Health: Nutrition Articles
Good nutrition is an important part of our children's health. Here we have a variety of interesting articles that will help parents better understand many current issues in children's nutrition. Also refer to:General Health and Medicine.Our rating system for these Nutrition articles is:
- - Best, in depth and most helpful overall
- - Very Good, but more specific in focus
- - Good reference material
Young people can reduce their risk of fractured bones later in life by gettig enough calcium-rich foods and physical activity during the preteen and teenage years.
In the United States at least one child in five is overweight and the number of overweight children continues to grow. This article will help parents understand what they can do to help their overweight child.
A century ago, babies who couldn't be breast-fed usually didn't survive. Today, although breast-feeding is still the best nourishment for infants, infant formula is a close enough second that babies not only survive but thrive. Commercially prepared formulas are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Parents and childcare providers must know the proper food safety, nutrition and food handling guidlelines. This will ensure that children in a childcare enviroment will have safe food and will receive proper nutrition.
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children has been released. This "children's pyramid" is an adaptation of the original Food Guide Pyramid released in 1992, and is targeted to children ages two to six.
New parents want to give their babies the very best. When it comes to nutrition, the best first food for babies is breast milk. More than two decades of research have established that breast milk is perfectly suited to nourish infants and protect them from illness.
An article from International Lactation Consultant Association about breastfeeding. It not only gives love, bonding, and health for mothers and babies, but can also save money!
This article from Medela contains breastmilk collection, storage, defrosting, and intake guideline information.
Pediatric obesity and nutrition experts today said that increasing physical activity and emphasizing eating a wide variety of foods, for a high fiber and low fat diet, are the most important steps parents should take in preventing childhood obesity. The comments were made as part of a national conference on pediatric obesity sponsored by the Georgetown University's Center for Food and Nutrition policy.
Are you concerned about what to feed your newborn baby? Then this article will help you. It covers topics from breast feeding to vitamin supplements. Even if you are an exhausted new mom, take the time to look at this helpful article.
Raw apple juice is a potential source of the deadly E.coli bacteria. This set of frequently asked questions provides answers to many questions that parents have about the safety of apple juice products and what should be done to prevent future outbreaks.
In the days ahead, the newborn will need at least 8-12 breastfeeds to help insure mother's milk supply and to insure the baby will gain at a healthy rate. The following are suggestions for waking a sleepy baby for breastfeeding the first few days of life.
Two newly published studies strengthen reports of a link between childhood obesity and the increased risk of adult cardiovascular disease, according to the June American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Sugary snacks taste so good-but they aren't so good for your teeth or your body. The candies, cakes, cookies, and other sugary foods that kids love to eat between meals can cause tooth decay. Some sugary foods have a lot of fat in them too. Here's a very informative summary for parents about this important issue.
This article from Maternal Connections contains charts that compare costs between breastfeeding and infant formula. Also helpful are the estimate yearly costs calculated for different kinds of formulas.
Of the 4 million infants born annually in the United States, about 3 to 5 percent are born with birth defects, according to the March of Dimes. Birth defects account for 20 percent of all infant deaths in the United States, more than from any other single cause.
Sound nutrition and fitness habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime. To examine how today's youth measure up in terms of diet and activity, the International Food Information Council Foundation and the International Life Sciences Institute-North America recently convened a conference, drawing on experts in pediatrics, nutrition, exercise physiology and education.
Raw apple beverages have been identified as a repeated source of bacterial contamination that has killed and maimed children in over five states. Children, seniors, the immune impaired and pregnant women are advised to drink only pasteurized apple juice/cider.
Most Americans are still unaware that osteoporosis, a debilitating disease, is a condition that may be best prevented by eating smart and exercising regularly, during childhood and adolescence - the time when bone growth is optimal.
CARU and IFIC have prepared this guide to provide parents with information and strategies to help you and your children evaluate food advertising, make informed decisions and create a healthy balance of food and nutrition choices that are right for your family.
