Food, Health and Nutrition Recommendations

Today countries around the world start celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, which this year emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding in the first hour of life.



World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2007 is encouraging breastfeeding in the first hour of life because research shows that early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for six months can save lives. This is the reason behind this year's WBW catchphrase: "Breast Feeding the 1st Hour - Save One Million Babies".

World Breastfeeding Week is supported by a number of global and national organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), who are keen to promote awareness about the importance of breastfeeding soon after birth because of the lifelong health benefits of receiving a mother's first milk, colostrum, the "perfect food for every newborn".

A 2006 study published in the journal Pediatrics suggested that 41 per cent of newborns that die in the first month of life could be saved if breastfed in the first hour of life.

The WHO also says feeding colostrum in the first hour increases the likelihood babies will continue to be breastfed which gives them a head start in the "race against malnutrition". There are 170 million underweight children in the world and 3 million of them die every year.

Colostrum is a sticky yellow-white substance yielded by the mother's breast soon after birth. It is rich in antibodies and essential nutrients. Yet, in many cultures, ignorant of its health benefits, the custom is to throw it away. Giving newborns water or other liquids denies them a "good start in life" says the WHO, referring to the WHO Child Growth Standards and how babies fed colostrum within the first hour of being born measure up well against the standards.

Breastfeeding in the first hour or so after birth also confers benefits to the mother, such as improved lactation and less loss of blood.

This year, the theme "Breast Feeding the 1st Hour" is also linked with another phrase: "Welcome Baby Softly". The idea of this theme is to encourage health professionals to "protect" the first hour after birth and help mother and baby bond in a natural, uninterrupted way and maximise the chance the infant will latch onto the breast and stimulate lactation.

President of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), Rebecca Mannel said that newborns are programmed to find the breast and will often find it by themselves when placed on the mother's chest, skin to skin.

"In the early moments after birth, babies are in a quiet, alert state and ready to learn", said Mannel in a prepared statement.

"Babies use all five senses to explore that world. They use their eyes to memorize their mothers' faces, their ears to associate her voice with her face, and their sense of smell to guide them in finding the breast", she added.

Newborns have a heightened sense of taste too, and this is particularly sensitive to the taste of breast milk. Mannel also said that "When mothers hold their babies skin-to-skin immediately after birth, their babies are kept warm, they regulate their heart, respiratory, and oxygen saturation rates, and they do not feel pain as acutely". Babies who have this experience cry less, and are calmer, she said.

United Nations (UN) agencies and the WHO have recently expressed concern that breastfeeding appears to be declining in the Asia-Pacific regions and this is making it harder for babies and children to survive. They want parents to become more aware of the risks of using breast milk substitutes.

At a conference in Manila in the Philippines last month, experts told an assembly of doctors that breastfeeding reduces child mortality and they showed figures from Cambodia, where child mortality has decreased dramatically following a vigorous and successful breastfeeding campaign.

Between 2000 and 2005 the proportion of Cambodian mothers who were breastfeeding their babies until they were at least six months old jumped from 10 to 60 per cent, according to a BBC report from their correspondent in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This compares with about 30 to 40 per cent across Asia as a whole, according to the WHO.

Child deaths in Cambodia over the same timescale dropped by over 30 per cent, which the WHO credits to the dramatic increase in breastfeeding. The BBC correspondent said that large posters showing mothers breastfeeding were commonplace and the government had set up breastfeeding friendly sites in towns and villages.

A Unicef spokesperson told the BBC that the average family in the developing world believes bottle feeding is better for the baby than breast milk.

Breastfeeding is particularly protective for those babies born in towns and villages where water quality is unreliable and can make formula feeding unsafe.

Child development experts say that breastfeeding benefits all children, not just those in developing countries. It improves cognitive development and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, for example.

Click here for more information on World Breastfeeding Week.
Click here for the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA).
Click here for WHO Child Growth Standards.

