November is: National Diabetes Awareness Month
and Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

BROCCOLI HELPS KEEP PROSTATE CANCER AT BAY

An Institute of Food Research study now shows that eating one or more portions of broccoli every week can reduce the risk of prostate cancer and prevent localized cancer from becoming more aggressive. It turns out that broccoli, as well as other cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, affect genes by changing cell-signaling pathways, thereby reducing the risk of developing and spreading cancer.
 

The study of 400 men at risk for developing prostate cancer took place over the course of 12 months. Participants ate either 400 grams of broccoli or 400 grams of peas each week, in addition to their normal diet. Based on before-and-after tissue samples taken from their prostate gland, researchers found more changes in gene expression in the men who ate the broccoli than in those eating the peas.
Source: Public Library of Science, 2008

We Are What We Drink
When it comes to weight loss, what we drink may be more important than what we eat. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who examined the relationship between beverage consumption among adults and weight change, found that weight loss was positively associated with a reduction in liquid calories. They further concluded that calories from beverages had a stronger impact on weight than calories from food.

Experimenting with several categories of beverages, based both on calorie content and nutrition, they discerned that sugar-sweetened beverages were the leading source of liquid calories contributing to unwanted weight gain. These are the same beverages reported to play a significant role in the obesity epidemic currently affecting two-thirds of American adults.

Sleep Alert
New research reveals that insufficient sleep of six hours or less, a common shortcoming of our Western lifestyle, may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and reduced glucose tolerance, which in turn may increase the long-term risk of developing diabetes. The link was noted in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Source: The Endocrine Society, 2009

Smell Stress Away
When feeling stressed and tired, take a restorative whiff of bracing lemon, enlivening rosemary or soothing lavender—or any other plant that has a pleasant scent. Scientists in Japan have reported the first scientific evidence supporting the idea that inhaling certain fragrances alters people’s gene activity and blood chemistry in ways that reduce stress.

The effects are attributed to linalool, a fragrant substance present in many plants and plant oils. When inhaled, linalool reduced stress-activated neutrophils and lymphocytes (two types of white blood cells) in the body to near-normal levels and restrained the activity of more than 100 genes that go into overdrive during stressful situations.

In their study, researchers noted that people have inhaled the scents of certain plants since ancient times to help reduce feelings of anxiety, fight inflammation and depression and induce sleep. Today, aromatherapy, or the use of fragrant oils to improve mood and health, is a popular form of alternative medicine. These findings could form a new basis for identifying the best fragrances to smell to dispel stress.

Source: American Chemical Society, 2009

MORE KUDOS FOR NUTS AND MEDITERRANEAN DIET
According to a report in The Journal of the American Medical Association, a Mediterranean diet, with an additional daily serving of mixed nuts, can be helpful in managing some metabolic disorders in older adults. Research focused on metabolic syndrome, a set of metabolic disorders such as abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and high blood glucose levels, all of which increase the risk of chronic disease.

Green Halloween

Tricks for Earth-Friendly Treats
The scariest aspects of Halloween are the unhealthy sugar overload and disposable waste in costumes, decorations and pumpkins left to rot. Ranking second only to Christmas as America’s best-loved holiday in a FamilyFun.com poll, Halloween started going green across the country last year with the help of a grassroots, volunteer-run initiative on the Web at GreenHalloween.org.

While the movement started in Seattle in 2007, spreading to New York City and Phoenix, neighborhood, school and community groups around the United States and Canada are now getting in on the act. Founder Corey Colwell-Lipson is behind the move to get people to “think outside the candy box.” Thousands are logging on for start-to-finish ideas for staging local eco-Halloween festivities.

One twist is to substitute alternative keepsakes like yarn bracelets, seed packets, polished stones, organic fruit leathers and foreign stamps instead of candy. A 2003 Yale University study found that nearly half of young trick-or-treaters picked a small toy over candy when given the choice. Another option is reverse trick-or-treating, an initiative of Global Exchange, where kids hand out free samples of fair trade chocolate with an informational card on the benefits of supporting fair practices in the cocoa industry (search trick-or-treat at GlobalExchange.org).

Europe Leads
International Support for Small Farmers and Artisans
Although fair trade is still modest in scope, given the factors of smart product design, business strategies and economies of scale, Europeans are proving that it can be a viable market, even in recessionary times. More than 70 percent of the British populace, for example, now recognizes the fair-trade mark, while just 28 percent of U.S. consumers do, according to a recent survey by the Fairtrade Foundation.

More, one in four UK shoppers now regularly buy several fair trade products, while fewer than 6 percent of Americans could even name a fair-trade organization.

Fair trade is based on the principle of paying workers a fair price for sustainable products. Damien Sanfilippo, a cotton project manager with the international Pesticide Action Network, points out yet another benefit: “Fair trade can provide a stepping stone for [Third World] farmers to convert to organic, because it’s easier to become fair-trade certified,” he says. “Once they have access [to higher fair-trade prices], they can decide to use the premium to finance the training that they need to move towards more sustainable practices—all the way up to organic.”

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Climate Treaty
Why 350 is the Most Vital Number on Earth
Grassroots activists around the globe will rally October 24 to try to convince negotiators wrapping up the United Nations global climate treaty this December to target 350 parts per million as the safe upper limit for greenhouse gases. It’s the number, say leading scientists, like James Hansen, Ph.D., and his colleagues at NASA, that humanity needs to cut back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change.

The 2008 atmospheric loading hit 387 ppm, according to the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. That’s up almost 40 percent since the Industrial Revolution and the highest for at least the last 650,000 years.
More than 1,350 grassroots events in 98 countries are gearing up to make a meaningful statement on this Global Day of Climate Action. Everyone is invited to join this necessary call to action to arrest Earth’s climate emergency.

