Moms can reduce risk of eczema in their babies by taking probiotics

Moms can reduce risk of eczema in their babies by taking probiotics

(NaturalNews) About 20 percent of babies and toddlers have the condition known as eczema which causes red, swollen and intensely itchy skin. It usually develops on the forehead, cheeks, and scalp, but it can spread to the arms, legs, chest and other parts of the body. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 65 percent of eczema cases develop in the first year of life and 90 percent develop symptoms before the age of five.

While many babies with eczema get better before they are two, others have cases of eczema that persist into adulthood. Evidence has accumulated over the past decade that this common skin problem is connected to something going on in the gut -- and that probiotics, beneficial microorganisms similar to the "friendly" bacteria found naturally in the body's digestive system, can help.

For example, a review of 21 studies, published last year in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, concluded probiotics were most useful in preventing atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, from developing in the first place. And a groundbreaking new study, just published in the British Journal of Dermatology, found that when moms drank a probiotic supplement during their pregnancy and after their babies were born, the rate of eczema in their offspring was slashed by about half. 

This research, conducted by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), is especially convincing because it was a randomized, double-blind study comparing mothers who drank one glass of probiotic milk daily to women who drank milk containing a placebo. The research subjects drank the probiotic or placebo-laced milk beginning at week 36 in their pregnancy and continued consuming the drinks for three months after giving birth. The results were dramatic: the women who received the probiotic drink reduced the incidence of eczema by 40 percent in their offspring.

"The taste of both products was similar, and the milk was delivered in unmarked milk cartons. This means that neither the participants in the study nor the researchers knew who had received probiotic milk or placebo milk," NTNU scientist Torbjorn Oien said in a statement to the press. "We can therefore say with great certainty that it was the probiotic bacteria alone that caused the difference in the incidence of eczema between the two groups."

In fact, although earlier studies have provided evidence that ingestion of some probiotics by children may prevent eczema, this is the first study to show that probiotics given to mothers during pregnancy and breast-feeding prevents eczema. As NaturalNews has previously reported, probiotics in dietary supplements or in food such as yogurt, have also been found to be useful and safe in treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea children (http://www.naturalnews.com/026037_Chi_alternative_therapies_health.html).

For more information:

http://www.ntnu.edu/probiotic-use-in-pregnancy

http://www.naturalnews.com/probiotics.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/762045-overview

Coffee drinking causes low birth weight in babies and prolonged birth

Coffee drinking causes low birth weight in babies and prolonged birth

(NaturalNews) If you're a mother-to-be and you happen to enjoy a couple cups of coffee in the morning, you may be undercutting your baby's birth weight.

That's the conclusion by researchers who have conducted a decade-long study of nearly 60,000 women in Norway - expectant mothers who drink two cups of coffee a day risk having an underweight baby and having their pregnancies last longer, though only by a matter of hours, Britain's Telegraph newspaper reported.

The findings included data about how often women had foods or drinks that contained caffeine, including tea and coffee, as well as chocolate sandwich spread and bars of chocolate.

Researchers compared those findings with details of infant birth weight and in doing so established a clear link between caffeine and lower birth weights. Data indicated that consumption of between 200-300 mg of caffeine per day raised the odds of a newborn being classed as small for the length of pregnancy by up to 62 percent.

More than two cups a day especially risky

One average mug of coffee contains about 100 mg of caffeine; a mug of filter coffee contains more, around 140 mg. But some drinks sold in coffee shops - such as espresso and other high-caffeine content drinks - may contain as much as 300 mg per cup.

Other countries, such as Great Britain, recommend limiting caffeine consumption to just 200 mg per day.

Scientists conducting the study also said they specifically identified coffee as increasing the length of pregnancy; one daily average cup of coffee lengthened child labor by as much as eight hours. Unlike previous studies, the new research did not identify a link between caffeine and premature birth.

