TipSheet : Health

Religious Origins of the Detox Diet

Newsweek — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:16:35 GMT

Tricks of the Trade: Beyonce (left) and Gwyneth Paltrow have undergone the detox. Photos: Getty Images

By Karen Springen and Anna Kuchment

Saint Augustine once said that “fasting cleanses the soul [and] raises the mind.” Were he alive today, he might be surprised to see the fast detached from its spiritual roots and transformed into little more than a quick ticket to weight loss. Taken up by the likes of Beyoncé Knowles and Madonna and splashed across the pages of gossip magazines and Web sites, these “detox diets” or “cleanses” are everywhere. Publishers are churning out books like “The Fast Track Detox Diet,” “The Raw Food Detox Diet,” “Super Cleanse: Detox Your Body for Long-Lasting Health and Beauty” and “21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha’s Vineyard Diet Detox.” And as many as 3 million Americans flock to the nation’s 5,000 colonic hydrotherapy centers for enemas, a component of many detoxes, according to the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy. Proponents say detox diets rid the body of impurities and boost energy.

Some regimens are more extreme than others. To prepare for her role in “Dreamgirls,” Beyoncé lost 20 pounds in two weeks by drinking purified water mixed with lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper (a.k.a. “The Master Cleanse”). More moderate approaches allow clients some food they can chew. Last spring, Oprah completed a 21-day cleanse in which she gave up meat, fish, eggs, sugar, gluten, alcohol and cheese. What was left? A lot, she says, including strawberry-rhubarb wheat-free crepes for breakfast.

The concept behind these cleanses is as old as human history. “There’s a straight line from detox diets to classical religious fasting,” says Harvey Cox, professor of divinity at Harvard University. In many religions, fasting is associated with enlightenment and atonement and understanding the suffering of the poor. “It’s a way of resetting one’s moral clock, of starting with a clean slate,” says Michael McCullough, a psychology professor at the University of Miami. Christians fast during Lent, Muslims fast during Ramadan and Jews fast on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement that follows the New Year. “Fasting builds self-control,” says McCullough. “It allows people to build strength for when they have to adhere to some other moral dimension of their religion.”

The Truth About Eating

Karen Springen — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:14:57 GMT

It’s the season to avoid temptation: the kids’ leftover Halloween candy, the pumpkin pies, the holiday cookies. To help you keep off extra pounds during the holidays, TIP SHEET debunks common nutrition myths:

1. Eating before bedtime is fattening. “It’s not the hour of day that is a problem. It’s the excess calories,” says registered dietitian Lona Sandon, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. People burn calories even when they’re sleeping, but staying up late, mindlessly munching, will add pounds.

2. Fresh fruits and veggies are healthier than frozen or canned. Frozen and canned produce is harvested at peak ripeness and may even be of higher quality than fresh. Frozen and canned versions are also often cheaper and won’t spoil quickly. But read the labels to make sure there is no added salt or sugar.

3. Nuts are bad for you. Wrong. Eating nuts is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, says Elisabetta Politi, nutrition director of the Duke Diet & Fitness Center. They’re very low in carbohydrates, so they won’t cause fluctuations in blood sugar. And they’re high in heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Choose ones with no added salt.

4. Eating sugar causes diabetes. “Sugar is not the cause of diabetes,” says Sandon. Diabetes is caused by excess body fat, which can interfere with the body’s ability to process carbohydrates or sugar from food.

5. Americans need to eat more protein. In fact, Americans consume about twice the protein they need, says Politi. People need 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, which means most women need about 60 grams of protein per day and most men need about 80. It doesn’t come just from meat and dairy. “All the food groups except fruit and fats include protein,” says Politi.

6. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid fish. Actually, omega-3 helps with brain development. Avoid fish that tends to be high in mercury, like swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish. For more information see eatright.org.

