Mediterranean Diet Might Help Stave Off Dementia

Eating fish, chicken, olive oil and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids while staying away from meats and dairy -- the so-called Mediterranean diet -- may help older adults keep their memory and thinking skills sharp, a large new U.S. study suggests. Using data from participants enrolled in a nationwide study on stroke, the researchers gleaned diet information from more than 17,000 white and black men and women whose average age was 64. The participants also took tests that measured their memory and thinking (cognitive) skills. During the four years of the study, 7 percent of the individuals developed problems with these skills, the researchers reported. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136344.html

Gut bugs are implicated in heart attacks and stroke

Thousands of heart attack victims every year have none of the notorious risk factors before their crisis - not high cholesterol, not unhealthy triglycerides. Now the search for the mystery culprits has turned up some surprising suspects: the trillions of bacteria and other microbes living in the human gut. In a study released on Wednesday, scientists discovered that some of the bugs turn lecithin - a nutrient in egg yolks, liver, beef, pork and wheat germ - into an artery-clogging compound called TMAO. They also found that blood levels of TMAO predict heart attack, stroke or death, and do so "independent of other risk factors," said Dr Stanley Hazen, chairman of cellular and molecular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, who led the study. That suggests a TMAO test could enter the arsenal of blood tests that signal possible cardiovascular problems ahead. "TMAO might identify people who are at risk (for heart attacks and strokes) despite having no other risk factors," Hazen said. The discovery also suggests a new approach to preventing these cardiovascular events: altering gut bacteria so they churn out less TMAO. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136236.html

Green Spaces Boost City Dwellers' Well-Being

Parks and urban gardens may do more than just get city dwellers back to nature -- a new British study suggests there's also a large benefit to their overall well-being. Specifically, people with access to numerous green areas reported less mental distress and higher levels of life satisfaction than those without such access, according to the study published online April 22 in the journal Psychological Science. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136136.html

One Soda Per Day Raises Diabetes Risk, Study Suggests

Here’s yet another reason for giving up soda: A new study out today suggests that just one 12 ounce serving of a sugar-sweetened beverage can raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 22 percent. Since most research on the evils of soda has looked at North American populations, researchers at the Imperial College of London wanted to see if they could establish a link between sugary drink consumption and type 2 diabetes in Europeans too. To test their theory, the researchers combed through over 15 years of data on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption that included more than 27,000 people from seven European countries. During that time period more than 40 percent developed type 2 diabetes, with those who said they drank at least one soda or some other sweet drink each day showing an 18 percent higher risk of developing the disease. When factors like body weight and body mass index weren’t controlled for, the risk rose to 22 percent. This is consistent with findings from U.S. studies that find that soda drinking is associated with a 25 percent increased diabetes risk. Notably, even diet soda drinkers had to worry about developing diabetes. However, when body weight and exercise levels were factored in, the link disappeared. In other words, healthy-weight, exercising diet soda drinkers were no more likely to develop type two diabetes than non-soda drinkers. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/04/25/one-soda-per-day-raises-diabetes-risk-study-suggests/

Alternative therapies may help lower blood pressure

Alternative therapies such as aerobic exercise, resistance or strength training, and isometric hand grip exercises may help reduce your blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. In a new scientific statement published in its journal Hypertension, the association said alternative approaches could help people with blood pressure levels higher than 120/80 mm Hg and those who can’t tolerate or don’t respond well to standard medications. http://newsroom.heart.org/news/alternative-therapies-may-help-lower-blood-pressure

Fruit, Mediterranean diet tied to fewer hot flashes

Women who eat diets high in fruit, certain vegetables, pasta and red wine are less likely to have hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, a new study from Australia suggests. Researchers found that of about 6,000 women followed over nine years, those who ate a lot of strawberries, pineapple and melon and most closely followed a Mediterranean-style diet were about 20 percent less likely to report those common symptoms. At the same time, menopausal women who ate high-sugar, high-fat diets were 23 percent more likely to experience hot flashes and night sweats during the study. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136238.html

