ML Interest Tag: tobacco

Here’s Why Your Teen Needs to Turn Off Their Screen & Just Go to Sleep

by Erica Loop

Researchers from the University of South Australia recently published a new paper linking sleep to the developing teen’s mental health—even though this factor is often overlooked.

Between SnapChat, IG, TikTok and everything else that keeps your teen awake at night, it’s easy to see why adolescents don’t get as much sleep as they should. University of South Australia sleep experts Dr. Alex Agostini and Dr. Stephanie Centofanti looked at how sleep (or lack of it) affects the teen’s behavior and overall mental health, including the likelihood of developing anxiety and depression or engaging in risky activities.

photo: Keira Burton via Pexels

According to Dr. Agostini, “Getting enough sleep is important for all of us—it helps our physical and mental health, boosts our immunity, and ensures we can function well on a daily basis.” Agostini continued, “But for teenagers, sleep is especially critical because they’re at an age where they’re going through a whole range of physical, social, and developmental changes, all of which depend on enough sleep.”

The sleep researcher also added, “Research shows that teenagers need at least eight hours of sleep each night. Without this, they’re less able to deal with stressors, such as bullying or social pressures, and run the risk of developing behavioral problems, as well as anxiety and depression.”

Agostini also noted, “If sleep drops to less than six hours a night, research shows that teens are twice as likely to engage in risky behaviours such as dangerous driving, marijuana, alcohol or tobacco use, risky sexual behaviour, and other aggressive or harmful activities.”

When it comes to factors that contribute to sleep loss, Dr. Centofanti said, “Teens spend a lot of time on devices, whether it’s texting friends, playing games, or watching videos, using technology late into the night is one of the most common disruptors of good sleep. Overuse of technology can also contribute to mental health issues likely to increase anxiety.” Centofanti continued, “To make a real difference to teenage mental health, both parents and medical practitioners must understand how sleep can affect mental health in teenagers.”

—Erica Loop

 

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School Shootings & the Tipping Point for Teens Who Have Had Enough

By Janet Coburn

Teen activists may hold an answer to school shootings.

I say “may” and “an answer” because each shooting is different. There’s no one reason for them.

There is a common denominator. It’s not a mental illness, or divorce, or bullying, or the Internet, or video games, or no prayer in schools or toxic masculinity—though each of those may be a contributing factor in some school shootings.

The common denominator is that school shootings are, well, shootings. Before we address the contributing factors, we must address that.

To do that, we must talk. Negotiate. Problem-solve. Not rant, spout slogans or pass around memes. Not blame mythical “crisis actors.” None of that will help. Let’s discuss what proposed solutions are feasible, practical, and actually helpful.

This time the kids are taking the lead and speaking up. Mandatory suspension means their walkouts may fail, at least if they walkout until Congress does something, as was suggested.

But other students are speaking out in other ways–talking to the media, visiting elected officials and attending sessions of legislative bodies. Encouraging voter registration among their peers.

And you know, these efforts may fail as well. It’s difficult to get your message across when you’re trying to get the attention of people who live and die by ballots, not bullets.

Here’s the thing, though. With the Parkland school shooting, we may have reached a “tipping point” in our society. Even if legislation doesn’t work, as so many say it won’t, there is a force that can catch the nation’s attention: grassroots activism.

I won’t praise the efforts of the 1960s when under-30s protested and helped stop a war, though I surely could. What I want to talk about is an attitudinal change. Societal change. It can happen and it has happened.

Think about the things that used to be commonplace and succumbed to pressure from groups and individuals.

Smoking is a prime example. Despite push-back from tobacco lobbies and cigarette manufacturers, smoking has tapered off in public and in private. Restaurants started with smoke-free seating areas and now in some states are completely smoke-free. Public buildings and many private ones are too. Smoking around young children is particularly looked down on.

Why? People spoke up, including teens (see truth.org). And society reacted. Look at old movies and how many characters in them smoked. Then look at modern movies and notice how few do. It’s almost like someone realized that these characters are representations of our changing society and perhaps role models for kids, even if only subliminally.

