Community Magazine January 2012

To junior's • Health ARSENIC IN APPLE JUICE In response to recent media reports of possible high levels of arsenic in apple juice, the Food and Drug Administration announced that apple juice continues to be safe. At the same time, however, it is considering new policies regarding accepted levels of arsenic in juice. Some groups recommend that parents dilute juice that is given to children, use a variety of brands of juice and limit overall intake, while doctors recommend beingmore wary of the risk of obesity from juice drinking than of arsenic. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not giving juice to children under the age of six months, 4-6 ounces for kids under age 6, and 8-12 ounces for older children. Arsenic can be either inorganic, which is harmful and comes from pesticides and pollution, or organic which is relatively harmless. Testing often does not differentiate between the different kinds, and arsenic does occur naturally and is impossible to completely eliminate. CHOLESTEROL TESTING … FOR KIDS? Children between the ages of 9 and 11 should be tested for high cholesterol, according to new guidance from an expert panel appointed by the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Previous recommendations for cholesterol testing applied only to those with a family history of cholesterol problems, or of obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure. Some kids can have detectable signs of heart disease before evident symptoms appear, and over 10 percent of children have high cholesterol by the fourth grade. Fat starts hardening in arteries when people reach their 20s and 30s, so testing in childhood offers a chance for early intervention. Children with high cholesterol would be advised to use diet and exercise to control it, less than 1 percent of these children would need medication. WAIT TOCLAMP THE CORD While most obstetricians cut the umbilical cord right away after delivery, a recent study suggests that waiting at least three minutes reduces the chances of iron deficiency when the baby is four months old. Researchers studied two groups of infants, one whose cords were clamped within 10 seconds, and the other after three minutes or longer. Two days after birth their iron levels were similar, but four months later, iron levels were 45 percent higher in the delayed-clamping group, and early-clampers had increased rates of iron deficiency, which may cause impaired development. The study was published in the British Medical Journal. Some obstetricians believe that clamping too late can cause jaundice, but the study found no link with jaundice or other negative effects. DOCTORS IGNORINGOBESITY Researchers from the University of North Carolina report that fewer than 30 percent of parents of overweight children have had this issue addressed by their doctor. The study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, suggests that parents may be more likely to have a healthy diet and exercise plan with their families if they knew that weight was a health problem for their children. In 1999, fewer than 20 percent of parents had a conversation with their doctor about their child’s weight problem, a figure that has since risen. A study in 2011 found that a third of children between 9 months and two years were overweight or obese. Obese children are at risk for teasing, discrimination, depression, and obesity in adulthood. Obesity has been linked to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. 10WORST KIDS’ CEREALS It’s the most important meal of the day, but if your kids are eating one of these popular cereals, they’re basically eating a jumbo serving of sugar for breakfast. Some of the least healthy cereals for kids contain over 50 percent sugar, and are no better than a donut, according to a survey from the Environmental Working Group. The worst offender is Kellogg’s Honey Smacks, which contains 55.6 percent sugar by weight. The others are: Post Golden Crisp, Kellogg’s Froot Loops Marshmallow, Quaker Oats Cap’n Crunch OOPS! All Berries, Quaker Oats Cap’n Crunch original, Quaker Oats Oh!s, Kellogg’s Smorz, Kellogg’s Apple Jacks. Quaker Oats Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries, and Kellogg’s Froot Loops original. Cereals within each brand vary greatly, with Original Cheerios being healthier at only 3.6 percent sugar, whereas the Apple Cinnamon, Chocolate and Fruity varieties contain 33 percent sugar. Of the 84 cereals tested, 10 had more than 210 milligrams of sodium and at least 26 cereals were not predominantly whole grain. Experts recommend Kellogg’s Mini-Wheats, General Mills Cheerios original and General Mills Kix original, as healthier cereal varieties. 78 Community magazine