Study: chicken, ground beef are riskiest meats

An analysis of more than 33,000 cases of foodborne illness shows that ground beef and chicken have caused more hospitalizations than other meats. The report by the Center for Science in Public Interest says chicken nuggets, ham and sausage pose the lowest risk of foodborne illness. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/medical/article/Study-chicken-ground-beef-are-riskiest-meats-4456184.php#ixzz2RRKTeFCk

Tackling Diet, Exercise Together Produces Best Results: Study

If you're trying to get healthy, tackling both diet and exercise is better than trying to improve one lifestyle habit at a time, new research suggests. The researchers did add that if you need to start with just one lifestyle change, choose exercise. They found that changing diet first may interfere with attempts to establish a regular exercise routine. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136130.html

Knowing Time Needed to Walk Off Calories May Curb Appetite

Menus that show how much exercise will be needed to burn off the calories in meals may help reduce how much people eat, researchers report. The new study included 300 people, aged 18 to 30, who were given either a menu without calorie labels, a menu with calorie labels or a menu with labels for the minutes of brisk walking needed to burn off the calories in the food. Brisk walking was chosen as the form of exercise because it is something that nearly everyone can relate to, said lead researcher Ashlei James, a graduate student at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. The findings were scheduled for presentation Tuesday at the Experimental Biology meeting in Boston. Data and conclusions from research presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136177.html

Community Gardening May Reap Body Weight Benefit

People with plots in community gardens are less likely to be overweight or obese than those who don't garden, a new study suggests. "It has been shown previously that community gardens can provide a variety of social and nutritional benefits to neighborhoods," study author Cathleen Zick, a professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah, said in a university news release. "But until now, we did not have data to show a measurable health benefit for those who use the gardens." She and her colleagues looked at the body-mass index (BMI) of 198 community gardeners in Salt Lake City and compared them to non-gardening neighbors. BMI is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight. The BMI of female community gardeners was an average 1.84 points lower than their neighbors, a difference of 11 pounds for a 5-foot-5 woman. The BMI of male community gardeners was 2.36 points lower than their neighbors, a difference of 16 pounds for a man at 5 feet 10 inches. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136087.html

Breast-Fed Kids May Have Low Iron Levels, Study Finds

Although breast-feeding is generally considered the best way to nourish an infant, new research suggests that in the long term it may lead to lower levels of iron. "What we found was that over a year of age, the longer the child is breast-fed, the greater the risk of iron deficiency," said the study's lead author, Dr. Jonathon Maguire, pediatrician and scientist at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital at the University of Toronto in Canada. The study, released online April 15 in the journal Pediatrics, did not, however, find a statistical relationship between the duration of breast-feeding and iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the body has too few red blood cells. Iron is an important nutrient, especially in children. It is vital for normal development of the nervous system and brain, according to background information included in the study. Growth spurts increase the body's need for iron, and infancy is a time of rapid growth. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136091.html

Vitamin D May Help Prevent Uterine Fibroids

Women with adequate levels of vitamin D are less likely to develop uterine fibroids than those with insufficient levels, a new study finds. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors of the uterus that often cause pain and bleeding in premenopausal women and are the leading cause of hysterectomy in the United States. The study, by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), included more than 1,000 women, aged 35 to 49, living in the Washington, D.C., area from 1996 to 1999. Blood samples taken from the women were analyzed for vitamin D levels. Those with sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop uterine fibroids than those with insufficient vitamin D levels. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136004.html

Some Slightly Obese May Gain From Weight-Loss Surgery, Guidelines Say

Even people who are slightly obese could be candidates for weight-loss surgery under new guidelines released by three U.S. medical groups. The groups recommended that eligibility for weight-loss (bariatric) surgery be expanded to include mildly to moderately obese people with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, which is a group of conditions that put people at increased risk for heart disease and diabetes. Under the new rules, eligible patients would have a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 to 34.9. BMI is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight. There is not enough current evidence, however, to recommend weight-loss surgery for blood sugar control alone, fat lowering alone or heart disease risk reduction alone, independent of BMI criteria, the guidelines said. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135962.html

