Today We Learned About Emperor Penguins!

Winter arrives in Antarctica in March. The continent is in the Southern Hemisphere and has seasons that are opposite those in the north. Nearly all creatures leave except for the emperor, the only animal that spends the winter on Antarctica's open ice. Emperor penguins are the largest of the 17 species, or kinds, of penguins, and they spend their entire lives on Antarctic ice and in its waters. They survive—breeding, raising young, and eating—by relying on a number of clever adaptations. Emperors clump together in huge, huddled masses. They take turns moving to the inside of the group, where they're protected from the icy cold temperatures and wind. Once they've had a chance to warm up, they take their turns back on the circle's edges, giving fellow penguins time in the warmer center. These flightless birds breed in the winter (unlike most birds, which breed in the springtime). After a courtship of several weeks, a female emperor penguin lays one single egg then leaves! Female emperors take off toward the open sea to feed, traveling up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) across the frozen surface. Where does that leave the eggs? At the feet, literally, of the male emperors. Each penguin egg's father balances it on his feet and covers it with his brood pouch, a very warm layer of feathered skin designed to keep the egg cozy. There the males stand, for about 65 days, through icy temperatures, cruel winds, and blinding storms. And they eat nothing that whole time. Finally, after about two months, the females return from the sea, bringing food they regurgitate, or bring up, to feed the now hatched chicks. The males eagerly leave for their own fishing session at sea, and the mothers take over care of the chicks for a while.The youngsters stay sheltered in their mother's brood pouch for two months. If a young chick falls out of that warm spot, it can freeze to death in as little as two minutes. As the young penguins grow, adults leave them in groups of chicks called cr碨es while they leave to fish. They return with food they regurgitate for their young. There is a reason for the timing of emperor penguins' hatching. By December, when the Antarctic weather has warmed somewhat, the ice the penguins occupy begins to break up, bringing open waters closer to the nesting sites.Now the chicks are at the age of independence—old enough to take to the seas and fish for their own food. 

FAST FACTS

The scientific name for the emperor penguin is Aptenodytes forsteri.

Emperor penguins are the largest of all penguins, with an average length of 45 inches (115 centimeters).

Text by Catherine D. Hughes   

National Geographic Kids

Take Care Of Your Family's Heart By Eating Smart

Smarter And Eating Ideas

Chips and a soda may be a convenient after school snack or quick pick from the office vending machine, but it doesn't nourish our body or give us the brain and energy boost that we are so desperately looking for. There are snack options that not only are good for the body, but also good for the brain. In addition to being nutritious and supplying us with an afternoon energy boost, they taste great too.  For proper brain development and continued brain health, vision, the prevention of heart disease, and to promote growth and development throughout childhood, Omega 3 fats are essential. They are not produced in the body, nor are they found in many foods however. Fish, especially fatty fish are an excellent source of Omega 3s but, most of our family snack ideas and menu plans often do not include fish or for that matter many of the really heart smart selections recommended. The three most nutritionally important omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). 

 

Alpha-linolenic acid is one of two fatty acids traditionally classified as "essential." The other fatty acid traditionally viewed as essential is an omega 6 fat called linoleic acid. These fatty acids have traditionally been classified as "essential" because the body is unable to manufacture them on its own and because they play a fundamental role in several physiological functions. As a result, we must be sure our diet contains sufficient amounts of both alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid. 

Dietary sources of alpha-linolenic acid include flaxseeds, walnuts, hemp seeds, soybeans and some dark green leafy vegetables. Linoleic acid is found in high concentrations in corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil. Most people consume a much higher amount of linoleic acid than alpha-linolenic acid, which has important health consequences.  Research indicates that omega-3s may be better absorbed from food than supplements.  