To find or schedule a local event on October 24, visit 350.org.

Savvy Students
Colleges Demonstrate Environmental Literacy
The Princeton Review’s second annual ranking of “Green Colleges” shows that schools are responding to rising demand for eco-conscious academic environments. This year, 697 institutions of all sizes participated in the green rankings, from Ivy League universities to small, private colleges.
David Soto, the magazine’s director of college rankings, notes that while paying for college is a top worry for students and parents, environmental concerns are right behind that. A quarter of students and nearly a fifth of parents attest that an institution’s commitment to the environment would “very much” impact their choice of a college or university. Comments Soto: “They know they need these skills to get a job in the green economy.”

Source: GreenBiz.com

Easy Access  Green Info to Go
Anyone tired of wading through websites and blogs trying to locate that one bit of information that will answer their question about which is the better way to go green will appreciate GreenYour.com. Categories include home, office, body, lifestyle and transportation. But that’s only the beginning. Inquirers can simply type in the query of the moment and voilá, up comes brief, well-organized bulleted lists of easy-to-understand tips and insight on the topic. Plus, in some cases, bonus comments by helpful bloggers.

Green Royals

Long Live the Green Ruling Families Around the World Grist.org has posted its picks for rulers who are leveraging “their media magnetism and sovereign sway to draw attention to a variety of eco-causes.” These leaders are helping to green their homelands, counter climate change and make sure the cake we’re eating is organic, too. Initiatives range from support for healthy ocean, rainforest and wildlife populations to sustainable energies to high-quality food, water and air.

Royals leading the way include: Prince Charles of England; Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan; Prince Albert II of Monaco; Princess Lalla Hasnaa of Morocco; Princess Takamado of Japan; Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand; Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan; Queen Elizabeth II of England; Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand; and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden.

For more information visit Grist.org and search “10 green royals.”

Opt Out
Stop Junk Mail at its Source
The average American adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail a year, even though, as Newsweek reports, polls show that 89 percent of us prefer not to receive direct-marketing mail; 44 percent of it is never opened. Opposition from the U.S. Postal Service and the Direct Marketing Association has so far helped defeat passage of any Do Not Mail legislative relief in 19 states.

Low-cost initiatives like 41Pounds.org ($41 for five years includes a $15 eco-cause donation) and StoptheJunkMail.com ($20 a year) are coming to citizens’ rescue with services that solve 80 to 95 percent of the problem for us. Do-it-yourself types also can make it happen using how-to tips courtesy of The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse at PrivacyRights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm, with an assist from OptOutPrescreen.com and CatalogChoice.org.

Nationwide annual benefits of getting out from under junk mail include: preventing production of greenhouse gases equal to the emissions of 9 million cars; destruction of the 100 million trees and use of 28 million gallons of freshwater it takes to produce 4 million tons of junk mail; $550 million in transportation costs; paper waste comprising 40 percent of the U.S. landfill load; and $320 million in local taxes spent on junk mail disposal. That is not to mention the estimated 350 hours each household spends sorting and shredding it to protect against identity theft and fraud.

For more tips, visit BigGreenPurse.com and search “control catalog overload.”

Sustainable Consumer
Green Becoming a Tiebreaker 
in Shopping Decisions
A 2009 Grocery Manufacturers Association survey at 11 national chains found that more than half the shoppers interviewed consider green attributes when making purchases. Yet, less than half of the shoppers who were there looking for green products actually found them; only 22 percent of the 6,400 people surveyed ended up buying green products. Researchers concluded that grocers need to do a better job of educating shoppers and promoting green products in stores.

Other key statistics also emerged: About 2 percent of those surveyed classify themselves as committed to buying products based on sustainability attributes whenever possible; 18 percent consider themselves proactive in weighing environmental factors with other values; while sustainable products influence 34 percent, all other things being equal. On the flip side, a third of shoppers were unsure or neutral about eco-attributes and 13 percent rejected or didn’t know anything about going green.

Creative expression is key to the 5Rhythms® Dance/Movement Practice.  Developed by internationally renowned theater director, author and recording artist Gabrielle Roth, students dance freestyle through five specific energies or beats:

•    Flowing, to experience being fluid and letting things in
•    Staccato, to focus our passion and clearly express ourselves
•    Chaos, to shed what is not needed
•    Lyrical, to traverse the earth with a lightness of spirit
•    Stillness, to move peacefully in the rhythms of our breath

Each rhythm is a gateway for discovering different aspects of how we are in relationship to ourselves, a partner and a group. While the practice itself is simple, it has the power to catalyze deep healing.  Dancing to music from around the world, students tap into their imagination and find the choreography in their own bodies, which changes moment to moment.

Classes are open to everyone, regardless of age, size or physical ability — for people who like to show off or those who can barely show up, survivors of bad backs, bum knees or broken hearts.

Margaret H. Wagner, who teaches the Saturday morning NYC class, completed the 5Rhythms Teacher Training program in 2005 and has been studying the practice since 2000.  Ms. Wagner has been part of the core faculty at Omega Institute (Rhinebeck, NY), a faculty assistant at Kripalu (Stockbridge, MA) and a Visiting Reunion Faculty member at her alma mater, Mt. Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA). In addition to teaching in NYC, Margaret offers 5Rhythms® classes in Westport, CT (where she lives and enjoys dancing on the beach).

Saturday morning 5Rhythms® classes are held at Dance Theater Workshop (DTW), 219 West 19th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, 3rd Floor.  Fee: $15 (full-time students with valid ID, $10).  Visit 5Rhythms.com for more details.