Mad About MRIs

Newsweek — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:13:41 GMT

By Joan Raymond

Can MRI technology do a better job than mammography in detecting breast cancer? That question has been on the minds of many women after Christina Applegate revealed that her breast cancer was discovered after her doctor ordered the scan. While it can be a powerful diagnostic tool, most women may not benefit from MRI screening, says Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society. Not only are MRIs more expensive, the test also has more false positive results than mammography. But recent ACS guidelines (cancer.org) do recommend MRI, along with mammography, for women who are at the highest risk of developing the disease. That includes women like Applegate who have tested positive for a genetic mutation called BRCA or who have a close relative with the mutation and are untested. Currently, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend for or against MRI for women with more moderate risk factors. Best bet: talk to your doctor or call the ACS 24/7 at 800-227-2345.

Do Cosmetic Braces Work For Teens?

Newsweek — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:12:11 GMT

By Caitlin McDevitt

More parents are buying into the notion that even adolescents shouldn’t be stuck in unsightly orthodontia. But are the prettier (and pricier) alternatives to braces better? Most orthodontists say no. This summer, Align Technology—the company that lured adults back to the dentist with clear retainers in 1999—launched Invisalign Teen. Though kids might be thrilled to avoid a mouthful of metal, Manhattan orthodontist Jan Linhart warns that the removable devices ($4,500 to $7,800) are a big responsibility. “You have to wear them in order for them to work,” he says. According to patient Jenny Cook, 17, of Los Angeles, “It’s really easy to get lazy putting it back in.” Neal Kravitz, an orthodontist in Chantilly, Va., says that most adolescent cases are too severe for Invisalign anyway. (The company says its retainers fix crowding, spacing issues and overbites.)

That doesn’t mean all kids with crooked teeth have to be Ugly Bettys. They can get iBraces—customized brackets attached to the back of the teeth. “I have a lot of patients driving from afar for them,” says Beverly Hills orthodontist Atoosa Nikaeen. Offered by only 18 percent of orthodontists, iBraces move teeth like regular braces but are harder to put on and can cost twice as much ($8,000 to $14,000). Some parents will pay to spare their children the teasing, but it might be better to just stick with what the parents wore in their schooldays. Even orthodontists who specialize in cosmetic options say that conventional braces ($3,000 to $7,000) are still the best. “They’re the most efficient and the easiest,” says Linhart. Luckily, there is another option for the tinsel-toothed: for only a few bucks, they can have their braces PhotoShopped out of the yearbook.

Over-the-Counter Paternity Tests

Newsweek — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:02:34 GMT

By Joan Raymond

If you can buy pregnancy and ovulation kits over the counter, it only follows that drugstore paternity testing would be next. Last November, Identigene, a Salt Lake City DNA-testing company (dnatesting.com), began a rollout of its over-the-counter DIY paternity-test kit. In the past year, some 60,000 people have mailed in cheek swabs from the alleged father and child for analysis. (For best results, a DNA sample from the mother should be included, too.) Though the test won’t stand up in court—no impartial DNA collector, no proof of identity and no chain of custody—the DNA samples are analyzed the same way a court-admissible test is, says Doug Fogg, chief operating officer. That means Identigene checks for 16 or more genetic markers in its accredited lab facilities. Results are available in three to five business days at a secure online site or by mail. The test costs $29.99, plus a $119 lab and processing fee. (For $200 more, customers can opt for a method that includes court-admissible sample collection and chain-of-custody procedures verified by a third party.) The kits are available at Rite Aid, CVS, Meijer, Fruth and, just last week, Walgreens, in the home-health-test aisle or the family-planning section—right next to the spermicides, sponges and condoms.

Beat Back the Bugs

Newsweek — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:39:24 GMT

By Karen Springen
October 13, 2008

Illustration: Michael Klein for Newsweek

For families, fall marks the start of germ-fighting season. Kids catch an average of one to two colds per month during the school year; parents catch fewer but suffer just as much. Mom and Dad miss work to care for their children, then end up missing more work once they catch what their kids brought home. And the cycle begins again. A series of runny noses and fevers may not land anyone in the hospital, but it can take a serious toll on productivity.

