Portrait on the Mantel

According to reports from the Chicago Tribune, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner is important. If you get hungry at other times during the day, you should be eating smaller meals (snacks) spaced throughout the day. Making breakfast the largest meal and dinner the smallest of the day, and drinking plenty water.

Much of the above has been heard, but one small tip is brushing your teeth after each meal helps to curb your appetite, as well as the psychological attitude of if you keep your teeth clean you may be less likely to over eat between meals because you’re less likely to want to stain your teeth.

Staying mentally or physically active keeps your mind off of eating; boredom is a big cause of people eating later in the day.

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Researchers at Rutgers and Columbia Universities released their study prior to publication, poor kids are more likely to be given antipsychotic drugs than middle class kids and for less serious conditions.

Previous research showed rates of illness was 2 times higher in families with poor kids, but it doesn’t explain why these kids are prescribed drugs 4 times higher than kids from middle class families. However 1 explanation may be due to doctors prescribe more drugs to Medicaid patients because the public insurer pays less for non drug treatments like counseling than private insurance companies.

The doctors believe this method is easier for patients and doctors, but what’s not clear is what they’re prescribing and for what. The study found that kids on Medicaid were significantly more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic drugs for conduct disorders, hyperactivity, aggression or defiance than middle class kids, who were more likely to be prescribed the drugs for severe mental conditions.

Medicare spends more on antipsychotics than any other drug class, $7.9 billion per year

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Teen girls eat substantially worse than teen boys and older women, according to preliminary results of a UK Nutrition survey. Girls consumed about 13% of their daily calories from saturated fat which is higher than the recommended daily max on 11%.

Teen girls unhealthy habits do not stop at junk food; 29% reported smoking cigarettes oppose to 16% of boys, 11% of girls between 13 – 15 drank alcohol weekly compared with 1% of boys.  The girls calorie consumption as a whole was lacking in fruits and veggies with 2.8% reporting they ate any per day, the girls also didn’t eat enough iron rich foods placing them at risk of becoming anemic.

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Study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine reports 3 years who watch TV or is exposed to TV display more aggressive behaviors than kids who do not. The researchers believe that this aggressive behavior is due to the lack of parental interest in the child which occur in households where parents watch an excessive amount of TV. Families with the TV on all the time are less likely to monitor what the child is watching, thus allowing the child to watch inappropriate shows. Another important observation in these household settings is that eating patterns are disturbed as is communication between family members in houses where the TV is on all the time.

Parents who are addicted to TV do not interact often with their children and are more likely to neglect proper discipline, resulting in increased aggressive behavior. Children in these households tend not to be read to or play outside, which leads to developmental deficiencies versus parents who limit TV viewing and spend more time with their child.

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Recent study revealed that people who are happy and have a positive outlook on life are less likely to develop heart disease than those who tend to be anxious and depressed. Researchers were of course unable to explain why happier people are less likely to become ill, they did offer a few hypotheses:

• Happier people tend to sleep better, having better sleep patterns tend to reduce stress.
• Happier people are better able to deal with the negativity of life and don’t dwell on bad experiences.

Previous studies have found a link between happiness and health but researchers caution that some people are just better suited at changing their moods or viewing their life situations differently than others. So for all you sour puss out there and you know who you are researchers suggest:

• Find time to enjoy the little things in life.
• Don’t sweat the little things so much.
• Most importantly stop bringing all the happy people done .

Life is a gift, it’s not meant to be a curse. We all die in the end. Enjoy this thing while you’re still can.

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A researchers found that 75% of young recruits for fire and ambulance services in Massachusetts were overweight or obese. This study was conducted by Boston University School of Medicine. The researchers see potential long term public safety concerns for the health of the young applicants and because of medical concerns which could bring down emergency services.

The recruits today’s are heavier than older veteran firefighters from the 1980s and 1990s. Firefighting recruits with normal weight were able to achieve minimal exercise standards on a treadmill. The test measures aerobic capacity and endurance, 93% of overweight recruits passed but 1/2 of obese recruits failed.

Researchers discovered that any health condition suddenly incapacitating an emergency responder also potentially compromised the safety of his or her co workers and the community.

