike someone

looking to get rich in a casino, they have

to be willing to risk everything they have

to get that million dollar payoff. If you

play it safe in a casino you may get lucky

and win a big jackpot on the slot

machines, but if you want to make

millions you are going to have to play

games such as Poker, Blackjack, Roulette

and Craps. These are the games that with

some skill, some luck and a lot of risk

taking you can retire off your winnings.

The same can be said about life in

general. No one gets ahead in life from

playing it safe. You will not meet your

special someone if you are too afraid to

risk getting rejected by someone, you

will never get that big promotion unless

you take risks at your job.

It is very important to continue to take

risks in life. To stop taking risks means to

stand still in life. Standing still in life is

one of the main causes of depression.

These are usually the people afraid to

confront the boss and tell him that they

demand a raise; they are the ones that

allow life to pass them by out of fear. The

entire purpose of fear is to stop you from

taking a risk.

Fear is nothing more then the unknown.

If you have always wanted to quit your

job and open a shop but you are too

afraid to do it, this is because you are

afraid of failing and risking what you

already have.

It is important to learn to take risks in life

if you want to be happy, you may not

always get the things you risked for, but

you will know that you tried, and in the

end it does not matter in my opinion if

you succeed or not it is how many risks

you try to make that is the real test of

how successful you are.

Just remember if no one took risks we

would be a world without flight and

probably no automotive vehicles at all,

maybe we would have no electricity. So

risk truly is needed to improve the world.

Why we Need to Take

RisksTake

t does not matter if you are a Doctor, a

Lawyer or an infantry soldier in the

Army if you want to be the best and get

ahead, you will need to take risks.

A doctor may have to take risks when

working with a patient. The Doctor may have to

experiment with different forms of medications

or new surgical procedures when all else has

failed in an attempt to help the patient.

A lawyer may have to argue a case in an

unorthodox manner to win the case, but if the

lawyer wants to become the top lawyer and

make millions of dollars fighting high profile

cases lots of risks have to be taken.

I

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Delicious

Snacks For Kids

ids often shy away from preparing anything other than a

peanut butter and jelly sandwich because it's too difficult

and time-consuming. But there is a wide variety of

products available at the grocery store, like Tyson

refrigerated, fully-cooked chicken and steak strips, which simplify

the snack- and meal-making process for kids. The strips go from

package to plate in minutes-making it easy to prepare kid-favorite

snacks and meals such as pizza, tacos and pasta. These well-

balanced, do-it-yourself options are high in protein and have zero

grams trans fat, so parents can feel good about providing kids with a

wholesome alternative to help power them through their active

days.

With snack and meal ideas like these, children can come home and

reach for something other than the usual suspects-instead

preparing a delicious snack on their own. Who knows? Maybe they'll

even graduate to making family dinners.

1. Layer chips, cheese and chicken strips on a large, microwave-

safe plate.

2. Microwave on High for 30 to 45 seconds or until cheese melts.

Serve with pico de gallo, guacamole and sour

cream. Refrigerate leftovers.

1. Heat chicken strips and taco shells according to package

directions.

2. Fill shells with meat, cheese and lettuce.

Other toppings can include diced tomato,

salsa and sour cream. Refrigerate leftovers.

11/4 cups Tyson Southwest Seasoned Chicken Breast Strips

1 bag (10 oz.) tortilla chips

2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

Serving Suggestion:

1 package (6 oz.) Tyson Refrigerated Fajita Chicken Breast Strips

4 taco shells

1/2 cup shredded cheese

Shredded lettuce

Serving Suggestion:

Fiesta Chicken Nachos

Chicken Tacos Ole

Nearly seven million American children come home from schoolto an empty house, clamoring for a quick, appetizing snack only to

settle for junk food. But instead of reaching for the sweets during those coolafter-school days or hot summer nights, kids can put on the chef's hat and

prepare their own easy, tasty snacks that are just as satisfying.

K

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ll of us have that

guilty feeling from

time to time and yet

it is the most wasted

emotion of all. We

can't take back words

or actions, no matter

how hard we wish.

If you are a parent, this guilt seems to be

present even more. This useless feeling is a

universal phenomenon.

Why does this "guilt trip" seem to be an

expanding epidemic?

I believe the answer to that is (1) More

women work away from home (2)Single-

parenting is on the rise and (3) There are so

many books written on how to be a "good"

parent. The first two things I have

mentioned will sometimes keep you away

from the time you would be spending with

your child. I firmly believe in quality, not

quantity.

Now don't get me wrong. There are many

excellent books that have been written

regarding child-rearing. I'm sure they are

helpful. The point I am driving at is this;

there seems to be a lot of pressure to be a

"good parent." We certainly should all keep

trying but also, keep in mind that you have

your own inner voice that tells you what is

best for you and your child. What works for

Johnny may not necessarily work for Mary.

