FDA and School Lunch
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| Updated: 12/12/2012 5:39 pm |
Published: 12/12/2012 4:11 pm |
Bowing to pressure from kids, schools and lawmakers, the Obama Administration has reversed some of the big changes it made to the school lunch program this year.
For example, under the rules enacted in august, schools couldn't offer a grilled chicken sandwich and celery sticks with peanut butter for dipping for lunch - saying that's too much protein.
But now with this new reversal, they can.
A few months ago, when students made a Youtube video protesting the changes, they parodied the song "We Are Young" by the band "Fun."
The video got more than a million views.
Preventing Youth Smoking
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says primary care physicians can be a powerful weapon in the fight to prevent children and teens from ever trying that first cigarette.
The task force is recommending doctors who treat children and teens to offer them information and counseling about the health dangers associated with smoking.
Why focus on young people?
According to the Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids, over 90% of adult smokers started before the age of nineteen.
Another target in fighting smoking among young people is parents. Having a parent who smokes is one of the strongest factors for children starting to smoke.
The task force recommends physicians ask parents about their smoking habits and offer them guidance about how to quit.
Community based anti-smoking efforts, such as school anti-tobacco programs and public ad campaigns, have been shown to be effective in fighting and preventing smoking.
Experts believe that adding anti-smoking messages in the doctor’s office, and having it reinforced at home will offer more tools in preventing young people from ever beginning to smoke.
Chocolate cough relief
We all want some excuse to eat chocolate.
Here's one reason that can help you if you're feeling under the weather.
Researchers say chocolate can be a cure for cough relief.
A chemical in cocoa beans may be more effective then the codeine in cough syrup.
60% of patients saw improvement in getting rid of their cough.
Doctors say it's not an actual cure, but why not eat a bar or two of chocolate if it could help you?
