Service dogs may lessen anxiety in autistic children

Data on cortisol awakening response measurements of 42 children with autism spectrum disorders showed that trained service dogs reduced stress hormone levels and improved socialization skills of the children. In the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, parents reported an average of 33 behavior problems before living with a dog compared with 25 while living with the animal.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-17/pets/29765111_1_autistic-children-service-dogs-cortisol

Oxytocin influences effect of maternal depression on children

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/12/09/love-hormone-may-buffer-kids-from-moms-depression

BPA lurks in canned soups and drinks

By Anahad O'Connor New York Times 23 November 2011

A new study of people who ate one serving of canned food daily over the course of five days, the study found, had significantly elevated levels — more than a tenfold increase — of bisphenol-A, or BPA, a substance that lines most food and drink cans.

The new study, which was published last month in The Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first to measure the amounts that are ingested when people eat food that comes directly out of a can, in this case soup. The spike in BPA levels that the researchers recorded is one of the highest seen in any study.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/bpa-lurks-in-canned-soups-and-drinks/

Why are so many children being born with sex defects?

1.2 million Britons are thought to have been born with some kind of disorder of sexual development as a result of errors in their genetic code. The disorders may be becoming increasingly common as a result of chemicals in plastics and hormones excreted by women taking the Pill, or similar drugs used in animal rearing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2064554/Why-children-born-sex-defects.html

Are you or someone you know suffering from a concussion or sports injury?

HBOT might be able to help. For more information visit our website at http://www.ihealthnow.org/aboutus/healingwellness3.html

Sports-related concussions may affect cerebral blood flow

From the American Academy of Pediatrics...
 

A study in the journal Pediatrics showed that cerebral blood flow significantly declined in most children ages 11 to 15 who experienced sports-related concussions. The circulation changes continued after other symptoms had subsided, which researchers said may mean that some children are returning to sports while they are still vulnerable to reinjury.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/11/28/peds.2011-2083.abstract

http://children.webmd.com/news/20111129/concussions-might-affect-kids-adults-differently

See what Blackmore's has to say about Dr. O'Hara

Check out the latest from Blackmore's on Dr. O'Hara...

http://www.blackmores.com.au/wellbeing-blog/a-fresh-approach-to-treating-childhood-illness

EAT ORGANIC...

An organic diet decreases pesticide exposure in 5 days

"Clean 15" - lowest in pesticides
1. onions
2. sweet corn
3. pineapple
4. avocado
5. asparagus
6. sweet peas
7. mangoes
8. eggplant
9. cantaloupe (domestic)
10. kiwi
11. cabbage
12. watermelon
13. sweet potatoes
14. grapefruit
15. mushrooms

"Dirty Dozen" - HIGHEST in pesticides
1. apples
2. celery
3. strawberries
4. peaches
5. spinach
6. nectarines (imported)
7. grapes (imported)
8. sweet bell peppers
9. potatoes
10. blueberries (domestic)
11. lettuce
12. kale/ collard greens

For more information on pesticides in food, visit: http://www.ewg.org/pesticidesorganics