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Video games carry labels with an age-related rating, typically based on the level of violence, strong language and sexual content. But that’s not the only guideline to consider. An industry group called the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) sets the ratings. Look closely at the video game box or information on a game app and you’ll also find “content descriptors.” There are 30 in all. These are more specific details about what led to the game’s rating — from the amount of blood and gore, to sex, to substances like alcohol and drugs. Also look for mention of “interactive elements.” These are additional game features, such as a player’s ability to interact with other players, and purchase goods and services through the game or app. You should consider interactive elements and content descriptors as carefully as age appropriateness when deciding if a game is right for your child. The content descriptors, in particular, give you an idea of what your child will see during the game. Sampling of Content Descriptors: Alcohol reference Drug reference Intense violence Nudity Real gambling Sexual violence Tobacco use According to studies done in the United States and in the United Kingdom, one of the most under-reported content descriptors is smoking. In one survey, researchers found that only 8% of games that featured smoking carried the tobacco descriptor. The U.S. Surgeon… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Sometimes, dietary supplements can do more harm than good, warns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Before taking a dietary supplement, the FDA recommends: Be wary of products claiming a “quick fix.” Know the side effects, especially if you’re having surgery in the near future. Find out if the supplement may interact with your medications. Check with a doctor before using a supplement. If you believe you are having an adverse reaction to a dietary supplement, visit a doctor and report the issue to the FDA.

Exercise has many health benefits for boys, ranging from a lower chance of obesity to improved self-esteem. It may also reduce risk-taking behaviors. However, some sports come with cautions, especially those with weight classes that could lead to excessive dieting or even anorexia. Sometimes boys may simply not eat enough calories to make up for all they burn. Intended or not, inadequate nutrition can affect their development. Whereas girls may miss their periods, concerns like hormonal changes and weak bones are harder to see in boys. Long-distance running and cycling have been linked to these issues. A doctor’s evaluation is important if you see signs for concern. If there is a problem, your son might benefit from a team approach that addresses his medical, nutritional and possible psychological issues. The team can also determine how best to continue to participate in sports. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these professionals, rather than a child’s coach, to treat weight gain or loss. Running, as a weight-bearing exercise and not done at an endurance level, can be good for bone development, but other sports may be just as good or even better for overall and bone health. One study found that soccer is great because its varied movements — such as sprinting, jumping, and fast changes in direction — stimulate bone growth. Research has also found that… read on >

Exercise is essential for girls, but problems can occur if they take in too few calories. Young females who eat too little risk menstrual irregularity, weak bones and eating disorders. Among high school girls, only 1% have all three issues, but between 16% and 54% have one of them, and that increases the risk for developing the others. In terms of eating issues, some sports are riskier than others — namely those that involve endurance or weight-classes and those that emphasize appearance, especially thinness. Focusing on one sport only from an early age, having a difficult family life, and a pattern of dieting are other risk factors. Your daughter’s pre-participation physical should include screening questions to help identify potential problems early on. But pediatricians don’t always recognize these issues. So parents should keep a watchful eye. What are the red flags? When she worries about her weight. When her weight influences how she feels about herself. When she carefully controls the amount of food she eats, and diets to meet physical requirements for her sport. Physical signs of calorie restriction include missed periods, which is linked to low bone mineral density and the risk for stress fractures. The first goal in resolving the situation is increasing calories for overall health. Rebalancing exercise expenditure and dietary intake can help a girl return to a normal weight… read on >

Women who keep moving during pregnancy may have infants with more advanced motor skills, a small study suggests. Researchers discovered the difference among 1-month-olds: Those whose moms got regular aerobic exercise during pregnancy tended to have stronger movement skills, versus babies whose mothers did not. The movement tests included things like head turning, said researcher Linda May, an associate professor at East Carolina University, in Greenville, N.C. What’s the significance of those first motor skills? According to May, past research has suggested that infants who are quicker in developing motor skills are more likely to be “movers” as kids. So, it’s possible that exercise during pregnancy might make for more active children. May and her colleagues reported their findings in the August issue of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Long gone are the days when pregnant women were advised to stay off their feet. Experts now recommend that, unless there are medical reasons not to, women should get regular moderate-intensity exercise throughout pregnancy. That, May said, means activity that’s vigorous enough to get the heart rate up and blood flowing — but not so intense that you’re breathless and can’t have a conversation. A brisk walk, swimming, a ride on a stationary bike, or a low-impact aerobics class would all fit the bill. Studies have found many benefits of exercise during… read on >

