Timmy and Tommy were born two weeks apart. They grew up next door to each other, attending the same schools and even going to college together, where they both majored in business. Today, Timmy works in a cushy job on Wall Street, bringing in a handsome, six-figure salary. Tommy works in a similar field, but his accomplishments are not quite as pronounced and his paycheck is missing a few zeros. What caused the discrepancy between Timmy and Tommy’s success when they were essentially raised together, with the same privileges and opportunities? Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a myriad of answers. But if you ask a nutritionist, you’ll only get one, and it will revolve around their diets . . . as toddlers.

The years between the ages of one and three are seen as nutrition’s golden window, the time when what goes into the belly is most important and impacting. It aids in physical growth, mental development and according to a recent study, future economic status.  A study of nearly 1,500 people, in which two Guatemalan villages received a protein, calorie and nutrient rich porridge while two received a placebo, found that men who had eaten the healthier porridge before the age of three earned 46 percent more per hour than those who had not. If they had not gotten it until after the age of three, there was no difference. Researchers attribute this to improved cognitive ability as well as (although not as significantly) a stronger and heartier physique.

What you feed your child before his third birthday may not mean the difference between raising a wealthy wage-earner rather than a scrounging worker, but it may mean that he has a better shot at achieving everything he is meant for. Make sure that the foods he eats are nutritious and contain all of the vitamins and minerals necessary to healthy growth. Make sure there is enough iron and calcium in his diet.  Offer a plethora of fruits and vegetables every day. Promote milk, whole grains, water and lean protein rather than junk, fast food and sugary drinks. And even though he is young and seemingly uncomprehending, begin teaching him the ins and outs of nutrition by demonstrating through your own habits what a balanced diet is.

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We are only a couple days away from Halloween. Kids are getting excited. It’s time to make the final touches on this year’s costume, plan the party and organize the fun “trick-or-treat?” around the neighborhood.

Parents have a lot to do as well. The tradition continues every year and it’s never too late to make some changes. This could be the year your kids could have delicious healthy candy. Why not?

Plenty of choices are available and the natural supplement industry spends more time developing healthy “free of chemicals” candy.

“Trick-or-treat?” is the most fun part of the Halloween celebration but it brings an inevitable problem: the excessive number of sweets for the kids.

Let’s not be too serious about it since it’s only once a year. However, switching to healthy candy should not be a problem as long as taste just as good as regular candy. And indeed they do.

Healthy organic candy, made with natural fruit flavor, has practically the same good taste as any candy. Kids won’t even taste the difference. Conventional candy is loaded with potential dangerous or artificial flavors.

So, even if this fun celebration is just once a year, keeping unhealthy food, candy and snacks away from your kids is always a great idea.

Have fun and Happy Halloween from LuckyVitamin!

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Colostrum is the first milk a mother provides for her newborn. This unique type of milk is produced by the mammary glands in late pregnancy and the few days after giving birth.

The importance of colostrum for newborns is vital for the development of a strong immune system. Colostrum, also known as first milk or immune milk, is rich in nutritious substances and compounds that aid in the building of the newborn’s immune system, protecting the body from the multitudes of unwanted infectious diseases.

Colostrum is high in carbohydrates, protein and antibodies and low in fat. Newborns and babies have very small digestive systems and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form.

Supplementation of colostrum is recommended for children who have not received the mother’s breast milk. In addition, children with flu, colds, bacterial and viral infections, or any other immune system related issues may take colostrum on a regular basis fortifying the body’s natural defenses.

However, adults may also take advantage of this incredible supplement. There are many beneficial proteins in colostrum, including a variety of growth factors. Studies have showed that human consumption of bovine (cow) colostrum is beneficial to general health.

Colostrum supplements as a medical food raise both general immunity and physical strength, providing the energy boost you may be looking for.

Bovine colostrum is available in capsules, tablets, powdered drink mixes, liquid preparations, food bars, and skin care products.

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Kids are going back to school across the country. Recent studies showed alarming numbers of child obesity in the United States and “school lunch” could be one of the reasons kids are getting fat.

Parents may try their best providing kids with a healthy lunch. Fruits, nuts, healthy snacks and nutritional sandwiches are ideal foods to maintain kids eating healthy.