If in doubt, follow your heart!

Guess What? When you are not perfect, you

are letting your children know that you are

human. You are also teaching them to

forgive, as you forgive them.

Worried about being perfect? Think about

the person who reared you? Were they

perfect? Do you love them today?

Children can tell if they are truly loved. It is

not measured by how many hours are

spent with them or if you were tired that

day and lost your cool. It is certainly not

measured by how much money you can

spend on them.

Your child already knows that you are not

perfect. He or she also knows how much

you love them. You can't fool a child. They

are spirits like you and I. They are the most

honest people on this earth. (Remember

how they informed Aunt Edna that she had

a hair growing from her chin?)Believe me,

they are honest and will forgive your

mistakes. Please forgive yourself. No one

has ever been a perfect parent...not ever. If

you love yourself, you forgive yourself.

As Oscar Wilde, an Irish playwright and poet

wrote: (1843-1900)

If you love yourself and forgive yourself,

that is another lesson your child will pick up

from you. It's a win, win situation!

So, relax. Bask in the fullness of your

reciprocal love with your child.

Some day he/she may be telling a

story...."remember when Mom did.........."

"To love oneself is the beginning

of a lifelong romance"

A

The

Parent

NOT SOPERFECT

Your child already knows that you

are not perfect. He or she also

knows how much you love them.

You can't fool a child. They are

spirits like you and I.

Page 9: Urban Parenting Magazine March 2014

When You NeedParental Support

Every parent finds

themselves in need of help at

one point or another. As a

parent, where do you turn for

guidance? Use the following

suggestions to help you

determine your best source

of support and inspiration.

1. Get your hands on the best books.

Chances are good that regardless of what

you are now facing as a patent, someone

else has gone through it before and written

about it. Take advantage of the lessons they

have learned and study the methods of

dealing with the trials and tribulations of

parenting. Look for bestsellers and follow

authors who have a style and philosophy

that resembles your own.

2. Ask your family physician or pediatrician

for advice. Most doctors have children of

their own and have also been questioned

about every parenting issue under the sun.

Talk to your child's doctor about what is

going on and what your fears are, and ask

what they or others have done in similar

situations. Your doctor's office may also be

able to recommend helpful literature.

3. Seek advice from trusted friends or family

members. When something is going on in

your household, hiding it from others

doesn't solve anything, nor does it set a

good example of how to respond with your

kids. Talking openly can provide your family

with solutions and offer everyone an

outside opinion. Lean on family and friends

when you need help, and make a joint

effort to resolve the problem(s) your whole

family is facing.

4. Try online forums for parents like you.

There are many forums devoted to single

parents, both moms and dads, and all kinds

of other unique situations. There should be

pages upon pages of discussions you can

relate to. Introducing yourself and briefly

stating your dilemma should result in an

outpouring of advice, support and

otherwise friendly words. You can remain

completely anonymous or use your real

name and locale, depending on what suits

you.

5. Attend local meetings of moms and dads

with similar circumstances. Formal or

informal group therapy is an amazing

outlet for parents with problems. It can

provide you with a nurturing environment

that offers you a voice to unload your

frustrations and a place to relate to others.

Just hearing the stories of others will make

you feel at home, and you can give each

other advice or simply form lasting and

valuable friendships.

6. Learn to trust your instincts. There will be

many times when you alone must deal with

the family problems, so learning to depend

on your own instincts is a highly beneficial

parenting skill. Once you've got enough

knowledge and support under your belt,

dealing with problems that arise with your

children should get easier and you should

be able to do so with more confidence.

7. Keep an open line of communication

with your kids. No matter how many

external sources of support you lean on,

never stop listening and talking. What your

children have to say will always be

important, even if you don't agree with

them

Also, no matter how difficult things

become, they will always need your voice of

reason and to know that you love them.

Hopefully this article has given you plenty

of food for thought regarding your parental

problems. Don't be afraid to reach out and

seek support with others: you've got a

really tough job to do!

9www.urbanparentingmagazine.com U R B A N PA R E N T I N G

E

Finding Resources

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10 www.urbanparentingmagazine.comU R B A N PA R E N T I N G

tips to keep a

The buildup to the wedding is so exciting; making arrangements, laying out a plan

for your future lives together. But after the honeymoon ends, life begins. And

while you may have the most wonderful marriage, even the most devoted couple

is certain to find the married lifestyle to be at times, well let's say, less than

exciting. I mean let's face it, you love the other person, but spending all day with

the same individual makes for a lot of routine activities, that if you are not careful

can drag on your relationship and make you both feel unsatisfied with what is

otherwise a very loving relationship.

