There are likely to be plenty of ghosts and ghouls about this Halloween, but one thing that may have parents spooked this time of year is candy and dental health. Roughly 30 percent of 5-year-olds in Plymouth, England, were found to have some form of tooth decay, according to a newly released review.

The review examined the 2007-2008 dental records of U.K. children, 211 of whom were Plymouth five-year-olds. This number was just under the national average of 30.9 percent, but other regions were significantly worse.

The United States had similar rates. Almost half of children ages 12 to 15 and about one in four American children aged 2 to 5 is affected by tooth decay. Overall, it affects 4 million children in the U.S. alone. Americans consumed an average of 23.8 pounds of candy each in 2008, and with the holiday season approaching, parents should be on the watch for cavities.

As Halloween approaches, candy consumption is likely to skyrocket, but there are plenty of ways to protect trick-or-treaters from tooth decay. Try these five tips to help reduce the amount of sugar:

1. Choose reduced-sugar or sugar-free candies. Most stores carry equally tasty sugar-free or reduced-sugar versions of Halloween favorites, including chocolate, peanut butter cups and various filled or hard candies. These options won’t completely eliminate the risk of tooth decay, but they can significantly cut sugar intake.

2. Give out unconventional goodies. When it comes to candy, sugar-free gum is your safest bet. Candies that can melt and/or stick to teeth are the worst. Other ideas might include stickers, press-on tattoos, plastic rings, or other small toys.

3. Go to a Halloween program or event. Choosing alternatives to trick-or-treating significantly cuts the candy haul. These events are a great place for adults and children to socialize while enjoying snacks and fun activities.

4. Set a limit. Put a limit on the amount of candy a child is allowed daily. This helps prevent candy binges while reducing sugar consumption. Candy can also be used as a reward for good behavior.

5. Donate excess candy. Many communities have programs that will send it to troops or donate $1 for every pound of candy donated. Candy can also be donated to fire stations, schools (for rewards), or other offices in the community.

Regularly brushing teeth and reducing sugar intake can help prevent cavities. Consuming fewer sweets can also help decrease children’s risk for obesity and diabetes. Dentists and parents alike recommend that candy be consumed in moderation.

Legislators are considering the option of food taxes on sweetened beverages, including soda pop, and snack foods in an effort to battle obesity. Forty states are in support of a small tax on soda, while New York and Maine believe a higher tax may be necessary.

 
According to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine, sugar consumption has risen 30 percent over the last decade. For teens and children, soda accounts for 10-15 percent of total calories consumed. By removing just ¼ of the sugar in sweetened beverages, consumers can reduce annual caloric intake by 8,000 calories. This figure equates to roughly two pounds of weight in a year.

“Americans consume about 250 to 300 more calories daily today than they did several decades ago,” according to authors Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D., and Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Though no single intervention will solve the obesity problem, that is hardly a reason to take no action.”

Such a high rate of sugar intake can do more than expand the waistline. It can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other problems as a result of poor nutrition and weight gain. The objectives of those in support of a tax are twofold—to lower consumption, and to encourage soft drink producers to decrease the amount of caloric sweeteners in their products.

There are strong arguments on both sides. People arguing against the tax point out that food is necessary to survive. They believe raising prices will make it more difficult for low-income families to eat. Others argue that the poor would benefit the most. As the price of fresh produce and other healthier options goes up, soda and junk food prices are going down. People with tighter budgets consume more of the cheap but less nutritious foods and beverages.

“As Coca-Cola prices increased by 12 percent, sales dropped by 14.6 percent,” Frieden and Brownell wrote. Analysts believe that a 1 cent-per-ounce price increase could reduce consumption by as much as 10 percent. Justin Wilson, senior research analyst for the Center for Consumer Freedom, argues that such a tax is manipulation against the consumer. “The tax code should not be used as a method for social engineering, and that’s what this is,” he said.  Legislators see the issue a little differently.

Higher prices have been used effectively in the past to reduce tobacco sales, and any revenue from a tax on soda could raise up to $14.9 billion per year. This money could be used to support health reforms or other programs. New Yorkers’ support rose by 20 percent when lawmakers suggested using these funds for obesity prevention programs.

