Stop Infections In Its Tracks

The chilly weather is coming, bringing cold and flu seasons, not to mention ear and throat infections. The best way to keep your kids healthy through the season is to consistently eliminate sources of common diseases. Help kids stay well to begin with. Here are some quick tips:

• Teach kids to wash their hands with soap and warm water after playing and before eating. They should scrub for 30 seconds. Maybe you can create a 30 second song for when they wash hands!
• Use alcohol-based hand wipes or hand gels when you can't get to a sink. Avoid those with triclosan, an antibacterial agent that kills only weaker bacteria. 
• Show your child how to cough into her sleeve, and use tissues instead of her hands to wipe her nose.
• Have each family member use his/her own towel.
• Clean all wounds properly: Flush for one minute with running water, wash with soap, rinse, and cover with a bandage until healed.
• Make sure your kids are eating a healthy diet, full of vitamins that will help boost their immune systems.  
• Lastly, consult your pediatrician on best ways to keep your kids healthy. 

 Source: Redbook and Shine
 
 

Parents in America and Overweight Kids

New research published by Newsweek reveals that parents in America mistakenly believe their kids are leaner than they are. A new poll included in the report finds that the majority of Americans believe that childhood obesity is a “significant and growing challenge for the country,” and yet 84 percent say their children are at a healthy weight. Nearly one third of children and teens are overweight, which means their body mass index, or BMI, falls between the 85th and 95th percentile for their age and sex,  or obese, at or above the 95th percentile.

Americans understand there’s a problem; they just don’t think their kids are a part of it. Skewed weight perception is a well-known phenomenon in the research world. In one study, only one third of parents of overweight kids recognized their child’s weight status accurately and few were worried that it might be a problem. In another, 60 percent of parents of overweight children inaccurately identified their child as healthy weight or even underweight. African-American parents were more likely to underestimate than white parents. And in a study of a low-income Latino population, mothers preferred a plumper figure for their children than themselves. This is especially worrisome given the trends in black and Latino obesity rates and the health problems—diabetes, heart disease, cancer—that can ensue.

Source: Newsweek

Food Rules

Food Rules is a fabulous book about eating wisely. Broken down into 3 key sections highlighting the "what and how", this is an easy, useful and fun read. Great value for $5 at Amazon, or about $11 in other bookstores.

Michael Pollan is a longtime contributor to The New York Times, and the author of five previous books, including In Defense of Food, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire.

Food Rules by Michael Pollan, also sold through Amazon

Pregnancy Exercise Benefits: More Evidence

Light exercise during pregnancy may improve the future health of a child by controlling weight in the womb, New Zealand and US researchers say.

Overweight or obese mums are more likely to have larger babies which could be at higher risk of health problems later in life. There is increasing evidence that the future metabolism of a child may be influenced by its environment in the womb, and that babies who are relatively heavy for their length may be more likely to be obese in future years.
According to the source, on average, the exercising women had babies who were no shorter than their non-exercising counterparts, but who were 0.32 lb (143 grams) lighter on average. 

Source: please read articles at bbc.co.uk and The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

Get Kids Going!

Take advantage of the warm weather and get active with your kids. Do them and yourself a favor and exercise! That is in addition to keeping healthy eating habits.

New studies have shown that the seeds of chronic illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, may be germinating much earlier than anyone thought. Researchers have seen markers for heart disease in children as young as 3 and warning signs of Type 2 diabetes in 7 year olds. Poor diet and lack of exercise can boost a kid’s risk! A study published in Dynamic Medicine found that kids who were couch potatoes between the ages of 7 and 10 were five times more likely than others to have developed metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar, seven years later.

Physical activities are important throughout the year. Parents should accept their responsibility as role models and motivate kids to be active and eat healthy!


source: msnbc.com

How you Feed your Kids Makes a Huge Difference!

