(Feature Impact) The threat of heart disease and stroke is growing substantially among women and girls as rates climb for health factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, with 6 in 10 U.S. women projected to have at least one type of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2050.

This information from a new scientific statement published in “Circulation,” the peer-reviewed, flagship journal of the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, points to a rise in CVD that’s in part fueled by increases in other health factors like diabetes and obesity. Nearly 32% of girls ages 2-19 may have obesity by 2050, highlighting the impact even on younger generations.

Findings from the report point to increases among women for all types of CVD, including heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke.

“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women and remains their No. 1 health risk overall,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health and senior vice president of women’s health at Northwell Health. “While many people may think conditions like high blood pressure are only occurring in older women, we know this is not the case. We know the factors that contribute to heart disease and stroke begin early in life, even among young women and girls. The impact is even greater among those experiencing adverse social determinants of health such as poverty, low literacy, rural residence and other psychosocial stressors. Identifying the types of trends outlined in this report is critical to making meaningful changes that can reverse this course.”

However, there is positive news: Rates of high cholesterol are expected to decline among nearly all groups of women, and improvements are expected in some health behaviors that impact CVD, including healthier eating, more physical activity and less smoking.

The most efficient and effective way to reduce the prevalence of CVD is through prevention, prioritizing optimal health through the four health behaviors (eat better, be more active, quit tobacco and get healthy sleep) and four health factors (manage weight, control cholesterol, manage blood sugar and manage blood pressure) that comprise the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8.

Health Behaviors

Promote healthy choices in the places where people learn, live and receive care, like schools, community centers, pediatric clinics and gynecology offices. Use digital tools, when helpful, to encourage and reinforce positive lifestyle changes.

Health Factors

Managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity early can make a difference, especially for women at higher risk. Work with your health care team to prioritize long-term support for managing these conditions, including early check-ins, team-based care and the use of digital tools that make care easier to access.

Care at Every Life Stage

Each stage of life offers an opportunity to spot risks early and protect heart health. For example, pediatricians should know that early menstrual periods can signal higher future cardiovascular risk. Coordinated care across specialties should be integrated before, during and after pregnancy. Research should continue to explore how lifestyle changes and hormone therapy around menopause impact women’s heart health.

Social and Demographic Factors

Health systems should consider how social challenges – like access to healthy food, transportation or safe housing – combine with medical risks, designing interventions that improve heart health in each setting.

To access the full report and find more advice for a healthy heart, visit Heart.org.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:

American Heart Association

(Feature Impact) Almost every gardener knows the frustration: One corner of the garden bursts with life while another struggles to hang on. Flowers are slow to open, vegetables disappoint and the soil seems to drink up water and ask for more.

However, seasoned gardeners know the difference between a struggling garden and a thriving one almost always comes down to what’s beneath the surface.

Success Runs Soil Deep

The change in seasons can leave soil compacted and depleted, so spending some time giving it a boost can set the stage for strong, healthy plants. It may also be easier than many gardeners think to give soil the help it needs. Blending in amendments like biochar improves soil health, helps retain water and locks in nutrients.

An easy-to-use yet powerful conditioner that helps balance soil pH, Wakefield BioChar boosts soil fertility and supports stronger, healthier plant growth. Once it’s mixed into soil, biochar becomes a powerhouse worker. It holds onto water like a sponge, slowly releasing and making the water accessible, so plants continually receive moisture and gardeners need to water less. It also makes nutrients more available to plants, resulting in healthier gardens and greener lawns.

An Easy-to-Use Boost

When planting in the garden or pots, biochar should make up approximately 10% of the soil mix. If you’re setting up a garden bed, mix it into the soil to a depth of 4-6 inches (1 cubic foot is plenty for a 4-by-8-foot garden bed). For trees and shrubs, adding biochar directly to the roots helps them get off to a strong start and supports healthy growth.

It’s also a natural way to improve a lawn’s look and performance. To add biochar to your lawn to prepare for warm weather, spread it evenly across the grass, either by hand or with a broadcast spreader for larger areas. Aim for a thin, even layer to ensure all parts of your lawn benefit from its properties, improving long-term soil health. For newly planted lawns, mix 1 cubic foot of biochar into every 100 square feet of soil, making sure it penetrates 2-4 inches deep.

No matter where you use biochar, water regularly for the first week to activate its benefits. Watering helps biochar settle into the soil and start working, as its porous structure holds moisture, helping keep gardens and lawns hydrated.