It’s a hard habit to break — sinking your teeth into a favorite fast-food breakfast sandwich. But your drive-thru addiction could be making a big dent in daily calorie and fat limits without giving you the nutrients needed to fuel your day. Take these steps for a healthy breakfast sandwich remix, great taste included. When you must buy a ready-made sandwich, skip the bacon or sausage. And replace a croissant, white roll or biscuit with a whole-wheat English muffin or whole grain wrap, like a corn or whole-wheat tortilla or a pita pocket. These are great options to have at home for making your own fast meal. Here are other do-it-yourself steps that shouldn’t take more time than driving to a chain restaurant. If you’re feeling adventurous, make a batch of crepes with whole-wheat pastry flour to use as the wrap. Store leftovers between sheets of wax paper in the fridge — they’ll be ready for a grab-and-go breakfast the rest of the week. But if you’re short on time or you’re cutting back on calories, use a broad leafy green, like red leaf lettuce or romaine, as your wrap. Fill your wrap of choice with 3 to 4 ounces of protein, such as eggs, a turkey sausage, your favorite smoked fish or even lean meat leftovers — nowhere is it written that you can’t… read on >

To get the most out of a whole chicken, roasting is the way to go. It’s an easy and flavorful way to prepare this protein-rich, lean meat, plus you’ll have dinner for two and lunch for the next day. Simple prep steps make the job easy. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions not to rinse chicken of any kind — the droplets of water can splash around the kitchen, actually spreading bacteria. So unwrap the chicken and place it directly in your roasting pan. Check inside the cavity for any giblets, usually the neck, gizzard, heart, and liver. You can use them to make stock for a future recipe, but skip the liver (it’s larger than the heart) since it can make the broth bitter. Just roast it along with the chicken for a tasty extra morsel. After prepping the bird as directed in the recipe and before placing it in the oven, be sure to wash your hands and any areas of the kitchen the chicken was in contact with. Roasted Chicken and Chicken Salad For the roasted chicken: 1 4-pound roaster chicken 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper For the chicken salad: 2 celery stalks, finely chopped 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt or a no-salt… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Herbs are plants or plant derivatives that can be used for their scent, flavor or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicines are sold in many forms including tablets, powders, teas, extracts and fresh plants. MedlinePlus urges people to remember that products labeled “natural” aren’t always safe and healthy. Herbal medicines do not have to go through the same rigorous testing that prescription drugs do. Herbs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Before using an herbal medicine, get information on it from reliable sources, and discuss its use with your health care provider.

If moving is never easy, then moving while you are pregnant has got to be a grueling experience. But could it actually harm your baby? Yes, a new investigation warns. The researchers found that switching homes during the first three months of pregnancy was tied to an increased risk that a baby would be born prematurely or at a low birth weight. “Moving has been on the radar as a possible risk factor during pregnancy because it is known to be a stressful experience for many people,” explained study author Julia Bond. Bond, who is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Boston University, put the potential stress of moving on par with other major life disruptions, such as a divorce or the death of a loved one. In the study, she and her team analyzed birth outcomes among 28,000 women who had moved during their first trimester. The investigators then stacked those outcomes up against the outcomes of 112,000 women who had not moved during early pregnancy. All of the women were 18 and older and Washington state residents. All gave birth at some point between 2007 and 2014. The result? Pulling up stakes during the initial 90 days of pregnancy was associated with a 42% higher risk for delivering prematurely, meaning before 37 weeks of gestation. A first trimester move was also linked to a… read on >

Even a mild concussion can temporarily affect your sense of smell and trigger longer-term anxiety problems, a new study finds. It’s been known that such problems could occur after a major concussion. But this study found it’s also true for minor concussions caused by accidents such as falling off a bike with a helmet on, having a traffic fender-bender, falling on the ski slopes, or slipping on ice and hitting your head. “A lot of people will suffer a mild concussion at some point in their life, so realizing they have trouble smelling is the first step to telling their doctor about it,” said lead author Fanny Lecuyer Giguere. She did the research as part of her doctoral thesis in neuropsychology at the University of Montreal. The study included 20 people who suffered minor concussions and a “control group” of 22 people who broke limbs but had no concussion. Within 24 hours of their injury, just over half of the patients with mild concussions had a reduced sense of smell, compared with 5% of the patients with broken bones, the Canadian researchers found. A year later, the concussion patients’ sense of smell had returned to normal (most within six months), but their rate of anxiety (65%) was considerably higher than in the control group, the findings showed. Symptoms of anxiety included worry, difficulty relaxing and… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Another Video Game Risk to Watch Out For

Health Tip: Taking Dietary Supplements

Health Cautions for Young Male Athletes

Is Your Daughter, the Athlete, Eating Enough?

Could Exercise in Pregnancy Boost Baby’s Health, Too?

A Healthier Take on Breakfast Sandwiches

How to Maximize That Whole Chicken

Health Tip: Herbal Medicine Considerations

A Change of Address During Early Pregnancy May Not Be Best for Baby

Mild Head Injury Can Impair Your Sense of Smell