Dr. Alan Greene, a famous pediatrician advocate of environmentally conscious parenting, launched a book about nutrition for babies. According to him, "Whether you care about green or not, how you feed your baby makes a huge difference. Babies are built out of food. How you feed them early on not only affects the foods they like, but it will turn on and off certain genes that will affect their metabolic rate, how much weight they’re likely to gain, how they handle blood sugar and cholesterol, how likely they are to get diabetes or heart disease and the quantity of food that will satisfy them. All of that is determined in the early years."
This is not new information, but so often forgotten by parents!

Click here to read his interview for the New York Times.

Steer Clear of Sodas

New studies show that even small amounts of soda can be harmful to human bodies. From increasing risk of miscarriage to kidney problems. Check the details at the The Daily Green.

Source: The Daily Green

Wholesome Blueberry Scones

Loaded with blueberries and oats, this is a great and delicious option to start your day.

Lemon Blueberry Scones
Servings: 10

- 1 1/4 cups of whole grain pastry flour
- 1 cup ground whole oats
- 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup blueberries

Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Whisk together the flour, oats, dry milk, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

Stir together the yogurt, honey, oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a measuring cup.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and stir in the yogurt mixture. Add the blueberries and stir just until blended. Drop the batter onto the prepared baking sheet using a large (1/4 cup) ice cream scoop to make 10 scones. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned and firm.Serve with a glass of fat-free milk.

source: Prevention.com

Whole Wheat French Toast

A classic French Toast is definitely a favorite. Making it healthy is all about choosing the right ingredients.

Continuing with our theme menu of the week, Healthy Breakfast, here is a great recipe for Whole Wheat French Toast.

Fancy French Toast

Servings: 1

- 2 slices of whole grain bread
- 1 egg, beaten (or 1/4 cup egg substitute for a lower calorie version)
- 1/4 cup fat-free milk
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of canola oil
- 1 teaspoon trans-fat free canola margarine
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

Combine beaten egg, milk and cinnamon. Warm canola oil and margarine in a pan, then dip the bread into the egg mix, and brown in pan until golden on both sides. Top with syrup.


Source: Prevention.com

The Power of Choice for Teens and Kids

The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service and the FDA developed an interested booklet, The Power of Choice, for kids and adolescents about adopting a healthier lifestyle. It includes 10 topics and activities worth checking, and it is free!. Click here to access the booklet.

Healthy Home Tips for Parents. Can't Get Any Easier than That...

Can it? Here we go:

1. Choose better body care products for kids: read the ingredients and avoid triclosan, BHA, fragrance and oxybenzone.

2. Eat fresh organic foods: choose organic when possible, and limit canned food and infant formula, as can linings contain BPA.

3. Pick plastics carefully: some plastics contain BPA, which is linked to cancer. Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles market with a "7" or "PC". Don't microwave plastic containers. Stay away from toys marked with a "3" or "PVC."

4. Filter your tap water: this will reduce your family's exposure to impurities in water, like chlorine and lead. Mix infant formula with fluoride-free water.

5. Wash your hands often: do we need to elaborate on that?

6. Skip non-stick cookware: when overheated, they can emit toxic fumes. Use cast iron or stainless steel instead.

7. Use a HEPA-filter vacuum: it captures the widest range of particles and get rid of allergens.

8. Get iodine: it buffers against chemicals like perchlorate, which can disrupt the thyroid system and affect brain development during pregnancy and infancy.

9. Use greener cleaners and avoid pesticides: household cleaners, bug killers, pet treatments, and air fresheners can irritate kids' lungs, especially if your kids have asthma. Investigate less toxic alternatives. Use vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains.

10. Eat good fats: omega-3 fatty acids can offset toxic effects of lead and mercury. They're in fish, eggs, nuts, oils, and produce. Choose low-mercury fish, especially if you're pregnant. Breast milk is the best source of good fats (and other benefits) for babies, and protects them from toxic chemicals.

For detailed information, logon to ewg.org