Author: healthtost

Fewer than 1 in 4 children ages 2 to 4 meet recommended levels of daily physical activity, according to a new study. Additionally, while children are much more active on the days they attend early grades, most preschoolers do not meet recommended activity levels in early years settings or at home. The University of Bristol research analyzed data from 419 pre-school children (49.6% boys) attending early years providers in 4 different local authorities in England (Somerset, Swindon and Sandwell) and Scotland (Arran and Ayrshire). This is the first comparison of accelerometer-based physical activity in preschool children between days spent within…

By Jason M. Sutherland Closure of emergency departments. Long waiting times for surgeries and appointments with specialists. Millions of Canadians without a primary health care provider. Health care systems across Canada are struggling to provide timely and equitable access to health care services – at a time when provincial governments are cutting spending amid economic uncertainty. Canada must find solutions that improve health care affordability, access and costs. One promising avenue is to look to other countries for innovative health care policies and practices, starting with Australia. Why look to Australia? Australia has many similarities with Canada. Both have…

The British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is warning of the increasing risks of children using artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT for mental health advice. Its new research revealed that more than a third (38%) of therapists working with people under 18 have clients seeking mental health guidance from AI platforms. And nearly one in five (19%) therapists reported that children receive harmful mental health advice. Therapists told the BACP that some AI tools provide potentially harmful and misleading information, including encouraging children to self-diagnose conditions such as ADHD and OCD, reinforcing avoidance behaviors and automatically validating their…

When it comes to the “glassy skin” trend, online experts are pushing intensive hydration to give a plump, dewy look, but I’m here to say, you can’t hydrate your way to glassy skin. As an expert esthetician of 35 years, I will share with you how to do it indeed get glass-smooth skin you’ll absolutely love. What exactly is “Glass Skin”? Glass skin is a term that refers to skin that is incredibly smooth, clear and shiny and reflects light – almost like a piece of glass. It is defined as skin that is deeply hydrated, plump and radiant with…

When dealing with pregnancy, you can feel bombarded with a dozen don’ts from all directions. For example, some moms-to-be are reluctant to eat certain types of fish because of the fear of mercury. But it is generally recommended to incorporate healthy fish into the diet. Likewise, the myth surrounding eating certain fruits confuses many moms-to-be. The same applies to the use of oils during pregnancy. Understandably, the search for pregnancy-safe essential oils is warranted. This concern simply stems from the concern about using essential oils during pregnancy. But does it make sense? Let’s break down the important details to make…

Photo source: JJs Fresh From Scratch Whether you’re a local, in town for a work trip, or taking the kids to the parks, the healthy restaurants here in Orlando are worth seeking out. Of course, eating out will never be as healthy as eating in your own kitchen, but we’re lucky to live in a city that has fresh, delicious, healthy options in every neighborhood. Here are some of my favorite healthy food options in Orlando (and suggestions for what to order): JJ’s Scratch Cocina (Carrie Ford) Think of JJ’s as a local Chipotle, but with better quality and more…

Split squats are a great exercise for building unilateral lower-body strength—but they’re not always easy to embrace when legday rolls around. The balance challenges, awkward adjustments, and reduced range of motion due to these factors often turn it into a circus. That’s where the Hatfield Split Squat comes in. This unilateral variation gives you the best of both worlds: the muscle-building benefits of unilateral training with the added stability of arm support. Using upright racks or safety bars keeps you balanced, allows you to train with a deeper range of motion, and enables you to load heavier without sacrificing control.…

One in five children and teens in America are obese. This is up 35% since 2000, as rates of severe childhood obesity have nearly doubled in that time. In recognition of efforts to stand up locally to create healthier classrooms and communities, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, honored nine students, schools and educators from across the country during a virtual awards ceremony on November 20. The ceremony – held annually to recognize outstanding participants in the Association’s national programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ – featured volunteers and…

Over 40 million American adults – about 19% – live with one anxiety disorderaccording to the National Institutes of Health. Studies show that this stress is more prevalent among young people. In recent years social psychologists such as Jonathan Hyde have begun to make connections between technology use and stress. They argue that the ubiquity of smartphones and social media can affect not only young people’s habits and emotions but also key aspects of their brain development during adolescence. Maintaining a consistent online presence can pay off excessive social comparison, disturbed sleep, fragmented attention and increased exposure to cyberbullying; –…

When I was growing up, all the caregivers in my world were women. The first memories I had of our family when my mother, father and I enjoyed life in our little house in the San Fernando Valley town of Sherman Oaks ended when my father became ill. I was told he had suffered a “nervous breakdown”, which made no sense to a five-year-old, but I felt safe knowing my mother was there to take care of me. There were female caregivers at the preschool I attended, and my kindergarten and first grade teachers were female. My pediatrician was a…