Teen Sexual Health

As a teenager, you go through many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. The biggest change is puberty, the process of becoming sexually mature. It usually happens between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys. As your body changes, you may have questions about sexual health.

During this time, you start to develop your own unique personality and opinions. Some changes that you might notice include

• Increased independence from your parents
• More concerns about body image and clothes
• More influence from peers
• Greater ability to sense right and wrong
• 
  

All of these changes can sometimes seem overwhelming. Some sadness or moodiness can be normal. But feeling very sad, hopeless, or worthless could be warning signs of a mental health problem. If you need help, talk to your parents, school counselor, or health care provider.

Puberty is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature. It is a physical change that usually happens between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys. Puberty affects boys and girls differently.

In girls:

• The first sign of puberty is usually breast development.
• Other signs are the growth of hair in the pubic area and armpits, and acne.
• Menstruation (or a period) usually happens last.

In boys:

• Puberty usually begins with the testicles and penis getting bigger.
• Then hair grows in the pubic area and armpits.
• Muscles grow, the voice deepens, and acne and facial hair develop as puberty continues.

Both boys and girls also usually have a growth spurt (a rapid increase in height) that lasts for about 2 or 3 years. This brings them closer to their adult height, which they reach after puberty.

for more details clicks: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teensexualhealth.html

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Going Bananas natural remedy for many ills

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.  He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain.  Read on:


Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
                                
This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again..


                                Bananas contain three
natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.


                                Research has proven that
just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.


                                But energy isn't the only
way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.


                                Depression: According to a
recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.


                                PMS: Forget the pills - eat
a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.


                                Anemia : High in iron,
bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.


                                Blood Pressure: This unique
tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.


                                Brain Power: 200 students at
a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.


                                Constipation: High in fiber,
including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.


                                Hangovers: One of the
quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
                                
                               Heartburn: Bananas have a
natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.


                                Morning Sickness: Snacking
on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness


                                Mosquito bites: Before
reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.


                                Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like
chocolate and chips... Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.. 


                                Ulcers: The banana is used
as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.


                                Temperature control: Many
other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of
expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.


                                Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.


                                Smoking &Tobacco Use:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.


                                Stress: Potassium is a vital
mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.


                                Strokes: According to
research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!


                                Warts: Those keen on natural
alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!


                                So, a banana really is a
natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate , three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"


                                PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one
here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

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Expiration Dates - Good to KNOW

Find out when common food, drinks, & household items expire.

Item	Refrigerated	Frozen
Eggs	4 to 5 weeks
Fish	1 to 2 days	4 to 6 months
Ground Meat	1 to 2 days	3 to 4 months
Poultry	1 to 2 days	12 months
Steak	3 to 5 days	6 to 8 months
Canned Tuna	1 year
Canned Tuna (opened)	3 to 4 days

Item	Refrigerated
Cheddar	3 to 6 months
Cottage Cheese	2 weeks
Grated Parmesan	12 months
Swiss Cheese	3 to 6 months
Processed American	8 months
Chocolate Bar	1 year
Marshmallows (opened)	40 weeks
Marshmallows (unopened)	3 months

Item	Shelf Life
Crackers	3 to 6 months
Plain Bread	2 weeks
Oatmeal	12 months
Instant Cereal	2 to 3 months
Pasta	24 months
White Rice	24 months
Brown Rice	6 months

Item	Shelf Life
Bananas	3 to 6 days
Apples	6 months
Onions	2 weeks
Potatoes	4 weeks
Maraschino Cherries	3 to 4 years
Green Olives (jarred & unopened)	3 years
Green Olives (jarred & opened)	3 months
Pickles (unopened)	18 months
Pickles (opened)	n/a (do not eat if slippery or soft)

Item	Refrigerated
Yellow Mustard	6 to 8 months
Ketchup	24 months
Mayonnaise	3 to 4 months
Jams & Jellies	18 months
Salad Dressings	3 months
Brown Sugar	4 months
Honey	never expires
Maple Syrup	1 year
Olive Oil	2 years from manufacture date
Steak Sauce	33 months (color affected but still safe to eat)
Tabasco Sauce	5 years
Soy Sauce (Bottled)	2 years
Soy Sauce (opened)	3 months (taste changes but still safe to eat)
Vinegar	42 months
Worcestershire Sauce	2 years (5 to 10 years if unopened)

Item
Ground Coffee (unopened)	2 years
Ground Coffee (opened)	1 month, refrigerated
Gourmet Coffee beans	3 weeks
Gourmet Coffee ground	1 week if sealed
Instant Coffee (unopened)	2 years
Instant Coffee (opened)	1 month
Unopened Soda (plastic bottle)	3 months (from 'best by' date)
Opened Soda (plastic bottle)	doesn't spoil (but taste is affected)
Unopened Juice Bottle	8 months from production date
Opened Juice Bottle	7 to 10 days
Wine (unopened)	3 years from vintage date
Wine (opened)	1 week refrigerated and corked
Fine Wine	20 to 100 years

Item
Bar Soap	18 to 36 months
Bath Gel ( Body Wash )	3 years
Bath Oil	1 year
Body Bleaches (unopened)	2 years
Body Bleaches (used)	6 months
Body Lotion	3 years
Eye Cream (unopened)	3 years
Eye Cream (opened)	1 year
Face Lotion	3 years
Face Lotion with SPF	check the expiration date

Item
Aerosol Air Freshener	2 years
Antifreeze (premixed)	1 to 5 years
Antifreeze (concentrate)	never expires
Alkaline Batteries	7 years
Lithium Batteries	10 years
Bleach	3 to 6 months
Dish Detergent (liquid or powder)	1 year
Fire Extinguisher	12 years
Fire Extinguisher (rechargeable)	service/replace every 6 years
Metal Polish	3 years
Miracle Gro	3 to 8 years
Miracle Gro (water-soluble)	never expires
Motor Oil	2 to 5 years
Motor Oil (opened)	3 months
Mr. Clean	2 years
Paint (unopened)	about 10 years
Paint (opened)	2 to 5 years
Spray Paint	2 to 3 years
Windex	2 years
Wood Polish	2 years
Foundation (water-based)

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