Tag Archive for 'Kids'

Food allergies in kids are increasing

Published on November 1, 2010 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Many elementary teachers are noticing that more and more children have food allergies. Well, it is a fact that food allergies among children are definitely increasing. In fact, between 1997 and 2007, the amount of children with food allergies has increased by an astounding 18 percent.

Some people believe it is because of the ever increasing awareness of food allergy signs and symptoms. There is also more food allergy testing available to the public.

There is some evidence that these increasing amounts of food allergies is an actuality and not perceived, as some have believed in the past. A study from the Children’s Hospital of Boston reported that pediatric emergency room visits because of food allergies has doubled between 2001 and 2006. Currently, it is believed that 4 percent of U.S. children have food allergies.

It is not known why food allergies are rising. There are many explanations.

Milk, eggs, nuts, soy, fish and wheat are the most common allergenic foods. Some people think that bringing these foods into a child’s diet too early might lead to a food allergy. On the flip side, some experts believe that delaying the introduction of these foods could be the reason. Family history can also come into play.

Parents will definitely continue to hear confusing advice about prevention of these food allergies, until scientists finally are able to discover the reason for these allergies to occur. At the moment, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests breast-feeding only until six months of age. Following this advice has been proven in studies to bring down the occurrence of food allergies and eczema.

After an infant has turned six months old, the AAP doesn’t recommend holding off on introducing any particular type of food group. This said, be sure to check with your doctor about specific advice about the introduction of solid foods if your infant has eczema, asthma, known food allergies or a family history of food allergies.

Smoking bans have benefited kids with asthma

Published on September 20, 2010 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Recent research has indicated that smoking bans have spared many children with asthma from having to be hospitalized. This finding demonstrates that smoke-free laws have even better health benefits than earlier believed.

Previous studies have kept track of the decrease in adult heart attack rates after smoking bans were embraced. This new study, which was performed in Scotland, observed asthma-related hospitalizations of kids. These hospitalizations decreased 13 percent a year after smoking was barred in 2006 from workplaces and public buildings, including bars and restaurants.

Before the ban came into effect, admissions had been rising 5 percent a year in Scotland, which happens to have a very poor health record among European countries.

Earlier U.S. studies performed in Arizona and Kentucky, showed similar results, but this was the most substantial study of its kind and it provided the most convincing case that smoking bans can generate immediate health improvements for vast amounts of people.

A University of California-San Francisco researcher who specializes in the health effects of smoking said “the effects of smoke-free laws are way bigger than you would expect.”

Kids are increasing their snack consumption

Published on March 3, 2010 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

414786983_58ae3e7439These days everybody is so busy that there is sometimes not enough time for sit-down meals. This is one of the main reasons that snacks have become so popular in our society, especially with kids. They are often snacking after school and on the way to activities such as soccer and tutoring sessions. These extra calories each week could add up to around 13 1/2 pounds of body fat a year. Snacks now account for more than 25 percent of the average kid’s daily intake.

This research displays just how prominently snacks have been a culprit in the weight problem among many of America’s children.

Public health officials have taken sodas and fatty and salty snacks out of our schools, but the food industry constantly keeps pushing snacks at us to continue to treat people in the U.S. as if we are always extremely ravenous.

The nation’s child obesity level has climbed to 16.4 percent in 2007 – a 10 percent increase since 2003. It seems that eating meals and drinking milk has decreased and eating fatty and salty foods is increasing. Since everyone is busy and snacks are often necessary to get through the day, parents need to try to find healthier alternatives for between meal snacks such as an apple or some yogurt.

The new study, which tallied the results from 31,337 children and adolescents to four federally funded food surveys, has revealed that in 1977, around 75 percent of kids age 2 to 18 ate at least one snack between meals. In 2006 the amount of kids who snacked rose to 98 percent.

The survey reports that kids’ daily caloric intake has risen by 100 calories since 1977. This escalation in snacking has thrust their average calorie intake to 2,099. In 2006, 27.3 percent of total calories, around 600 calories a day, came from snacks, according to the N.C. research team.

Also, calories eaten at mealtimes have started to decline a little since the last food survey was taken in 1994. Because of this, U.S. children are eating more fatty, sugary and salty foods and less of the dairy, protein and produce that is common at mealtimes.

When it comes to teaching kids about healthy eating, practice what you preach

Published on March 24, 2009 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

If you eat right, your kids will most likely do the same. According to nutritionists, parents greatly influence their children’s eating habits and feelings about food. Unfortunately, many parents are saying one thing and doing another, like the mom who says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and then she goes and skips breakfast. Then there are the parents who ban certain foods altogether, which tends to make them even more tempting. Some parents even use food to reward and punish.

Food experts say that what parents say and do is just as important as the food that they serve. Robin Miller, a nutritionist on the Food Network show, says that helping kids to have a healthy outlook about food will most likely lead them to eating healthy as an adult.

Ivonne Hamilton, a registered dietician who works at The Counseling Group in Miami, says not to go to extremes when teaching children healthy eating habits. She recommends an 80-20 relationship with food. In other words, if you eat healthy about 80 percent of the time, it’s O.K. to splurge on something like dessert 20 percent of the time. The reality is that kids will come into contact with treats at parties and school. Allow them to try these, but make sure they know the foods that their body needs to stay healthy. Forcing kids to clean their plates or taking a plate away from a child that seems to be overeating does not let kids discover their limits, says Hamilton. She tells children that a gentle hugging feeling means they should be satisfied, a feeling of two fingers pressing hard on the belly means they have eaten too much, and binge eating feels like a punch in the stomach.

Nutritionists say it is a good idea to involve your kids as you prepare food in the kitchen. Letting them crack eggs and stir things helps them to feel like they are a part of the preparation, which can make them want to sample the end result. They also recommend that you expand your child’s palate by introducing a new food with an old favorite, such as a new dip with their sliced apples. But the most important thing you can do to influence your child’s eating habits is to eat the way you want your child to eat. You can do this by choosing a wide assortment of healthy foods from all the food groups, eat in moderation and of course, exercise regularly.

Research suggests combining Zoloft and therapy beneficial to children with anxiety disorders

Published on December 1, 2008 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

As many as 20 percent of U.S. children and teens are found to be affected by anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illness in children.

A recent study found that a popular antidepressant, well known as Zoloft, combined with three months of psychotherapy substantially helped children who suffered from anxiety disorders. The research also found that therapy by itself helped a lot as well. This was comforting to parents who worry about the affect of drugs on their children.

It was discovered that combining the drug sertraline, which is available as a generic and under the brand name Zoloft, along with therapy, worked best. Each method used alone also should major benefits, according to Dr. John Walkup, who is the lead author of the government-funded research and a Johns Hopkins Hospital psychiatrist.

Walkup said that children who were previously so anxious that they wouldn’t sleep alone, play with their friends, or leave home, had their symptoms almost disappear in many cases.

Sertraline is one of those antidepressants that is linked with suicidal thoughts and behavior in children having depression. Only a small amount of the 200 plus kids in this study had suicide thoughts and there were no suicide attempts, claimed Walkup. Suicidal tendencies are more prevalent in depression cases than anxiety related cases.

Mostly used to treat adult depression and anxiety, Zoloft is also approved for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder in kids, but not for anxiety. However, some doctors have used it for that. Also, some less intense and smaller studies have recommended that it as well as other antidepressants can help.

This new study is the largest examining treatment of childhood anxiety disorders and it was paid for by the National Institute of Mental Health.