As a result, it is vital that couples not simply sit back in the belief that a marriage

will remain exciting merely on its own momentum. Rather, it is important that

spouses take some basic steps to infuse their relationships with a bit of

excitement.

You cannot have anything interesting to say if you spend every waking moment

doing and experiencing the same things. Having independent interests is not a

sign of a weak marriage, as some newlyweds believe, but rather a sign of its

strength. Having independent interests means that you have something unique

to bring to conversations, ensuring that you both always have something

interesting, and yes exciting, to say to one another.

While you were dating, planning the spontaneous event seemed rather innate.

But, as we grow comfortable in our relationships and more busy by life's

obligations, we have a tendency to rely upon the strength of our relationships and

in so doing fail to keep things spontaneous. So to mix things up; plan an

afternoon or evening event that is completely new. Try that show your spouse has

been dying to see, or visit that new restaurant that just opened up.

This is less a rule to keep things exciting, and more one to keep them sound. A

relationship can only grow and remain exciting if both parties are confident in

their commitment to one another. As a consequence, make it a rule between you

and your partner that you never threaten separation or divorce. Establish an

understanding that if you threaten separation, you should be heading out the

door to back it up. It is a harsh rule, but one that needs imposition if your

relationship is to survive the ups and downs which are a part of all marriages.

One sure-fire way to inject some romance into your marriage is to take a vacation

with just the two of you. But with the rigors of life and the costs of a trip, a full-

blown vacation can seem hard to justify. So instead opt for a one night local

vacation. Plan a dinner and evening out, and cap it off with a night in a hotel. The

expense isn't a lot considering the excitement that a trip, no matter how small,

can bring into a relationship.

The final tip to bring excitement into any relationship is to spice things up in the

bedroom. Your sex life has a strong correlation with the strength and satisfaction

of your relationship. So try exploring a new position or even a sexual fantasy or

adult toy with your partner, and in so doing share something intimate and bring

some excitement into your marriage.

1. Have Independent Interests

2. Spontaneous Events

3. Never threaten separation

4. Weekend Trips

5. Spice up the bedroom

5marriage exciting

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Fun AdventuresFor Children

n important part of parenting is

to offer your children as many

experiences as possible that will

help to develop his creative

processes, natural curiosity and

joy for life. One way to do this is to frequent

places where you and your child, or the

whole family, can learn about our world,

and enjoy the process. In this article, you

will find some great ways to enrich your

child's life through special outings.

Many people have not heard of, or

experienced the mystery and adventure of

visiting caves. Many areas around the

country have cave tours, or safe caves

where families can venture into the darker

recesses of the world, and learn about the

life within. Children love adventures, and

caves are a great way to mix that

excitement with education.

Museums are not just for old people! They

are wonderful places to learn about the

past, present and even the future. Try

taking your child to different types of

museums, and help him to read

information about the different exhibits

and art. There are many museums geared

specifically for children, like the human

body, dinosaurs, cars, toys and hobbies.

Afterward, it can be fun to discuss what was

learned that day, or what the favorite

exhibits were.

Visit places that have a historical

background. Children can have great fun, as

well as a valuable learning experience, from

places of historical value. Destinations, such

as the Lincoln Memorial, the Grand Canyon

and even Yellowstone National Park have a

lot of history behind them. You can book a

tour with a tour guide who may give a talk

about your destination, and recommend

sights that are fun to seel

If you are planning a vacation, try going

somewhere unlike the area you live in. If

you live in the country, go to a beach, and

learn about boats, fish and other things you

don't often see at home. If you live in the

Midwest, try venturing to a mountainous

area, such as the Olympic Mountains, for

hiking and just taking in the beauty and

majesty of a snowy mountain.

If you are looking for an educational

experience right at home, you can find

scores of movies and documentaries about

famous people and places to spark your

child's curiosity and appreciation for the

experiences of others. Some interesting

choices might be: war documentaries, if the

children are mature enough, inventors,

such as Henry Ford or the making of Mount

Rushmore. These movies are interesting, as

well as awe-inspiring.

Use games to encourage learning, as well as

offering an opportunity for a fun family

evening. Have a game night, and choose

educational games, such as memory

games, word games and building games.

These types of games are useful to spark a

child's memory, word skills and motor skills.

A plus is that they are great fun!

Hopefully, you can see through this article

that children learn from many different

experiences. The more you allow your child

to experience, the more his life will be

enriched, and he will make lifetime

memories. Use your imagination, and you

will see your child's imagination bloom as

you experience life together.

