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“Can we get our dog used to our baby?”
An older child is not the only one whose nose may be out of joint when you bring your new baby home. Your pet will need help getting used to the new arrival as well. To ease the transition, leave your dog with a
neighbor or friend for the first week or ask someone to take the dog for walks. Once you introduce your dog and new baby, spend time with both of them in the same room, keeping the dog on a leash. Never leave your dog alone with your baby at first. Give your dog praise and attention. Once your dog is comfortable with the new baby, you should still keep an eye on interactions between your dog and child. As your child grows older, keep him or her from crawling into your dog’s sleeping and eating areas.
“Should I drink water or a sports drink when I exercise?”
It all depends on how long and how hard you exercise. If you work out vigorously or continuously for 60 minutes or more, a sports drink is a good choice. These drinks contain carbohydrates
(sugar) and electrolytes (sodium and potassium). Carbohydrates help prevent fatigue, while electrolytes help maintain your fluid balance. For a moderate workout that lasts less than an hour, you don’t need the extra sugar and sodium, so drinking water is fine.
No matter how long you exercise, you need to drink plenty of fluid before, during, and after a workout to stay hydrated.
“Is eating fish really good for my heart?”
It may be. In fact, the American Heart Association has recently released new dietary guidelines that recommend eating at least two three-ounce servings of fish every week. Most fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which may help lower triglyceride (a type of fat) levels in your blood. Fish oil may reduce the risk of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and sudden-death heart attacks.
Fattier fish such as mackerel, herring, and salmon contain higher levels of omega-3s, while tuna, halibut, and bluefish have smaller amounts. No matter what type of fish you eat, be sure to prepare it without extra fat.
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