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Issue Date: March 16, 2008
Today's Topic: Health & Your Family
Relationship expert Dennie Hughes scours mountains of material to help with matters of the heart. Now, she finds the latest news for healthy bodies, too.
So much health news, so little time.
USA WEEKEND award-winning Contributing Editor Dennie Hughes writes the magazine's RelationTips column.
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Today's families are especially hard-pressed. From endless information on the Internet to headlines that seem contradictory at every turn, it all can be overwhelming and confusing.
That's where I come in. Having written the RelationTips column for USA WEEKEND over the past seven years, I've read thousands of letters from readers looking for ways to resolve personal issues. Many of those letters are from parents; some even come from kids. To give my readers the most up-to-date answers, I read dozens of magazines, websites and news releases, and I talk to experts in different fields. And one thing is clear: Matters of the heart often are triggered by those of the body. Our emotional health is intimately connected to our physical well-being.
For the last several months, I've been collecting the newest and best information I could find on how to keep families happy and healthy, so I could share it with you. Take a look -- maybe you'll discover some ways to help your family grow more healthy, both inside and out.
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MY HEALTHY OBSESSION
American Dental Association
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My smile is a mile wide, and I've always been obsessed with keeping that third of my face in tiptop shape. After all, teeth (along with eyes) are rated as the important feature of an attractive face. Studies show that well-maintained teeth and gums can pay broader health dividends, too. One way is by promoting a healthy heart: Bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth loss may play a role in heart disease. And I was surprised to read recently that poor oral health and tooth loss may be a factor in the development of dementia late in life. The American Dental Association now recommends that good oral health practices start in infancy. This could keep many children from having tooth decay to adulthood -- with other added benefits, as well.
To read more: Go to ada.org.
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GLAD TO HEAR IT: PARENTS MATTER
MTV
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The stereotype of teens as sullen and surly ("You just don't understand!") has stood the test of time. So a recent landmark study by MTV and the Associated Press on "The Future of Happiness" offered some surprising findings about today's youths. Most 13-to-24-year-olds reported being happy and listed their parents as their top role models. If you want to keep the young people in your life out of trouble, make time for them. The answer 46% gave when asked "What one thing in life makes you most happy?" was: spending time with friends, family and loved ones.
To read more: Go to mtv.com/thinkmtv/research.
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THIS ONE WORRIES ME
"U.S. News & World Report"
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Experts have been sounding the alarm for years that America's children are dangerously overweight; the percentage who are obese has more than tripled since the 1970s. Yet I was shocked to learn from an article in "U.S. News & World Report" that today's youths could be the first ever to have a shorter life span than their parents. What's a parent to do? Plenty, the story explains: "The most important thing parents can do is to model healthful behaviors -- not preach them -- by avoiding fad diets, skipped meals and too much junk food, and by hitting the gym and planning active family outings on a regular basis."
To read more: Go to usnews.com and search for "weight battle."
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CLEAR FACTS: NOW I KNOW
"W" magazine
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What teen -- and plenty of parents, too -- doesn't fret over bad skin? When I wrote an article several years ago about skin care and how to cope with acne, I was confident in stating that keeping your complexion clear, contrary to an old wives' tale, had nothing to do with eating junk food.
But last November, a story in W magazine proved me wrong. The article reported on an American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study that contradicted the prevailing thinking among doctors, facialists and health-ed teachers over the past three decades. When a group of acne-plagued males ages 15 to 25 changed from a diet heavy in overprocessed and high-sugar foods to one of whole grains, lean meat, fish, fruits and vegetables for 12 weeks, the men had 51% fewer pimples. Luckily, chocolate is still on the list of OK foods for clear skin -- dark chocolate, that is.
To read more: Search online for "W magazine, Acne Diet."
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SICK CHILD: WHO KNOWS BEST?
"Parenting" magazine
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Googling has become a way of life for many people. Lots of readers tell me that they go online to diagnose an illness in themselves or family members, then try self-treatment to avoid costly doctor visits. In "Parenting" magazine, a pediatrician mother offered guidelines on "symptom surfing" related to kids' health. Websites are great resources for information, but always trust your physician over the Internet, the article advises. Two reliable websites named: kidshealth.org and intelihealth.com. And Parenting.com has a new tool that breaks down symptoms and indicates under what conditions your child needs to see a doctor.
To read more: "Parenting's" October 2007 issue; Parenting.com.
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SOAP AND HEALTH
"Parents" magazine
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Recent reports about the "superbug," also known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), in some schools has really frightened parents. Parents magazine offers good insight. It notes, for one thing, that severe infections are relatively rare. And the simplest, most effective means of prevention: Wash hands frequently, for 20 to 30 seconds each time, or as long as it takes your child to sing Happy Birthday twice.
To read more: Go to parents.com and search for "MRSA."
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"SNOOZE NEWS"
I'm sure I don't have to tell you that lack of sleep can cloud your thinking, cause you to snap at your children and generally heighten the stresses of parenthood. According to Prevention magazine, studies also are turning up clear links between too little sleep and obesity, as well as other conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. (One study of almost 7,000 people revealed that those who typically get fewer than seven hours of shut-eye every night are more likely to be obese than their well-rested peers.) Reading up on "sleep thieves" (an overactive mind, your hormones, a bed mate) and what you can do to address them will help you rest easy.
To read more: Go to prevention.com and sleepfoundation.org.
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GRIEVE TOGETHER
A fascinating article from "Self" magazine notes that about 2.5 million people in this country die every year, leaving behind an average of five loved ones. Yet how survivors heal afterward has remained largely unexamined since 1969, when studies suggested that moving forward was a five-stage process (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). Now, new research finds that for most people, getting past grief isn't such a straight and narrow path. Some gradually recover on their own; others benefit from a support group; still others look for spiritual help. Ultimately, 85% of grievers reported feeling somewhat better after six months, according to one study.
To read more: Google the words "happy again: living well" for the article at Self.com.
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