What are the best strategies for staying healthy during the cold-weather months? We all know that washing hands regularly and getting the flu shot are good places to start, though there is new information on those recommendations, as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says all kids, ages 6 months to 18 years, should get the flu shot (previously, the recommendation had extended only to kids younger than 5), and doctors agree that you need to scrub and rinse your hands for at least 20 seconds in order to kill germs most effectively.

What about less scientific-sounding advice like wearing a sweater and chugging orange juice? TIP SHEET looked at the new thinking on some old wives’ tales.

• Wear a hat. True. Mom always said to bundle up before leaving the house, and it turns out she was right. If you’re dressed inappropriately, your core body temperature can drop, and that can lower your immune system’s function, says Dr. Ted Epperly, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Your body loses the most heat through your head, but wearing gloves or mittens will also help.

• Drink your O.J. True. There’s growing consensus that vitamin C helps people recover faster from colds, though it does not prevent them. A 2004 review of 29 trials involving 11,077 study participants taking at least 200mg of vitamin C daily showed an 8 percent decrease in the duration of colds among adults. That’s presumably because it strengthens their immune systems, says Dr. Russell Robertson, professor and chair of the department of family medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

But few experts recommend taking vitamin C supplements. Most Americans eat more than the U.S. recommended daily allowance of vitamin C—75mg per day for women (the equivalent of an orange) and 90mg per day for men. If you’re worried about your family’s diet, take a standard multivitamin, says Dr. Frank Greer, chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ nutrition committees, and step up your consumption of fruits and vegetables. “Eating a well-balanced diet is much better than massive doses of vitamin C,” says Greer.

There is no proof that zinc or the herbal supplement echinacea work against viruses.

• Eat chicken soup. Maybe. “There’s been no scientific evidence that distinctly proves chicken soup helps you recover from colds,” says Epperly. “[But] the sense of mental comfort can’t be downplayed.”

Chicken soup does help with hydration, which is important for getting and staying well. “Good hydration maximizes the body’s function, almost like oil in the car,” says Epperly. “Your body is functioning better; you’re washing out toxins better.”

• Feed a cold, starve a fever. False. “We never starve you when you’re fighting an infection,” says Dr. Christopher Tolcher, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Don’t feel the need for feast—or famine. “Follow your own body’s cues,” says Epperly.

• Curl up by the fire. False. Relaxation is nice, but getting outside and exercising is a better way of preventing colds. “Keeping your body at its optimal health is what keeps your wall of immunity up,” says Tolcher, who recommends kids get 60 minutes of exercise each day.

If you’re sick, though, you should not waste your body’s infection-fighting energy on the treadmill. And, whether you’re sick or well, it’s important to get plenty of sleep. Tolcher advises that kids younger than 8 should get about 11 hours per night; kids 9 to 12 need 10 to 11 hours; and kids 13 and up need eight to nine hours. Adults need about eight hours. “Your body’s ability to fight off any infection will be enhanced if you exercise, eat a good diet and get good sleep,” says Epperly.

• The flu shot may help prevent other illnesses. True. “It so beefs up your immune system that there is a cross-coverage for other types of viruses,” says Epperly. The AAP recommends annual influenza immunization for caregivers of kids under 5. Then relax, sit back and sip some soup.

Should You Go Generic?

Newsweek — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:31:27 GMT

By Mary Carmichael
October 13, 2008

A new study says Medicare patients prefer cheap generic drugs only when they’re footing the bill themselves—when government pays, they want brand names. Recent news may shed some light on why: the FDA is investigating reports of faulty generic Wellbutrin, and last month it banned 28 generics made in India. If you’re taking a generic, should you switch to a brand name? Probably not. All generics, prescription or over-the-counter, go through a rigorous approval process. Generics are supposed to be “bioequivalent” to their costlier cousins (their active ingredients are equal in dose, safety, strength and efficacy). Although their inactive ingredients (such as flavors and dyes) differ, it’s very rare for those to cause reactions. Generics made in the United States are manufactured under the same standards as brand names. But the FDA has no authority to oversee those made abroad. (India and China make about a fifth of the generics sold here.) The agency’s only option is to ban those drugs and demand manufacturing upgrades, as it did last month. It also assured consumers there’s “no evidence of harm” from what’s already on the market.

