Effects Of Family Meals, Sleeping And Screen Time On Obesity In Preschoolers – American Academy Of Pediatrics

February 8, 2010

Preschool children exposed to three household routines — regularly eating family meals, getting adequate sleep, and limiting screen-viewing time — had a roughly 40 percent lower prevalence of obesity than those exposed to none of these routines. The study, “Household Routines and Obesity in U.S. Preschool-Aged Children,” published in the March issue of Pediatrics (appearing online Feb…

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Fighting World Hunger By Mapping The Soybean Genome

February 3, 2010

In 2009, soybeans represented an almost $30 billion industry in the U.S. alone, making soybeans the second-most profitable crop next to corn. Worldwide, soybeans have been used in human foods and livestock feed for centuries and have been a key component in industrial products, such as plastics and soy biodiesel, an environmentally friendly fuel…

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Yerba mate tea: Drink in moderation

January 11, 2010

Elena Conis

Teas from across the globe are becoming more and more popular in the U.S. One relative newcomer, yerba mate, is attracting fans for its allegedly jitter-free caffeine boost and high antioxidant content.

Lab research suggests some potential health benefits from drinking yerba mate, but studies of lifelong yerba mate drinkers in the tea’s native South America suggest the brew increases the risk of some cancers — a fact most marketing campaigns omit.

Yerba mate, leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis tree, is traditionally brewed and served in a dried-out gourd and sipped through a metal straw with a filter on one end to stop drinkers from ending up with a mouthful of leaves.

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“In South America, people tend to consume large amounts,” he said. “The more people drink, the higher the risk of cancer. It’s a dose-related response.” In the U.S., he advises, “people don’t need to stop drinking it, but they do need to know something about it . . . and drink in moderation.”

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Also In Global Health News: Uganda Bill; USAID; ARVs And Food; Polio Declines In Nigeria

December 15, 2009

News Outlets Examine Reaction To Uganda’s Anti-Gay Legislation Effect On HIV/AIDS Efforts The Daily Monitor reports on a statement released Friday by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), chair of the Senate’s Committee on Africa, on Uganda’s anti-gay legislation…

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Physicians Knowledge Of Childhood Food Allergies Lacking

December 11, 2009

With an estimated four to six percent of children in the U.S. suffering from food allergies, a new study shows that pediatricians and family physicians aren’t always confident they have the ability to diagnose or treat food allergies. A study published in the January 2010 issue of Pediatrics and headed by Dr. Ruchi Gupta, M.D., M.P.H…

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Also In Global Health News: U.S. Aid To Philippines, Swaziland, Guyana; Uganda Bills; Botswana HIV/AIDS

December 4, 2009

U.S. To Give Philippines $10M In Food Aid, Ambassador Says U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said the U.S. will give the country an additional $10 million worth of food aid for people affect by the recent typhoons, the Manila Bulletin reports. This brings “the total amount of its disaster relief and recovery assistance to US$30 million” (Sabater, 12/3)…

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FDA Approves Cymbalta(R) For Maintenance Treatment Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

December 1, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cymbalta® (duloxetine HCl) for the maintenance treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced. “Since generalized anxiety disorder can be a chronic illness, it is important that doctors and their patients find a treatment option that is effective in both the acute and maintenance phase of treatment,” said James M. Martinez, MD, U.S. Medical Director for Cymbalta.

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U.S. Army Special Forces Operators Reluctant To Seek Treatment For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

November 26, 2009

According to a University of the Rockies study, more than half (54.4 percent) of U.S. Army Special Forces Operators exposed to combat would not seek treatment while serving in the Army, even if they were experiencing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms or psychological distress. The 18-month study, which included 68 U.S. Army Special Forces Operators who had been deployed to combat since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003, was conducted by Jessica M.

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Thanks, But No Thanks: Avoiding Food Poisoning At Thanksgiving

November 20, 2009

Thanksgiving is an opportunity to share a meal with loved ones, but it is also a time when small mistakes in the kitchen can lead to foodborne illness. Dr. Ben Chapman, food safety specialist and assistant professor of food science at North Carolina State University, can offer suggestions to ensure your Thanksgiving meal is a safe one. The U.S.

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