Dieting? Say cheese

Say cheese to your cheese and it just might help you make better food choices. Study finds those who took pictures of their food made better food choices than those who just wrote down what they ate. You can read more about it here. So I guess a picture is worth more than a thousand words, could be worth a thousand calories?

Kids and germs

This just in.. kids are germ factories. We know kids can spread flu like wildfire. Now studies found that flu like symptoms struck first and worst in the zip codes that were home to the most kids. So if you live in a neighborhood filled with kids, you might consider the flu vaccine.

Flu shot season begins this month and for the first time, vaccinations are being recommended for all children, not just those under 5.

You can read more about it here. And then go wash your hands. That's where I'm going.
Never hurts to practice germ prevention.

Cabbage Kids Return

Get ready for September 20th. It's the anniversary of the Cabbage Patch Kids. And they'll be re-released as replicas from the 1983 originals. So beloved by so many, there are celebrations planned at BabyLand General Hospital. Read more about it here.

Fight the fat gene

You've heard of the fat gene right, the common genetic variation that makes people more likely to gain weight. Researchers say we can fight the fat gene and beat it. Well, if you have a few extra hours each day. They say with three to four hours of being active each day, we can block the gene. Who has three to four hours? Read more about it here.

Help storm victims

We were spared from Ike. Why not help others. You can donate non-perishable foods to the Food for the Poor. They're having a food drive this week at their offices at 6401Lyons Road in Coconut Creek. If you don't have time to drop food off, you can always give what you can to their organization by visiting here. They've provided 30 shipping containers of relief supplies and food so far.

Responsible dogs

If your dog is a bit of a handfull, have you ever thought of training? This might be the month to do it. Bark Busters is offering free dog safety workshops. It's in conjunction with the American Kennel Club's Responsible Dog Ownership Days, with events held all this month. If you'd like to know more, you can email SouthBroward@Barkbusters.com. Good luck.

Disasters getting worse?

With more deadly Hurricanes like Gustav and Ike, and earthquakes in China, we may feel like disasters are getting worse. But if you take a look at the history of disasters and the recent population growth, it may be more about geography than catastrophy. An article shows that many of us are living now in harm's way, living in high rises along coast lines and more. Read it for yourself.

Thinking hard=weight gain

Why is our society getting so big? Researchers think it may be because we think too hard. They have found in studies that when people exercise their brain with intellectual activities, they eat more. And since many of us have become more sedentary, we're obviously doing something. We're thinking and eating and not exercising. You can read more about it here. I think therefore I am.. overweight?

DVR's save more than shows

You love your tv shows. So you probably have a DVR (digital video recorder) to record them all. Now research finds DVR owners say the technology doesn't just save their shows, it saves their relationships. You can't put your argument on hold, but you can put your show in pause. Read more about it here.

A sparkly way to remember

You want to remember your loved ones once they've departed in a special way. Forget the cemetery, head to Switzerland and make a diamond. A company in Switzerland makes diamonds out of the ashes of the dearly departed. They do say diamonds are forever. Read more about it here.

Internet access anxiety

If you feel stressed or anxious when you can't access the internet, you're not alone. It's becoming so commonplace, there is now a term for it. It's called "discomgoogolation." I imagine because "google" has to do with everything these days. Read more about it here.

Stressed moms=heavy kids

If you're stressed out over finances, work loads and more, your kids are more than likely stressed too and overeating as a result. Research finds many stressed moms have overweight kids. The kids seek out comfort foods much like moms. Better hide the twinkies. Details here.

Is your kid gifted?

Is your kid really gifted? Probably not. We all get excited when we hear "your child is going into the gifted program" at school, but estimates find only two to five percent of kids are really gifted. Of those only one in 100 is highly gifted and one in a million a prodigy. And if you think getting an early start will make your child gifted, think again. Most educators believe kids don't benefit from academically oriented preschools.
So if you want to help your child, just let them experiement, express creativity and work through feelings through play. Read more about it here.

Dogs and cats save lives

Your dog is your best friend, but he also could be your lifesaver. Canines have a keen sense of smell and intuition that can help them detect people's diseases. In one instance, a dog in Rhode Island, detected her owner's bad leg and kept jumping at the owner until she noticed it was red from the knee to the foot. Turns out she had sepsis and was hospitalized for a week. Cats too are life savers. A gray cat in South Dakota regularly wakes up her elderly owner when her blood sugar dips too low and she needs insulin. Read more about it here. And I get excited when my cat plays fetch and my dog listens. Go figure.

Mutts get new status

Move over pedigreed pooches, mutts are getting respect. There's a new Mutt-i-gree Club for owners and their mixed breeds to raise awareness and respect. Three million dogs get euthanized in shelters each year, most of them mixed breeds. Hopefully with the new-found respect, more mutts will be adopted. Read more about it here.

We're all a bit touched

We all know we live in a crazy messed up world. Now researchers say in order to survive, we are all crazy and messed up too. And we can blame natural selection for our mental health issues. Read more about it here.

Small packages trick dieters

Beware of cookies, candies and chips in small packages. They are not diet food. Research has found many chronic dieters look at those 100 calorie packs and see them as diet food alternatives and eat more of them, instead of less. And food makers package less food and charge more. Big profits, big waistlines. Yikes. Details here.

Ask a cow for directions

The next time you're lost, you might want to ask a cow for directions, or just look at which way the bovine is pointing. Researchers have found grazzing cattle and sleeping deer align their bodies to the Earth's magnetic field, because they have an innate magnetic compass. They tend to point to North or South. Researchers also believe humans and whales have an innate magnetic compass too. We all have animal magnetism! Details here.

Cafeteria trays retiring

Your college kids may have to learn how to juggle plates like a waitress or learn to eat less. Many higher institutions are doing away with cafeteria trays in an effort to go green and save money. Read more about it here.

Pot-bellied pig up for adoption

A family who lost their home to foreclosure had to give up their beloved pot-bellied pig and now Moogy is up for adoption. The three year old black Vietnamese porker is house-broken! The SPCA Wildlife Care Center in Ft. Lauderdale says adoption fee is just 50 bucks. Details here.