Good Healthy Advice

Study: Vitamin D important for building babies’ bones

Source: Blackmores

Researchers believe stronger bones in newborns can be attributed to vitamin D levels, according to a new study into sun exposure where pregnant women’s exposure to sunlight was found to have a direct impact on the height and size of babies.

Studying meteorological data from their mothers’ last three months of pregnancy, as well as height measurements and the results from bone density scans, the cases of nearly 7000 children were examined at The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children at Britain’s University of Bristol.

When compared to children born in the darkest months, children born to mothers with the highest levels of sun exposure were reported to be 0.5cm taller and showed extra bone area (over and above that which their additional height might cater for).

Rapid decline in breast cancer risk soon after stopping use of combined HRT

Sourced: Cancer Council

Women who stopped taking combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) experience a rapid decline in the risk of breast cancer, according to new results from the Women's Health Initiative study in the US.

The study investigators excluded breast cancer screening as an explanation for the decline in breast cancer risk in the study in women who stopped using HRT. The results are published today in The New England Journal of Medicine.

These findings are in line with a decline in rates of breast cancer in women over 50 years of age in Australia. Rates of HRT use dropped dramatically after the initial results of the Women’s Health Initiative trial were published in 2002, which showed the adverse health effects associated with the use of HRT.

90 per cent of mums unaware of effect of minerals on school performance

Source: Blackmores

Interesting new research has revealed that 90 per cent of mothers of children aged 1-12 know little or nothing about the effects of dietary minerals on a child’s performance at school. The Newspoll research conducted last week also found that one in three mothers worry about their children’s health suffering as a result of their diet.

Australian surveys indicate that, in fact, many children are deficient in important minerals such as iron, zinc and iodine.

The Newspoll research conducted 12-14 January 2009 also found that:

• 33 per cent of mothers of 1-12 year olds find it difficult to get their child to eat some types of healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables
• 6 in 10 mothers worry about their child catching colds, flu or tummy bugs from other kids
• 1 in 3 mothers worries about their child’s health suffering as a result of their diet
• 1 in 2 mothers is concerned about their children’s ability to concentrate
• Over half of mothers admitted to being unsure about the level of magnesium, iodine or zinc in their children’s diet. 

Salt in fast food 'a danger to health'

Sourced: The Australian

MANY popular brands of fast food contain so much salt that just one product would provide half the recommended daily intake of sodium in one hit, while some have much more - raising the risk of chronic health problems such as high blood pressure.

A survey of salt levels in leading fast food brands, to be released today by Sydney-based health experts, found three-quarters of the burger and sandwich-style products sold by six companies provided more than 50 per cent of the suggested daily target.

One product - KFC's Zinger Double BBQ Bacon & Cheese Burger - provided the highest amount of salt, with 2410mg of sodium per burger.