Author: superspiderclub

  • Fat Burning Zone Running

    Fat Burning Fudge RecipePurchase for Fat Loss Oat Recipes Order Now!!The Fat Burning Zone Running will help you remove all the disturbing and troublesome body weights. Dr. Charles D.C as the author of the program will provide you with much information about fad diets in addition to diet products, such as for example pill and drops. He’ll explain that the foundation of this plan may be the liver,

  • Beachbody Shake Review: Does it Work?

    What is it? 

    Beachbody Shake is a meal replacement shake made with whey and soy protein for what’s claimed to be a nutritious meal. It’s said to contain the proper mixture of carbohydrates, fats, and protein for appetite reduction and increased energy.

    You can find it in both chocolate and vanilla, each without preservatives, artificial colors, or aspartame. It’s advised to take this shake with enough water, low calorie snacks, and other healthy protein sources for managing weight. Is this shake truly a nutritious option for dieters? What have others experienced? In this review you’ll learn everything you need to know about Beachbody shake.

    Do You Know the Best Diet Shakes of 2016?

    Beachbody Shake Ingredients and Side Effects 

    Soy Protein Isolate
    Whey Protein Concentrate
    Fructose
    Maltodextrin
    Microcrystalline Cellulose

    Natural and Artificial Flavors
    Colloid Gum
    Soybean Oil
    Tribasic Calcium Phosphate
    Guar Gum

    Potassium Citrate
    Magnesium Oxide
    dl-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate
    Sodium Ascorbate
    Soy Fiber

    Sucralose
    Chromium Aspartate
    Boron Citrate
    Ferrous Fumurate
    Kelp

    Calcium-d-pantothenate
    Biotin
    Copper Citrate
    Niacinamide
    Zinc Oxide

    Pyridoxine HCI
    Phytonadione
    Riboflavin
    Thiamine Mononitrate
    Manganese Sulfate

    Cyanocobalamin
    Vitamin A Palminate
    Folic Acid
    Cholecalciferol
    Sodium Molybdate

    Soy Protein Isolate: A 90% protein by weight soybean extract.

    The Mayo Clinic has mentioned this ingredient is known to potentially cause side effects:

    “may cause atopic eczema, asthma, bad taste, bleeding, bloating, constipation ,damage to pancreas (and other symptoms)” 

    There are also several other side effects that may occur. The also add that it may increase estrogen levels. This can reduce testosterone, and cause hormone malfunctions, which may make weight loss more difficult.

    A study published in Pub Med mention that it could cause protein deficiencies:

    “soy isolates may contain trypsin inhibitor activity” 

    So it may reduce the overall intake of protein. This can reduce the quality of protein in this meal replacement. Trypsin inhibitors can alter the way the body processed protein. This can lead to deficiencies in unknown amounts. 

    Fructose: Simple fruit sugar that when extracted from fruits, is known to potentially cause many health problems.

    Multiple studies have shown a possibility for issues, the ScienceDirect group performed one such study, they found:

    “consistently linked to increased risk of obesity, type 3 diabetes. And cardiovascular disease in various populations” 

    Another study by the University of California, Davis adds:

    “dietary fructose could therefore increase the likelihood of weight gain” 

    “induces insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriacyglycerolemia, and hypertension” 

    A total of 7 grams of fructose are added to this shake. Reducing this sweetener is important for preventing potential health problems.

    Fructose, like other sweeteners, has no purpose other than to help flavor these shakes. It has no nutritional value, and instead may actually cause many problems. 

    Guar Gum: Fiber extracted from the guar plant. It’s possible for it to promote choking or blockages in the intestines and throat.

    It may also produce other unwanted side effects that include:

    Diarrhea, loose stools, and frequent bathroom usage. 
    Gas, and flatulence. 

    It’s advised to always take this with liquids in order to prevent side effects. This is considered a cheap thickener and binder, which is used to substitute for more substantial forms of fiber. 

    Sucralose: Artificial sweetener that provides no calories.

    The Center for Science in the Public interest placed a Caution label to this ingredient, due to this potential for causing leukemia in mice.  A study by the Washington University School of Medicine also studied this sweetener, they found it:

    “Affects Glycemic and Hormonal Responses to an Oral Glucose Load” 

    So it has an effect on blood sugar levels, though this ingredient is added as a sugar substitute, which isn’t supposed to have this effect. This can potentially produce issues that may not reduce hunger. When using this ingredient on mice, it was shown to not be satiating. So one could potentially eat large amounts of it without experienced satiety. 

    Kelp: A form of algae that contains amounts of iodine. Live Strong.com adds that this can cause problems:

    “negatively affect thyroid function, causing hypo- or hyperthyroidism”

    Therefore, it’s important to make sure to control the intake of this ingredient. It’s unknown how much iodine this provides.

    When the thyroid is damaged, this can lead to numerous health effects as well as an increase in the rate of obesity.

    EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this supplement with a proven meal replacement such as 18Shake for better results.

