Frequently Asked Questions
I invite you to ask yourself the following questions. Only you have the answers so be as honest as possible.
• What do I want for myself?
• What are the positive and negative consequences of the decisions I am making in my life?
• Am I protecting my body and my heart with my actions?
• Am I hurting someone else with any of my behaviors?
• How I can I help the people around me?
• What are some things that I can I do to make my loved ones feel good?
• Am I fulfilling my responsibilities as a student?
Take your time and think about your answers to these questions. Once you have them, make a plan of action for yourself. It is normal to have concerns, doubts, fears, joys and other emotions. Little by little change what you noticed that needs to be changed.
This stage in your life is the ideal time to build your future. It is a time to learn to know yourself, to accept yourself and to become aware of what you want. You hold a future full of satisfaction and happiness in your own hands.
The power is yours!
Candy and many other treats contain lots of sugar and so-called "empty calories." Syrups, honey and regular soda are also high in sugar. Empty calories are to the calories from foods with little nutritional value. They have few vitamins, minerals or fiber and provide only quick, temporary energy. They are not part of a healthy diet and quick energy can be obtained from fruits and cereals which do provide important nutrients.
It is very important to remember that at this stage of your life you are growing and your body needs a healthy diet full of nutrients and vitamins in order for you to feel your best.
Try to eat a diet that includes vegetables (things like broccoli, carrot, chayote, squash, eggplant, fruits (apples, strawberries, bananas, grapes), dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese), protein (beef, chicken, fish, eggs, nuts), flour and grains (bread, tortillas, cereals, rice, beans). Use products that are low-fat and are low in sugar and salt. This kind of a diet will help you to grow strong and healthy.
If you decide to eat candy then do it in moderation, i.e., not very often and in small quantities.
Here are several ways to manage stress:
• Exercise. It has been shown that exercise done in a planned, supervised and directed ways can lead to a reduction in stress.
• Sleep 6 to 8 hours every night. A proper sleep pattern during the night will “fix” the fatigue that occurs during the day's activities.
• Leisure activities or entertainment. Doing things that are of personal interests – things like painting, writing, knitting, playing a musical instrument, reading, cooking – help to reduce stress.
• Breathing exercises. Deep breathing exercises (example: take a breath through your nose, hold it for about 4 seconds and then blow it out through your mouth) will oxygenate the body and help you relax.
If you practice these stress reduction recommendations, they will help you to reduce your stress and increase your well-being.
You probably suffer from” lactose intolerance." This is a problem for many people because they lack, or have a low level of an enzyme called lactase located in the small intestine. Its function is to metabolize or break down lactose (milk sugar) so it can be digested properly. A person with this condition will often have symptoms after drinking milk or eating dairy products. The symptoms will vary depending on the level of the deficiency of the lactase enzyme and the amount of food consumed.
Some of the symptoms that may occur are:
• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal distension (blotting)
• Flatulence (gas)
• Weight-loss
• Diarrhea
• Defecation, constipation and heartburn
• Skin rashes
There are now many "lactose-free" foods -- foods where the lactose has been removed, but they retain all the nutrients and vitamins found in dairy products. You should be able to eat them without a problem. Look for them in your supermarket.
