Past studies have shown that people who exercise are more protected against stress-related disorders. And scientists know that the perception of control can benefit a person’s mental health. But it has been an open question whether a person who feels forced to exercise, eliminating the perception of control, would still reap the anxiety-fighting benefits of the exercise.

People who may feel forced to exercise could include high school, college and professional athletes, members of the military or those who have been prescribed an exercise regimen by their doctors, said Benjamin Greenwood, an assistant research professor in CU-Boulder’s Department of Integrative Physiology.

“If exercise is forced, will it still produce mental health benefits?” Greenwood asked. “It’s obvious that forced exercise will still produce peripheral physiological benefits. But will it produce benefits to anxiety and depression?”

To seek an answer to the question Greenwood and his colleagues, including Monika Fleshner, a professor in the same department, designed a lab experiment using rats. During a six-week period, some rats remained sedentary, while others exercised by running on a wheel.

The rats that exercised were divided into two groups that ran a roughly equal amount of time. One group ran whenever it chose to, while the other group ran on mechanized wheels that rotated according to a predetermined schedule. For the study, the motorized wheels turned on at speeds and for periods of time that mimicked the average pattern of exercise chosen by the rats that voluntarily exercised.

After six weeks, the rats were exposed to a laboratory stressor before testing their anxiety levels the following day. The anxiety was quantified by measuring how long the rats froze, a phenomenon similar to a deer in the headlights, when they were put in an environment they had been conditioned to fear. The longer the freezing time, the greater the residual anxiety from being stressed the previous day. For comparison, some rats were also tested for anxiety without being stressed the day before.

“Regardless of whether the rats chose to run or were forced to run they were protected against stress and anxiety,” said Greenwood, lead author of the study appearing in the European Journal of Neuroscience in February. The sedentary rats froze for longer periods of time than any of the active rats.

“The implications are that humans who perceive exercise as being forced — perhaps including those who feel like they have to exercise for health reasons — are maybe still going to get the benefits in terms of reducing anxiety and depression,” he said.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Source: University of Colorado
www.colorado.edu

After compiling the answers, Ward said that among the most common regrets expressed by the patients were:
I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

I wish that I had let myself be happier.

She also wrote about one regret: I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This sentiment came from mostly male patients that she has nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship.

Women also spoke of this regret. But as most women she has nursed were from a generation where they had not been breadwinners, there were less who mentioned it.

“All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence,” she wrote.

Family and relationship expert Hellen Chen, has had a similar experience.

“The deepest regret that I have heard has been men and women missing out on the most important part of life: the quality of their relationship in a marriage or with their children,” she said.

Chen specializes in working with men and women resistant to marriage. She says she helps them overcome their hopelessness and past disappointments so that they can say, “I do.”

“There are so many successful career professionals who came to me, from doctors to execs to CEOs,” she said. “They have everything in their life: money, house, stable career, talent. But all these accomplishments could not replace the void of a close companion to share their success with.”

One of the not-so-joyful aspects of parenthood is weight gain. And the pounds add up with each addition to the family. According to Duke University Medical Center researchers, each child increases obesity risk by 4 percent for dads and 7 percent for moms.
“Kids take time,” said Truls Ostbye, M.D., a professor of community and family medicine at Duke. “Parents who may have been very disciplined before children, now find they have less time to prepare healthy foods, less time for physical activity, and overall less time for themselves.”
Starting healthy habits early is key. “Be mindful what you eat during your pregnancy and right after the baby is born,” Ostbye said. “New moms should start being physically active as soon as they can.” Breastfeeding can also greatly reduce weight gain from pregnancy.
Dads are just as likely as moms to struggle with weight gain. “Time for exercise drops, there are more snacks around the house, and there’s less time to prepare food. These are all contributing factors,” Ostbye said.
To keep parental weight gain at bay, heed these tips from Elisabetta Politi, R.D., nutrition director of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center:
Commit to an exercise plan. The biggest hurdle is often carving out time to exercise during a hectic schedule. Discuss your schedule with your partner and create a plan so both of you can get in your workouts during the week.
Get the family active. No one says you have to do this alone. Take walks, ride bikes, or start a pick-up game of soccer in the backyard.
Don’t nap at nap time. Pop in an exercise video or do some weight training in your living room. Just 15 minutes of cardiovascular activity is better than nothing.
Plan your meals. It’s easy for parents to get in a routine of snacking throughout the day and eating when your child does. Planning meals will help evenly distribute the calories throughout the day and help ensure your family follows a healthy diet.
Make a list and go grocery-shopping solo. The last thing you need when you’re trying to maintain control of your diet is a child crying for the latest processed food they’ve seen on TV.
Be a role model. Living a healthy lifestyle is good for you, but it also sets a great example for your children and ensures they develop the right habits at an early age.
Source: Duke School of Medicine

