All posts by HealthyLife

HealthyLife is a part of www.WeRIndia.com, an all India – centric website (https://healthylife.werindia.com) and is solely owned and operated by WeRIndia.com. It is a Indian nutritional portal providing educational articles.This nutritional port was launched on February 5th, 2015.
RED BELL PEPPER AND TOMATO SOUP

Red Bell Pepper And Tomato Soup

Both red bell pepper (red capsicum) and tomatoes are loaded with good nutrients stuff.

Bell pepper is not only an excellent source of carotenoids, but also a source of over 30 different members of the carotenoid nutrient family. A recent study from Spain took a close look vitamin C, vitamin E, and six of these carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin) in all commonly eaten foods and found that only two vegetables contained at least two-thirds of all the listed nutrients.

Tomatoes are one of the healthiest food and has several goodies in it. Tomatoes are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content, including rich concentration of lycopene. They are rich source of vitamin C, vitamin K and Tomatoes contain all four major carotenoids: alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene.

Try this simple and easy recipe of vegetarian soup that has both these good vegetables as main ingredients. 

Red bell pepper & tomato soup recipe: (preparation and cooking time : 35-40 minutes)

Ingredients:

  1. Red bell peppers: 2
  2. Olive oil or canola oil: 2 Tsp
  3. Onion: 1 finely chopped
  4. Garlic cloves: 2, finely crushed
  5. Tomatoes: 8-10
  6. Potato – 3 inch piece (optional – add to keep consistency slightly thick)
  7. Ginger – Half inch
  8. Black pepper: 1 tsp
  9. Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
  10. Cilantro – 1/4 cup
  11. Dried parsley – 1 tsp (optional)
  12. White bread crumbs: Few

Preparation:

  • Cut pepper half and remove seeds. In broiler rack place the cut pepper with skin side up and cook for few minutes until the pepper skin slightly charred.
  • In large pan heat oil, add cumin seeds, onion, ginger and garlic. Sauté for few minutes until onion turns golden brown.
  • Remove the skin from peppers and chop the peppers.
  • Cut the tomatoes to into chunks.
  • Add peppers, potato piece and tomatoes to pan and add little water, cover the lid and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add salt and crushed pepper and boil for few more minutes. Remove pan from the stove allow it to cool.
  • Transfer the cooled ingredients to a grinder or food processor – process it until you get smooth soup texture.
  • Transfer content to a vessel and warm it slightly. Add dried parsley and cilantro.
  • Serve adding little cream or butter of choice and white bread crumbs.

Recipe: www.werindia.com

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 11, 2016
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EDUCATE YOURSELF BEFORE TAKING HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS

Educate Yourself Before Taking Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements are easily available in market. They are also commonly known as botanicals. As more and more people consume over the counter botanical supplements to boost health, there is also a growing concern about people consuming these supplements without knowing the side effects or risk these herbal supplements can cause when you are particularly on certain medications.  According to National Institute of Health and article published by pharmacy times people who have following conditions should be careful or avoid or must inform their doctors before consuming any herbal supplements.

  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • An enlarged prostate gland
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • Heart disease
  • Hypertension
  • Immune system disorders
  • Thyroid problems
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • History of liver or kidney problems
  • History of stroke

Before taking herbal supplements do your homework and find out

  1. Is it okay to use or is it safe?
  2. Does it really work for me?
  3. What dosage works?
  4. What part of the plant works? (root, stem, leaf)
  5. Am I allergic to any of the chemical constituent of that particular herb?