And look at drunk driving. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) changed society’s view of drunk drivers and prompted legislative change; for example, getting states to lower the limits for what is considered “impaired,” holding drinking establishments responsible for taking the keys from patrons too wasted to drive, and requiring harsher punishments for repeat offenders.

Non-legislative solutions are having an effect as well–the “Designated Driver” idea and PSAs that say “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.” There are smaller, local efforts too, such as providing free cabs on the holidays associated with over-indulgence.

What happened in both examples was that society reached a tipping point. After so many deaths and so much ill health, individuals and groups decided that the prevailing practice had to change. And change it did.

There are reasons to believe that the Parkland shootings may be that tipping point for change. For the idea that school shootings are not just an everyday reality–or shouldn’t be.

Businesses are cutting ties with the NRA, for one. These are protests that will get attention because they are backed up by dollars.

Sure, many teens (and adults and businesses and lawmakers) will ignore the issue. Even teens succumb to the “it can’t happen here” mentality. But others are saying that it can and does happen anywhere. In elementary schools, where the students are too young to mount effective protests. In colleges, where students should.

And in the surrounding society, people are saying, “Enough already with the thoughts and prayers.” Even sincere ones have changed nothing, and insincere ones substitute for actual change.

Likely the change that is coming will be incremental and slow. And after the tipping point is reached and the mass of everyday Americans demand real answers to school shootings, maybe we can turn to the related factors like acceptance of bullying and the broken mental health care system. Grassroots efforts and public education are key.

But first, let’s listen to the kids. They have the most to lose.

Hi! I'm a freelance writer and editor who writes about education, books, cats and other pets, bipolar disorder, and anything else that interests me. I live in Ohio with my husband and a varying number of cats.

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New Study Shows Teen Sleep Patterns Have This Surprising Affect on Health

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Can staying up too late affect your teen’s health? Some say yes. According to a study published in ERJ Open Research, teenagers who stay up late and wake later in the morning are more likely to suffer with asthma and allergies compared to those who sleep and wake earlier. 

teen smartphone in bed

Asthma symptoms are known to be strongly linked to the body’s internal clock, but this is the first study to look at how individual sleep preferences influence asthma risk in t eenagers.Researchers say the study reinforces the importance of sleep timing for teenagers and opens up a new channel of research in to how sleep affects teenagers’ respiratory health.

The study was led by Dr Subhabrata Moitra from the division of pulmonary medicine at the University of Alberta, Canada, who carried out the research while at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Spain. He said: “Asthma and allergic diseases are common in children and adolescents across the world and the prevalence is increasing. We know some of the reasons for this increase, such as exposure to pollution and tobacco smoke, but we still need to find out more. Sleep and the ‘sleep hormone’ melatonin are known to influence asthma, so we wanted to see if adolescents’ preference for staying up late or going to bed early could be involved in their asthma risk.”

The study involved 1,684 adolescents living in West Bengal, India, age 13 or 14 years old, who were taking part in the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Asthma and Allergy-Related Diseases among Adolescents study.

Each participant was asked if they experienced wheezing, asthma or symptoms of allergic rhinitis. They were also asked questions regarding their sleep habits and levels of tiredness at certain points in the day. 

Researchers compared the teenagers’ symptoms with their sleep preferences, taking into account other factors that are known to affect asthma and allergies, such as where the participants live and whether or not their family members smoke.

They found that the chance of having asthma was around three times higher in teens who prefer to sleep later compared to those who preferred to sleep earlier. They also found the risk of suffering allergic rhinitis was twice as high in late-sleepers compared to early-sleepers.

Dr Moitra adds, “Our results suggest there’s a link between preferred sleep time, and asthma and allergies in teenagers. We can’t be certain that staying up late is causing asthma, but we know that the sleep hormone melatonin is often out of sync in late-sleepers and that could, in turn, be influencing the teens’ allergic response.

