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bookmark_borderDangers to Children: Sun, Bugs and Breathing

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Dangerous Air Quality Due to Ozone Levels
Dangerous Air Quality Due to Ozone Levels

What are three of the most dangerous natural threats to children? Exposure to the sun, mosquitoes (West Nile Virus), ticks (Lime Disease) and breathing. However, reducing your risk to these can create health risks as well. Too much sunscreen may prevent the body from producing vitamin D. The chemicals in insect repellent can pose a slew of long term health risks.

Obviously, not breathing results in death.  For instance, the day this article was in Philadelphia the government issued an “Action Day” where they advise active children not to breath outside.

Learn More About the Dangers of the Sun, Mosquitoes and Breathing
Philadelphia’s Air Quality

 

bookmark_borderChinese Food Health Tips

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by Merck — Whether you decide on Szechuan, Cantonese, or Hunan style, there are ways to translate your meal into something healthy.

You’ll find lots of fried foods on many Chinese menus, along with plenty of meat recipes and dishes made with eggs. Chinese food can be high in sodium, too. Fortunately, there are healthier options.

Here’s some food for thought before you choose:

Instead of Try
Egg drop soup Wonton or hot-and-sour soup
Egg rolls or fried wontons Steamed vegetable dumplings
Fried entrees Boiled, broiled, steamed, or lightly stir-fried entrées
Meat dishes Vegetable dishes
Fried rice Steamed rice
Lobster sauce (has egg yolks) Sweet-and-sour sauce, plum, or duck sauce (but watch the sodium)

 

A little of this, a little of that

You don’t have to eat till you’ve had too much, either. Chinese menus often have a lot to offer, and in large portions. So why not divvy it up? Order a variety of entrées with your companions—then you can try a little of everything. Oh yes, and you’ll probably want to ask the cook to leave out the soy sauce, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and salt.

bookmark_borderFungal Meningitis and Infection Information

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In October 2012, an outbreak of fungal meningitis was reported in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traced the outbreak to fungal contamination in three lots of medication used for epidural steroid injections. The medication was packaged and marketed by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), a compounding pharmacy in Framingham, Massachusetts. Doses from these three lots had been distributed to 75 medical facilities in 23 states, and doses had been administered to approximately 14,000 patients after May 21 and before September 24, 2012. Patients began reporting symptoms in late August, but because of the unusual nature of the infection, clinicians did not begin to realize that the cases had a common cause until late September. Infections other than meningitis were also associated with this outbreak, which spanned 19 states. As of March 10, 2013, 48 people had died and 720 were being treated for persistent fungal infections. In November 2012, it was reported that some patients recovering from meningitis were experiencing secondary infections at the injection site.]Although no cases of infection were reported to be associated with any other lots of medication, all lots of all medications distributed by NECC were recalled in separate actions by NECC and regulators. Subsequent analysis identified some contamination in other lots. — Wikipedia

From the state of New Jersey:
NJ Cases Linked to Multi-State Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis & Associated Infections

NJ Case Information as of April 24, 2013

Total Exposures: 705
Total Cases: 51
Meningitis (with or w/o) other infections: 41
Paraspinal/Spinal Infection only: 9
Joint Infection: 1
Deaths: 0

bookmark_borderGardening Resources

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Whistle While You Work Gardening
Guide To Edible Plants

The United States Department of Agriculture is offering these interactive and exploratory lessons as a creative way to connect gardens with nutrition messages in the classroom, cafeteria or lunch room, and at home. Whether your garden is large or small and your growing season is long or short, these materials can help you:

  • Change how children think and feel about fruits and vegetables.
  • Foster an awareness of where foods come from.
  • Get kids’ attention with colorful visuals, games, and activities that are age-appropriate and fun.
  • Integrate gardening and nutrition into English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Health lessons.
  • Provide nutrition messages that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010.

For Use with Preschoolers

For Use with Elementary School Age Children