New CDC Guidelines Seen as Boost for Chiropractic Care

New CDC Guidelines Seen as Boost for Chiropractic Care (284) (NewsUSA) - Sponsored News - Now what? That's the question chronic pain sufferers are asking following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's release of the first-ever national guidelines designed to curb the alarming increase in prescription drug deaths. A record-high 28,647 deaths involving opioids were recorded in 2014, according to the latest statistics, which is 14 percent higher than the previous year. And the government's response -- advising doctors not to prescribe the potentially addictive pills in most situations for chronic pain -- couldn't have been plainer. "It has become increasingly clear that opioids carry substantial risk but only uncertain benefits -- especially compared with other treatments for chronic pain," CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden told reporters in March. The one catch? Right now it's purely voluntary whether doctors used to prescribing the likes of OxyContin stop or not. So if, for example, you're concerned about overdosing and experiencing musculoskeletal conditions including low back and neck pain, many experts say it's time to consider an alternative like chiropractic care. Even before the CDC acted, drug-free chiropractic care was being touted as the go-to first option -- over both prescription pills and surgery -- as a result of research showing it yielded improved patient outcomes, higher satisfaction and lower costs. "It's heartening to see the growing opioid epidemic is finally gaining the attention it deserves," said Sherry McAllister, DC, executive vice president of the not-for-profit Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, noting that doctors of chiropractic have a minimum seven years of higher education and provide care and rehabilitation on issues ranging from musculoskeletal pain to headaches to general health concerns. Learn more at F4CP.com.

The Great Flavored Milk Debate

The Great Flavored Milk Debate (384) (NewsUSA) - A great debate has been building for the past five years in school districts across the country: Is flavored milk contributing to childhood obesity, and should it be taken out of schools? Facts, research and experts say no. Flavored milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk, including calcium, vitamin D and potassium, three nutrients that children aren't getting enough of, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. "On average, flavored milk accounts for only 2 percent of total calories and 3 percent of all added sugars in kids' diets. But studies show that schools see a severe drop in milk consumption when chocolate milk is taken away," says Alyssa Greenstein, a registered dietitian with the Dairy Council of Florida. "And the nutrients lost from not consuming enough milk aren't easy or affordable to replace." Research finds that low-fat chocolate milk is the most widely chosen milk option in schools, and despite the availability of white milk, children will turn to sodas and fruit drinks if flavored milk is removed from cafeterias. Sodas are the main source of added sugar in children's diets, and unlike milk, they offer no nutritional value. Many nutrition and health organizations -- including the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dietetic Association and the School Nutrition Association -- agree that flavored milk is a healthier alternative to soft drinks and a vital part of meeting the dietary needs of youngsters. "If children don't drink milk with lunch, it becomes almost impossible for them to consume the daily intake of calcium, vitamin D and potassium, which are nutrients of concern as it is," says Greenstein. Drinking flavored milk is a small but significant contributor to a child's total milk consumption, and it doesn't mean youngsters neglect white milk. In fact, flavored milk makes up only 20-26 percent of kids' total milk intake. A recent survey of 1,000 moms discovered more than half opposed any school district decision to eliminate chocolate milk from the menu. In the past five years, milk processors nationwide have made significant nutritional changes in milk formulations. With 38 percent less added sugar, flavored milk is projected to contain, on average, just 31 calories more than white milk. To see more of the nine essential nutrients found in flavored milk, visit www.floridamilk.com.