Emergency responders such as firefighters, ambulance personnel and police are expected to be able to perform without compromising the safety of themselves, their colleagues or the public. Past recruits were chosen from an above average pool of applicants, but as obesity has become widespread recruiters are finding if difficult to find suitable applicants.

I think this same scenario is affecting military recruiters as well.

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According to a group of scientist published in the Journal of Adolescent Health; the US still regulates advertising to children and teens based on studies conducted in the 70’s oh how TV influences young minds. Teens are severely affected by internet marketing in way yet to be understood by the scientific community or government regulations. Advertisers specifically target teens with internet marketing, especially junk food.

We will need to continue observing how this plays out in light of recent revelations of the connection between junk food and addiction.

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Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in Missouri has studied the digestive tract of fat in non overweight people. This study has revealed that the amount and type of bactieria in our gut can reduce obesity and improve digestion.

There are over 5,000 different species of bacteria in the human gut, some have been identified and many other have not. Our gut has bacteria that improves our health and energy. There are 3 major groups of bacteria; Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes and Actinobacteria. Research has already showed that a proper ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes is important for good health. However as we age the ratio changes and could be a factor in some adults becoming overweight or even obese. Now I know what some maybe thinking; it’s not that you’re big boned and/or you have a thyroid problem. It’s your gut bacteria

Discoveries from this research show that obese people have greater Firmicutes, while leaner people have a higher concentration of Bacteriodetes. When the overweight person restrict their calories, their ratio of bacteria change to match that of those who are leaner.

Want to improve your bacteria increase your probiotics in your diet. Foods high in probiotics; yogurt, pickles, sauerkraut and sourdough bread. Eating raw foods and drinking plenty of water. will be concocting a pill for you very soon. And for those of you who still refuse to eat your fruits and veggies, I”m sure Big Pharma

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75% of obese adults don’t believe they’re obesely overweight, I could have saved these pollsters some time. We’ve all seen people wearing clothes that somebody should have told them No No.

The pollsters believe that as more and more of the population become overweight, people’s perception of what is a normal weight changes. It’s also believed that when you see a picture in the media of a really large person, those who are smaller than the depicted obese image see themselves as not that bad. And the really large person depicted in the media picture is the standard of obesity.

Complicating the problem is the lingering stigma associated with being overweight and/or obese. Parents also tend to underestimate the obesity of their children. Because of the negativity associated with being overweight parent avoid discussing this topic with their kids.

Ok as you know the 1st step is recognizing there is a problem, before you can do something about the problem.

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Vitamins and lifestyles changes have been shown to encourage hair to grow and reduce hair loss. Balding is of course a genetic trail but good nutrition can help. Also some hair care products like shampoos can prevent or regrow hair. Here are 10 possible natural remedies for hair growth or restoration:

1. Protein help hair grow, because hair is made of protein. Thus protein deficiency can cause hair loss. So adding more protein could theoretically help hair growth.
2. Vitamin C is also good for hair growth. Oranges, lemons and green peppers are high in vitamin C.
3. Vitamin B3 increase circulation to the scalp thereby encouraging hair growth. Take a B vitamin complex for healthy hair.
4. Iron reduces hair loss, by increasing circulation to the scalp. Food high in iron include liver, apricots and raisins.
   
5. The hair shaft is comprised of 1/4 water, so drink your 8 cups of water daily and stay hydrated.
6. Drinking alcohol reduces hair growth, this is not so good men and women. I know if you’ve read these post you know that alcohol can be good for men heart but bad for your hair. What do you do?
7. Hormones decrease with age and slow hair growth. Increasing hormones can increase hair growth. Adding bio-identical hormones for women is possible but blood test are needed to balance the various hormonal components. This does seem to conflict with the stereotypical examples we’ve heard about men and adding hormones.
8. We’ve all heard vitamin E is a hair grower.
9. Smoking cigarettes reduces the blood flow to the scalp and causes a reduction in hair growth.
10. Lastly, vitamin A helps create vibrant shiny hair and spur hair growth. Foods high in vitamin A eggs, kale, squash and carrots.

Basically, staying young and eating healthier could have advantageous benefits for our receding hair lines. Now we can’t do much about the 1st option but we can work on the 2nd.

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