“We also know that children and young people are increasingly exposed to the light from mobile phone, tablets, and other devices, and staying up later at night. It could be that encouraging teenagers to put down their devices and get to bed a little earlier would help decrease the risk of asthma and allergies. That’s something that we need to study more.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Retha Ferguson from Pexels

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#RTHolidaze Twitter Party Terms & Conditions

by emily bray

#RTHolidaze Twitter Party #Giveaway

Terms and Conditions

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY. PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

 

By entering this #RTHolidaze Twitter Party #Giveaway Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”), entrants accept and agree to be bound by these Official Rules. Any violation of these rules may, at the Sponsor’s discretion, result in disqualification. All decisions of the Sponsor regarding this Sweepstakes are final and binding in all respects.

The #RTHolidaze Twitter Party #Giveaway Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Twitter. You understand that you are providing your information to the Sponsor and not to Twitter. The information you provide will only be used for the administration of this Sweepstakes and in accordance with the Sponsor’s privacy policy (see here: https://tinybeans.com/privacy-policy/). Twitter is completely released of all liability by each entrant in this Sweepstakes. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Sweepstakes must be directed to the Sponsor and not Twitter.

PROMOTION PERIOD.

Sweepstakes begins December 10, 2019, at 10:00 am PST/1:00pm ET and ends at 11:00 am PST/2:00pm ET (“Promotion Period”).

ELIGIBILITY. 

Sweepstakes open only to legal US residents (excluding Alaska & Hawaii) who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry who do not reside in an area where such sweepstakes are prohibited by law.  The sponsor of this Sweepstakes is Red Tricycle, Inc. (the “Sponsor”) in partnership with Amazon, Inc. (the “Promotional Partner”). Officers, directors, employees, contractors and agents of the Sponsor or Promotional Partner(s) or their parent companies (if any), subsidiaries and affiliated companies, advertising, promotional and judging agencies, persons engaged in the development, production or distribution of materials for this Sweepstakes (collectively, the “Promotion Parties”) and their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, and spouse of each) of and/or persons living in the same household as such individuals (whether related or not) are not eligible to participate. This Sweepstakes is void in all U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited by law.

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HOW TO ENTER.

To enter, participants must tweet from a public Twitter account and include both the hashtags #RTHolidaze AND #giveaway in response to the conversation and/or questions which will be posted with the hashtag #RTHolidaze and #giveaway from the Red Tricycle Twitter account (https://www.twitter.com/red_tricycle) during the Sweepstakes Promotion Period beginning December 10, 2019, at 10:00 am PST/1:00 pm ET. 

Sweepstakes ends December 10, 2019, at 11:00 am PST/2:00pm ET. Entry constitutes acceptance of these rules. 

Limit one prize per participant during the entire Promotion Period. 

Automated and/or repetitive electronic submissions (including but not limited to entries made using any script, macro, bot or Sweepstakes service) or creation/use of multiple accounts to enter will be automatically disqualified and transmissions from these or related email or IP addresses may be blocked.

Your entry(ies) shall not: (1) contain trademarks or copyrighted material not owned by participant or used without permission (including, but not limited to, company names and other brand names); (2) use individuals’ names, in whole or in part without permission; (3) refer to public figures; (4) contain profanity, pornographic, or sexual content, content promoting alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms, or weapons, hateful content of any kind (including racism, sexism, etc.), content that promotes violence or harm to another living creature, or any other offensive, obscene, or inappropriate content; (5) defame, misrepresent, or contain disparaging remarks about other people or companies, including, but not limited to Sponsor; (6) promote a political agenda regardless of the political affiliation; or (7) contain materials embodying the names or other identifying elements of any person, living or dead, without permission.