Dr. Verena Sengpiel of Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden, a primary researcher, said caffeine may stunt the growth of the unborn baby by slowing the vital passage of nutrients from the mother to the infant through the placenta.

Sengpiel, writing in the journal BMC Medicine, added that coffee could make a noticeable increase in the length of a pregnancy by hours, simply by interfering with the chemical signals occurring around the beginning of labor.

"The UK Food Standards Agency carefully analyzed and thoroughly reviewed the effects of caffeine during pregnancy and currently recommends that pregnant women moderate consumption to an upper safe limit of 200 mg per day - two to three cups of coffee," said Dr. Euan Paul of the British Coffee Association.

"Switching to decaf during pregnancy is also an option for those who wish to continue drinking coffee," he said. "We welcome more research into this important area so that the associations found in this study can be further explored."

Earlier research also links caffeine to low birth weights

Annette Briley, a consultant midwife for Tommy's, a baby charity, said low birth weights can lead to opposite problems in the future.

"Being born small can lead to catch-up growth and this in turn can lead to obesity, diabetes and certain cancers in adult life," she told the paper. "While women do need to be mindful and remember that caffeine is found in tea, chocolate, other sweets and soft drinks - as well as coffee - we would suggest further research into the effects of coffee is required."

She added: "Additional care should however be taken when buying coffee in retail outlets as the caffeine content varies between many companies. If women are worried, they should seek advice from their GP or Tommy's midwives for the best advice."

Glasgow University scientists warned in 2011 that pregnant women were at risk of endangering the health of their unborn babies by drinking coffee from high-caffeine shops. They analyzed espressos from 20 notable coffee shops and found substantial variations in the amount of caffeine in each shop's products, with the strongest levels found having six times the caffeine content as the weakest.

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

http://www.parenting.com

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com

Germany now registering 'genderless' babies with both male and female characteristics

Germany now registering 'genderless' babies with both male and female characteristics

(NaturalNews) They are sometimes referred to as "intersex" people -- individuals with chromosomes, genitalia or even just characteristics that resemble both the male and female sex -- and for the first time ever, they now have their own gender category on birth certificates in Europe. According to BBC News, Germany has officially become the first nation in the world to allow parents to register their newborn babies as genderless, or "indeterminate sex," when it is determined that they bear both male and female attributes.

Traditionally, parents who birthed children with intersex characteristics had to immediately decide their child's sex at the hospital, a high-pressure situation with potentially catastrophic ramifications. Depending upon which sex the parents chose, doctors had the option to immediately begin hormone therapy and even surgery to help the children develop more towards the parents' chosen sex, which as you might imagine is not always an easy or obvious decision.

In one example case cited by reports, an intersex child born with ambiguous genitalia underwent modifying surgery after being born, only to later lose all sense of his defined sexuality. Now as a grown adult, this individual recently told reporters, "I am neither a man nor a woman. I will remain the patchwork created by doctors, bruised and scarred."

Such gut-wrenching emotional damage and heartache can be avoided, say intersex advocates, if parents are allowed to simply register their intersex babies in a completely separate category from just the male and female classifications. The logic behind this maintains that parents will be less pressured to try to modify their intersex children physically, thus allowing them to develop on their own into whatever sex their bodies ultimately choose.

"Babies are still being operated on routinely," says Sarah Graham, an intersex woman and counselor who advocates around the world for more recognition of intersex people. "Often these operations are not necessary for the child's development. Sometimes they take away fertility and sexual responsiveness."

Intersex babies in Germany will still face invasive surgeries and medical treatments, says some

While the new classification, according to Graham, is a step forward for intersex people living in Germany, which represent about 1 out of every 2,000 people, intersex advocacy groups like IGLA-Europe believe it still does not go far enough. IGLA-Europe campaigner Silvan Agius, for instance, told reporters recently that the new law still leaves room for surgeries and other harmful medical procedures that could permanently harm intersex individuals.

