Latest news with #Jeffcoat
NZ Herald
09-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
KidsCan free meals a ‘huge help' for Gate Pā preschoolers, families
The scheme is completely separate from the Government's Healthy School Lunches Programme. The KidsCan scheme supplies free food to children aged 2 to 5 at eligible early childhood education centres around Aotearoa. Kids Campus operations leader Melissa Jeffcoat said in only one month, it had made a huge difference to the centre's tamariki, but also to less fortunate families in the community. 'Until now, parents had to pack lunchboxes, but some children would arrive without one. 'Now we know everyone's being fed. Parents can donate fruit, biscuits or crackers to go towards morning and afternoon teas if they wish – but there's no pressure. It's taken a huge weight off many families.' Jeffcoat said Kids Campus was licensed for 40 children and staffed above government ratios – 1:3 for under-2s and 1:6 for over-2s – allowing staff to prepare and serve meals on-site at no extra cost. 'The food arrives from Auckland on Mondays and is well organised,' Jeffcoat said. 'The children have had things like beef lasagne with salad, egg sandwiches, fruit platters and yoghurt. 'Meals are healthy and adhere to the Ministry of Health choking guidelines for young children, so it removes any worry for us.' Jeffcoat said some parents were initially apprehensive that their children wouldn't like the meals, but now even the fussiest eaters had come around. 'When 29 of their friends are eating the same thing around the table, they want to try it too. Our children are absolutely loving the kai.' Best of all, leftover meals did not go to waste, she said. Recently, extra lasagne was divided among several families in need, and peas that didn't appeal to the kids were blitzed up and added to macaroni that was renamed 'Hulk's pasta'. Leftover fruit is blended into smoothies. 'We're not just feeding children, we're reaching the whole community,' Jeffcoat said. 'This is such a huge help for many of our whānau, and we could not be any more grateful and pleased with how it's working out.'
Buzz Feed
06-04-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
We're Physical Therapists. This Is Our No. 1 Unexpected Pooping Hack.
While most of us wouldn't want to admit it, we've sat on the toilet and had some, uh, trouble, right? Even if you eat plenty of fiber, stay hydrated and move your body regularly, you may have experienced this less-than-ideal circumstance in the bathroom. If it makes you feel any better, you're one of many: Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, leading to 2.5 million doctor visits a year. Plus, 12% of people worldwide have self-reported being constipated, and people in the Asian Pacific and the Americas suffer twice as much as Europeans. If you identify with those statistics, you've probably already tried common go-to treatments, such as taking laxatives and eating more fiber. As useful as they can be, they aren't as fun as the unexpected pooping hack that physical therapist Karan Rajan shared on Instagram and that others have confirmed: blowing bubbles. 'What's going on here is you are engaging the diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles in a way that helps with pushing,' explained Lalitha McSorley, the owner, lead physical therapist and pelvic floor therapist at Brentwood Physio. 'It also helps relax your lower abdomen during a bowel movement.' McSorley continued that the point is not to blow as hard as you can, but to let out a more controlled, gentle exhale. 'Think like a long and steady breath that helps you focus on relaxing your pelvic floor,' she added. For another way to explain how hard to blow: 'The force is enough that you want to make it audible, as if you are doing a 'breathy whistle' where someone 20 feet away could still hear you,' said Heather Jeffcoat, the owner of Femina Physical Therapy and the most recent past president of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy. So, having a cup of water and a straw isn't necessary; you can just exhale. But for kids, the bubble option is undoubtedly more enjoyable — and can even be beneficial. 'A cup of water with a straw gives a visual cue and can help make things more fun for kids,' McSorley said. 'After all, being constipated isn't fun and can sometimes be quite painful.' As mentioned earlier, at-home treatment and preventive options include drinking more water, eating more fiber, using an enema and taking laxatives. You might also just find yourself on the toilet straining, frankly, which is both tempting and, unfortunately, unhelpful. (It can cause hemorrhoids, anal fissures, extra tight muscles down there and — sorry to say — anal leakage.) So, how does blowing bubbles compare? 'The best program to help with constipation is one that addresses all factors that are contributing to it,' Jeffcoat said. In other words, it's probably in your best interest not to ignore those tips. However, this hack has its place, too. 'Blowing bubbles teaches your abdominal wall and pelvic floor to work together in a way that helps encourage a bowel movement to happen,' Jeffcoat said. 'It prevents something called 'dyssynergic defecation,' which is the medical term for your pelvic floor muscles doing the opposite of what they should be doing when you have a bowel movement.' When More Serious Treatment Is Needed, And What That Entails As helpful (and interesting) as this tip is, it's not a foolproof solution — especially not 100% of the time. Keep monitoring any gastrointestinal symptoms. 'If constipation is ongoing, especially if straining is associated with it, you will likely have medical assessments to determine what the specific issues are when you have a bowel movement,' Jeffcoat said. Other concerns requiring medical attention include pain, discomfort or any kind of bleeding. Treatment options may include prescription medications, stool testing, bloodwork, biofeedback or a colonoscopy, according to McSorley. 'It's important to listen to your body,' she continued. 'If something doesn't feel right, you know best … go seek professional advice from your doctor or a pelvic floor therapist.' HuffPost.
