FRIENDS

15:37 Unknown 0 Comments

“There exists a friend sticking closer than a brother”.

This is my favourite friendship quote because it shows the importance of a friend to human development.

Someone once said when I am happy, I need someone to share it with and when I am sad, I need a shoulder to cry on and that is exactly what friends are for. They are not only there to help and comfort you during life trials but they are also there to share the good times; along with your family members, friends are part of your support system.

We all have friends but then there are friends and there are friends. There are friends you can’t do without and there are those you talk to and then there are acquaintances. I have so many acquaintances but not many friends, my acquaintances are those I talk to, who help me while my friends are the ones I tell my deepest fears and secrets.

I used to have so many friends until I found out that friendship was so much more than talking, it is a relationship that you have to keep working at. And just like marriage, in a friendship it takes two to tango. It takes two people to make a friendship last forever, it takes love, determination, forgiveness, loyalty and so many other qualities.

The problem most people have is that they think they don’t have to make an effort to make a friendship work; they just want to sit and enjoy the good things that come with friendship without doing anything at all or contributing their own quota to the friendship. These makes a lot of people shy away from friendship.

Another reason a lot of people do so is because of betrayals from bad friends. And just like a heart break, a betrayal hurts. It can shatter one’s confidence in people and leave one depressed. Betrayals from close friends can be especially painful because of its unexpectedness. After a betrayal it is hard to trust people again but it is possible and you will trust again.

One of the ways to get over a betrayal is to be surrounded by friends, true friends. True friends are like diamonds precious and rare and everyone needs at least one true friend. They may be rare but finding them brings a lot of contentment and joy. My friends are my most precious possession after my family, I love and value them so much as few as they are.

Friendship is all about finding that special person that makes you want to be a better person but if you haven’t found that person, no need to worry you will. I will mention six steps that can help you to make and maintain true friendship.

One important step is to be a friend by going out of your way for people, doing things for them and just being nice. Another important step is to make time to cultivate a friendship; remember, friendship, like a flowering plant, needs to be watered and nurtured for it to blossom- and that takes time. The third step is to pay attention when others talk and the fourth, be forgiving. Another is to respect the privacy of others, avoid possessiveness which can lead to jealousy. And lastly, be generous, show genuine interest in others, think of what you can do for them instead of focusing on what they can do for you.

So go out there and make friends and then you just might meet that special friend who sticks closer than a brother.

MERCIFUL

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Exploding rates of diabetes

06:26 Unknown 0 Comments

The new research, which was published in the journal Pediatrics the week of May 21, examined some 3,400 kids and young adults aged 12 - 19 who participated in the Centers for Disease Control's National Health Examination Survey, which is used to track the overall health of all Americans.

The percentage of teens that were overweight didn't change much between 1999 through the end of 2008, the survey said, remaining around the current range of about 34 percent. In addition, the frequency and occurrence of hypertension and pre-hypertension remained stable at about 14 percent. High levels of bad "LDL" cholesterol also remained constant at 22 percent, the survey said.

But the occurrence of diabetes and pre-diabetes rose dramatically, from 9 percent of the surveyed population in 1999-2000 to 23 percent in 2007-2008, a little less than 10 years later.

That's not just significant, that's serious.

"I am reassured that at least we haven't seen a continuing rise in the rate of childhood obesity," Dr. Lori Laffel, chief of pediatrics at the Joslin Diabetes Center and a professor at Harvard Medical School, said.

"I am reassured that most of the cardiovascular risk factors the researchers looked at have not increased. But it is concerning that it looks like the rates of pre-diabetes and diabetes have more than doubled over that 10-year period," she added.

Some good news, but not enough

Laffel said the current results would need to be validated with additional research before any real public policy changes are implemented. That's because the results are atypical in that, despite steady obesity rates, the prevalence of diabetes has risen. She and other researchers want to know why and how, since obesity increases resistance to insulin and impairs glucose tolerance.

Still, overall, the new study does reaffirm the link between obesity and cardiovascular problems.

Just about half of overweight teens and more than 60 percent of obese participants in the study had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, a discovery that researchers felt was "concerning, given growing evidence demonstrating that cardiovascular risk factors present during childhood may persist into adulthood."

Pre-hypertension (high blood pressure) and high amounts of bad cholesterol was the most common combination of risk factors among overweight and obese teens. Both can increase risk of heart disease earlier in life than normal.

"This really speaks to the need for pediatricians to be vigilant about following screening recommendations, especially for obese and overweight teens," study co-author Ashleigh May, with the CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, said.

"We do see these risk factors are high for all youth, not just overweight and obese youth," she said, adding that 35 percent of teens whose weight was considered normal also had at least one risk factor.

Get your kids off the couch!

Mitigating the risks isn't as difficult as it might seem, researchers have said for years, noting that even moderate lifestyle changes can dramatically decrease risk factors. Scores of earlier studies have shown that simply eating less fat as well as smaller portions of foods containing fewer calories, combined with 20-30 minutes of exercise daily, people can reduce their risk of developing diabetes by almost 60 percent.

That's also significant.

"We do know that we can slow or even halt the progression of pre-diabetes and diabetes," Fonseca said.

But if nothing is done, the consequences for the future will be severe.

"This is telling us that there is a very high prevalence of obesity-related problems in people in the age group 12 to 19. That's something we used to see only in people in their 40s," Fonseca said.

"What this really means is that people are going to get serious health issues when they're in the prime of their lives."

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036002_diabetes_teens_health_trends.html#ixzz2cQB7pluT

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THE TEENAGE YEARS

14:43 Unknown 0 Comments

Welcome to my world, the world of teens. I am Alanu which means Merciful, I am a teenager and I will be talking about everything from fashion to clothes to boys, love, relationships, family and heartbreak. Today I will be talking about the teenage years.

Many parents dread the teenage years and would do anything to spare their children the pain and mistakes that come with those years. But these are the years that shape us as adults, they are the years we make our choices in life and become an individual. As hard as these years are and the many mistakes one makes, it is still the most interesting stage of life and the most fun.

You get to choose what to do with your life, your career, your relationships, friends and even what member of your family to associate with. You also have the energy and time to do a lot of things like sports, games, competitions and even parties.

These years are also filled with a lot of emotional changes like mood swings, awareness of the opposite sex, falling in love and heartbreaks. It may even lead to depression because some people cannot cope with the emotional changes. All these might seem so overwhelming at times but you can always talk to someone especially your parents.

Parents, who are supposed to be our rock during these times, are sometimes even part of the problem. A lot of teenagers complain that they don’t listen, they are always looking for faults and mistakes in your decisions and life, they are over protective etc. All these make teenagers distant from their parents rather than opening up to them. Nevertheless teenagers should pour their hearts to their parents because they have a wealth of knowledge and experience and they are in a better position to help.

The teenage years are also the time for physical and psychological changes. The sexual organs will be developed, this makes one feel awkward at times but it is all part of the growing process. There is also the psychological development, development in your way of thinking and acting. For example, you may start to see the world in a different way or you may start to dress in a different way to show your individuality. All these changes can be overwhelming but the truth is we all have to go through it.

So no matter what it is you are going through learn to sit back, relax and enjoy the moment. The teenage years is all about growing into yourself and becoming you. So enjoy it, make friends, talk to your parents, do something you enjoy, make the most of those years; after all you are only young once. Have fun and stay blessed.

MERCIFUL