When my kids were around seven, dry, itchy, eczema patches appeared behind their knees. A Chinese skin doctor told me eczema is “asthma of the skin.” It sounded strange at the time — neither child had breathing problems — but the idea stayed with me. Skin, like lungs, is an interface with the environment. What we breathe, what settles in our homes, the air pollution outside, even microplastics, all of it may shape how a child’s immune system learns to respond.

Now a new study from researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Weill Cornell Medicine, and collaborating institutions offers a biological explanation for why eczema so often begins in childhood. Published February 25 in Nature, considered the best science journal, on the planet, the research identifies a brief early-life window when the skin’s immune system is wired to overreact to allergens.

Eczema affects nearly one in four children and frequently appears in infancy. It can also precede asthma and food allergies, a progression sometimes called the “atopic march.” Until now, scientists have struggled to explain why allergic skin disease is so tightly linked to early childhood.

The team focused on dendritic cells, the immune sentinels in the skin that detect environmental triggers. In young mice, these cells behaved differently than in adults. They didn’t overreact to everything. But when exposed to common allergens such as dust mites and mold, infant mice developed strong skin inflammation, while adult mice did not.

The difference appears to lie in timing and immune programming.

“We found that allergy risk is shaped very early in life, when the skin’s immune system is biologically programmed to overreact to allergens, with important consequences for understanding how immune-mediated diseases emerge and should be treated,” said senior author Shruti Naik, PhD.

In early life, dendritic cells were unusually active and quick to trigger allergic inflammation. When researchers blocked this pathway, the young mice did not develop skin allergies. The team also discovered that infant mice lack normal levels of stress hormones that later help keep immune reactions in check, effectively removing a natural brake on inflammation.

Importantly, signs of the same immune activity were found in skin samples from children with early-onset eczema, but not in adults. That suggests this early-life immune window may also operate in humans.

“This work was only possible through a true clinic-to-lab collaboration—where insights from pediatric patients shaped the questions we asked in the lab,” said co-author Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD.

The findings reinforce something environmental health researchers have long argued: early life is not simply a smaller version of adulthood. It is a distinct biological phase with its own rules and vulnerabilities.

“Children are not simply small adults when it comes to immunity,” said Dr. Naik. “Their immune system follows a unique set of rules, and recognizing that difference is essential for understanding—and ultimately preventing—allergic, immune-driven diseases that begin in childhood.”

According to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, “The skin is the largest organ in the body and plays many essential roles, including maintaining a protective barrier, providing immunity, and communicating with the outside world.” 

To manage eczema the clinic suggests managing triggers like dry skin, heat, and allergens, alongside using thick, fragrance-free moisturizers, soap substitutes, and prescribed steroids to control symptoms. I did notice that my kids’ skin problems started when we were living in the Middle East when the air was polluted and the temperatures hot and dry.

Related: Air pollution causes asthma in Cairo

For Green Prophet readers, the takeaway is clear. The first years of life may represent a critical window when environmental exposures: dust, mold, indoor allergens, pollutants, microplastics, all shape immune trajectories in lasting ways. If scientists can find safe ways to calm this early-life immune pathway, it may be possible to prevent allergic disease before it spreads from the skin to the lungs or gut.

The study is titled “Peripheral immune-inducer (pii)-DCs drive early life allergic inflammation.”

The post Why does eczema so often begin in childhood and how can we prevent it? appeared first on Green Prophet.

American kids seem to grow a foot on average bigger every generation. We all attribute meat and chicken, probably with extra hormones for the change in body size over generations. And as my teen boy starts his big growth spurt I try to feed him meat so he can reach his height potential. I remember by friend Ofer, a vegan, worried about his boy growing. His son Kai is now over 6 feet tall. The kid wasn’t growing along with his peers, so Ofer thought the vegan diet might be slowing his son down.

Is there something to risk when feeding our children a plant-based diet? The science now has answers, and it comes from a country of more vegans per capita than anywhere in the world.

A new study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers and the Nutrition Division of the Israeli Ministry of Health suggests that a vegan diet can support rapid growth in children and that infants and toddlers who are vegan catch up with their peers by the time they are aged two.

The research was published last week in JAMA Network Open. It’s yet to give answers about growth and vegetarianism in teens.

