The Talc Debate - Should You Worry?

Talcum powder – that baby and personal-care staple used by millions of people for over a century – has been in the news again. Most recently, a woman in California was awarded over $400 million after she filed a lawsuit claiming that her use of baby powder gave her ovarian cancer. In fact, there currently are 300 similar lawsuits pending in that state alone and over 4,500 other lawsuits around the United States. So, if you’re wondering if you should reconsider your use of talcum powder as part of your personal hygiene regimen, you’re not alone.

Baby Teeth May Provide Insight Into Autism!

The proof is in the pudding, and in this case the pudding may be baby teeth! A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discovered that baby teeth from children with autism contained higher levels of toxic lead and lower levels of the essential minerals zinc and manganese, compared to baby teeth from children who did not have autism.

Can obesity in parents affect childhood development?

More than a third of U.S. adults are considered obese. Approximately 1 in 5 pregnant women in the U.S. begin their pregnancy with a BMI of 30 or higher (the standard for obesity). Concerns have been raised about the way a mother’s obesity affects her baby’s development due to inflammation during prenatal brain development, metabolic disorders, micronutrient insufficiency, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and abnormal development of the serotonin system (important for mood balance).

Los Angeles drivers and drivers nationwide still can’t resist texting and driving

It seems like everywhere you look, drivers on the road are saying the “red-light prayer” -- heads bowed, looking down at their laps, with a blue glow coming up to their face. Despite 46 states banning texting while driving (in laws that also typically ban reading/sending email, using phone apps or other internet activity), and 14 states banning the use of handheld cell phones for any activity behind the wheel, including talking, it seems the problem is only getting worse.

Why recess may be the secret to your student’s academic success

What’s trending in schools across the country? The death of recess. Surveys and studies show schools are reducing recess in order to squeeze in more academics, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports. However, experts are grabbing the mic, saying hold on -- this is doing more harm than good. In fact, they say, research suggests physically active students who spend less time with academic content seem to outperform sedentary students who spend more time with academic content, they say. So is less academics and more recess the actual key to student success?

Scientists look to babies’ gut bacteria to predict their asthma and allergy risk

Products that promote “good bacteria” continue to be popular among health-seekers in supermarkets, with probiotic drinks like kombucha gaining notoriety. Even beyond digestion, the various microorganisms that live in your gut (called your “gut microbiota”) may affect things like your mood and how often you get sick. So it’s no surprise that scientists wanted to find out how gut bacteria in babies affected their likelihood for developing asthma and allergies.

How much time do you spend on your phone daily? The average American spends nearly 11 hours of screen time

How often do you think you spend each day consuming media? Between your radio, TV, personal computer and devices, it may be more than you think! If you are like most Americans, you’re looking at 10 hours and 39 minutes of screen time, a recent Nielsen report shows. And because Nielsen collects data on media consumption only, that’s not even including the time you spend doing other things on your phone like taking photos or texting.

Of course we want less arsenic in infant rice cereal!

Ever thought about arsenic in the rice you feed your family? Probably not. Arsenic in baby cereal? Unthinkable. However, concerns over inorganic arsenic levels in infant rice cereal has caught the attention of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prompting the agency to propose a new limit for how much arsenic is OK in your baby’s cereal. The proposal limits inorganic arsenic to 100 parts per billion. Currently, there is no such limit.

Toddlers with Type 2 diabetes?

Did you know that even 3-year-olds can get Type 2 diabetes? Chronic diseases aren’t just for adults anymore. For many reasons, pediatricians are now having to handle Type 2 diabetes, a condition that most doctors considered to be an “after-40” type of disease. So what’s contributing to the surge in diabetes in children?

Understand how marijuana can affect your teen’s health

Marijuana use is widespread and very popular for recreational use among teens and young adults. As you know, here in California, medical marijuana use is permitted to people with certain health conditions. For young people under 18, if they are not an emancipated minor, they would need parental/guardian consent. So let’s examine the effects marijuana can have on teenagers.

Try natural solutions to help kids with ADHD focus

Getting kids to pay attention has never been easy, but now, it’s a worldwide obsession. In the last few decades, diagnoses of childhood ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) have skyrocketed, along with sales of potent, expensive drugs to treat the disorder. Almost everyone knows a family affected by ADHD.

Exercise does a kid’s brain good

It’s no secret that many students in every grade level at schools across the country are struggling with their studies. But what if the answer for helping them blossom isn't necessarily more time in the classroom or more teachers? To the contrary, could the answer be spending less time in the classroom and more time being outdoors playing or doing some form of exercise?