Elixir

According to researchers from Harvard Medical School, women who are stressed during pregnancy may cause their children to be more sensitive to allergen exposure when born. This stress may even influence a baby’s developing immune system and possibly develop a future risk of asthma.

“This research adds to a growing body of evidence that links maternal stress, such as that precipitated by financial problems or relationship issues, to changes in children’s developing immune systems, even during pregnancy,” says Dr. Rosalind J. Wright, assistant professor of medicine at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The researchers analyzed levels of maternal stress and a mother’s exposure to dust mite allergen in the home while pregnant, examining how a child’s immune response at birth was altered. The result was clear regardless of race, class, education or smoking history: Stress magnified the effect of dust exposure on a child’s immune system.

“This further supports the notion that stress can be thought of as a social pollutant that, when ‘breathed’ into the body, may influence the body’s immune response similar to the effects of physical pollutants, like allergens, thus adding to their effects,” Wright says. –Melanie Wanzek

A new study published online by the journal, Obesity, projects 86 percent of Americans age 18 and older could be overweight or obese by 2030. Health care costs associated with such an epidemic would double every decade and reach $956.9 billion by that same year. Which means 1 out of every 6 health care dollars spent would go toward obesity-related illnesses.

What’s truly shocking about the study, conducted by Youfa Wang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of International Health and Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is that they estimate 100 percent of adults could be overweight or obese by 2048.

The hit summer film, “Wall-E,” portrayed a not-so-distant future in which the obesity epidemic caused Earth to be unusable and rendered its inhabitants unable to walk. When I saw the movie it felt like an effective use of hyperbole to draw a parallel between how we care for our planet and how we care for our bodies. At the same time, the logical side of my brain said, “Eh, that would never happen.”

And even in light of this study I know it won’t happen. It’s just not possible for 100% of the population to become overweight and obese. There will always be a tipping point at which time the numbers of obese Americans will start to go down again. Perhaps the ever-increasing cost of food will cause people to rethink their eating habits or perhaps some government measure (think cigarettes)  will help people take charge of their health. Either way, the earth is a living, breathing organism that will right itself one way or another.

The real question is will we do it ourselves or will Mother Nature intervene? What are your thoughts? –Matthew M. F. Miller

Be careful when giving your infant water this summer – it could be the difference between a day at the beach and a day at the hospital.

“Babies need extra fluids in the hot weather, but straight water is not one of them,” says Dr. Allen Walker, a pediatrician and head of the Emergency Department at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Baltimore. “Too much water can disrupt the delicate balance in a baby’s body, leading to water intoxication. Before you know it, the baby is seizing.”

Water intoxication is one of the leading causes of healthy infant seizures because it dilutes sodium in the blood and flushes it out of the body, which alters brain activity. Infants under one year of age are more prone to intoxication, as are children who are already dehydrated – look for warning sign, like if a child has fewer than three wet diapers in 24 hours, Walker says.

Though the seizures have no lasting effects, stick to breast milk and formula instead of water to keep a child under one year of age who isn’t eating solid foods hydrated. If concern does arise, check for these common symptoms: changes in mental status (unusual irritability or drowsiness), low body temperature (usually 97 degrees or less), facial swelling or puffiness and seizures.

The editors at Self magazine are hosting an interactive list to find readers’ favorite workout tunes. So far, the winner is Kanye West’s Stronger. With a thumping back-beat provided by electronic stars, Daft Punk; a soaring, take-on-the-world message perfectly tailored for a mid-workout energy boost; and a five-minute-plus play time, it is a sweat-inducing classic.

Spots two and three on the list both are held by Rihanna. Unfortunately for all involved, it’s the same song, Don’t Stop the Music, spelled two different ways.

One has to wonder if she’d be whupping on Kanye right now if it weren’t for an embarrassing mix-up on the part the readers. Then again, following Don’t Cha by The Pussycat Dolls, SexyBack by Justin Timberlake, Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet, Crazy In Love by Beyonce and Mr. Brightside by the Killers, Kanye’s Stronger pops up again, only this time with a lowercase “s.” So, it has a few kinks. It’s still a lot of fun, even if it is completely removed from my workout reality.

Maybe I’m unusual (OK, I’m definitely unusual), but I don’t need the latest hip-hop hits and rock-band ballast to keep my workout on the upswing. I run to new music that I like because I tire of the same old sounds. Once a playlist is worn out, my speed and efficiency drecrease. What about you? What kind of playlist keeps you sweating? Check out my indie-rock playlist from the 7 mile run I took this morning and then PLEASE share yours in the comments section. –Matthew M. F. Miller

1. Viva la Vida - Coldplay

2. 31 Today – Aimee Mann

3. Last Light - Matt Pond PA

4. Send a Little Love Token - The Duke Spirit

5. An End Has a Start - Editors

6. Bad Day - R.E.M.

7. L.E.S. Artistes - Santogold

8. No Emotion - Idlewild

9. Piece of Me - Britney Spears

10. What Makes You Happy - Liz Phair

11. Jimmy - M.I.A.

12. Say It Right - Nelly Furtado

13. With Arms Outstretched - Rilo Kiley

14. Don’t Stop the Music - Rihanna

I woke up at 5:30 AM to take my hour long run on Thursday morning and by the time I had cooled down, taken care of the dogs, and showered, it dawned on me that our eco-cleaning service was due to arrive in less than fifteen minutes. We ante-up in cash, so I had to run to Walgreens in order to get the money needed to pay the piper, which meant I had to buy something in order to retrieve sufficient funds.