This study analyzed a decade of records (2014–2023) of 1.2 million children provided by the Israeli Ministry of Health, which tracks the development of approximately 70% of the children in the country.

This massive dataset allowed the team—led by Kerem Avital, MPH, and Prof. Danit R. Shahar, PhD, of BGU —to move beyond small-scale debates and provide population-level evidence. They found Infants from vegan households closely tracked their omnivorous peers across all measurements, weight, length, and head circumference, with mean differences that were clinically minor (WHO z-score <0.2) and diminished further when adjusted for birth weight.

By age 24 months, stunting rates remained low across all dietary patterns (3.1% for omnivores, 3.4% for vegetarians, and 3.9% for vegans) with no statistically significant differences in odds between groups.

“In the context of developed countries, these findings are highly reassuring,” said Kerem Avital, lead researcher and PhD candidate at Ben-Gurion University. “The data suggests that with the proper environment, plant-based diets do not compromise the fundamental physical development of infants.”

As veganism moves from a niche lifestyle to a global health trend, BGU’s research provides the scientific “bridge” needed to inform international public health policy and nutritional counseling for the next generation.

As for now, we only have anecdotal information that a high-protein vegan or vegetarian diet does not impact growth heights in teens heading into adulthood. Michael Peterson, a father of 2 teenage boys in Ottawa, Canada, wondered if being a veggie kid might affect the growth patterns of his kids.  

“My kids both went vegetarian for a number of years during some formative time,” Peterson tells Green Prophet. “I have a 6’1” 18-year-old and a 5’7” 15-year-old who I am sure based on his griping about body ache is about to burst up again.

We try and feed them wholesome, home made, veggie-based with mixed protein. With the youngest’s rock climbing obsession we have had to up the protein which he prefers getting from animals, however, he is very conscious of getting from multiple sources. Grains, nuts, etc.”

Rebecca Wolf, a mom and occupational therapist in Arizona shares her experience raising vegetarian kids: “My kids have been raised vegetarian/pescatarian since birth. They also eat eggs and dairy. They are all in the 95%+ height category for their ages.”

Skipping steak, we find out from science and anecdotes, may not stunt a child’s growth; it might challenge our assumptions about what fuels it.

The post Are vegetarian babies at risk for being shorter than meat eaters? appeared first on Green Prophet.

Toddlers develop and grow through movement, touch, exploration, and play. Occupational therapy helps guide that growth with activities that support daily skills, confidence, and awareness. These playful tasks do more than entertain; they help toddlers build the foundation for physical control, coordination, and independence.

The best occupational therapy activities for toddlers support sensory, motor, and self-care development through simple, purposeful play. Each activity, from exploring textures to stacking blocks, encourages new abilities that help children navigate their world with greater control and curiosity. The following sections explain how these activities shape early learning in practical, meaningful ways.

Sensory bins with textured materials for tactile exploration

Sensory bins give toddlers a safe space to explore touch and texture. They contain materials such as dry rice, beans, sand, or water beads. These setups help young children practice fine motor skills and improve tactile awareness, which supports other occupational therapy activities for toddlers.

Occupational therapists often use sensory bins to help toddlers tolerate different textures. A child who feels uneasy with certain sensations can gain comfort through short, guided play sessions. Using tools like scoops, cups, or small toys also strengthens grasp and hand-eye coordination.

Parents can adapt sensory bins for home use. For example, soft fabrics, smooth stones, or textured balls create variety. Simple themes such as “farm animals” or “colors” add interest without distraction. Therefore, these sensory experiences not only engage toddlers but also support their overall sensory and physical development in a calm and playful way.

Finger painting to improve fine motor skills and creativity

Finger painting helps toddlers build fine motor control through simple, hands-on play. They move their fingers across a surface, make marks, and mix colors, which strengthens small hand muscles. These movements prepare them for later tasks such as holding a pencil or using utensils.

The activity also supports hand-eye coordination. Each motion requires the child to guide their fingers with intention and accuracy. As they press, swipe, or dab paint, they learn how pressure changes create different effects.

Beyond physical skill, finger painting encourages creativity and decision-making. Toddlers choose colors, shapes, and textures, which helps them think independently. The freedom to create without rules also reduces stress and builds confidence.

