Breast-feeding is Still Best for Babies - and Moms, too!

Nursing, the preferred method of feeding a newborn, greatly benefits both the infant and the mother. In fact, many health documents recommend that babies receive only breast milk for the first 4 to 6 months. With additional foods, breast-feeding may continue well into the second year of life.

Breast milk contains the right amount of fatty acids, water, lactose, vitamins, trace minerals, and amino acids for an infant. With at least 100 ingredients that formula does not provide - some impossible to duplicate - the milk helps to support the immune system and protects against diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and infections of the ear, urinary tract, and respiratory system. Nursing can also aid in tooth development, improve response to vaccines, and possibly reduce the chances of future diabetes or obesity. One study suggests that children who are breast-fed even do better in school.

Of course, some women are unable to breast-feed and must rely on infant formula. Though second-best, formula is still an excellent source of nutrition for a baby. Since homemade formula does not meet a baby's needs and can be dangerous, always opt for commercial brands that are iron-fortified. [Read Full Article]

A Health Guide to the Three Modern Methods of Saving Your Teeth from Decay

Seeing a dentist at least once a year is an advice we've all heard of since our younger years. The reasons for doing so are varied: for a cleaning, a filling, or a more complex procedure. By becoming aware of the many facets of both familiar and more advanced procedures, you may be able to improve the results.

Left alone, a decayed tooth can become infected, causing pain and eventually the loss of the tooth. Modern dentistry can prevent this from happening with these three methods:

1. Dental amalgams. For moderately decayed teeth, dentists drill the cavity and fill it with a strong material - usually a dental amalgam made of silver, tin, copper, and mercury. In the past decade, concerns have been raised over the mercury in amalgams. When fillings break down, as they all eventually do, small particles of mercury enter the bloodstream, and some people feared that this might increase the risk of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. But studies have found no link between medical disorders and amalgam fillings that contain mercury. It appears that the amount of mercury released by the amalgam is so minute that it doesn't do any damage. Health experts say that amalgam is safe for all but a small number of people who are specifically sensitive or allergic to mercury and who may suffer severe health problems even from low exposure. [Read Full Article]

Great Wall of China

Thousands of tourists at the Great Wall of China on July 7, 2007 were unaware that the structure they were marveling at was just selected as one of 7 'new' world wonders during a celebrity-studded ceremony held at Lisbon's Stadium of Light in Portugal. According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report from Lisbon, "the televised event was not broadcast (in China), leaving thousands of tourists at the Great Wall unaware of the new designation."

Both a barrier and a gateway to the wealth and enigma of the Chinese Empire, the Great Wall of China is a man-made work on such a gigantic scale that it has been called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World.' Many people from around the world, in fact, noted that the recent accolade received from the said event in Lisbon was long overdue. This is because more superlatives have been heaped upon the Great Wall of China than on any other structure in the world: "The greatest construction project ever undertaken by man," "the longest bastion," and "the world's biggest graveyard."

Historical records and facts are clear: the wall stretches for some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) across China, following a twisting, curving path that has been likened to the body of a dragon. It was constructed over a period of 2,100 years by millions of soldiers and laborers, and it cost the lives of untold thousands. [Read Full Article]

Taj Mahal in India

Thousands of Indians handed out sweets and set off fireworks on July 7, 2007 to celebrate the inclusion of Taj Mahal in the list of the 7 'new' world wonders, as recently reported by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) from Lisbon, Portugal. The AFP-Lisbon report says that "Hundreds (of Indians) thronged the 17th-century monument built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal."

Historical records paint the Taj Mahal, thus: "A vision of symmetry and delicacy, like a perfect pearl set against an azure sky, it is the world's best known mausoleum and one of the most exquisite buildings ever designed."

The Taj Mahal, arguably the most famous building in the world, is situated on the southern bank of the River Yamuna (Jumna) at Agra in India. Its silhouette is instantly recognizable and has become, for many, the unofficial symbol of India. The fame of the Taj Mahal rests not only on its architectural beauty - in which grandeur and delicacy are miraculously balanced - but also on its romantic associations. Records indicate that the Taj Mahal was built by the 17th-century Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his favorite wife, whose death plunged him into unshakeable grief. As a physical symbol of the devotion of a man to a woman, the Taj Mahal is unsurpassed. Tradition has it that when a couple goes there, the woman should ask her partner: "If I were to die, do you love me so much that you would build me a memorial like this?" [Read Full Article]

Petra in Jordan

In January of the present year, a private Swiss foundation launched a contest to select the seven 'new' wonders of the world. A report from AFP-Lisbon, Portugal says that "Nearly 100 million votes were cast by the Internet and text messages by Friday midnight (July 7, 2007), according to New7Wonders, the nonprofit organization that conducted the poll." The poll result showed that one of the 7 'new' world wonders named was the centuries-old pink ruins of Petra in Jordan.

Unknown to the Western world for hundreds of years, the 'rose-red' city of Petra was once a thriving center for travelers along the ancient trade routes. Ringed by high mountains and approached through a narrow gorge, its remarkable carved buildings have remained virtually untouched.

The Western world's discovery of Petra is historically recorded as follows: "On a journey from Syria to Egypt in late August 1812, the young Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt came upon a group of Arab tribesmen just south of the Dead Sea who had an enthralling story to tell. They spoke of 'antiquities' in a nearby hidden valley called Wadi Mousa - the Valley of Moses. Disguised as an Arab, Burckhardt followed his guide to a seemingly solid wall of rock, which, as they approached, revealed a narrow, deep cleft. After walking for about 25 minutes through a winding, almost sunless gorge, known as the Siq, he was suddenly confronted by the reddish-pink facade of an elaborately carved building 90 feet (30 meters) high. Stepping into the sunlight, Burckhardt found himself in the main street of ancient Petra - perhaps the most romantic of all 'lost' cities. It was a memorable moment, for he was the first European to set foot there since the Crusaders in the 12th century." [Read Full Article]

Health Fact: Yogurt is More Healthful than Milk

As nutritious as milk and possibly even more healthful, yogurt is what you get when "good" bacteria feast on fresh milk. These "live active cultures" digest some of the milk's sugar (lactose), converting into lactic acid, which gives this "spoonable" dairy food a refreshing tang.

Yogurt is not only tasty; it's easily digested and calcium-rich (1 cup supplies a third or more of daily needs). It's a good source of protein, zinc, riboflavin, and vitamin B12, and, if made with fortified milk, vitamins A and D. It's available in low-fat or fat-free varieties. What's more, there's evidence that yogurt with live active cultures may prevent intestinal ills and possibly even colon cancer.

Yogurt's reputation as a health food is centuries old. In the 1500s, the French king Francis I was relieved of intestinal ills when the sultan of Turkey's doctor arrived with a herd of milk-producing sheep - and a recipe for yogurt. [Read Full Article]