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A random draw will be made by Red Tricycle on the date of the Promotion Closing Date from all eligible entries received to select the prize winner(s). Selected entrants will be notified via a public tweet from the Red Tricycle Twitter page and Red Tricycle will follow up with selected entrants via direct message. Non-winning and/or ineligible participants will not be contacted. Selected entrants will then have three (3) calendar days following receipt thereof to contact Red Tricycle to claim their prize. Should Red Tricycle not receive a reply within three (3) days or should a winner decline the prize offered for any reason or no reason the selected entrant will be deemed to have forfeited any rights to the prize and an alternate potential winner may be selected. Additionally, failure to provide proof of eligibility (if requested), release documents, or other required documentation in a timely manner, or other non-compliance with these Official Rules may result in disqualification, forfeiture of the prize and, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, selection of an alternate eligible entrant for the forfeited prize in accordance with these Official Rules, who will be subject to disqualification in the same manner. (After five (5) such alternate potential winners have been selected without securing an eligible winner, the prize may remain un-awarded.) Upon contacting a potential winner and determining that he/she has met all eligibility requirements of the Promotion, including without limitation the execution of required waivers, publicity and liability releases and disclaimers, such individual will be declared the “winner” of the Promotion. All decisions are final. Neither Red Tricycle nor Amazon is responsible for misdirected or undeliverable notifications or for any claims, losses, expenses or liabilities arising out of an entrant’s participation in this Promotion or use of any prize.

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Four (4) $25 gift cards to amazon.com available to be won. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of each Prize: $25. 

One (1) Grand Prize $100 gift card to amazon.com (ARV $100) PLUS 1 Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition tablet available to be won (ARV $200). Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of Grand Prize: $300

Total ARV of all prizes: $400

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APPLICABLE LAWS AND JURISDICTION. This Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Issues concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules shall be governed by the laws of California, without regard to any principles of conflict of laws. All disputes arising out of or connected with this Promotion will be resolved individually, and without resort to class action, exclusively by a state or federal court located within California. Should there be a conflict between the laws of California and any other laws, the conflict will be resolved in favor of the laws of California. To the extent permitted by applicable law, all judgments or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket damages (excluding attorneys’ fees) associated with participation in this Promotion and shall not include any indirect, punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages.

 

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How Much Do You Really Know about Kids and Vaping?

By Sarah Daren

In the United States, children as young as second graders have joined a rapidly growing body of youth who vape. Intervention by parents, caregivers and community leaders is necessary to protect kids of all ages who have developed this unhealthy habit.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared that vaping is an epidemic. Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb has expressed that the vaping problem caught the agency off-guard. According to Gottlieb, vape manufacturer Juul is the prime catalyst of the crisis.

In an interview, Gottlieb recalled delaying a process that would have placed vape products under increased FDA scrutiny. Now, however, Gottlieb believes he may have made a mistake.

Today, parents and caregivers must protect children from a range of potential dangers. Vaping is the latest addition to this unfortunate list. You can learn how to protect children from the latest addition to one of the many things that threaten their welfare by understanding a few facts about the product.

In 2015, Juul quickly captured 40% of the vape market. Unfortunately, a large segment of its consumers encompasses teens. Approximately 3 million high school students used a vape product in 2018, according to government research.

According to Stanford scientist Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, her research shows that Juul products contain an astronomical level of nicotine. Most vape products contain nicotine levels that vary between 1% to nearly 2.5 %. Juul vape products, however, contain a nicotine level of 5%. Since the study, the company has introduced vape products with 3% nicotine.

In a CNBC documentary, Juul CEO Kevin Burns has apologized for his role in contributing to the vaping epidemic. During an interview for the documentary, Burns empathized as a fellow parent.

He expressed that his company has responded to the problem by ceasing all social media promotions and recalling fruity vape products that appeal to teens. Nevertheless, criticism of Juul continues, and in the company’s San Francisco base of operations, government officials have banned vape products entirely.

How Big Is the Problem?

Statistically, if someone doesn’t start smoking by the age of 26, they never will. Every day in the United States, over 3,000 teens smoke their first cigarette, and over 2,000 of them decide to start smoking daily.

As a parent, guardian or even a community leader, there are ways that you can help to prevent vaping among youth.

Youth are at risk due to a range of products, including vapes, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco. Many tobacco products are now flavored and marketed in the same fashion as candy – making them appealing to youth.

In 2018, one study showed that 30% to nearly 40% of high school children used vape products, and a 2017 study showed that more than 30% of youth who used vape products started smoking cigarettes, compared to a little over 8% of those who didn’t vape.

Contrary to manufacturers’ claims, a Yale study shows that vaping does not help people quit smoking. Instead, vaping increases the risk of smoking, and consumers face the same health risks when they vape as they do when they smoke cigarettes – if not more.