By Mike Stobbe

A government survey of parents says 1 in 50 U.S. schoolchildren has autism, surpassing another federal estimate for the disorder.
Health officials say the new number doesn’t mean autism is occurring more often. But it does suggest that doctors are diagnosing autism more frequently, especially in children with milder problems.
The earlier government estimate of 1 in 88 comes from a study that many consider more rigorous. It looks at medical and school records instead of relying on parents.
For decades, autism meant kids with severe language, intellectual and social impairments and unusual, repetitious behaviors. But the definition has gradually expanded and now includes milder, related conditions.

Photo: Centers for Disease Control

The new estimate released March 19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would mean at least 1 million children have autism.
The number is important — government officials look at how common each illness or disorder is when weighing how to spend limited public health funds.
It’s also controversial.
The new statistic comes from a national phone survey of more than 95,000 parents in 2011 and 2012. Less than a quarter of the parents contacted agreed to answer questions, and it’s likely that those with autistic kids were more interested than other parents in participating in a survey on children’s health, CDC officials said.
Still, CDC officials believe the survey provides a valid snapshot of how many families are affected by autism, said Stephen Blumberg, the CDC report’s lead author.
The study that came up with the 1-in-88 estimate had its own limitations. It focused on 14 states, only on children 8 years old, and the data came from 2008. Updated figures based on medical and school records are expected next year.
“We’ve been underestimating” how common autism is, said Michael Rosanoff of Autism Speaks, an advocacy group. He believes the figure is at least 1 in 50.
There are no blood or biologic tests for autism, so diagnosis is not an exact science. It’s identified by making judgments about a child’s behavior.
Doctors have been looking for autism at younger and younger ages, and experts have tended to believe most diagnoses are made in children by age 8.
However, the new study found significant proportions of children were diagnosed at older ages.
Dr. Roula Choueiri, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, said she’s seen that happening at her clinic. Those kids “tend to be the mild ones, who may have had some speech delays, some social difficulties,” she wrote in an email. But they have more problems as school becomes more demanding and social situations grow more complex, she added.
Online
CDC report
www.cdc.gov/nchs

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports civil marriage for same-gender couples — as well as full adoption and foster care rights for all parents, regardless of sexual orientation — as the best way to guarantee benefits and security for their children.
The Academy’s policy statement, “Promoting the Well-Being of Children Whose Parents Are Gay or Lesbian,” and an accompanying technical report will be published in the April 2013 Pediatrics and was published online in March.
“Children thrive in families that are stable and that provide permanent security, and the way we do that is through marriage,” said Benjamin Siegel, MD, chair of the Academy’s Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, and a co-author of the policy statement. “The AAP believes there should be equal opportunity for every couple to access the economic stability and federal supports provided to married couples to raise children.”
In a previous policy statement published in 2002 and reaffirmed in 2010, the AAP supported second-parent adoption by partners of the same sex as a way to protect children’s right to maintain relationships with both parents, eligibility for health benefits and financial security. The 2013 policy statement and accompanying technical report adds:
Recommendations in support of civil marriage for same-gender couples;
Adoption by single parents, co-parents or second parents regardless of sexual orientation; and
Foster care placement regardless of sexual orientation.
“The AAP has long been an advocate for all children, and this updated policy reflects a natural progression in the Academy’s support for families,” said Ellen Perrin, MD, co-author of the policy statement. “If a child has two loving and capable parents who choose to create a permanent bond, it’s in the best interest of their children that legal institutions allow them to do so.”
A great deal of scientific research documents there is no cause-and-effect relationship between parents’ sexual orientation and children’s well-being, according to the Academy. In fact, many studies attest to the normal development of children of same-gender couples when the child is wanted, the parents have a commitment to shared parenting, and the parents have strong social and economic support. Critical factors that affect the normal development and mental health of children are parental stress, economic and social stability, community resources, discrimination, and children’s exposure to toxic stressors at home or in their communities — not the sexual orientation of their parents.
According to the policy statement, the Academy “supports pediatricians advocating for public policies that help all children and their parents, regardless of sexual orientation, build and maintain strong, stable, and healthy families that are able to meet the needs of their children.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Online
American Academy of Pediatrics
www.aap.org