    Beachbody Shake Quality Of Ingredients

    Though there’s a total of 15 grams of protein, not all of it comes from whey protein. Some of it is from soy, which has been shown to be potentially dangerous for many reasons.

    There’s’ also a combination of sweeteners which are both potentially dangerous, 7 grams of sugar are added which come from fructose. This ingredient has been shown to be potentially dangerous, due to its ability to cause metabolism disorders. Since it has no nutritional value, it’s important to limit this sweetener as much as possible.

    There’s also artificial flavors added, instead of just pure natural ingredients. Though the company mentions they add no artificial colors, they still failed to make this an all-natural meal replacement.

    The Price and Quality of Beachbody Shake 

    One 30 serving container sells for $39.95.  This shake is full of thickeners, high amounts of potentially bad sweeteners, and a weak form of protein in soy.

    This quality isn’t very good when you consider all its ingredients. The possibility for weight gain and side effects is possible due to the added sugar and thickeners.

    For the price paid, it’s not a very good meal replacement. You’re paying for a common mixture of ingredients found in basic meal replacements. There’s also unknown amino acids added, since the company fails to add the amino acid profile.

    This is important for figuring out if the protein is well balanced enough to satisfy as a full meal. 

    Business of Beachbody Shake 

    The creators of this brand go by the name of Beachbody, LLC. You can reach them via the following contact details: 

    Phone Number: (310) 883-9000 

    Address: 3301 Exposition Blvd FL 3

    Santa Monica, CA 90404

    They currently have a total of 770 customer complaints on their Better Business Bureau page, here’s what people have had to say:

    “Withdrawn account funds from an order that was never finalized” 

    “Charged… even though it was canceled before trial was over” 

    “cancelled my contract… and the company keeps charging my credit card” 

    “Beachbody’s billing practices are not clear and concerning” 

    Many people had issues with trying to cancel their subscriptions, and people have struggled to contact the company to cancel. Customers were concerned that they didn’t have any idea it would be so difficult to work with the company.

    Of the total 770 reviews, many were dissatisfied and unsure of how to deal with the company. Beachbody, LLC did comment on some of these problems, but it’s unknown what happens to customers who don’t file complaints on independent websites.

    Though the company offers a 30-day money back guarantee, many struggled to get a hold of them via email or phone.

    EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results with meal replacement shakes diet our experts recommend to use it at least 5 months. Save your money buying a few bags of meal replacement product.

    Customer Opinions of Beachbody Shake 

    The official website allows customers to review this shake. Here’s what some customers have to say:

    “probably the nastiest meal replacement I’ve ever had” 

    “It’s gritty, thick, and literally slides like pudding down your throat” 

    “DOES NOT MIX WELL AND TO THICK” 

    “I could not get over the taste” 

    People had issues with trying to finish drinking this shake. Users often complained that it had a taste that was undrinkable. Not only were the flavors criticized, but also people thought it was much too gritty, and that the texture was bad.

    There were also problems with the lack of proper mixing. Customers tired using different liquids and ingredients, but there were still issues with how it mixes. The consistency was off, which when combined with the taste, can make this shake difficult to drink.

    Some also added how they didn’t find it to suppress appetite well enough. There was concern that this meal replacement isn’t an effective weight loss shake.

    Conclusion – Does Beachbody Shake Work?

    When deciding on Beachbody’s Shake, it’s important to pay attention to the customer reviews and kinds of ingredients used. Many customers failed to see any benefit from this shake, and several thought it didn’t taste good, nor did it help with appetite suppression. There’s a high amount of sweeteners added, which may be potentially harmful.

    Another issue with this shake is the kinds of ingredients found in GMO soy, artificial sweeteners, and artificial flavors. All natural solutions are much better when one is looking to lose weight. The very best all natural meal replacement is out now, and won the best of 2016. It’s an all-natural shake called 18Shake.

    This meal replacement is made solely with pure, high quality, and beneficial ingredients for real nutritional value. Customers have also experienced great weight loss results that you can read about on their official website. People also mention it mixes well, and that it’s great for suppressing appetite, all while tasting good via its chocolate or vanilla flavors.

    18Shake is even supported by a full 30-day money back guarantee. This takes the risk out of purchasing this shake, and it shows the company is willing to back up their product.


  • How Feeling Hideous Helped Me Write a Book

    LittleGrilPrincess_400As a child, I was enamored with my own beauty. I’m compelled to describe myself in an early diary entry, doing so as follows, “I have long, wavy, golden hair and big, beautiful blue eyes.” My faith in my wonderful good looks was palatable, and I took delight in dressing in bright, showy colors, unafraid to stand out, peacock-like, from the crowd. Which is why it was so odd to find myself in my late 20s/early 30s convinced of my own Quasimodo-esque ugliness.

