We have selected several of the best entries from our Gift of Giving contest, which asked women to share their best health advice, and here is one of them. Please share your best health advice with us here. Your advice could be the answer that someone has been waiting for.

Interesting story today out of the Wall Street Journal on how Planned Parenthood -- a long-time feature in many metropolitan areas -- is expanding its reach into the suburbs in an attempt to woo a more affluent clientile.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB1...

"They feature touches such as muted lighting, hardwood floors and airy waiting rooms in colors selected by marketing experts -- as well as walls designed to withstand a car's impact should an antiabortion protest turn violent."

I am the mother of three young children. Motherhood hasn't exactly come easily to me. Some of this may have to do with my personality, but most of it has to do with being extremely under supported by the community and culture in which I live.

I just found a link about a test run on the BPA levels in canned food. Turns out the concern comes from the lining in the cans. The most concerning levels were found in canned chicken soup, infant formula, and ravioli.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/...

We all know the terms ‘second hand smoke’ or ‘passive smoking’. Meaning we do not smoke but still face risks from the smoke of those around us. But this smoke is by no means passive. It’s actually very aggressive, particularly with children and their developing lungs.

Thank you for your questions and comments. Let's look more closely at the impending June 10th issue. We can talk about the pros and cons about vaccines all day long and it won't matter because if we don't click on the link and send our letters now, we stand to lose our freedom to have any choice whatsoever.

Part of my job is to provide education (facts) regarding health issues. I don't usually impose my personal belief system on anyone. But since you asked, Tina, the answers to your questions are 'yes' and 'yes'. It's about health issues AND health freedoms. I will detail:

Friends and Colleagues,

We are facing serious health freedom consequences in the US that have not been mentioned during the nightly news.  Please take a moment to look at the attached Health Freedom Alert regarding vaccinations which will, for the first time in US history, make infant and toddler vaccinations MANDATORY.   I have researched the rise in number of infant thru 12 year old vaccinations over recent years.  The numbers are staggering.  

Here's a wonderful story of hope and what can be accomplished through modern medicine.

This child's first “birth” was about six months into Keri McCartney’s pregnancy, when surgeons at Texas Children’s Hospital took the tiny fetus from Keri’s womb to remove a tumor that would have killed the baby before she was born.

The second time was on May 3, when the McCartneys welcomed their surgically repaired — and perfectly healthy — baby girl into the world.

Read the story here.

Any woman in her reproductive years who intends to get pregnant or who is pregnant should be aware of the importance of a perfect thyroid balance for good pregnancy outcome. The negative effects of thyroid imbalance on pregnancy is more often related to low thyroid than to hyperthyroidism, simply because hypothyroidism is much more common than hyperthyroidism. The most common thyroid related issues that can affect reproduction are:

1) A healthy pregnancy/ baby begins before conception. Eat well and excise regularly. Taking prenatal vitamins and living a healthy lifestyle (no smoking and responsible or no drinking) 3 months to a year before conception will greatly increase fertility and likelyhood of a healthy pregnancy. Only using non-hormonal methods of birth control (at least 3 months) before conception can also be beneficial to starting a healthy pregnancy. Reduce stress in your life, also. Being in a stable relationship and having trustworthy friends is a very effective way of reducing stress.