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We are told that we should limit our children’s screen time. But how does this actually affect their health?

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If you are a parent, you are probably aware of probably the most heated topics amongst parents: screen time and youngsters.

On the one hand, screen time helps children learn, develop creativity, and supports social interactions and bonds.

However, an excessive amount of time spent in front of a screen can negatively impact your child – not only their development, but in addition their physical health.

So how exactly does screen time affect your child’s physical health? And how are you able to help them develop a positive relationship with screens?

How much screen time is appropriate?

Australian The screen time guidelines are a part of the 24-hour movement guidelines. They outline the period of time we should allocate every day to physical activity, sleep, and screen time to keep up our physical and mental health and well-being.

Screen time guidelines, which are based on sedentary activity, recommend:

  • children under two years of age don’t spend time in front of a screen
  • no multiple hour of screen time for kids aged two to 5
  • not more than two hours of free screen time outside school hours between the ages of 5 and seventeen.

But Just 17% 23% of Australian preschoolers and 15% of youngsters aged 5 to 12 meet these requirements Recommendations.

How Screen Time Affects Children’s Diet and Health

Children who spend more time in front of a screen are more prone to eat mindlessly and overeatingWhen kids are distracted by screens, they could not hear vital brain signals that allow them to know they are full.

They are also more prone to crave and eat unhealthy foods. This is partly as a consequence of junk food advertising accompanying content intended for kids on the screens.

A lesser-known way that an excessive amount of screen time affects a toddler’s food regimen is thru its impact on their sleep. For children and youths, adequate amount of sleep Is:

  • 11–14 hours, including naps, for young children
  • From 10 to 13 hours, including naps, for kids aged 3 to five years
  • from 9 to 11 hours for kids aged 5 to 13
  • eight to 10 hours for teenagers.

Research shows that a toddler’s ability to get adequate sleep depends on the time they spend in front of a screen. review of 67 studies 90% of the studies reviewed found that screen time is related to shorter and later sleep.

We need adequate amount of sleep regulate two essential hormones – ghrelin and leptin – that control our hunger and appetite. Sleeping lower than the advisable amount of sleep disrupts our appetite hormoneswhich causes an increased desire to eat.

This also results in a rise impulsive behavior linked to dietary selections that often end in reaching for foods high in sugar, fat and salt for fast gratification. So in case your child doesn’t get enough sleep, there’s probability they’ll use their power of nagging to satisfy their cravings for sweet, fatty and salty foods the following day.

Children may crave junk food if they do not get enough sleep.
Piotr Bonek/Shutterstock

Finally, more time spent indoors and searching at screens could mean less time spent being physically lively. Australian guidelines recommend children engage in not less than 60 minutes of heart-pounding physical activity per day (or not less than an hour of “vigorous play” for preschoolers). These 60 minutes don’t must be abruptly—they will be broken up into several shorter sessions throughout the day.

What can parents do?

Fortunately, there are some practical suggestions you possibly can follow to make sure your child has a healthy relationship with screens, in addition to ensuring they get enough sleep and are physically lively.

1. Set screen time rules

Consider your child’s age guidelines and set expectations for where, when, and how screens are used. Toddlers playing an academic game on a tablet within the family room could also be OK, while watching YouTube within the bedroom might not be OK.

Make mealtimes and the bedroom before bed screen-free zones. Involve your kids, especially teenagers, in the method to be certain that everyone follows the principles.

2. Spend time outdoors

Try to set regular time in your loved ones’s schedule for outdoor physical activity, whether it’s a each day visit to the park or a weekend sport. Making sure your child gets enough physical activity every day also supports their sleep and overall health.

As with establishing rules, involving your child in selecting an activity will make them more willing to participate.

3. Be a task model

Children closely observe and imitate their parents, so the perfect method to ensure your child has healthy screen time habits is to adopt them yourself. Have a screen time policy at home, including being attentive to distractions from infinite notifications.

4. Make your child’s room an oasis of peace and sleep

Providing your child with a quiet, comfortable and sufficiently dark bedroom is crucial for night’s sleep. This includes ensuring a snug temperature (18°C to 22°C). Keep toys and screens in other rooms so your child associates their bedroom with sleep time, not play time.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

“Get Lifted” by John Legend (twentieth Anniversary Edition) [Interview] – Essence

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Photo credit: Danny Clinch

When John Legend unveiled his debut album in 2004, he couldn’t have predicted the extraordinary legacy it could construct over the following 20 years. Now, with the discharge the singer returns to the project that launched his profession and redefined the boundaries of R&B, hip-hop and neo-soul. Available now, the digital Deluxe Edition offers fans a refreshed tackle timeless classics with remixes, rare tracks and collaborations that bring latest energy to the music.