"While on the one hand it has provided a lot of visibility about intersex issues... it does not address the surgeries and the medicalization of intersex people and that's not good," Agius is quoted as saying. "That has to change."

On the other hand, some intersex advocates say the new classification will only further harm intersex individuals by making them more confused about their sex later on in life. If parents of intersex babies thought they had it hard before having to pick a gender for their children, imagine what they may face having to raise a child permanently classified with no definable sex whatsoever.

"For many parents it's still a problem to have a child who can't be determined as male or female at birth," says Simon Zobel, international advisor for the Federation of Intersex People in Germany, as quoted by DW.DE. "They are terrorized by the idea. Imagine living with a registration as undetermined?"

Another issue of concern is how intersex individuals will be treated by the state with respect to marriage and partnership laws. Existing law in Germany currently defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, while a civil partnership designates a union between two people of the same sex. How intersex couples, who have no definable sex, end up being classified remains to be seen.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.bbc.co.uk

http://www.dw.de

http://www.breitbart.com

10 superfoods for babies and toddlers

10 superfoods for babies and toddlers

(NaturalNews) Babies and toddlers do not eat much food because their tummies are tiny. That is why it is important to feed them foods that are packed with nutrients. Superfoods are natural foods that are high in nutrients and antioxidants packed with health giving properties. They are easily digestible and keep the body and mind healthy and working great. These 10 superfoods are essential for babies' and toddlers' growing bodies.

1. Avocado

Avocados are the best first food for your baby. They are a perfect consistency and they contain an abundance of nutrients including high levels of Omega-3s. You can simply slice open an avocado and feed it straight into your little one's mouth. If you would like a smoother consistency, add a little breast milk or substitute and mash.

2. Beans

Beans are super nutritious. They are very high in antioxidants containing 10 times the amount of antioxidants as oranges. They are high in fiber, which prevents your baby from becoming constipated. They are high in iron, protein and vitamin B. They should be soaked overnight before preparing to decrease cooking time.

3. Blueberries

Blueberries are super nutritious. They are higher in antioxidants than any other fresh fruit and very beneficial to your baby's brain, urinary and nervous systems as well as their heart and eyes. They are also high in fiber, and vitamins A and C.

4. Coconut

Coconuts contain medium chain fatty acids which have significant health benefits and are similar to the ones found in human breast milk. They help boost the immune system, improve digestion, and balance the blood sugar.

5. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are higher in antioxidants than blueberries and have more calcium than whole milk. They are very high in Omega-3s, magnesium, fiber, iron, potassium, and protein.

6. Dark leafy greens

These leafy greens are rich in antioxidants and high in iron and folate. They are a top superfood because they contain large amounts of vitamins C, and K as well as calcium. Vitamin K and calcium are great bone-builders.

7. Eggs (cage-free/organic)

Eggs are full of high quality nutrients for your baby. They contain choline, a B-vitamin that plays an important role in the development and function of the baby's brain. Eggs are full of protein and Omega-3s as well as vitamin D, folate, the antioxidant lutein and many minerals such as zinc, iron, and selenium, a great immune booster.

8. Oats

Oats are a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber and they are also rich in phytochemicals, vitamin E, zinc, iron, magnesium and selenium. Oats are a good source of protein and a great way to start the morning. Use plain oats and add your own toppings such as nuts, fruit or a drizzle of agave nectar.

9. Quinoa

Quinoa is a complete protein making it perfect for vegetarian babies, it is high in lysine, an amino acid important for tissue growth and repair. Quinoa has a good amount of fiber and is high in nutrients such as manganese, magnesium and has a very high iron content. Quinoa is a gluten free grain and is an alternative to whole grain rice in many baby food recipes.

10. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are among the most nutritious vegetables available. They are rich in phyto-nutrients and high in vitamins A and C. They have a naturally sweet flavor and creamy texture making these vegetables appealing to babies and toddlers.

Sources:

www.wholesomebabyfood.com

www.parents.com