Advantage Cosmopolites

Living Abroad Expands Creative Perspective

Living in another country, a classic prescription for artists seeking to stimulate their imagination and hone their craft, may actually expand a person’s mental creativity, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

Researchers found that university students in the United States, France and Singapore who have spent time abroad adapting to a new culture tested higher for creative insights. Even mentally recreating past experiences of living abroad by writing about them temporarily increased their creative capacity.

Apparently, “There is some sort of psychological transformation that needs to occur when people are living in a foreign country,” in order to enhance creative problem-solving, observes study co-author Adam Galinsky, Ph.D., of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern.

“Knowing that experiences abroad are critical for creative output makes study abroad programs and job assignments in other countries that much more important,” notes another co-author, William Maddux, Ph.D., an assistant professor with the INSEAD Business  School. “This is especially true for people and companies that put a premium on creativity and innovation to stay competitive.”

Media Impact

Where Americans Get Their News

Television remains the most popular source of news, and nearly one-third of Americans under the age of 40 see satirical news-oriented television programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart replacing traditional news outlets, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey.

Among adults of all ages, 39 percent believe such programs are making Americans more informed about news events; 21 percent believe they make people less informed. Meanwhile, the survey found that 70 percent of responding adults claim such programs are not influential in shaping their own political opinions.

In an earlier survey, the researchers found that most young readers also are rejecting both their local daily newspaper’s print and website editions as sources of information. Most of the 52 percent of American adults who routinely use the Internet find online reporting comparable to that in their local newspaper,

although fewer than half of them use the Internet as a daily news source. Overall, a majority of voters believe the Internet has had a positive impact on journalism.

Home Rules

America Accelerates Home Schooling

A 2009 Department of Education report shows that the number of home-schooled students has surged by 74 percent over the past eight years, to 1.5 million. The National Home Education Research Institute puts the number higher, at just over 2 million.

Leading reasons for the move include concerns about religious or moral instruction, the school environment and the quality of academic instruction. The institute’s research indicates that home-schooled students score 15 to 30 percentile points above their public school peers on standardized tests.

Online Swap

Cashless Bartering Soars via Internet Match-ups

Websites and businesses promoting cash-free transactions are booming from New Hampshire to New Zealand, as people find new ways to make ends meet through bartering and swapping just about any product or service. A spokesman for Craigslist.org, a classified advertising service, says that bartering on the site has doubled in the past year.

Ron Whitney, of the International Reciprocal Trade Association, reports that about $12 billion worth of business-to-business bartering is transacted each year around the world and that more than 250,000 U.S. businesses participated last year. Now, individuals are following suit via websites and community networks.

In all, Skylar reports, she is a happy kid. “But sometimes, if I’m super stressed, I’ll go cry in my room,” she confesses. “I sometimes just wish there wasn’t so much pressure.”

Such a statement from a child is particularly chilling. But, according to a growing body of research and legions of concerned child development experts, Skylar is not alone.

Troubling Trends

According to a study by the California-based Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, up to 70 percent of parents report that their 9- to 13-year-old children experience moderate to high levels of stress. In a recent poll of high school students by Stanford University, 65 percent admitted they were often or always stressed out. According to the National Mental Health Information Center, anxiety disorders affect 13 out of every 100 children ages 9 to 17.

Nationwide, healthcare providers report an increase in stress-related health problems like stomach aches, teeth grinding, sleep disorders and behavioral problems in children as young as preschool age. Some anxiety can be attributed to trouble at home, such as abuse or personal tragedy. But a more insidious culprit appears to have emerged: A culture of hyper-parenting, in which kids are overscheduled and academically overloaded, and adult role models—concerned about everything from terrorism to pandemics 
and the economy—are more stressed than ever.

“We have stumbled into a unique moment in the history of childhood, a cocktail of cultural and historical trends that have intersected to create a perfect storm,” says Carl Honoré, a 41-year-old father of two and author of Under Pressure: Rescuing our Children from the Culture of Hyper-Parenting.

He notes how anxious parents are feeling the need to prepare their kids for a tough job market. They have money to afford extracurricular activities, and because they are becoming parents later in life and raising fewer children, they have a tendency to dote on them and expect great things. “Children are the target of more adult anxiety and intervention today than at any time in history,” says Honore.

Most troubling is the realization that too much childhood stress can have lifelong health consequences. According to a 2008 report by the Centers for Disease Control, chronic or severe childhood stress can disrupt the development of fragile brain circuitry, resulting in a “low threshold for stress,” throughout life. Excess stress hormones, like cortisol, can also damage the brain region responsible for learning and memory and impair the immune system, leaving kids vulnerable to asthma, allergies and other illness.

The good news: Parents who take care to shield their children from excess stress and help them deal with inevitable stressors in a healthy way, can set them up for better long-term mental and physical health.

“In a very real way, Mother Nature expects parents to be good parents,” says psychology professor Chris Coe, Ph.D., an immunology researcher at University of Wisconsin-Madison. “It helps to guide a child’s biology in the right direction.”

What Parents Can Do
The first key step, experts say, is for parents to learn to recognize when their kids are stressed out, and it can happen far earlier than many assume.
“It starts to kick in around their first or second birthday,” says psychologist Charles Fay, Ph.D., president of the Golden, Colorado-based parenting organization, the Love and Logic Institute.

Fay says toddlerhood (12 to 30 months) is particularly stressful, as kids go through potty training and learning to walk. For older preschoolers, changing schools, older siblings moving away or parents divorcing can all be stressful.

While some stress can be beneficial, adults need to be vigilant about looking for signs that a child is experiencing too much stress, particularly if the child is too young to verbalize his or her feelings. Common signs include regression, temper tantrums, withdrawal and tummy, head or muscle aches.