Natural does not mean always safe:

  • Research has confirmed health benefits of some dietary supplements but not others.
  • Talk to your health care team. Tell all of those involved in your health care — physical and mental health — that you’re considering taking an herbal supplement.
  • Get a quality product. Check the label for the plant’s common and Latin names and the plant part used,. If it is the root that is effective, you will not benefit from tablets made from the stem.
  • Check the seal: Before buying supplement check the resource and FDA website for more information. Herbals are the most likely of all supplements to contain contaminants. The three major quality seals are the USP seal (US Pharmacopeia), the NSF seal (National Sanitation Foundation), and the CL seal, issued by Cooperman’s Consumer Lab. Each of these seals indicates that the product ingredients match the label and that if there are contaminants present, they do not exceed safe levels.
  • A suggestion is major store brands or manufacturers of FDA-regulated drugs are the most likely to adhere to quality standards.
  • Test tablets – they should dissolve in water in 45 minutes as it is in your body. If not, there may be high contamination or some malfunctioning in the product.
  • For your safety, read and follow the label instructions, and remember that “natural” does not always mean “safe.” One herbal supplement may contain dozens of compounds and that all of its ingredients may not be known.

Herbal supplements and possible risks:

  1. Echinacea: Beautiful herb known to fight common cold and viral infections

 Risk: May reduce the effectiveness of drugs including breast cancer.

  1. Lavender: Lavender oil is so popular because of its soothing fragrance. It helps in anxiety, depression, Insomnia, pain and spasms

 Risk: May enhance the effects of sedatives and increase risk of bleeding with anticoagulants

  1. Alfalafa: Alfalfa is in use to heal burns and cold sores. It aids colitis and diabetes treatment

    Risk: May interfere with contraceptives and hormonal therapy

  1. Garlic: Cloves of garlic is gaining more and more popularity for its help in various conditions. Garlic oil reduces cold, cloves  taken empty stomach every morning helps in weight reduction by acting on fat. It also aids the treatment of high cholesterol and high blood pressure

Risk: May interfere with absorption of medications and require insulin dosage adjustment

  1. John’s wort: St. John’s wort has been in use to relieve  depression fatigue, insomnia and pain

 Risk: May reduce effectiveness of HIV/AIDS drugs and anti-rejection drugs, contraceptives

6. Turmeric: Turmeric is very popular and is in use from many centuries in Ayurveda. Curcumin content of the turmeric makes it a wonderful herb and it is known to prevent cancer, treat infections and reduce body inflammation.

Risk: Turmeric may lessen the effect of blood pressure medication and inhibit effectiveness of     some cancer drugs.

  1. Kava: Kava (Piper methysticum) can reduce anxiety, and for some it has worked as well as prescription anti-anxiety drugs.

Risk: The National Institutes of Health and the FDA urge people not to take kava because of the   risk of serious illness, liver damage, and death even when taken for only a short time at normal doses.  Kava can worsen depression and is not safe for women who are pregnant or breast-  feeding. Because the herb has effects similar to those of alcohol, the two should not be combined.

  1. Comfrey: Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) has a well-deserved reputation for healing injured tissues, such as wounds, bruises, sprains, bone fractures, and the swelling and inflammation.

Risk: Experts caution that comfrey should never be taken by mouth. The FDA recommended in    2001 that manufacturers remove comfrey products from the market. Still, comfrey is easy to  find.  The U.S. Pharmacopeia, advises against using comfrey on broken skin, as the toxins that may affect the liver can be absorbed.

  1. Chaparral :Chaparral (Larrea divaricata, Larrea tridentata) is said to reduce pain, inflammation, and skin irritation. Chaparral has been promoted as a cancer-fighting herb, but according to the American Cancer Society, there is no evidence supporting that, either.

 Risk: Easily found online in many forms, chaparral has been listed in the FDA’s poisonous plant    database since 1997 because of the risk of severe — and in some cases, irreversible — liver   damage.

 1o. Ginkgo biloba:  Ginkgo leaf is often taken by mouth for memory disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. It is also used for conditions that seem to be due to reduced blood flow in the brain, especially in older people.

Risk: Possible Risk of Increased Bleeding (Especially with Surgery)

11. Ginseng: Both Asian and American ginsengs (Panax ginseng and quinquefolius) are very popular. Asian ginseng is popular in use to boost immune system and American ginseng to control cold.

Risk:  Anorexia, headache, change in blood pressure and bleeding.

