About 70 million Americans experience sleep problems ranging from chronic sleep disorders to sporadic sleep troubles. Studies show that just one night of insufficient sleep can affect memory, productivity, and even the ability y to carry on a regular conversation. As a writer, researcher, and humanitarian, with several radio interviews a week, I can’t afford to not be at my mental peak, and chances are you can’t either. Long-term sleep deprivation can have serious effects such as higher risk for high blood pressure, depression, heart attack, decreased immunity, obesity, and diabetes. As you can see, getting enough sleep should be as much a part of your health regimen as eating well and exercising are!

Tina Turbin

Tina Turbin

I am really thrilled to share this good news. My children’s book on DVD with sign interpretation, Danny the Dragon has made a PR headliner on the ever popular and important, Deafness Research Foundation site:

http://www.drf.org/news/133/Widely-Acclaimed,+Award-Winning+Children’s+Author+Produces+DVD+for+the+Deaf+

Tina Turbin www.glutenfreehelp.info

While it has been known that pesticides used for our food and vegetable supply pose a variety of health risks, the fact that these same pesticides are linked to so-called ADHD in children is a truth that every parent needs to know about.

Click here to read the full article.  Afterwards, browse through this section of  my website for MANY helpful tips, resources and information to improve your family’s and your children’s quality of life.

I hope the above information helps you. 

Tina Turbin

Tina Turbin

Another important aspect of diet is increasing your daily intake of protein. Many women don’t get enough of this nutrient. Protein keeps you energized by sustaining your blood sugar level much longer than carbohydrate-packed foods. It also stimulates dopamine production, a neurotransmitter that keeps you more alert, and keeps your energy up by raising your metabolic rate. Cut out carbohydrate-packed snacks and replace them with healthy proteins like walnuts, almonds, cheese, etc.

Drinking enough water is also an essential way to keep your energy up. Some people often mistake signs of dehydration for fatigue. Your cells need water in order to function at their optimum level, and coffee or diet soda isn’t going to cut it. Tea is often a good idea, but I recommend keeping a water bottle with you and sipping from it all day. You should aim for eight glasses of water daily.

Tina Turbin

     Get started on a high-energy lifestyle with changes to your diet. First of all, eat a real breakfast in the morning packed with protein! You may think you’re saving time by skimping on breakfast or you’ll insist that you’re not that hungry in the mornings, but I’m telling you that if you’re missing out on this meal, you’re missing out for the rest of the day on valuable energy. 

     Another important aspect of diet is increasing your daily intake of protein. Many women don’t get enough of this nutrient. Protein keeps you energized by sustaining your blood sugar level much longer than carbohydrate-packed foods. It also stimulates dopamine production, a neurotransmitter that keeps you more alert, and keeps your energy up by raising your metabolic rate.

    Drinking enough water is also an essential way to keep your energy up. Some people often mistake signs of dehydration for fatigue. Your cells need water in order to function at their optimum level, and coffee or diet soda isn’t going to cut it. You should aim for eight glasses of water daily.

     With these tips, you should be enjoying higher energy levels in no time as well as quite a few other benefits!

Tina Turbin

Tina Turbin

Booklist, Issue: April 15th 2010

Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy.

Apr 2010. Victory, DVD

In this presentation of author Tina Turbin’s picture book, Carol Downing interprets the story in sign language while Janis Welch reads the text. Jimmy finds a large green shell at the beach. When the youngster lifts the shell, he hears voices coming from inside the vessel. After Jimmy takes the shell home, two creatures, Danny the Dragon and Skipper, emerge. The brightly colored illustrations depict Jimmy and his family as they serve dinner, play catch in the yard with friends, and finally settle down for the night.

Instead of utilizing animation, the film merely displays the book pages. But what sets the program apart is Downing’s signing, making the charming story accessible to both hearing and deaf children. See also ASL Tales: The Princess and the Pea (2009), featuring performance artist Pinky Aiello telling a nontraditional version of the familiar tale in American Sign Language.

— Candace Smith

Gluten is actually not the real problem for celiacs – it is the ‘prolamin’ portion of the molecules in specific grains. This is “the toxic component” of the gluten molecule lies in the prolamin portion.

In wheat this portion is called gliadin. It comprises approximately 40 – 50% of the protein. In rye this portion is called secalin. It comprises approximately 30 – 40% of the protein. In barley this portion is called hordein. It comprises approximately 35 – 45% of the protein. In oats this portion is called avenin. It comprises approximately 10 – 15% of the protein.

Yes, there are prolamins in rice, corn and other foods but these do not contain the toxic tetrapeptide(s) which are stated responsible culprits for the villous damage and rash” experienced by celiacs and people with ‘gluten’ sensitivities.

Once gluten enters the digestive tract, gluten breaks down into peptide chains in a similar fashion to other protein sources; however the resulting gluten-related peptide chain length is considerably longer than for other proteins. These longer peptides are part of the reason that immune response triggers occur and cause celiac disease. Celiac are not the only people who chose to avoid gluten. Some of the disease that also benefit from a gluten free diet are: irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, dermatitis herpetiformis (autism) and those with ulcerative colitis.

For anyone new to a gluten free diet, it is worth mentioning that there is an increasing number of ‘health food’ products with gluten so read your ingredients always!

Tina Turbin

      Studies show that overweight women are more likely to develop serious health risks such as heart disease, cancers, and stroke. By using up oxygen and causing the body to burn stored fat, exercise can help you maintain a normal weight. If you go for a four-mile walk four times a way, you’ll burn about 1,600 calories—about half a pound a week. After a year, this amounts to a loss of twelve pounds—twenty-four pounds after a year! Studies estimate that for each pound of muscle you add to your body, you will burn an additional thirty-five to fifty calories per day; an extra five pounds of muscle will burn about 175-250 calories a day, or an extra pound of fat every two to three weeks.

     Another healthy benefit of regular exercise is stronger bones. Regular, moderate exercise, in particular weight-bearing exercises, increases bone mass, making bones stronger and making you less likely to develop osteoporosis and arthritis and suffer debilitating accidents such as falling as you age.

     Finally, exercise can also help women deal with stress better and improve their mood. Studies show that regular exercise reduces the release of stress hormones and it produces chemical changes which affect your mood, reducing symptoms of depression and other psychological disorders. Research suggests that lower stress levels and a happier mood boosts immune function and lengthens the life span significantly.

     It’s important for women to understand the benefits of exercise on their overall physical and mental well-being, and it’s easy to get started on implementing a regular exercise routine!

Tina Turbin