Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by A. L. on Unsplash A study performed by the University of Eastern Finland has found a link between higher serum Vitamin D levels and lower plasma cholesterol levels in primary school children. What is Vitamin D? Vitamin D, commonly called the ‘sunshine vitamin, …
We live in an increasingly polluted environment, loaded with toxins; the soil we grow our food in is often nutrient-depleted and many consume processed, factory-made foods supplying scant nutrients. Ironically, our bodies wind up requiring even more vitamins and minerals to effectively metabolize nutrient-depleted foods. …
According to Penn State College of Medicine, researchers have found that using technology before bed was associated with less sleep, poor sleep quality, greater fatigue, and high body mass indexes (BMI).
Previous research points to technology impacting sleep patterns. But new research shows that 40% of children have cell phones by grade 5, and many of those previous studies have not targeted the effects of technology on the younger population. As we all know, sleep is critical to a child’s development.
The researchers asked the parents of 234 children between the ages of 8 and 17 years old questions regarding their children’s sleep and technology habits, sleep patterns, nutrition and activity.
Results found several adverse effects associated with using different technologies before bed.
Caitlyn Fuller, medical student from Penn State, says, “We found an association between higher BMIs and an increase in technology use, and also that children who reported more technology use at bedtime were associated with less sleep at night. These children were also more likely to be tired in the morning, which is also a risk factor for higher BMIs.”
According to the study’s results, children who reported watching TV or playing video games before bed got an average of 30 minutes less sleep than those who did not, while kids who used their phone or a computer before bed averaged an hour less of sleep than those who did not. An association between using technology before bed and increased cell phone use at night, such as waking up to text someone, with watching TV resulting in the highest odds.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents create boundaries around technology use, like no devices at dinner. Dr. Marsha Novik, associate professor of pediatrics and family and community medicine, said that while more research is needed to determine whether multiple devices at bedtime results in worse sleep than just one device, the study can help pediatricians talk to parents about the use of technology. “Although there are many benefits to using technology, pediatricians may want to counsel parents about limiting technology for their kids, particularly at bedtime, to promote healthy childhood development and mental health.”
This research was supported by the Bedrick Family Medical Student Research Program Award and the Penn State Clinical and Translational Research Institute.
Lutein has been nicknamed “the eye vitamin” – and for good reason! Lutein and Zeaxanthin are powerful antioxidants naturally found in vegetables like kale, broccoli and citrus fruits. Think of them as built-in sunglasses for your eyes. The antioxidant abilities of Lutein has allowed it to fight against free radical damage cause by blue light and sun exposure. Cell phones, televisions and computer screens all emit blue light, so it is more important now than ever to protect the retina.
According to Nicole Crane, BS, NTP, former Director of Nutrition for InVite® Health, the human body cannot make the Lutein and Zeaxanthin it needs, which is the reason why colorful vegetables are essential to good nutrition, especially for the eyes and brain. If you aren’t getting enough leafy greens and other colorful veggies, it is ideal to supplement with these essential nutrients. “The average American is getting just 10% of the amount of Lutein and Zeaxanthin (about 2 mg combined) that is required by the eye to stay healthy for a lifetime. An early study showed that just 6 mg of Lutein per day has been shown to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by 43%.”[1]
[1] https://www.invitehealth.com/Article-antioxidants-eye-lutein-zeaxanthin.html
In honor of Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, vision screenings and eye exams for children are more important than you think.
Photo by Joshua Coleman on Unsplash In modern medicine, antibiotics are usually the first line of defense when it comes to treating infections of any kind. Unfortunately, scientists have discovered in more recent years that antibiotics can have some very dangerous side effects. A well-known …
The Measles vaccine has been a controversial issue in the news recently. Parents have strong and widely varied opinions on whether or not they should vaccinate their children. Many parents would like to avoid vaccines all together because of potential side effects – but after the measles outbreak linked to Disneyland in California, experts are recommending that all children be vaccinated for their own safety and the safety of others.
The CDC has recently released guidelines on what parents need to know regarding vaccinating their kids. School is starting soon and many schools require vaccinations as a state requirement. Vaccinations, the CDC says, are one of the most important things you can do as a parent to ensure your child’s health and safety and parents that choose not to vaccinate their children increase the risk of disease not only for their own children, but also for other children and adults throughout the community.
Yesterday, a Chicago-area day care center learned that two infants who attend the center in Palatine, Illinois tested positive for measles. The day care center immediately notified all parents, and any child who has not received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine has been ordered to stay at home and away from anyone else who hasn’t been vaccinated for at least 21 days.
Experts aren’t yet clear on whether these new cases are linked to the previous outbreaks in California and Cook County. What is clear, though, is that the children who have the disease had not received the vaccine. According to the Public Health Department, the children were too young to be vaccinated (the MMR vaccine is generally not given to children under the age of 1).
If the safety factor of vaccines is something you’ve debated about in the past, here is your answer.
Measles is a respiratory disease that is highly contagious from about four days before symptoms occur through about four days after symptoms clear up. This disease is very contagious because it can linger on surfaces – even in the air – for up to two hours, and it spreads quickly through coughing and sneezing.
Until recently, the disease was relatively rare in the US – but these days, controversy over the potential dangers of vaccines is causing even bigger problems.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/05/health/measles-chicago-area-day-care/index.html