Fitness: Working Out in Your Own Home Gym

Karen Springen — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:14:49 GMT

Fit Club: You can make a low-tech gym for less money with equipment like resistance bands
Illustration: Michael Klein for Newsweek

Barbara Bushman rolls out of bed as early as 4 a.m. to head to her gym—even though it’s just downstairs. “I don’t really care what I wear or what I look like,” she says about working out at home. “It’s the dogs and me.” She owns free weights, a Universal machine, resistance bands and a treadmill. But that’s not all: Bushman also exercises at the fitness center at Missouri State University, where she is a professor in the department of health and physical education. “I like to mix and match,” she says.

Most of us struggle to find time for just one gym, let alone two. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (like walking) or at least 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (like running) three days a week, plus some strength training (like push-ups or lifting weights). But most of us fall far short of that goal. As cooler weather approaches, forcing many to bring their workouts indoors, TIP SHEET provides a guide to what to consider before choosing to work out at home or join a gym—or both.

• Cost: Last year the average annual dues for U.S. health clubs were $402—or $33.46 per month, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportclub Association. That price can be a bargain if you go frequently—or a rip-off if you don’t. Novice health-club users should pick one that doesn’t require a long-term contract.

If you want a home gym, you can spend as much or as little as you’d like. Good cardio machines—bikes, treadmills, ellipticals—may cost $500 to $3,000, depending on the brand and the bells and whistles. But you can make a low-tech gym for less with equipment like rubber resistance bands, just $19.49 at target .com. “You don’t need a fancy machine,” says athletic trainer Gene Schafer, owner of ARC Athletics in New York City. “All you need is something that you will use.”

• Goals: Know your objectives—and create a structured program, on your own or with a trainer. “Lots of times home gyms fail because the consumer has no plan beyond buying the equipment,” says exercise physiologist Michele Olson, a professor at Auburn University in Montgomery, Ala., and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. “You could hire a trainer, maybe just for one or two sessions, to help you create a map of where to go.” Trainers can cost $50 to $100 an hour (or $150 if they visit your home), but even a few sessions can be worth it for a personalized workout plan. See acsm.org and nata.org to find certified professionals.

• Personality: What will get you moving? “The biggest obstacle that we all face is motivation,” says Walter Thompson, a Georgia State University regent’s professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. Do you like to do the same workout every day (home gym), or do you like a variety of equipment and workouts (health club)? The best home-gym candidate: “Somebody who has self-discipline, the more serious type of individual who is self motivated, who is good at pushing themselves,” says Olson.

Those who settle on a home gym should start by finding the perfect location. “You’ve got to set it up in an environment that’s pleasing to you, and not the laundry room,” says Gerald Endress, fitness director of the Duke Diet & Fitness Center. “Try to set it up in a place you almost have to stumble over.” Remember: out of sight, out of mind. (But parents of young kids should install a locking gate to keep small hands and feet away from potentially hazardous equipment.) Test each piece of equipment before you buy it. Shop at specialty equipment stores, which typically offer high-grade machines. Quality brands include Precor (precor.com) and True (truefitness.com). Endress likes elliptical machines more than treadmills because, he says, they’re easier on your joints. But Olson says most people feel more comfortable on a treadmill since “everyone knows how to walk.” Invest in a couple of sets of dumbbells—a pair of five-pound weights and a pair of 10-pound ones for women and a pair of 12-pound weights and a pair of 20-pound ones for men, advises Olson. (Be careful with free-weight bars at home because you may not have anyone spotting you.) She also recommends that a home gym contain a few good DVDs for Pilates and abdominal exercises. And everyone can do push-ups, squats, lunges and sit-ups without buying any equipment. But before making an investment, measure the height and width of your room to make sure everything will fit, or get a professional to help you figure out your space. For more information on home treadmills, elliptical trainers, medicine balls, rowing machines, heart-rate monitors and weights, see acsm.org.