A

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To Sneak Some

Extra Fruits

And Vegetables In

Your Family’s Diet

10 Ways

We all know by now that we should be eating at least five servings of fruits

and vegetables each day. But knowing and doing are two different things,

aren't they? Sometimes it is just not easy to get them all in there. We are

constantly tempted to fill up on convenience and junk food. If your family is

anything like mine, they’d much rather fill up on a bag of chips or a bowl of

rice or pasta instead of trying an apple or a plate of steamed broccoli. So

we’ll have to get creative. Here are a few ideas to “sneak” some extra

vegetables and fruits in your family’s diet.

Start the day

Dried fruit makes

Add some fruits

Have a salad bar

Let them drink

with a breakfast

smoothie. All you have to do is

throw some fruits, low-fat

yogurt and ice in a blender. You

may also want to add a scoop of

protein powder in there for good measure.

Just blend for a few seconds and you have

the perfect breakfast ready to go. I like to

sip mine in a thermal cup on the way to

work. To make it even more appealing for

your kids, use some frozen yogurt or a

scoop of ice cream in the smoothie. They

won’t believe that you are letting them

have ice cream for breakfast.

an excellent

snack any time of the day. Add

some small cartons of raisins to

your child’s lunch box, pack some yogurt-

covered raisins in your husband’s briefcase

and keep some trail mix sitting around for

snacking. You can also add dried fruit to

oatmeal and cereal in the morning. My

family loves banana chips in their breakfast

cereal.

and vegetables

to your family’s sandwiches. You

can add some banana, sliced

apples or strawberry slices to a

peanut butter sandwich. Top a

turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato,

cucumber and anything else they will eat.

You can even make a sub shop style

vegetable sandwich by combining several

different vegetables with some mayonnaise

and cheese on bread.

at dinner. Set

out a variety of chopped

vegetables, some cheese and

croutons as well as several

choices of salad dressing along

with the lettuce and let everybody create

their own perfect salad.

their fruits and

vegetables. Keep an assortment

of fruit and vegetable juices in

the fridge and encourage

everyone to drink them as a

snack. Get creative. You could start “family

cocktail hour” by pouring everybody a glass

of his or her favorite juice over ice. Add

1

2

4

5

3

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some straws, cocktail umbrellas and sit

together to talk about how everybody’s day

went.

Put a small

scoop of ice cream or frozen

yogurt in a bowl and top it with

lots of fresh or frozen fruit.

vegetables as

snacks. You can cut apples into

slices and top them with peanut

butter or cheese. Cube cheese

and serve with grapes. Cut up

some fresh veggies and serve them with

ranch dip. And of course there’s ants on a

log. Spread some cream cheese or peanut

butter on the inside of a stick of celery and

sprinkle raisins on it (wow, fruit and

vegetable in one snack).

fruits and

vegetables. Pick something

exotic to get your family’s

curiosity. With a little luck their

curiosity will outweigh their

initial apprehension to trying something

new. You could try artichokes, plantains,

papaya, mango, star fruit, or anything else

you can find in the produce department of

your local store.

of vegetable soup

or a stew that’s heavy on

veggies and easy on the meat.

Both of these make some great

comfort food when the weather gets cold.

Each

family member gets to pick a

vegetable one day of the week.

They qualify to pick a vegetable

as long as they tried each

vegetable the week before, otherwise they

loose a turn and Mom gets to pick.

Incorporate a few of these ideas and you

will have everyone in your family eating

more fruits and vegetables in no time.

Now that everyone in the family has gotten

a taste for it, make sure you always have

plenty of fresh fruits and veggies available

and ready to snack on.

Try this for dessert.

Offer fruits and

Try some new

Make a pot

Start “My Veggie Day”.

Here is another tip:

6

7

8

9

10

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For Age-defying Beauty!1) Goji Berries

2) Aloe Vera

Goji berries, hollywoods hottest new food,

are one of the most nutritionally dense

foods on earth and house a staggering

concentration of vitamins, minerals, amino

acids, phytochemicals and essential fatty

acids. With such an awesome constitution it

is not surprising they are reputed anti-

aging marvels. Originating in Tibet and

greatly favoured in traditional medicine

these dried berries have many noted health

benefits including boosting immunity,

lowering cholesterol, enhancing vision,

fighting cancer cells, relieving depression

and aiding weight loss.

Goji berries contain 500 times more vitamin

C than oranges by weight and more beta-

carotene than carrots making them a

superb source of vitamin A. Together with

vitamin E and essential fatty acids, these

berries are ideal for any anti-aging and

beauty regime. They also contain

polysaccharides, one of which has been

found to stimulate the secretion of the

rejuvenating human growth hormone by

the pituitary gland, as well as B vitamins, 21

minerals and 18 amino acids.

The most well documented case of

longevity is that of Li Qing Yuen, who lived

to the age of 252. Born in 1678, he is said to

have married 14 times with 11 generations

of posterity before his death in 1930. Li

Qing Yuen reportedly consumed goji

berries daily.

