Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Smoking is bad. Don’t do it. And here’s more reason not to smoke. Scientists claim parents who smoke can cause vascular damage in their children.

The study appears in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. HealthDay News reports:

The inner lining of the carotid arteries was thicker for the young adults who had both parents smoking during pregnancy, a sign of potential danger in the years ahead. The thickening was strongest for maternal smoking.

"We believe that our findings with regard to fetal exposure may serve as a first signal which will have to be confirmed by other research in this area," Dr. Cuno S.P.M. Uiterwaal, an associate professor of clinical epidemiology at the University Medical Center in Utrecht said.

Who would smoke around a kid! In fact, Ontario is so against it, they’ve proposed fining drivers who smoke in their cars when children are present.

And if California quits smoking they can save $86 Billion! Smoking ups heart disease risk too.
 

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A new study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine claims babies born in the fall have a 30% greater risk of developing asthma than babies born at some other time. Researchers blame winter viruses, like respiratory syncytial virus; HealthDay News reports.

And a previous report suggests over-stressed moms can increase their baby’s likelihood of developing asthma or allergies later in life. So can public swimming pools. But according to Dr. Fuhrman breastfeeding reduces the risk of asthma in children. It works in mice too!
 

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A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals city kids living in greener neighborhoods were thinner. Researchers found a relationship between “greenness” and slower increase in body mass index over time; HealthDay News reports.

Putting kids to bed helps too. Oh, and keep them away from cockroaches!
 

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And not just roaches. Mice too! New research in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology claims antibodies developed to cockroach and mouse proteins increase the risk of wheeze, hay fever and eczema in young children; from Eurekalert.

That’s creepy. Even ickier than likening trans-fat to rat poop. More reason to be mindful of your child’s living space. Dr. Fuhrman insists it’s the parent’s responsibility to ensure a safe and toxin-free environment. Eating organic food helps too!

Via TreeHugger.
 

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Let’s see. A mother’s diet can affect the sex of her baby. Exposure to BPA during pregnancy can up the kid’s chance of becoming obese. And now, a new study in Obstetrics & Gynecology claims women who gain too much weight while pregnant may have fat teenagers; Reuters reports.
 

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It’s a tough time to be a kid! Seriously, more and more kids have food allergies. Children are sicker and fatter and taking lots of pills for hypertension and high cholesterol. And now, the American Heart Association claims obese kids have middle-aged arteries; the Associated Press reports.

What’s next? No Santa Claus! Maybe all the heavy metal music, which I love, is what's harming our whippersnappers’ hearts; via HealthandMen.

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Last year a report claimed peanut allergies were up in children and then, just last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 3 million children have food allergies

Now, amidst nut-phobia, new research in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology claims eating peanuts in infancy is associated with a lower instance of peanut allergy; Reuters reports.

I asked Dr. Fuhrman. He said the mother has to be eating peanuts, while nursing, at the same time the food is first introduced to maximally prevent allergies. The mother’s antibodies are key!
 

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Not good. New research in Pediatrics claims more and more kids are taking medications for chronic conditions, like hypertension, diabetes, depression and high cholesterol. No surprise, but childhood obesity is being blamed; via Booster Shots.

Actually, we’ve seen this before. In fact, some people want to prescribe statins to kids. Sure, heart disease starts in youth, but instead of stuffing pills down their throats. Why not teach kids the importance of healthy eating and NOT the easy way out!
 

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A new study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine claims children mimic their parents’ diet. Leading researchers to suggest using the supermarket to teach kids to choose fruits and vegetables OVER snack and desserts; Reuters reports.

Makes sense, growing up my mom always ate a TON of vegetables. And as I got older, I quickly realized I was the only one of my friends who knew what broccoli rabe was. That’s why Dr. Fuhrman believes healthy eating is for the WHOLE family, not just the kids!
 

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Research by the University of Adelaide claims a bacterial toxin, named Subtilase cytotoxin, targets human cells that express the sugar Neu5Gc, found in animal foods.

The study appears in October 30th edition of Nature, Newswise reports:

Remarkably, humans cannot make Neu5Gc, and so we should all be resistant to the toxin,” Professor James Paton says. “However, consuming foods that have high levels of Neu5Gc, such as red meat and dairy products, leads to uptake of the sugar by human cells and this makes them susceptible to attack by the toxin.

Of course the veggie-haters will say, “What about the spinach-E. coli scare.” Sorry, the spinach didn’t make the bacteria. It was pooped on by pork products.

And let’s not forget, milk and beef are CONSTANTLY being linked with harmful bacteria.
 

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Because a 32-year study has concluded children consistently getting a good night's sleep were LESS likely to become obese as adults.

The research appears in the October 31st issue of Pediatrics. Reuters reports:

Even with a range of other factors considered -- like childhood weight and TV habits, and adulthood exercise levels -- there remained a link between sleep deprivation during childhood and obesity risk later in life.

All of this supports the idea that early sleep habits have a direct effect on weight in the long term, according to Dr. Robert John Hancox, the study's senior author.

This supports a previous study revealing sleep helps LOWER body mass index (BMI) in children.

Clearly, sleep is important. Even an extra hour once a year can save your life!

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