If you have a hard time getting motivated to exercise, enlisting a fitness partner may help. A fitness partner can encourage, challenge, pace you, and can make working out more fun. When you are trying to find the right person, there are some things that you should look for. Moreover, there are some fun ways you and your fitness partner can get some exercise.
Having a fitness partner can motivate you to workout even when you do not want to simply because you know someone is counting on you. Exercising with a fitness partner is also a great way to socialize. Instead of dreading your daily workout, you will find yourself looking forward to catching up with your friend.
Another benefit is that a fitness partner makes it less intimidating to join a gym, try a new class, or learn a new sport. Your friend can give you the courage to take that kickboxing class you have had your eye on or head to that hiking trail you have always wanted to try.
Finally, it is safer to workout with someone. If you injure yourself on a run, for instance, your partner can find you the help you need.

Choosing a fitness partner
While the right fitness partner can motivate you to accomplish your fitness goals, the wrong partner could squelch your efforts. When deciding which one of your friends or family members to recruit as your fitness partner, keep these things in mind:
Choose a partner with a fitness level similar to yours. If you have not exercised for years, do not choose a fitness partner who runs four miles a day.
Find someone who shares your fitness goals. That way, you can help motivate each other and share your triumphs. If, on the other hand, you are looking to gain muscle and your partner is looking to slim down, or if you want to lose 30 pounds and your partner only needs to lose five, you and your partner may become frustrated and be more likely to give up.
Make sure you have things in common with your partner, even outside of the gym, and you will find that workouts can be as socially fulfilling as they are physically challenging. Otherwise, you may not find yourself looking forward to your next workout.
Working out with a fitness partner
Once you have found the right fitness partner, it is time to get moving. Get together with your partner—calendars in hand—and schedule when and where you will meet to regularly exercise. Then, set some ground rules and stick to them.
Agree upon a cancellation policy, just as you would for a doctor’s appointment or hotel reservation. If one of you cannot make it for a scheduled workout, select a time limit (24 hours ahead, for example) that you will have to cancel in advance. Also, figure out how you will decide what activities to do. For example, you could design this week’s exercise schedule, and your partner could design next week’s, and so on.
Now it is time to enjoy the benefits of a fitness partner. Besides having someone to chat with on your walking path, a fitness partner can encourage you to participate in workouts that you would not do otherwise. You can mix up your workout schedule by adding partner-focused activities such as tennis (it is not as much fun playing against a backboard), rock climbing (you will need someone on the ground for safety), or basketball (what is more fun than a game of one-on-one?).
Ask your partner to teach you some activities she has mastered and share your skills as well. With a fitness partner, you can quickly add variety to your fitness routine, which will go a long way to keeping you motivated to become fit and stay that way.

Monster’s CEO told the industry tracker Beverage Digest that the cans will now list “Nutrition Facts” rather than “Supplement Facts,” as well as disclosing caffeine content.

The change reflects the intensifying scrutiny energy drinks have come under over the past year, with lawmakers calling on the Food and Drug Administration to look into the safety of the caffeine levels and other ingredients used in the drinks. It also highlights the confusion consumers may encounter when it comes to the labeling of energy drinks, with companies having the discretion to categorize them as either dietary supplements or traditional drinks.

While Monster is categorized as a dietary supplement, for example, the No. 2 energy drink Red Bull is categorized as a traditional beverage.

Generally speaking, companies have more leeway in the ingredients they can add to dietary supplements. With products considered to be food or drinks, companies can only use ingredients that are approved food additives or that are “generally recognized as safe,” said Elizabeth Campbell, a senior adviser at EAS Consulting Group, which specializes in FDA regulatory matters.

