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Children’s Health

Focus On Zinc – Not Just An Immune Nutrient

March 30, 2017

Zinc is an indispensable trace mineral playing an essential role in each and every cell.

In humans, zinc enzymes outnumber all other trace mineral-dependent enzymes combined, with over 300 zinc related mechanisms involved in normal body functioning.

Is it any wonder then that zinc is paramount in a myriad of biological processes?

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Under The Influence – Fatty Liver Disease in Children

March 8, 2017

In most countries, healthcare and welfare systems are legal pyramid schemes; that is, lots of young, healthy people have to pay in at the bottom, so that the few old, sick people can take out at the top.

But what if the young people are too sick to have jobs to pay in? What if they’re so sick they’re taking out?

Without a solid foundation, the whole pyramid collapses.

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Conventional Medical Treatments Being Turned on its Head

March 16, 2016

Doctors and other health professionals from 14 prestigious medical colleges in Australia and New Zealand have reviewed the evidence 61 of the most commonly sought medical treatments, tests and procedures and found them lacking.

As a result there will be sweeping changes to recommendations that were previously considered the norm.

This is a positive step for the health industry. By identifying unnecessary, wasteful and expensive treatment, our health and the health budget will become more efficacious and efficient.

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Managing Asthma – Your Step by Step Guide

March 9, 2016

Asthma can be a frightening condition to experience and horrible to witness.

One in ten people in Australia has asthma and it affects people of all ages.

In conjunction with intelligent application of conventional medicine and natural therapies, asthmas impact can be managed.

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Paracetamol Increases Risk of Asthma in Babies

February 17, 2016

Pregnant women may need to rethink taking paracetamol for pain relief as research has shown modest associations with taking paracetamol during pregnancy with a risk of developing asthma in the infant/child.

Worryingly the research also indicated that babies who were given paracetamol in the first 6 months of life were almost a third more likely to develop asthma.

The next time mums to be or parents reach for the paracetamol, think about these potential ramifications and reconsider whether there may be other less harmful options.

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Antidepressants During Pregnancy May Double Autism Risk

December 18, 2015

A study, released December 2015 has raised concerns that commonly prescribed antidepressants taken during pregnancy could substantially raise the risk of autism in the child.

The team considered potential influencing factors which are risk factors for autism. After taking these into account, the team found the use of antidepressants during the second and/or third trimester was associated with an 87 percent increased risk of ASD!

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Research Insight: Fish Oil in Australian Autism Study

December 4, 2015

High-dose fish oil supplements are being used in an Australian trial at the Telethon Kids Institute, to investigate any benefits to children who suffer an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The trial comes after Singapore researchers studied a total of 41 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years (36 boys, 5 girls; mean age = 11.66) diagnosed with ASD. The open-label trial was to examine the efficacy and safety of a 12-week omega-3 fatty acids supplementation among children suffering with ASD.

At post-treatment, participants showed significant improvements on all subscales of the Social Responsiveness Scale (P<0.01) and the Social and Attention Problems syndrome scales of the Child Behavior Checklist (P<0.05).

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Ibuprofen for Kids?

August 25, 2015

A child with a fever is every parents nightmare and is usually the first indication that a child is ill. Watching the thermometer steadily increasing, feeling the heat radiating from the child and the listlessness is a simply horrible experience for everyone.

What to do?

A common practice is to reach for the Ibuprofen and dose the child up as quickly and as often as possible. But how efficacious and safe is this practice?

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What’s Hiding in Your Food? The Dangers of MSG

August 18, 2015

Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a food additive often used to enhance the flavor of foods, in particular processed ones.

Hundreds of millions of pounds of MSG are added to foods worldwide every year. You probably already know about the harmful health effects of MSG and are trying to avoid it.

But did you know that it could actually be hiding in your food under other names?

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Kellogg’s Health Star Ratings Revealed – The Worst Cereal Offenders

April 22, 2015

Effective from June 2015 Kellogg’s has revealed that it is voluntarily adapting the Health Star ratings on all its cereals both in Australia and New Zealand.

More than 70 per cent of Kellogg’s cereals, or 26 products in the range, have a rating of between 4 and 5 health stars, with their cereals ranging from 1.5 to 5 stars.

The food industry has a long way to go however with food giants including McCain, Mars, PepsiCo, Mondelez, George Weston and Goodman Fielder yet to implement the health star scheme.

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The Short & Fat Truth

February 24, 2015

The Short & Fat Truth  – Junk Food Stunts The Growth of Children

Cigarettes are known to stunt the growth of children, now new research has shown that junk food and lack of exercise is also stunting the growth of our next generation.

With over 300 million obese or overweight children worldwide aged under 18, this could mean one step backwards in evolutionary terms, Charles Darwin would be rolling in his grave!

Real change will depend on pressure from the public similar to the public pressure that saw smoking bans in public buildings

Find out how much impact junk food could be having on your child.

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Jazzing Up the School Lunch Box

February 16, 2015

In the ever constant attempt to keep the school lunchbox interesting, nutritious (and importantly to come home empty) can be a source of hair wringing, stress and frustration for parents and guardians.

Here are a few tips to jazz up the school lunch box.

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A Little Weighty – Weight Loss for Kids

February 11, 2015

Children and adolescents are steadily becoming more overweight or obese. Worryingly the 2011-2012 Australian Health Survey results indicate that 26% of children aged 5 – 17 years are overweight or obese.

Coming to the realisation that a child or adolescent needs to lose weight can be confronting for a parent. With discipline, motivation and support, healthy weight maintenance can be achieved.

By addressing bad habits, increasing physical activity to 60 minutes/ day and introducing simple dietary changes it is possible.

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Victorian Premier Says “Yes” to Maccas

January 23, 2015

Only six weeks into office, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews unequivocally stated his support for the retention of a McDonald’s in Victorias Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), stating that”having a McDonald’s at the RCH was in the best interests of the community”.

Additionally has opened the doorway for a McDonald’s to be included inside the new publicly funded Monash Children’s Hospital due to open in 2017.

In this aspect of health Daniel Andrews and his government have got it wrong.

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Fat Shaming – Bullying or a Necessary Wake Up Call?

February 6, 2014

With the rise of ‘fat shaming,’ ‘fat pride’ and ‘fitspiration’ on social media it can be confusing to tackle or even talk about the current obesity epidemic without offending someone.

At the same time should we be avoiding having necessary life saving interventions with overweight people because it is a sensitive subject?

With over 60% of Australians now overweight or obese, it is clear that our current anti-obesity measures are failing us as a nation.

Obesity is a serious health issue, and we don’t do anyone any favours by pretending otherwise.

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