Barb's Daily Dose

Vitamin D and Your Kids

Now that winter is upon us, it's even more important to make sure that children are getting enough Vitamin D.  A recent Study found that 1 in 5 U.S. children are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for so many aspects of our lives.  It keeps bones healthy, helps prevent colon cancer, and low  levels of vitamin D are associated with depressed moods.

Piano Stairs: "A Fun and Amazing Video"

Biotech Soybeans Good Source of Omega-3

Featured Article is From Caring.com

Written by:  Robert Preidt

Oil From Engineered Beans Might Help Reduce Heart Attacks, Researchers Say

TUESDAY, Nov. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Oil from genetically modified soybeans boosts levels of an important omega-3 fatty acid in the body, which may reduce the risk of heart attacks, U.S. researchers say.  They created soybeans that produce oils rich in stearidonic acid (SDA), which is converted by the body into an omega-3 fatty acid called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Flu-Free Flying

12 Ways to Avoid Getting Sick When You Fly

 

Our Featured Guest Writer Today Is:  Melanie Haiken,  Senior Editor of Caring.com

 

Does every single airline trip you take seem to end with a case of the sniffles, or worse, with a full-on case of the flu? If you're starting to feel just a tad paranoid about picking up a nasty virus when you fly, you're not alone. It's a common perception that airline cabins are happy incubators for cold and flu germs.

 

Is it true, though? Researchers are still debating the issue. But a Canadian study published in the Journal of Environmental Health Research in 2004 reviewed passenger health histories after a five-hour flight between San Francisco and Denver and found passengers were 113 times more likely to have caught a cold during the flight than during normal daily life.

Research Sheds Light on Causes of Parkinson's

Gene Mutations Linked to Both Common and Rarer Hereditary Forms of Disease

 

Our Featured Article Today was posted on caring.com

Last updated: 17-Nov-2009  --  Randy Dotinga

SUNDAY, Nov. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Gene mutations linked to inherited Parkinson's disease also appear to be connected to the more common form of the disease that strikes people whose relatives don't have it, researchers now say.

The findings come from the largest Parkinson's disease genetic study of its kind, published online Nov. 15 in Nature Genetics.

In the study, an international team of researchers confirmed that mutations in the alpha-synuclein gene and microtubule associated protein tau boost the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Tantrums Part 2 - Solutions

My friend, Mary Beth, is a 2nd grade teacher and has twins. She talks about the importance of remembering the long term consequences of short term decisions. This really applies when it comes to tantrums.  Give in early to a child with tantrums, and you can bet that you'll be giving in and plan to give in often for the rest of your child's life.  In effect, when you give in, you give away all your power as a parent.

Mammograms: Do the Math

Early Mammograms Save Lives!  16,547 to Be Exact!

 
I am trying not to scream about these new recommendations for waiting until age 50 to start mammograms. 

Here’s What the Report Said:

• Mammograms between 40-50 only save (1) women for every 1300 screened.

• That doesn’t sound like a lot until you do the Math!

• There are over 21 million in that age group.  So saving (1) in 1300 is a lot of women!!

Mammograms Save 16, 547 Women Age 40-50

So why not do mammograms?  To prevent women from worrying?  Thanks, but I’d rather be a little worried over nothing than know that over 16 thousand women won’t get diagnosed until it’s too late!

The trouble with this study is that every single woman I’ve spoken to knows at least 3-4 women who were diagnosed between 40-50  -   "wouldn’t be here"  if they hadn’t had a mammogram.

The Study is Flawed

• There wasn’t enough data in just one study, so they gathered 8 together (Meta-analysis)

• The authors concede that 6 out of the 8 studies were either “poor or flawed"

• We all know that you can crunch numbers in lots of different ways, and this way just doesn’t add up!!

Mammogram Recommendations

I Disagree With the Latest Recommendations!

Did you read the recent recommendations on when to start mammograms? Well, a recent report from the U.S. Preventive Task Force suggested that women not have screening mammograms until age 50.

I disagree, I read the report 3 times, and saw a few red key flags.  First, this was pooled data from studies that the task force labeled 6 out of 8 as flawed or poor.  Hmmm, we're making recommendations on flawed or poor studies?  Also, one estimate was that you would only save 1 life for every 1300 women screened in this age group.  That doesn't sound like a lot of women, but then I did the math.  Turns out that there are about 21 million women in the US in that age group.  So screening saves 16,457 women!

Tantrums Part 1

I was talking to a mom, Kate (not her real name)  the other day who’s struggling with her 9 year old daughter’s tantrums and she said, “I didn’t know….that by when I thought I was being a good mom and gave in to her when she was younger that now she’d be defiant and out of control.  I was just trying to be a good mom.”

I bring this up, because an ounce of prevention can change your life and make things so much easier in the long run. Parenting isn’t easy.  And what preparation do any of us have?  Maybe we were lucky with great role models, maybe not. How many people take classes in child development? Here's a confession.  I took classes in child development, I even taught it for a semester before I had my own child.

10 Signs a Senior Needs Assistance

Our Featured Guest Writer Today Is:  Sarah Henry, Senior Editor at Caring.com

In dating lingo, it's known as "reading the memo." There's the bore who rambles on about himself the entire evening (narcissist), the annoying guy who orders for you (control freak), the dude who has never, ever been in a long-term relationship (commitmentphobe).

In each case, a "memo" is delivered -- key information or insight into a person is imparted -- but it's not always "read" by the other party. Sometimes it's ignored, sometimes denial plays a role, other times it's just glossed over -- usually at the other party's peril. When the light bulb moment does occur down the track, it's often too late to avoid pain, grief, or suffering.