However, vending machines are parents’ biggest nightmare, offering candies, chocolate bars, bags of chips and all the unhealthy food kids should not be eating. Nobody is saying that kids should eat 100% healthy. Yes, they can eat some sweets and candy every once in a while.

The problem is the very high daily intake of unhealthy food, as kids tend to eat burgers, hot dogs, french fries and several other high caloric types of food. Most parents wonder, what can be done to stop this unhealthy process?

Talking to your kids should be the first step, explaining how to stay healthy and avoiding weight gain for example. It’s also important to inform your kids about food, pointing out which types of food are important, mentioning the benefits of eating fruits or how natural juices and water are better than sodas, etc.

We go to school to learn and prepare ourselves for adult life. Nutrition should be another important “class” for kids, and eating well should be part of school life.

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Whoever created this “saying” must have never had babies, or were the luckiest parents ever. Studies have showed that most babies do not get a full night of sleep, waking up during the night for feeding, cuddling and urinating.

How is it any different than adults? Well, we all wake up in the middle of the night for the same reasons, the only difference: we do not start crying once we open our eyes, right?

Statistics show a new record number of babies born last year. The increasing number also reveals that many new parents may struggle with a newborn sleeping pattern. But what can be considered normal and what should be consider a sleeping problem for babies?

Researchers say only 16% slept through the night at six months old, with 84% waking up at least one time. In addition, 17% woke more than once per night and 5% woke once every single night. The most impressive number: 50% woke occasionally.

So, babies do not tend to sleep through the night, but can parents still do? That might take a little family planning. Taking turns watching the baby is very important for couples, as lack of sleep may cause stress, fatigue and concentration problems.

Some natural supplements may help you and your babies to sleep better. Homeopathic products are safe to be taken by babies. A natural energy booster could be a nice helper for parents experiencing sleepless nights, as you still have to work and do your daily tasks despite the lack of rest.

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Multi vitamins are one our best friends. Have you ever thought about it? They provide us in tablets everything we miss or lack on our regular diet.

Many people cannot eat properly because of their hectic lifestyle. Work, family and social activities normally prevent us from having proper eating habits. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, with healthy snacks in between meals, sounds like the “impossible mission” for most of us.

That’s when you best friend is there for you. You take one, two or several tablets, capsules or softgels, and you are taking care of your health, at least partially. Ok, you can’t deal with tablets. Liquid, powder or chewable tablets are also available. Most products have a perfect combination of all vitamins needed. In addition, many multivitamins are also a multi mineral, with the most important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron added to their formulas.

If that’s not healthy enough, now you can find multis with plenty of antioxidants, amino acids and herbal supplements, helping you cover all the possible issues you may have. Companies have been making great multivitamins for years but they seemed to forget that we all need our vitamins, no matter how old you are, or should I say how young you are?

Kids multivitamins have not been as complete as adult ones and the variety isn’t quite the same. Since child obesity has rapidly increased and children tend to eat more and more fast food these days, it’s about time we should find better multis for kids.

Now, companies are taking a serious look at this scenario. We can finally find the first whole food children’s multiple with plenty of antioxidants. It’s never too early to concern about our health. Kids should be aware of good eating habits as well as preventing future health problems. Our little ones can now have their best friend too.

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A recent study has started a huge controversy about kids and cholesterol, popping up the question: should kids really be taking cholesterol drugs?

Pediatricians are now recommending wider cholesterol screening for children and use of drugs as early as the age of eight in hopes of preventing adult heart problems.

What first sounded like “total nonsense”, it actually brings up a few concerns you may want to consider. Kids are not eating very well these days and, although most kids often exercise, cholesterol levels can be high due to a poor diet. Yes, kids run around and burn a lot of calories while playing, but they also eat a lot of fast food, ice-cream, candy and all those “not so healthy” products.

Child obesity has been a major problem in the United States, with one out of three kids considered overweight or obese. If that’s not alarming enough, the prevalence of overweight children is increasing in all ages, from 2-5, 6-11 and 12-19. Therefore, cholesterol aids for kids could be a great way of preventing future problems. Perhaps kids could try eating healthier and take a few supplements.