Nutrition: Drinking Your Way to Good Health

Newsweek — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:10:26 GMT

By Tina Peng

Celebrities have fallen for a wave of trendy juice fasts—or “cleanses”—that purportedly flush the body of toxins. Nutritionist Gayl Canfield of the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa says good diet and exercise habits are more effective and warns that people shouldn’t do cleanses for more than a few days without medical supervision. Here’s what some stars are downing.

L.O.V.E.fast
PRICE: $350 for five days LOCATION: New York INFO: organicavenue.com

Organic Avenue will deliver daily smoothies, soups, milks and salads—all organic and all vegan—to Manhattan customers’ offices. There’s also a less intense L.O.V.E.feast.

Blueprint Cleanse
PRICE: $325 for five days LOCATION: New York INFO: blueprintcleanse.com

The three-day Beginner’s Cleanse includes cashew milk with vanilla and cinnamon; the Excavation Cleanse lasts longer and includes more cayenne to flush out toxins.

iZO Cleanze
PRICE: $15 per drink LOCATION: Beverly Hills, Calif. INFO: izocleanze.com

iZO offers a variety of cleanses ranging from juice and vegetable fasts to one that includes fermented chlorella, a green algae the company claims can balance the body’s pH levels.

Master Cleanse
PRICE: Make your own LOCATION: Nationwide INFO: themastercleanse.org

Used by Beyoncé, it consists of glass upon glass of lemon juice, maple syrup, water and cayenne pepper, along with doses of salt water and laxative tea.

Help Kids Overcome Picky Eating

Newsweek — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:37:35 GMT

Remedy: No need to limit yourself to sneaking puréed vegetables into foods or battling over broccoli
Illustration: Michael Klein for Newsweek

By Anne Underwood

Kylee Smith, 5, of Richmond, Va., loves cheese—grilled cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese, cheese quesadillas. It’s what she doesn’t like that has her mom worried. Kylee won’t eat meat, other than chicken nuggets. Her vegetable consumption is limited to tomato sauce—but only on pizza, not spaghetti. Most nights, her mother has to prepare a special dish just for her. “If we’re eating something she doesn’t like, she won’t even sit next to us,” says her mother, Jean-Marie.

If this sounds familiar, take heart. Children can be notoriously picky eaters—and today’s snack-food culture makes it even harder to channel their tastes in healthy directions. But research is shedding new light on how food preferences are formed—and what we can do to promote healthy eating. The good news: your choices aren’t limited to sneaking puréed vegetables into foods or battling it out over broccoli.

One of the most surprising findings is that it’s never too early to start—not even during pregnancy. Flavorful compounds from a mother’s diet cross the placenta into amniotic fluid, which babies in the third trimester swallow at the rate of a quart a day. “Babies develop preferences for these foods long before they actually eat them,” says Julie Mennella, a biopsychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. Similarly, during lactation, flavors pass from the mother’s bloodstream into breast milk. Mennella has done studies showing that babies whose moms drank carrot juice or ate fruits while breast-feeding liked carrot and peach baby foods better than formula-fed infants did.

But picky eating is not always about the taste of food. Often it’s about texture, such as pulp in orange juice, nuts in brownies or gristle on meat. This doesn’t have to be a huge problem—it’s easy enough to cut off gristle. In fact, some of what passes for finicky eating is just normal development. Humans, being omnivores, are biologically programmed to be wary of new foods until they know they’re safe to eat. This “food neophobia” peaks between 2 and 5, when a newly mobile child would otherwise be at greatest risk of ingesting, say, colorful but toxic berries. The degree of caution varies greatly among children—and a recent study shows it is largely genetic. But everyone has it to some extent—even adults. Not surprisingly, it applies mainly to bitter foods (think vegetables), since bitterness often indicates poison.

