Happy New Year 2011

     Worryfather would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year 2011.
Wish for a healthier and happier years ahead!

     Set your resolution and do your best! Happy New Year!


Please choose your fish carefully!

     Parents in Asia like to provide fish for their children's meal.

     Fish, especially salt water fish, is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which is heart-friendly.
Fish is also rich in DHA which boost children's brain, and less in fats and cholestrol.
Most believe that Japanese and Nordic have high life expectancy are due to their consumption of fish and fresh seafood.

     Due to industralization and urbanization, some of our seas have been polluted. Thus, fish living in the polluted sea will carry and accumulate the toxins/metals. One of most common metal found in fish is Mercury. The presence of Mercury is harmful for pregnant ladies, nursing mother and children. Mercury will accumulate in our body if constantly taking fish contaminated with mercury.
If reach a high level, mercury will acts as a neurotoxin, interfering with the brain and nervous system. It might also affect the development of feotus in pregnant lady.

     So, what are the fishes that have highest mercury level?
The NRDC compiled a list of fish and their level of mercury

LOWER MERCURY
Akagai (ark shell)
Anago (conger eel)
Aoyagi (round clam)
Awabi (abalone)
Ayu (sweetfish)
Ebi (shrimp)
Hamaguri (clam)
Hamo (pike conger; sea eel)
Hatahata (sandfish)
Himo (ark shell)
Hokkigai (surf clam)
Hotategai (scallop)
Ika (squid)
Ikura (salmon roe)
Kaibashira (shellfish)
Kani (crab)
Karei (flatfish)
Kohada (gizzard shad)
Masago (smelt egg)
Masu (trout)
Mirugai (surf clam)
Sake (salmon)
Sayori (halfbeak)
Shako (mantis shrimp)
Tai (sea bream)
Tairagai (razor-shell clam)
Tako (octopus)
Tobikko (flying fish egg)
Torigai (cockle)
Tsubugai (shellfish)
Unagi (freshwater eel)
Uni (sea urchin roe)

HIGH MERCURY

Ahi (yellowfin tuna)
Aji (horse mackerel)
Buri (adult yellowtail)
Hamachi (young yellowtail)
Inada (very young yellowtail)
Kanpachi (very young yellowtail)
Katsuo (bonito)
Kajiki (swordfish)
Maguro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
Makjiki (blue marlin)
Meji (young bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
Saba (mackerel)
Sawara (Spanish mackerel)
Seigo (young sea bass)
Shiro (albacore tuna)
Suzuki (sea bass)
Toro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)

 source: NRDC - http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/sushi.asp

Please choose your fish carefully.

Category: 2 comments

Rectal Prolapse?

     Rectal Prolapse. What is that?

     Yes. When the first time I heard about it, that's the same question I asked.
Why am I asking that? My daughter had this problem.

     According to wikipedia, Rectal Prolapse is a medical condition wherein the walls of the rectum protrude through the anus and hence become visible outside the body. Sounds scary right?
When it happens to our daughter and we had no idea what's that, we were freaked out!
    
     My daughter has her 1st prolapse a few months ago. That time, it came out and went in very fast when my wife saw it. We didn't really wory about it.

     A few weeks later, it happened again. My daughter refused to stand up from potty. We felt something amiss. We lifted her up from potty, and saw the prolapse. She thought the 'something' was her stool. We were traumatized, as we do not know what was it and why keep happening. I was carrying my daughter and wanted to put her down on the bed. My daughter kept crying and refused to lie down. After half an hour of carrying and coaxing, the prolapse went it. Immediately we went to consult our family doctor. The doctor wrote a referral letter for us to consult specialist.
 
    We went to consult Paed Surgeon, that's when we first heard about rectal prolapse. He said it was due to constipation. But our daughter pass motion everyday. He pointed out that she has hard stool. Hard stool causes her to strain when there is bowel movement. After straining too much, rectum become loose and prolapse happens. He prescribed Fybogel (fibre) and Lactus (laxation).
We suspected it was her formula milk that cause hard stool. We switched to fresh milk.