There may be added benefits to that diet you’re on—following a Mediterranean-style diet may put you at a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Medical Center found that individuals who adhered to a Mediterranean-type diet in addition to exercise were 60% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible degenerative disease affecting the brain, often causing severe memory loss (a result of damage to the hippocampus) and destroyed cognitive ability. Alzheimer’s, which typically begins around age 60, is the leading cause of dementia among the elderly.

Damage to the brain may begin as early as 20 years before any complications are detected. Alzheimer’s begins when neural tangles form in the entorhinal cortex. This causes the neurons to function less efficiently, and the neurons eventually die, causing these areas of the brain to shrink.

“We know that some part of Alzheimer’s is related to genetic changes and as time goes on we discover more and more of these changes,” explains lead author Nikos Scarmeas, M.D., and associate professor of clinical neurology at Columbia. “But it is also possible that non-genetic changes, including lifestyle and behavior, may also be affecting our brain health and our risk of developing brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.”

The study examined 1,880 multi-ethnic individuals, average age 77, from Northern Manhattan in New York City. The group was divided into two smaller groups, for which information on both physical activity and mental status was available. Participants did not show signs of dementia at the beginning of the study, and were followed from 1996 to 2006, measured every 18 months for neurological changes.

Participants were measured for physical activity level (no physical activity, light activity such as golfing, moderate activity like biking, or vigorous activity such as jogging) and how well they stuck to the diet (on a scale of 0-9). Diet scores were higher for individuals who consumed more fruits, vegetables, legumes and fish, and less meat, dairy and saturated fats.

“Often times people who exercise also follow a healthy diet and vice versa,” Scarmeas says. “We wanted to tease out which of these two behaviors may be associated with lower risk for AD, or if the combination of the two is associated with decreased risk even further.”

Individuals who had low physical activity had a 29-41% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who  were physically inactive, while individuals with “much” physical activity further decreased their risk by 37-50%. Strongly following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 40% risk reduction for Alzheimr’s. Individuals with high diet adherence and high activity individuals showed a much lower absolute risk than those with low diet adherence and activity status, reduced from 21% to 9%.

According to Scarmeas, this study emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle. "We need to understand and learn more about the exact biological mechanisms that may connect physical activity and diet with the biological changes of Alzheimer's disease," he says. "This study is important because it shows that people may be able to alter their risk of developing Alzheimer's by modifying their lifestyles through diet and exercise."

Learn more about Alzheimer's disease by visiting Healia's Alzheimer's Community.

Seven in ten children in the United States are not getting enough vitamin D, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2001-2004).

Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, is a fat-soluble vitamin that promotes calcium absorption, fortifying bones and teeth, and maintaining the level of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.

Vitamin D deficiency can result in conditions such as rickets in children (usually <11 ng/mL), and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults (typically levels <25 ng/mL). Low levels of vitamin D also increase the risk of bone and heart disease, and are also associated with higher blood pressure and lower calcium and HDL cholesterol levels in later life.

Based on the information obtained from the survey, researchers found that, of more than 6,000 of children followed, nine percent (equal about 7.6 million) were vitamin D deficient, and a greater number were found to be getting an insufficient amount—61%, representing 50.8 million U.S. children. Only 4% received the recommended daily amount of vitamin D.

Children classified as “insufficient” had 15-29 ng/mL, while those who were classified as “deficient” had levels of 15 ng/mLor less. Normal range, according to the National Institute of Health, is 30-74 ng/mL.

The study is the largest of its kind to date, gaining nationwide rather than just regional data. "We expected the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency would be high,” says lead author Juhi Kumar, M.D., M.P.H., of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center, “but the magnitude of the problem nationwide was shocking."

Vitamin D deficiency is more common for female children, those that are older, obese, drink less than one glass of milk week, and those who spend four hours or greater on the computer or watching television per day. African-American and Mexican-American children also had a greater risk.“It’s very hard to get enough vitamin D from dietary sources alone,” says Dr. Michal Melamed of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York.