Case in point, a Children’s Hospital study has revealed that vape products contain chemicals that pose a greater risk of causing cancer than cigarettes. The same study also found that teens often use vape products to hide the smell of marijuana.

Vape manufacturers countered the commercially adverse effects of the studies by launching products in a range of enticing flavors. Resultantly, 43% of high school and middle school students have tried the product. Due to this outcome, the Surgeon General declared vaping an epidemic in December of 2018.

Juul’s marketing practices have specifically targeted the youth population. In September 2018, the US government seized thousands of the company’s documents detailing its marketing and advertising practices.

On November 2018, Juul responded by announcing through its social media channels that it will discontinue any social media engagement with the public. This announcement was an abrupt about-face from 2015 when Juul launched a $1 million scholarship contest awarding those who wrote the best essays about the benefits of vaping.

How Can I Make a Difference?

American Heart Association (AHA) spokespersons express that public health campaigns reinforced by parental guidance have proven effective at stymieing teen vaping. AHA representatives recommend that parents start talking to children about the harmful effects of nicotine products as early as kindergarten.

However, they warn parents not to pressure children into accepting their point of view. Instead, suggests representatives, parents should maintain an ongoing two-way dialogue about the topic.

Also, parents should prepare their children to deal with peer pressure. Role-playing may help in this regard.

Furthermore, suggest AHA spokespersons, parents should refrain from punishing teens who vape. Instead, guardians should express that they understand the lure of the product and how it causes addiction. Empathy, as it turns out, may prove more productive instead of punishing teen smokers.

More importantly, parents should show rather than tell, when it comes to teaching their kids that smoking is a bad idea. Parents who don’t want their kids to smoke should lead by example and not smoke themselves. AHA officials also suggest that parents maintain a smoke-free home and prohibit smoking in their house and vehicle.

You can find out more about teen smoking cessation by visiting the American Heart Association website.

Sarah Daren has been a consultant for startups in industries including health and wellness, wearable technology, and education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life, including her position as a yoga instructor and raising her children. Sarah enjoys watching baseball and reading on the beach. 

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5 Reasons Why Family Dinners are Important

By Leslie Kuckler

We all know the scenario too well…it’s a busy day, your kids have sports right over the dinner hour and in different places, you’re feeling too tired to cook, your spouse running  late, you work hard to cook a good meal only to have your family sit down for a total of five minutes before they all rush off to their next activity, etc. 

Most of us have been there. Most of us have also felt like giving up and throwing in the towel on family dinners. We question the amount of work, feel unappreciated, overwhelmed and wonder if a family dinner is even worth it. However, I am a strong believer that there are so many benefits to this tradition and that the practice of eating together is an essential component to strong families and the pursuit of happiness. Family dinners are good and they are worth the effort.

This summer has been a different summer for our family dynamics. My two teenagers are spending more time with friends than ever before and this often means that they are gone over the dinner hour. When I do have them home and the whole family is together for a meal, I remember why planning and making meals is all worthwhile. In this stage of life, maybe more than others, I am seeing the good in our meals together.

Family Dinners are Important

Family dinners are good in so many ways. Having a master’s degree in nutrition, I know the importance of good, healthy and balanced food choices. But I also know the importance of taking time to share a meal together and the benefits that come from sitting down as a family. The mealtime is about so much more than the food being served. It is about providing an atmosphere of connection, love, tradition, and conversation. I believe that dinner together as a family has a profound impact on the development of children and close family ties.

Here are the five ways I see the good in family dinners and the important role they play in a healthy family life:

1. Family Dinners are Good for Connecting

Family life today is busy. Most families have work, school and activity schedules that compete for their time. Time doesn’t stop at 5:00 p.m. for families to prepare and sit down for long meals together. Many people say they don’t have two hours to prepare and eat dinner, but then somehow seem to find two hours a day to spend on phones. With all the business, family dinners allow for a time to stop other activities and obligations and just connect. 

