December 2011 Archives

That's right - use your unique DNA to help you get a jump on your New Year's Resolution.  If you are over 15, you probably have a New Year's resolution to lose weight.  I don't necessarily agree that we all have to be a Size 2; but I do agree that a healthy weight contributes to a more healthy life style and thus a happier individual.  What?  OK, if you are overweight according to the Body Mass Index and you have been struggling with diet and exercise, perhaps it is your genetic make-up contributing to the extra bit of giggle in your wiggle.

I remember taking a weight lifting class in th early 1990s and asking the instructor on how to get my abs flatter - even back then at 115 pounds - I thought I had to improve my appearance - which is why today I don't think we all need to be a size 2 but we do need to be happy with our size and healthy.  Anyway, the very kind Physical Education teacher told me "you're fighting genetics" - just keep lifting weights and without explanation he moved on to the next student - I didnt' find him to be very motivating and I never took weight lifting again.  The thought that I was "fighting genetics" gave me no incentive to continue to lift weights and go for that flat, tight ab look.  At the same time I had an employer who was a weight lifting buff and he insisted if I did situps and leg crunches I would get that flat ab.  It never happened. 

However, today, with the onset of inflammatory diseases, hypothyroidism and just plain aging I think I have a better understanding of what the Physical Education teacher was saying.  And today, we can perform a non-invasive DNA collection and test for your genetic predisposition.  Do you have an increased endurance capacity? Then a sports physician or trainor might recommend specific supplements and/or exercises to help you over come what is inherent in your DNA.

Perhaps your muscles are more likely to have increased abilities in sports requiring strength and a good consult with a sports physician can educate you on best diet/exercise/supplement/vitamin combination to reach your goals.  Your DNA has the code to how your body was made and how it will perform.  

If your bones have an impaired ability to absorb calcium or Vitamin D, then  you are putting yourself at risk of injury if your goals have been focused on intensity rather than duration.  Increase in exposure to sunlight - especially during the winter months in the Northeast (with sunscreen, naturally) will help you absorb some real Vitamin D.  And as we have learned over the last 5 years, the original Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin D has increased - please check with your physician after you have your Personal Genetic Profile completed so that he/she can interpret and advise you on what is best for your body.

Lipid Metabolism, Folic Acid Metabolism, Iron Absorption and Storage, Salt Sensitive Hypertension, Alcohol Metabolism, Caffeine Metabolism and Gluten Tolerance - if you have dieted at some point in your life - you have heard these terms.  Non Invasive DNA Testing can determine your best course of action on reaching your goals in 2012.

To determine your Body Mass Index, use the following:

Using an average Resting Metabolic Rate of 655 (*) - follow the formula below and add your own information to obtain your maintainance caloric intake: 

655 PLUS (4.35 times your weight in pounds) PLUS (4.7 times your height in inches) MINUS (4.7 times your age) = ________ - is the total number of calories your body requires on a daily basis to maintain your current weight. 

If you want to lose weight, you need to create a deficit or decrease your caloric intake or increase your calories spent (via exercise that increases your metabolic resting heart rate).

(*) RMR or resting metabolic heart rate determines how many calories you should consume each day to properly maintain your body's functions and still lose eweight.  Your body needs a specific number of calories each day for basic functions like breathing and cell repair.

This is an average formula - if you are a member of a gym, or thinking of joining a boot camp - get your DNA Profile done ahead of time (4 week turnaround time) so that your coach knows exactly what type of workout will produce fastests results.  We all know that fast results creates motivation.  If you are able to get  your DNA profile done in the first week of January, start your boot camp or exercise regime - just about the 2nd week in February, when you have loosened up your muscles, increased your lung capacity through some low impact aerobics and perhaps added some lean muscle mass - your DNA Profile will be returned and will assist you over the next coming months in keeping your New Year's Resolution.  As you move into February, you are in better condition to really start training in a manner that your body will respond positively.

