4 Reasons to Eat More Mushrooms

By Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is a registered nutritionist and international best-selling and 19-time published book author whose works include: 60 Seconds to Slim: Balance Your Body Chemistry to Burn Fat Fast!

There’s a fungus among us! With respect to your health, that’s a good thing if the fungus is an edible mushroom. Much maligned and often shunned simply for looking weird and growing in unusual places, edible mushrooms are potent medicines and a delicious addition to a healthy diet. Here are four reasons to eat more mushrooms. 1. Mushrooms can help in the fight against cancer. A study in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms found that chaga mushrooms inhibited cancer tumor growth. Chaga has long been used in Asian and northern European traditional medicine for a number of ailments. The fungus grows on trees—most notably birch trees in northerly forests in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. It typically resembles a black mass on the tree trunk due to the high levels of melanin, a naturally occurring pigment that in humans protects against ultraviolet B shortwave (UVB) radiation damage. Chinese researchers investigated the inhibitory roles of a polysaccharide extract from chaga on U251 human brain tumor cells. The extract successfully inhibited the proliferation of the tumor cells and that success increased both over time and with increased concentrations of the extract. Love This? Never Miss Another Story. 2. Mushrooms can also boost immune function, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Scientists wanted to determine whether consumption of whole, dried shiitake mushrooms could improve human immune function. Shiitake mushrooms are native to eastern Asia but they are one of the most common mushrooms found in the produce section due to their increasing popularity. They have a rich smoky flavor that complements many types of cuisines. The four week study involved men and women in good health between the ages of 21 and 41 years. The authors concluded that regular shiitake consumption resulted in improved immunity, as seen by improved cell proliferation and activation and increased immunoglobulin A (also referred to as IgA) production, which is an antibody that plays a critical role in mucosal immunity. The authors also concluded that changes observed in other immunity markers suggested that these improvements occurred under conditions that were less inflammatory than those that existed before consumption of the mushrooms. 3. Reishi mushrooms, another popular choice, have been found to protect the brain and nervous system. Mexican researchers tested compounds in reishi to determine the possible anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of this mushroom. The study, published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, found that the mushroom inhibited seizures and reduced degeneration patterns in parts of brain, leading them to conclude that reishi offered credible anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects. 4. Mushrooms are delicious and versatile. They can easily take the place of meat in any meal (think portabello instead of steak) and are excellent additions to soups, stews and curries. They also lend a rich flavor to gravies and obviously support a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. A wide variety of edible mushrooms can be found in grocery stores, health food stores and many farmers’ markets. Purchasing from these retailers takes the risk out of eating mushrooms because they have been harvested by knowledgeable “shroomers” who understand the difference between edible and inedible or poisonous varieties. It also gives you an opportunity to try health-enhancing mushrooms that may not be indigenous to where you live. While wildcrafting (wandering the woods and harvesting mushrooms straight from Mother Nature) is enjoyable and fulfilling, it is best left to mushroom experts who can identify species accurately and who will practice sustainable harvesting methods that won’t damage the long-term viability of the mushroom ecosystem. If you decide you want to wildcraft mushrooms, enroll yourself in a credible, hands-on workshop with an experienced mycologist that brings you into direct contact with the mushroom varieties in your area. Relying on an illustrated book is not enough to fully understand the complex and strangely beautiful world of these fantastic fungi.