Smartphones Feed New Parental Fears

Smartphones Feed New Parental Fears (397) (NewsUSA) - The kids are in school, which means they spend most of their day without parental supervision. The days when parents only had to worry about their kids skipping class and getting bullied for lunch money are gone. Now, new threats have emerged around cell phone use. According to a survey performed by Internet monitoring software company SpectorSoft, sexting is parents' primary concern during the school season. "Absolutely," said Rebecca Hagelin, a parent who uses SpectorSoft to track her three teenagers. "It's allowed my children to enjoy all the benefits the latest technology has to offer them, and it's allowed me to protect them from the dangers of some of the new technology," she said. "It's a win-win." Smartphones with advanced Internet capabilities have greatly increased parental fears about cyberbullies, online predators, sexting and the exchange of inappropriate messages and pictures. SpectorSoft reports that 82 percent of all families surveyed contain at least one child who has a smartphone. Even if teachers and school faculty can keep students off their phones during school hours, who protects them after school? Bryan Bowers, author of "Keep Your Family Safe Online," said that the survey proves parents are starting to gain greater awareness of what their children are actually up to on their phones and online. "So many children have smartphones, and this tells me parents are starting to get the idea that these devices can be a problem for children," Bowers said. "They are starting to see the reality of what is out there." SpectorSoft, focused on monitoring products for children since their inception in 1998, has released eBlaster Mobile for Android and BlackBerry phones. This software keeps track of all activity on these smartphones by monitoring and recording text messages, calls and Internet activity and then sending that information to the parent. It also has Geofencing capabilities to enable parents to better understand the whereabouts of their children through their mobile devices. Parents can create electronic location boundaries -- or fences -- that trigger an alert notification when their child enters or exits a pre-defined area with their mobile device. eBlaster is designed for maximum parental convenience and child safety. The software can be downloaded from its website, www.spectorsoft.com, and then managed from any remote location. Plus, it has a GPS function reporting the exact location of the phone in the event of emergencies.

Balance Technology With Outdoor Play Time for Healthier Kids

Balance Technology With Outdoor Play Time for Healthier Kids (449) (NewsUSA) - Many children are too busy tweeting to go outside and hear a real tweet. Kids today spend an average of seven hours per day using electronic media but only four to seven minutes outside in unstructured outdoor play time. "The importance of media in today's world is indisputable, but a sky's-the-limit approach to technology can have a powerful downside for kids if it's not tempered with something more down to earth," said Lindsay Legendre, manager of the National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There movement -- an effort to get more children outdoors more often. Research shows that spending time outdoors makes kids grow lean and strong, enhances their imaginations and gives them time to let off steam and just be kids. The Kaiser Family Foundation says children who spend too much time with technology are more likely to get fair or poor grades. As a result of research like this. NWF's Be Out There movement created the "Outdoor Play for Every Day: A Parent's Guide for Overcoming Common Obstacles to Kids and Outdoor Play," which is loaded with tips and activities to help parents overcome the lure of technology and other common obstacles to getting kids outdoors. Consider the following suggestions to maximize outdoor time while making peace with media and technology: * Monkey See/Monkey Do. Set a good example about limiting tech time, and your kids will be more likely to follow suit. Talk to your kids, and let everyone have a say on the amount of time that screens will be used each week so ground rules are clear up front. * Pay to Play. Encourage kids to earn screen time by balancing it with equal amounts of reading, chores or playing outside. Len Saunders, author of "Keeping Kids Fit" and father of two, suggests that for every hour of physical activity, kids earn 30 minutes of tech time. * Let 'Em Pick. Offer kids a set amount of screen time each day and let them decide how to use it (watch TV, play video games or surf the web). If the weather is nice, and they want to trade their screen time for playing outdoors, they can bank their screen time for use on a rainy day. * Go Geocaching. Take your kids on an outdoor adventure that combines popular GPS technology and a treasure hunt. Don't have a GPS? There are several smart phone apps that can do the trick. Learn more at www.Rangerricktrails.com. For parents who want their kids to enhance their physical and mental health by playing outside more often, the Be Out There Parent Guide is a valuable resource. Find the Guide and more ideas for enjoying outdoor time at www.beoutthere.org.

