While political views may differ, there is one undeniable fact: we are getting heavier, and this includes our children. One of the ways that we can combat childhood obesity is by improving the foods in school lunches. So finally, after much political fighting, the Senate passed The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Here is a breakdown of what the new law will require:

* The bill increases spending on child nutrition by $4.5 billion over 10 years. It also raises federal reimbursements for school lunches more than the inflation rate. That hasn’t happened since 1973.
* Poor children will automatically be enrolled in the program, so there is no need for paperwork to be filled out by their parents.
* The USDA will have more power over school lunch nutritional standards, including all food and beverages that are sold on school grounds.
* School districts will receive additional funding if they meet updated nutritional standards.
* An after-school supper program for the needy, which is available in DC and 13 states, will be expanded. This means that 21 million more meals will be available to poor children.
* Free drinking water must be available where meals are served.
* Lawmakers are offsetting the bill’s costs by including a $2.2 billion cut in the food stamp program.
* Access is expanded to subsidized meals for poor children. Those meals will need to include more whole grains, lean proteins, and fruits and vegetables.
* The federal reimbursement rate on school lunches will be raised by six cents per lunch for school districts that comply with the new standards that are issued by the Agriculture Department. The increase will be indexed to inflation. The reimbursement rate is currently $2.72 for each free lunch, which is considered insufficient by most school administrators.

Some school groups oppose the legislation, including The American Association of School Administrators, the National School Boards Association and the Council of the Great City Schools. In general, they cite an inability to financially meet the new requirements.

But proponents say that it’s a much needed kick in the butt to get meals healthier and our children lighter. Some military leaders have even sited child obesity as a national security risk, since fewer and fewer young people will be physically fit to serve in the armed forces. Whether it’s improved lunches, more exercise, more parental responsibility, or all the above, it’s an issue we can’t afford to sweep under the rug. Being healthy is one of the most valuable aspects on our lives that we need to take with great precaution and utmost importance.

Animal source protein, however, is complete protein since it provides all nine of essential amino acids needed for human health. Vegetable
source protein always lacks one or more of these vital amino acids. This is usually not a problem for people who eat a vegetarian diet, as long as they eat a wide variety of good quality protein foods.

But there’s another big difference between animal and vegetable source protein that must be taken into consideration when looking for the best protein source for good health. And that’s the extra food components that come along with the protein.

Take a four-ounce porterhouse steak, for example. It provides a lot of complete protein. 25 grams to be exact. But it also provides about 30
grams of fat of which more than 10 grams are unhealthy saturated fat. The same size serving of broiled salmon delivers about the same amount of complete protein – 23 grams, but only 12 grams of fat, less than 3 of them saturated. A cup of lentils, on the other hand, has about 18 grams of incomplete protein, but under a gram of fat.

So paying close attention to the dietary source of protein makes good sense if you want to get and stay healthy. Animal source protein may be complete but it also contains a lot of extra unwanted fat. Studies show, for example, that people who eat more than 18 ounces of red meat each week have a much higher risk of colon cancer. The best sources of animal protein are lean fish, and poultry.

If you enjoy red meat eat it only on an occasional basis and always choose moderate size portions of the leanest cuts. And stay away from processed meats – bacon deli meats and hot dogs – that are linked to cancer risk. When eating dairy products, choose healthier low fat milk, yogurt and cheese.

Vegetable source protein like beans, nuts and whole grains may be incomplete but they also provide vitamins, minerals and healthy fiber. When limiting animal source protein in your diet, it’s vital that you eat a wide variety of protein rich foods to be sure you’re getting all of the amino acids you need. Combining rice and beans and peanut butter on whole grain bread are excellent vegetarian choices that provide a complete amino acid profile.

Poor nutrition and unhealthy lifestyle will generally reflect an overall poor health of a woman’s skin. Bad habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol drinking, consuming of high-fat diets, etc. will also deprive the skin of important nutrients it needs. If you have a sensitive skin, extra care should be taken to avoid razor rash, burn or other skin irritation. Good nutrition will ensure that your skin receive all the nutrients and vitamins that it needs to maintain and repair itself. Drinking plenty of water is also important to keep your skin healthy. Water helps to hydrate the skin, transport nutrients through and flush toxins out of your body.

Hormonal surge during pregnancy and menopause can cause changes in a woman’s skin. Pregnancy can also turn normal skin into oily skin. So, you may have to change your skin care products. Use mild cleanser to wash your face daily, also use exfoliator to clean pores deeply and remove dead skin cells. Continue to moisturize skin, especially around your growing tummy, to reduce chances of developing stretch marks.

Check all your existing skin care products to ensure that they are safe to use during pregnancy. Should you have any concerns, seek advice from your physician and only purchase products which are labeled safe to use during pregnancy. Use foot lotion to massage your feet every night before going to bed. When going outside the house, don’t forget to use sunscreen to protect your skin from damaging UV rays. Many women are plagued by acne during pregnancy, if you do, check out our Acne Skincare Guide to help you get rid of acne without resorting to any expensive product.