Hyperactivity Can 
Signal Stress
“We see a lot of kids and families who are in a perpetual state of fight or flight and sadly, the kids get wrongly diagnosed with learning and behavior disorders, such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder),” says Fay.     Another tip:  Check your own stress level. “Kids take their emotional cues from the adults around them,” advises Fay. “A lot of high-achieving, perfectionist kids think mistakes are the end of the world, because they see their parents reacting that way.”

He counsels parents to model positive reactions to stress. Take a moment to tell the kids a funny story about how you spilled coffee in your lap and had to run home to change—and the lesson learned. Instead of freaking out as you rush around the house looking for the car keys, say, “Oh well. It’s not the end of the world if I am a few minutes late.”

Experts say overscheduling is another chronic source of stress, with many parents shuttling junior from story time to baby yoga to playdates. According to a 2001 study by University of Michigan researchers, children ages 3 to 5 have eight fewer hours per week of free play time than they did in 1981. Kids ages 6 to 8 enjoy 13 fewer hours of free time.

An easy solution: “Remind yourself that it is okay for kids to be bored,” says Fay, noting that boredom fosters creativity and prepares kids for a “real life” that is not always action-packed.

If you find yourself often eating in the car en route to endless pursuits, your child throws a fit or falls asleep on the way to a practice or he or she doesn’t talk much about an activity (a sign of genuine interest), it could be a wake-up call. Ask your child to make a list of his or her favorite interests, in order of priority, Fay suggests, and trim off the bottom.

On the flip side, Fay counsels that too little structure at home can be stressful for kids; they look to their parents to demonstrate assertiveness and provide the boundaries that make them feel safe. “If you have anxious kids, one question to ask is, ‘Am I setting enough limits and sticking to those limits?’”

School-age Solutions

By far, the most common cause of school-age anxiety (particularly amid middle-to-upper-income suburban kids) is academic stress. Numerous studies show that adolescents place schoolwork above friend problems, bullying and trouble at home when ranking stressors.
One recent Stanford University poll of 496 high school students in California’s Bay Area found that when students were asked to list what causes the most stress in their lives, 68 percent cited schoolwork. Nearly 78 percent reported having experienced stress-related physical problems like headaches, weight gain, insomnia or stomach problems. In some cases, excess stress turns to depression and tragedy can strike.

“Kids are more stressed than in the past for a whole host of reasons, and it is a big problem,” confirms education researcher and Stanford lecturer, Denise Pope. “There is more emphasis on testing, and kids feel the pressure from their teachers. Homework levels have gone up significantly. They feel like they are the hope for the future, and the pressure is on.”

Research supports Pope’s conclusion, including a 2004 University of Michigan survey of more than 2,900 students that found the time it takes kids to complete their homework has increased 51 percent since 1981.

In response, Pope, a mother of three, founded the Stressed Out Students Project (now called Challenge Success) in 2007. The national organization teaches parents and teachers how to minimize academic stress.

The first step, she says, is for parents to clearly define their own vision of “success” for their child. Is it really attendance at an Ivy League school? Or, is it participating in an enjoyable college environment that enriches their life?

“People have this vision that their child has to get straight As and involve themselves in every extracurricular activity in order to get into a good college: Not true,” states Pope. “There is a college out there for every student who wants to go to college.”
If a parent gets the sense that their child’s homework levels are excessive, they need to be proactive and call the teacher, says Pope. As a general rule, kids should have no more than 10 minutes of homework per grade level (10 minutes for first-graders, 30 for third-graders, two hours for high school seniors, etc.). Pope asks her child’s teachers to send work home in advance in weekly packets, so they can distribute it over the week around other commitments.
“I know kids who do different, multiple sports each season after school, then come home every day, eat dinner and start in on homework at 8 or 9. We are asking them to put in longer days than most adults do,” Pope remarks.

Let Kids Be Kids
Honoré, a London author who has made a living writing books about how to slow down and lead a less frenzied life, says he too, found himself falling into the “hyper-parenting” trap. When his son’s art instructor suggested his 7-year-old might have a gift for art, he found himself sifting through catalogues, looking for just the right afterschool course or summer class to nurture his budding Picasso’s special talent. When his son got the news, he looked at his father, dumfounded, and asked, “Why do grownups have to take over everything?”
“I realized I had lost my bearings as a parent,” Honoré says. He backed off and ended up writing a book about it. He now takes care to ask himself what his motives are before guiding his son toward an activity: Is it for me, or is it for him?
Meanwhile, this grassroots researcher is optimistic that “The pendulum is beginning to swing back,” and that a backlash against hyper-parents and stressed-out kids is upon us.
In 2008, Toronto became one of the first jurisdictions in North America to crack down on excess homework, all but eliminating it in elementary grades and banning it during weekends and holidays. Meanwhile, communities across the United States have begun to host “Ready, Set, Relax” days, where all homework and extracurricular activities are canceled.
On a smaller scale, experts say the revolution toward less stressed-out kids can begin when parents look at their kids in a new light. As Pope puts it: “We need to love the kid before us, not the kid we want them to be.”

Lisa Marshall is a freelance writer and mother of four in Colorado.

Sidebar

Holistic Solutions to Stress

by Lisa Marshall

A bit of childhood stress is inevitable, and can even be motivating when taken in small doses, experts say. But parents can do much to help kids better manage it.

Set aside relaxation time: “There is such a thing as preventative mental health,” says Lawrence Shapiro, Ph.D., author of The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Kids. “You wouldn’t let your kids go a day without brushing their teeth. Don’t let them go a day without relaxing.”
He recommends that children of all ages carve out at least 15 minutes each day for focused relaxation. Put on soothing music, ask them to breathe deeply and close their eyes, and then leave them alone.