A study cited in Dr. Mindell's book "Goji: The

Himalayan Health Secret", observed that 67

per cent of elderly people that were given a

daily dose of the berries for 3 weeks

experienced dramatic immune system

enhancement and a significant

improvement in spirit and optimism.

Foget botox, Aloe vera increases collagen

production 100% naturally for a youthful,

wrinkle-free complexion and plump,

beautiful skin. The ultimate botox

alternative!

The inner gel of the aloe vera leaf contains

around 200 active compounds with over 75

nutrients. These include 20 minerals, 18

amino acids and 12 vitamins (even vitamin

B12- one of the very few plant sources of

this vitamin). Aloe vera also has anti-

microbial properties fighting fungi and

bacteria and houses anti-inflammatory

plant steroids and enzymes. Aloe vera is

known to aid digestion and elimination,

boost the immune system, and be highly

effective at healing, moisturizing and

rejuvianting the skin, naturally stimulating

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the production of collagen.

Aloe vera is best eaten fresh when possible

(you can order large aloe vera leaves which

last a few weeks refridgerated). Scrape out

the inside gel, avoiding the outside of the

leaf which is a strong laxative, and blend

with fruit for the ultimate beautifying

smoothie. Aloe vera has a mild flavour

though a slight bitter edge, hence is best

combined with fruit.

Avocados are smoothing and softening for

the skin and easily absorbed; compared

with almond, corn, olive, and soybean oils,

avocado oil has the highest skin

penetration rate. Avocado also contains

vitamin E (excellent for the skin),

antioxidant carotenoids and the master

antioxidant glutathione that is

exceptionally powerful and has anti-

carcinogenic potential. High levels of

glutathione are found in the liver where the

elimination of toxic materials takes place.

Glutathione is effective against pollutants

such as cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes

as well as ultra-violet radiation. Research is

currently exploring the potential benefits of

glutathione for numerous conditions

including cancer, heart disease, memory

loss, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, eczema,

liver disorders, heavy metal poisoning and

AIDS.

The nucleic acids RNA and DNA in Chlorella

(one of the highest known sources of such)

direct cellular growth and repair and enable

our bodies to utilize nutrients more

effectively, eliminate toxins and avoid

disease. The production of nucleic acids in

the body declines progressively as we age,

which is no doubt why their intake is

recommended by Dr. Benjamin Frank in

"The No-Aging Diet". Paul Pitchford in

"Healing With Whole Foods" writes that

"insufficient nucleic acid causes premature

aging as well as weakened immunity",

Research at the Medical College of

Kanazawa in Japan found that mice that

were fed chlorella had a 30 per cent

increase in life span. Replenishing RNA and

DNA can be key to overall health, immunity

and longevity.

In addition to nucleic acids, chlorella is jam-

packed with vitamins, minerals,

antioxidants, enzymes and amino acids,

making it an incredibly rejuvinating and

health-promoting superfood. Spirulina is a

virtuous equivalent.

When it comes to young and beautiful skin,

bee pollen has outstanding gifts. Swedish

dermatologist Dr. Lars-Erik Essen uses bee

pollen to successfully treat acne and other

skin conditions and observes it's

beautifying and anti-aging effects. He

reports that bee pollen "seems to prevent

premature aging of the cells and stimulates

growth of new skin tissue. It offers effective

protection against dehydration and injects

new life into dry cells. It smoothes away

wrinkles and stimulates a life-giving blood

supply to all skin cells." He believes it's skin

rejuvintoin properties are due to its high

concentration of nucleic acids RNA and

DNA, as well as its natural antibiotic action.

Bee pollen has a host of other health-

promoting benefits that include fighting

infections, lowering cholesterol,

strengthening the blood, Boosting the

immune system, increasing physical

strength and stamina, aiding longevity and

enhancing libido! It has been called a

'prefect food' because it is so nutritionally

complete.

Coconut oil speeds up your metabolism

and can actually help you loose weight. It is

also incredibly beautifying and

moisturizing for the skin and has

antioxidant properties which protect

against free-radical damage, keeping the

skin youthful and healthy. Taken internally

or externally coconut oil is a great ally for

any beauty skin care regime. It also contains

lauric acid, an anti-microbial fatty acid that

kills bacteria, viruses and fungi.

3) Avocados

4) Chlorella

5) Bee pollen

6) Coconut oil

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THE 8 REASONS WHY YOU HAVEN’T FOUND YOUR

SINGLE MOM

Mr. Right!he statistics, in this case, don’t

lie. By the age of 50, 27.6% of

women are still single. That’s

more than 1 in 4.

Some of them of course, are not interested

in finding a man as a life long partner and if

they’re genuinely happy, that’s fine.