The Modern-Day Parent's Answer to Allowance

The Modern-Day Parent's Answer to Allowance (353) (NewsUSA) - Some parents feel trepidation about giving their children a weekly or monthly allowance because they fear it will lead to unrealistic standards or a sense of entitlement. But what if there was a way to reward kids based on a clearly defined system of chores that not only taught them about finances, but also how to manage money responsibly? "Divvying up household responsibilities between my older son and daughter sometimes becomes a chore in and of itself. And in doing a search, I came across the site DoughMain.com," writes Boston Globe finance blogger Christine Dunn. "It's not just a tool. It's a system. And it can grow as my family grows." Doughmain.com is the modern parents' answer to the allowance debate. But if doling out a monthly allowance is the best way to teach children financial literacy -- knowledge that most kids lack -- parents should promptly find an amount they're comfortable with and a list of chores. According to the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, schoolchildren are "ill-equipped to understand personal finance." The annual advisory report shows that most students continue to graduate high school without receiving any formal education about managing finances. This lack of financial awareness can have a detrimental impact on college students with financial aid refunds or personal bills. If your child has grown up riding the wave of electronic media and digital tools in the "Net Generation" but you're worried about their financial literacy, Doughmain.com systematizes both education and real-time money management. Kids can access it all from their smartphone, too. Check out some of the services offered by the free tool: * The whole family can join, share and manage an account. * A color-coded, integrated calendar allows families to filter, view and update events for the whole family. * A chore tracker logs completed chores while an allowance scheduler keeps track of what has been earned. * Three interactive, age-relevant gaming sites educate children about finance concepts through teacher-developed content. * As children mature, you can link actual bank accounts to Doughmain to track deposits, saving and spending. * A Teen Visa Prepaid Card can be used to teach responsible credit card habits.

Keep After-School Hunger at Bay by Reaching for Raisins

Keep After-School Hunger at Bay by Reaching for Raisins (267) (NewsUSA) - A new study from the University of Toronto suggests that not all snacks are created equal when it comes to filling up kids' rumbling tummies. The new research found that California raisins, when compared with other snacks such as grapes and potato chips, helped kids feel more full off of fewer calories. "We found eating raisins as a snack prevented excessive calorie intake, increased the feeling of fullness and thereby may help contribute to the maintenance of a healthy weight in school-age children," said lead researcher G. Harvey Anderson, a professor of nutritional sciences and physiology at the University of Toronto. This small but mighty snack does more than just satisfy hunger. Raisins are an all-natural, no-sugar-added snack that is fat- and cholesterol-free. They are also a good source of potassium and fiber. In fact, a quarter cup of raisins is a whole serving of fruit. Try out this fun raisin recipe for a filling afterschool snack that doubles as a fun art activity from www.loveyourraisins.com.   California Raisin Rice Cake Doodles 10 multigrain rice cakes 2 cups California raisins 5/8 cup peanut butter or cream cheese (1 tablespoon per rice cake) 5/8 cup shredded cheese (1 tablespoon per rice cake) 1-1/2 cup various vegetables such as broccoli, radishes, zucchini, carrots and celery 1/4 cup various nuts, such as almonds, cashews, pecans and walnuts and seeds Different shaped pretzels, gold fish and sesame snacks for decoration Use rice cakes as the base for the doodle, and use peanut butter or cream cheese as the "glue." Design the rice cake with a variety of toppings. Have fun and be creative.