Among the issues lawmakers have raised over energy drinks is that they sometimes contain little-known ingredients, such as the taurine used in some Monster drinks. Campbell, who previously worked at the FDA for 35 years, said taurine is not approved for use in food and is not listed in the database of notifications for “generally recognized as safe” ingredients. Companies are responsible for submitting their own research to show an ingredient is “generally recognized as safe.”

The FDA is still working on final rules for what qualifies as a beverage versus a dietary supplement. But the agency had issued guidance in noting that dietary supplements were being marketed in ways that suggested they were regular drinks. It also noted that products that use terms such as “drink”, “juice” and “beverage” suggest they’re conventional foods, rather than supplements.

Notably, companies that make dietary supplements are required to report incidents of adverse effects to the FDA while food makers are not. A spokeswoman for the FDA did not immediately know how many, if any, reports of adverse effects Monster had made to the agency.

The flowering tops of the chamomile plant are used to make teas, liquid extracts, capsules, or tablets. The herb can also be applied to the skin as a cream or ointment, as well as being used as a mouth rinse.

Chamomile has not been well studied in people so there is little evidence to support its use for any condition.Some early studies point to chamomile’s possible benefits for certain skin conditions and for mouth ulcers caused by chemotherapy or radiation.In combination with other herbs, chamomile may be of some benefit for upset stomach, diarrhea in children, and for infants with colic.

Research funded by the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine includes studies of chamomile for generalized anxiety disorder and abdominal pain caused by children’s bowel disorders.

There are reports of allergic reactions in people who have eaten or come into contact with chamomile products. Reactions can include skin rashes, throat swelling, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction).People are more likely to experience allergic reactions to chamomile if they are allergic to related plants in the daisy family, which includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies.

Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help to ensure coordinated and safe care.

Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling limited production codes of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Kitten Formula dry cat food, Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula dry cat food and 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula dry cat food. Tests conducted by the company indicated the products might have a low level of thiamine (Vitamin B1).
There have been no complaints regarding thiamine levels, or any other health issues, related to these products. In association with this voluntary recall, Diamond Pet Foods has tested all other Diamond brands for thiamine deficiency to ensure the safety of the cat food it manufactures. No other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods is involved in this voluntary recall.
Only product with the following Best By dates and Production Codes are included in the voluntary recall. Further distribution of these affected production codes has occurred through online sales. It is best to check the production code to determine if the product has been recalled or not.
Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula. Size: 18 lb. bags. Production Codes: NGF0703, Best By: 10-Jul-2013, States: Massachusetts
Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula. Size: 6 lb. bags. Production Codes: NGF0802. Best By: 15-Aug-2013, 16-Aug-2013. States: Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia
Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula. Size: 6 lb. and 18 lb. bags. Product Codes: NGS0101. Best By: 03-Jan-2014, 04-Jan-2014. States: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma
Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula. Size: 6 lb. and 18 lb. bags. Product Codes: NGS0702. Best By: 10-Jul-2013. States: Florida, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia
Premium Edge Kitten Formula. Size: 6 oz. samples, 6 lb. and 18 lb. bags. Product Codes: MKT0901. Best By: 26-Sept-2013, 29-Sept-2013, 30-Sept-2013 and 02-Oct-2013. States: Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia
Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula. Size: 6 oz. samples and 6 lb. bags. Product Codes: MKT0901. Best By: 30-Sept-2013. States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina
4health All Life Stages Cat Formula. Size: 5 lb. and 18 lb. bags. Product Codes: NGF0802. Best By: 14-Aug-2013, 18-Aug-2013. States: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia
“At Diamond Pet Foods, we have a process where we continuously test our products, and this process allowed us to find the undesired levels of thiamine in some of our cat formulas. Our food safety protocols are designed to provide safe food on a daily basis,” says Michele Evans, Ph.D., Diamond Pet Foods Executive Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance. “In the event an error occurs, we have the data to quickly alert pet owners, giving them the confidence they demand of a pet food manufacturer.”
Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact the Pet Food Information Center at 1­888­965­6131, Sunday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Consumers also may visit www.petfoodinformationcenter.com for additional information.
Cats fed product with the previously listed Production Codes and Best By dates exclusively for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats in maintaining normal nervous system function. Symptoms of thiamine deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurological signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, falling, circling and seizures. Pet owners should contact their veterinarians immediately if a cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency typically is reversible.