The body converts alpha-linolenic acid into two important omega-3 fats, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). These fats can also be derived directly from certain foods, most notably cold-water fish including salmon, tuna, halibut, and herring. In addition, certain types of algae contain DHA. EPA is believed to play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, while DHA is the necessary for proper brain and nerve development. Recent statistics indicate that nearly 99% of people in the United States do not eat enough omega 3 fatty acids. However, the symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency are very vague, and can often be attributed to some other health conditions or nutrient deficiencies. Consequently, few people (or their physicians, for that matter) realize that they are not consuming enough omega-3 fatty acids. The symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include fatigue, dry and/or itchy skin, brittle hair and nails, constipation, frequent colds, depression, poor concentration, lack of physical endurance, and/or joint pain.

The following conditions or symptoms may indicate a need for more food high in Omega-3:

• Depression
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Fatigue
• Dry, itchy skin
• Brittle hair and nails
• Inability to concentrate
• Joint pain

Foods high in Omega-3 can:

• Reduce inflammation throughout your body
• Keep your blood from clotting excessively
• Maintain the fluidity of your cell membranes
• lower the amount of lipids (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides) circulating in the bloodstream
• decrease platelet aggregation, preventing excessive blood clotting
• inhibit thickening of the arteries by decreasing endothelial cells' production of a platelet-derived growth factor (the lining of the arteries is composed of endothelial cells)
• increase the activity of another chemical derived from endothelial cells (endothelium-derived nitric oxide), which causes arteries to relax and dilate
• reduce the production of messenger chemicals called cytokines, which are involved in the inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis
• reduce the risk of becoming obese and improve the body's ability to respond to insulin by stimulating the secretion of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate food intake, body weight and metabolism, and is expressed primarily by adipocytes (fat cells)
• help prevent cancer cell growth                                                                             

In its 2002 guidelines for omega-3 fatty acid intake, the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences declined to establish a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for omega-3s. However, research was cited showing increased risk of bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke in a few studies following supplementation with omega-3s. Individuals who have disorders involving bleeding, who bruise very easily, or who are taking blood thinners should consult with a medical practitioner before taking supplemental omega-3 fatty acids.
Here is a great link to some great recipes and healthy snack ideas!

 

Hi there and welcome to our newest blog!

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I am so very happy to welcome you to our little corner of the Blogoshpere! I am a WAHM whom wears many many many hats (just like all the rest of you amazing mommies out there!!! I am really excited and blessed to be hanging out in some of the places I've been lately here on the Internet! Never before have I imagined a world where I would feel so empowered as a mother, wife, family, woman, business owner, artist, educator, friend, writer, caregiver, supporter, promoter, advocate, etc. as I do right now being amongst so many very special talented beautiful and giving people! There is INSPIRATION in the air everywhere & I truly believe that as we all just might save this world of ours as ONE after all and LOVE it beautiful with all of our creations and efforts! As you can see I am A)a really out there in a groovy kind of way trippy hippy flower power child B) am crazy in love with my husband and our children living a once in a lifetime magical fairytale adventure journeying together toward our happily ever after with just a few extra twists and turns in our yellow brick road (OMG! WHERE OH WHERE DID TOTO GO NOW FOR GOODNESS SAKES? AND THE CHILDREN? We did leave home with all of them didn't we?:o) ) or C) have been on my own little Odyssey through a great deal of health & personal trauma & loss and ended up spending a little too much time in the house and watching WAY too much TV plugging me into the whole Death, Doom, Devastation, Disease, Destruction..... and so on and so forth until I was just about to go outside and start digging our family underground safe haven all while raising the backyard chickens, growing veggies, storing rice & grain, water, & emergency supplies and plotting & planning what Food And Drugs Store I would HIT for necessary supplies like Flintstone's Chewable vitamins (what?) with my son's teenie weenie purple water gun (Did I mention I had been couped up with little people and their TV way too long too!:o) ) but I finally turned off the TV and then took a shower & a long walk outside, went to bed and D) I'm all better now!!! If you selected any of the above answers or all of them, you'd be right! I am indeed back to normal and seeing the world through Tony Robbin eyes again and I've got a lot of LIVING LOVING & LAUGHING to do so let's get this party started!