Study: 'Western style' diet can be a killer

Eating a "Western-style" diet -- fried food, processed and red meat, refined grains, sweets and high-fat dairy -- can reduce lifespan, French researchers say. Lead investigator Tasnime Akbaraly of Inserm in Montpellier, France, and colleagues analyzed findings from the British Whitehall II cohort study, which involved 3,775 men and 1,575 women from 1985-2009 with a mean age of 51. Using a combination of hospital data, results of screenings conducted every five years, and registry data, investigators identified mortality and chronic diseases among participants. Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/04/17/Study-Western-style-diet-can-be-a-killer/UPI-29741366178512/#ixzz2Qs3cKDIC

Decisions, Decisions: Work Out or Fix a Meal?

Preparing meals can mean less time for exercise, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed U.S. Census data from more than 112,000 American adults and found that a 10-minute increase in meal preparation was associated with a lower likelihood of exercising for 10 more minutes. The finding was true for men and women, single and married people, and those with and without children, according to the Ohio State University researchers. They said their findings suggest that one healthy behavior can take time away from another healthy habit, and that public health recommendations need to take into account the time people have for beneficial lifestyle habits on a given day. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135865.html

FDA: Dietary supplement dangerous

Dietary supplements are commonly used to lose weight and build muscle, but the Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning regarding exposure to a potentially harmful ingredient. The FDA said in the advisory last week that it is using "all available tools at its disposal" to eliminate supplements containing the stimulant dimethylamylamine, or DMAA, from the market. The agency says DMAA, found in supplements including OxyElite Pro and Jack3d, can cause increased blood pressure, shortness of breath, chest tightening, cardiovascular problems and even heart attacks. http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/health/fda-warning/index.html

Walking can lower risk of heart-related conditions as much as running

Walking briskly can lower your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes as much as running can, according to surprising findings reported in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. Researchers analyzed 33,060 runners in the National Runners’ Health Study and 15,045 walkers in the National Walkers’ Health Study. They found that the same energy used for moderate intensity walking and vigorous intensity running resulted in similar reductions in risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and possibly coronary heart disease over the study’s six years. “Walking and running provide an ideal test of the health benefits of moderate-intensity walking and vigorous-intensity running because they involve the same muscle groups and the same activities performed at different intensities,” said Paul T. Williams, Ph.D., the study’s principal author and staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Life Science Division in Berkeley, Calif. http://newsroom.heart.org/news/walking-can-lower-risk-of-heart-related-conditions-as-much-as-running

Do Teens Who Sleep In Stay Slimmer?

The more sleep teens get, the less likely they are to be overweight, a new study finds. Researchers followed more than 1,000 Philadelphia-area teenagers from their freshman through senior years of high school. Every six months, the teens reported their sleep patterns. The results showed that each additional hour of sleep per night was associated with reduced body-mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight. The reduction was greatest in those with higher BMIs, meaning they were more overweight. Based on their findings, the researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine suggested that increasing sleep from eight to 10 hours a night at age 18 could lead to a 4 percent reduction in the number of overweight or obese American teens. That would translate to about 500,000 fewer overweight teens. The study was published online April 8 in the journal Pediatrics. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135873.html

The Kids Are Alright: eat right to play hard

Active kids need fuel for sports, school and everyday health, as well as normal growth and development. When young people are involved in competitive athletics, their need for power foods and fluids is higher than usual. If you have specific concerns about your child, consult a registered dietitian who specializes in sports nutrition. If your child is on a team, talk to the coach and arrange for a registered dietitian to make a presentation to all the players and their parents. Here are tips to help young athletes get the fuel and fluids they need to succeed: http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442459385