    The mirror was a horrorshow, reflecting back nothing golden or beautiful. Instead, I saw thin lips, a witches’ chin and dark circles on par with two black eyes. Despite having a boisterous group of friends, promising career, and exciting life in New York, love eluded me, and the reason (I was sure) was my own physical failings.

    On meeting my partner, these feelings began to fade. Her daily affirmations that I was delightful in every way helped me see the girl in the mirror in a more positive light again. I might not be a supermodel, but I certainly wasn’t ugly. So why had a spent a long period of an otherwise happy life feeling that I was? And if I felt that way, surely other women felt that way too.

    This inspired me to start thinking on beauty. Where do messages about beauty find us, how do they affect us, how do different women respond to these messages differently? What is beauty? How does a modern feminist reconcile her own empowerment with very real feelings of physical inadequacy?

    These thoughts and more were bubbling in the back of my brain when one night, inspiration struck. I was at home alone, working on the edits to my YA sci-fi novel, Parched, when a concept popped in my head. A serum that turns you pretty: objectively, definitively. But only for a week at a time.

    “Hm,” I thought, putting my notes aside. “That’s interesting.” Less than a minute later, a scene began playing in my head, as crystal clear as a feature film. Three young women. A tiny bottle of Pretty, something from a modern fairytale. An impossible transformation, as visceral and gross as it was funny and unexpected. Someone comes home—ah, an excuse is needed!

    What next? Who knows… As soon as the scene stopped playing–a gift from on high, a missive from the muse–I knew, without a doubt, that was a novel. A year and a half later, I finished The Regulars.

    The post How Feeling Hideous Helped Me Write a Book appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.

  • Fat Burning Supplements That Are Safe

    Fat Burning Exercises At Home VideosReview Weight Loss Strategies For Eating Out Shopping NowThe Fat Burning Supplements That Are Safe will help you remove all the troublesome and disturbing body weights. Dr. Charles D.C as the author of this program will give you much information about fad diets as well as diet items, such as pill and drops. He will explain that the building blocks of this plan

  • Pure Slim 1000 Review: Does it Work?

    What is it? 

    Pure Slim 1000 is a weight loss diet plan offering a liquid supplement, and a 3 step system. This includes a 21 day phase of maintenance, and around 90 days of eating healthy foods with just 1,000 calories allowed.

    The company claims that people have lost over 100 pounds when repeating these phases. This diet plan is meant to help people maintain weight loss, while providing practical weight loss diet advice. The intended benefits of this plan are to burn fat, without sacrificing energy and leaving one feeling hungry. So is this diet plan truly effective for weight loss? What kinds of effects have people experienced? You’ll learn everything about Pure Slim 1000 in this comprehensive review.

    Do You Know the Best Diet Shakes of 2016?

    Pure Slim 1000 Ingredients and Side Effects 

    Two different supplements are offered, though only Metabolic Burst is required. Energy Burst is not necessary, but it does add as a supplement to the diet. The company fails to mention what the total dosage strength is. Here are the ingredients to both supplements:

    Maca
    Glucomannan
    Beta-Alanine
    Glutamine
    Ornithine

    Serine
    Glutamic
    Pyridoxal 5 Phosphate
    Rhodiola
    Arginine

    African Mango
    Glycine
    Valine
    Tyrosine
    Methyl B12

    Potassium
    Niacin
    Vitamin E
    Riboflavin
    Pantothenic Acid

    Folic Acid
    Zinc
    Magnesium

    Maca: Vegetable that comes from the broccoli family, it’s native to parts of Peru. There’s a lack of information about its true effects, and Examine.com mentions:

    “Further reseach is needed to determine the main mechanism of maca” 

    It’s claimed to help with increasing energy, sexual performance, and reduced fatigue. Though there hasn’t been enough quality research performed. 

    Glucomannan: Fiber source extracted from the konjac plant. It’s a thickener and it’s commonly used as a way to help suppress appetite and control blood sugar.

    A study by Rush Univeristy Medical Center found that this ingredient:

    “did not promote weight loss”

    It’s also advised to take it with large amounts of water in order to prevent the possibility of chocking or blockages in the throat and intestines.

    Other possible side effects may include:

    Stomach problems, nausea, and stomach pain. 
    Diarrhea, bloating, and frequent bathroom usage. 
    Loose stools.

     The FDA has also sent warning letters to companies who claim this ingredient is effective for weight loss. There aren’t enough studies which have shown this effect, and in fact clinical studies have shown it to be ineffective. 

    Glutamine: Amino acid that is created by the body. It’s claimed to help with endurance as well as being able to regulate blood sugar. Though this isn’t necessary to use in supplement form, as Examine.com adds:

    “only appear to benefit the body as suppemnetaion when otherwise deficient (vegans, vegetarians with low dairy intake) 

    Though considered safe, there’s also no reason to use it if one does not have a deficiency. 

    Ornithine: Amino acid made by the body to help reduce ammonia. Web MD mentions that in supplement form:

    “It’s not known how ornithine might work for mediacal uses” 

    “There isn’t enough reliable information about the safety of ornithine” 

    Much more data is needed to help determine if it’s safe to supplement with. 