   The following week, it became worse!

The prolapse lasted for one hour before went in, as we didn't know how to reduce it. And subsequently, it happens daily!! We went to consult another Paed surgeon. He also didn't give us any concrete solution, except reassured us that it is nothing major and it is curable by solving the hard stool.

   We still worry...

We searched high and low for information and worry why our daughter has such uncommon problem.
Read a lot of medical articles about it. We suspect it was due to cow's milk. Formula milk contains cow's milk too.  Although formula milk has a lot of nutrients, but it doesn't contain fibre. It might cause constipation!

We decided to stop fresh milk and reduce my daughter formula milk intake as well. Give her a lot of food rich in fibre. It helps. At least it didn't happen for the past few weeks.

    As it is an uncommon medical condition, there are limited information about it. Do take care of your kid's constipation problem and give them food rich in fibre. Prepare a healthy diet for your kids. 


50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School..

50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School: Real-World Antidotes to Feel-Good Education     Today I would like to share an interesting book, 50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School: Real-World Antidotes to Feel-Good Education.
     I first came across someone talking about this book in a forum and I find some the rules are very useful for the kids and even for adults.
     My favourite rule is
          #1 Life is not fair. Get used to it.
According to the book, it is said that the average teenager uses this phrase "It's not fair" 8.6 times a day. I guess most parents are tired of hearing it from their kids. And I believe some of the parents themselves also complain about it. It is so true that, we can't control the unfairness of the world. What we need to teach our kids is that, What they can control is the way you react. Some kids are born with silverspoon, some are born with talents while some are born to be normal. The kids have to learn to accept it and cherish what they have.
   In fact, most of the rules are so true, and are very useful for the parents and the kids.
          #2 The real world won't care as much as your school does about your self-esteem. It will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

         #5 No matter what your daddy says, you are not a princess....

        #17 Your parents weren't as boring before you were born as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, driving you around, saving for your education, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. 
        
       I feel the rules though quite cruel, but it is so true. If the parents keep protecting their kids and treat them like prince/princess, it is very difficult for them to grow up and independent.
What do you think?

Is Facebook compromising your kids privacy?

     Facebook is Evil..


Facebook logo      Yes. I am talking about the social networking site which most of us use. A report in Wall Street Journal found that the phenomenal amount of personal information shared by Facebook members might be sold extensively to marketers, advertisers and data collectors.
       It is estimated there are 500 millions users in Facebook. And there are hundred thousands of applications in Facebook. When you connect to any of the application, you agreed to share your information with them. I am sure many of us are familiar with FarmVille, Pet Society, Bejeweled, Mafia War, etc. These are some of the most popular games in Facebook. Once you connect to those apps, your personal IDs and profile will be shared to them.


     I also got a shock when I went to one of the website. I just need to supply some basic information without password, I can see whatever I have posted in Facebook - photos, status, comments,.. I still wonder how on earth that website able to get such information.

     When you put your photo, your profile, personal information on the internet, you will need to bear the risk of exposing your privacy. Although it is the website or company's responsibility to protect your privacy, you yourself have to be careful as well.

     Most of the kids nowadays have accounts in multiple social networking websites like Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, etc. It is worrying that their privacy might be compromised. Kids might unknowingly exposed their identity to strangers. So, as parents, I guess it is important to guide your kids.


Some of the tips that you can advice your kids:
     1. Do not post your latest status too clearly or the things you going to do, e.g. "Going to watch movie at Cineleisure tomorrow".
      2. Do not know actual name or spell your name in full.
      3. Do not 'connect' to unknown apps in Facebook.
      4. Remove/Delete the apps if you are not using anymore.
      5. Try to befriend with your kids in Facebook. This will help you to know what have they posted or how frequent they use Facebook.

     As a parents, you will have monitor, guide and protect your kids and their privacy. If you have any tips, feel free to share.