As the dog days of summer quickly pass, children will find themselves headed back to the classrooms for reading, writing and arithmetic. Parents can help their children be at their best by providing the proper nutrition essential for making it through the day.
Obesity in children may have as much to do with what kids drink as it does with what they eat, a new report by The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center's Nutrition Information Center finds. This report urges a reduction in soft-drink consumption and an increase in healthier, water-based beverages.
Breakfast always will be an important meal of the day - one that should be consumed by people of any age. But despite these recommendations, millions of Americans routinely skip breakfast. Studies show that eating habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime. Thus children who tend to omit breakfast most likely will continue this dietary habit well into adulthood.
Adding two substances found in breast milk to infant formula boosted the average intelligence scores in a group of 18-month-old children significantly, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Dr. Mills has studied the relationship between birth defects and diabetes, vitamins, obesity, caffeine as well as many non-dietary variables such as drug use and contraception methods. In this interview with Food Insight, he discusses recent nutrition-related research on the prevention of neural tube defects, low birth weight and other adverse birth outcomes.
Early experiences with food have a strong impact on the future eating habits and health of young children, and the best time to teach good dietary habits is during the early years.
Susan L. Johnson, Ph.D., is a post-doctoral fellow with the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. For the last 10 years, she has designed and conducted research on the relationship of nutrition and behavior, with a focus on the regulation of energy intake in preschool-age children. Here, Johnson focuses on the issues of parental influence on children's eating habits and the development of childhood obesity.
Mama's Milk has recently launched a campaign to increase public awareness of the accessibility of reliable inexpensive breast pumps for nursing mothers.
If you are concerned about your child's weight, you are in good company. This article states: "Childhood obesity is a serious problem. ... About 25 to 30 percent of school-age children in the United States are overweight or obese, which puts them at a high risk for heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma, orthopedic problems, hypertension and other health problems."
Researchers from Oregon State University in Corvallis found that a mother's strong milk-drinking practice can positively influence her daughter's milk consumption. Drinking milk and a diet rich in calcium may help reduce the future risk of osteoporosis.
Despite efforts by government agencies and public education initiatives to raise awareness about folic acid and its role in helping to prevent certain birth defects, a national survey of American adults finds that 62% of men and women -- and 58% of women of childbearing age (18-39) -- have never seen, read nor heard about this important B-vitamin. This article highlights the importance of increasing the public's awareness of folic acid's benefits and how to get the recommended daily intake through the food we eat and vitamins.
This article contains a number of questions about the nutritional content of processed baby food. Answers to such questions as "Why is water added to baby food?" and "Why is texture important?" are found in this Q&A from the International Food Information Council Foundation.
Do you understand the new food labels? This article will help you read and understand the information that is now required on the packaged food we buy.
Conducted in public schools in Philadelphia and Baltimore, the study found that increased school breakfast participation correlated with less tardiness and absence, higher math grades, and reductions in problems like depression, anxiety and hyperactivity. The researchers also found that students were more likely to participate in school breakfast programs when the meals were offered free to all students, compared with programs that provided free meals to low-income youngsters while others paid for their breakfasts.
This brochure provides general guidelines for introducing infants to solid foods, as well as tips for keeping mealtime safe. Keep in mind that each baby is an individual and may be ready for different foods based on weight, nutritional needs and other factors. Ask your pediatrician, pediatric nurse practitioner, registered dietitian or other health care provider for specific feeding advice.
When it comes to choosing a healthy diet for their children, many parents don't realize the important role that beverages play. For example, while most parents realize that milk is a healthful drink there is still confusion about other beverage choices, particularly the differences between 100% fruit juice (the type of juice pediatricians recommend) and juice drinks.
"Adolescents have more autonomy than they ever had as children," said Jo Ann Hattner, RD, MPH, a clinical dietitian at Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University. "Jobs and other after school activities often run into the dinner hour, so teen-agers become more responsible for their daily food intake." Regardless of their motivation, the challenge is to teach teenagers to apply sound, nutrition principles so they can safely reach their goal.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that restricting children's access to foods they want may lead to over-indulgence when they are free to make their own choices.