Written by: Catharine Paddock
Copyright: Medical News Today
Main Source: Medical News Today
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Labels: breast feeding, breastfeeding, child breast feeding, why is breast feeding important

Posted by Birju at 1:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

It's no secret that apples have historically played an important role in maintaining a healthful lifestyle. But what is it about the apple that "…keeps the doctor away"? Scientists in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University have concluded that the peel may, in large part, account for the potential cancer-fighting capabilities of apples.


Numerous studies have previously linked the apple's antioxidant properties to reduce the risk of cancer, as well as a positive impact on heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer Disease, and symptoms of asthma. These findings have shown that whole apples and apple products exhibit high antioxidant activity. Researchers are now looking to determine exactly which part of the apple is the most responsible for the activity.

Dr. Rui Hai Liu and his research team at Cornell looked at the chemical composition of apples and identified a group of phytochemicals that are more abundant in the peel and appear to kill or inhibit the growth of at least three different types of human cancer cells: colon, breast and liver.

In the study, recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers processed 230 pounds of apples and extracted the chemical content of the apple peel. Liu and co-author Xiangjiu He then isolated the phytochemical compounds in the peels and tested them on each of the 3 different types of cancer cells. Of the 12 compounds tested, most exhibited potent anti-cancer activity against all 3 cancer cells.

In previous studies, Liu identified apple compounds that appeared to inhibit mammary tumor growth in rats. In this study compounds called triterpenoids were effective against breast, liver and colon cancer cells.

Apples contain a large concentration of various phytochemical compounds, including flavonoids, which act as powerful antioxidants. Liu suggests that, based on his research, apples are one of the largest sources of flavonoids in the American diet. According to the researchers, apples with peels "…may impart health benefits when consumed and should be regarded as a valuable source of natural antioxidants or bioactive compounds."

Source: R.H. Liu, X "Triterpenoids Isolated from Apple Peels Have Potent Antiproliferative Activity and May Be Partially Responsible for Apple's Anticancer Activity," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 30 May 2007, Volume 55, Issue 11, Pages 4366 - 4370.
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The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 36 state and regional apple associations representing the 7,500 apple growers throughout the country, as well as more than 300 individual firms involved in the apple business. USApple's mission is to provide the means for all segments of the U.S. apple industry to join in appropriate collective efforts to profitably produce and market apples and apple products.

Source: US Apple Association

Labels: apple and cancer, apple health benefits, fruits and health

Posted by Birju at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Surgeon General's Call To Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity



Overweight in Children and Adolescents

THE PROBLEM OF OVERWEIGHT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

• In 1999, 13% of children aged 6 to 11 years and 14% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years in the United States were overweight. This prevalence has nearly tripled for adolescents in the past 2 decades.
• Risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, occur with increased frequency in overweight children and adolescents compared to children with a healthy weight.
• Type 2 diabetes, previously considered an adult disease, has increased dramatically in children and adolescents. Overweight and obesity are closely linked to type 2 diabetes.
• Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80% if one or more parent is overweight or obese. Overweight or obese adults are at risk for a number of health problems including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer.
• The most immediate consequence of overweight as perceived by the children themselves is social discrimination. This is associated with poor self-esteem and depression.

THE CAUSES OF OVERWEIGHT

• Overweight in children and adolescents is generally caused by lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of the two, with genetics and lifestyle both playing important roles in determining a child's weight.
• Our society has become very sedentary. Television, computer and video games contribute to children's inactive lifestyles.
• 43% of adolescents watch more than 2 hours of television each day.
• Children, especially girls, become less active as they move through adolescence.