Therapists often use this simple art form during sessions because it combines sensory input with purposeful movement. The mix of texture, color, and motion provides both enjoyment and developmental progress in one engaging activity.

Stacking blocks to develop hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness

Anthroposophic, Waldorf School toys by Bella Luna are made from wood and natural paint

Stacking blocks helps toddlers build control over how their eyes and hands work together. Each time a child picks up a block and places it on another, the eyes guide the hands to match movement with sight. This activity helps the brain connect visual input with fine motor action.

Children also gain early math and spatial skills through this type of play. As they place blocks of different shapes or sizes, they learn about height, balance, and position. They start to notice patterns and how objects relate to each other in space.

In addition, stacking encourages focus and problem-solving. A tower that falls teaches a child to adjust hand pressure or block position next time. Over time, these short moments of trial and error help them think ahead and plan movements more carefully.

For toddlers, simple block play offers a practical way to strengthen coordination while keeping play natural and fun.

Water play activities to improve sensory regulation and motor planning

Water play gives toddlers a safe and natural way to explore textures, temperatures, and movement. The gentle pressure of water helps the body feel calm and organized, which supports sensory regulation. It also encourages attention and body awareness in an enjoyable and familiar setting.

Simple tasks such as scooping, pouring, or squeezing sponges help children plan and carry out actions with both hands. These activities strengthen hand muscles and improve timing and coordination. Using cups, spoons, or small toys helps toddlers practice grasp and release control.

Therapists often use colored water or bubbles to add a visual element that keeps children motivated. As they repeat actions and test what works, they learn how to adjust pressure and speed for different results. This process naturally develops problem-solving and motor planning skills through play that feels both engaging and meaningful.

Simple self-dressing tasks to build independence and fine motor control

Toddlers gain early independence by practicing simple dressing tasks. Activities like pulling up socks, pushing arms through sleeves, and fastening large buttons help them use both hands together. Each task promotes finger strength and coordination, which supports other daily movements.

Parents or caregivers can make practice easier by laying out clothing in order and choosing loose garments with simple fasteners. This setup helps toddlers predict each next step and reduces frustration. Short, playful sessions keep them focused without pressure.

Repetition supports progress. As a child improves, adults can add new challenges such as using zippers or matching shoes. These small steps help toddlers build confidence while learning the patience and control that dressing requires.

Conclusion

Toddlers grow through hands-on play that builds fine motor control, sensory awareness, and problem-solving ability. Occupational therapy activities help them practice real-life skills such as grasping objects, stacking blocks, or learning to use a spoon. These tasks strengthen independence while keeping therapy enjoyable and natural.

Parents and caregivers can support development by mixing playful tasks with daily routines. For example, finger painting can train hand strength, and simple cleanup chores can improve coordination. Activities that encourage movement and exploration help children gain confidence in their own abilities.

Each child progresses at a different pace, so activities should match the child’s needs and comfort level. Regular observation and gentle guidance keep progress steady.

In short, structured yet playful occupational therapy helps toddlers develop important skills for daily life, giving them a stronger foundation for future learning and independence.

All activities should be age-appropriate and supervised by an adult. If you have concerns about your child’s motor development, consult a pediatrician or therapist.

The post Which Occupational Therapy Activities Are Best for Toddlers’ Development? appeared first on Green Prophet.

When you hear the word “playground,” eco-friendly may not come to mind. Playgrounds are designed for children to play freely and exert energy. They serve as community hubs for locals to gather and exchange commonalities. In addition to the allotted recess time, playgrounds also provide schools with the chance to offer outdoor teaching lessons. 

Schools and parks are continuing to prioritize sustainability efforts as more people learn about the impact of certain actions on the planet. As a result, these institutions are considering how to pay it forward and making greener choices. Playgrounds can play a part in a sustainability initiative, providing an opportunity to further concentrate on protecting the earth while also functioning as a play area for kids. Here are three ways schools and parks are reducing their environmental footprint with eco-friendly playgrounds. 

