30Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Larimore Family Newsletter – December 2010

Family Newsletter
Here are the contents of our Family Newsletter: Holiday Gifts Family Update Publication Update Avoid Loneliness Like the Plague Past Articles in Significant Living magazine New Dutch Translation Broadcast Update Family Talk Broadcast on Immunizations Events of the last month Upcoming Events What Better Holiday Gifts For Readers Than Signed/Personalized Books It’s not to early to begin thinking about unique holiday gifts, and what could be more exclusive than receiving a best-selling book, autographed by the author, and personalized to the recipient. Most of my books are available for just such gifts. You can order them here. Better yet, some of them are on sale between now and Christmas. Supplies are limited, so be sure to order yours now. Family Update Finally, our wonderful and prolonged fall fell with a vengeance.…
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29Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Devotional for Men – Healthy Through and Through – Part 7 – Examine Your Wheels

General Health, Men's Health
Here’s the seventh of an eight-part devotional for men based upon my chapter on health in Coach Joe Gibbs best-selling book, Gameplan for Life , was featured by the Men of Integrity ministry of Christianity Today. I hope you enjoy the series. Here’s Part 7 of 8: THE SERIES’ THEME: Healthy Through and Through. What does it mean to be a truly healthy man of God? EXAMINE YOUR WHEELS KEY BIBLE VERSE: No matter how much you want, laziness won't help a bit, but hard work will reward you with more than enough. (Proverbs 13:4) Dig Deeper: Proverbs 20:4; James 1:2-4 One day, my wife, Barb, pointed out a nail in one of our car tires. All I could see was the head of the nail. No air was escaping,…
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29Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Fish oil supplements do not boost babies’ cognitive development or prevent postpartum depression

Children's Health, Mental Health, Nutritional Health, Woman's Health
The New York Times reports, "Many women take fish oil supplements during pregnancy, encouraged by obstetricians, marketing campaigns, or the popular view that a key fish oil ingredient -- docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA -- is beneficial to a baby's cognitive development." However, a study published "in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that the DHA supplements taken by pregnant women show no clear cognitive benefit to their babies." What's more, researchers "found no evidence that DHA can reduce postpartum depression, except perhaps for women already at high risk for it." "In the new study, 2,399 women at the midpoint of their pregnancies were divided into two groups," the Los Angeles Times reports. "One took a daily capsule of 800 mg of DHA derived from fish oil until giving birth;…
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29Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

New Moms’ Brains May Grow After Childbirth

Mental Health, Woman's Health
The brains of new mothers actually get bigger within months of giving birth, according to new research. The researchers, most from the Yale University School of Medicine, said that the growth was likely fueled by changes in levels of certain hormones just after birth. They reported finding expansion in areas of the brain associated with behavior and motivation. Here are more details from HealthDay News: The researchers also found that mothers who were most enthusiastic about their babies had more growth in key parts of the mid-brain -- areas linked to maternal motivation, rewards and emotion processing -- than did mothers who were more reserved about their infants. The findings, from a small study reported in Behavioral Neuroscience, suggest that a new mother's desire to look after her baby may be…
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26Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Devotional for Men – Healthy Through and Through – Part 6 – The Spiritual Wheel of Health

General Health, Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health
Here’s the sixth of an eight-part devotional for men based upon my chapter on health in Coach Joe Gibbs best-selling book, Gameplan for Life. The devotional was featured by the Men of Integrity ministry of Christianity Today. I hope you enjoy the series. Here’s Part 6 of 8 THE SERIES’ THEME: Healthy Through and Through. What does it mean to be a truly healthy man of God? THE SPIRITUAL WHEEL KEY BIBLE VERSE: "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10) Dig Deeper: Psalm 32 What does it mean to be in a state of maximum well-being as we relate to our Creator? Obviously, for us to be spiritually healthy, any break in our relationship…
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26Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Give Thanksgiving leftovers a healthy and delicious overhaul

Nutritional Health, Obesity
One of the wonderful things about Thanksgiving dinner is there are often lots of delicious leftovers. You can just warm up a few of your favorite dishes or make a simple turkey sandwich. But for healthful alternatives, USA Today asked the Food Network’s Ellie Krieger, the editors of EatingWell and Cooking Light to share some nutritious recipes that use Thanksgiving leftovers. I hope you try them out. Greek salad pitas with feta spread and turkey Ingredients: 3 tbsp non-fat plain yogurt 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 2 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper 4 whole-wheat pita breads 4 large pieces of romaine lettuce, torn in half 1 English cucumber, sliced into half moons ¼ cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves ¾ lb. thinly…
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26Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Comparing Weight Loss Plans, Dollars Per Pound