Depending on your budget and your commitment, you can test for one gene or you can test for 100 genes.  Obviously the more genetic information collected, the more detailed a report can be produced and targetted to your needs. 

One would think because of proximity (closeness), that a simple trip across the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, or the Goethals Bridge and you could get a Private Paternity Test.

In the State of New Jersey, you can get a DNA  Test done for private reasons, without a lawyer, doctor or any other official.  Call your local DNA collector, set up your appointment and you can receive a Court Admissible document and/or Find Out First Paternity Test.  In the State of New York, however, there are antiquated (outdated) laws still on the books that regulate DNA testing.  The New York State Department of  Health (NYSDOH) regulates DNA Testing - whether for a diagnostic (medical) purpose or for a simple Paternity test.  So if your identification indicates you are a resident of New York State (from Albany down to Brooklyn), then you are required to have a prescription and proper government issued identification to obtain a Legal DNA Test. 

If you want to have a Paternity Test done this holiday season, and you only have New York identification, call your primary care physician as soon as possible and ask for a written doctor's prescription stating the names of the DNA test participants - usually child, mother and alleged father - and, very important - have your primary care physician clearly state - that it is OK for the lab to release results to you - the patient. It is also no necessary to test the mother of a child to confirm paternity of a child.  If your doctor is unfamiliar with the NYSDOH regulation, we will be happy to call your doctor with information. Please be able to provide us with your doctor's name and phone number and the names of the participants in the DNA test.

On the other hand, non-NY residents, that is resident of New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and virtually every other State,  have the ability to obtain a DNA Paternity test with just one phone call.  The DNA Lady can set your appointment in one of our convenient collection sites across the Tri-State Area or across the United States - usually on a day's notice.  Newark DNA Tests - done conveniently Monday through Saturday - right near the court house.  Trenton DNA Tests - done conveniently in a private office - parking in front- major transportation within two blocks.

From DNA Testing in Paterson - to DNA Testing in Flemington - call The DNA Lady and she will set you up immediately. We understand that Paternity Tests are still a private matter - only the legal guardian of minor children need to provide identification to allow us to perform the non-invasive (no needles) DNA Test.  New mothers need not be standing in line in a court house, holding baby and essentials, waiting for her turn to have a DNA test performed.  Our Find Out First Paternity Tests take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

For residents of Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern Connecticut - mobile DNA Testing is your best bet.  A mobile DNA Collector will come to your private home, ask you to provide photocopies of your identification, perform a non-invasive DNA collection (no needles) and 3 days later call you and email you with results and then follow the call/email up with a hard copy.  PA and CT DNA Tests - are also not regulated by the Health Departments and can be done on a Court Admissible Basis (in case you later on decide to use test as evidence in Court) or on a Find out First Private paternity test basis. 

You will receive a copy of the DNA Tests, including the genetic markers tested that determined with 99% assurance that you are the biological father of the child or not.  A  DNA Test is very easy to understand - if you are the biological father of the child the results will read greater than 99% Probability of Paternity - if you are not the biological father of the child - the result will read 0% Probability of Paternity  All DNA Testing companies use the same genetic markers to determine human relatedness - if you have taken a test with another lab and want to double check the test results - have one person's DNA profile done (half the price of a DNA test) and match those genetic markers to one of the participants in the original DNA Test.

Did You Know?
 

According to a research review conducted by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council:

·           CPR skills retention begins to decline within a few months after a participant is trained and progressively decreases for about a year.
·           Less than half of course participants can pass a skills test one year after training. 

With so much going on in your life and the life of a child, it is no wonder that CPR skills are not retained.  Feedings, diaper changes, meeting new family, rescheduling all your old responsibility to fit the child's schedule - sleep - who has had a solid nights sleep this year?  

It is well worth the time and effort, to review your skills and perhaps meet up with some new mommies to hear the latest buzz on child care.  