The quickest remedy may be that of Missy Chase Lapine, author of “The Sneaky Chef,” who conceals puréed vegetables in a wide range of foods. “If you can get eight vegetables, all hidden, and wheat germ and whole grains in a tasty meatball, why would you ever not do it?” she asks. Most experts approve of the tactic, saying it can boost the nutritional content of meals and take the pressure off mealtimes. But they also say it shouldn’t be the only approach: parents should also serve whole veggies so kids will acquire a taste for them. “If you want your child to like spinach, that won’t happen by sneaking it into brownies,” says Tina Tan, a pediatric-feeding specialist at New York University Langone Medical Center’s Rusk Institute.

So what’s a parent to do?

• Be persistent. Psychologist Leann Birch at Pennsylvania State University has shown that children often need to try a new food 10 to 15 times before they will accept it. Most moms give up after three to five times.

• Don’t force kids to eat. When introducing a new food, give a very small amount. Let the child spit it out if she wants. “Children have to get accustomed to the taste and texture of a food before they feel comfortable swallowing it,” says family therapist Ellyn Satter, author of “Child of Mine: Feeding With Love and Good Sense.”

• Take kids’ tastes into account. Children generally have a higher preference than adults for sweet and salty tastes. But you can work with that and still have healthy meals. Dietitian Elizabeth Ward, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Feeding Your Baby and Toddler,” suggests putting grated cheese on veggies. The salt in the cheese counteracts some of the bitterness. Serve carrots, which are sweet, for snacks. Purée cauliflower; it looks like mashed potatoes.

• Don’t fix separate meals. It’s hard to resist when kids are refusing to eat. But it only reinforces their biases. Instead, each meal should contain some foods the kids like and some the adults like. Serving meals family style lets the child choose and gives her a sense of control. Eventually, most kids will start eating many of the same foods as the parents.

• Don’t bribe kids. Promising ice cream as a reward for eating broccoli only fuels the suspicion that there’s something wrong with the broccoli. “It serves a short-term goal, but in the long run, it makes kids like broccoli less and ice cream more,” says Birch.

• Find a role model. If your child has a friend who’s a good eater, invite her to dinner. In one study, Birch sat children who hated peas with kids who were eating the veggie happily. After a week of this routine, the pea haters started eating peas, too.

• Involve kids in cooking. It will help get them used to the smell, feel and texture of foods. And having a stake in the meal will make them somewhat more likely to eat it.

• Relax. If meals become a power struggle, you’re likely to lose. “Along with potty training and sleeping, eating behavior is one thing kids can control,” says Tan. “And it definitely gets a reaction out of Mom and Dad.” Just remember: as long as the kids are getting some kind of fruit, vegetable and protein, they’re probably doing fine.

With Anna Kuchment

Do Statins Help Overweight Children?

Karen Springen — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:35:56 GMT

Statins used to be for aging boomers and their parents. Now the American Academy of Pediatrics says the cholesterol-lowering drugs can help kids as young as 8 who suffer from extremely high cholesterol levels. (The FDA has approved most statins for kids as young as 10, and pravastatin for those as young as 8.) Doctors stress that these guidelines do not mean that all obese kids should take statins.

In a recent clinical report in the journal Pediatrics, Dr. Stephen Daniels, pediatrician in chief at the Children’s Hospital in Denver, said kids between the ages of 2 and 10 with a family history of early heart disease or those with an unknown family history or other cardiovascular-disease risk factors, such as obesity or diabetes, should be screened with a fasting lipid profile. For overweight kids with a high triglyceride concentration or a low HDL (good) cholesterol concentration, weight management is the main treatment. For overweight kids with an LDL (bad) cholesterol reading of 190 or greater, even after trying diet and exercise, doctors should consider medications. The side effects of statins: mainly the elevation of liver enzymes and muscle inflammation. But Daniels says fewer than 1 percent of adolescents get a meaningful side effect that makes them want to stop taking the drugs. Dr. Frank Greer, chair of the AAP’s committee on nutrition, says, “If your father had a heart attack at age 27, and you have the same lipid profile as your dad, what’s the greater risk?”