“One of the simplest and most effective ways for parents to be engaged in their teen’s lives is by having frequent family dinners.”—Joseph Califand, Columbia University

As a mother of two teenagers, I treasure the time we spend connecting at the dinner table. Some days it is the only time all of us have together face to face. Studies show that only half of families eat together more than three times per week. They also show that most meals last twenty minutes or less and are in front of the TV. Use the opportunity for family mealtime to connect face to face with your children. Turn off the distractions, put down the phones and focus on each other. 

2. Family Dinners Lead to Healthier Eating

The family dinner is a great step toward healthy living. As a parent, you have control over what is being served. Taking time to plan and cook balanced meals is a great service to your family. Studies show that one of the factors that lower the risk of obesity in children is family dinners. Teenagers who eat regular family dinners are also less likely to smoke tobacco and try drugs. In addition, family dinners are a great way to introduce new foods, experiment with healthy foods, and view eating as something to be enjoyed rather than rushed through. Statistics show that 1 in 5 meals are now eaten in the car.  Eating quickly and on the go is often mindless eating instead of the mindfulness of savoring and enjoying food.

3. Family Dinners Teach the Art of Conversation

Have you ever been around children (or adults for that matter) who don’t know how to make conversation? Meaningful conversation is a skill and family dinners are a great place to teach and learn that skill. Time together around the table (with no distractions) allows opportunities to ask about each other’s day, to talk about current events, get opinions on important topics and to share feelings. At our house, family dinners are our gateway to hearing about our kids’ day at school, what is going on in their lives, and what they have planned. 

If the conversation doesn’t come easy at the table, try a few tactics. At our house, we love to share “highs and lows.” We each go around the table and share one high (a positive thing) about our day and one low (negative thing). This practice helps us share the details of our day and often leads to deeper conversation. Some other families use conversation cards topic lists, family questions, conversation starters or games. The point is to make the dinner table an enjoyable place and a positive experience. Use that time of sharing a meal together to have conversations that teach, encourage and foster stronger relationships.

4. Family Dinners are a Good Tradition

Traditions are important. For children and adults alike, traditions help ground us and provide a sense of belonging. When family dinners are a regular habit, everyone in the family knows that there will be time to connect. Each family has its own unique rituals that make their mealtimes special. For us, dinner time is a chance to pray together as a family when we say grace before the meal. There is something very powerful in praying and giving thanks together. Some families have traditions of what food is served on certain nights….taco Tuesday, pizza on Friday, etc. The family meal becomes a habit that binds the family together by demonstrating that family matters and the ritual of sharing a meal together is something to be counted on.

5. It’s the Company, Not the Food

You don’t have to be an expert cook or fancy meal planner to have family dinners. So much of the good that comes from the meals comes from the company, not the food. There are endless resources for easy family dinner ideas and recipes. As long as you serve something to eat and sit down together, you have provided a family dinner. Some nights this may be a favorite recipe or something new that you try to make and other times it might be takeout on your way home. In our home, family dinners are a priority but that also means being flexible. During busy times in our schedule, we might eat very early or very late to accommodate a practice, game or work schedule. The goal is to eat together, no matter where, what time, or what you are serving.

I love our dinners together when they happen. I see the connection they provide and I’m thankful each time we sit down that we are blessed with food, health and togetherness. Try to see the good in dinners with your family and experience the happiness that these mealtimes can bring to your life.

Challenge for the Week:

  1. If you regularly allow phones at the table, try putting them away for a few meals and see what happens.
  2. Try some conversation starters (high/low, topic questions, etc…) to see if you can extend the time at the table and make it as much about the discussion as the food.
  3. Make it a goal to eat four meals together as a family, even if that means changing your dinner schedule or meal plan.
  4. Try to make dinner more fun by making a themed dinner, having your kids help you cook, or simply adding flowers to your table.

 

 

 

 

 

This post originally appeared on Choose to See Good.

I choose to see the good each day. I am a happily married mom of two teenagers who also works part-time. I write about my thoughts and observations of good thing. My goal is to inspire readers to find joy without changing their circumstances, but by merely changing their view. 