Melamed, co-leader of the study, attributes part of this problem to lifestyle, recommending parents send their children outdoors. One source of vitamin D is UV-B sunlight, which converts cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D. She also recommends ditching the sunscreen for a while: “Just 15 to 20 minutes a day should be enough…don't put sunscreen on them until they've been out in the sun for 10 minutes, so they get the good stuff but not sun damage.” Individuals with darker skin and those who live in northern regions with less sun exposure should spend more time outdoors.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children and teens get at least 400 IU per day, double the previous recommendation of 200IU per day. Good sources of vitamin D include fish, milk, eggs, cod liver oil, and fortified foods. Vitamin D levels can also be increased with the use of supplements.

The study's abstract is available online, and will be published in September's issue of Pediatrics.

It’s not always easy to find time to eat together, but a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health found that frequent family meals improve the eating habits and attitudes of middle school-aged children. Students who dined with their families six or seven times a week consumed fewer soft drinks, ate breakfast more often, ate more healthfully, and exhibited less concern about undue weight gain.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada surveyed more than 3,000 Canadian sixth, seventh, and eighth graders during the 2004-2005 school year. The students completed the web-based Food Behaviour Questionnaire, which included questions about dining frequency, 24-hour food intake, and family meals.

The results showed that family meals became less common as children grew older, and families in rural areas were more likely to eat together than families in urban locales. Children who frequently dined with their families had significantly higher-quality diets than children who rarely ate with their parents and siblings. Diet quality declined when meals were purchased outside of the home or when meals were skipped.

The study also showed that most of the students surveyed had suboptimal diets. The researchers encourage dining as a family to promote healthful eating habits.

Share your healthy family dining tips on the Healia Diet and Nutrition Community and Support Group. Try testing your nutrition knowledge by taking the Healia Diet and Nutrition Quiz. Need more information on healthy eating? Visit the Diet and Nutrition Health Guide.

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A new animal study suggests that eating blueberries may help reduce belly fat and lower the risk for heart disease and diabetes. Researchers the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center compared the effects of adding powered freeze dried blueberries in low- or high-fat diets fed to lab rats. After 3 months, the rats that ate the diets with blueberry powder had less belly fat, lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels, and improved fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity, compared to the rats that did not eat blueberry powder. The study results were presented yesterday at the Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans.

The study investigators rats believe that their rat model is similar to people who are obese and have multiple risk factors for heart disease and diabetes such as increased belly fat, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar and triglyceride levels.

The study was funded by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, but they apparently were not involved in the conduct or interpretation of the study results.

One of the researchers, Dr. Steven Bolling, was quoted in a press release: “The benefits of eating fruits and vegetables has been well-researched, but our findings in regard to blueberries shows the naturally occurring chemicals they contain, such as anthocyanins, show promise in mitigating these health conditions.”

Anthocyanins, a type of phytochemical, are natural pigments that are responsible for the color of red and purple fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, cherries, raspberries, beets, and purple grapes. Anthocyanins have received recent attention for their possible health effects because they are strong antioxidants.

Although previous animal studies have documented some health benefits of blueberries against cancer and the effects of aging, more research is needed to confirm their possible benefits in people. Find out more about healthy eating in our diet and nutrition guide or get valuable tips from the Healia diet and nutrition community.  
 

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Five simple lifestyle changes could substantially decrease the incidence of colon cancer, reports a study published in the May issue of the European Journal of Cancer Prevention. Researchers studied how recommended lifestyle changes could affect predicted colon cancer rates of the British population over the next 24 years. The study estimates that 31.5% of colon cancers in British men and 18.4% of colon cancers in British women could be prevented if individuals made changes in diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and weight control.