References:

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 9, 2016
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LOW FAT WHOLE MOONG DAAL LADDU FOR SHIVARATRI

Low Fat Whole Moong Daal Laddu For Shivaratri

Shivaratri day devotees fast entire day and will thrive on fruits and simple snacks. One such snack is traditional moong daal laddu. This recipe uses whole moong daal where the outer husk of the seeds will be still intact. This is a low fat  laddu recipe that supplies protein, fiber and little amount of fat.

Moong daal is good for digestive system and fills the stomach with little amount.  It is light and easy to digest. It helps in reducing weight and according to Ayurveda dishes made out of moong daal is a good option to reduce stubborn belly fat when eaten in right amount.  It has low glycemic index (25). Vitamins: A, B Vitamins (Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid) Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin K. It contains minerals: Calcium, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Zinc, Copper and Manganese. They also contain skin anti-aging properties that stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin, all essential to younger healthier skin.

Ingredients:

  • Whole moong dal : 1 cup
  • Sugar – 1 cup Ghee – 1/2 cup
  • Grated Dry coconut – 1/2 cup
  • Cardamom – 3 or 4
  • Cashews & Raisins – Few (10 -15)

Preparation:

  1. Roast moong dal in a pan on low flame till dal turns golden brown and gives good aroma.
  2. Cool the roasted dal and dry grind it to a fine powder. (Alternatively, one can buy moong dal powder from the store).
  3. Sieve the grinded powder and collect fine powder.
  4. Powder the sugar and keep it aside.
  5. In a pan heat 1 tsp ghee and fry raisins and cashew nuts till golden color & keep aside.
  6. Now , take powdered sugar and add about 1/2 cup of water in a deep pan. Stir it continuously until sugar melts. It may take 3-4 mins. Test with spoon by dropping the sugar liquid from the spoon. When there is appearance of threads while pouring the liquid – syrup is ready.
  7. Now to sugar syrup, add moong dal powder, ghee, grated dry coconut,  dry fruits and cardamom    Mix all the ingredients well.
  8. When the mixture is warm, take a handful of the mixture and make round ball and prepare laddu. Repeat the same with rest of the mixture.
  9. Store laddu in air tight container & consume one or two laddus per day.

Recipe: www.werindia.com

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 7, 2016
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EXERCISE WHILE STUDYING - NEW CONCEPT INTRODUCED IN TROY COLLEGE

Exercise While Studying – New Concept Introduced In TROY College

Amanda Froelich (www.trueactivist.com)

Obesity is on the rise in the United States and, as a result, so are weight-related diseases of affluence. One of the best ways to prevent modern-day killers, such as heart disease, strokes, and diabetes, is to engage in physical exercise 4-5 days a week, for around 30 minutes per day.

Unfortunately, due to hectic lifestyles and the stress of exams, few college students have mastered the art of fitting in time to exercise.

To combat weight-related illnesses but also encourage students to train their minds, Alabama’s Troy University installed work out bikes with laptop stands at the Troy and Dothan campus libraries.

The idea is simple, really, but genius.

The benefits of exercise extend far beyond just physical health. Physical activity also benefits the mental capacities of hardworking students, providing them with a sense of calm in the chaos which is college.

Said the Troy University Libraries:

“We are also ordering 6 elliptical machines that can go under desks that we will be adding to this room. Most likely more bikes will be added as well.”

Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/college-library-installs-exercise-bikes-so-students-can-stay-fit-while-studying/

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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Grandma's Summer Recipe - Tambuli

Grandma’s Ajwani Leaf Recipes

Summer starts soon and we have to consume such foods that will help our body to keep cool and energetic during hot summer season.  During summer several such herbs are available in home garden or local markets that act as coolant for our body.  These herbs can be used to prepare stomach friendly dishes and all these dishes will have curd (yogurt) or buttermilk and named Tambuli. Also, one can prepare delicious green or red chutney using these medicinal herbs .