Most of the kid’s multivitamins offer an important blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and are available in “child friendly” versions: chewable tablets, gummy bears, liquid and powder form.

In addition, some companies are also making fish oil for kids, providing important levels of omega 3. Even complete omega formulas (3-6-9) are now available for kids. Most brands are adding fruit flavors to their fish oil products, (strawberry, lemon, orange) making a lot easier for parents to get their kids a healthier life.

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Would you consider giving cholesterol lowering aids to your children? Yes, anything that will help their health is OK by me. Yes, I would give them natural supplements, but not medical drugs. No way! Kids should not be concerned with cholesterol. View Results  Loading …

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You were one of the more high-strung pregnant women, a fact that may have annoyed those around you but because you didn’t it take to frightening extremes, worked in your baby’s favor. During pregnancy and even before, you took the widely recommended folic acid supplements. You gained weight but not excessively and did so with healthy foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc. You read all of the books, took all of the classes, and learned what you needed to know. Your baby was born healthy with no birth defects and no obvious health complications. You breathed a sigh of relief . . . until you got home.

Once your child was nestled safely in her bassinet, your worry resurfaced. You no longer had the health experts nearby in case something happened while she slept, ate or breathed. What if something went wrong that you weren’t prepared for? What if you didn’t notice? You took to checking her constantly, standing in the doorway of her nursery as she slept, laying your hand across her cheek, adjusting the blanket that covered her, noting every discrepancy in her habits and monitoring her obsessively. But even as you did all this, your anxiety failed to dissipate, for you realized that you weren’t entirely sure what you were waiting for.

Four million infants die worldwide within the first month of their lives, many from bacterial infections, complications in birth or as a result of prematurity, but if the signs of these conditions aren’t known, nothing can be done to lessen this number. Therefore, health experts have compiled a list of signs that your newborn may have a serious medical condition. The list is only seven long and some may seem obvious. However, the more widely publicized this information is the less likely it is that another newborn will pass away unnecessarily. Read them, absorb them, and the next time you check on your baby, you’ll be able to note that everything is fine:

1. History of difficulty feeding
2. History of convulsions
3. Movement only when stimulated
4. Chest severely indrawn
5. Temperature over 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit
6. Temperature below 95.5 degrees Fahrenheit
7. Breathing rate greater than 60 breaths per minute

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The alarm started beeping at 6:00, signaling to your teens that it was time to get out of bed. The alarm stopped beeping at 6:10, signaling to you that someone had finally found the snooze button. Ten minutes later the incessant beeping began again. You were hopeful that it would annoy at least one of them into consciousness, but that hope didn’t last long. It never does. As the bus rounded the corner 20 minutes later, you were yelling up the stairs. They were running frantically, searching for a missing sock, their calculus homework and their contact lenses. When the yellow doors opened, you shoved them towards the bus. They stumbled on, groggy but present. You heaved a sigh of relief. You had once again managed to get them to school clothed, presentable (or close to) and on time. You couldn’t feasibly try for anything more . . . but you should. You should try for breakfast.

A study of more than 2,000 adolescents found that those who regularly ate breakfast in the morning were healthier than those who skipped it. The teens exercised more, had lower body mass indexes and were, on average, five pounds lighter. These betterments resulted in overall betterment, which meant lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and higher levels of the vitamins and minerals needed for proper development, such as fiber. Continue Reading >>

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We’ve done our best to limit calorie-laden temptations in our homes and at school. We’ve turned breakfast and dinners into nutritious smorgasbords of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. We have banned or restricted soft drinks, sugary sweets and needless junk food from the cafeterias, offering instead healthier options that much more closely resemble balanced meals. We have ensured that during the hours in which we have our teens under our wings, we know what they are eating, and that it is good for them. But what do we do when our adolescents are not where we can see them, when they are not in school or at home, when they are in transit?

It seems like a somewhat melodramatic question. We can hardly expect to know exactly what every single teen eats on any given day unless we assign one adult to each and begin individual monitoring. Isn’t it enough that we are making their meals as healthy as possible? Do we really have to obsess about the remaining hours?

