FitSugar

What's the Deal With All the Food Allergies?

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

If it seems like food allergies are everywhere these days, that's because they are. According to a new study from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies are on the rise, now affecting more than 3 million kids. Approximately one in every 26 children has one, as opposed to one in 29 in 1997. The most common culprits include peanuts, shellfish, milk, and eggs.

Amy Branum, the lead author of the study, says that the 18 percent increase isn't just a fluke, but even the CDC isn't quite sure about the reasons behind the rise. To see the theories, read more.

Though about two in five Americans think they have a food allergy, only about one percent actually do. Most are merely food intolerances, which do not trigger an immune reaction like allergies do. But even so, food allergies are on the rise, according to the latest news:

A doubling in peanut allergies - noted in earlier studies - is one factor, some experts said. Also, children seems to be taking longer to outgrow milk and egg allergies than they did in decades past.

But also figuring into the equation are parents and doctors who are more likely to consider food as the trigger for symptoms like vomiting, skin rashes, and breathing problems.

"A couple of decades ago, it was not uncommon to have kids sick all the time and we just said 'They have a weak stomach' or 'They're sickly,'" said Anne Munoz-Furlong, chief executive of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, a Virginia-based advocacy organization.

But why the rise in peanut allergies, and why are kids outgrowing their childhood nemeses later? Some folks in the medical community hypothesize that our culture has actually gotten too hygienic. Thanks to clean drinking water and antibiotics, our immune systems don't have as much to battle, so they're battling foods instead.

What do you think lies behind the rise in food allergies? Do you have or have you ever had one?

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Artificial Food Dyes Linked to Hyperactivity?

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Fruity Loops, Fruity Pebbles, and other technicolor cereals could be bad for kids, and not just because of the sugar high. Turns out, the food dyes used to create such candylicious treats could be contributing to childhood hyperactivity and other behavior issues.

Last week, the Center for Science in the Public Interest began urging the Food and Drug Administration to outlaw eight artificial food dyes, citing three decades' worth of studies that suggest the artificial dyes could exacerbate kids' behavioral problems. The FDA, meanwhile, disputes the claim. Here's more:

Over the years, the FDA has consistently disputed the center's assertion. . . Julie Zawisza, an FDA spokeswoman, said Tuesday that color additives undergo safety reviews prior to approval for marketing and that samples of each artificial coloring are tested. She said the agency reviewed one of the studies that the center cites in calling for a ban.

"(We) didn't find a reason to change our conclusions that the ingredients are safe for the general population," Zawisza said.

For more details on the debate and to see what I think, read more.

In lieu of a full ban, the group is asking the FDA to add warning labels to foods that contain any of eight dyes: Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6. With so many multicolored food products being marketed to kids, children are far more likely to consume these dyes than adults.

Considering that dyes are used primarily to make products more appealing to kids, it's no wonder that marketing-savvy companies want to keep using them. But since the unnatural ingredients add nothing to the food's nutritional value and may actually be harmful, I'm all for more regulation or at least warning labels, even if the connection to behavioral problem is up for debate. What do you think?

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Get in Gear: InStep Quick N' Light Bike Trailer/Stroller

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:30:00 -0700

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of multi-tasking which is why I am loving this two in one bike trailer / stroller combo from InStep ( $149.99). What a great concept!

You can pack your little one into the trailer, bike to your destination - let's say your local farmer's market. Just lock up your bike, detach the trailer, add the stroller handle and walk around the market. Reverse the process to bike home.

InStep has been making both strollers and trailers for years, so they know how to make a lightweight, multi-functional product. The trailer attaches easily to most bikes and comes with a weather shield for rainy day rides. Plus it has a 5-point harness to keep the little one secure and nice cushy tires to help soften bumps in case you encounter some rough roads. This trailer is recommended for children over the age of one.

Don't forget helmets for the whole family and why not add an orange safety flag to the trailer while you are at it! Make your trailer as conspicuous as possible.

You can find one on sale for only $109 at Amazon.

Favorite Excuse for Not Working Out: My Baby

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:00:00 -0700

The transition to becoming a mom can really take a toll on your body, but you can bounce back and become a strong mom. Does your favorite excuse for NOT exercising involve being the parent of small children? Well here are some tips get you up and moving.

There are as many roadblocks to fitness as there are benefits to gain from fitness. So figuring out how to motivate yourself past your favorite excuse is beyond beneficial. So if your excuse is, "I'm too busy with my kids to workout," it is time to change your tune. I used that excuse for a while, but I soon realized if I wasn't "modeling" good health habits for my kids they would have no idea of the value of exercise. I didn't want to fall into the, "Do as I say not as I do" version of parenting.

Here are a few ideas to get you started thinking about how to fit in some exercise while hanging with your baby.

When you have a newborn

You can do tummy time with your baby. Get down on the floor and get active while your baby fusses over learning this new position.
Pack that baby up and go for a stroll since the fresh air is good for you and the baby.