4 Foods That Age You Faster

By camlinknews

Can what you eat determine how soon you succumb to wrinkles? Certain foods can do more that widen your waistline; they actually accelerate aging in your body. If you eat highly inflammatory foods on a regular basis, they can do real damage to your body’s regulatory functions, leading to disease, cellular degeneration and yes, wrinkles. Here are 4 foods to avoid that speed up aging on a cellular level. Partially hydrogenated oils. Partially hydrogenated oils, often found in highly processed foods, spread inflammation throughout your body, which creates free radicals. Free radicals eventually begin to damage your DNA, causing affected cells to malfunction in a state of disease or die. The Environmental Working Group estimates that although “trans fat” appears on only 2 percent of nutrition labels, this inflammatory fat is potentially used in as much as 37 percent of processed foods, since trans fat doesn’t have to be labeled if a serving contains less than half a gram. Besides partially hydrogenated oils, trans fat is also found in refined oils, emulsifiers, fully hydrogenated oils, and certain added flavors and colors. So how can you avoid prematurely aging your cells with trans fats? The safest bet is to spend the majority of your diet eating nutrient-dense, whole foods that don’t come in a package. Love This? Never Miss Another Story. Excess sugar. We have an instinctual draw towards sugary foods. It’s ingrained within us. They are rich in easily accessible energy, which would be great if we were still hunter gatherers. But we aren’t. In fact, most of us are highly sedentary and eat way too much sugar. So, when we get that regular sweet fix, the sugar just cruises around our bodies doing damage. Excess sugar in the bloodstream leads to loss of collagen in the skin and encourages wrinkles, while also damaging mitochondria in our cells. The harm to the energy powerhouse of our cells leads to degeneration of memory, vision and reduced energy, among other things. Besides premature aging, too much dietary sugar encourages the progression of diseases like Type II diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. The issue is, sugar is highly addictive and so easy to get. Again, your best bet is to avoid processed foods and use only small amounts of natural sugars — raw honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, dates — in strict moderation. Refined carbohydrates. Carbohydrates that are stripped of their nutritional value, like white flour, act very similarly to refined sugar in the body. With little fiber to slow down its absorption in the bloodstream, these carbs wreak havoc on insulin levels and encourage the development of insulin resistance over time. By consuming wholesome carbohydrates, like whole fruits, legumes and whole grains like quinoa and brown rice, you’ll receive a much more prolonged energy release, and the fermentable fibers and starches will feed your gut bacteria, who can exercise significant control over your insulin response. Deep fried/grilled foods. Cooking foods at high temperatures increases inflammatory compounds known as ‘advanced glycation end products,’ or AGEs. And yes, ironically, AGEs do indeed age you. They encourage oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. High levels of AGEs in the body are linked to osteoporosis, neurodegeneration, heart disease, stroke and other age-related diseases. While some AGEs occur naturally in the body, increasing the load with heavily cooked foods can accelerate their damage. To avoid them, try to cook the majority of your foods at low temperatures, although indulging in something deliciously fried or charred on the grill is certainly alright for a healthy person in moderation. Essentially, if you eat wholesome, unprocessed foods that aren’t deep fried, you’ll allow your body to undergo its natural aging process rather than throwing it into overdrive. As a bonus, if you follow the above tips, you’ll feel a lot healthier, too!

4 Beginner Tips for Going Vegan

By Katie Medlock

If you are reading this, it must mean that you are somewhere on the spectrum of interest in a more vegan-oriented lifestyle. Maybe this means you would like to incorporate more plant foods and reduce animal products in your daily diet. Perhaps you feel ready to completely overhaul your meals from the Standard American Diet and go cold turkey, er, cold Tofurky? Either way, this post is meant to give guidance so that whatever transition you choose is easy and enjoyable. 1. Become a student of your new lifestyle One of the great things about venturing into veganism in 2016 is there is an endless amount of knowledge to absorb about every facet of the lifestyle, from the food to the activism, from the fashion to the philosophy. This means you can always find resources or communities that resonate with you and keep you jazzed about being veg. The downside is there also tends to be a lot of misinformation and criticism out there on the World Wide Web. It’s important when researching anything to be able to separate the cold, hard facts from the sensationalism (yes, it’s true: veganism is not a panacea for all health ailments). It is equally important to rely upon or build some tough skin to face the critics of the world—or, our own families and friends. Love This? Never Miss Another Story. By keeping your curiosity alive and researching what piques your interest along the way, you will solidify your place in the community at large and the personal meaning behind your transition. Branch out to different blogs, forums and websites to find new and exciting recipes, stay learned on what environmental, health or animal rights information empowers you the most. But also remember that being a student of your lifestyle does not mean being an expert; it is okay to not have the answers to others’ questions (and yes, you will receive a lot of questions), but to instead speak from your heart and say why your choice is important to you. 2. Figure out what is practical for your budget and routine Before you considered a veg transition, what were your eating habits? Mealtime routines? Kitchen skill set? Budgetary expertise? All of the things you already know about yourself will inform you on how to take care of implementing the change in the foods you eat. If meal planning, meal prepping and a closely-watched budget describe your flow, then start looking up some recipes, make some charts and check out the prices of produce. If you are more go-with-the-flow, ask yourself what types of foods you typically enjoy and consider veganizing some of your favorite meals and how to make the switch simple. Many people may think that going vegan means buying expensive, exotic-sounding ingredients and relearning how to cook. If that’s your cup of tea, go for it, but for most of us all we need to do is make some adjustments to what we already know. Does your family enjoy Taco Tuesdays and pack most of their lunches? Then it’s time for lentil, jackfruit or veggie fajita tacos and simple sandwiches, soups and stir fries that can be packaged to-go! Are you more of a takeout type who only enters the kitchen to make Sunday brunch? Well, start examining local restaurant menus and fast food options and make a plan for a fulfilling, delicious vegan brunch spread! 3. Find a supportive community of vegans and vegetarians This advice I cannot stress enough: find at least one other vegan with whom you can connect for support and questions. Being vegan can be hard sometimes, largely because most the world is critical and still catching up. Veg folks can feel surrounded by eye-rolling and meaty menus and, therefore, isolated and alone—especially where there aren’t a lot of other vegheads around for support. Find an online community, local meet-up group or social media connection to feel at home. 4. Stay connected to what you really enjoy Most of our daily life can begin to feel like a rat race from time to time. If you start to feel unenthusiastic about dealing with grocery shopping, meal prep or dealing with the same old questions from co-workers (“Where do you get your protein?”), remember what you have to fall back on that brings you joy. Perhaps getting creative in the kitchen is your jam and gets you out of a funk. Maybe you went vegan for the animals and taking time out of your day to connect with your companion animals or plan a trip to a farmed animal sanctuary brings you peace. Or, if your moment of zen is kicking back with a good book or film, there are so many informative and entertaining reads and documentaries on the power of veganism that will invigorate your soul. Whatever it is that connects you to the reason you chose to become vegan, keep it close to your heart and take action to connect with it on a daily basis.