Sleep: Sleep produces the calming, feel-good brain chemical serotonin, while lack of sleep results in too much of the “fight-or-flight” brain chemical, cortisol. A child who doesn’t get enough sleep won’t handle stress as well. According to the National Sleep Foundation, toddlers need 12 to 14 hours and preschoolers 11 to 13 hours. Kids ages 5 to 12 do well with 10 to 11 hours of sleep and teens with about 9 hours.

Nutrients: Brandy Webb, a naturopathic doctor in Tacoma, Washington, and adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University, says certain nutrients can go a long way in counteracting the physical impacts of stress. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, flax seed, certain nuts and dietary supplements, can counteract the inflammatory response that comes with stress. This also helps fend off problems such as headaches and muscle aches, which can come with stress-induced inflammation.
Stressed-out kids burn through critical nutrients, particularly calcium, so a balanced diet is critical. Magnesium supplements are known to help relieve anxiety and stress. Vitamins C and E boost immune function.

Botanicals: Webb recommends calming herbal tinctures, such as catnip and passionflower, for quieting a child in the throes of a stressful moment. Lavender, in either a tea or a bath, can be effective in reducing anxiety. Better yet, brew some tea and allow your child to sit in the bath with it for 20 minutes, breathing in the lavender-laced steam.

Exercise: Shapiro and Webb both recommend at least 30 minutes of free, outdoor play per day.

Limit screen time: Never allow your child to have a TV or computer in their room, advises parenting expert Charles Fay, Ph.D. Also, keep screen time to an absolute minimum for youths under 2 years old. Keep the volume down (loud noises can aggravate stress) and be particularly wary of television if your child is already prone to hyperactivity.
“If kids are predisposed to hyperactivity, too much TV will exacerbate that predisposition,” Shapiro notes. Also, overuse of electronic media—such as video games and Internet social groups—could be a warning sign that the child is stressed. “A lot of the most stressed-out kids I deal with gravitate toward those things as unhealthy coping mechanisms,” comments Webb.
While social networking tools like Facebook, instant messaging and Internet chat rooms don’t necessarily cause stress, experts advise, a child who spends too much time with them may get behind on homework, adding to their stress.
Worse yet, they’ll rob themselves of time spent playing face-to-face with friends outdoors in the fresh air. Watch any kid at play: There is no better stress reliever.

by Aimee Witteman

The United States deserves an F on any national report card on children’s nutritional health. One out of three of our children are overweight. During the past 30 years, the rate of obesity has quadrupled for children ages 6 to 11 and tripled for those ages 12 to 19. As a result, it is now predicted that one in three children will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

Our education system has traditionally held that reading, math, science and English classes form basic building blocks for success. But what lessons are our children learning daily in their school cafeteria?

Why School Lunch is Vital

For many of America’s children, a school lunch is the most important meal of their day, constituting a third to half of their nutritional intake. As childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes skyrocket, Congress is re-examining what shows up in school lunches and exploring ways to get healthier, locally grown foods served up to our nation’s kids.

Admittedly, school lunch programs are just one of several areas that need to be addressed to reverse the current unhealthy trend, but many experts think that it’s one of the most critical.

Studies have shown that the nutritional quality of lunches is lacking in many schools, as they mirror the national trend toward overly processed foods that are low in fiber and high in fat and salt.

The Department of Agriculture’s School Nutrition Dietary Assessment, which collected data from 130 school districts across the country, determined that only 6 to 7 percent met all nutrition standards in the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Most of the meals had 
too much fat or saturated fat or too 
few calories.

Lobbying for Change

This year, Congress plans to reconsider the Child Nutrition Act—federal legislation that authorizes the school lunch program—and a grassroots effort is underway to improve the state of affairs in school cafeterias. Specifically, good food advocates would like to see $50 million in mandatory funding for Farm to School programs.

The farm to school concept has been broadly defined as a school-based program that connects schools (K-12) with local farms. Goals include serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving child nutrition, supporting local and regional farmers and educating the public about the links between agriculture, health and nutrition. Already, independent farm to school initiatives have begun cropping up around the country.

If Congress mandates such programs through the Child Nutrition Act, these programs could flourish in every part of the country. This would help children to start naturally building healthier eating habits and connect them more closely with where their food comes from.

Too many of today’s kids are shocked to see that the milk they drink from cartons came from an animal. One young girl visiting a farm couldn’t believe that lettuce exists outside of a plastic bag.
Parents may question whether their child would choose baked butternut squash over a butter-slathered biscuit. In all seven studies of existing farm to school programs compiled in the report Bearing Fruit by the Center for Food Justice at Occidental College, participating students chose more fresh fruits and vegetables, regardless of the alternative meal option.

Community Payback

It’s not just the kids who benefit. Farm to school programs regularly translate to more money going to schools because they spark increased participation in school lunch programs and schools are paid on the number of lunches served. Local farmers realize more income, which in turn strengthens local economies and creates jobs.

Ecotrust, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, has published an analysis of the impact of investing school food dollars in the local food economy. The study found that for every food dollar spent locally by two school districts in the Portland area, an additional 87 cents was spent in Oregon.

Deborah Kane, vice president of Food and Farms programs for Ecotrust, in Portland, says the research confirms that these programs are a viable investment. “Farm to school programs can make an immediate impact on nearly every sector of our state’s economy,” she says. “We knew the effort would likely benefit the Oregon agricultural community and, of course, Oregon’s children. We were encouraged to learn that the benefits extend far beyond the most obvious.”

Visit FarmToSchool.org for program details. Help ensure farm to school is a pivotal provision in the reauthorized Child Nutrition Act by calling members of Congress through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Aimee Witteman is the executive director of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Support the mission at SustainableAgriculture.net.

