Lots of exercise may boost kids' grades USAToday.com - A Dutch review of prior research reveals that the more physically active school-aged children are, the better they fare in the classroom. Most of the studies in the review had been conducted in the United States, while one came out of Canada and the other out of South Africa. The findings are published in the January issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. "We found strong evidence of a significant positive relationship between physical activity and academic performance," the researchers, led by Amika Singh of the Vrije Universiteit University Medical Center at the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, said in a journal news release. "The findings of one high-quality intervention study and one high-quality observational study suggest that being more physically active is positively related to improved academic performance in children," the authors noted. Fourteen studies were analyzed; they ranged in size from about 50 participants to as many as 12,000 and involved children between the ages of 6 and 18. The investigators noted that increases in blood and oxygen flow to the brain that accompanies exercise may play a role in improving classroom performance. The suggestion is that the dynamic prompts an increase in levels of hormones responsible for curtailing stress and boosting mood, while at the same time prompting the establishment of new nerve cells and synapse flexibility. Continue: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/story/2012-01-08/Lots-of-exercise-may-boost-kids-grades/52453816/1

Oh my gosh...is there anything smartphones *can't* do now???? Now they can be used to detect cataracts! http://www.knowabouthealth.com/catra-a-easy-way-to-detect-cataract-via-smartphone/8253/

Hello mamas. The obvious circle for me to join in is here. I'm a holistic nutritionist helping women who are drained or with low thyroid function. I'm looking forward to connecting with you. www.saraashe.ca

This is incredibly interesting! I didn't even know half of this stuff...
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The best and worst foods for your teeth
BetterMedicine.com - If you are what you eat, that's particularly true for your teeth and gums. When you drink and munch starchy foods, you're not only feeding yourself, you're feeding the plaque that can cause havoc in your mouth.
http://www.bettermedicine.com/category/mouth-teeth-and-oral-health/the-best-and-worst-foods-for-your-teeth?did=t1_rss4&hpt=hp_bn12c

Have you seen this TED Talk about eating and brain health? Wow, it is a must watch.

15 Ways to Eat Healthy Without Breaking the Bank.... I am very committed to eating really healthfully and feeding my family as much nutritious food as possible. Many people complain to me that they can’t buy fresh, organic food because it’s too expensive. It’s interesting to me that 100 years ago we spent twenty-five percent of our disposable income on food and now we only spend ten percent. Furthermore, we’re actually consuming more food than before, while getting fatter and sicker. But I do think we’re starting to make the connection that we have a lot of cheap food in this country, and that cheap food has hidden costs—to our physical bodies, as well as the environment. To read on: http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/01/30/eat-well/