My 8-mile run was tough due to the thick humidity sticking into every crevice of my skin, so I decided to refuel with a Vitamin Water of the “Revive” variety. Chock-full of B vitamins and potassium, according to the label it was going to help an exhausted person such as me “recover and feel refreshed–kinda like in those old irish spring soap commercials.”

As someone unable to pass up a value, I opted for the giant 32-ounce bottle instead of the 16 because it was a mere 50 cents more. However, by the time I had sipped 3/4 of the drink on a rather empty stomach, it became apparent that this revival was a little too intense for me. I guess it makes sense: I get sick if I take a vitamin on an empty stomach, so why should this be different. Still, nowhere on the packaging does it warn the consumer that such effects are possible, that I could get a queasy, rumbly tummy from consuming 160% of my daily value of vitamin C, and 80% of vitamins B3, B6, B12 and B5.

Their logo, “vitamins + water = all you need” is clever, but I certainly needed a little something more prior to consumption. Nevertheless, 2 hours later, I did feel quite refreshed. Go figure. ––Matthew M. F. Miller

If acupuncture could get rid of wrinkles, would you stick needles in your face? Bet you would. Women are flocking to Cinnabar Spa and Clinic in San Diego to do just that by indulging in facial rejuvenation, or cosmetic acupuncture.

Acupuncture for facial rejuvenation is still based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and addressing the root cause, such as hormonal imbalance or stress, but it also adds points to stimulate the flow of chi in the face and superficially to the skin

“The style of needling is different,” says Lia Andrews, licensed acupuncturist and co-owner of Cinnabar. “You really want to create more circulation in a local area, where wrinkles are located and where the muscles are.”

She reiterates, however, that there’s still an underlying cause. “Whatever shows on your face indicates different conditions in your body,” she says. Treating the body and face, however, has an advantage over other cosmetic treatments as underlying problems are addressed along with improvements in the skin, leading to long-lasting results and a more natural path to vitality.

Along with the acupuncture points, Andrews may also incorporate microdermabrasion or other topical treatment. It’s all individualized to the person’s particular skin condition. Regardless of how intense your treatment is, “you’ll see huge results in one session,” Andrews says and notes that she has clients who come in just before a big event or vacation just to get that quick fix.

For best results, she recommends a regimen of two weekly sessions for five weeks followed by monthly maintenance. “You’ll notice right away that wrinkles seemless,” Andrews says. “That’s what really sells people.” –Dana Carmen

What color is your child’s parachute? If it’s Red 40 or Yellow 5, it could be the reason they’re bouncing off the walls – and you’re pulling your hair out. Earlier this week the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban eight food dyes linked to hyperactivity in children.

The dyes in question are:

• Yellow 5
• Red 40
• Blue 1
• Blue 2
• Green 3
• Orange B
• Red 3
• Yellow 6

Red 40 and Yellow 5 are the most popular dyes used in processed foods, and all of the dyes are responsible for bringing the rainbow of fruit flavors to Skittles, Starbursts, Fruity Pebbles, Fruit Loops and Fruit Roll-ups – and even the comforting yellow glow of instant potatoes.

Many of these dyes are already banned in the United Kingdom where, if you buy a McDonald’s strawberry sundae, the red color of the topping arrives via the natural redness of the strawberry. In the US version, it comes from Red 40.

So how concerned should we be about the color of our food? And why do we even care what color our food is so long as it tastes good? –Matthew M. F. Miller

Twinkies have been known to lure more than one dieter to the dark side with the irresistible promise of moist, cream-filled cake and total taste bud elation. When Twinkies were first created in 1903 the cream filling was banana flavored. During World War II, a banana shortage forced the makers to switch to the now ubiquitous vanilla cream filling. In 2007, Hostess reintroduced the banana cream version to the market as a permanent flavor. Made primarily of flour, sugar, corn syrup and shortening, there are several other ingredients that aren’t as straightforward.

Take a look inside:

1. Dextrose
A glucose sugar made from cornstarch, dextrose is a
commonly used sweetener and its energy is rapidly
absorbed. It is 70 percent as sweet as sugar, contains 4 calories
in every one-gram serving and is naturally found in
honey, fruit and your blood.

2. Cellulose gum
One of the most commonly used thickening agents, cellulose
gum is a sweet white powder derived from the natural
cellulose strains of cotton. Creates the beloved slippery
texture of the filling, which is the same thing it does when
used in rocket fuel according to the book, “Twinkie,
Deconstructed” (Hudson Street Press, 2007).

3. Polysorbate 60
A hi-tech version of blending heavy whipping cream
and egg yolks, Polysorbate 60 is how they manage to blend
fat and water together to make the filling creamy. And just
because it’s flammable doesn’t mean it isn’t useful – it’s
what allows the cream to stay creamy for a very, very long
time.

4. Mono and Diglycerides
Usually made from soybean, cottonseed or sunflower
oil, these fats help the cake from getting stale and ensure
that it keeps it’s fluffy figure as it travels from the oven, to
the store to your mouth. Also found in margarine, chewing
gum and instant potatoes.

5. Calcium caseinate
A byproduct of skim milk, this protein is most often
used to balance the mouth-burning effect of hot peppers
in food. Athletes also use it as a dietary supplement in
place of whey protein because of its slower breakdown
rate, which provides the body continual protein release
and makes you feel full. In the case of Twinkies, it’s most
likely there for the texture. Or to tide you over until you
eat the second one. –Matthew M. F. Miller