Ajwani (Karpooravalli or Doddapatre, Patharchur) is a medicinal herb (Coleus aromaticus) which has been in use in Ayurveda for many centuries. Leaf, stem and seeds of the plant have many medicinal properties. It is very useful for parents who have little children at home. It is useful in controlling cough, cold, indigestion, sore throat etc. Grandma’s two traditional ajwani recipes are below:

TAMBULI

Ingredients:

  1. Ajwani leaves : 10 -12
  2. Cumin seeds: 1 Tea spoon
  3. Pepper : 1 tsp
  4. Green chilly :1 ( usually they are made less spicy )
  5. Urad daal – 1/2 tsp
  6. Coconut – 1/4 cup grated
  7. Curd or butter milk : 1 & 1/2 cup
  8. Ghee: 1 tp
  9. Asafetida – a pinch
  10. Salt : to taste

For tempering

  1. Ghee – 1 tsp
  2. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  3. Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp
  4. Curry leaves : 5 to 6 leaves
  5. Red chilly – 1 broken ( optional )

Preparation:

  • Wash ajawani leaves thoroughly and remove water by keeping leaves on a paper or tissue. Cut leaves into small pieces
  • Heat a pan and add 1 tsp oil and add cut ajwani leaves to heated oil. Fry leaves for few minutes. When you see the leaves are totally turns to dark green by giving up water remove leaves from the stove.
  • Transfer fried & cooked leaves to a dry plate to cool down.
  • In a pan heat the ghee and add pepper, cumin seeds, urad daal and Fry them. After frying turn off the stove and mix the content with coconut.
  • Grind all the contents with ajwani leaves and green chilly by adding little water and salt. Transfer content to a vessel and add buttermilk or curd.
  • Heat ghee in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, asafetida and red chilli. Transfer this on tambuli.
  • Serve tambuli with white rice as a lunch dish.

AJWANI LEAVES CHUTNEY

Ingredients:

  1. Ajwani leaves -10 (cut into small pieces)
  2. Red chillies -3
  3. Pepper -1/2 tsp
  4. Urad daa- 1/2 tsp.
  5. Coconut grated – 1/2 cup
  6. Tamarind -1/2 lemon size.
  7. Oil – 1 tsp

Preparation:

  • Heat a pan and dry roast the chillies, pepper and urad daal until urad daal turns golden brown.
  • Add cut ajwani leaves and fry for few minutes. Now add coconut and tamarind and saute it.
  • Cool and course grind in a grinder by adding 1/2 tsp salt.
  • Heat ghee in a pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, asafoetida and one red chilly. Transfer this to chutney and mix.
  • Have chutney with white rice, pulav, chapatti or roti.

Caution: Do not consume raw leaves as they have tiny hair and aroma may cause itchy throat.

Recipe: www.WerIndia.com

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 4, 2016
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HELP YOUR KIDNEYS TO BE HAPPY & HEALTHY

Help your Kidneys to be Happy & Healthy

Kidneys are the organs that get rid of toxin waste from our body. They are situated posterior side of our abdomen. Kidneys work with other organs of our body to increase RBC production, regulating blood pressure and helps in synthesizing critical Vitamin D.  Why anybody has to go through the process of cleansing the kidneys? It is important to keep our kidneys healthy and clean. If you are –

  • feeling fatigued or more tired than usual.
  • you feel pain in your kidneys after eating certain foods
  • you are experiencing skin problems like eczema, acne or rashes.
  • you have a hormonal imbalance or feel extra moody.
  • you have had kidney stones in the past.
  • experiencing weight gain and bloating.

Ancient medicines like Ayurveda and home remedies combined has many such kidney cleansing juices.

1) Coriander water: Coriander or cilantro seeds are helpful in removing toxins. Boil 2 tsp of coriander seeds in 1 &1/2 cup water. Strain the water and drink two times a day.

2) Cranberry juice: Cranberries are powerful berries and has been touted for years as supporter for the urinary tract. Research shows that cranberries can help fight against urinary tract infections, possibly by decreasing the adhesion of bacteria to the bladder and urethra.