    Serine: Chemical that the body makes. It’s used to help promote many important functions in the body.

    It may potentially cause upset stomach and nausea in supplement form. 

    Glutamic: This amino acid is naturally produced in the body. Live Strong.com discusses its use:

    “it is not meant to be taken by everyone” 

    “you should not keep the supplement if you have any nervous system disorders… if you have kidney or liver disease” 

    It’s also not needed unless there is a deficiency, which is rare. 

    Valine:  Known as a branch chain amino acid, this is one of three of the BCAA’s. Examine.com mentions its limitaions:

    “does not appear to have any known unique benefits” 

    “possbly the least important BCAA” 

    Therefore, it’s a limited ingredient which is not explained as to why it’s added to this diet plan. 

    Tyrosine: An amino acid used by the brain to help send signals. It’s also beneficial for mental alertness and focus.

    Though in supplement form it may lead to side effects that include:

    Nausea and heartburn. 
    Joint pain, fatigue, and headache.

    EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this supplement with a proven meal replacement such as 18Shake for better results.

    Pure Slim 1000 Quality Of Ingredients

    Many of these ingredients have either not been proven to have a positive effect, or they can easily be replaced with whole foods. The amino acids are either already found in many foods, or they are made in sufficed amounts by the body.

    This supplement is meant to replace the benefits of foods while people significantly reduce calories. Though in supplement form, many of these additives have been shown to be inneficient. There’s also no explanation as to the ingredient strength, so it’s unknown if these additives are added in a healthy and efficient amount.

    No evidence is provide to prove this brand would be good for weight loss, or if it’s effective at improving energy levels and helping reduce hunger.

    The Price and Quality of Pure Slim 1000 

    There’s 3 different plans offered, the basic plan offering 1 bottle, support, and a program guide sells for $109.  It claims to be effective at helping reduce from 10 to 20 pounds.

    You also have to make sure to for at least 90 days, to eat just 1,000 calories. This is a signicant drop in calories, which can be hard to maintain safely.

    There’s no evidence that the formula will help people lose weight without experiencing immense hunger.

    Many of the ingredients are cheap, and there’s no proof that the support and program guide are actually effective. No information is given to show how the people who give advice are qualified, and whether or not they are certified in health and nutrition. Taking dietary advice from unqualified people can be potentially dangerous.

    It’s because of all these flaws that this diet plan is poor. 

    Business of Pure Slim 1000 

    The company website does not mention the official company name. Though they do offer their customer service contact inforamtuon. 

    Phone Number: (866) 599-4240 

    Address: 967 W. Parkcenter Blvd. # 361

    Boise, Idaho 83706

    Email: support@ps1000.com

    The company offers a 180 day money back guarantee, but this is only if you meet many conditions.

    You have to make sure to try the diet plan for a total of 30 days, and you have to submit a full 30 days of food and drink journals. This tracking will help show if you truly followed the diet plan according to their standards.

    It’s unknown how the company operates, or if they truly uphold their money back return policy.

    EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results with meal replacement shakes diet our experts recommend to use it at least 5 months. Save your money buying a few bags of meal replacement product.

    Customer Opinions of Pure Slim 1000 

    Here are some reviews featured from their Amazon.com page:

    “Overall, not something I’d recommend” 

    “Scam! The drops do nothing to curb your appetite or give you energy” 

    “purchased this hoping it would work instead it make me sick” 

    “Yeah I lost weight, but simply my eating healthy was the reason” 

    Though there are more positive reviews than negative, one customer who examined these reviews mentioned:

    “99% Likely Fake Reviews- Unverified Purchases- Buyer Beware” 

    Another person adds:

    “check the previous history of reviews. For 98% of them is THE FIRST REVIEW CREATED!” 

    Amazon.com allows for people to review brands even if they didn’t purchase it from their site. After reviewing the opinions, it’s clear that many unverified purchases were made, and that many of them happened to be made in the same week.

    It’s possible that these reviews are forged or paid for.

    From the real proven customer reviews, there was a lack of weight loss support. Many felt that the low calorie diet would have been effective even without the drops. There were concerns from customers that this plan is not effective for long term results, and that it does not suppress appetite or increase energy.

    Conclusion – Does Pure Slim 1000 Work?

    This diet plan requires an extremely low calorie diet, and it claims that their supplement will help reduce hunger and increase energy. Though these ingredients are all natural, there’s no evidence that it actually works. There are questionable positive reviews, and verified customers have complained about a lack of appetite suppression and reliable weight loss. Healthy eating and reducing calories to just 1,000 can produce weight loss, but this is hard to maintain since it’s a significant reduction.

    A much less restrictive option that doesn’t require extreme dieting is available. The 2016 best diet plan of the year is the 18 Diet Plan.  Not only does it feature a wholesome and all natural supplement and meal replacement, but it offers a comprehensive diet book.