Nutritional Health, Obesity
Well,  it's the day after Thanksgiving, and there are at least two or three things on most people's minds: (1) Black Friday shopping, (2) Football, and/or (3) Weight Loss. Have you ever wondered which of the weight loss plans cost you the most for each pound dropped? Well, here you have the answer, provided by ABC News: $500 per pound with Liposuction $300 to $400 per pound with Gastric Band Surgery $235 to $353 per pound with Duodenal Switch Surgery $237.56 per pound with One-on-One with Jenny Craig $173 per pound with Non-prescription Weigh Loss Aids when paired with a Low-Fat Diet SAVE $12.50 per pound by just Kickin' It Old School Here are the details: 1) One-on-One With Jenny Craig Bottom-Line Estimate: $237.56 per pound for one-on-one weight loss support and…
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26Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Update on Anastasha – 1 month after birth and death

Bioethics, Marriage and Family Health, Parenting
Many of you have been following the notes sent to me by family physician Craig DeLisi, MD, about his daughter, Anastasha. Here's an update, about a month after her birth and death: November 26th 2010 We've updated Anastasha's blog with several new posts and lots pictures (funeral, funeral program, her monument) since my last email. Today marks the one month anniversary of Anastasha's birth and death. She is gone. We're still here. And we hate that. There are many days that we wish we weren't here either and that Jesus would return to take all of us who are in Christ with Him and end all pain and suffering once and for all. But He tarries, so we wait ... In the month since we said good-bye to Anastasha, we have:…
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24Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Holidays are a great time to obtain a family medical history

General Health
Healthcare professionals have known for a long time that common diseases (like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes) as well as some rare diseases (like hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia) can run in families. If one generation of a family has high blood pressure, it is not unusual for the next generation to have similarly high blood pressure. Tracing the illnesses suffered by your parents, grandparents, and other blood relatives can help your doctor predict the disorders to which you may be at risk and take action to keep you and your family healthy. To help focus attention on the importance of family history, the Surgeon General has launched a national public health campaign called the Surgeon General's Family History Initiative, to encourage all American families to learn more…
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24Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Devotional for Men – Healthy Through and Through – Part 5 – The Relational Wheel of Health

General Health, Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health
Devotional for Men – Healthy Through and Through – Part 1 – IntroductioHere’s the fifth of an eight-part devotional for men based upon my chapter on health in Coach Joe Gibbs best-selling book, Gameplan for Life. The devotional was featured by the Men of Integrity ministry of Christianity Today. I hope you enjoy the series. Here’s Part 5 of 8: Here’s the fifth of an eight-part devotional for men based upon my chapter on health in Coach Joe Gibbs best-selling book, Gameplan for Life. The devotional was featured by the Men of Integrity ministry of Christianity Today. I hope you enjoy the series. Here’s Part 5 of 8: THE SERIES’ THEME: Healthy Through and Through. What does it mean to be a truly healthy man of God? THE RELATIONAL WHEEL KEY BIBLE VERSES:…
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24Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Physicians’ group and FDA say radiation risk from TSA scanning is “miniscule”

General Health
With all the news today about the new body scanners that TSA is using, I thought it might be reassuring for my readers to understand that the radiation exposure in these scans is incredibly low. In fact, a national group of radiologists is now saying that it would take 1,000 TSA whole body scans in one year to reach the effective dose of radiation a person gets with one standard chest X-ray. USA Today reports,"The nation's Homeland Security chief asked for air travelers' 'cooperation' and 'patience' with full-body scanning and pat downs this holiday season amid a growing public backlash that the airport tactics are intrusive." But, "some consumer, civil rights and pilots groups are protesting new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) methods," in part because they "could emit dangerous radiation,"…
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24Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

How to help kids follow a healthy diet even over holidays

Nutritional Health, Obesity
This is a reprint of one of the more popular blogs I posted last year. It's adapted from an AP story on how we, as parents, can help our children with more healthful nutrition during the holidays. I also have a ton of tips in my book, SuperSized Kids: How to protect your child from the obesity threat which in on sale in both hardback and softcover at my DrWalt.com book store. Better yet, they're autographed: Many parents are trying to figure out how to have a healthier holiday without depriving their kids of holiday treats. About a third of American kids are overweight or obese, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. Studies show Americans gain about a pound between Thanksgiving and New Year’s; people who are…
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24Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Go healthy, not hungry for Thanksgiving dining