Cameroon Link wishes you a Happy New Year 2016

We would like to wish you a Happy New Year from all of our team in Cameroon. It is because of your support that we reach millions of followers with the information they need to improve on their health and wellbeing, keep their family happy and prosperous. The year 2015 we worked with several farmers, women, mothers and community radio broadcasters like hopeful partners in to share information on agricultural improvements, markets, nutrition and health. We believe that the exchange of information will remain lasting and improve on in the lives of many families. We sincerely thank you for making many change happen for all of us. We use this opportunity to requesr you to visit our new baby at www.cameroonlink.org and suggest new ways of collaboration to make the future brigther. Visit our Facebook page this week for more holiday messages from the field, and to learn more about the farmers and broadcasters you have supported this year. Send your own new year greetings through the space for comments on our web site. Share tour gifts of knowledge and voices, along with a special message to special fathers, mothers and youths. Once again, Happy and Prosperous New Year 2016!

World Breastfeeding Week 2016

Theme: ‘Breastfeeding - A key to Sustainable Development’

WABA has announced the theme for WBW 2016 World Breastfeeding Week is: ‘Breastfeeding: A key to Sustainable Development’ The WBW 2016 theme focuses on breastfeeding in relation to sustainability, and most importantly to the Sustainable Development Goals. WABA Co-Executive Director, Dr. Amal Omer-Salim, was appointed Key Writer for the WBW 2016 Calendar Announcement, Action Folder etc, working with small team of WABA Steering Committee members, and Core Partner representatives. Dr. Omer-Salim explains that “In very simple terms, sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Breastfeeding is a key to sustainable development. This is particularly through the links between breastfeeding and nutrition and food security; health, development and survival; achieving full educational potential and economic productivity and the fact that breastfeeding is an environmentally sustainable method of feeding compared to the alternatives. In 2016 a new set of universal global development goals will come into being. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) build on the ‘unfinished business’ of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and will guide development agendas for the next 15 years. There are 17 goals that apply to all countries alike, covering broad issues such as climate change and poverty reduction, but also more specific issues including 1) ending hunger and improving both under and over nutrition; 2) ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being; 3) ensuring equitable education, and 4) ensuring sustainable agricultural production and consumption. However, breastfeeding is not explicitly mentioned in any of the goals. Therefore the breastfeeding movement needs to position breastfeeding in as many ways as possible. This will help to ensure that breastfeeding is not forgotten in the new era of the SDGs”. WBW 2016 Objectives are to: 1. To inform people about the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they relate to breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF). 2. To firmly anchor breastfeeding as a key component of sustainable development. 3. To galvanise a variety of actions at all levels on breastfeeding and IYCF in the new era of the (SDGs). 4. To engage and collaborate with a wider range of actors around the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding. The Calendar Announcement is being developed and should be ready for distribution soon. WABA looks forward to actively collaborating with you all for WBW 2016. Wishing you Season’s Greetings, and a very Happy New Year! Jennifer Mourin, Global Coordinator, WABA World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)