1. Utilizing Sustainable Materials

One way that schools and parks are thinking about Mother Earth first is by using sustainable materials in their infrastructure. Today’s playgrounds can be built with eco-friendly materials, many of which are recyclable or natural materials. For instance, surfacing can be from rubber mulch made from tires. This soft surfacing is splinter-free and will help brace accidental falls and tumbles too. Bamboo — a renewable resource — can be used in various playground structures as well as fencing. 

In terms of playground equipment, many pieces can be made using recycled plastic or recycled wood. Recycled plastic often looks like traditional plastic; it’s just made from leftover materials that could have ended up in a landfill. Wood can be highly durable and long-lasting, especially when treated correctly. It can be used as wood chips for ground cover or bolted together to build new equipment or make seats for picnic areas. 

One of the main concerns with using sustainable materials is that it won’t look like a modernized playground. This couldn’t be farther from the truth! Many of these recycled, sustainable materials can be painted and purchased in fun and vibrant colors. You may just be surprised to see the possibilities. And upon first glance, many visitors may not even realize that the playground is eco-friendly in the first place. 

2. Adding Natural Elements

A playground in the middle of an open field is nice, but it can be more attractive with landscaping around it. Incorporating natural elements into the playground and surrounding areas can beautify the space and promote a sense of calm and well-being. Seeing a butterfly land on a nearby plant or watching a tiny bud pop open into a pretty flower are awe-inspiring moments that will delight children. It also promotes a sense of connection to nature.

When thinking about which natural elements to add, look at your space first and consider what your guests would like most. For instance, a few larger trees can provide shade for standing adults watching the children play. Adding a row of low bushes around the perimeter of the playground can help create a natural barrier from the play area to the park. Logs and stumps can also be used to help designate play zones. 

When bringing in these plants and other natural elements, be sure to consider biodiversity as well. Native plants and trees will attract local wildlife while also holding true to the area’s needs. There’s a reason that certain plants survive better in different parts of the world. A palm tree isn’t going to thrive in snowy Vermont, after all! It may be helpful to conduct some research or hire a professional botanist or horticulturist to design the space. Doing so will help ensure that the area is landscaped with the area’s needs in mind.

3. Reducing Waste 

Lastly, schools and parks that are focused on sustainability should also consider ways to reduce waste within the play area. Solar-powered lighting is an option to keep the playground well-lit without using up any electricity. These devices can be purchased at hardware stores or big box retailers and placed around the area. They are often triggered by low lighting, meaning just as the sky is turning dusk and children are being called back inside, the lights will go on. Solar panels are more of an expense, but can be particularly beneficial to school yards when large areas need to remain lit throughout the night. 

Another way to reduce waste is to focus on recycling and composting. Having clearly labeled bins for recycling and compost bins in handy spots around the playground can deter guests from throwing garbage in the trash can. For example, if there is a nearby picnic bench, be sure to place both containers near it. Of course, this type of system requires some education as well. Look for bins that designate what can be recycled and what can be composted. 

Schools can add composting to their curriculum and education so children know the benefits of throwing scraps of food into the bin as opposed to chucking it in the garbage. Science teachers can even do an outdoor lesson on where the compost goes and how it turns the soil into nutrient-rich food for the plants. Small steps can make a big impact when it comes to reducing overall waste and protecting the planet.

The post Eco-Friendly Playgrounds: How Schools and Parks Are Reducing Their Environmental Footprint appeared first on Green Prophet.

Playgrounds have long acted as social hubs for both adults and children. They bring people from all walks of life together, and they promote health in many ways. Now, however, they are advancing into the future as the environment demands. More citizens are insisting their parks are clean, green, sustainable spaces. And of course, eco-friendly playgrounds have a huge role to play in this movement. Here are the top ways in which these playgrounds are reshaping community green spaces for the better. 

They Act as Outdoor Classrooms

Children are struggling to learn more now than ever. More children are diagnosed with learning disabilities, and many others find it difficult to sit still. Much of the reason for that has to do with being stuck inside a classroom. For thousands of years, human children ran and played in their early years. It makes sense that they would learn better in spaces that encourage this kind of movement regularly. 

One of the most obvious ways in which these eco-friendly playgrounds transform green spaces is by acting as learning hubs. Because the playground equipment is typically made from recycled rubber, plastic, and wood, it integrates well into the natural environment. There, children can learn about the ways their playgrounds are good for the earth and what recycling looks like in real-time. And they can run, jump, and play all the while. 