    There’s no need to go on extreme diets with this supplement. It helps reduce appetite, increase metabolism, boost mood, and it can help control blood sugar. That’s why so many customers have reviewed it as a really effective weight loss diet plan.

    You can try the 18 Diet plan risk free, they offer a full 30-day money back return policy on their meal replacement and supplement. Returns are offered no questions asked when filed in the first 30 days.


  • Fat Loss Factor Legit

    Fat Burning Yoga CrunchDeals for Fat Loss Factor Dr Charles Email For SaleThe Fat Loss Factor Legit will help you remove all the disturbing and troublesome body weights. Dr. Charles D.C because the author of this program will provide you with much information about fad diets and also diet products, such as for example pill and drops. He will explain that the foundation of this plan may be the

  • Should You Let Your Child Read ‘Inappropriate’ Books?

    BannedBooks_400I was not a precocious kid, but I was a precocious reader. I was also a voracious one who made her way through the children’s section in the library like a weevil. It wasn’t long before I was eyeing the adult section with my mind set on breaking through. I had just started wandering into those stacks when a book caught my eye as a summer read selection, and I pounced. I don’t remember any discussion about it until we got to the check-out desk. For those of you not familiar with early ’80s references (ahem), The Thornbirds would probably be pretty tame today, but it involved a priest and an illicit affair—an affair that in my memory at least was pretty graphic. Suffice it to say I was halted, the librarian’s stamp (yes, we still used a stamp; it wasn’t that long ago) mid-air.

    As far as I remember there were no rules about what I could or could not read. My mother’s attitude was that if it didn’t interest me, I’d stop reading and if I was curious enough I’d either ask about it or look something up. In an encyclopedia. (Seriously, it wasn’t that long ago.) I do remember a startled look from the librarian and a murmured discussion with my mother before I lifted the heavy tome up over the desk, triumphant. And of course I read a few chapters, had no interest in what was going on, and abandoned the book. I am curious, in retrospect, about the interesting looks I must have received when I took it out of my bag at the community pool.

    Needless to say this happened in a time where we didn’t wear bike helmets, we played outside without parents, and there was no internet (and I will quickly add all this wasn’t that long ago). Things are quite different now. And whether you are a proponent of free-range parenting or attachment parenting, the fact is we are more sensitive to exposing kids to things like violence, sex, or drugs. Which leads us to taking a look at what we let—or don’t let—our kids see, consume, and read.

    When it comes to books, issues usually come up with older kids who may be reading middle grade and teen books about tougher subject matter, like suicide or addiction, or include characters who are engaged in sexual activity. Where does the line come between censorship and keeping kids “safe?”

    As a publisher I’m particularly sensitive to censorship. Some of the kids’ books that have been banned are mindboggling. One parent’s ignorance can affect an entire library system’s ability to shelve a book. When I first started out as an editorial assistant I remember getting a call from a distraught librarian about a book being challenged (when someone lodges a complaint that a book is inappropriate). The book was about a chimpanzee. The chimpanzee had ketchup squirted on him during lunch, another character thought he was bleeding, and hilarity ensued. A formal complaint was lodged that faking ketchup as blood was too violent.

    While as a parent I want to try to shield my children from violence, especially at an early age—and perhaps especially in today’s world—if the most violent thing they will be exposed to is ketchup, I would sign up for that in a second.

    We are raising kids in a world where we monitor them (quite literally with baby monitors) from infancy, with cameras in their rooms, controls on televisions, passwords on computers, wifi blocked in bedrooms, and even GPS systems on chips attached to backpacks and in cars. Are there different parameters for books?

    As a publisher and a parent I’m at odds with myself. The publisher in me never wants to stop a child from reading anything. To my publisher brain, that’s censorship. I certainly don’t want to tell other kids what to read; that’s the very definition of censorship to me. But my own kids? The parent in me is desperate to make sure I bring up children with a model of equality, respect, tolerance, empathy, and kindness, which means sometimes regulating or at the very least moderating what they consume (i.e. “Yes, I know he’s Batman, but it is not OK to hit anyone. No, not even the Joker.”). To my parent brain that’s guiding my child.

    Those of us who have parameters at home understand that they get regularly challenged. My oldest child made a case last weekend in the toy aisle that the water gun was not a gun; it was a laser water shooter that a good guy like Han Solo would use. (I am either raising a future lawyer or a future agent).

    So when my child chooses a book and is hell bent on reading it do I challenge him? No.

    I believe in being an aware parent; knowing what my children are reading and why they want to read it are of equal importance to me. Let’s say, for instance, that one of my children wanted to read a pretty heavy book about a character battling addiction before—as his mother—I felt he was ready to take something like that on. Why did that book speak to him? Was someone experimenting with or using drugs? Was it him? Since we’ve spoken to our kids about the dangers of drugs are they just curious to see what ravage they can really do?

