28 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • APRIL 18, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
Improving Your Children’s Health 3 ways to take a proactive approach
As a sign of the times, Millennial moms
continue to lean toward proactive and
preventative care when it comes to the
health of their babies.
A survey of more than 300 moms in the
United States from Evivo baby probiotic
revealed more than half approach their
children’s health with a proactive mindset.
Th ey are more likely to conduct their own
research before visiting their pediatrician
(more than 80 percent), and also inquire
about particular ways they can improve
the overall health of their children, even if
they are not sick.
Th ese tips can help you advocate for and
improve the overall health of your baby:
Schedule regular well-visits
Although paying close attention to your
baby’s appetite, activity level and general
condition can provide ample information
about his or her health, it can’t rule
out every possible concern. Th at’s why
the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
parents schedule regular wellness
visits during the fi rst six months of a
child’s life and beyond. During these visits,
physicians can monitor for problems
that may not be readily visible and they
are also an opportunity for parents to ask
questions. In addition to age-appropriate
visits to the pediatrician, it’s also a good
idea to begin preventive eye and dental
care at an early age.
Be proactive about gut health
Th e fi rst six months of life are a critical
time to focus on gut health. Remember
to pay attention to the bacteria living in
the gut as it pertains to the development
of the immune system. Research from the
University of California, Davis shows the
critical strain B. infantis, which is known
to naturally protect baby’s gut from bad
bacteria, is missing in nine of 10 U.S.
babies today. When the strain is not present
in the infant gut, it allows potentially
harmful bacteria to thrive, which are
linked to higher risk of colic, eczema,
allergies, asthma, diabetes and obesity.
“Th e connection between rising autoimmune
conditions and early immune health
is becoming stronger with research about
B. infantis and its impact on the infant
gut microbiome, which makes the fi rst
six months of life a critical window to be
proactive about gut health and restore B.
infantis,” said Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician
and best-selling nutrition author.
Th irty-seven percent of moms said they
give their child a probiotic to encourage
good health. Parents can promote
immune health with an option like Evivo,
which is the only baby probiotic clinically
proven to restore B. infantis to natural levels.
To learn more, visit evivo.com.
Incorporate plant-based
foods for optimal nutrition
Breastfeeding is a signifi cant fi rst step
in making sure your baby is getting all the
nutrients he or she needs. Once you start
feeding your child solids, it’s also important
to introduce a wide variety of foods
with high fi ber, including fruits, veggies,
beans and whole grains. According to
the survey, parents today are focusing on
whole foods to provide nutrients, as 47
percent of moms said they’re incorporating
more plant-based foods into their
family’s diets and 31 percent are eating
more organic. If you have a picky eater, it
can get tricky to get him or her to eat more
fruits, veggies and whole grains on a regular
basis, but an option like smoothies can
be a simple way to pack in the nutrients.
Th ere are many actions parents can
take to promote healthy lifestyles for their
children, but focusing on gut health and
nutrition in the early months of their lives
can be a good place to start.
Courtesy Family Features
What you need to know about Age-related Macular Degeneration
Th e ability to see the people, places and
things in front of you is one of life’s most
precious gift s. Imagine a life without the
ability to see these things clearly - what
steps would you then take to protect your
vision? Life with Age-related Macular
Degeneration, or AMD, can potentially
lead to vision loss or blindness. While an
AMD diagnosis can be a scary thought,
there are things people can do to help
reduce the risk of progression of the disease.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is AMD?
AMD is a leading cause of blindness for
people age 65 and older, and an estimated
16 million Americans are living with
AMD. AMD aff ects the macula, the part
of the eye that supports central vision. Th e
condition is progressive, which means
that central vision can ultimately become
impaired, which may cause diffi culty
keeping up with daily activities like driving,
reading or recognizing the faces of
loved ones. While there is no cure for
AMD, there are steps patients can take to
help reduce the risk of progression.
Tips for taking action
Early detection of AMD is imperative.
While early-stage AMD oft en does
not present any symptoms or changes in
vision, patients should get a comprehensive
dilated eye exam once a year, so they
may catch the condition early on. Th is is
the best method to receive a proper diagnosis
of AMD, as the dilation allows the
doctor to see the back of the eye where
this issue occurs.Adopt a healthy lifestyle.
People with AMD should make sure
they are eating a diet that consists of eyehealthy
nutrients, like green leafy vegetables
and fatty fi sh; exercising regularly and
not smoking.In addition, people diagnosed
with moderate to advanced AMD
should talk to their doctor about taking
a vitamin that contains the AREDS 2 formula,
such as PreserVision® AREDS
2 formula vitamins, which contain the
exact nutrient formula recommended
by the National Eye Institute for people
with moderate to advanced AMD to help
reduce the risk of progression.
Get the facts and fi nd support
Patients are oft en learning about
AMD for the fi rst time as they’re
being diagnosed, which can be overwhelming.
While the Internet is a great
resource for patients, medical literature
about AMD is oft en dense and
diffi cult to follow. Th at’s why Bausch
+ Lomb has developed SightMatters.
com, a new online resource to provide
AMD patients with personalized tips
and tools, along with an online support
system and network, to help each
patient better navigate their life living
with AMD no matter where they are on
that journey.
Th e new website not only aims to help
patients understand what AMD is, and
how they can manage it, but ultimately
to create a personalized action plan to
discuss with their doctor and start taking
charge of their condition, so they
can continue to see what they love each
day. Visit SightMatters.com to begin
taking action today.
PreserVision is a trademark of Bausch
& Lomb Incorporated or its affi liates.
AREDS2 is a registered trademark
of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS).
Courtesy BPT
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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