The answer for some is yes. They’ve begun determining just how many opportunities for diet disaster lie between school and home, and what they’ve found is disheartening. More than 1/3 of middle and high schools are within half a mile of a fast-food or convenience store. The students have easy access to unlimited French fries, soft drinks, candy, pastries and fat-filled, energy-dense products. The appalled are suggesting changes to zoning and building policies as well as locking down schools at lunch so that students don’t have a midday opportunity for ill health. But I think that rather than focusing on this latest food outrage, this schoolyard Burger King bonanza, we should turn our attention to a different aspect of teenage health: activity.

It’s not just food that weighs down adolescents. Inactivity adds on the pounds, too, and makes the possibility of becoming an overweight adult all the more likely. Logically, exercise or movement of any type should do the reverse, and it does. Skateboarding, rollerblading or biking more than four times a week lowers an adolescent’s risk of becoming an overweight adult by 48 percent. School-based sports and physical education do the same to varying degrees. So rather than focusing solely on discouraging unhealthy habits (7-Eleven afternoon stops), why don’t we focus on encouraging healthy ones, like moving? Let’s get them active, burning some of the contraband calories that they consumed when we weren’t looking. And maybe they’ll be so busy exercising they won’t notice the six McDonald’s surrounding their school.

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For most products and services, an increase in demand coupled with a lack of supply spells a price hike and a race to the store. It’s why fruits and vegetables cost more and more as summer fades into winter, and why the opposite occurs as winter turns into spring. It’s why lines form outside of electronic stores before the latest versions of varying games, gadgets and software hit the shelves. It’s why fakes – purses, glasses, Ferraris – are so prevalent and popular. And it’s why I just paid 35.00 to fill up my 10-gallon Ford Focus. It’s a pain, but for all of the above, we can cope. When the product is a doctor, however, the same may not be true.

Studies are finding that the number of pediatric endocrinologists in the country is not matching the number of children who need one. There are an estimated nine million obese children in the United States, putting at least that many at risk for diabetes. Approximately 229,249 kids already have the disease (type 1 or type 2), and if the numbers keep with current trends, they will only continue to increase. Meanwhile, there are a limited number of pediatricians who specialize in diabetes. In fact, there is only one for every 290 diabetic children. That’s quite a caseload, particularly if you add the children who don’t yet have diabetes but who are severely at risk. No doctor could handle it and still maintain an adequate level of care.

Does this mean that you should go back to school immediately and become an endocrinologist or if it’s too late for you, push your child into the field? If it’s your dream or his, absolutely! We could definitely use the staff, but if neither of you are bound for medical school, there’s something else you can do: work to prevent diabetes.

There wouldn’t be a shortage of doctors if there weren’t a flood of diagnoses. While some of the prevalence is due to genetics, much is not. The rise in childhood obesity is directly affecting the rise in diabetes. Work to maintain your child’s health. Keep them on a balance, nutritious diet. Encourage them to remain active, exercising and participating in lively games. Monitor their health, teaming up with their doctors to ensure that blood pressure, cholesterol and heart health are all what they should be. Stave off diabetes, and the minimal number of pediatric endocrinologists will be a minimal concern.

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Your stress affects you. That is a given. It not only keeps you up at night and anxious during the day, but also weakens your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to illness. However, that’s where it stops; it doesn’t extend beyond you. And so your motivation to take a deep breath, step back and calm down is fairly limited. Unfortunately, so is your understanding of stress.

When you had children, everything that used to apply solely to you - your paycheck, your habits, your wellbeing - stopped applying solely to you. Everything you did, and now do, began affecting them and that includes your stress. A study of 169 children and their parents found that the kids with the most emotionally anxious parents were more likely to become ill and more likely to have an increased number of immune cells in their blood. They were made less healthy by the anxiety teeming within their parents.

How’s the motivation to de-stress now? Are you ready, for the sake of your kids, to find better management methods and a sense of serenity? If you do, it’s likely that the toll your stress has already taken on them will dissipate, as children are extraordinarily resilient. And as they get healthier, so will you.

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Get them up; get them going. Turn off the TV; hide the Play Station. Push them out the door. Do anything!!