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Pediatricians’ Group Comes Out in Force Against Sugary Drinks for Kids

by Shahrzad Warkentin

The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Heart Association have just come together to issue a joint statement on sugary drinks and children.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since the 1970s. What’s to blame? While there are several elements in play, one major factor is sugary drinks. Data show that kids and teens now consume 17 percent of their calories from added sugars—nearly half of which comes from drinks alone. To help combat the the impact of sugary drinks the AAP and AHA have issued several new recommendations.

photo: Rawpixel via Pexels

“For children, the biggest source of added sugars often is not what they eat, it’s what they drink,” said pediatrician Natalie D. Muth, MD, MPH, RDN, FAAP, lead author of the policy statement. “On average, children are consuming over 30 gallons of sugary drinks every year. This is enough to fill a bathtub, and it doesn’t even include added sugars from food. As a pediatrician, I am concerned that these sweetened drinks pose real—and preventable—risks to our children’s health, including tooth decay, diabetes, obesity and heart disease. We need broad public policy solutions to reduce children’s access to cheap sugary drinks.”

The AAP and AHA recommendations include:

  • Raising the price of sugary drinks, such as via an excise tax, with tax money going toward reducing health and socioeconomic disparities.
  • A decrease in sugary drink marketing to kids and teens supported by the state and federal government.
  • Healthy drinks such as water and milk should be the default beverages on children’s menus and in vending machines,
  • Families should have access to credible nutrition information, including on nutrition labels, restaurant menus and ads.
  • Hospitals should serve as a model and establish policies to limit or discourage purchase of sugary drinks.

“As a nation we have to say ‘no’ to the onslaught of marketing of sugary drinks to our children,” said Rachel K. Johnson, PhD, RD, professor emeritus of nutrition at University of Vermont and former Chair of the American Heart Association’s nutrition committee. “We know what works to protect kids’ health and it’s time we put effective policies in place that bring down rates of sugary drink consumption just like we’ve done with tobacco.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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BJ’s Has a New Wine Collection & Every Bottle Is Less Than $10

by Erica Loop

Move over Trader Joe’s Two-Buck Chuck, because BJ’s wine collection is here and it’s poised to become our new fave bottle of wine that won’t break the bank. The wholesale club is known for deep discounts on everything from candy to computers, and now the retailer has one more item to add to the list. Scratch that—five more items!

Technically BJ’s isn’t new to the whole wine game. The wholesale club’s existing exclusive Wellsley Farms label is known for both its taste and its value. Now the retailer is launching five new Wellsley Farms products—bottles of wine, and each starting at $6.99.

Bonnie Volpe, vice president, DMM, beverages, pet and tobacco, said in a press release, “At BJ’s, we pride ourselves on offering unbeatable value and high-quality products.” Volpe went on to add, “That’s why we’re excited to introduce our new Wellsley Farms wines from some of the finest winemaking regions in the world. Whether it’s a special occasion or a quiet night at home, BJ’s shoppers can celebrate every moment with these delicious, incredibly priced new wines.”

The new budget-friendly picks include Wellsley Farms Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina; Wellsley Farms Prosecco from Treviso, Italy; Wellsley Farms Pinot Grigio from Venezie, Italy; Wellsley Farms Cabernet Sauvignon from California and Wellsley Farms Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand.

Find the new Wellsley Farms wines at select BJ’s Wholesale Clubs. Visit the retailer’s website to find your closest wine-selling store.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Courtesy of Business Wire

 

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If Wellness Is Important to You & Your Fam, Here’s Where You Should Live

by Erica Loop

What does living well mean to you? If healthy lifestyle, high life expectancy, low obesity, low risk for depression and government spending on healthcare are important to you, check out what LetterOne’s Global Wellness Index found.

Instead of rating riches, retail or anything else that comes with an economic edge, LetterOne’s Indigo Wellbeing Index—a global wellness ranking of over 150 countries—looked at 10 health-related metrics: blood pressure, blood glucose, obesity, depression, happiness, alcohol use, tobacco use, exercise, healthy life expectancy and government spending on healthcare. What they found was pretty surprising, especially when it comes to which countries come out on top.

Using data from the World Health Organization, the World Happiness Report and other public health experts and reports, the index creators ranked which countries are the healthiest. Despite our economic size and influence, the United States isn’t at the top of the list. So which country did take top honors?

