Food 4 Thought

“New health data is something you should pay attention to, but it is almost never something you should build your life around”

-Steven Sander Ross, Associate Professor, Columbia University

As promised, I am following up on my Family Table Tuesday column with some information on choosing what to believe and what not to believe. What really got me going on this topic was the “news” about red meat last week, but it’s just the newest in a long list of “foods that will kill you” parading across my computer screen. Although the media will do their best to persuade us, we all have personal biases when it comes to what we choose to believe and what we dismiss. However, we can learn some simple tactics that allow us to make better decisions about what we read, see and hear about health issues. In essence, we can filter information rather than soaking it in and taking it all at face value. Read More

I’m hoping the title piques your interest enough to question my motives as a mother, an educator and a health professional and to read the story behind the title.

A couple weeks ago, I attended an Eating Disorders Awareness event at a local college campus. The annual event features testimonials, performing art and visual art in an effort to affirm those who are recovering from disorders and support those who are struggling. The evening draws from you every emotional response you are capable of expressing.  This year, the final presentation was a delicate Hispanic woman who had been in recovery for about three years; she stepped to the podium in a brightly colored costume and briefly told her story. Her counselor had suggested that she revisit some activity that she once loved as a hobby to empower her. She decided to find some place to dance because she had so enjoyed it as a girl; in the process, she discovered belly dancing. At this point in her presentation, she invited three women with whom she dances to the stage to perform with her. Read More

As a nation we have simplified the causes of obesity: too much food, not enough exercise. Scientists, however, are not willing to explain this epidemic away without digging a little deeper. After all, we are seeing obesity in very young children who seldom sit still and really haven’t had enough time to saturate their fat cells. We have always known that genetics plays a big role in our body size and that environmental factors turn those genes on or off. Curious as it may sound, they have recently uncovered a link between certain microorganisms and excess body fat.

One study published in Pediatrics found that the majority of the children, in their study, who had antibodies for a particular cold virus, were obese.  Of the obese children in their study, those who had the antibodies had the largest measures of body size. The results of studies in adults were similar, and studies in animals have revealed other viruses that may have the same links to obesity. I’m not going to bore you with the theories behind these microbes and their effects on fat cells, but don’t be surprised if we start vaccinating against the common cold to prevent weight gain. Read More

Many of you commented on my article Recess for All, so I thought I would follow up with some ideas about advocating for more physical activity. Although I was pushing for more recess, physical education also has plenty of benefits for our kids and promotes their academic success. Unfortunately, few states see the value in any kind of activity; they are too caught up in test scores. I did a little research and found some stats from December 2011 on Time Healthland.

“Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Illinois and Iowa — adhere to standards from the National Association of Sports and Physical Education that schoolchildren participate in 150 minutes a week of physical education. And just three states — Delaware, Virginia and Nebraska — have 20 minutes of mandatory elementary-school recess a day.” Read More

After reading this article, I was angry enough to spit nails! Then I decided maybe I was a bit hasty; perhaps the researchers were misquoted or their information was misrepresented by Fox News.  So I read the news article on UCSF’s very own website, no misinterpretation. In fact, I think Fox actually toned it down.  Not only do the scientists blame sugar for the obesity epidemic, they also liken it to alcohol in its “toxic” effects complete with comparison chart.   The three authors of the article propose heavy taxation of sugared beverages as the answer to curbing America’s sweet tooth.

Now I am all for moderating sugar intake, and I believe obesity Read More

It might just be a coincidence that I sat down at my computer to blog about recess, opened my facebook, and found this wonderful article about play. The article talks about the how little free playtime children have compared to just a decade or two ago and how valuable play is to development. The earlier children start structured school programs, the less time they are allowed unstructured play time, how sad. Recess or free play time affords children the opportunity to create, to imagine, to experiment, and to try out what they have learned. Studies show that recess improves learning and critical thinking. Social interaction, in a recess setting, fosters cooperation and healthy relationships. Add to all of these benefits, the joy of moving and the benefits of physical activity. But best of all, recess briefly releases the child from the responsibility and stress of the tasks at hand, allowing the chance to refresh the body and the mind before beginning again, and for this last reason, we never outgrow recess. Besides, it’s a lot more fun than going to the gym, and studies also show that adults are more productive after active or social breaks. Read More