Sustainable Materials Minimize Costs

The next, and perhaps most obvious way eco-friendly playgrounds impact community spaces is through cost savings. Many cities are on tight budgets and are even under-resourced. They can barely make ends meet when it comes to roads, streetlights, and emergency services. They’re unlikely to be able to spring for a brand new, state of the art playground plus the surrounding park trails, plants, and water features. 

An eco-friendly playground goes a long way toward saving the city money. This is obviously also true for schools and churches that want to create new play spaces for the kids. The equipment can come in at a lower cost because the materials have been repurposed. They’re also usually cheaper to maintain because the equipment is designed to last in a natural environment over time. Thus, the entire green space ends up being a good investment for the community. 

Energy Efficient Materials Reduce the Carbon Footprint

Sadly, landfills and trash have become overwhelming on the planet to the point of microplastics running through virtually every space. This includes in our water and even in our bodies. There are islands of floating trash in virtually every ocean, and humans continue to buy and dispose of items every day. The best move municipalities can make is to encourage citizens to reduce, reuse, and recycle, And the best way to do that is by example. 

That’s where recycled materials for playgrounds come in. When eco-friendly playgrounds are made from recycled tires, old wood, bamboo, and hemp, the spaces have a much lower carbon footprint. They last much longer, manufacturing them doesn’t harm the environment, and even when they do end up outliving their purpose, they can be recycled and reused again for a new product. The carbon footprint of a playground like this is incredibly low. 

Eco-Friendly Practices Conserve Natural Resources

The cost of a playground is only one way in which it impacts the community. It also has a lasting effect on the surrounding environment. Maintaining the park’s lights after dark is a hefty cost. Running water to splash pads and restrooms also takes its toll on natural resources. Oh, and the plants need to be watered regularly as well. While most communities have long considered playgrounds and parks worth the drain on the environment, there’s no defying their carbon footprint. 

Until now. Eco-friendly playgrounds can provide myriad solutions to stressed resources. Cities can install sun shades that act as surfaces for solar panels. Any energy used to run the entire park can be provided by those panels. The Parks and Recreation Department can also practice rainwater harvesting and recycling. That way, splash pads, fountains, and features never waste water. And the sprinkler system can run on harvested and stored rainwater to water drought-resistant plants when necessary. 

Increased Interaction with Nature Promotes Health

Finally, the entire purpose of these eco-friendly playgrounds is to be green. If there’s anything Americans need more of, it’s time in green space. People in the United States of all ages are more stressed out, more depressed, and more anxious than ever. It’s no coincidence that those same citizens spend less time outside, less time exercising, and less time in social settings than ever before. 

These playgrounds encourage people to spend more time in nature. Kids can get ample exercise scaling wooden structures, building forts, rolling in the grass, and climbing trees. Meanwhile, parents can walk around a pond, play pickleball on a court, or just relax on a bench while their kids play. And those without kids can meet new friends, have a picnic date, and more. All of these activities and more promote mental, physical, and emotional health of everyone involved. 

In the end, eco-friendly playgrounds are an ideal answer to the problems of climate change and exhausted resources. They both reduce their cities’ carbon footprint and save the cities money, and promote the health and well-being of the members of the community who visit.  And as a bonus, they offer an opportunity for kids of all ages to start learning about the important role of environmental stewardship. They’re heartwarming, welcoming spaces that serve the greater good.

The post How Eco-Friendly Playgrounds Are Reshaping Community Green Spaces appeared first on Green Prophet.

A silent chemical assault is underway. A new nationwide study has revealed that children in the United States — especially toddlers aged two to four — are regularly exposed to dozens of industrial chemicals during their most vulnerable developmental years. Many of these chemicals are not even on the radar of public health monitoring systems.

The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, tested urine samples from 201 young children as part of the NIH-supported Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. Researchers screened for 111 chemicals commonly found in household items, plastics, food packaging, cosmetics, and furniture.

Related: why glass is emitting more microplastics than plastic bottles

What they found is deeply unsettling: 96 chemicals were detected in at least five children. 48 were found in more than half. 34 were found in over 90% of the children — including 9 not tracked in national health databases like NHANES.

