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Best Foods for Your Immune System

Choosing an array of immune-boosting foods can help you and your family stay healthy and help ward off infections during cold and flu season. Photo: iStockphoto

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School-Age Children Spotlight10

Best Ways Parents Can Feel Good and Look Good

Saturday January 14, 2012
woman_running_treadmill

What are the top healthy habits for parents so that we can feel and look our best? Read my article on the "Best Ways Parents Can Feel Good and Look Good" for some ideas. Not surprisingly, regular exercise and eating a healthy and balanced diet are on the list, as is minimizing stress and getting enough sleep.

Being a parent of a school-age child, I know all too well how difficult--if not impossible--it can sometimes be to find the time to do the things we need to do in order to be at our best. But the reality is that if we are not happy and healthy, we are ultimately short-changing our children. And consider this: If our children see us setting a good health model--by working out regularly and eating a healthy diet, for instance--then they are more likely to be healthy themselves and follow our example.

Can Childhood Stressors Lead to Long-Term Scars?

Thursday January 5, 2012
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Children who face adversities such as the loss of a parent, having a parent with a mental illness or addictive behavior, witnessing violence or conflict between parents, or being subjected to emotional, physical, or other abuse may grow up to be more sensitized to stress, says a recent CNN story on the research of Dr. Rajita Sinha, director of the Yale Stress Center.

According to the report, Dr. Sinha's research shows that children who have a pervasive sense of adversity have an elevated level of stress later in life and have stronger reactions to stress than people who did not have such stressors in their past.

The good news: There are some "protective factors" such as support from friends and family and even school. An environment enriched with factors that can help a child's body and mind grow and a support system that a child can turn to and rely on can make a difference.

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Are Georgia's Child Obesity Ads a Solution -- or a Problem?

Wednesday January 4, 2012
obese_child

Have you heard about the new controversial ads running in Georgia that are targeting childhood obesity? The print and TV ads depict overweight children talking about being bullied because of their weight and graphics that read, "Being fat takes the fun out of being a kid."

According to ABC News, some public health experts say these ads could end up stigmatizing the kids instead of the problem and offer no solutions while others say that such hard-hitting messages are necessary to bring focus on the obesity epidemic, which is particularly widespread in Georgia. (The state ranks second in the nation for childhood obesity with an estimated 1 million kids identified as overweight, according to ABC.)

I'm not sure where to fall in this argument. On the one hand, these ads may do more harm than good by showing images of overweight kids with these messages. But I can see what the supporters of the ads are saying -- that not enough is being done to address childhood obesity.

Perhaps the answer lies in spending money on programs targeting the root causes of childhood obesity rather than on ads that talk about it. The problem is such a complex one, and requires parents working with nutritionists and child fitness experts to make sure children eat right and get exercise (a scenario that can often be unrealistic for many families who, for various socioeconomic challenges, simply cannot or will not make obesity a priority). But with the right solutions, this complex problem can be addressed. Whether or not these ads alone can serve as that solution seems, to me, extremely unlikely.

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New Year, New Focus on Fitness

Friday December 30, 2011
women_walking

Like many people, I am thinking about ways to improve my health in the coming year. Eating a healthy and balanced diet, managing stress, and getting enough rest are all important, as is making sure I get enough exercise.

For parents, though, the task of finding time to work out can be a daunting one. (I know I often struggle with this problem.) But for many reasons -- better health, setting a good example for our kids to follow, looking and feeling good -- making fitness a part of our routines is crucial.

Here are some tips on how to find the time to exercise and what exercise routines work best for parents. Here's to a healthy new you!

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