3) Lemon juice: Lemon being acidic protects kidney from developing kidney stones. The citrate level increase helps in this process. Squeeze 4-5 lemons into a quart of cold water and drink up. For a warming beverage, squeeze one quarter to one-half a lemon into 8 ounces of hot water daily & drink it throughout the day.

4) Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) : Roots of Shatavari has antioxidant that supports healthy kidney. It stimulates the immune system. Boil Shatavari root or root powder in water and drink ( half to one ounce).

5) Watermelon and lime: Try this – 2 cups of watermelon and juice of one lemon – mix both and blend & drink it. Watermelon is high in water content and potassium. It helps to remove small kidney stones. Together with lime, it gives good boost to body and also helps in cleansing kidneys.

6) Carrots & cucumber: To flush excess uric acid these two power packed vegetables are good. Prepare juice with 2 carrots & one cucumber.  Drink to flush the excess toxins sitting in kidney.

7) Radish juice: Radishes are super detoxifiers for the liver and gallbladder, and help the kidneys flush out excess toxins. Mix one cup radish, one cup purple cabbage and one rib of celery.  Add little water, prepare juice and have.

8)  Spinach, kale and carrots: Add 15 leaves spinach, kale and two carrots and prepare juice with little water. Drink this juice. Packed with antioxidants, digestive fiber, iron – this juice detoxifies the body while cleansing both liver and kidney.

9) Try this mix to remove kidney stones : 1 cup pure maple syrup, 9 ounces extra virgin olive oil

9 ounces lemon (with peel), 9 ounces parsley root, 9 ounces raw organic honey

Scrub the lemon and cut into pieces with the peel still on, then put it in a blender and process. Next, clean and scrape the parsley root, cut it into chunks, add to blender and process in with the lemon. Then add the maple syrup, honey and olive oil and process once more until you get a smooth, well-blended mixture. You can store this is an airtight glass bottle in the refrigerator.

Finally, try these yoga pose that helps kidneys to be active.

1) This pose is called Squeezing and soaking action. Sit straight and stretch one leg to 45 degrees.  Let the feet be flexed. Fold the other leg so that the feet touch the inner thigh of the stretched leg. Now, slowly breath and turn your torso towards the stretched leg and bend. Hold the pose and slowly breathe in and out. Repeat this on the other side too. While you bend and twist, we wring out the kidneys, getting rid of all the toxins and supplies oxygenated blood to the area.

2) If possible sit on your folded legs (similar to child pose but sitting straight). Fold both of your fists and place under your naval region. Now start bending towards the floor. While bending keep turning your fists in a way that fists massages the kidney and stomach. This again, activates the kidney and intestine – helps in easy removal of toxins.

3) Sit in easy pose on the mat or floor. While breathing slowly bend and bring your arms right side and hold the pose.  Without lifting the heads up, slowly move the arms to center – your body is folded now in the center. Slowly move from center to left side and hold the pose. This pose not only stretches the side but also, acts on kidney, liver and intestinal parts.

References:

Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:3D_Medical_Animation_depicting_Kidney_Layers.jpg

Attribution: https://www.scientificanimations.com / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: March 1, 2016
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Curry leaf chutney

Curry leaves chutney

Recipe by: Mamatha Anil (http://bhakshyabhojana.blogspot.in/)

The curry tree is a tropical to sub-tropical tree in the family Rutaceae  which is native to India and Sri Lanka. Curry leaves are natural flavoring agents with a number of important health benefits, which makes your food both healthy and tasty along with pleasing aroma. They contain various antioxidant properties and have the ability to control diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion, excessive acid secretion, peptic ulcers, dysentery, diabetes and an unhealthy cholesterol balance. They are also believed to have cancer-fighting properties and are known to help protect the liver. Curry leaves are good for hair growth. Chemical constituents present in curry leaves include carbazole alkaloids are responsible for antioxidant properties of this plant species.