Although it does need to be a genuine wish

to stay single, not a once held desire to be

partnered now lost. You’ll learn more about

that below.

But you’re reading this, so I suspect you are

interested in finding your Mr. Right. So

you’ll need to know which of the following

8 reasons is stopping you finding him. Of

course it could be more than just 1 of these

reasons.

Whichever apply to you (or even if your

reason isn’t identified here), they all have

the same effect. If you continue to hold

these reasons dear to your heart, you will

not find your Mr. Right. Harsh I know. But

you’ll understand why by the end of this

article.

However, if you are prepared to tackle the

issue, then you really can find your Mr.

Right.

So what are the top 8 reasons why you

haven’t yet find your Mr. Right?

Some women keep this reason so well

hidden within themselves that they don’t

even realize that’s their reason. Maybe it’s

years since you split up with this partner,

but you felt so hurt, so damaged by the

break up that you just can’t bear to put

yourself through it again. As a result you

aren’t out actively looking for, or getting,

dates on a regular basis.

“Who would love me? I’m not attractive. No

one would want to go out with me.”That’s

the kind of things you say to yourself if you

don’t have the self-esteem you need to go

out and get the relationship you genuinely

deserve.

There are a whole host of reasons why you

may not have the esteem ñ but the

important thing is that the belief that you’re

not worthy of a loving, caring partner is a

serious block- which you can address.

This belief is commonly rooted in the first

reason I talked about above; being burnt in

the past. But there are other reasons. It

could be that your standards are

unattainably high sometimes you set them

that high to protect yourself from being

hurt again or from being rejected. Yes, it is

possible that you genuinely can’t find

suitable men, but there are millions out

there, it’s rarely solely to do with looking in

the wrong places.

If you rise before the sun and you’re too

exhausted when you return from work, it’s

understandable that you don’t have time to

go out and socialize. But just how

important is it for you to find a life long

partner? If it really isn’t that important,

don’t worry about it, just keep going at

your career.

1. You’ve been burnt in

the past by relationships

and it’s just too painful to

go out and look for

another.

2. Your self-esteem is low.

3. There aren’t any decent

men out there.

4. I just don’t have time.

t

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By the age of

50, 27.6% of

women are

still single.

That’s more

than 1 in 4.

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20 www.urbanparentingmagazine.comU R B A N PA R E N T I N G

However, if you still have that niggling

feeling that you really do want to find him,

you must change your routine to free up

time to go out looking for and going on

dates.

If you haven’t managed to put those

changes in place within a month, there’s a

bigger, hidden, secondary reason why

you’re not making the time for it.

Surely it’s one of our biggest fears that

we’re not loveable. If you put yourself out

there and nobody wants to be with you,

isn’t that what’s being said? So by not

putting yourself out there to be rejected,

you don’t run the risk of learning that

message. In other words, by not taking

action to find Mr. Right you can never be

said to be un-loveable because you haven’t

really tried.

The reality of course is that you are

loveable. By the way, you may have spotted

that this reason is very closely tied to self-

esteem again.

Maybe you don’t like pubs and clubs &

smoky atmospheres and drunken sleazes

trying to chat you up. And what if you don’t

like internet dating either? Lots of time

wasters, losers and geeks. I always tell my

clients that dating is a numbers game. If

you’re chopping out all the high number

options then you’re definitely making it a

whole lot more difficult for yourself.

There are alternatives, just as long as you’re

prepared to invest more time in plowing

through the numbers. And yes, you will

always come across men you see as losers,

geeks or sleazy wherever you go. That’s why

it always helps to have a clear picture of

who you’re planning on meeting ñ because

when you’ve had another fruitless night of

dating, you can always comfort yourself

with the clear picture in your mind of your

future Mr. Right.

It will happen naturally. Won’t it? Well how’s

that strategy worked for you so far? If

you’ve been waiting to find him “naturally”

for the last 10 years, how many more

decades do you want to try this as a

method?

Searching for him doesn’t mean you’re

desperate or that you’re breaking some

hidden female rule. It simply means you get

a lot more guys to pick from and you’re

much more likely to find someone who’ll be

perfect for you.

There’s a lot of historical social proof to

suggest that your knight should just come

riding in on his white horse. But I’ve got

news for you ñ the horse went out as a

means of transport in the 19th century!

“I just haven’t found him yet & it’s just a

case of waiting for the right man to come

along.”

There’s a statistic published by one of the

dating agencies at the moment that it takes

432 introductions to find your partner. Well

you’ve already met more than 432 people

in your life. There’s something you’re doing

or something you believe that is affecting

your ability to attract your Mr. Right. If you

don’t change it, you won’t find him. Not

because he isn’t out there, but because

your actions keep him away from you. You

may not know what it is that you’re doing,

but be reassured that you can change it if

you a) work out what it is, and b) decide

that you are committed to changing it.

