BACK TO THE BASICS: DANGERS OF ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP

Why does it seem that every new product that comes to the market promising a cleaner home, no more germs, or a promise of an easier lifestyle tends to lead us into our own detriment. Could it be that our desire to get everything accomplished in our day we pull more from our environment then we can actually be taking?

There seems to be another product promised to help us fight off germs may actually be doing the opposite for our environment as a whole, antibacterial soaps, specifically products with the chemical triclosan or triclocarban. You will find this chemical in Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor, Antibacterial soaps and Colgate Total Toothpaste. First you should know that these soaps are no better at preventing infection then soap and water. The main concern in that this chemical is causing a growth of resistant super bacteria as well as killing off essential nutrients in our lakes and oceans which are essential for the food chain that sustain aquatic life. Another reason to go back to the basics.

Nutrition Action Newsletter May 2006 “Time to Ban Triclosan”

HELP YOUR BABY'S MEMORY

To help in memory and the brain function of your new growing fetus mothers be aware of eating your eggs. My mother always said I should eat eggs while pregnant, now it seems there is research to back it up. Choline, is a vitamin B-like compound found in high quantities in eggs, beef and chicken liver, wheat germ and soybeans. The latest studies suggest that in pregnancy it plays a critical role in brain development, and may even lower the risk of neural-tube defects such as spina bifida, in the same way that folic acid does.

Information: Future Pundit, Choline During Pregnancy Boosts Rat Brains

High Protein, High Stress for Baby

With diets such as the Atkins diet being a popular way to eat, we thought it was necessary to stress the importance of not trying any special diets during pregnancy. Recent research reported in the BBC News suggests, high protein, low carbohydrate diets should be avoided during pregnancy as they can lead to more stressed offspring.
The women from Motherwell, Lanarkshire, included in the study were advised by an obstetrician to eat very high levels of meat and low levels of carbohydrate to avoid a condition called pre-eclampsia associated with high blood pressure in pregnancy, she said. This study adds to the increasing evidence of the importance of the maternal diet and suggests that one of the ways in which it can have these long-term effects is by permanently altering stress hormone levels.
"We don't know why this occurs - it may be that the baby is put under stress during pregnancy which causes irreversibly high levels of cortisol."
But she added: "Given the recent popularity of low-carbohydrate/high protein diets, such as the Atkins diet, this data also suggests that these diets should be avoided during pregnancy."

BBC NEWS High meat diet 'can stress baby'
Sunday, 2 April 2006

SLEEPING LIKE A BABY

We seem to constantly be reminded of the importance of getting our sleep as adults, new studies show that we need at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Our sleep is important for clear thinking and for a healthy immunity.

Now what about sleep for your children? There is clear evidence that your baby, toddler and child of all ages needs their sleep. If you find your child is acting up, irritable or hyperactive take a close look at their sleep habits as the possible root of their problems. You may be laad to believe that too much napping would lead to not sleeping at night, but in fact the opposite is true, healthy sleep habits, a child with regular naps (naps at age four and under) leads to a happier, healthier child. Read more in Health Sleep Habits, Health Child by Marc Weissbluth.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weisbluth.
This book teaches parents the basics of sleep science and helps them find their baby's optimal window for falling asleep both for naps and at nighttime. Many parents are startled to discover that their baby is sleep deprived, which is actually making it harder for the baby to fall asleep! The book also covers teen sleep issues and addresses infants through age 3, but also discusses older children's and teens' sleep.