Nutritional Health, Obesity
The holiday season means you’ll be faced with a seemingly endless buffet of food temptation. While some people simply give in and eat too much, others deny themselves any holiday treats. But there are ways to navigate between overindulgence and deprivation, according to Julie Redfern, manager of Nutrition Consult Services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She offers the following advice in a report by Health on the Net Foundation: Eat a light snack before you go to a holiday party. That will prevent you from arriving hungry and overeating or gobbling down foods high in calories and saturated fat. When you’re invited to a party, offer to bring a healthy food dish. Research how you can use healthy ingredients in your favorite holiday recipes. For example, using 1 percent…
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22Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Devotional for Men – Healthy Through and Through – Part 4 – The Emotional Wheel of Health

General Health, Men's Health, Mental Health
Here’s the fourth of an eight-part devotional for men based upon my chapter on health in Coach Joe Gibbs best-selling book, Gameplan for Life. The devotional was featured by the Men of Integrity ministry of Christianity Today. I hope you enjoy the series. Here’s Part 4 of 8: THE SERIES’ THEME: Healthy Through and Through. What does it mean to be a truly healthy man of God? THE EMOTIONAL WHEEL KEY BIBLE VERSE: A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. (Proverbs 17:22, The Message) Dig Deeper: Proverbs 14:30, 15:13 My friend Ben is a model of emotional health. For years, I've watched him handle whatever life throws at him. He doesn't pretend things are better than they are, nor does he treat the inevitable letdowns…
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22Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

FDA announces crackdown on chelation therapy — finally!

Alternative Medicine, General Health
I’ve written about chelation for many years. In my book, Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, I conclude, “Evidence against (chelation’s) effectiveness in heart disease is so clear, its continued use raises serious ethical questions. The therapy is very expensive and can be very lucrative for providers. But, it's virtually worthless for consumers." Some of my past blogs on chelation have included: Chelation therapy for autism not only potentially harmful, it’s based on faulty premise and Federal investigators uncover major problems with chelation study. Now, finally, comes news that the FDA is going to crack down on these quacks. The Washington Post reports that officials from the Food and Drug Administration have "announced a crackdown on" chelation, "a controversial therapy widely hawked on the Internet and elsewhere as an alternative treatment for conditions such as autism,…
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22Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Watermelon extract may lower blood pressure

Alternative Medicine, Heart Health, Nutritional Health
The Los Angeles Times and Orlando Sentinel reported that, according to a study published in the American Journal of Hypertension, there is "evidence that eating watermelon could reduce ... blood pressure." In fact, "in a small, pilot study led by food scientists at Florida State University, researchers found that eating six grams of watermelon extract a day for six weeks lowered blood pressure in all nine middle-aged subjects with prehypertension." The study authors "suggest that watermelon may prevent prehypertension from progressing to full-blown hypertension." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Health & Science Today" blog quoted one of the study authors, who explained that "watermelon is the richest edible natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely related to L-arginine, the amino acid required for the formation of nitric oxide (which is) essential…
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22Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

FDA approves Botox as treatment for chronic migraines

Alternative Medicine, Bioethics, General Health
On the front page of its Business Day section, the New York Times reported, "The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Botox, the anti-wrinkle shot from Allergan, as a treatment to prevent chronic migraines, a little more than a month after the company agreed to pay $600 million to settle allegations that it had illegally marketed the drug for unapproved uses like headaches for years." Botox "had worldwide sales last year of about $1.3 billion, divided equally between medical and cosmetic uses." But Allergan said "sales of Botox for chronic migraine and other medical uses would soon eclipse sales of the drug as a wrinkle smoother. The Los Angeles Times "Booster Shots" blog reported, "The FDA's decision expands the potential market for Botox, which burst upon the American cosmetic…
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19Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Patients use prayer as part of healing process

Alternative Medicine, General Health
The Chicago Tribune reports, "The relationship between prayer and physical healing has long been the subject of conflicting studies. Some indicate prayer can help, but at least one study concluded that in some cases it can be harmful." Researchers "found that coronary bypass patients who were told strangers were praying for them did worse than those who got no prayers." But, "increasingly ... prayers are being offered by chaplains, doctors, nurses, and social workers. They are recited in hospitals before and after surgery, during treatments, upon admission and discharge, and on the anniversary of a diagnosis." Despite this one negative study, there are not "some" studies showing prayer can help, but hundreds of studies showing a positive association between a wide variety of spiritual interventions (spiritual assessment, prayer, spiritual counseling, etc.) and…
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19Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Most Doctors Don’t Follow Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines

Cancer, General Health
Most doctors (81 percent) fall short when it comes to comparing what they do for colon cancer screening with what they should be doing. And, we docs fall off both sides of the balance beam, either ordering tests too frequently or too seldom. Here are the details from HealthDay News: Only one in five doctors in the United States follows all the recommended colon cancer screening guidelines, a new report finds. Some 40 percent of doctors follow guidelines for some tests, while the remaining 40 percent don't follow guidelines for any colon cancer screens, the researchers said. "There's more work to be done to understand how to improve colorectal cancer screening," concluded lead researcher Robin Yabroff, an epidemiologist at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Most doctors also don't adhere to guideline recommendations…
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19Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Abortion Boosts Breast Cancer Risk 193%: Study

Bioethics, Cancer, Woman's Health
Researchers in Iran have published the results of a new study showing women who have an abortion face a 193% increased risk of breast cancer. On the other hand, women who carry a pregnancy to term find a lowered breast cancer risk compared with women who have never been pregnant. Here are the details in a report from LifeNews.com: The study follows on the heels of new reports indicating Komen for the Cure gave $7.5 million to the Planned Parenthood abortion business in 2009. The findings were reported in the journal Medical Oncology but are coming to the public's attention only now. Hajian-Tilaki K.O. and Kaveh-Ahangar T. from Babol University of Medical Sciences compared 100 cases of women who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer compared with 200 age-matched controls to…
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19Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Devotional for Men – Healthy Through and Through – Part 3 – The Physical Wheel of Health

General Health, Mental Health
Here’s the third of an eight-part devotional for men based upon my chapter on health in Coach Joe Gibbs best-selling book, Gameplan for Life. The devotional was featured by the Men of Integrity ministry of Christianity Today. I hope you enjoy the series. Here’s Part 3 of 8: THE PHYSICAL WHEEL THE SERIES’ THEME: Healthy Through and Through. What does it mean to be a truly healthy man of God? KEY BIBLE VERSE: You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. (1 Corinthians 6:19, CEV) Dig Deeper: Proverbs 3:7-8 When NASCAR racing teams prepare for a race, they put the cars through a series of tests to check out all the systems in these expensive machines. Such tests are designed to either prevent problems before…
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17Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Devotional for Men – Healthy Through and Through – Part 2 – The Four Wheels of Health

General Health, Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health
Here’s the second of an eight-part devotional for men based upon my chapter on health in Coach Joe Gibbs best-selling book, Gameplan for Life. The devotional was featured by the Men of Integrity ministry of Christianity Today. I hope you enjoy the series. Here’s Part 2 of 8: THE FOUR WHEELS OF HEALTH THE SERIES’ THEME: Healthy Through and Through. What does it mean to be a truly healthy man of God? WHO SAID IT … WALT LARIMORE Walt Larimore is one of America's best-known family physicians and has been listed in the Guide to America's Top Family Doctors and the Best Doctors in America. He's been a practicing family physician for around three decades—delivering more than 1,500 babies. Walt has been a medical journalist since 1995 and has served as…
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17Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Lactoferrin for Acne. Does It Work?

Alternative Medicine, Children's Health, Men's Health, Parenting, Woman's Health
Drinking cow's milk enriched with the protein lactoferrin may improve acne by up to 20 percent, researchers report in the journal Nutrition. Here are details from the experts at The Natural Standard: Earlier laboratory studies have suggested that lactoferrin-enriched cow's milk may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. In a recent study, 36 adults with acne were randomly assigned to drink fermented milk supplemented with 200 milligrams of lactoferrin or non-enriched fermented milk daily for 12 weeks. Every four weeks, the researchers recorded the participants' acne severity and lesion counts. At the beginning and end of the study, the authors evaluated the skin's hydration, sebum (oily secretions), pH, and surface lipids. By the end of the study, the number of inflammatory lesions, total lesion count, and acne severity significantly decreased by 38.6 percent,…
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17Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

TV show contestants on “The Biggest Loser” lose fat while preserving muscle mass, study shows

Men's Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Woman's Health
USA Today reports, "The grueling boot-camp workouts on NBC's The Biggest Loser help contestants lose large amounts of body fat while preserving their muscle mass, a new study shows." The "scientists measured the weight, body composition and resting metabolic rate of the 16 participants at the start of the show, at Week 6 and at Week 30, the finale." The findings, presented recently at the meeting of the Obesity Society in San Diego, noted that "overall, the contestants dropped from an average 49% body fat to 27%," and "after 30 weeks, participants lost an average of 128 pounds; 81% was body fat and 19% was fat-free mass, mostly muscle."
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17Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Nurse practitioner writes about her decision to stop getting mammograms