Less Salt, More Potassium = Millions of Lives Saved

Reducing dietary salt intake and boosting levels of potassium would prevent millions of deaths from heart disease and stroke worldwide each year, according to three new studies. The new studies, which reviewed prior research, were published online April 4 in the BMJ. One study examined the findings of 34 clinical trials involving more than 3,000 adults and found that a modest reduction in salt intake led to significant decreases in blood pressure, leading to a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure. Similar findings were reported in another study that reviewed 56 previous studies. It found that reducing salt consumption led to lower blood pressure and a decreased risk of stroke and fatal heart disease in adults. There was also evidence that reduced salt intake lowered blood pressure in children. A third study analyzed data from 33 clinical trials that involved more than 128,000 people and found that increased potassium intake reduced blood pressure in adults and reduced their risk of stroke by 24 percent. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135587.html

Belly Fat May Be Tied to Kidney Damage

So-called "apple-shaped" people who carry more fat around their bellies than their hips may be at higher risk of kidney disease, a new study suggests. The study measured blood flow through the kidneys of 315 men and women in the Netherlands. Those who had higher waist-to-hip ratios, meaning they tended to store more fat around their bellies compared to their thighs, also had higher blood pressure in their kidneys, even if they were not overweight. Over time, elevated blood pressure damages the small vessels in the kidneys and can decrease their ability to siphon waste from the blood. The study found that each one-unit increase in waist-to-hip ratio was linked to a loss of blood flow through the kidney's tiniest filters, the glomeruli, of about 4 milliliters per minute. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135828.html

Strict school lunch standards tied to healthy weight

Strict school lunch standards that are similar to new regulations from the U.S. government may be tied to healthier body weights among students, according to a new study. "I think it's evidence that healthier school lunches have a positive effect but it's preliminary evidence. It's far from definitive," said Anne Barnhill, who studies food policy at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia but was not involved with the new research. The new findings, published in JAMA Pediatrics on Monday, bode well for the standards introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in January 2012 that - among other moves - set maximums for calories offered during lunch and mandate that only skim or reduced-fat milk are offered to students. Prior to 2012, the USDA only set minimum calorie counts for school lunches. Now, the agency requires school lunches to fall between 550 calories and 850 calories - depending on a child's grade level. Previous studies questioned whether the USDA's National School Lunch Program, which provides free or reduced-priced meals to low-income students, helped children maintain a healthy weight. Research also found the lunches sometimes didn't meet standards and students who ate those meals tended to be obese. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135697.html

Breakfast cereal tied to lower BMI for kids

Regularly eating cereal for breakfast is tied to healthy weight for kids, according to a new study that endorses making breakfast cereal accessible to low-income kids to help fight childhood obesity. One in every four American children lives in a food insecure household where breakfast isn't a sure thing, lead author Dr. Lana Frantzen told Reuters Health. "(Cereal) is an excellent breakfast choice, it's simple, and gets those essential nutrients that children need, especially low income minority children," who tend to be hit hardest by childhood obesity and related health problems, said Frantzen, who is employed by Dairy MAX, a regional dairy council in Grand Prairie, Texas. Previous studies have linked eating breakfast with maintaining a lower body mass index (BMI) over time. The new study looked at the role that breakfast, specifically cereal, plays in both weight and nutrition among low-income kids. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135743.html

Soda study shows limiting size makes us want to gulp more

A month after a judge threw out New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed ban on large sodas, a new study has found that Americans not only love their sugary drinks, they buy even more of them when serving sizes are restricted. “The motivation for this study was inspired by the proposed regulations to restrict soda sizes,” said Brent M. Wilson, lead author of the study published Wednesday in the open-access journal of the Public Library of Science (PLOS). Conducted by the University of California at San Diego, the study concluded that restricting larger servings of sugary drinks in an effort to moderate them may actually induce consumers to buy even more. http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2013/04/10/17692216-soda-study-shows-limiting-size-makes-us-want-to-gulp-more?chromedomain=vitals