Those are the messages broadcast to parents, teachers and childcare givers in an attempt to boost physical activity among today’s youth. Children must move. They must fight the obesity epidemic with exercise, motion and active play. You’ve heard it a million times, and you’ve complied as much as possible. You’ve all but locked your kids outside, hoping to inspire a good hour of old-fashioned romping. But after five minutes, when the thrill of circling the house has worn off, their little faces are pressed up against the window, asking “Mommy? What should we do now?” You sigh. You’d forgotten about the decided lack of playground equipment in the yard. You’ll have to get some, but what? Should you shell out hundreds of dollars for a fancy, multi-faceted jungle gym, or is there an alternative route?

There is, and it’s better! While stationary equipment, such as climbing structures, balance beams and swings, encourage activity, simple, cheaper toys like hula hoops and balls do so to a higher degree. In a study of 20 childcare centers throughout North Carolina, researchers found that those equipped with indoor and outdoor portable play toys, provided children with more opportunities for moderate to vigorous activity – opportunities the children happily took advantage of. The most active kids had an average of 80 more minutes of movement and 140 fewer minutes of sedentary time.

So hop in your car and head to the nearest toy store (or even the dollar store!) and pick up a few balls, jump ropes and hula hoops. You’ll get your kids moving, harder and longer, with a minimal amount of wallet pain. Of course, if you’re dreaming of the backyard tree house complete with rock wall, purchase it. The climbing and swinging will help develop motor skills. But to make sure that your little ones keep the pace high, throw a few portable toys in there, too.

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As your child grows into adulthood, he will leave behind much of what you currently see in him, much of what defines his youth. His sweet voice will evolve into the deep timber of a man’s. His naïve innocence will be replaced with realistic awareness. And his dependence on you will transform into self-reliance. But much of what is there will also remain. He won’t lose his sense of humor, his intelligence, his empathy, his sociability, his twinkling brown eyes, his quick smile or, unfortunately, his cardiovascular concerns.

A study of more than 800 children over 30 years found that those who had metabolic syndrome in youth were infinitely more likely to have it in adulthood. They were also 13 times more likely to have heart disease and 6.5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The troubles that had plagued them in youth followed them into adulthood, making their health-potential much less than what it could have been.

To ensure that your baby boy grows into a strong, healthy man, take a closer look at his health now. Assess, first and foremost, his weight. If he is still growing, the pounds should continue to increase, but in line with the inches. If his height barely budges, his waist should follow suit. If he’s finished growing, not about to get any taller, he shouldn’t get any wider either. And of course, if he is currently obese or largely overweight, you may want to consider a weight-loss program. Talk to his doctor about what would be best and while you’re there, have the doctor check out your son’s blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride and insulin levels. If they’re high, you need to work on lowering them.

Your child should only take the good things into adulthood, not the bad. See that he does.

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The thought of spring during those final days of winter brought nothing but happy warmth. You envisioned chirping birds, budding blooms, sunny days and hours upon hours of outside time . . . for your kids! The moment you could, you were sending them out the door to expend the energy that had been mounting since December and its first frigid afternoon. They would run through the backyard doing whatever they pleased (within reason) as you journeyed to the front yard and reveled in the beauty of spring. When they finally came indoors, they would be spent, crawling into bed without complaint, providing you with one more reason to love the season. It was a beautiful plan that included everything . . . except for allergies.

Up to 40 percent of children are affected by allergies.  While they may occur at any time, spring is the most severe season, eliciting sneezing, itching, nasal congestion and discharge. Children are driven mad by the symptoms, unable to sleep at night, focus during the day or engage in outdoor activities – the very events you had been dreaming of.  Although medications are offered, they don’t always work, forcing many parents to routinely switch treatment plans and leaving children unaided.

If you have a child with springtime allergies, it’s important that you try to minimize the effects of the season. Talk to her doctor now, so that you can determine what medications are available. When you settle on one, if it doesn’t help, don’t be afraid to speak up. Meanwhile, limit pollen exposure and keep a pack of tissues handy. You may not be able to eliminate your child’s allergies but you can prepare for them.

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