Curry leaves chutney recipe : 

Ingredients:

  1. Curry leaves( Karibevu ) 1 cup
  2. Grated coconut 1/4 cup
  3. Chana dal 2-3 tsp
  4. Toor dal 2-3 tsp
  5. Urad dal 2-3 tsp
  6. Green chilies 3
  7. Tamarind lemon size
  8. Cumin seeds 1/4 tsp
  9. Mustard 1/4 tsp
  10. Asafoetida pinch
  11. Salt
  12. Oil

Method:

  1. Wash curry leaves and set aside. Soak tamarind in water.
  2. Heat a tsp of oil in a pan, fry cumin seeds, toor dal, chana dal, urad dal, green chilies and grated coconut on low flame. Switch off the stove and transfer it to a plate.
  3. In the same pan fry curry leaves until they are crispy. Switch off the stove and let it cool down.
  4. Take all the fried ingredients,tamarind extract, salt and little water in mixer and blend into smooth paste.
  5. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard and asafoetida. Add ground paste and water. Let it cook for 1 minute. Switch off the stove. Serve with dosa, idli or Rice.
Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: February 29, 2016
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The Shelter Buddy Reading Program

The Shelter Buddy Reading Program

The Shelter Buddy Reading Program improves dogs’ dispositions, thereby helping more pups find forever homes.

Shelter animals have the toughest time getting adopted. No longer small, fluffy, and innocent, they’ve spent time living with humans and, in effect, have taken on new behaviors or – in the worst case scenario – have been abused and now cower out of fear.

Because people tend to adopt calm and well-mannered dogs, those who have emotional trauma to overcome can either spend years in no-kill shelters or, sadly, be euthanized before they find their forever home.

A humane shelter in Missouri aims to change this and is doing so by warming up the dogs with the presence of compassionate children.

Every month, the Humane Society of Missouri holds the Shelter Buddies Reading Program, in which kids can visit and read to dogs.

The idea, really, is simple: train kids to read to dogs as a way of readying them for permanent homes, all while instilling a greater sense of empathy in the youngsters, too.

The Dodo reports that kids age 6 to 15 can sign up for the program online, after which they are trained how to read a dog’s body language. By knowing if the animal is stressed out or anxious, the kids learn emotional intelligence and are able to discern which dogs could use the most help.

Said Jo Klepacki, the program’s director:

“We wanted to help our shy and fearful dog without forcing physical interaction with them to see the positive effect that could have on them. We launched the program last Christmas, but now we offer it once a month.”

Once a youngster identifies the ‘right’ dog to read to, they are encouraged to sit in front of the kennel and interact with the dog – by reading to them.

Such a simple gesture can go a long way.

“Ideally, that shy and fearful dog will approach and show interest. If so, the kids reenforce that behavior by tossing them a treat,” said Klepacki. “What this is also doing is to bring the animals to the front in case potential adopters come through. They are more likely to get adopted if they are approaching and interacting, rather than hiding in the back or cowering.”

Amazingly, even high-energy dogs are benefiting from the program, too!

Said Klepacki:

“Hearing a child reading can really calm those animals. It is incredible, the response we’ve seen in these dogs.”

When the child completes the 10-hour training program, they are then allowed to come back with a parent and read and sit with the dogs.

The local children are encouraged to take part, not only to benefit the animals but because they benefit greatly from the volunteer work, as well.

“It’s encouraging children to develop empathy with animals. It is a peaceful, quiet exercise. They’re seeing fearfulness in these animals, and seeing the positive affect they can have,” said Klepacki.

“It encourages them to look at things from an animal’s perspective. That helps them better connect with animals and people in their lives.”

The reading program may be new, but it is showing great success in improving the behavior of dogs. In effect, more canines are finding forever homes.

Watch Video :

Image Credit: Humane Society of Missouri

Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/this-humane-shelter-is-improving-dogs-chances-of-being-adopted-by-having-young-kids-read-to-them/

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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