The Kids Are Alright 2: a to avocados

Though they aren't sweet, avocados are actually fruit, and they have unheralded health benefits. Avocados provide heart-healthy folate; vitamins E, C, and B6 potassium; and soluble fiber. Their fat is mostly monounsaturated, the kind that's heart-healthy. And avocados have phytonutrient benefits: cholesterol-lowering plant sterols; glutathione, which works as an antioxidant potentially for cancer protection; and lutein, which promotes healthy vision. Ripe avocados are slightly soft to pressure from your paIm. Use them mashed as a spread, slivered and layered in sandwiches, or in a new recipe. http://www.eatright.org/kids/tip.aspx?id=6442462343

Compound in Red Meat, Energy Drinks May Have Heart Disease Link

A compound found in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks promotes hardening and clogging of the arteries, otherwise known as atherosclerosis, a new study suggests. Researchers say that bacteria in the digestive tract convert the compound, called carnitine, into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Previous research by the same team of Cleveland Clinic investigators found that TMAO promotes atherosclerosis in people. And there was an another twist: The study also found that a diet high in carnitine encourages the growth of the bacteria that metabolize the compound, leading to even higher TMAO production. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135662.html

The Kids Are Alright: disaster preparedness for your special needs child

Whether it’s a blizzard, hurricane, earthquake or tornado, you want to be prepared when a disaster strikes. That’s especially true when caring for a child with special needs. “For some children with special nutrition needs, specific foods, formulas or methods of eating are essential,” says Sharon Feucht, MA, RD, CD, a registered dietitian at the Center on Human Development and Disability at the University of Washington. “However, in a disaster most of these will not be readily available at sites set up to help those who have experienced an emergency.” http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442475736

Study Suggests Link Between Hormone Melatonin and Type 2 Diabetes

Decreased levels of the hormone melatonin may be linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, according to new research. A study of U.S. women found that those with the lowest levels of melatonin had more than twice the risk of type 2 diabetes compared to women with the highest levels of the hormone. This association held true even after the researchers controlled for other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as body weight and dietary habits. But whether too little melatonin actually causes type 2 diabetes isn't clear. "We found an association between melatonin and type 2 diabetes; what we haven't got from this study is causality," said study lead author Dr. Ciaran McMullan, a research fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "That's the next step of research." The findings shouldn't change clinical management. "There's no evidence that taking melatonin will improve someone's chances of avoiding diabetes," McMullan said. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135506.html

Balding Men Could Face Higher Heart Risks, Study Finds

New research out of Japan shows a potential link between male baldness and an increased risk for coronary heart disease. But it only affects men who are balding on top. Those with a receding hairline are not at risk, the researchers reported. The findings stem from an analysis of six published studies on hair loss and heart health that involved approximately 37,000 men. And although the researchers admitted the small study size was a limitation, they reported that men whose baldness affected the crown on their head faced a 32 percent to 84 percent increase in the risk of developing heart disease compared to men with a full head of hair or a receding hairline. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135547.html

Omega-3 fatty acids tied to longer life: study

Supporting recommendations that people eat a couple of servings of fish per week, a new study suggests adults with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood are less likely to die from a range of causes than those with the lowest levels. Out of about 2,700 older Americans, researchers found people with the most circulating omega-3s - usually found in oily fishes such as tuna or sardines - lived about two years longer than those with the lowest levels, on average. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, the study's lead author from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, told Reuters Health the findings suggest people should work more oily fish into their diets. "The vast majority of Americans don't eat two servings of fish per week. That would be ideal," Mozaffarian said. Omega-3 fatty acids have long been thought to offer protection against a lengthy list of health problems - from premature births to heart disease. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_135564.html

