Burgers vs Childhood Asthma

I read in Reader's Digest that kids who eat three or more burgers per week are 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than kids who never or rarely eat burgers.  That study covered 50,000 children in 20 countries, so I label the findings very reliable.  So, I dug further to find the source. The study appears in the latest issue of the journal Thorax.  Look at this information in reverse, the researchers found that eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and fish was associated with a lower chance of developing asthma and wheezing.  That's because fruits and veggies are good sources of antioxidant vitamins, and fish is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Antioxidants and omega-3 both have anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation in the airways triggers asthma-related breathing problems as well as wheezing and coughing. The saturated fat in burgers promotes asthma by causing inflammation, to say nothing of how the fat clogs young arteries and contributes to childhood obesity. 

A Father's Contribution to the Family

In 1960, only 11 percent of children in the U.S. lived apart from their fathers. By 2010, that percentage had risen to 27 percent. The role of fathers in the modern American family is changing, and I fear that many families are in jeopardy of producing children without strong male role models.  What impact does that have for future generations? 

• Children will see marriage as a temporary arrangement, suitable only for those who are 100% compatible. (There is no such animal as a perfect marriage!)  
• When children have fathers who are emotionally involved, those children score higher on tests of emotional intelligence.
• When children live with a positive male role model, they tend to have better relationships with other children and behave less aggressively. 
• Fathers can be key teachers for a strong business ethic that shows children how to be diligent in school.
• Fathers tend to challenge their children more than mothers, which encourages independent thinking.
• When fathers are present in the home, they provide more financial support than when they live apart from their children.

Given all those reasons and the many others outlined in this article (How Do Fathers Fit in?), I applaud all those fathers who have stepped up to the family plate and batted a home run for their team by providing emotional strength, moral support, and financial contributions.