“These are not rare or accidental exposures,” said Deborah H. Bennett, the study’s lead author and professor of public health at UC Davis. “This is a daily, invisible flood of chemicals entering the bodies of children at a stage when their brains and immune systems are still forming.”

The Toxic Alphabet of Modern Childhood

Phthalates and phthalate alternatives – Found in toys, food wrap, vinyl flooring, and shampoo

Parabens – Used in creams, cosmetics, and even medications

Bisphenols (BPA, BPS) – Found in plastic containers, canned food linings, and receipts

Benzophenones – Common in sunscreens and cosmetics

Pesticide residues, flame retardants, and combustion byproducts – Lurking in food, furniture, and air

Children are especially vulnerable. Their smaller bodies mean higher exposures per kilogram, and behaviors like crawling, mouthing toys, and touching floors mean they are constantly in contact with contaminated surfaces. In some cases, the children’s chemical loads were higher than their mothers’ levels during pregnancy, pointing to postnatal environmental sources — the home, the daycare, the playground.

Related: the problems of Dollar Store plastic

The data also revealed disturbing patterns: Chemical exposures were highest among younger toddlers and racial/ethnic minorities, reflecting systemic environmental injustice. While some older chemicals like triclosan and certain phthalates are decreasing (likely due to public pressure and reformulations), new unregulated substitutes like DINCH and emerging pesticides are on the rise.

Swapping out banned chemicals for understudied alternatives is what scientists call “regrettable substitution.” It’s regulation on a delay — and children are paying the price.

What Can Parents Do to Reduce the Toxic Burden?

While we can’t control every exposure, there are concrete steps caregivers can take:

Avoid plastics labeled #3, #6, and #7, which may contain bisphenols and phthalates

Buy “paraben-free” and “fragrance-free” personal care products. Buy or make your own food wraps from fabric scraps and beeswax. Package lunches and food in steel, not plastic containers.

Ventilate homes, dust with a damp cloth, and consider buying air cleaners with HEPA filters

Wash hands before meals, especially after outdoor play or contact with plastic items

Limit pesticide exposure — wash produce well and consider organic options when possible

A Call for Chemical Accountability

Ultimately, this is not just a parenting issue. It’s a policy failure. Most of the 40,000+ chemicals used in consumer products in the U.S. are poorly regulated, with minimal long-term health data.

As Green Prophet has reported before, environmental chemicals are linked to declining fertility, disrupted hormones, obesity, and neurodevelopmental disorders — all of which are now rising in childhood populations.

“This study should sound the alarm,” said Jiwon Oh, postdoctoral scholar and co-author of the study. “We urgently need better biomonitoring, stronger chemical safety laws, and corporate transparency. Our children shouldn’t be the test subjects for industrial shortcuts.”

This is a pivotal moment. Conscious parents and policymakers alike have the opportunity — and the obligation — to push for a healthier future. Because these chemicals aren’t just in the air or water — they’re in our children. And that makes this not just a science story, but a moral one.

The post Toxins in tiny bodies: American children are carrying invisible chemical burden appeared first on Green Prophet.

Getting at least 30 minutes of daily summer sun in the first year of life may mean a lower relapse risk for children who are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) later, according to a study published on February 12, 2025, online in Neurology, Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study also found if a child’s biological mother had at least 30 minutes of daily sun during the second trimester of pregnancy, the child had a lower risk of MS relapses. The study does not prove that sun lowers relapse risk for children with MS, it only shows an association.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease which prevents the nerves from sending signals to the body to move, sense or function. MS is not present at birth. It develops as the immune system matures. Less than 1% of people who have MS are diagnosed before age 10. But there is an association and genetic risk.

“It is important not to spend too much time in the sun without sun protection, however greater exposure to sun has been tied in previous research to a lower risk of developing MS in childhood,” said Gina Chang, MD, MPH, of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and member of the American Academy of Neurology. “It’s encouraging that our study found that greater sun exposure during early development may also be beneficial in helping to reduce disease activity in children who are later diagnosed with MS.”

For the study, researchers looked at health records from 18 MS clinics across the United States to identify 334 children and young people with childhood-onset MS age four to 21. Participants were within four years of experiencing their first symptoms. The median follow-up time was 3.3 years.