Want to see what you should do when your baby starts moving? Then read more

When the baby starts crawling

Get down on all fours and explore with your child. You will work your arms and your legs as well as learn the value of sweeping the floor from first hand experience.
Carrying your child around like all the Hollywood mommas will definitely get your arms strong and toned. You know...babies can double as weights. Just make sure to alternate arms and keep your tummy pulled up and in to protect your back.

Toddler workout

Follow your new walker around and do what they do. Try to do it for 10 minutes. Granted his or her center of gravity is considerably lower so his or her up/down motions are easier. Toddlers also love, LOVE when you imitate them. It will be a nice bonding game as well as a strength training time for you.
The playground at any age even with tots can be quite a workout. Pushing the swing and the merry-go-round can work your arms and burn some calories. I like to add a squat between each push, as well as alternate arms.

So workout with your little ones and you will feel better when they start to work your patience.

Kids Think Food Tastes Better With McDonald's Name

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:45:00 -0700

I just found out about this fascinating study led by Dr. Thomas Robinson, the director of the Center for Healthy Weight at Packard Children's Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics and of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Talk about serious credentials.

He had 63 children, ages 3 and 5, sample five foods: chicken nuggets, a hamburger, French fries, baby carrots and milk. The chicken nuggets, hamburger and French fries were all from McDonald's; the carrots and milk were from a grocery store.

Each food was divided into two portions: one wrapped in a McDonald's wrapper or placed in a McDonald's bag and the other in a wrapper without the McDonald's logo.

Want to know what the kids had to say about the carrots? Then read more

The kids thought the food branded with the McDonald's name tasted "better," even though the foods were exactly the same! Apparently kids do judge a food by its cover. That seems like early brand recognition, too early in my book.

With further investigation, Dr. Robinson found that 1/3 of these children ate at Mickey D's more than once a week, and more than 3/4 of them had McDonald's toys at home. The children had about 2-3 TVs in their homes, and more than half the kids had TVs in their rooms.

It's no wonder kids are "lovin' it" - McDonald's spends a ton of moolah advertising to kids. It's really not fair since kids don't understand the persuasive nature of advertising, and they don't realize that eating foods high in sugar and fat can cause childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and adolescent heart disease.

McDonald's responded by saying they are dealing with the problem. Hmm. Here's an idea. How about you stop advertising your unhealthy, far-from-nutritional food to kids?! Or better yet - why just advertise the healthy stuff you do sell? Oh, a mother can dream, can't she?

I do believe that parents should be monitoring what their kids eat, and teach them how to make healthy choices. If kids ages 3 and 5 years are learning to dine regularly at McDonald's, they are going to make the same choices once they are older. By then, health problems will have begun their course, and those unhealthy eating habits will be tough to break. Now is the time, when kids are young, to instill ways to eat and stay healthy.

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More Easy Ways to Keep Kids Trim This Summer

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

For some kids, summertime can provide a reason get out and get active, but for others it can mean more TV time, more access to snacks and time to be lazy. Don't let summertime lead to bulking up your kids, and yourself, by following these great tips from Amy Bohn, M.D., a family physician for the University of Michigan Health System:

Stock up on healthy snacks. What you have in your kitchen influences the food choices your children make, both now and later in life. Avoid buying high-fat, salty or sugary snacks like chips and cookies. Instead, try fruits and vegetables such as apples, bananas and carrots, which are fun to munch on and portable. Other good snacks include yogurt, peanut butter and celery, and whole-grain crackers and cheese. Sugary soda pop and fruit-flavored drinks are big contributors to obesity, so provide healthier options like bottled water or milk. "You can even involve your children in the grocery shopping," says Bohn. Allowing your children to choose healthy snacks that they enjoy increases the likelihood that they will eat those snacks instead of less healthy alternatives.
Make plans. Children are often left unsupervised in the summer, which makes it harder to motivate them to be active and eat properly. Bohn recommends making set plans and scheduling in some fun activities. "Talk to your children before the day, as far as things that you can plan together, and then talk to them at the end of the day when you get home, as far as what they've done that day. It takes time and planning, but if you have some structure, it really helps," she says.

There's more, so read more

Model good behavior. Children are more likely to make healthy choices when their parents set a good example. Show them that you enjoy eating healthy food, and they will be more willing to give it a chance. Encourage young children to bike alongside you as you jog, and invite older ones outside to play catch. Even small things, like walking to the corner store instead of driving, can encourage kids to get moving. The more active and healthy you are as a parent, the more active and healthy your child will want to be. "Parents being good role models can help foster good habits in their children, which really helps the problem of childhood obesity," says Bohn.
Keep it up! "The habits that we develop over the summertime will persist into the fall and winter months, particularly if there's continuity," says Bohn. "If parents help their children to establish these healthy routines, then they most likely will continue in the future." Making health a priority is easy in the summer, and if parents continue to make it a priority in the fall and winter, children will develop healthy habits for life.

For even more tips on keeping kids fit this summer, check out an earlier post on it.

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Personal Trainer for Kids, A Good Idea?

