Kim Kardashian is sporting one of the world’s most closely watched baby bumps. So it’s no wonder that she’s reportedly working hard to keep her sexy figure for these nine months and beyond. After admitting that she was “terrified” of gaining too much pregnancy weight, Kardashian has teamed up with celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson and is hitting the gym nearly every day. She’s going to be one fit mama!
In other news:
Ditching diapers before age one: Potty trained before the first birthday? It may sound too good to be true, but according to a recent study, it’s commonplace among babies in Vietnam. Moms there begin learning as soon as the baby is born to be sensitive to when the baby needs to urinate. They make a whistling sound to the baby as a means of communicating with the child and encouraging them to urinate on the potty. Not only does it work, apparently, but most babies there are out of diapers by nine months. Compare that to American kids who are routinely still wearing diapers up to age 3.
Read more on MSN Healthy Living: Potty training: How to get the job done
Pitch the pouches? Squeezable packs of pureed fruit and veggies are a hit with babies and toddlers (and their harried parents), but they may not be doing kids’ teeth any favors. Sucking on those pouches for prolonged periods can expose teeth to a lot of sugar -- much the same as sipping juice all day would. Experts also warn that letting kids eat from these pouches while, literally, on the run, could increase the risk of accidents if the plastic feeding tip were to jam into the teeth or gums. But as long as common sense prevails (make sure kids brush regularly and only eat while sitting still), the pouches are still a healthier choice than many other on-the-go options.
Read more on MSN Healthy Living: 10 tips to raise a healthy eater
Happy family now, happier marriage later: It stands to reason that kids who are exposed to good relationships will learn how to have better relationships themselves. And new research backs this up. A recent study has found that a positive family environment during adolescence has a beneficial effect on future relationships. According to the study, seventh graders who experienced the most positive engagement with their families also had most positive engagement in their marriages 17 years later. And the effect even extended to their spouses -- regardless of the partners’ family climates.
Read more on MSN Healthy Living: 5 surprising happiness tricks
The connection between pollution and preeclampsia: The tragic death of Lady Sybil on Downton Abbey has brought lots of attention to the risks of preeclampsia in pregnancy. And a new study found that exposure to the air pollutant ozone during the first trimester may be a culprit. Based on data from nearly 121,000 births in Sweden between 1998 and 2006, researchers determined that one in every 20 cases of preeclampsia may be linked to this air pollutant.
Read more on MSN Healthy Living: Pollutants threaten women of childbearing age
Keep the butts out: You already know that secondhand smoke and exposure to lead are bad for kids. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have now discovered a link between the two. According to a new study, kids in families with one smoker had lead levels 14 percent higher than children who lived with nonsmokers; and those who lived with two or more smokers had levels 24 percent higher. Children’s still-developing brains and nervous systems are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure. Make sure your pediatrician includes a test for lead as part of your child’s annual exam.
Read more on MSN Healthy Living: 21 days to a new you: Stop smoking
Make breakfast to make your kids smarter: You often hear it described as the most important meal of the day, and a new study helps bolster that claim. Researchers looked at the habits of 1,269 6-year olds in China and discovered that those did not eat breakfast regularly had total IQ scores that were 4.6 points lower than those of kids who had a healthy meal most mornings. But handing your kids some food on their way out the door might not do the trick. The study highlighted both the nutritional and social benefits of breakfast -- so sit down together to eat whenever possible.
Read more on MSN Healthy Living: How to pick the healthiest breakfast cereal
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