Commonwealth Profiles WABA MWG Coordinator

CSC Evaluation and Monitoring Programme James Achanyi Fontem is currently the Executive Director of Cameroon Link, an NGO based in Douala that promotes health development and agricultural initiatives in rural areas through community radio stations in Cameroon. He undertook a Professional Fellowship with the Sickle Cell Society, UK in 2008. In addition to his work with Cameroon Link, James chairs a number of different networks including the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations (FECABPA), the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Men’s Initiative and Youth Action for Environmental Protection. He is also the national coordinator for the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN Cameroon). Within a collaboration partnership arrived at in September 2013, FECABPA picked up the role of Cameroon’s National Breastfeeding Committee. Since 2011, he has acted as the Health District Coordinator for Scaling Up Malaria Control for Impact(SUFI) in Bonassama, Littoral Region of Cameroon, all of which are cumulative functions within his role at Cameroon Link.

James’ Work & Activity Before undertaking the Fellowship, James had a number of different jobs. One of such role is with Farm Radio International (FRI), a Canadian NGO, which uses community radio stations as a means to capacitate small scale farmers to enhance quality of crop production and improving livelihoods, for which James is the main Cameroonian contact. Through FRI, James established a partnership between the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) and Cameroon Link, where he is currently the Healthy Community CLP Liaison in Cameroon. The CoL is an intergovernmental organisation that aims to encourage the development and sharing of knowledge through open learning/distance education, resources, and technologies. CoL is based in Vancouver, Canada and in conjunction with the agency Cameroon Link organises “story design programming” workshops on mother and child healthcare through community radio stations in southwest, Littoral and West regions of Cameroon. James notes, “I organise capacity building training for media professionals working for the development of community radio stations in Cameroon. I coordinate research work on infant and young child feeding with some 30 health district civil society organisations. I supervise, monitor and evaluates the work at community radio stations in the west, littoral and southwest regions of Cameroon involved in the design of community learning programmes on mother and child healthcare. 12 community radio stations are involved in activity and 110 community-based organisations are involved in the promotion of malaria prevention in the Health District of Bonassama.” Employer Support & Promotion At the time of James’ Commonwealth award, he was a programmes manager with Cameroon Link. James stated that his employer was very supportive of undertaking the Commonwealth Fellowship as it was seen as a valuable opportunity to learn new skills which would improve performance in the workplace and could subsequently be shared with other colleagues. Upon returning from the Fellowship, James received a promotion to which he credits the Commonwealth award. “When I returned to my job, my position started to change with greater responsibility as my course in the UK focused on programme management.” James revealed that his salary increased by more than 25% upon his return home from the Fellowship. He attributed this to his enhanced performance in the workplace which he felt the Commonwealth award largely contributed to. James’ new position led to the creation of gender equity training modules promoting primary education for young girls, employment of youth in the non-agricultural sector, and the promotion of reproductive and sexual health activities in Cameroon Skills & Knowledge Whilst undertaking the Fellowship in the UK, James was able to develop many skills in information and communications technology including building websites and creating blogs, which he was able to use in his work upon returning home. James stated, “I have been able to develop internet blogs, YouTube and online radio channels for sharing information on our work, and have been able to train Cameroonians through open distance learning initiatives.” James’ Fellowship with Sickle Cell Society UK was structured in a way that he was able to attend various university lectures and modules on managerial skills as well as attend site visits to see how managing skills are used within community outreach. “The programme management skills I learned while in the UK taught me how to design specific programmes, how to execute the said programmes, and how to monitor and evaluate them.” At the end of his course, James developed a project on the prevention of sickle cell anaemia which is currently being used by the Cameroonian government. As a result of James’ project, the government has acknowledged sickle cell disease as a public health problem and appointed a national coordinator of the programme. Furthermore, the government has allocated health workers the appropriate resources to carry out activities within rural communities. Other key skills that James was able to learn from his Fellowship in the UK were fundraising and networking strategy. James asserted, “We were given the opportunity to visit [whilst in the UK] other associations and other networks to see how they operate and how they fundraise. Because of this, we are now able to raise funds for our projects today as we learned the necessary computing skills, and learnt about meeting funding needs and requirements.” In regard to knowledge transfer, James noted that he was able to train between 41-50 persons in technical, analytical and managerial skills as well as share general information as a direct result of undertaking the Commonwealth Fellowship.