To determine sun exposure, participants’ parents or guardians completed questionnaires that asked how much time the participant and their biological mother had spent in the sun at various periods of life, what kind of clothing they typically wore and how often they used sunscreen.

Of the total group, 206, or 62%, experienced at least one relapse during the study. Relapses were defined as new or returning symptoms lasting for at least 24 hours and separated by at least 30 days from the last MS attack, without a fever or infection.

They found that of 75 participants who had 30 minutes to an hour of daily summer sun during their first year of life, 34 children, or 45%, had a relapse. Of the 182 participants who had less than 30 minutes of daily summer sun during their first year of life, 118 children, or 65%, had a relapse.

After adjusting for factors such as tobacco exposure in the first year of life, season of birth, the type of MS medication taken and use of sun protection such as sunscreen, hats and clothing, researchers found that 30 or more minutes of daily summer sun during the first year of life was associated with a 33% lower risk of relapse compared to less than 30 minutes of daily summer sun.

Researchers also looked at sun exposure for the biological mothers of the children.

They found that 30 minutes or more of daily sun during the second trimester of pregnancy was associated with a 32% reduced risk of relapse for their child with MS.

“Our findings suggest that sun exposure in early childhood may have long-lasting benefits on the progression of childhood-onset MS,” said Chang. “Future studies should look at how time in the sun at other time periods before and after MS diagnosis affects disease course, to better guide sun exposure recommendations for children with MS and to help design potential clinical trials.”

A limitation of the study was that it relied on participants’ parents or guardians reporting their sun exposure and use of sun protection, which they may not have remembered accurately.

The post At risk for MS? Give baby and mom sun exposure appeared first on Green Prophet.

If you have ever given birth vaginally there is an unspoken reality. Labor feels like you need to go to the toilet and it’s common for women to poop when the baby is being born. If we think nature knows best, it seems counter-intuitive that a brand new baby would be exposed to faeces while being born, but new clinical research suggests there is an immunity benefit.

Otto Helve, a paediatrician and researcher has found that giving a baby born by C-section a tiny bit of their mother’s poo in their milk gives the babies beneficial gut micro-organisms. Nestle has already launched a poo-based pill for gut health and research from 10 years ago suggests that other people’s poop can help restore a broken microbiome.

In early results of a clinical trial, Helve found that babies fed 3.5 mg of poo versus those that were given a placebo, showed an obvious increase in microbial diversity.

While the results are positive, researchers emphasize that this method should not be replicated at home, says Helve from the University of Helsinki: “You have to be certain that the faecal matter that you give to the newborn doesn’t include pathogens that could cause a disease.”

Researchers are asking these questions because birth by C-section is associated with an increased risk of many immune-related diseases, suggesting that the lack of maternal microbes in early life may have long-term health consequences for children. With women afraid of the pain of birth, and doctors afraid of lawsuits, more and more women opt for C-section.

Over the years global caesarian section rates have significantly increased from around 7% in 1990 to 21% today surpassing the ideal acceptable CS rate which is around 10% to 15% according to the WHO.

Vaginally born infants receive healthy gut bacteria from the mother at birth through the vaginal canal, and from around the mother’s anus. But C-section babies are not exposed to maternal faecal microbes and this prevents the natural transfer of microbes from mother to baby, the researchers say.

The children in the study were followed for 24 months during which time, stool and blood samples were collected from the child and mother and analysed for changes in the bacterial diversity in the microbiome between groups, and to assess immunological changes associated with the transfer such as response to vaccinations and function and interaction of immune cells in vitro. The trial has recruited 90 healthy pregnant women scheduled for elective C-section since 2019.

All of the mothers were asymptomatic (no diarrhoea or abnormal bowel functions) and none had been prescribed antibiotics or travelled outside of Europe in the three months prior to screening. Some mothers had pathogens in their bodies and they were screened out for the procedure.

The post C-section babies benefit from poo milkshakes, new study appeared first on Green Prophet.

About 25 years ago when the environment movement was becoming a thing, we heard the strangest idea: that people were opting out of having children to save the planet.

We spent a few days with an editor at Grist magazine in Helsinki who told us she is child-free and proud –– here is her essay. And it’s been a topic of shame and ridicule in the eco movement if you do have kids.

