Despite some promising reports in recent years, it seems the U.S. childhood obesity problem is not turning a corner. That’s the finding of a study published online Feb. 26 in Pediatrics showing that hopes of a turnaround may have been premature. Over the past few years, studies have found that childhood obesity rates seemed to… read on >
Two eating plans — a vegetarian diet that includes eggs and dairy, and the Mediterranean diet — protect your heart equally, a new study shows. The research included 107 healthy but overweight people, aged 18 to 75, who ate either a low-calorie vegetarian diet that included dairy and eggs, or a low-calorie Mediterranean diet, for… read on >
Your children may already be looking forward to summer camp. But when it comes to kids with asthma or allergies, parents need to take extra steps in planning their outdoor experience. “Kids with allergies and asthma need an extra layer of preparation to ensure they stay healthy and enjoy their adventure,” said Dr. Bradley Chipps,… read on >
Antioxidants — it’s a hot nutrition buzzword, but do you know what they really are? Antioxidants are naturally occurring chemicals that block the activity of other chemicals called free radicals. Free radicals are formed naturally in the body and actually play an important role in many everyday processes, such as exercise and metabolism. But at… read on >
A baby’s nutritional balance during the first 1,000 days of life is critical to lifelong mental health and development, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Sufficient amounts of key minerals, vitamins, proteins and certain fats during the infant and toddler years is key to avoiding permanent loss of brain function, the academy said. The AAP… read on >
Antidepressant drugs actually do help ease depression, countering debate over whether the medications do what they’re supposed to, a large research review has found. Some antidepressants, though, are more effective and better tolerated than others, the findings showed. The researchers analyzed data from 522 trials — published and unpublished — that included more than 116,000… read on >
Many of us make choices about whether to eat healthy or not-so-healthy foods based on whether we’re in a good or not-so-good mood. When a bad mood strikes, we often tend to reach for junk food. And that can be a recipe for disaster when you’re trying to lose weight. Here’s how to keep your… read on >
Shredded meat and poultry are a great start to a wide range of meals, from chili to Mexican dishes. But it’s important to prepare the meat safely to avoid foodborne illness. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions for preparing shredded meat in a slow cooker: Refer to your product’s manual… read on >
If you’ve been on a diet more than once, you know that it can be harder to maintain weight than to lose weight in the first place. In fact, many people feel that dieting is easier and that not regaining the weight is the real challenge. Here’s help to keep off the pounds you worked… read on >
American parents are less likely to seek early dental care for their children if they don’t receive guidance from a doctor or dentist, a new national survey finds. The poll of 790 parents with at least one child aged 5 or younger found that one in six of those who did not receive dental advice… read on >
