That’s right. Exercise is just what your kids need to do well in school, according to more and more research.

One study - presented at a recent American College of Sports Medicine meeting - shows the fittest group of students scored nearly 30 percent higher on standardized tests than the least fit group. And the least fit students had grades in four core classes that were 13 to 20 percent lower than all other kids. Read more…

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Despite public efforts to try to curb obesity, the epidemic is getting worse… much worse. A new report finds adult obesity went up in 37 states in the past year and is at more than 25 percent in more than half the states.

The fifth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2008 from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) shows obesity rates went up for a second year in a row in 24 states and for a third consecutive year in 19 states. No state saw a decrease. Read more…

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Your kids may love to eat yogurt… but how much sugar is in the brands they gulp down? To find the best-tasting yogurts with less sugar, Consumer Reports ShopSmart had 30 children of its staffers taste-test three lower-sugar brands - two flavors each. Here’s what the kids said they would eat: Read more…

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Just one can of Red Bull may increase the risk of heart damage, says a new study from Australia. When researchers looked at university students between the ages of 20 and 24 years old, they found drinking one can of the caffeinated energy drink increased the “stickiness” of the blood and raised the risk of blood clots forming - a cardiovascular profile similar to that of someone with heart disease.

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Doctors call it “super obese” - it’s a category for the new epidemic of children as young as two and three years old who are extremely overweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity rates among children younger than five have doubled over the last two decades. This is serious stuff - doctors say obese toddlers are at risk of high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes.

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Now playing in a city near you… (*cue movie announcer*) They’re angry about the junk food in our schools. Angry at how it’s affecting childhood obesity and other health issues. And angry enough to do something about it.

Two Angry Moms…starring…

Amy Kalafa – award-winning filmmaker, holistic health and nutrition counselor, mother

Dr. Susan Rubin – founder of Better School Food, holistic nutritionist, mother

Get a sneak peek below - watch clips from the documentary, Two Angry Moms, and see how it’s Making a Healthy Difference. Here’s what the film’s producer, Amy Kalafa, tells FFTV about the movie, her anger, and how you can join the fight for kids’ health. Read more…

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I always feel a little germ-laden after a workout at the gym. Even if members disinfect the mats and machines after they use them, (and you know not everyone does) I just can’t wait to wash my hands STAT and take a shower as soon as I get home.  Read more…

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Spicy, healthy, and just one pot to clean! Sounds like my kind of Red Beans and Rice dish.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound andouille sausage
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes with liquid
1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons ground thyme
2 teaspoons dried sweet basil
1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne
1 tablespoon paprika
2 to 5 drops hot pepper sauce
1 bay leaf
1 cup uncooked brown rice
1 green bell pepper, chopped Read more…

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Congrats to FFTV members - Debbie, Caroline, and Zandria - for winning last week’s giveaway… a coupon to try one of Starbucks’ new Vivanno smoothies for FREE! Enjoy! And thanks to everyone for playing - the comments were filled with fabulous ideas for smoothie concoctions. Can’t wait to try them out!

***Update - I have 2 extra coupons, which means 2 more winners - so, congrats to Missicat and Gossipista, too!

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12,000 calories. That’s how much Olympic Gold Medalist, Michael Phelps eats on an intense training day! The calories vary for other athletes at the Beijing Games, depending on their size, sport, or event. And they get to choose from several international cuisines at the Olympic Village dining hall, which seats 6,000. I just saw this info and wanted to share - there’s much more on what the Olympians eat to compete here from ABC News. Enjoy!

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