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

A recent report from Newsweek points to a trend in parents hiring personal trainers for their kids. Some parents do it to help with weight loss, others to give their kid a leg up in sports or simply because they want to instill in their child a love of physical activity, but regardless of the reason, I am curious how you guys feel about it. So do you think it's a good idea for parents to hire a personal trainer for their kids?

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Organic Clif ZBaR: For the Little Kid in You

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Whether you have kids or not, I think you'll want to know about the Clif ZBaR. OK, so they're made for kids, but that doesn't mean someone over 30 can't enjoy one as well.

These bars are sweet and chewy and drizzled with chocolate, and are a great alternative to a candy bar. Plus, ZBaRs are certified organic and made with healthy sounding ingredients including rolled oats, oat flour, flaxseed, fig paste and brown rice syrup.

Fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals, a Zbar provides 30% calcium, 35% vitamin C, and 10% iron of your kids RDI. Plus, ZBaRs contain zero hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup.

What else is cool about Clif ZBaRs? In California, they're working on passing a law that sets guidelines for food served in California schools and ZBaRs are the first snack created that would be compliant with this law. Sure they taste great, but they are also a great combination of protein, carbs, fiber and vitamins and minerals for active kids (and grown-ups).

Want to see the nutritional info for 1 bar? Then read more

Here's how the 3 flavors compare:

	Peanut Butter	Chocolate Chip	Chocolate Brownie
Calories	140	130	120
Total Fat	5g	4g	3g
Saturated Fat	1g	1.5g	1g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg	0mg
Sodium	170mg	100mg	125mg
Potassium	160mg	140mg	110mg
Carbs	20g	24g	22g
Fiber	3g	3g	3g
Sugar	11.7g	11g	12g
Protein	3g	3g	3g

Fit's Tips: These are the kinds of bars you can keep in your purse or car in case of a snack emergency.

Gabby Tells It Like It Is, Again

FitSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 04:00:00 -0700

I am a big fan of Gabby Reece. Her blog on yahoo is informative and fun, but above all she tells it like it is.

She recently talked about how we adults should take tips from our kids this summer:

Play. Kids run and jump around and don't' call it "working out;" they call it playing. So, if you hate the gym and the feeling of "I have to work out," then find some activity that involves moving that you have fun at. Go outside and play, but be home for dinner.
Eat when you're hungry and only until you are full. Children don't dream and obsess about food (except candy). They sometimes even forget to eat. The key lesson to learn from young children is once they are full, they stop eating. Plenty of times you will see them leave really yummy stuff on their plate because they are full. We really overeat as a culture. If this is too difficult, then just put less on your plate.
Sleep. They go until they drop. Turn off the computer and TV and get some rest. That's why the little buggers are so happy and have so much energy - because they recover.

There's more tips from Gabby, so read more

Speak your mind. That's right how many times do you think you're going to crawl under the table because your kid says something overly honest? We pound it into our kids to "tell the truth," but yet we go around stuffing our own feelings. This is a form of not telling the truth. I think we would all feel better and relieved if we just got some of that stuff off of our chest. Doesn't mean you have to be malicious just honest.
Use your manners. This is another foundational piece we preach to children, but yet we stop being thankful. Look around and see how fortunate you are. Say thank you for what you do have and let's all stop obsessing about what we don't have or we think we want. Use that energy to put into yourself something more productive.
Drink alcohol in moderation. Since they are underage, they don't drink, but I think it's fine for you to have a glass of wine or a beer now and again. I would watch the alcohol consumption because it is hard on your organs, makes you reach for a lot more food than you would normally, and is just generally disruptive. I met a guy who I hadn't seen in about seven months and he lost 60 lbs. You know what he said: "I stopped drinking."
Laugh. You hear how often they giggle and laugh? Sometimes I catch myself and I feel so uptight and borderline grumpy. Have a laugh and notice all the fun stuff around. Joy is good for the soul and the gut.
Be in the moment. Kids have the luxury of being present since we worry about all of it for them. However, there is something to be said for being involved with whatever you are doing. Don't sit at lunch with one friend texting another. Hang up the cell and be present.

Source

Healthy Dose Link Time!!!!!!!

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Fitness Fixation helps you figure out which pain to work through and when to just ice like crazy.

geeksugar is all about Wii these days. Check out her exercise comparison chart. It might just make you want to play video games instead of working out on the treadmill. Eee gads!!!

Complete Running just heard that running can ruin your teeth. I'm not sure if I am buying the theory.

About:Yoga starts with the letter "A" in the ABC of yoga. Learn more on adjustment, alignment, and asana.

That's Fit reports on a new study: kids eat 100% more junk food after a junk food commercial. This one I believe.

vita-beat reports that frequent self weighing does not cause depression in women.

Back in Skinny Jeans has something to say about People Magazine's "no make-up" photo shoots.

fitPod has a new hour long music mix for you to down load titled: BodyTrippiN. Talk about motivational music.

About: Low Fat Cooking has a great Mediterranean Salt Cod recipe for you to try.

NetSweat confirms you need to cut calories, not carbs to lose weight.

Health Bolt reports that House of Representatives votes to outlaw DNA discrimination. Sounds straight out of Gattaca.