Teenagers and young adults fail to eat enough fiber each day to help ward off diseases and chronic illnesses. This article provides an age-related guide for the amount of fiber your child needs to eat daily. Research shows that children who meet this guideline have improved laxation, are better able to manage their weight, and reduce their risk of illnesses such as hypercholesterolemia.
For reasons that are unclear, many young women develop potentially life-threatening eating disorders called bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.
Every parent's back-to-school list should include more than just pencils and paper. Parents also need to think about well-child exams, immunizations, exercise, and an emphasis on eating right.
In this article, by the Feingold Association, you'll learn about non-drug alternatives, including a dietary program, to help children with ADD.
Breastfeeding is meant to be a comfortable, pleasant experience. Most of us have heard stories of sore nipples. You can avoid this problem most of the time. Here are suggestions for prevention and treatment of sore nipples.
Allergy sufferers throughout the United States are now experiencing the itchy and watery eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose, headaches, drowsiness, sneezes, and overall miserableness that accompanies fall allergy season. In response, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) wants to inform the public on seasonal allergic disease triggers, offer advice on allergy relief and remind them to take their allergies seriously.
After having focused more exclusively on the food we eat, nutritionists are now emphasizing the importance of the beverages we drink. A Cornell University Medical Center study showed that children who drink more than 12 fluid ounces of sweetened fruit juices a day are prone to obesity and reduced growth.
To help assess how much calcium children are getting, KRAFT Cheese has created the "Kick Up the Calcium" Kids' Calcium Counter. This informative and fun pamphlet offers parents an easy way to see how much calcium their children are getting in the foods they eat each day.
If you are getting ready to return to work shortly after the birth of your baby, you might be concerned about how to continue to breastfeed. Don't worry. With some advance planning, it is possible to successfully combine work and breastfeeding.
Summertime, and the weather is hot. But instead of serving their children 100 percent fruit juice, a healthy drink to quench their thirst, many parents are giving their kids fruit drinks, ades or even "bug juice." Blame it on El Nino? Maybe the weather, but not the choice of thirst-quenchers.
The kickoff of National School Breakfast Week and National Nutrition Month received extra impetus today with a series of studies from the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School, which document the negative effects of hunger in U.S. children and show a link between participating in the National School Breakfast Program and improved academic performance and psychosocial behavior in children.
Most mothers and mothers-to-be are seriously uninformed about five basic infant nutritional practices, according to a national survey conducted by The Institute of Pediatric Nutrition.
Severe dehydration can lead to heat illness, heat stroke and even death. With record high temperatures predicted for much of the country this summer, it's best to think about the dangers of dehydration to active children before it happens.
According to a new National Cancer Institute (NCI) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study published in the October issue of Pediatrics, fortified foods contribute significant amounts of vitamins and minerals to US children's diets. Based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, researchers found that ready-to-eat cereal is among the top sources of folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and zinc among children 2-18 years old.
Children delight in the make-believe of Halloween. Unfortunately the season also reawakens ghouls who spoil the fun by frightening parents with misleading sugar myths laid to rest by science. In fact, the federal government and other policy groups have thoroughly investigated the health and nutrition aspects of sugar and concluded that it can be safely consumed in moderation by healthy people.
As the incidence of eating disorders continues to rise in adolescents, particularly females, a dangerous side effect has come to light -- osteoporosis. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) aims to increase awareness among adolescents prone to osteoporosis as a result of eating disorders.
The real challenge for parents is not simply being aware of the right foods to feed their children, it's getting the children to eat those foods. "The American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Nutrition: Making Peace at the Table and Building Healthy Eating Habits for Life," is an essential resource that gives parents all the information and strategies they need to take care of the dietary requirements of children, from birth through adolescence.