According to the index, our neighbor to the north—Canada—is the big winner, followed by Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. If you’re wondering where we stand, the United States didn’t even break into the top 25, instead ranking as number 37 out of over 150 countries ranked.

While the Indigo Wellbeing Index is certainly a comprehensive look at global health, it isn’t the only stat-based ranking. Earlier this year, Bloomberg released a similar list, naming Spain as the world’s healthiest country.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Daria Shevstova via Pexels

 

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Old School Candy: When Halloween (Pop) Rocked

by laurie halter

Do you know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop? Perhaps you remember tears from the fire of an Atomic Fireball? Those days of rummaging through our candy haul and trading sweets may be long gone, and with them, most of the delicious candies that we remember from our trick-or-treating days. So as we prepare our kids for the upcoming Halloween festivities, take a walk with us down memory lane and delight again in the candy you found at the bottom of your Halloween bag as a kid.

Candy Necklaces

If the crusted, dried globs of sugar stuck to your neck did not give you away, the resulting white paste surrounding your mouth sure did.

Big League Chew

Gum shaped like tobacco? Brilliant. Now where’s the…

Candy Cigarettes

This is so non- PC it almost HAD to come from a time when moms had no problem microwaving food in their styrofoam packaging.

Tootsie Pops

While the candy may be timeless, those of you who remember a certain owl that asked ‘how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop’ are showing your age!

Gobstoppers

Did you want to join Charlie and his golden ticket in Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? If so, give yourself an amazing Gobstopper.

Fruit Stripe Gum

Did you ever ask yourself, what does the zebra on the packaging have to do with gum? Whatever the connection, fruit stripe gum was delish (though not a great halloween treat, unless you got the whole pack).

Fun Dip

Pure sugar scooped up with a sugar stick you can eat? Their tag line should have been, “Annoying moms the world over.”

Now and Laters

These little taffys were so tough you truly could have some now and then a bit later.

Zotz

A precursor to Pop Rocks, these candies had a disconcerting sour, fizzy center. Fortunately, the cool name and pretty packaging offered excellent swapping opportunities with unsuspecting younger siblings.

Charleston Chews

Major score if you snagged one the “full-sized” chewy nougat bars as a Halloween treat.

Sugar Daddy and Sugar Babies

In case there was any doubt about the key ingredients in these sticky caramel creations, they stamped it across the front in bold scarlet letters as a warning to parents (and dentists).

Gold Nugget Gum

When you were little a quarter was a windfall, but a whole bag of gum? Pure gold.

Cry Babys

What was it about this generation of candy makers that created the need to make kids cry?

Mary Janes

In our neighborhood, Mary Janes were usually bottom of the trick-or-treat bag remnants that you would pawn off to your cousins or grandparents mid-November.

Atomic Fireballs

Let’s just call these little devils, “set your tongue on fire.” Remember daring your friends to see how long you could hold one in your mouth?

Razzles

So wait, it’s a candy, and then turns into gum? Well, in theory anyway. It was always a bit of a chalky mess in your mouth as you tried to get the gum to solidify. (Let’s put it this way, it was no Bubblicious).

Sixlets

Candy-coated chocolate balls – there’s no down side here.

Astro Pops

Green, yellow and red icicle suckers that could send our taste buds into outerspace!

Pop Rocks

That snap and crackle on your tongue was the big payoff of these little carbonated rocks, and who remembers hearing all about the rumors of mixing them with cola?

Jawbreakers

As far as dollar value, these massive candy balls take top billing. You could make these things last for days if you wanted them to, just as long as you didn’t stick the whole thing in your mouth.

Which nostalgic candy would you most like to find at the bottom of your Halloween bag?

— Laurie Halter

Photo credit: Mike Towber, Sara Anne Marshall, Phillip Stewart, Robot Matsuri!, chris5015, Luke Healey, Steve Dinn, floating ink, sock shot, sweetworks, Joe Loong, sha-put-ski, Timothy Tolle, Lunchbox Photography, JeepersMedia, Eric Kilby, OldTimeCandy

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