Development Impact Through his position as the Commonwealth of Learning Healthy Community and Cameroon Link Partnership Liaison, James was able to lead community radio action to produce high quality radio programmes on agricultural issues as well as maternal and child health in English and local languages for greater outreach to rural communities. One such activity involved setting up a community radio station in a particularly hard-to-reach rural village which is handicapped due to its remote location. The radio station therefore was an attempt to allow villagers access to information regarding agriculture and health that would have otherwise only been available in urban areas. There was also an important gender element at play as James stated that 65% of the community involved in farming are women, and this project therefore was closely linked to women’s empowerment. “The CSC Fellowship training led to my ability to impact local Cameroonian communities in the health sector through HIV/AIDS prevention, maternal & child health and reproductive and sexual health.” Catalytic effects of James’ work can be seen through the work he has done with community-based organisations in which James provided training on how to apply for grants and funding. James asserted that many applications for which he provided support have received funding and now have enough money for their own activities which involves the creation of new jobs. Socioeconomic impact James has worked on a number of development initiatives related to women and children’s health rights including prevention of mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission. Through his projects he has been able to change behaviours in regard to better health outcomes. One project in particular is the development of mobile phone applications as a means of improving health outcomes for women. This particular project encourages women to use mobile phones through which they receive reminders regarding health consultation dates and immunisation appointments for themselves and their children. James noted that there has been a sharp increase in women accessing healthcare and hospital services since the inception of the project and has subsequently had an impact on child health. James has also been involved in family planning education. Through his work, he has endeavoured to promote childbirth spacing as a means of reducing child mortality rates and has also contributed to reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies. Government policy When James began his work in promoting breastfeeding, the Cameroonian government did not have any policy regarding the marketing of breastfeeding substitutes. Due to the lack of marketing regulations, the use of artificial milk was very common. Through research and participation in international conferences, James was able to lobby the government to implement a national code on the marketing of break milk substitutes demanding that corporations adhere to certain guidelines and regulations in December 2005. Although there are currently no punitive measures for breaking these statues, James continues to advocate for corporations to be held legally accountable for any violations and abuse of child rights. James’ Commonwealth Award James asserted that the Commonwealth award made a significant contribution to his professional development in part because of the perceived prestige and status of undertaking the Fellowship. In addition to the skills and knowledge he gained, James felt that coming to the UK, participating in forums and establishing international linksplayed an important role in his career development, which would have been very difficult to accomplish without the award. He stated, “If I hadn’t received the Commonwealth award, I would have not been able to learn all the skills surrounding information technology and programme management that I gained during the Fellowship.” Through the Fellowship, James designed a project based on the skills that he learnt whilst on award. Through this, James stated that he was able to help 12 Cameroonian organisations set up offices, develop organisational strategies and programme execution. He noted, “What I learned in the UK is still being replicated today through all the training that I’ve conducted. This training has been recycled in an innovative way that has led to the creation of new organisations and jobs.” Through connections established whilst on award, James has been able to secure funding for the Open Distance Learning programme with community radio stations for research on African rural radio stations. James notes that there are approximately 75 community radio stations that are implementing programmes which he has advised on. He has also recently secured funding from UNICEF in a cooperation agreement regarding infant and young child feeding during the World Breastfeeding Week 2013. IBFAN Africa supported community radio stations to design programmes on breastfeeding during the week. Upon his return home, James has been able to share his experience with the Commonwealth Fellowship with others and has even helped other colleagues apply to the scheme. James asserted that his personal and professional expectations were met whilst on award and that he thought the Fellowship was successful in both ways. James affirmed, “From undertaking the Fellowship, people gain knowledge, they meet people, share and gain knowledge, ideas, create contacts, meet funders and discover international agencies, which all help support activities they want to carry back in Africa.” James stated that he felt Professional Fellowships were advantageous in that they provide professionals with practical skills which are transferable and can be readily shared with others. In this way, Professional Fellowships are a scheme in which impact can be seen and felt almost people immediately. James said, “Professional Fellowships are practical, not theoretical. Once this information is passed on, it can be shared in a way that helps others to develop their professional skills faster.” James concluded by stating that the Commonwealth Fellowship introduced him to new and innovative ways of thinking and managing people and projects. He affirmed, “The CSC Fellowship opened new avenues for creativity and innovation of my managerial skills.” This article has been shared courtesy of: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK Woburn House 20-24 Tavistock Square London WC1H 9HF UK Email: evaluation@cscuk.org.uk bit.ly/cscuk-evaluation

