Lean On Life Supports New Research Encouraging Early Introduction of Allergenic Foods

TORONTO, ON (PRWEB) April 17, 2013

Lean On Life, a leading healthy lifestyle website with the latest on weight loss, nutrition and fitness is putting its support behind recent advice encouraging parents to introduce potentially allergenic foods to children at an earlier age.

Contrary to previous medical advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) has recently recommended introducing allergenic foods to infants at an earlier age. The reasoning behind these recommendations is that introducing children to allergenic foods earlier on can help immunize them in the future.

The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently released guidelines which state that delayed introduction of certain foods may actually worsen food allergies. Previously, the AAP issued recommendations to introduce milk after age one, eggs at age two, and peanuts and shellfish at age three. Now, the AAAAI believes that this late introduction may actually be harming children.

Researchers at the NIAID are advising now pediatricians and specialists to begin introducing allergenic foods at an earlier age. Researchers have cited an example of Jewish children in Israel compared with Jewish children in the U.K. A study published in November, 2008 showed that the prevalence of peanut allergies in U.K. children was ten times higher than in Jewish Israeli children. Medical experts believe that this can be attributed to Israeli infants being introduced to peanuts during early weaning stages.

Michelle Schiffman, Nutritionist at Lean On Life, supports the recent theory that early introduction to foods can prevent future allergies. Based on recent findings, we believe that parents can begin introducing potentially allergenic foods at an earlier age, she says.

Schiffman cautions that parents should consult with their pediatricians before introducing certain foods into their childs diet, and be wary of food allergies in the family. While early introduction can prevent later food allergies, parents should still be mindful of existing allergies that run in the family, she says.

Lean On Life is a healthy lifestyle website that provides expert-driven knowledge from doctors, nutritionists, fitness trainers and life coaches. The site takes a hands-on approach to making weight-loss, healthy eating and fitness a simple achievable lifestyle change.

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Lean On Life Supports New Research Encouraging a Healthy Mix of Dried Fruit

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) May 22, 2013

Lean On Life, a leading healthy lifestyle website with the latest on weight loss, nutrition, and fitness is supporting the incorporation of dried fruit as part of a healthy diet.

As Lean On Life reports (http://www.leanonlife.com/dried-fruit-health-food-or-just-as-bad-as-sugar/), dried fruit means most of the water in the fruit is removed. This results in a fruit that has a stronger, sweeter taste and a higher concentration of nutrients. Like fresh fruit, dried fruit provides a rich source of dietary fiber, iron, copper, potassium, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin Bs, anti-oxidants and sometimes beta-carotene.

All fruits naturally contain sugar either fructose or glucose. The consumption of the sugar in a balanced context of other vitamins, minerals and satiating nutrients such as fiber, leads to a lot of the harmful effects of sugar being cancelled out. In this way, eating sweet fruits is far better than eating refined sugar. Refined sugar has been stripped of all other balancing nutrients and actually stimulates unhealthy cravings, leading to weight gain.

Several recent studies have confirmed that, despite their calorie content, dried fruits do not contribute to significant weight gain when added to the diet. Research has shown that dried fruits do an even better job of safely satisfying hunger and keeping your weight down when you snack on them with a home-made trail mix of raw, unflavored nuts and seeds.

While dried fruit is a great alternative for refined sugary treats, opting for whole fruit rather than packaged dried fruit is still the better choice for losing weight or to simply maintain a healthy diet, says Lean on Life nutritionist, Michelle Schiffman.

Moreover, dried fruits are energy-packed foods that have been scientifically proven to serve as incredible performance enhancers when eaten right before exercise or to simply boost energy levels.

Schiffman adds that it is important to keep a balanced amount of dried-fruit consumption as it is still a source of sugar and calories. Always remember to check that no additional sugars have been added as well.

Lean On Life is a healthy lifestyle website that provides expert-driven knowledge from doctors, nutritionists, fitness trainers and life coaches. The site takes a hands-on approach to making weight-loss, healthy eating and fitness a simple achievable lifestyle change.