Still, some doctors question the benefits of starting so young, especially when the risks are largely unknown. While statins may lower cholesterol levels, they don’t necessarily reduce kids’ risk of heart disease later. Doctors say it’s most important for kids to control weight through diet and exercise, though diet typically reduces cholesterol levels by only 15 or less. “Some kids have levels that are high enough that you’re still left with cholesterol that’s higher than you would like,” says Daniels. No amount of oatmeal, leafy greens and soccer practice will change that.

Kids, Cell Phones and Brain Cancer

Newsweek — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:32:57 GMT

By Kurt Soller

Recent headlines have reported new concerns about the links between cell-phone use and brain cancer. Last month the Toronto Department of Public Health advised teenagers and young children to limit their cell-phone use, and Dr. Ronald Herberman, the director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, sent out a memo urging his colleagues and their children to do the same. “It’s not wise for us, at this point, to just assume this is a safe device,” says Dr. Keith Black, the head of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He does not let his kids use cell phones without a headset, and won’t until he sees the results of long-term studies exploring whether there is a connection between cell phones and tumor growth. The American Cancer Society says it does not yet have enough information to issue guidelines on the subject. What researchers do know is that the microwave radiation emitted from cell phones penetrates a child’s brain more deeply (younger skulls are thinner and less protective). The most detrimental effects come from long-term, frequent use: an hour a day of talk time over more than 10 years. Radiation rates vary by phone, each of which is assigned a number called the Specific Absorption Rate. Herberman suggests users choose a phone with a lower SAR rating, especially for kids. CNET.com has posted a list of phones with the lowest ratings; smartphones generally emit more microwaves as they search for a signal. With all phones, the threat of damage decreases as the device is moved away from the face, so consider buying your child a headset or wireless Bluetooth device (which emits less radiation than the phone itself). The Jabra BT3010, which comes with decorative covers, and the Samsung WEP310 both retail for less than $30, making them sensible options for teens, says Nicole Lee, a CNET cell-phone reviewer. And text messaging is among the safest ways kids can stay connected—unless, of course, they’re behind the wheel of a car. But it shouldn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that one out.

Time To Decaffeinate Your Kids?

Newsweek — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:28:03 GMT

By Tina Peng

Caffeine is the world’s most common mood-altering drug, and more kids are consuming it in higher quantities. About a third of 12- to 24-year-olds chug energy drinks, which are often marketed to teens. How much is too much? The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate Americans’ caffeine intake, but Health Canada recommends that children ages 4 to 6 ingest no more than 45mg of caffeine a day (one cup of tea or one can of cola); kids ages 7 to 9 no more than 62.6mg, and those ages 10 to 12 no more than 85mg. Teens ages 13 and up should not exceed 400mg, the same as a healthy adult. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains about 135mg of caffeine; an 8-ounce Red Bull has about 76mg.

Because children weigh less than adults, they’re more susceptible to the chemical’s effects, says child psychiatrist Elizabeth Burger, a spokes-person for the American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. As with adults, caffeine can keep young children up at night and contribute to higher blood pressure, a racing heart rate and a grouchy or overly excited mood. During the summer, caffeine can quickly make your child dehydrated.

Make sure caffeinated beverages don’t replace more nutritious drinks, such as milk and water. “Kids become mildly addicted to soft drinks, which are empty calories that contribute to obesity,” says Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It’s all a matter of balance.

