29May 2011 by Walt Larimore

A Memorial Day Remembrance of My Dad: Major Philip B. Larimore, Jr.

Family Newsletter, Marriage and Family Health
This weekend, many of us will gather with family and friends for barbecues and picnics to celebrate Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff to summer. But, at some point between the hot dogs, hamburgers, and volleyball, I hope each of us will take time to reflect on what Memorial Day is really about – remembering the American soldiers who have lost their lives in battle to protect the freedoms so many of us take for granted. (more…)
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25May 2011 by Walt Larimore

Problems discovered with vitamin D supplements

Alternative Medicine, Nutritional Health
Many consumers do not realize that natural medications (herbs, vitamins, and supplements) are essentially unregulated in the U.S. Without the wonderful work of several independent quality testing labs, professionals and consumers would be up the proverbial creek without a paddle. To illustrate this is a recent report showing that among 28 vitamin D supplements recently selected for independent testing by ConsumerLab.com, problems were found with 8 products (29% of those reviewed). (more…)
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18May 2011 by Walt Larimore

Finally, some schools sending parents BMI figures

Children's Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting
On its website, WFLD-TV Chicago reports students "at some schools across the country will be adding another test to their agendas: One that measures their body mass index" (BMI) as "school officials are taking a stand against childhood obesity." "Finally!" is all I can say! However, you don't just want your child's BMI ..  you also need to know their BMI percentile AND their blood pressure percentile. Here's how you can find out this critical information and why you need to know: (more…)
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17May 2011 by Walt Larimore

10 Tips for Pacifier Use and Pacifier Weaning

Children's Health, Parenting
Nah nah, sucky, paci, binky, nuk-nuk, tooky ... whatever kids call them, one of the most important facets of successfully using a pacifier is knowing when to stop using it. Though some physicians who care for children suggest weaning from the pacifier at about nine to 12 months – the same time you banish the bottle – others believe aiming to wean by about 18 months is good, too. Whenever you choose to wean baby, you can make the transition to being pacifier-free a little easier on you and your little one with the tips from the pros as reported by WebMD. (more…)
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16May 2011 by Walt Larimore

Men and women truly see things differently

Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Woman's Health
There are still some, particularly ardent feminists, who claim that men and women are innately the same and that gender differences are environmentally acquired. As one researcher wisely observed, "those who still believe this all share one characteristic in common -- they are childless." Now, another study reveals what virtually all of us instinctively understand and appreciate, males and females are as different as night and day. (more…)
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13May 2011 by Walt Larimore

Long work hours linked to increased heart risks

Heart Health, Marriage and Family Health, Mental Health
While writing this blog, I was listening to Simon and Garfunkel singing, "Slow down, you move too fast. You need to make the morning last." At the same time, I found a Bloomberg News report claiming that "working overtime may be a killer, according to research that finds long hours on the job is a heart risk along with smoking, bad cholesterol and high blood pressure." (more…)
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11May 2011 by Walt Larimore

Alternative Medicine and Children – Part 6 – Vaccination and Alternative Medicine

Alternative Medicine, Children's Health, Infectious Disease, Parenting
The anti-vaccination movement has no better friends than in the alternative medicine world. In the Massachusetts study mentioned in my last blog, less than one-third of the homeopaths recommended immunization, and almost 10 percent actively opposed immunization. In England, the most common reason given for not having children immunized is the recommendation parents receive from a homeopath. (more…)
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