Turn Back the Clock on Age-Related Muscle Loss

Turn Back the Clock on Age-Related Muscle Loss (401) (NewsUSA) - Did you know age-related muscle loss starts when you turn 30? Whether we like it or not, muscle starts to deteriorate with age. This age-related muscle loss is known as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia springs from many factors, including inactivity, inadequate protein intake and increased levels of the regulatory protein myostatin, which regulates muscle growth. Clinical studies have shown that high levels of myostatin can lead to reduced muscle mass. Sarcopenia impacts overall health as well. Age-related muscle loss can limit the ability to perform everyday activities and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity as well as cardiovascular, neurological and orthopedic diseases. However, there are steps to take to help mitigate the effects of sarcopenia. Exercise Moderate physical activity, plus resistance training, may help promote muscle growth and reduce the impact of sarcopenia. Eat right Adequate protein intake is an important part of a healthy diet, especially with age, to help maintain muscle health. Nutritional supplements Rē Muscle Health products feature the revolutionary bionutritional supplement Fortetropin, described on MYOS Corporation's website as "the only safe and naturally occurring myostatin inhibitor available with clinically demonstrated positive effect on both muscle thickness and lean body mass compared to placebo." MYOS' Rē Muscle Health nutrition products are formulated to help protect and preserve lean, healthy muscle tissue. The product line includes bars, powders and meal-replacement shakes designed to be used daily to supplement a sensible workout regimen, or simply as part of a regular, healthy diet to help promote muscle health and lean body mass. The products contain a 6.6 gram full serving of Fortetropin along with 20 grams of protein. In clinical trials, Fortetropin, the active ingredient in Rē Muscle Health products, was associated with a reduction in myostatin levels, as well as an increase in lean body mass and muscle thickness. Dr. Buzz Aldrin, astronaut and member of the company's board of directors, uses the products daily. "I am pleased that Rē Muscle Health is tailored to the aging population as well as athletes and the fitness community," noted Dr. Aldrin, a former intercollegiate athlete and pole vaulter, in a company press release. "MYOS is doing important, groundbreaking work in muscle health, and I rely on Rē Muscle Health products to help me maintain my lean muscle. They taste great and I've seen tremendous results," Dr. Aldrin said. You can learn more about Rē Muscle Health by visiting www.remusclehealth.com.

A Minor Auto Accident Can Cause Chronic Headaches

A Minor Auto Accident Can Cause Chronic Headaches (373) (NewsUSA) - Too often, chronic headaches, including migraines, are the result of anything from a simple fender bender to a more major motor vehicle accident. For many, relief is as close as their dentist's office -- even years later. "We recently helped a 106-year-old patient who had suffered from decades of chronic headaches resulting from an auto accident in 1964. She had seen multiple specialists without relief. She has not had a single headache since her TruDenta care," reported Dr. Sheila Birth of Birth-Stewart-Fletcher Orthodontics, Ft. Worth, Texas. Extensive research now shows that many headaches -- up to 80 percent -- are the result of dental force imbalances. Dental force problems can often result from a micro or macro trauma to the head, neck, face or jaw. In addition to vehicle accidents, lasting effects can result from a simple fall or from playing soccer or other sports years ago. Symptoms can range from frequent headaches or migraines, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo or TMJ disorder (pain in your jaw, face, neck or ears). Each of these symptoms can dramatically impact day-to-day life in other ways -- depression, fatigue, stress and anxiety are all common among these sufferers, as well as a statistically lower overall quality of life. Now there is help with the non-invasive TruDenta system, available at more than 400 dental and orthodontic offices in 47 states. Diagnosis is quick and easy. Potential candidates for TruDenta treatments are examined using a digital bite force analyzer to pinpoint imbalances in the bite. In just 15 minutes, a trained dental professional can determine whether the patient's symptoms are related to improper or imbalanced dental forces. The TruDenta system has provided relief to thousands of headache sufferers. The treatments are painless, pleasant, and require no drugs or needles and use technologies and modalities that were originally developed -- and perfected by -- physicians in sports medicine. TruDenta dentists have been able to rapidly and painlessly resolve issues for 95 percent of their diagnosed patients with lasting results. TruDenta care is often covered by medical insurance. Fee for service is also an option, and most TruDenta doctors provide a free consultation. For a free Headache Diary, please visit http://info.trudenta.com/headachediary. To learn more, please visit www.TruDenta.com/NUSA2.