The five recommended lifestyle changes are:

• Limit consumption of red meat and processed meat to no more than 3 ounces per day
• Eat at least five portions of fruits, vegetables and fiber per day
• Exercise 30 minutes per day, five or more days each week
• Consume less than three alcoholic beverages per day for men, two per day for women
• Control weight to help reduce the total U.K. population’s weight distribution to the rates of 20 years ago

Identified risk factors for colon cancer include:

• Being 50 or older
• Having a personal or family history of colon cancer or colon polyps
• Having ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• Smoking cigarettes
• Being overweight or obese

Like in the United States, colon cancer is extremely prevalent in the United Kingdom. It is the nation’s third most common newly-diagnosed cancer, and is second in terms of cancer deaths. Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States, and is also the second cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

Sharon Osbourne, British-borne judge of American Idol and wife of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, was diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2002. Following the surgical removal of the cancer, Osbourne underwent chemotherapy to reduce the likelihood of its recurrence. She has since recovered and returned to her TV career.

United States President Ronald Reagan also famously battled colon cancer. On July 13, 1985, the President had surgery to remove roughly two feet of his colon after a colonoscopy revealed a cancerous tumor. On January 17, 1986, President Reagan again went under the knife, this time to remove colon polyps. He died in June of 2005, at 93, of unrelated causes.

Colonoscopy is the best detector of colon cancer and also aids in prevention. All people 50 and older should have a colonoscopy once every five years. People with a family history of colon cancer should begin having colonoscopies at 45. Diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors also greatly impact colon cancer risk.

Join the Healia Colorectal Cancer Online Health Community and Support Group to share your experiences or to offer tips and advice.

Source:

The European Journal of Cancer Prevention. Volume 19, Issue 3. http://journals.lww.com/eurjcancerprev/Abstract/publishahead/The_potential_for_prevention_of_colorectal_cancer.99995.aspx

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As budgets continue to shrink as a result of the economic downturn, so does the amount of produce eaten by American families. An annual survey of moms, released Tuesday by the Produce for Better Health Foundation, found that although 60 percent of mothers believe their families don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, they are serving less produce with meals and as snacks.

Even though 87 percent of moms still value the importance of vegetable- and fruit-heavy diets, 90 percent of Americans eat less than the recommended amount (between 2 and 6 ½ cups daily). In the past year alone, reported fruit consumption decreased 12 percent and reported veggie consumption dropped six percent. Moms listed factors such as high cost and discrepancies in family members’ produce preferences as contributing to the menu change.

“It is important to continue to eat healthy, even in tough economic times. Fruits and veggies are an inexpensive part of a healthy lifestyle,” says Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., Produce for Better Health Foundation President and CEO.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation recommends moms extend their food budgets by serving produce prepared in a variety of ways. Fresh, frozen, canned, juiced, and dried fruits and vegetables all contribute to dietary requirements.

OnSurvey, an online quantitative research consultant, conducted the survey of moms between January 16 and January 22, 2009. The 1,000 respondents were a nationally representative sample of 24 – 41 year-old women who had at least one child living in their household.

For more information on healthy eating, visit the Healia Diet and Nutrition Health Community and Support Group or check out the Healia Diet and Nutrition Health Guide.


Source: The Produce for Better Health Foundation, Generation X Mom Survey. Press Release 3/31/2009. http://www.pbhfoundation.org/pulse/press/releases/pressrelease.php?recordid=268.

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While obesity prevention has long been the focus of figure-conscious adults, a new Harvard Medical School study suggests that parents should also monitor the weight of their infant children. The study, released Monday and published in the April issue of Pediatrics, found that rapid weight gain during the first six months of life may put children at risk for obesity by the age of three.

"At first it may seem implausible that weight gain over just a few months early in infancy could have long-term health consequences, but it makes sense because so much of human development takes place during that period - and even before birth," says Matthew Gillman, M.D., S.M., the study’s senior author, and director of the Harvard Medical School Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention’s Obesity Prevention Program.

Researchers documented the weights of 559 infants at birth, at six months and at three years of age. They then studied the correlation between the children’s initial weight gains during the first six months of life and the children’s weights at age three. The study showed that the children heaviest at birth and those who gained the most weight by six months together were 40 percent more likely to be obese by their third year.