Environmental concerns and climate change has been a top reason for at least 5% of Americans to remain childless, data from the Pew Research Center shows.

A relatively obscure movement believes there is a more radical way for us to save the planet: by depopulating to the point that people go extinct.

The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (VHEMT) is an environmental movement, led by  Les Knight that calls for all people to abstain from reproduction in order to cause the gradual voluntary extinction of humankind. VHEMT supports human extinction primarily because it would prevent environmental degradation.

It’s voluntary head Les Knight advocates: “May we live long and die out.” He posts material on X that support women’s rights in Iran but which denies that rapes by Hamas in Israel were committed, not linking to the fact that the dehumanization of women in Iran is directly caused by the Iranian jihadists who are funding Hamas terror.

Some gene lines should be discontinued.

The Shakers, a now defunct sect of Christianity practiced celibacy, communal living, confession of sin, egalitarianism, and pacifism. According to material from the Alfred Shaker Museum in the US, the Shaker population started to decline slowly in the 1860’s not because people were dying off: one of the reasons the Shaker population started declining was because of the fact that many people didn’t believe in the Shaker’s religious views.

Shakers were minimalist designers and are admired for that in today’s design world.

As time went on, more and more people practiced other religions instead, such as Catholicism.

You also needed to be celibate to be a Shaker.

The post These environmentalists want people to go extinct to save the planet appeared first on Green Prophet.

All we need now is an Elon Musk Neurolink to stimulate the desired center and we can be forever in love with our partners: a new study has mapped out various love centers in the brain, leading to new ways we can stimulate love on a path to being more productive and satisfied beings.

We all have used the word ‘love’ in a bewildering range of contexts — from sexual adoration to parental love or the love of nature.

New imaging of the brain may shed light on why we use the same word for such a diverse collection of human experiences, called love:

You see your newborn child for the first time. The baby is soft, healthy and hearty — your life’s greatest wonder. You feel love for the little one.

The above statement was one of many simple scenarios presented to fifty-five parents, self-described as being in a loving relationship. Researchers from Aalto University in Finland applied functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity while subjects mulled brief stories related to six different types of love.

Love for children is the deepest

“We now provide a more comprehensive picture of the brain activity associated with different types of love than previous research,” says Pärttyli Rinne, the researcher who coordinated the study: “The activation pattern of love is generated in social situations in the basal ganglia, the midline of the forehead, the precuneus and the temporoparietal junction at the sides of the back of the head.”

Love for one’s children generated the most intense brain activity, closely followed by romantic love. “In parental love, there was activation deep in the brain’s reward system in the striatum area while imagining love, and this was not seen for any other kind of love,” says Rinne.

Love for romantic partners, friends, strangers, pets and nature were also part of the study, which was published this week in the Cerebral Cortex journal, Oxford University Press.

According to the research, brain activity is influenced not only by the closeness of the object of love, but also by whether it is a human being, another species or nature.

Unsurprisingly, compassionate love for strangers was less rewarding and caused less brain activation than love in close relationships. Meanwhile, love of nature activated the reward system and visual areas of the brain, but not the social brain areas.

Pet-owners identifiable by brain activity

The biggest surprise for the researchers was that the brain areas associated with love between people ended up being very similar, with differences lying primarily in the intensity of activation. All types of interpersonal love activated areas of the brain associated with social cognition, in contrast to love for pets or nature — with one exception.

Subjects’ brain responses to a statement like the following, on average, revealed whether or not they shared their life with a furry friend:

‘You are home lolling on the couch and your pet cat pads over to you. The cat curls up next to you and purrs sleepily. You love your pet.’

Related: Making love with the 5% rule

“When looking at love for pets and the brain activity associated with it, brain areas associated with sociality statistically reveal whether or not the person is a pet owner. When it comes to the pet owners, these areas are more activated than with non-pet owners,” says Rinne.

Not only can understanding the neural mechanisms of love help guide philosophical discussions about the nature of love, consciousness, and human connection, but also, the researchers hope that their work will enhance mental health interventions in conditions like attachment disorders, depression or relationship issues.

The post A map of where love lives in your brain appeared first on Green Prophet.