    This is where parenting gets really tricky, because I’m going to bet on the fact that there aren’t a ton of teens, or tweens for that matter, who will willingly say, “I’d like to read that book because one of my friends is experimenting with drugs and I’m a little worried, especially because next week all of us are going to smoke something with him when his parents are away for the weekend.”

    Maybe they are just curious. Maybe it’s just a good story. Maybe you should read it, too. You receive alerts about your children’s online activity, right? You read their texts? You check out their browsing history and check out the pages they’ve opened? So why wouldn’t you also read the books they are reading?

    My children are younger, so it’s hard to say what I’ll do (and lord knows I have learned as a parent that you don’t know what the hell you’ll do until you have reached that stage) but my instinct now would be to read—or at least speed read; maybe skim; OK, definitely at least read the book flaps and the online description—what they are reading. That way I know what information (and misinformation) they are getting. I would make sure that I talked about it (which may well be a one-sided conversation). It might even be enough (in my hopeful parent mind) for my child to know that I’m reading it, too, so he can talk about anything in it that he needs help processing.

    Despite my great my love of books or my belief in how powerful and transforming stories can be, I would rather my children learn about most things from me than a fictional character, no matter how poignant a story is. We live in the information age and there are messages—overt and subtle—being hurled at them every millisecond. It’s too much for me to assume I can control what they are exposed to and what they find without me sitting next to them 24/7 (and trust me, as a mother I have had the instinct to attach myself to them 24/7). Anyone who has watched a school bus pull away with their child inside and has sobbed understands: You aren’t weeping just because your child is growing older. You are weeping because you realize you’ve just lost control.

    That doesn’t mean you just throw up your hands and sing “Que Sera, Sera.” (At least in my parenting book). There are books that would set off alarm bells for me. If every book he checked out was about bullying I’d intervene, pronto. If I noticed a trend in books about misogynistic behavior I’d be right there with some conversation starters. If many books he chose were about a character exploring sexuality I would have my mom antenna up even further than it already is for openings in conversation. Sometimes books are chosen because they are great stories.  Sometimes book choices illuminate something else going on.

    In our house I am Command Central, and not just because I (usually) remember who is supposed to bring in a casserole for International Day and who has to pack cleats for soccer practice. I am watching, hopefully not in an evil or menacing way, but oh boy, am I watching. I don’t get much from “How was your day?” I get a heck of a lot more in overhearing somebody tell the Spiderman doll (sorry, “action figure”) he can’t sit next to Captain America because he has a new friend now. In a world of parental controls, GPS tracking, and alert systems, the best monitoring in my opinion is the good old-fashioned way: paying attention. Do I censor? No. Do I monitor? Without question.

    Would I let one of my children read The Thornbirds? Yes. I’d kind of like to know how it ends.

    In the top 10 list of the most frequently challenged or banned books of 2015 4 of them were for children and young adults:

    ×
    Looking for Alaska

    Looking for Alaska

    by John Green

    View Details

    Before: Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . .

    After: Nothing is ever the same.

    Get Looking for Alaska
    Get Looking for Alaska
    Get Looking for Alaska

    ×
    I Am Jazz

    I Am Jazz

    by Jessica Herthel & Jazz Jennings

    View Details

    From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl’s brain in a boy’s body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn’t feel like herself in boys’ clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way. Jazz’s story is based on her real-life experience and she tells it in a simple, clear way that will be appreciated by picture book readers, their parents, and teachers.

    Get I Am Jazz
    Get I Am Jazz
    Get I Am Jazz

    ×
    Nasreen’s Secret School

    Nasreen’s Secret School

    by Jeanette Winter

    View Details

    Young Nasreen has not spoken a word to anyone since her parents disappeared. In despair, her grandmother risks everything to enroll Nasreen in a secret school for girls. Will a devoted teacher, a new friend, and the worlds she discovers in books be enough to draw Nasreen out of her shell of sadness? Based on a true story from Afghanistan, this inspiring book will touch readers deeply as it affirms both the life-changing power of education and the healing power of love.

    Get Nasreen’s Secret School
    Get Nasreen’s Secret School
    Get Nasreen’s Secret School

    ×
    Two Boys Kissing

    Two Boys Kissing

    by David Levithan

    View Details

    In his follow-up to the New York Times bestselling author of Every Day, and David Levithan, coauthor of bestsellers Will Grayson, Will Grayson (with John Green) and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (with Rachel Cohn), crafts a novel that the Los Angeles Times calls “open, frank, and ultimately optimistic.”

    Based on true events—and narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS—Two Boys Kissing follows Harry and Craig, two seventeen-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record. While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teens dealing with universal questions of love, identity, and belonging.

    Get Two Boys Kissing
    Get Two Boys Kissing
    Get Two Boys Kissing

    The post Should You Let Your Child Read ‘Inappropriate’ Books? appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.

  • Dherbs Review: Does it Work?

    What is it? 