So those are the 8 top reasons. There are

more. But they all have one thing in

common. They are beliefs that affect your

ability to attract the right man. If you really

want to find your Mr. Right all you need to

do is work out which ones are preventing

you finding him and take action to change

them.

What’s preventing you?

5. You’re concerned

there’s something wrong

with you.

6. You don’t like the

dating scene.

7. You don’t believe you

need to actively search for

him.

8. You don’t believe you

can significantly affect the

likelihood of finding your

Mr. Right.

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22 www.urbanparentingmagazine.comU R B A N PA R E N T I N G

Is Your Child

“Good forNothing”?

don’t believe in good for nothing.

I was walking down the aisle of a

large supermarket when I heard a

mother hissing to her crying child,

“Good for nothing! Nothing! You

better stop this now or I will leave

you with the police man”. Not that I am

angel when it comes to being a parent to

my kids. Sometimes, I falter too and I will

yell and shout and throw a massive, scary

temper and my kids would cower in fright

thinking that their mom was going crazy.

Hey, I am human, ain’t I?

But I would never call my kids stupid or

good for nothing.

For one thing, I sincerely believe that

education is important ñ but it’s not

everything. We, as parents, have to carry

this grave responsibility of providing our

children with education. Not only do we

have to fund it, we have to ensure that they

learn whatever they can learn from the

education system so that they can benefit

from it later on in life. Knowledge is a

funnel. A funnel whereby information can

flow into and train a mind to think and

react in a certain knowledgeable way. It’s

important.

But frankly, I don’t think it’s everything.

What’s more important to us, parents, is the

listening skill, not directing or bossing skill.

We need to learn how to take cues from our

kids, open up gates and doors and let them

explore and watch them. Watch how they

are taking in the vast opportunities that are

being presented to them. Do they like it?

Are they interested? Is this their calling? Is

this their gift? This is what goes through my

mind whenever I introduce something new

to my kids. We, parents, should not try to

force something (ANYTHING) on to our kids.

As much as I hate being forced to do

something (I quit the banking world for a

reason, didn’t I?), I won’t force my kids to do

something that they don’t like. Of course,

there are things that they HAVE to do (like

homework, cleaning up, showering, good

manners, etc), I also have to bear the

responsibility of ensuring that they are well

disciplined and yet free to explore the

world. But in other respects non-related to

their safety and general well-being, force is

not my style.

I believe we all know of geniuses

who have made it far beyond

our human comprehension.

People who we, today, claim

as geniuses were called

“buffoons” in their early

days. Let’s take Albert

Einstein as an example.

His teacher thought he

was a complete loser and

yet today, the world think

and knows FOR A FACT

that he is and was a

genius. Even in death,

he made a difference

not only in his own

life- but to the

rest of the world

too.

While we

should not

expect

our child to be Einstein or paint like Da

Vinci, we should always be on a lookout for

their gift.

Everyone has a gift, God is fair. One person

may fare well in math while the other did

terribly. But if you look close

enough, you’ll see that the

second child who can’t

count for nuts can

paint like no

one else! No

one is

bor

Listening to their cues

Even the worst kid in

school can do well

The gift-everyone has oneI

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n without a gift, which is what I believe.

Some people have multiple gifts and are

multi-talented in nature but no one in this

world is without one.

Parents should set out to find out the gift of

their child. It could be anything! ANYTHING!

Like Don who loves cleaning out closets and

is meticulous in arranging stuff ñ he’s a good

accountant today. Like Gina who loves to

play in the playground instead of doing her

homework, she’s one of the most popular

kids’ football team coaches in her country

today. And Simon who was so weak in math

that his mother almost told him to leave the

house and never come back, he’s a

professor in Philosophy today.

No one is good for

nothing. Even trees

or

worms are good for something. Trees give

us oxygen and some serve as food. Worms

digs holes in the ground and helps trees

grow. Even bacteria are good at something.

Bacteria can actually benefit our health.

What about mud? Think mud pack?

Everything is good for something. Why not

your child? Your job, as a parent, is to find

that “good”, find that talent. And perhaps,

maybe it’s got nothing to do with

education.

Think about it

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Reasons

7Why You

Should Be Using

Coconut Oilt is a common misconception that coconut

oil is bad for you. People all over the world

are experiencing the healthy benefits of

using coconut oil. It is actually one of the

healthiest oils you can consume. Here are the

top seven reasons why you should use

coconut oil as an alternative to other

common cooking oils.

