Health Headlines for Parents

Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 June 2010 07:08

Five Minutes in the Green May Boost Self Esteem

Exercising for just five minutes a day outdoors can improve mental health, according to one study. Researchers found that as little as a few minutes outside engaging in a “green activity” such as walking, gardening or cycling can boost mood and self esteem. Researchers analyzed data from 1,252 people of varying ages, genders and mental health status, and analyzed activities such as walking, gardening, fishing and boating. The study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, showed that the greatest health changes occurred in the young and the mentally ill, although people of all ages and social groups benefited. The study showed that all natural environments were beneficial, but green areas with water appeared to have the most positive effect.

Breast Milk May Kill Cancer

A substance in breast milk appears to kill cancer cells, according to one study. Researchers discovered a substance, known as HAMLET, or human alpha-lactalbumin, was lethal to tumor cells when studying the antibacterial properties of breast milk. In the study, published in PLoS One, patients with bladder cancer excreted dead cancer cells through their urine after being treated with the substance. Other tests showed that the substance kills 40 different types of cancer cells. Researchers hope to study its efforts on other types of cancer in the future.

Baby Swimmers Have Better Balance

Babies who swim tend to have better balance and better ability to grasp object than non-swimmers, according to a new study. This difference has shown long-term benefits as children who are 5 years old—when as babies had been taught to swim—outperform their peers. The study, published in the journal Child: Care, Health and Development, compared 19 baby swimmers against 19 non-swimmer babies. At about age 5, the baby swimmers and non-swimmer babies were tested in similar exercises, including walking on tiptoes and balancing on one foot. The results proved that baby swimmers were the best in exercises that related to balance and the ability to reach for things.

Spanking Leads to Aggression

Kids who are spanked often are twice as likely as those who aren’t to develop aggressive behaviors such as getting into fights, destroying things, or being mean toward others, one study suggests. The report, published in the journal Pediatrics, shows that although it doesn’t prove corporal punishment causes aggression by itself, the link remains even after excluding a wide range of explanations. Researchers examined data from a previous population-based study of families from 20 large cities in the U.S. The authors of that study then interviewed mothers when their children were 3 years old and again at age 5. Based on the children’s behaviors, half were categorized as “higher aggression” and half as “lower aggression.”

Related Articles

• Anti-Aging Wisdom: Myths and Fact
• Ask The Experts
• Ask The Experts: Death, Breast Health & Jenny McCarthy Syndrome
• Ask The Experts: Keeping Strong Family Ties, Sibling Jealousy and Holistic Healing
• Baby Fit & Loving It

Involved Parents Less Likely to Raise Bullies

Parents who are involved in their children’s life by helping them with homework or getting to know their friends may prevent them from becoming bullies, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed a national survey of 45,897 parents with children aged 10 to 17. Among other things, the survey asked whether the children were bullies. About 15 percent of children were identified as bullies. The authors noted that children who are less likely to be bullies included older kids, those who lived in a home where the primary language wasn’t English and those who did their homework regularly. They also found that parents who met their children’s friends and talked with their kids were less likely to have children who bullied others.

Sources: www.msnbc.com, www.aolhealth.com, www.reuters.com, www.sciencedaily.com, www.womenshealth.gov.