4 Ways to Add Some Muscle to Your Exercise Routine

4 Ways to Add Some Muscle to Your Exercise Routine (430) (NewsUSA) - When it comes to getting fit, many consider cardio exercise the best solution. But strength training is also an essential part of any comprehensive exercise routine. Strength training can boost cardio health, burn calories and fat and put you on the fasttrack for fitness success. It's no surprise that strength training was listed as a top fitness trend for both men and women by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). It's also a key step towards improving quality of daily life -- whether that's countering long hours spent at a desk job or staying active with the family. "Everyone can benefit enormously from strength training," says celebrity trainer and Bowflex Fitness Advisor Tom Holland. "Muscle helps our bodies work optimally, providing us with functional strength and the ability to perform daily activities with ease." Here are some easy ways to add some strength training into your exercise routine: * Commit to a regular routine, and build from there. If you are new to strength training, consider lighter weights and fewer repetitions to get started. You can challenge yourself with larger increments and higher repetitions as you progress. "Success in strength training is all about overloading the muscle with precise weight and progressing appropriately," Holland says. * Use equipment, or keep it simple. Equipment such as kettle bells, dumbbells and medicine balls are all great options. For example, the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells (www.bowflexselecttech.com) replace 15 sets of weights with a space-saving design -- adjustable from 5 to 52.5 pounds at the turn of a dial. If you don't have easy access to weights, or want to start off simple, everyday objects, such as a frozen water bottle or cans of soup, can be used as substitutes. * Get back to the basics with functional fitness. Functional fitness focuses on strength and bodyweight training exercises to improve balance, develop muscle and condition our bodies. Basic exercises, such as squats or sit-ups, mimic movements used in daily life. Another option to keep your body tuned to daily activities is walking. You might not be ready for a 5k walk, but a machine like the Bowflex TreadClimber (www.treadclimber.com) can help you get started by combining the motions of a treadmill, a stair climber and an elliptical. * Fuel your strength training with protein. "Protein is essential to building lean muscle," says Holland. One easy solution is a protein shake or smoothie. For example, the new Bowflex Body (www.bowflexbody.com) nutrition line includes fitness shakes that provide a 15-gram punch of protein and essential vitamins for only 125 calories.

Start Today: First Steps to Getting Healthy

Start Today: First Steps to Getting Healthy (376) (NewsUSA) - It's never too early or too late to be healthy, but not everyone knows where to start. A combination of diet, exercise and healthy supplements can go a long way toward improving the quality of your life. And the prevalence of social media means that you're never alone in your efforts. Follow these steps to help get you started on a road to better health: Eat Wisely and Well A healthy diet is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. In particular, starting the day with a healthy breakfast has many benefits. Data from multiple studies have shown that people who eat breakfast are less likely to overeat and snack later in the day. Breakfast doesn't have to be boring or tasteless either. Granola cereals, such as System LS Rise granola, are high in fiber and protein. In particular, System LS Rise features organic ancient chia seeds and barley malt. Also, think outside the box (cereal box, that is). Breakfast can be a breakfast bar, a protein shake or even leftover pizza from last night. Be Smart About Supplements Sometimes diet isn't quite enough, especially for those who eat more meals on the go. In those situations, a multivitamin designed to help support the immune system and provide missing nutrients can help fill the void. Supplements make sure your body is getting what it needs to be healthy. Build Your Support System Improving your health can be a struggle, and a little encouragement goes a long way. Today's social media outlets provide multiple options for seeking advice, as well as sharing health tips and information. For example, the System LS Facebook page provides a place to comment on health and nutrition, share ideas and get motivated by reading success stories. Get Moving Moderate exercise can yield a multitude of health benefits, from improving mood, to lowering cholesterol, to building bone density. Other benefits of exercise include maintaining a healthy weight and boosting your energy (because your heart and lungs are working more efficiently). In addition, exercise can enhance your sex life by improving your energy and appearance, which will also boost your self-confidence. Have trouble sleeping? Exercise may be the cure. For more information about health products and living a healthy lifestyle, visit Rapid Nutrition at: www.rnplc.com.