    Dherbs is a weight loss diet said to detox the body in just 20 days with all natural ingredients. It’s claimed that within this 20 days, you’ll be able to lose anywhere from 10 to 30 pounds.

    It’s used to help boost the immune system, strengthen and rejuvenate the body, improve the look and feel of skin, regulate body functions, improve energy, reduce cravings for sugar and junk foods, and to provide a sense of well-being. There’s many beneficial claims made about this detox program, but is it actually useful? What kinds of side effects are possible, and is it good for weight loss? In this Dherbs review you’ll learn everything you need to know.

    Do You Know the Best Diet Shakes of 2016?

    Dherbs Ingredients and Side Effects 

    The total formula has 104 ingredients; here are a few select additives which stand out: 

    Echinacea Augustifolia
    Dragons Blood
    Spirulina
    Kelp
    Dandelion

    Madder
    Manjistha
    Lily of the Valley
    Gingko Biloba
    Schisandra

    Bupleurum
    Boldo
    Amalaki
    Pippali
    Peony Root

    Bhringaraj
    Tulsi
    Vasaka
    Mullein Leaf
    Slipppey Elm Bark

    Bibhitaki
    Dashamula
    Kalmegh
    Tribulus
    Guduchi

    Cork Silk
    Punarnava
    Shatavari
    Buchu
    Goldenroad

    Gravel Root
    Coughgrass
    Pipsissewa
    Nettle
    Horsetail

    Slippery Elm
    Carbon (Activate Charcoal)
    Slippery Elm
    Buckthorn
    Karitaki

    Poke Root

    Dragon’s Blood: Resin taken from a fruit that’s used to help digestion.  There’s a lack of science to help prove this ingredient works, and Web MD confirms this by stating:

    “isn’t enough information available to know how dragon’s blood works” 

    Echinacea Augostofolia: Herb used to fight inflammation and cold and flu symptoms.

    Possible side effects may include:

    Nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. 
    Fever/ dry mouth, headaches. 
    Joint and muscle aches. 
    Insomnia. 
    Dizziness. 
    Rash, itchiness, and redness. 

    Burdock: Plant eaten as a food, and used to fight bacteria and inflammation.

    It’s unknown if taking this to cure symptoms would be safe. Web MD adds:

    “not enough information to know if burdock is safe when taken in medicinal doses” 

    It’s also known to potentially cause rashes. 

    Madder: Plant used as medicine to promote wound healing, and to prevent kidney stones.

    The safety of this ingredient is unknown. Web MD mentions that this is:

    “POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth” 

    “chemicals in madder may cause cancer” 

    It may also cause reddening of saliva, urine, tears, and sweat.

    Chickweed: Considered an invasive weed. This is used to cook with, and as a way to treat vitamin C deficiency. There are no clinical studies on its effects, and Web MD mentions:

    “potential side effects are not known” 

    So it’s unknown if this ingredient would be safe to take.

    Motherwort: Plant used to thin the blood and slow down heart rate. It needs to be taken in exact dosage strengths in order to avoid possible side effects which may include:

    Allergies. 
    Stomach irritation and diarrhea. 
    Dizziness. 
    Bleeding in the uterus. 

    Pau D’Arco: A hard wood grown in parts of South America that’s used for many claimed medical reasons. It’s unknown exactly how this works, or even if it has an effect.

    It’s confirmed by Web MD that this is:

    “POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in typical doses” 

    It’s known to lead to side effects such as:

    Vomiting. 
    Internal bleeding. 
    Diarrhea.        
    Dizziness. 

    Pokeweed: Plant that had traditional use as a cure all for things like muscle and joint swelling, skin cancers, and several other conditions.

    Though it’s unknown exactly how this ingredient works, and according to Web MD: 

    “Pokeweed is UNSAFE to use” 

    “All parts of the pokeweed plant… are poisonous” 

    Side effects may include:

    Diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. 
    Low blood pressure. 
    Extreme thirst. 
    Many other severe side effects. 

    It’s also not advised to touch this ingredient with your hands, as it can be hazardous and cause itching and swelling.

    EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this supplement with a proven meal replacement such as 18Shake for better results.

    Dherbs Quality of Ingredients 

    Many ingredients in these formulas have been shown to be potentially unsafe. Health sites even mention that you shouldn’t touch, nor should you swallow some of these due to potential toxic effects.

    There’s also ingredients added which have not been shown to have a positive effect on weight loss. So it’s unknown what purpose some of these have.

    Because of the lack of information and clinical studies, as well as no support from the makers, it’s unknown what using some of these ingredients might do.

    There’s ingredients added to this which fail to have any clinical studies to support their use. It’s unknown why they’re added.

    The Price and Quality of Dherbs 

    A full 20 days’ worth of supplements costs $120. You also have to factor in the diet portion, which has you eating only raw uncooked foods.

    You also can’t combine certain foods while on this diet. You’re not allowed to combine fruits with vegetables, or protein and fats with fruits.