The twentieth Anniversary Edition includes 11 bonus tracks, including remixes from iconic artists equivalent to Tems, Killer Mike, Lil Wayne, Simi and Black Thought. Two previously unreleased songs – “Do What I Gotta Do” and “Just In Time” – offer fans an intimate look into Legend’s creative process during this era. The album’s revival doesn’t end there; will even be available as 3LP vinyl in 2025, and all copies are signed by Legend.

Reflecting on the challenges of making an original album, the award-winning artist recalled the struggles of an aspiring artist trying to search out their sound. “I wrote a lot of this album when I wasn’t signed, so the big challenge was just figuring out what would work to give me a chance to get the music out there,” he explains. . “I’ve been trying to get a record deal for over five years, but record labels were turning me down both left and right.”

It was only when Kanye West took a likelihood on Legend and signed a contract with GOOD Music that all the pieces began to alter. Working with West and touring together opened doors for the University of Pennsylvania graduate. That same yr, he signed a record take care of Columbia and was able to hit the shelves. The album’s breakout single “Ordinary people” became the anthem that defined Legend’s artistry. “When it finally came out and made it work the way it did, especially with my second single, it was really beautiful to see it start to connect and connect with people,” she tells ESSENCE.

On the occasion of the anniversary edition, Legend collaborated with artists who provided a refreshing atmosphere to Legend’s debut – but remixes aren’t just repetitions of original songs. “I’m a fan of every artist we asked to be a part of the remix,” says Legend. “They have new beats, new energy, new vibes and of course new guest artists. It really brought a fresh perspective to music and excited me to reconnect with music.”

was a breakthrough album for the Ohio-born artist, combining multiple genres in a timeless and groundbreaking way. “I felt like it happened when neo-soul was already at its peak, so in a way it was almost like my reaction to neo-soul,” Legend reflects. “We also combine hip hop and gospel and create something fresh.” Legend’s commitment to songwriting is a thread that runs deep through his work then and now.

The physical format of music, especially upcoming vinyl releases, also plays a big role in maintaining the impact of the unique album. “There will always be people who want to hold something, read the sleeve notes, and play vinyl on their record players at home,” Legend states. “Especially when you’re celebrating an anniversary like this, it’s nice to have a commemorative thing that you can keep. This album means something to people because they remember 20 years ago when they started listening to it and what it meant to them then.”

Rekindling the magic of a pioneering debut, it also stands as a testament to Legend’s enduring craftsmanship. The album stays a masterclass in musical storytelling, connecting generations of fans and proving that great music, like great artists, only gets higher with time.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

US communities phase out fluoride use in public drinking water

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fluoride, water


There is a battle raging in American cities over whether to proceed using fluoride in water.

This is a process generally known as fluoridation that began around 1945. According to to the American Cancer Society became popular across the country after scientists noticed that individuals living in water with higher concentrations of fluoride had less tooth decay.

In 1962, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) advisable adding fluoride to public drinking water supplies to forestall tooth decay. The American Cancer Society estimates that fluoride is currently used in public drinking water supplied to roughly three in 4 Americans.

However, opponents have been warning for years that fluoride in drinking water is unsafe to devour. One of the organizations leading this initiative is Fluoride Action Network (FAN). The organization, whose mission is to lift awareness of what it claims is the “toxicity of fluoride compounds,” says many of the world’s developed countries don’t use fluoride in drinking water at the identical levels as America, or in any respect.

The organization says yes it helped over 500 communities successfully reject fluoridation, and there could also be more.

Federal leaders have gotten increasingly vocal in their support for ending the use of fluoride

While FAN says communities have rejected fluoridation for the past few a long time and the method has stalled in consequence, the fight has been thrust into the highlight over the past few months.

First, the National Toxicology Program, a federal agency throughout the Department of Health and Human Services, reported with “moderate certainty” that there may be an association between communities with higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. According to the Associated Press, these communities use greater than twice the advisable limit.

A month later, a federal judge apparently ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because higher levels could affect children.

Robert F. Kennedy, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to direct the Department of Health and Human Services, announced an end to fluoridation.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Health and Wellness

WATCH: Cynthia Erivo on the importance of being a sister – Essence

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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