Sustainable from the Ground Up

Not only does biochar deeply nourish your garden or lawn, it also helps create a more sustainable environment for years to come. It’s made by heating natural materials, such as organic wood waste, in a way that stores carbon rather than releasing it into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases.

The process – called pyrolysis – locks carbon into a stable form that doesn’t break down as quickly as mulch or compost and transforms into a light, porous material that stays active, season after season, to ensure nutrient-rich soil for years to come.

Beyond the Lawn

It isn’t just for providing plants with healthier soil. Bring biochar along on camping trips, as it also works wellfor composting toilets and has the added benefit of controlling odors and absorbing waste, making it a sustainable option that can be composted afterward.

It can also be used as livestock bedding as it absorbs liquids, neutralizes odors and can be mixed with manure to create a more nutrient-rich compost for plants and crops.

Learn more about planting healthy gardens and green spaces at WakefieldBiochar.com/grow.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (woman gardening)

SOURCE:

Wakefield BioChar

(Feature Impact)For families with young children, mealtimes can often feel like negotiations or even battles. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Picky eating is one of the most universal challenges families face.

With the right strategies, parents can reduce stress, build healthier habits and help children become more confident, curious eaters. Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, and registered dietitian Ali Bandier, founder of Senta Health and member of the Expert Council at Little Spoon, share these insights and guidance to help parents navigate picky eating.

Why Young Children are Picky Eaters

Picky eating isn’t just common; it’s an expected part of early childhood development. In fact, it would be more surprising if children didn’t experience a picky eating phase.

Picky eating is a natural expression of independence. As children enter toddlerhood, they discover they can assert control, and food becomes a typical place to do it. They can’t decide whether to go to school or take a bath, but they can decide whether to take a bite of broccoli.

Avoid the Power Struggle

The key for parents: stay calm, consistent and neutral. Pressuring children only makes picky eating worse.

Telling your child they must try one bite, celebrating excessively when they do eat a vegetable or resorting to negotiation (“three more bites then dessert”) can actually reduce their desire to eat. It also creates a dynamic that only reinforces the power struggle.

Instead, recognize the division of responsibility when it comes to eating. Parents decide what food is served, when it’s served and where meals happen. Children decide whether to eat and how much to eat. As a parent, you can’t force your child to eat; recognizing this is critical to reducing the mealtime tug‑of‑war and creating a calmer, more predictable environment for the entire family.

Exposure, Not Pressure

Young children often need repeated, low‑pressure exposure to a new food before trying it. Offering broccoli once likely isn’t enough. It’s important to offer it repeatedly, without commentary, bribing or coaxing.

Trying new foods is more than just ingesting them. Touching and smelling are steps toward tasting and acceptance. Involving children in food preparation – washing vegetables, stirring batter, mixing ingredients – lets them gain familiarity without the pressure of having to eat. Inclusion in this process increases curiosity and that curiosity is often followed by a willingness, or even desire, to try the food.

It’s also important for parents to model desired eating habits. If you want your child to try salmon but you’re eating pizza, they’re unlikely to want to eat the salmon. Daily family mealtimes – often dinner in busy households – where you’re modeling manners and eating the food you want your child to eat is key.

The Importance of Routines

For young children, routines provide structure, predictability and comfort. A consistent meal and snack schedule helps children learn what to expect and can reduce not only their anxiety around mealtimes, but parental anxiety, too.

Notably, there is no right or wrong schedule; every family needs to figure out what works best for their circumstances. What matters is setting a schedule and maintaining consistency. For example, if you provide a snack between breakfast and lunch, do it every day, not just a few days a week. This helps children know what to expect and feel comfortable.

Schedules also help parents resist “secondhand cooking.” When a child refuses the meal offered, parents often scramble to make alternatives, but this teaches the child if they hold out long enough, a preferred food will arrive. Instead, calmly remind your child when the next snack or meal will be: “OK, you don’t want to have the yogurt and fruit. That’s fine, but I’m not going to make something else. Snack time is in two hours.” This builds trust and reduces anxiety for everyone.

With patience, low-pressure exposure and consistent routines, most picky eaters gradually broaden their palates and mealtimes become more enjoyable for the whole family. For more parenting guidance, including the Parenting with Goddard blog and webinar series, visit the Parent Resource Center at GoddardSchool.com.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:

The Goddard School