The first study to look at the impact of literature on obese adolescents, by Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center, produced surprising results. Researchers asked obese girls ages 9 to 13 who were enrolled in a comprehensive weight-loss program to read an age-appropriate novel called Lake Rescue.

The book, crafted with the aid of pediatric experts, includes specific healthy lifestyle and weight management guidance, as well as positive messages and strong role models.

Six months later, the girls who had read Lake Rescue experienced a significant decrease in their body mass index scores when compared with a control group in the program who had not read the novel.

~ Duke University Medical Center, 2008

Nature’s Prescription for ADHD

A new study by the University of Illinois shows that a dose of nature—a simple and inexpensive remedy—can make a great difference in the lives of children who find it difficult to complete tasks that require focus and concentration, such as doing homework or taking a test. That’s good news for the up to 2.4 million youngsters that might have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), diagnosed or not.

Researcher Faber Taylor explains. “From previous research, we know there might be a link between spending time in nature and reduced ADHD symptoms.” In 2008, he explored the idea by taking children on walks in different settings—one especially “green” and two less green. He found that after a walk in the park, children generally concentrated better than they did after a walk in the downtown area or the neighborhood area.

Taylor concluded that the physical environment in which children play and spend time matters, and that the greener the space, the more their attention spans improve.

MOST MEDICATED POPULATION

American children are about three times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication (altering perception, emotion or behavior) than European children. A new study led by Julie Zito of the University of Maryland’s School of Pharmacy suggests that regulatory practices and cultural beliefs about the role of medication in emotional and behavioral problems likely account for the difference.

Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2008

Tea Helps Keep Teeth Healthy

With refined sugars and citric acids found in sodas and some fruit juices permanently eating away our teeth’s protective enamel, an alternative drink is needed. Brewed tea, according to a recent report in the peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, can help protect teeth.

Apart from taste, tea has many health benefits, such as helping to decrease the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The authors of the study recommend green tea over black due to its higher content of antioxidants. Tea may be served hot or cold, as long as it’s home-brewed, simple and pure.

The researchers recommend that we avoid adding milk, lemon or sugar, because these additives decrease the tea’s benefits. They further suggest that people stay away from prepackaged iced teas, because they usually contain citric acid and high amounts of sugar.

The Beet Goes On

There may be more to blood-red beets than meets the eye. A recent study 
from St. Bartholemew’s Hospital (Barts) and The London School of Medicine found that consuming two cups of beet juice a day can significantly improve 
cardiovascular health. The study monitored the blood pressure of 14 participants who drank two cups of either pure beet juice or water.

Professor Amrita Ahluwalia and her team reported 10 millimeters of mercury (mmHg, the standard unit used to measure blood pressure) reductions in systolic blood pressure levels two and a half hours after consumption and 8 mmHg drops in diastolic pressure levels three hours after consumption. Researchers believe that the beneficial agent countering hypertension is the dietary nitrate found in beetroot, which is converted to nitric oxide, a compound that opens blood vessels in the body.

Beet juice is available at most health food stores, but it is also easy to make. At the market, select beets that are small and firm, with deep maroon or burgundy coloring and unblemished skins. Remove the tops, boil the roots, cool, peel and juice, adding a little water or vegetable or fruit juice to dilute. Flavor by serving over ice, with a twist of mint or lime.

Source: Queen Mary, University of London, 2008

Safe Kids

Saliva Test Detects Lead Levels in Children
Confirm BioSciences recently released the first non-invasive test, a saliva screening kit, that parents can use to discover if their kids have been exposed to excessive levels of toxic lead. Industrial areas, with older housing incorporating lead pipes and old paint, are of special concern.

Children often get lead poisoning by eating lead-based paint chips or breathing in lead paint dust, but a range of consumer goods have produced lead recalls in recent years, as well.
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that lead poisoning is the leading environmentally induced illness in children, yet one of the most preventable.

Nearly a million children under the age of five now have lead levels that experts consider dangerous. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, slowed growth and developmental delays. Also, Occupational Safety and Health Administration statistics report that at least a million U.S. adults, in some 100 different jobs, are exposed to lead daily.

For more information, kit availability and related articles, visit LeadTestConfirm.com.

Bedtime Stories

Fairy Tales Replaced with Gentler Narratives
Controversy is cooking as some parents find classic fairy tales too dark for storytelling to little ones. The Telegraph reports that a poll of 3,000 British parents showed that a quarter of the mothers reject some of the classic tales today, even if they grew up reading them.

Cited concerns in the UK about their being un-PC are joined by questions in the United States about their perpetuation of gender and beauty myths.

More recent favorite bedtime stories on the Telegraph’s list are: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Mr. Men, The Gruffalo, Winnie the Pooh, Aliens Love Underpants, Thomas and Friends from The Railway Series, The Wind in the Willows, Charlie and Lola, and What a Noisy Pinky Ponk!

Green Lunchrooms

University Cafeterias Show How to Cut Waste
Dozens of universities are doing away with lunch trays as a keystone in cutting cafeteria waste. A recent survey of 25 schools by Aramark, a food-service provider for some 600 institutions of higher education, found that trayless dining reduced food waste by an average of 25 to 30 percent per person.

Seventy-five percent of the 92,000 students surveyed at 300 colleges said they were in favor of the change. Accompanying changes typically include the recycling and composting of food waste and using eco-friendly serviceware.

A separate study by the University of Illinois, which serves 1,300 students a day, noticed a 40 percent reduction in food waste. Kristen Ruby, an assistant director, explains that because students couldn’t carry as much, they didn’t take more than they could eat. “Not having trays [also] saves 516 gallons of water a day,” says Ruby, who counts the consequent dishwashing detergent saved in an academic year at 473 pounds less.