Giving Your Baby Enough Tummy Time

Newsweek — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:21:48 GMT

By Christina Gillham

First, the good news: The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Back to Sleep program, which teaches parents to put their babies to sleep on their backs instead of their stomachs, has helped reduce cases of sudden infant death syndrome by 40 percent. The bad news is that babies are now spending too little time on their stomachs, a position that helps them strengthen their back, neck and shoulder muscles so they can roll over and, later, crawl. In a survey released last week, two thirds of occupational and physical therapists reported seeing an increase in early motor delays in children. The American Physical Therapy Association is now urging parents to give babies more “tummy time” while they are awake and supervised. TIP SHEET’s Christina Gillham spoke to Judy Towne Jennings, a pediatric physical therapist and spokesperson for the APTA. (Readers can get more tips by clicking on “Tummy Time Tools” at www.apta.org/consumer.)

Gillham: Why is tummy time important for babies?
Jennings: All development comes from the tummy position. If a baby doesn’t develop the core strength—the muscles of the chest, the tummy, the back, the neck—they also don’t have those muscles to use for breath control, for the tongue moving back and forth and for the ability to form their mouths to do speech. Babies don’t have to use their muscles if they’re sitting in a car seat. They don’t have to use muscles if they’re in a swing or a bouncer seat.

What kind of motor delays are you noticing in infants?
Six-month-old babies are looking like 2-month-olds. They don’t have any control on their bellies, they don’t have the ability to lift their head, they don’t have the ability to pull their eyes horizontal so they can see far and near or interact with toys on the floor.

How often should a baby have tummy time?
Tummy time needs to be scheduled just like diaper changes, feedings and naps. Babies should have one to two minutes of tummy time after every nap, diaper change and feeding, throughout the day.

What are the best ways to give your baby tummy time?
For the first couple of weeks, have the baby lie on your tummy or on a pillow over your legs. Encourage play on the side, where the baby is lying on either the right or left side and has gentle stimulation with different noises and toys that they can interact with when they’re on their side. Positions need to be varied throughout the day so that all four sides of a baby get stimulated.

What about babies with reflux or babies who don’t like to be on their stomachs?
A good position is inclined on the mom’s chest. If they really hate being on their tummy, then they should start off in that position also. Eventually the neck muscles will develop so that the baby can be flat on the floor. Varying the baby’s position through the course of the day will allow the baby to enjoy any position he’s placed in.

Should Older Men Screen for Prostate Cancer?

Karen Springen — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:19:01 GMT

Several new medical studies are reopening the debate over which men should be screened for prostate cancer, at what age the testing should stop and how doctors should interpret the test results, especially in obese men. What the news means for you and your family.

• The background: Prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer, kills about 29,000 Americans a year. To detect the disease early, many doctors give men 50 and older an annual screening test for an elevated level of a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Higher-risk patients, including African-Americans and those with a family history of the disease, should get screened at 40 and again at 45. Traditionally, most doctors have considered PSA readings above 4 as the cutoff for performing another screen and then a biopsy, but they are now moving toward looking at how PSA levels change over time as a better predictor. “PSA is very inexact,” says Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate cancer for the American Cancer Society. “You can have a very low PSA and still have cancer.”

• The news: In the Aug. 5 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against routine prostate-cancer screening for men over 75. The reason: concerns that the risks of cancer treatment would outweigh the benefits. (Many men can live with prostate cancer for years). Meanwhile, in studies published in the current issue of the British Journal of Urology International, researchers report that obesity is associated with an increased risk of prostate-cancer recurrence after surgery. The authors speculate that’s because obesity contributes to aggressive cancer.

• The bottom line: Obese men may want to consider getting a biopsy at a lower PSA level—3.2 or 3.5, says Duke University’s Dr. Stephen Freedland, coauthor of the obesity studies.

Many doctors say that men should be offered screening for prostate cancer only if they have at least a 10-year life expectancy. Men with a family history of longevity may want to ignore the new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. Freedland says, “Certainly any 75-year-old man who comes in with his parents is someone I want to screen!”