Issue Date: November 4, 2007
Toys: 5 made in USA
With all the recent headlines about recalls of toys made in China, it's no wonder that playground talk finds parents wondering if it's possible to buy great toys made in the USA.
"Absolutely," assures Janet Chan, editor in chief of "Parenting" magazine (see "Mom-Tested Toys of the Year" at parenting.com). Her picks:
Baby rattles. Hand-crafted wooden rattles are inspired by the folk toys of America's past; $12 to $20, nicoandzoe.com.
Star Buggy. This space-age ride-on toy has a steering wheel that makes sounds. Ages 18 months to 3 years; $49.99, step2.com.
Crayola Beginnings Washable Triangular Crayons help toddlers develop writing skills. Ages 2 and up; $2.99, crayola.com.
DiscoverSounds Guitar makes silly sounds, with a built-in light show. Ages 6 to 36 months; $7.99, littletikes.com.
Mouse Trap. This is the classic game you knew and loved as a kid. Ages 6 and up; $16.99, hasbro.com.
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Your diet may prevent Alzheimer's
Another reason to eat your vegetables!
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The bad news: Up to 640,000 Americans under age 65 have early onset Alzheimer's and other dementias, says the Alzheimer's Association.
The good news: What you eat may influence the onset and progression of Alzheimer's. Here's the latest:
GO MEDITERRANEAN. People who eat a Mediterranean-type diet are 40% less apt to develop Alzheimer's, says new research at Columbia University Medical Center. The Med diet is rich in fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains, fish, wine and olive oil -- and low in red meat.
BRING ON FATTY FISH. Eating oily fish rich in DHA (a particular omega-3 fat) cuts your odds of Alzheimer's and other dementia nearly in half, say researchers from Tufts University. Salmon is especially rich in DHA.
DRINK THE RIGHT STUFF. A Vanderbilt University study finds that drinking fruit or vegetable juice at least three times a week cuts the risk of Alzheimer's 76% compared with less than once a week. Coffee drinkers are 30% less apt to get Alzheimer's than coffee abstainers, says a Spanish study. Possible reason: caffeine. In Israeli research, EGCG, the main antioxidant in green tea, helps remove Alzheimer's culprits, such as iron, from brain cells.
CONTROL WEIGHT, BLOOD SUGAR. Borderline diabetes (high blood sugar and insulin) ups risk of dementia about 70%. And people who are obese at midlife are more than three times more apt to get Alzheimer's later in life.
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Use old newspaper for spring flower beds
Fall is a marvelous time to prepare new garden beds for next spring.
With one of my favorite methods, the "lasagna" gardening technique, existing grass doesn't need to be removed. Before you plant your bulbs, place a 1-inch layer of wet newspaper (no colored newspaper) over the entire bed. Cover newspapers with 2 to 3 inches of peat moss, then several 4- to 6-inch layers of organic material, such as compost or chopped leaves. Plant bulbs; dress them with a 2-inch layer of mulch. All the layers combined (including the organic matter and mulch) will range in depth from 18 to 24 inches.
In a few months, with the proper moisture -- 1 inch per week is a good rule of thumb -- the bed will sink into the ground. Because the newspapers act as a barrier, there will be few weeds. Instead, the garden bed will be composed of rich, crumbly soil come spring.
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Humane lessons for kids
Dogfighting isn't about culture, race or even socioeconomic status -- it's about violence, says Chicago activist Melia Carter of the Dog Advisory Work Group (DAWG). In the Windy City, the group is leading a coalition of police, elected officials, faith-based leaders and animal-related groups in a citywide campaign known as Safe Humane Chicago to reduce the prevalence of dogfighting.
"Dogfighting puts communities at risk," says Cynthia Bathurst, the executive director of DAWG. "Increasingly, children are witnessing and participating in dogfights, which desensitize them to violence."
The program brings trained handlers with dogs to community centers, schools and other venues to teach about humane treatment of dogs and when it's OK to approach a strange dog.
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