DETERMINATION OF OVERWEIGHT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

• Doctors and other health care professionals are the best people to determine whether your child or adolescent's weight is healthy, and they can help rule out rare medical problems as the cause of unhealthy weight.
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) can be calculated from measurements of height and weight. Health professionals often use a BMI "growth chart" to help them assess whether a child or adolescent is overweight.
• A physician will also consider your child or adolescent's age and growth patterns to determine whether his or her weight is healthy.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS

• Let your child know he or she is loved and appreciated whatever his or her weight. An overweight child probably knows better than anyone else that he or she has a weight problem. Overweight children need support, acceptance, and encouragement from their parents.
• Focus on your child's health and positive qualities, not your child's weight.
• Try not to make your child feel different if he or she is overweight but focus on gradually changing your family's physical activity and eating habits.
• Be a good role model for your child. If your child sees you enjoying healthy foods and physical activity, he or she is more likely to do the same now and for the rest of his or her life.
• Realize that an appropriate goal for many overweight children is to maintain their current weight while growing normally in height.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS

• Be physically active. It is recommended that Americans accumulate at least 30 minutes (adults) or 60 minutes (children) of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Even greater amounts of physical activity may be necessary for the prevention of weight gain, for weight loss, or for sustaining weight loss.
• Plan family activities that provide everyone with exercise and enjoyment.
• Provide a safe environment for your children and their friends to play actively; encourage swimming, biking, skating, ball sports, and other fun activities.
• Reduce the amount of time you and your family spend in sedentary activities, such as watching TV or playing video games. Limit TV time to less than 2 hours a day.

HEALTHY EATING SUGGESTIONS

• Follow the Dietary Guidelines for healthy eating (www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines).
• Guide your family's choices rather than dictate foods.
• Encourage your child to eat when hungry and to eat slowly.
• Eat meals together as a family as often as possible.
• Carefully cut down on the amount of fat and calories in your family's diet.
• Don't place your child on a restrictive diet.
• Avoid the use of food as a reward.
• Avoid withholding food as punishment.
• Children should be encouraged to drink water and to limit intake of beverages with added sugars, such as soft drinks, fruit juice drinks, and sports drinks.
• Plan for healthy snacks.
• Stock the refrigerator with fat-free or low-fat milk, fresh fruit, and vegetables instead of soft drinks or snacks that are high in fat, calories, or added sugars and low in essential nutrients.
• Aim to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
• Discourage eating meals or snacks while watching TV.
• Eating a healthy breakfast is a good way to start the day and may be important in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

IF YOUR CHILD IS OVERWEIGHT

• Many overweight children who are still growing will not need to lose weight, but can reduce their rate of weight gain so that they can "grow into" their weight.
• Your child's diet should be safe and nutritious. It should include all of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins, minerals, and protein and contain the foods from the major Food Guide Pyramid groups. Any weight-loss diet should be low in calories (energy) only, not in essential nutrients.
• Even with extremely overweight children, weight loss should be gradual.
• Crash diets and diet pills can compromise growth and are not recommended by many health care professionals.
• Weight lost during a diet is frequently regained unless children are motivated to change their eating habits and activity levels for a lifetime.
• Weight control must be considered a lifelong effort.
• Any weight management program for children should be supervised by a physician.

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Labels: obesity, obesity in adults, obesity in children, obesity recommendations

Posted by Birju at 3:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

Whether on a ship, in a car or on an airplane, most people have experienced the miseries of motion sickness. While the cause is always the same — conflicting sensory signals going to the brain — the list of potential remedies is vast. One of the oldest, ginger, is among those backed by the most evidence; several studies have found it effective against nausea from seasickness and other conditions.



A study in the journal Lancet involved 36 people highly susceptible to motion sickness. The researchers had the subjects take either two capsules of powdered ginger, an anti-nausea medication or a placebo, and then, 20 minutes later, spin on a motorized chair for up to six minutes. Taking ginger delayed the onset of sickness about twice as long as taking the medication. The study also found that half the subjects who took ginger lasted the full six minutes, compared with none of those given the placebo or the medication.

A study by Danish scientists looked at 80 naval cadets prone to seasickness and found that those given one gram of ginger powder suffered less in a four-hour period then those given a placebo.

Precisely how ginger works is unclear, but at least one study suggested that one of its active compounds, 6-gingerol, enhances “gastrointestinal transport.”