Endocrine Disorder Is Most Common Cause of Elevated Calcium Levels

Unusually high calcium levels in the blood can almost always be traced to primary hyperparathyroidism, an undertreated, underreported condition that affects mainly women and the elderly, according to a new study by UCLA researchers. The condition, which results from overactive parathyroid glands and includes symptoms of bone loss, depression, and fatigue that may go undetected for years, is most often seen in African American women over the age of 50, the researchers discovered. The study, currently online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, is one of the first to examine a large, racially and ethnically diverse population—in this case, one that was 65% nonwhite. Previous studies had focused on smaller, primarily Caucasian populations. http://www.todaysdietitian.com/news/032213_news.shtml

nutrition for your child with autism spectrum disorder (asd)

Caring for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be challenging on many levels. And healthy eating is no exception. “Whenever a child has a disability the importance of nutrition escalates,” says Joan Guthrie Medlen, MEd, RD “For a child with ASD, a healthy, balanced diet can make a world of difference in their ability to learn, how they manage their emotions and how they process information.” Because children with ASD often have restricted diets as well as difficulty sitting through mealtimes, they may not be getting all the nutrients they need, particularly calcium and protein. If you have a child with ASD, try these nutrition strategies: Be prepared for pickiness: Many parents find their child’s sensitivity to tastes, colors, smells and textures to be the biggest barriers to a balanced diet. Getting your child to try new foods—especially those that are soft and slippery—may seem nearly impossible. You may find that your child avoids certain foods or even entire food groups. One of the easiest ways to approach sensory issues is to tackle them away from the kitchen table, says Medlen. Take your children to the supermarket and let them choose a new food to experiment with. When you get home, research it together on the Internet to learn how and where it grows. Then, decide together how to prepare it. When you’re done, don’t worry if your child doesn’t want to eat it. Simply becoming familiar with new foods in a low-pressure way can eventually help your child become a more flexible eater. Make mealtimes routine: “Children with ASD have to work harder at mealtimes,” says Medlen. A busy kitchen, bright lights and even the way the furniture is arranged are all potential stressors. Making meals as predictable and routine as possible can help. Serving meals at the same time every day is one of the simplest ways to reduce stress. In addition, try to put yourself in your child’s shoes and think about what concessions you can make for easier mealtimes. If your child is sensitive to lights, try dining by candlelight. Let him or her pick a favorite food to include at every meal. Or let your child choose a favorite seat at the table. Seek guidance for special diets: You may have heard that a gluten- or casein-free diet can improve symptoms of ASD. While some studies indicate that these diets may be effective for certain children, more research is needed. “In my practice, I’ve seen children who suddenly do better following a dietary change, but I’ve seen more that do not,” says Medlen. Keep in mind that very restrictive diets require careful planning to make sure your child’s nutrition needs are being met. Consult with a registered dietitian before making any drastic changes to your child’s diet. Finally, don’t go it alone. “In addition to working with your child’s health-care team, seek out parents who have had success with food interventions,” says Laura Lagano, MS, RD “Support is crucial when you’re raising a child with special needs.”http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442475670

Most Children’s Meals at Large Restaurant Chains Are Still Unhealthy, a Study Finds

A new study of the nutritional quality of meals for children on the menus of the nation’s largest chain restaurants has found that 91 percent do not even meet the standards set by the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell program. An even larger percentage — 97 percent of restaurant children’s meals — failed to meet stricter standards developed by a panel of nutrition and health experts for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit research and advocacy group that commissioned the study. “These were pretty dismal results,” said Margo G. Wootan, its director of nutrition policy. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/business/most-childrens-meals-at-large-chains-are-unhealthy-study-finds.html?_r=1&

New study finds no link between 'too many vaccines' and autism

A new study adds to years of research showing that childhood vaccines do not cause autism, despite worries among a growing number of parents that their young children receive “too many vaccines." Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that even when multiple inoculations are given on the same day, children are at no higher risk of developing autism, according to the report published in the Journal of Pediatrics Friday. “This study looked into the concern that receiving too many vaccines at one doctor’s visit or too many vaccines during the first two years of life may be linked to the development of autism,” the report’s lead author, Dr. Frank DeStefano told NBC chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman. “We found they’re not related.” http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/29/17516929-new-study-finds-no-link-between-too-many-vaccines-and-autism?lite