Men’s Involvement In Breastfeeding

By Dr. Pankaj Desai I remember my father nearly two decades ago when my niece was born telling all of us young ones about the advantages of breastfeeding and so many allied matters. He narrated it to us so lucidly interlacing it with anecdotes that it proved to be a very inspirational and motivating interaction for the entire family. Many men wrongly think that breastfeeding is strictly restricted to women and babies. They see their role as that of an inactive observer who has no control on the process. But men actually have tremendous potential to either facilitate or undermine the success of breastfeeding. Understanding the importance of their role is the first step in equipping fathers to help their breastfeeding wives/partners. Setting the Family Tone The first thing the man can do is to generate a helpful family environment toward breastfeeding. If he views breastfeeding as making a positive difference in the health and well-being of his baby and as a main concern for his wife and child, this attitude will set the tone for achieving success. A father who views a baby's continual presence as intrusive will weaken breastfeeding. The father who assumes that his baby will accompany the couple to all social interactions has given breastfeeding his strong approval. But there's a big difference between a man who agrees to let his wife breastfeed and one who consciously creates an atmosphere of success. Giving Support and Encouragement Breastfeeding can be psychologically challenging, bodily very tiring, and uncomfortable at times. Almost all new mothers experience doubts about their capability to care for a dependent newborn. Breastfeeding mothers harbor extra fears about the sufficiency of their milk supply or the accuracy of their breastfeeding method, or their skill to surmount lactation troubles. Fathers can play a key role in supporting their breastfeeding wife's self-assurance by praising their efforts and offering words of encouragement. Providing Practical Help A father can help in so many ways that it's hard to imagine why many men feel left out when their wives breastfeed. A father can go to the baby when he or she awakens and bring the hungry infant to his wife. After the first breast, he can burp the baby and help arouse the infant for the second side. When the feeding is complete, the father can change the infant and put him or her down to sleep. Building a Relationship with the Baby Although the mutual interaction between a breastfeeding baby and her mother is one of the strongest bonds in nature, this doesn't lessen the significance of a baby's early relationship with her father. Instead of feeling left out of the nursing bond, fathers can cultivate their own exclusive bond with their baby. Much has been written recently about the problem of "father hunger" among American children. As a result of divorce, single parenthood, and emotionally distant fathers, innumerable children grow up with little or no contact with their fathers. Today, nearly 40 percent of America's children do not live with their father. Not only has fatherless become the single most important determinant of child poverty, fatherless children are at increased risk for violent behavior, unlawful doings, drug misuse, school failure, joining a gang, and other social problems. Children ought to have the right to have a healthy, loving relationship with two parents, and fathers deserve to know the truth about their crucial role. As a father, the man can begin by connecting with his child through touch, one of the most strongly developed senses at birth. He can hold, carry, rock, caress, massage, and stroke his baby and let her fall asleep. When the baby is in a quiet alert state, it is most receptive to engaging visually. It prefers to look at the human face over any other visual stimulus. Within a few months, babies already perceive their fathers as principal sources of play and motor movement, different-but no less important than-mothers. If the wife is more skillful at comforting, bathing and entertaining the baby, it isn’t necessary for the man to let her be the chief infant custodian. Instead, the man can explain that he wants to become proficient at caring for and nurturing the baby. Mothers need not come to their husband’s rescue as soon as the baby starts to cry. Instead they can allow the husband opportunities to soothe or entertain the baby or sing her to sleep. One prudent mother decided not to correct her husband when he put the newborn's disposable diaper on rearward the first time. An affectionate father's genuine attempt to contribute in infant care was more important than whether the clothing breaks are in proper position. Editor's Note: Many thanks to Marianne R. Neifert whose article in Dr. Mom's Guide to Breastfeeding was of great help in preparing this posting.