Home WELLNESS MIND & BODY Mind + Body: July 2017

Mind + Body: July 2017

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Medication Safety: Advice for new parents helps keep babies safe.

 

Baby feeding using spoon on white background

Having a baby is an exciting time for new moms and dads. However, parents of babies 12 months and younger also can have some worries — especially when it comes to medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently released a consumer update that helps parents keep their babies safe. According to Donna L. Snyder, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatrician with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, a good time to check in with your health care provider is during preventive “well-child” health visits.

Additionally, new parents should always get expert advice before giving medication to a baby since certain medications may not be appropriate for babies. It’s also important to store medications safely so that babies can’t get their inquisitive hands on anything they shouldn’t. Snyder notes that babies can start to crawl as early as five to six months. “But even if babies are under the age when you’d expect them to be able to get to your medication, get into the habit of putting medication out of their reach,” she says. Also be sure to read all storage instructions. “For instance, some antibiotics need to be kept in the refrigerator,” Snyder adds. “So you want to make sure you’re storing it according to the instructions.”

And don’t forget about your own medications! “If you are taking medications, it’s important to ask your health care provider whether it’s okay to breastfeed,” says Leyla Sahin, M.D., an obstetrician with the FDA’s Division of Pediatric and Maternal Health. You should also ask about any prescription or over-the-counter products, including supplements. Find more helpful advice from the FDA’s Office of Women’s Health. fda.gov
Business Minded: A new summit focuses on young professionals.

Join hundreds of emerging young professionals at the Emerge Summit, taking place July 13 and 14 at the Ace Hotel New Orleans. The summit — a new annual emerging leadership conference hosted by GNO, Inc. — features early career professional speakers and panelists from across the country on an array of topics such as self awareness and personal branding, business development and career management. The summit aims to bring together dynamic individuals to engage and learn from each other’s experiences, and about opportunities available through the diverse pool of YPO’s in the Greater New Orleans region. Speakers include Kirk Coco, CEO of Nola Brewing Company; Amanda Shaw, musician and actor; and Kevin Lin, chief operating officer of Twitch.

Meanwhile, The Millennial Awards — an annual celebration that honors dynamic young professionals who contribute to the community through public service, who make significant strides in business sectors or who serve as cultural ambassadors — takes place July 15. Award categories include Changemakers, Digital Media, Economic Development, Education, Fashion, Healthcare, Journalism, Culinary Arts and more. Tickets are $30 for each event, or $50 for both events. millennialsmeet.com

 

Maria’s Pick — Eating for Health: Frozen fruits and vegetables pack a nutritional punch.

According to research recently published in Elsevier’s Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, the nutritional value of certain frozen fruits and vegetables is generally equal to fresh produce. In fact, the amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C and folates in some frozen fruits and vegetables were greater than fresh-stored produce.  

Conducted by the University of Georgia in partnership with the Frozen Food Foundation, the research compares the nutrient content of eight commonly purchased frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables: blueberries; strawberries; corn; broccoli; cauliflower; green beans; green peas; and spinach. Each fruit and vegetable was analyzed under three conditions: frozen; fresh (on the day of purchase); and fresh-stored (after five days of storage in a kitchen refrigerator).

“As much as I love fresh fruits and veggies, it is sometimes convenient to reach for frozen varieties,” says Maria Muro, publisher of New Orleans Living. “Like most people, I get bogged down with a busy schedule. It’s great to know that frozen foods pack in just as much nutrition.” frozenfoodfacts.org