In a ground-breaking study that I hope grabs everyone’s attention, particularly parents and the education establishment, researchers confirmed that both physical activity and body weight have a decisive impact on how well a child’s brain functions. For this study, researchers carefully assessed cognitive function through a special battery of tests in 45 normal weight kids age […]
In the most powerful study of its kind to date, scientist confirmed a direct link in kids between eating breakfast and scoring higher on standardized tests. For this ground-breaking study, scientists compared the foods consumed over a period of just over 24 hours, which included two breakfast periods, in 5000 9-11 year-olds relative to their […]
It seems how we communicate can have a decisive influence on improving the eating habits of others. In a new report that analyzed 43 international studies involving either positive or negative nutrition directives, those that focused on “the benefits of eating healthy foods” proved to be significantly more effective than those touting “the harms of eating unhealthy foods.” […]
How to Select a Healthy Cereal : There is a dizzying array of cereals to choose from these days with new arrivals on the grocery shelves almost weekly. Some are great for you while others are nutritional disasters. For a guaranteed healthy choice – simply refer to the Nutrition Facts box and select cereals that […]
As I have mentioned in previous newsletters there has been a recent mini explosion of science telling us that what an expectant mother eats can have profound effects on her baby’s lifelong health. This month brought us a bit more. The journal Obstetrics and Gynecology reported that women who ate a typical “Western Diet,” characterized […]
Those well-deserved darlings of the healthy fat world strike again. This time in an eye-opening new study that looked at how omega 3 fats taken in the form of a daily supplement affects kids’ behavior. For this well conducted, double blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial (the only type of study that can prove cause and effect), […]
In a study that included over 6,500 American youth ages 10-14, having a television in the bedroom was a significant predictor of weight gain. By statistical analysis, bedroom televisions account for over 15 million pounds of excess weight gain per year in American adolescents. (And over half of all teens in the US have a […]
In the first major study to assess both fitness and body weight in the teen years—and relate it to the future risk of having a heart attack—scientists uncovered some notable findings. The study included 743,498 Swedish men who had their body weight and fitness levels measured at age 18. The study subjects were then monitored […]
With over 20 years of experience as the nutritional gate-keeper for my husband and 4 children, I have mastered the science of health by stealth. Here are my favorite ways to sneak better nutrition into my family’s lives with simple switcheroos: 100% spreadable fruit for regular jelly/jams Part-skim or 2% cheeses for full-fat varieties […]
Over the past week, I read several important study findings looking at omega 3 fats in children, and all of them really grabbed my attention. Omega 3 fats are “essential” fats that play a critical role in brain, cardiovascular, and immune health. Here are the study highlights. I hope they will grab your attention too! […]
As a mother of 4, I know that getting kids to eat their veggies can be a challenge. Here are some tips that have proved effective in my household. Go Stealth. Shred veggies (or buy them already shredded) carrots, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli, etc. and add to meatloaf, spaghetti sauce, lasagna, and baked goods like muffins […]
After immersing human tooth enamel in a broad range of sports drinks and energy drinks several times a day – dental researchers observed irreversible tooth enamel erosion after just five days. Both beverages are highly acidic and acids in beverages are known to erode tooth enamel. (General Dentistry May/June 2012) From 2001 to 2009, the […]
