Veggies Help Protect Babies from Diabetes A


recent study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothen- burg, in Sweden, reveals that expectant mothers who eat vegetables every day give birth to children who are much less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes. Analysis of blood samples from almost 6,000 5- year-olds showed that children at risk of developing diabetes 1 have antibodies that attack insulin-producing cells, a risk marker that was up to twice as common in children whose mothers rarely ate vegetables during pregnancy. The univer-


sity says this is the first study to show a direct link between vegetable intake during pregnancy and the risk of children then getting this disease.


Natural Sleep Aids for Kids V


Listen Up Y


oung people who listen to personal music players for several hours a day at high volume could be putting their hearing at risk, warns a study published online in the British Medical Journal. Researchers found that devices such as MP3 play- ers can generate levels of sound directed at the ear in excess of 120 decibels, similar in intensity to a jet engine, especially when used with earphones inserted into the ear canal.


Use of music devices has grown faster than health experts’ ability to assess potential health con- sequences such as long- term hearing loss, as well as their interference with concentration and perfor- mance, especially when driving. Such findings point out that today’s ubiquitous acceptance of technology in our lives must be accom- panied by vigorous efforts to understand its impacts on our health and well-being, especially among youth.


arious factors may cause a child’s sleeplessness, so before reaching for conventional drugs and sleep medications,


parents may want to first consider changing a child’s bedtime routine. For example, try turning off the television and computer a couple of hours before bedtime to avoid overstimulation. It also helps to keep the child’s bedroom as calm and stress-free as possible; aromatherapy-scented pillows, soaps and lotions that work best include lavender, sage and chamomile. Homeopathic remedies are another option; practitioners advise that such gentler medications are usually well tolerated by children. Choices include Kali phosphoricum for over- stimulation, Magnesium phosphoricum to calm a child and to relieve colic, and Passiflora incarnata for a child who is too tired to go to sleep. Another natural sleep aid is drinking an herbal tea made from chamomile, passion flower and valerian an hour before bedtime. Before implementing any herbal rem- edy for a good night’s sleep, parents should consult a certified herbalist to ensure they are administering it correctly for the child’s age and weight.


Sources: EduBook.com, eHow.com, HerbalRemediesInfo.com


natural awakenings


August 2010


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