Bioethics, Cancer, Woman's Health
Last week I blogged on the topic "Mammography Screening for Breast Cancer: What’s a Woman to Do?" That blog was somewhat technical -- although I think it presented both the benefits and the risks of mammography -- and the fact that this is routine mammography is NOT by any means an easy decision to make. Now, a far more intimate and personal look at the topic is featured in a special report in the Washington Post where Veneta Masson, a nurse practitioner and writer living in Washington, explained the reasons for her decision to stop getting mammograms: Masson cited a 2008 report by the Nordic Cochrane Center in Denmark, which noted that "if 2,000 women are screened regularly for ten years, one will benefit from the screening, as she will…
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15Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Devotional for Men – Healthy Through and Through – Part 1 – Introduction

General Health, Heart Health, Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health
Here's the first of an eight-part devotional for men. It's based upon a chapter on physical health that I wrote for Coach Joe Gibbs' best-selling book, Gameplan for Life. The devotional series was featured by the Men of Integrity ministry of Christianity Today. That chapter, and this series, are based upon my book, 10 Essentials of Happy, Healthy People: Becoming and staying highly healthy. I hope you enjoy the series. Here’s Part 1 of 8. I'll be posting a new part each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through the end of November: Taking good care of our bodies should be important to the serious Christ-follower. After all, the believer's body is God's temple (1 Cor. 6:19) and God shouldn't have to live in a shabby, unkempt shack. But as we'll see in this…
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15Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Six doctor-recommended sleep aids

Men's Health, Mental Health, Woman's Health
Tired of counting sheep? Consider one of these remedies for the possibility of getting a good night's sleep when you have occasional insomnia. These tips were posted on Health.com and are from RealSimple.com: 1) Aromatherapy Try it: When you're drowsy but slightly tense. How to use it: Massage a dab of aromatherapeutic balm or oil into the back of your neck and shoulders (and inhale deeply) before you hit the sack. Certain fragrances, including lavender and lemon balm, promote snooze-inducing relaxation, says Rubin Naiman, Ph.D., a sleep specialist at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, in Tucson. (Try Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Night Health Bedtime Balm, which contains lavender; $25, origins.com.) Good to know: You don't have to stick to traditional aromatherapeutic scents -- any fragrance that makes you…
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15Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Study Shows Risks for Kids Who Watch TV or Use Computers More Than 2 Hours a Day

Children's Health, Mental Health, Parenting
New research is documenting some of the risks I've told you about in previous blogs for kids who utilize screen time (TV, computers, video games) more than 2 hours a day. Specifically, children who watch television or use computers for more than two hours a day are more likely to experience psychological problems than kids who don’t, even if they are physically active, according to this new study. Here are the details from WebMD: The study, which involved 1,013 children ages 10-11, found that those who spent more than two hours in front of a screen, whether watching TV, using a computer, or a combination, also were more likely to say they had trouble relating to friends and peer groups and to report feelings of unhappiness. The children were told to wear…
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15Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

Screen Time May Consume Nearly 1/3 of Day for U.S. Kids

Children's Health, Mental Health, Obesity, Parenting
Child experts have issued an updated policy statement on use of electronic media for entertainment by kids. This is critical because children and teens in the United States spend an average of seven hours A DAY using television, computers, phones and other electronic devices for entertainment (compare this to the average of three hours a day watching TV in 1999). Parents, physicians, and educators need to understand the effects of this increasing exposure to media and educate youngsters about media use according to the American Academy of Pediatrics in the updated policy statement. Here are more details from HealthDay News: The AAP statement lists several concerns: Excessive time spent using electronic media leaves less time for physical activity or creative and social pursuits. Violent or sexual content can have harmful effects, as…
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12Nov 2010 by Walt Larimore

The Formula for Good Health = 0, 5, 10, 30, 150

Cancer, Children's Health, General Health, Heart Health, Medical Economics, Men's Health, Nutritional Health, Woman's Health
An easy-to-remember formula for good health (0, 5, 10, 30, 150) is proposed in a wonderful editorial in American Family Physician titled “Preventive Health: Time for Change.” The author suggests this formula to physicians to “help patients achieve healthy lifestyle goals": 0 = no cigarettes or tobacco products 5 = five servings of fruits and vegetables per day 10 = ten minutes of silence, relaxation, prayer, or meditation per day 30 = keep your BMI (body mass index) below 30 150 = number of minutes of exercise per week (e.g., brisk walking or equivalent) The editorial is penned y Colin Kopes-Kerr, MD, from the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency in Santa Rosa, California: It is time to make a decision. Which will be our health promotion strategy—primary prevention or secondary…
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