Alcohol

"Hey, who wants a drink?" "Oh come on, just one drink won't hurt you. It's fun." "It's cool. Everybody drinks, right?"

Wrong.

Drinking alcohol is dangerous for kids and teens and sometimes for adults, too. Alcohol is a drug, and it is the drug most abused by teens. Many kids have their first drink at an early age, as young as 10 or 11 or even younger.

It's easy for kids to get the wrong message about alcohol. They might see their parents drink, or watch TV commercials that make drinking look like a lot of fun. You might see people drinking and watching sports together or having a big party.

But alcohol is actually a depressant. That means it's a drug that slows down or depresses the brain. Like many drugs, alcohol changes a person's ability to think, speak, and see things as they really are. A person might lose his or her balance and have trouble walking properly. The person might feel relaxed and happy and later start crying or get in an argument.

What Happens When People Drink?

When people drink too much, they might do or say things they don't mean. They might hurt themselves or other people, especially if they drive a car. Someone who drinks too much also might throw up and could wake up the next day feeling awful — that's called a hangover. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can kill a person. Over time, someone who abuses alcohol can do serious damage to his or her body. The liver, which removes poisons from the blood, is especially at risk.

Because alcohol can cause such problems, the citizens and government leaders in this country have decided that kids shouldn't be allowed to buy or use alcohol. By setting the drinking age at 21, they hope older people will be able to make good decisions about alcohol. For instance, they don't want people to drink alcohol and drive cars because that's how many accidents occur.

What Is Alcoholism?

What can be confusing about alcohol is that some grown-ups seem to be able to enjoy it occasionally with no problems. Other people, though, can develop a problem with it. Sometimes, that's called alcoholism (say: al-kuh-hol-ism) or being an alcoholic (say: al-kuh-hol-ik). Someone who has alcoholism craves alcohol. The person has little control over his or her drinking and can't stop without help. A person who starts drinking alcohol at a young age is more likely to develop alcoholism.

Alcoholism is chronic, which means it continues over time. It often gets worse, too, because the person may start experiencing health problems related to drinking. In addition to causing liver problems, long-term drinking can damage the pancreas, heart, and brain.

Say No

It can be tempting to try alcohol. It's normal to be curious about new things, especially if it seems like everyone is doing it. But everyone is not drinking alcohol. Don't believe it if someone says you're immature for not drinking. You're actually more mature (which means grown up) because you're being strong and smart.

Still, it can be hard if you feel unpopular because of your decision. Good friends won't stop being your friend just because you don't want to drink alcohol. If you feel this kind of pressure, talk to someone you trust.

And if you're concerned about a friend who's drinking, you should tell one of your parents, a school counselor, or another trusted adult. That way, someone can talk with your friend before the alcohol causes a big problem. Unfortunately, some kids who drink may also drop out of school, get in car accidents, start fights, or join in crimes.

But with help, anyone who has a problem with alcohol can be successful at stopping. And if you're still a kid, help yourself by not starting in the first place!

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: November 2007
Originally reviewed by: Eugene Shatz, MD

Healthy Diet Plan With Rice

Nowadays people always forget about their health when they are trying to reach their goals. It's the same story with diets, people try to lose weight fast using dangerous diet plans or stop eating at all and do not think that they can lose their health with pounds. Healthy diet plans may be not so powerful and won't give you magical results but you will be healthy and sometimes even healthier. Healthy diet plans are created not only to help you lose weight but to improve health and give you more energy.

This diet plan will help you to improve your metabolism and lose 5 pounds in one week. The main course of this diet is rice. Rice contains necessary substances for the organism and helps you to lose weight; the most important thing is that it contains enough of carbohydrates necessary for burning of fat.

It is recommended to boil rice without salt and oil.

Here is one week rice diet plan:

Monday

Breakfast: 1 glass of milk, 1 small toast.

Lunch: 150 g of rice, 100 g of salad made of raw vegetables.

Dinner: 100 g of boiled meat, 150 g of salad made of raw vegetables, 1 glass of apple juice

Tuesday

Breakfast: 100 g of fat-free cottage cheese, a cup of tea or black coffee without sugar.

Lunch: 150 of boiled meat, 100 g of rice.

Dinner: 200 g of salad made of fresh tomatoes and onions mixed with a small amount of vegetable oil, 1 glass of tomato juice.

Wednesday

Breakfast: 100 g of boiled meat, a cup of tea without sugar.

Lunch: 150 g of boiled fish, 150 g of salad made of cabbage, onions and green peas.

Dinner: 150 g of rice, 1 apple, 1 glass of apple juice.

Thursday

Breakfast: 100 g of boiled low-fat pork. A cup of tea or black coffee without sugar.

Lunch: a plate of vegetable soup and a small slice of black bread.

Dinner: 100 g of boiled meat with 150 g of rice. 1 glass of apple juice.

Friday

Breakfast: 1 glass of milk, 1 toast.