For more information on a local New Jersey Infant or Child CPR class contact:

www.babyzoneandbeyond.com OR email: ghickey@babyzoneandbeyond.com

During your Child or Infant CPR refresher course, why not take the opportunity to create a Child Safety Profile for your little one.  Along with birth certificate documents, marriage records, and other important identifying paperwork, a Child Safety Identification Profile is just one additional tool to safeguarding your child - using today's up to date technology of DNA profiling.  A local DNA collector will come to your Infant or Child CPR class, perform a non-invasive DNA collection on your child, photograph the child and then ask for some identifying information.  A week or so later you will receive a CSI Certificate that contains all of the information but most importantly the CSI certificate will contain a genetic profile using the same genetic markers as local authorities would to identify a person.  Unlike the Child Fingerprint Cards which expire with a year or so of release, the CSI genetic profile lasts a lifetime.  In the event of an emergency, you have a document to have over to the local authorities to help locate or identify your child.  

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AFFORDABLE AND FLEXIBLE IN-HOME INFANT AND CHILD CPR and First Aid TRAINING.
WE'LL BRING THE CLASS TO YOU.

Life-saving Infant and Child CPR Classes:

Chatham Class CPR schedule :

Tuesday, December 20th at 7pm
Wednesday, January 11th at 7pm
Tuesday, January 31st at 7pm
Wednesday, February 1st at 7pm
Tuesday, February 28th at 7pm


First Aid for Infants & Children schedule: 
Wednesday, January 18th at 7pm
Wednesday, March 14th at 7pm 

CAN'T MAKE IT TO A CLASS?
SCHEDULE A PRIVATE IN-HOME CPR OR FIRST AID PARTY. (Evening and weekend appointments available).

Call also to schedule a class at your preschool, daycare or mom's group.

One of the most important two hour classes

you will ever take!!  If you are interested in scheduling the Child Safety Identification collection at the same time as the CPR class, please contact The DNA Lady.  CSI gift certificates are also available - just call 732-632-8820. 

CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY TIPS

 Create a safety party and gather your family, friends, babysitters, nannies and host a class. We come to you! Makes a great gift idea! As prepared as you think you are and despite precautions, children can still get in trouble!

Here are some standard Christmas Tree Safety Tips from your local CPR trainer

1.Stand your tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources.  

2.Make sure the tree does not block foot traffic or doorways.

3.If you use an artificial tree, choose one that tested and is labeled as fire resistant.

4.Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors.

5.Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Replace or repair any damaged light sets.

6.Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Extension cords should be placed against the wall to avoid tripping hazards, but do not run cords under rugs.

7.Turn off all lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.  

 8.Never place lighted candles on a tree or near any flammable materials.  Imagine at one time we all did this!

9.Avoid placing breakable tree ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower branches where small children or pets can reach them.  I know my cat finds these low hanging tid bits great fun when no one is around - next morning someone inevitably steps on our precious ornament.

10.Do not hang popcorn chains and candy canes on the tree when small children are present. They may think that other tree ornaments are also edible. 

Safety, Safety, Safety - it's like location, location location - always consider what is best for your child before making changes in your home or life.  A CSI profile is also a good tool for loved ones who may be suffering from alzheimers or other degenerative diseases that may cause temporary loss of memory. 

If you are entitled to Social Security benefits, or your children are entitled to Social Security benefits and you require proof of Paternity, Maternity, Grand Paternity or siblingship, Examen de ADN can be performed and is accepted as proof.  Below is the new Social Security website in spanish.

Often times, a U.S. government office will request a parent or guardian to provide legal documentation of a biological relationship in order to establish eligibility for benefits.  Families that have been moving around, documents not in English, documents not updated may need assistance in providing paternidad, maternidad or other biological relationships.   Today, there is a population probably entitled to benefits but have been unable to communicate or effectively understand eligibility so the Social Security Administration put together a Spanish site.  Use the below link, to determine your eligibility.  If Examen de ADN is necessary please call your local DNA collector for details.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/espanol/