PC THE TOWN

One very popular sport is gymnastics, and especially when the Olympics roll around every four years. Gymnasts appear to be treated like rock stars if they attain the level of medal winners, and they typically get lucrative endorsement contracts. But the few seconds spent on the international stage at that level are only a result of many years of painful pJractice�countless hours of attempting that perfect vault, that ethereal experience on the parallel bars, or that unbelievable floor routine. When that young man or women finishes a spotless performance, the crowd roars to its feet with thunderous applause. But if there is a fall, or a break in the pattern, or some other mistake made by the performing athlete, a collective sigh comes from the audience, and the gymnast is aghast in disbelief. Gymnastic routines take special training, and the effort can be brutal. The work is punishing, and the injuries can be traumatic. As Jim McKay used to say on ABC Wide World of Sports some years ago...

Are you a parent or guardian that uses or has used a daycare facility for your children? Don�t put yourself down if you do. Many parents use this type of option if one or both parents are working outside the home. However, there may be some things about daycare that you would want to know and that may surprise you. There are few parenting issues as hot-button as daycare -- is it good for kids or a glorified form of neglect? According to iVillage Health , recent studies have weighed in on both sides, saying that poor quality care can lead to behavior problems, while more nurturing, attentive environments can lead to higher test scores in grade school. But to many parents, exactly what happens in that romper room between 9 and 5 is still unclear. According to some mothers who�ve popped by unexpectedly and longtime daycare workers, a lot more goes on than you think. Here is one of the sixteen tips they suggest are worth your time to know: Your Child May Be Calling the Daycare Teachers �Mo...

One of the essential building blocks of the human body is protein. Commonly perceived as being a major component of meat, protein is actually present in many types of foods. Healthy individuals usually have sufficient amounts of protein in their body, but in some cases you can actually consume more of it than you need on a daily basis. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), proteins are part of every cell, tissue, and organ in our bodies. These body proteins are constantly being broken down and replaced. The protein in the foods we eat is digested into amino acids that are later used to replace these proteins in our bodies. Protein is found in the following foods: � Meats, poultry, and fish � Legumes (dry beans and peas) � Tofu � Eggs � Nuts and seeds � Milk and milk products � Grains, some vegetables, and some fruits (provide only small amounts of protein relative to other sources) Proteins are made up of amino acids. Think of amino acids as the building blocks. There a...