    However, the makers never provide evidence of why this is necessary for weight loss. They also never provide clinical studies to show how this formula is safe or effective. There are many claims about how this is a proper way to detoxify and cleanse the body, but ingredients in this have not been proven to have any effect at all.

    Since some of the ingredients may be potentially harmful, it’s important to know what proof they have that taking this would be safe.

    There are ingredients added to this diet plan which have been shown to be toxic. As you’ll see in the “Customer Opinions of Dherbs” section, there have also been several complaints about side effects. 

    Business of Dherbs 

    DHE, Inc. owns this brand and they can be reached below: 

    Phone Number: (866) 434-3727 

    Address: 2734 Fletcher Drive

    Los Angeles, CA 90039

    There’s also only a 15 day money back return on unopened and undamaged bottles.

    There are also a total of 6 complaints on their Better Business Bureau page, with people complaining about a lack of returns within the 15 days.

    People have also complained about the lack of customer service support:

    “they are rude, unprofessional and I have been hung up on twice” 

    One customer was also told that he was wrong in complaining about side effects: 

    “Dherb representative contacted me and told me that the pills did not cause the issue” 

    The customers tried explaining that their doctors mentioned they shouldn’t continue taking these supplements due to negative effects, but the Dherbs employees told them that this was impossible.

    Due to the lack of a money back guarantee on unopened bottles, those who suffered side effects were forced to pay the full amount without a possibility to gain their money back.

    EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results with meal replacement shakes diet our experts recommend to use it at least 5 months. Save your money buying a few bags of meal replacement product.

    Customer Opinions of Dherbs 

    There are a total of 34 negative reviews on this detox diet plan:

    “curdled on my bathroom floor with terrible stomach pain and nausea” 

    “I vomited so violently the first night it was ridiculous” 

    “I did not lose any weight with this product” 

    “This product is the worst I have ever tried” 

    Side effects were a major complaint from customers. This includes symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, ill feelings, and flu like symptoms. For many, this was far too difficult to continue, and customers often stopped taking it way before the full 20 days were up. The overwhelming symptoms made it impossible for people to safely continue using the Dherbs diet plan.

    Many said that they failed to lose weight, and others add that any possible weight loss is likely due to the dehydration and diarrhea.

    Not only were some customers dissatisfied, but these same users claimed they regret ever making a purchase. Especially since no money back return is possible on opened bottles.

    Conclusion – Does Dherbs Work? 

    The Dherbs detox diet might catch your attention due to its claims of fast and easy weight loss. Unfortunately, this plan doesn’t have any proof to back up any of its claims. Customers have also complained about major side effects as well as a lack of customer support. The company has also failed to provide any evidence that the ingredients used would be safe to use.

    Some of the ingredients in this formula are advised by health sites to be avoided in any form, as they might cause toxic side effects. A much better option exists that isn’t made with clinically untested ingredients, and without having to introduce extreme raw dieting.

    The 2016 best diet plan out now is called the 18 Diet Plan. In it are an all-natural metabolism booster, a meal replacement shake, and an e book explaining the diet in full. It’s only made with all natural, studied ingredients, which customers have enjoyed without any harsh side effects.

    This diet plan is also made only with all natural ingredients, no binders, stimulants, or potentially toxic additives. That’s why customers have approved this diet plan; many have already lost significant amounts of weight in a safe way. You can read about this weight loss success on their official website. Testimonials are offered showing just how easy and safe weight loss results were.

    The 18 Diet Plan is also backed by a full 30 day money back guarantee, so there’s no risks of using a potentially dangerous or ineffective weight loss diet.


  • Jul 7, Juice Fasting for Quick Weight Loss, Healing and Body Detoxification

    In this juice fasting page we will explain how this discipline works and provide detailed instructions and recipes to help you get started right away.

  • South of France Cookbook Recipe: Pampelonne Cocktail

    Pampelonne-champagne_rose-400(1)Cool down this summer with a glamorous granita. From the South of France Cookbook.

    FOR THE GRANITA
    2 cups (16 fl oz/500 ml) freshly squeezed blood orange juice (about 7 oranges)
    finely grated zest of 3 oranges
    ½ cup plus 1 tbsp (4¼ oz/about 130 g) unrefined superfine sugar

    FOR THE COCKTAILS
    ½ cup (4 fl oz/120 ml) Dubonnet Rouge
    2½ tbsp tonic water

    Mix all the granita ingredients together in a freezerproof container until the sugar has completely dissolved. You might need a little more or less sugar, depending on how sweet the oranges are. Place the container in the freezer until the liquid has frozen. Remove it and let it thaw for about 15 minutes, then start to scrape away at the ice with a fork, in forward strokes. After a few minutes you should have a bright red mound of icy crystals. Half fill two tumbler glasses with the blood orange granita. Mix the Dubonnet and tonic water together and pour on top of the granita. Bon apéritif!

    The post South of France Cookbook Recipe: Pampelonne Cocktail appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.