THE BOTTOM LINE
Ginger has been shown to be effective in treating the nausea associated with motion sickness.

scitimes@nytimes.com
Source: The New York Times

Labels: ginger and motion sickness, motion sickness

Posted by Birju at 3:21 AM | Permalink | Comments

Cancer is now the leading cause of death among teens and young adults after accidents in England. Among this 13 to 24-year-old age group, cancer rates have been increasing at a rate of 1.2 percent per year for the past two decades. The researchers mention genetic factors, lifestyle changes and exposure to toxins before birth as possible causes for the increase, but there are many more possibilities for the steady increase.


Environmental Toxins
Most human research in cancer risk from exposure to toxins begins after the cancer is diagnosed. However, as chemicals and other toxins are increasingly saturating our environment, researchers are beginning to look at the effect of these environmental toxins, such as pesticides and PCBs, on an unborn child.

For instance, several human studies have found a link between fetal exposure to contaminants and cancer in children and young adults. Studies reviewed include occupational exposures of parents and brain cancers in children; pesticides, paints, paint thinners and solvents and leukemia; and cigarette smoke and childhood cancer.

An embryo and fetus develop at a much faster rate than adults. While this development occurs, cell division and growth is rapid. These rapid changes provide many opportunities for mistakes to occur. If a baby is exposed to several toxic compounds in utero, changes may occur that either directly cause cancer, or lengthen the period of sensitivity to carcinogens, therefore making the child more susceptible to cancer later in life.

Polio Vaccines
The polio vaccine seems ever more linked to cancers, especially in children. The evidence seems quite clear yet most continue to go down the path of blindly trusting the traditional paradigm to "save" them from disease through the use of vaccinations.

This should outrage nearly anyone that reads this. We trusted these experts to provide us with protection from polio and instead they planted the seeds of a deadly cancer that would kill over 20,000 a year in the United States.

This is particularly troublesome as polio can be prevented in most people simply by eliminating sugar from their diet.

If you were one of those people who received the vaccine you can do something positive to enhance your immune system. Increasing your amount of omega-3 fats and decreasing the omega-6 fats will be a potent step toward suppressing these types of cancers. Consuming high-quality fish oil or cod liver oil is an excellent way to obtain the outstanding health benefits of omega-3.

Inadequate Prenatal Nutrition
What a woman eats while pregnant can have a profound effect on the future health of her child. Researchers have discovered that a mother’s diet can even alter her child’s gene functions without changing the DNA sequence, which plays a large role in the child’s susceptibility to diseases like cancer, stroke, diabetes, schizophrenia and others.

I am convinced that the single most important dietary influence for prenatal nutrition is adequate omega-3 fats. As I mentioned above, the ideal way to obtain them is through fish oil or cod liver oil. Optimizing your omega-3 fats will virtually guarantee that the baby is full term as well.

Pressure-Treated Wooden Playground Equipment
Some 90 percent of all outdoor wooden structures in the United States are made with pressure-treated wood. The preservative used to treat the wood contains arsenic--a known human carcinogen--that rubs off when the wood is touched.

Children tend to put their hands in their mouth about 16 times an hour while playing, and those who have arsenic on their hands are at an increased risk of developing lung and bladder cancer.

Some woods like redwood and cedar do not require this arsenic-containing preservative and are therefore not a concern. Plastic and metal equipment should pose no risk.

Electricity Power Lines
Children who live near electricity power lines are at an increased risk of developing leukemia. One theory to why this occurs is that the high voltage lines emit charged particles called ions, which may then be inhaled.

CT Scans
CT scans are high in potentially dangerous radiation, and pose a significant threat to children. CT scans, and traditional X-rays, have been associated with cancer and heart disease. I recommend you avoid CT scans unless your or your child's life depends upon it. MRIs are typically safer than CT scans.

By Dr. Joseph Mercola with Rachael Droege
Source: Dr. Mercola's site www.mercola.com

Labels: cancer among teens, health for teens, teenage health

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