The same principles apply to food operations in businesses, convention centers, sports arenas, entertainment venues, government agencies, correctional institutions and assisted living facilities.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Social Web

Teens Learn Skills Socializing Online
A three-year digital youth project study of 800 young people and their parents, funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, shows that America’s youth are developing important social and technical skills online—often in ways adults do not understand or value.

The research confirms that young people are learning much from their peers online using new kinds of public spaces, such as MySpace, Facebook and YouTube, to interact and receive feedback. They appear more motivated to learn from each other than from adults.

The study, conducted by the University of Southern California and the University of California, Berkeley, also found that most youths are not taking full advantage of the learning opportunities of the Internet.

This summer Dr. Louis Abate, of Illuminare Wellness, offers Network Spinal Analysis and Somato Respiratory Integration to help clients process stress without locking it in the body, which can lead to pain, illness and disease. Dr. Abate offers these tips for summer:

“The air, the air is everywhere!” Take time to smell the roses, literally. The Shakespeare Gardens in Central Park and the Cloisters are two examples of gardens that will dazzle the eyes and nose. And taking time to smell the heady summer fragrances can also relax you.

Stay hydrated. Summer is a time when we are most active outdoors and need to stay properly hydrated. Drink plenty of fresh, filtered water to decrease the amount of stress your body feels when it is active.

If you are very active, or prone to sweating profusely, add an electrolyte replacement drink, like Emergen-C, to your water. Avoid commercial electrolyte replacement drink, as they are mostly sugar.

Tan but don’t burn. Use an all-natural sunscreen if you are in the sun for prolonged periods of time. We need the sun and UV-rays to take the precursors in our skin and change them into Vitamin D, a very necessary vitamin. Avoid burning. Burns never turn into tan. Burning the skin causes skin damage that will decrease your future ability to handle the sun.

Also any sun protection product above SPF 15 is usually a waste of money. And remember to reapply your sunscreen, generously and often, during your time in the sun.

For more information or to book a consultation or appointment with Dr. Abate, visit illuminarewellness.com or call 646-379-5900.

AtlasProFilax Treatments Available in NY

AtlasProFilax is the revolutionary “soft tissue” procedure developed in Switzerland, widely accepted in most European cities, and finally coming to the U.S. It is a simple procedure that relocates the Atlas (first cervical vertebrae) to its natural location in just one treatment. This profound procedure immediately activates a self healing within the individual. It is holistic in nature promoting wellness and rejuvenation on all levels- Mind, Body & Spirit. AtlasProFilax treatments will be available in New York from July 27th through August 1st.

The “Atlas” vertebrae is completely dislocated in most humans and this dislocation can lead to a variety of physiological and psychological ailments and illnesses such as chronic neck & back pain, headaches & migraines, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, TMJ, depression and much more. AtlasProFilax is a simple soft tissue procedure that corrects this dislocation. This correction is essential for structural body balance and is an important first step to an unwinding process which is imperative for overall health, well being, and happiness.

Limited appointments are still available in New York, from 
July 27th through August 1st. Contact Scotty Holding at 505-660-2842 for appointments or questions. For more information visit holdinghealth.com.

Kirkridge Retreat Continues Tradition of Contemplation and Hospitality

The Kirkridge Retreat Center has provided a place for rest and renewal for visitor’s since opening its doors in 1942. Located on the beautiful Kittatinny Ridge of eastern Pennsylvania, near the Delaware Water Gap, in the Pocono Mountains region. Their retreats and facilities are known for their gracious hospitality, beautiful vistas and grounds that have enriched the lives of thousands of visitors.

Central to Kirkridge’s mission is the ministry of hospitality – hosting groups from religious, social service and educational organizations with private meeting rooms, dining rooms, breakout rooms and double occupancy bedrooms. They can accommodate groups as large as 96 and as small as 6.

Kirkridge’s emphasis has always been focused on the integration of contemplation and action for justice, or “picket and pray.” The early pilgrims and seekers who came to Kirkridge believe the life of faith requires not only action to transform the world toward greater shalom, but also the cultivation of a deep spirituality to sustain that compassionate action. The Kirkridge legacy continues today.

For more information about the Kirkridge Retreat And Study Center programs, or to find out about hosting your event at Kirkridge, call 610-588-1793 or visit kirkridge.org.

More Reasons to Think Smart

Just in case you needed another reason to consider trading in your gas-guzzling SUV for something a little more eco-friendly, driving green in the city just got a little greener. Smart car owners receive $99 monthly parking rates at over 180 Icon locations across the city. Smart Center Manhattan wants New Yorkers to know how thinking small can lead to big environmental advances.

Forward thinking recyclability – The materials selected for the smart fortwo have been chosen for their minimal environmental impact and maximum recyclability. For example, inner fenders and underbody trays are made from renewable raw materials and 100% recycled plastic.

Keeping our powder dry – The entire vehicle bodywork of the smart fortwo is powder-coated rather than painted. This uses 40% less energy than conventional painting methods with zero solvent emissions and no water consumption. What’s more, powder “overspray” is collected and is 98% reusable.

Ultra-low emissions – The smart fortwo is classified as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle, (ULEV), by the California Air Resources Board, due to its low overall carbon footprint.

Waste not, want not – Smart car works with suppliers to source all parts in returnable containers. And when waste is unavoidable they do their best to collect it, analyze it and, whenever possible, recycle it.

Smart car is the right car at the right time in America.

Volatile fuel prices, increased urban congestion and a mindset of environmental responsibility, make the smart for two the ideal vehicle choice. The smallest and shortest car in The United States, the smart for two offers a high level of comfort, agility, safety, and unique features and attributes that meet consumer wishes and demands.

For more information on smart car and the smart car parking rates call 
212-629-1639, visit their showroom at 536 W. 41st St, New York, NY 10036 or check online at smartcenterManhattan.com.