Unlike many other common oils, like soy (vegetable)

and corn, coconut oil won't make you fat. Coconut oil

contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which

are an easy fuel for the body to burn, without turning

to fat. Most other cooking oils and fats contain long-

chain triglycerides (LCT). LCT's are usually stored as

fat. Since coconut oil is a MCT, it is more easily

absorbed and converted to energy quicker.

1. Coconut oil doesn't turn

to fat in your body.

I

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People in the tropics have relied on

coconuts as a traditional staple in their diet

for centuries. They consume large amounts

of coconut oil every day. Instead of getting

fatter, it helps them stay healthy, lean and

trim. When they switch from coconut oil to

our modern oils, they develop obesity and

the health problems that our modern

society faces.

Some other people who have known this

truth for a long time are people who are in

the animal feed business. When livestock

are fed vegetable oils, they put on weight

and produce more fatty meat. When they

are fed coconut oil, they become very lean.

Not only does coconut oil convert to

energy quicker in your body, it increases

your metabolism, which promotes weight

loss. Because it boosts your metabolism, it

helps your body burn fat more effectively.

Coconut oil may triple your calorie burn.

Since coconut oil is a MCT, it is converted to

energy so quickly that it creates a lot of

heat. In a study published in the American

Journal of Clinical Nutrition, MCT's burn

three times more calories for six hours after

a meal than LCT's.

The February 15, 2005 issue of Woman's

World magazine stated that coconut oil is

the "underground high-metabolism secret."

This is great news for people who have

thyroid problems, since coconut oil

improves sluggish thyroids by stimulating

the production of extra thyroid hormones.

Most other common oils, like vegetable

(soy) and corn have been shown to inhibit

thyroid function.

Most cooking oils contain omega 6 fatty

acids, something we get way too much of

in the United States. Our omega 6 to omega

3 ratio should be 1:1 but it is more like 50:1.

We need to drastically cut back our omega

6 oils and consume much more omega 3

oils to be healthy. And coconut oil is filled

with these healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

Because of the healthy omega 3 fatty acids

and the fact that it increases the

metabolism, most people that switch to

coconut oil feel a burst of added energy in

their daily life.

This is because coconut oil is natureís

richest source of medium-chain

triglycerides (MCT's), which increase

metabolic rates and lead to weight loss.

MCT's promote thermogenesis, which

increases the body's metabolism,

producing energy.

This is because coconut oil is natureís

richest source of medium-chain

triglycerides (MCT's), which increase

metabolic rates and lead to weight loss.

MCT's promote thermogenesis, which

increases the body's metabolism,

producing energy. Many people with

chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

have found that adding coconut and

coconut oil to their diet was helpful to

them.

Coconut oil one of the best things you can

apply directly on your skin and hair. It gives

temporary relief to skin problems like

rashes. It aids in healing and restoring skin

to a younger appearance. It has also been

known to help with people who suffer from

yeast infections in the skin, as well as many

other skin problems.

Not only does is soften and smooth your

skin, coconut oil has antioxidant properties

that protect the skin from free radical

damage. Coconut oil makes excellent

massage oil too.

Evidence is mounting that coconut oil has

anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral

effects when both consumed and used

topically on the skin.

Most oils oxidize and turn rancid very

quickly causing free radical damage in our

bodies. Coconut oil is not easily oxidized

and does not cause harmful free radical

damage like polyunsaturated vegetable

oils. Free radical damage is thought to be

responsible for many ailments in our body

from arthritis to increased susceptibility to

cancers.

Coconut oil also helps our bodies absorb

other nutrients more effectively, such as

Vitamin E.

It has a higher smoke point than olive oil,

which means it can take higher

temperatures better. There are several

healthy omega 3 oils we can choose to

consume, such as flax and olive oil, but they

don't do well under the high heat we use

for cooking. Coconut oil can be used in

higher cooking temperatures.

It is harder for coconut oil to go rancid,

unlike other cooking oils, which are usually

rancid long before you even bring them

home. Rancid oils cause free radical

damage in the body, which is a leading

cause of cancer. Coconut oil is stable for

over a year at room temperature.

Because of the misinformation we have

been given for years, we have lost out on

the healthy benefits that coconut oil has

given the people of the tropics for

centuries. But now it has been

rediscovered! Coconut oil is so effective, it

won't be long before we see coconut oil

supplements promoted, but you can get

the jump on the popular crowd and start

consuming and cooking with coconut oil

today!

2. Coconut oil

increases your

metabolism.

3. Coconut oil has

omega 3 fatty acids.

4. Coconut oil gives

you energy.

5. One of the best

things you can use on

your skin and hair is

coconut oil.

6. Coconut oil has

healthy benefits that

most other oils do

not.

7. Coconut oil is one

of the best oils you

can use for cooking.

Coconut oil

improves

sluggish

thyroids by

stimulating

the

production of

extra thyroid

hormones.

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