Lunch: 150 g of boiled fish, 2 boiled potatoes, 100 g of salad made of fresh carrots with a little bit of low-fat mayonnaise.

Dinner: 100 g of boiled low-fat mutton, 150 of vegetable salad.

Saturday

Breakfast: 1 boiled egg, a cup of tea without sugar with 2 fresh cookies.

Lunch: 100 g of rice, 100 g of boiled meat.

Dinner: 200g of boiled fish, 100 g of fruit salad made of fresh apples, plums, pears and oranges, a cup of orange juice.

Sunday

Breakfast: 100 g of low-fat sausages, 1 toast, a cup of tea or black coffee without sugar.

Lunch: 100 g of rice, 150 g of salad made of raw vegetables and mixed with one tablespoon of olive oil.

Dinner: 200 g of boiled low-fat mutton, 100 g of salad made of cabbage, onions and green peas.

Also it is recommended to drink a glass of water before each meal.

by Alen Green

Smoking Stinks!

Smoking is one of the worst things kids or adults can do to their bodies. Yet every single day about 4,000 kids between the ages 12 and 17 start smoking. Most middle school students don't smoke — only about 1 in 10 does. And most high school students don't smoke either — about 1 in 4 does (that means 3 out of 4 don't).

But why do those who smoke ever begin?

There's more than just one simple answer. Some kids may start smoking just because they're curious. Others may like the idea of doing something dangerous — something grownups don't want them to do. Still others might know lots of people who smoke and they might think it's a way to act or look like an adult. Fortunately, fewer people are starting smoking than a few years ago.

Maybe that's because more and more people have learned that smoking and tobacco use can cause cancer and heart disease. But sometimes kids can't really think that far into the future to worry about an illness they might not get for many years.

So let's talk about the problems that might affect kids more quickly:

• bad breath
• yellow teeth
• smelly clothes
• more colds and coughs
• difficulty keeping up with friends when playing sports
• empty wallet — cigarettes and tobacco products are very expensive!

Let's find out more about cigarettes and tobacco.

What Are Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco?

Tobacco (say: tuh-ba-ko) is a plant that can be smoked in cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. It's the same plant that's in smokeless tobacco, known as dip, chew, snuff, spit, or chewing tobacco. Smokeless tobacco is not lit or inhaled like tobacco in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Instead, smokeless tobacco is put between the lip and gum and sucked on inside the mouth.

Tobacco contains nicotine (say: nih-kuh-teen), a chemical that causes a tingly or pleasant feeling — but that feeling only lasts for a little while. Nicotine is also addictive (say: uh-dik-tiv). That means that if you start to use nicotine, your body and mind will become so used to it that you'll need to have it just to feel OK.

Anyone who starts smoking could become addicted to it. If you're addicted to something, it's very hard to stop doing it, even if you want to. Some kids get addicted right away. And adults are often addicted, which is why so many of them have a hard time quitting smoking.

Why Is It So Bad for You?

Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco kill hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. You know those rubber bracelets that were created to bring attention to different causes? The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids created a red one with the number 1,200 on it. Why 1,200? That's the number of people who die each day due to smoking.

The nicotine and other poisonous chemicals in tobacco cause lots of diseases, like heart problems and some kinds of cancer. If you smoke, you hurt your lungs and heart each time you light up. It also can make it more difficult for blood to move around in the body, so smokers may feel tired and cranky. The longer you smoke, the worse the damage becomes.

The Other Cost of Smoking

Using tobacco eats up a lot of money, too. A pack of cigarettes costs $4.50, on average. That means, even if you buy just one pack a week, you'll spend $234 in a year. Some people smoke a pack a day, which adds up to $1,642! That's a lot of CDs, computer games, and clothes you could buy instead.

What's It Like?

Usually, people don't like smoking or chewing tobacco at first. Your body is smart, and it knows when it's being poisoned. When people try smoking for the first time, they often cough a lot and feel pain or burning in their throat and lungs. This is your lungs' way of trying to protect you and tell you to keep them smoke free. Also, many people say that they feel sick to their stomachs or even throw up. If someone accidentally swallows chewing tobacco, they may be sick for hours. Yuck.

What if My Friend Smokes?

If you have friends who smoke or use tobacco, you can help them by encouraging them to quit. Here are some reasons you can mention:

• It will hurt their health.
• It will make their breath stinky.
• It will turn their teeth yellow.
• It will give them less endurance when running or playing sports.
• It's expensive.
• It's illegal to buy cigarettes when you're underage.

If you think it will help, you could print out articles like this one to give to a friend who smokes. He or she may be interested in learning more about the dangers of smoking. But people don't like to hear that they're doing something wrong, so your pal also could be a little angry. If that happens, don't push it too much. In time, your friend may realize you are right.

In the meantime, it could help to talk with a parent or a school counselor if you're worried about your friend. When your friend is ready, a grown-up can help him or her quit for good. If your friend decides to quit, lend your support. You might say it's time to kick some butts!

Reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD
Date reviewed: August 2007