Organic Avenue Hosts 
Live Organic Vegan Experience

Enjoy one of five different levels of detoxification and cleansing programs and the convenience of freshly-prepared organic juices and foods, delivered daily to your home or workplace, or pick-up from one of Organic Avenues two lifestyle boutiques (101 Stanton Street or 43 Eighth Avenue).

Whether you are looking for a truly healthy-eating experience or ready to take the plunge into a complete juice fast, Organic Avenues LOVE Programs are specifically designed with you in mind.

Organic Avenue also supports clients on their path to well-being by offering ongoing LOVE support/Nutritional Consultations to help you achieve your goals and Live Blood Microscopy (Cell Analysis) to see how your diet and lifestyle are affecting your blood.

Organic Avenue plays the game of prevention by teaching healthy habits (see Calendar of Events) while focusing on delicious guilt-free foods that make the process pleasurable, convenient, affordable and fun.

Join us on June 27 & 28th for a two-day, live event, as we host Dr. Robert O. Young as he enlightens NYC to the benefits of alkalinity and shares the science behind “The New Biology.”

Organic Avenue is located at 101 Stanton Street, New York, New York 10002 and at 43 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10014.  For more information about Organic Avenue Love Programs and Dr. Young’s Live Event, call 212-334-4593, or online at OrganicAvenue.com/Young.

By Ally Polly

Where do I begin? It’s been quite a month. It started with my very first Earth Day, during which  I treated myself to an oxygen infused facial, a ‘living salad’ at Bliss, and a car service to get me home in time to turn out my lights for an hour with the rest of the world. My month continued with my Last Supper with Will at JGMelon, where I ate a side order of pickles and a small draft beer (my only vegan options) while Will relished a juicy medium-well, bacon cheeseburger, which I’m convinced he ordered out of spite since he knows I love bacon and I had just told him I met ‘ someone else’ who liked me and my ‘greenness.’ Will’s parting words were: “You’ll be back.” I’m not sure if he meant back to the world where meat patties roam free, or back to him.  But I’m holding steady, on both counts.

The month came to a grateful close with a freelance writing assignment from a colleague I haven’t heard from in years who ‘tagged me’ in a photo on Facebook. She said she thought she saw me squeezing melons at the Outdoor Green Market on 77th and Columbus but wasn’t sure it was me, or my eco-friendly twin. And so a well-paying project ensued. Who says this green life can’t pay-off like a slot machine? I promise not to spend it all in one place, and like a good disciple of Suzie Orman (even though I really think she needs to update her hair color), I will use my new riches wisely and begin to rebuild my mulch cushion.

Mike from Indiana is away at some conference in Florida this weekend. And the good news is I miss him. Before he left we had our First Kiss, and I am pleased to report that Tom’s of Maine Anti-plaque Toothpaste with Dandelion Stem Brulee came through in the clutch, and kept my mouth as fresh as the now-dreaded Satan-infused Crest once did.  The kiss was the highlight of the month, in every way, and certainly more momentous than finding work during a 9% unemployment rate. He held me tight with those calloused former-college wide-receiver hands and just as I had hoped, the touch of his lips left me breathless.

And so I am going to have a nice quiet weekend at home with my new wind ionic air purifier and leg-waxing kit from QVC. I’m starting with officially turning my closets from “ Winter” straight into “Summer,” since it appears Earth is seeking revenge on Isaac Mizrahi’s having more than nine lives in the fashion business, and has punished all of us by eliminating Spring after a 2000 year trend. Being plunged directly into 90-degree weather without any lead-time is not fun. My solar-powered espresso pot is scorched on the bottom, and I’m not sure the biodegradable deodorant I’ve been using (that doubles as a vegetable wash) is going to hold up.

My housekeeper is convinced these natural products I am using are all “ propaganda.” I recently caught her whipping out her own supply of Windex when I wasn’t looking. The truth is she’s from Cuba, and she covers my television with a towel as she cleans my apartment to avoid radioactive emissions, so she’s either categorically paranoid about society in general, and my cleaning products, or she’ll outlive us all.
I am waiting patiently for the phone to ring. I left Mike from Indiana four messages since last night, and want to hear the voice from the mouth that kissed me. He said he might have to go away next week too. Something about hunting….I didn’t ask for what. I don’t really want to know.

Joanne called. She’s been burning sage in her apartment all morning, to get rid of any Italian toxins she might have carried across the Atlantic Ocean. She wanted to know if my place could use a sage once-over. Sure, I say. Why not?
Joanne said she’s also bringing her copy of Feng-Shui for Dummies and is going to help me ‘define the bagua’ in my apartment and find my love corner. She said every home has eight energy areas, which only helps me if I can squeeze that vertical washer and dryer I have my eye on, into one of them. Joanne said I didn’t need to do anything to get ready but I vacuumed just the same.

The anemic solar powered vacuum that came with the espresso pot is not very effective at sucking up the lint and city-dust that apparently accumulates from doing nothing, but feeling confident the 45 minutes of sun my apartment receives every day will adequately recharge it by the end of the summer, I run it around the place. The phone rings again. I’m not surprised. Joanne is always late.

But no, it’s Mike from Indiana calling from Florida!

My hero! He needs to stay the whole week and wants me to fly down for the weekend!
Yikes!
Where’s that Tempeh Soleil Self-Tanning Gelee I bought? I hope that wasn’t what I put on top of my organic frisee salad in the dark last week.

Send your questions and comments to HYPERLINK “mailto:greengirl@nugreencity.com” greengirl@nugreencity.com.

Ally Polly’s Summer in the City
Buying new houseplants at street fairs. Scoring a good table at DaSilvano’s on a Saturday night. Going to the U.S. Open.