"There is increasing evidence that rapid changes in weight during infancy increase children's risk of later obesity," says the study’s lead author, Elsie Taveras, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor in the Harvard Medical School Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention and co-director of the One Step Ahead clinic, a pediatric overweight prevention program at Children's Hospital Boston. "The mounting evidence suggests that infancy may be a critical period during which to prevent childhood obesity and its related consequences.”

According to a study released in the April 2007 issue of Acta Paediactrica, roughly 20 percent of four year-olds were considered overweight or obese in 2002, compared to just 10 percent in 1982. With such a startling rise in childhood obesity, proper nutrition must be emphasized at an increasingly younger age.

“[The Harvard Medical School study] data clearly shows how the earliest interventions might actually have very long-term benefits," Taveras says.

To learn more about infant and toddler health, join Healia’s Infant and Toddler Health Community Support Group. For more information about obesity, visit the Healia Obesity/Overweight Health Guide.


Sources: HarvardScience Medicine&Health, “Infant weight gain linked to childhood obesity: Early interventions may have long-term benefits.” Web release, 3/30/2009. By: David Cameron, Harvard Medical School. (http://www.harvardscience.harvard.edu/medicine-health/articles/infant-weight-gain-linked-childhood-obesity)

    “Weight Status in the First 6 Months of Life and Obesity at 3 Years of Age.” Elsie M. Taveras, Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman, Mandy B. Belfort, Ken P. Kleinman, Emily Oken, and Matthew W. Gillman. Pediatrics 2009; 123: 1177-1183.  (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/current.shtml)



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A new study finds that eating large amounts of red meat may increase the risk of death. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute undertook one of the largest studies ever to look at the connection between red meat consumption and health and found that the people who eat the most red meat, which includes beef and pork products, are at greater risk of dying than those who eat the least red meat. The study also found a more modest increase in the risk of death associated with eating processed meats such as hot dogs and cold cuts.

The study, which appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine, examines records from more than 500,000 individuals between the ages of 50 and 71 who took part in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. Participants provided demographic information and completed a food frequency questionnaire to estimate their intake of white, red and processed meats.

After 10 years, the people in the top one-fifth for red meat consumption – who consumed the equivalent of a quarter-pounder or a small steak every day – were more likely to have died than those who were in the bottom one-fifth for red meat consumption – who ate the equivalent of a small steak each week. The researchers estimate that 11 percent of deaths in men and 16 percent of deaths in women could be prevented if people decreased their red meat consumption to the level that those in the lowest one-fifth consume.

Eating more red meat increased the risk of death by any cause by 31 percent for men and 36 percent for women. The risk of cancer death increased 22 percent for men and 20 percent for women and the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease increased 27 percent for men and 50 percent for women. The risk of death was also higher for men and women who ate the most processed meats but the size of the increase was about half that seen for red meat. The researchers took into account other risk factors for death such as smoking, family history of cancer, and high body mass index.

On the other hand, the researchers found a small decrease in the risk of overall death and cancer death for both men and women with the highest intake of white meat, such as chicken, turkey, and fish, compared to those who ate the least amount of white meat.

Red meat may contribute increase the risk of death in several ways. Cooking red meat at high temperatures creates cancer-causing compounds. Red meat is also a source of saturated fat, which has been tied to an increase in the risk of some cancers and also increases several measures associated with heart disease, including blood pressure and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels.

While the large study seems to strongly support the contention that red meat can be bad for your health, there are some limitations. For one, the participants in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study tend to be healthier than same-aged people who are not in the AARP so it is unclear whether the results will apply to everyone. Also, the study relied on people's memory of what they ate, which can be faulty, and only asked them about their meat consumption at the outset of the study, meaning any changes in diet that occurred during the study were not taken into account.

Note that the study does not conclude that cutting out red meat completely may improve your health; there was no comparison group in the study that ate no red meat. Nonetheless, if you are in the top fifth for red meat or processed meat consumption, you may want to consider eating less of these things and perhaps replacing them in your diet with another source of protein such as white meat, nuts, beans, egg, or dairy products.

Want to learn more about a healthy, balanced diet? Join the Healia Community for Diet and Nutrition. To find out more about heart disease and your diet, read the Healia Health Guide to Heart Disease.

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