SEARCH

Halloween is here, and as you admire your mountain of sweets, you realize it's probably not the best idea to eat all that candy. After sorting through your treats and picking out your favorites, what should you do with the leftover candy? Here are a few ideas!

Donate

Donating your Halloween candy is a selfless way to share! Find a local charity that accepts candy donations. Here are some suggestions:

• Ronald McDonald House
• Nursing homes
• Food pantries
• Veterans' homes
• Women's shelters

Candy Exchange

Some dentists host a candy exchange where kids are invited to trade in their sweets for healthy treats. You

Perhaps nothing signals that your little girl is growing up like the start of her period. Since so many of my patients ask me how to discuss this topic with their daughters and what to expect, here are a few pointers:

Start the Discussion Early

Don't wait until your daughter actually starts her period (which, on average, occurs around age 12 or 13) to start talking about menstruation. I generally recommend that you begin broaching the subject as early as age 8. Yes, some girls start sexual development that young! 

Instead of leading off with menstruation (which is likely to elicit "Eww!" from

Spring is a time for a fresh start. Did you know that one of the best things you can do for yourself is to help others? Finding a cause and community really does bring its own benefits. Here are eight of them:

1. Decreasing symptoms of depression - Studies show that volunteering can decrease depression symptoms and improve mood.
2. Making social connections to improve physical health and psychological well-being - Social connection strengthens our immune systems, helps us recover from disease faster and may even lengthen life. Conversely, studies have shown that a lack of social connection is a