These foods may raise kids' risk for type 1 diabetes

Your microwave is dirtier than you think!

Author

The Weekly Parent
September 10, 2024

TOP OF MIND

Should we stop giving our kids oats?
A group of researchers from Finland joined together to publish a groundbreaking study, potentially finding a link between certain foods and type 1 diabetes in children.

They studied the diets of over 5,600 Finnish children with a genetic risk for type 1 diabetes from birth to age 6. By the end of their study, 94 participants had developed type 1 diabetes, and 206 showed islet autoimmunity, which increases the risk of developing the disease.

According to their research, children who consumed more oats, rye, fermented dairy products, bananas, and wheat were at a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

The important bits
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to little or no insulin production. It typically starts in childhood or young adulthood.

And unlike type 2 diabetes, doctors have long believed that diet/lifestyle does not impact one's risk of developing type 1.

So this new study is a little controversial, especially since it highlights foods considered to be healthy, like bananas and oatmeal. But the professionals who worked on the study make it clear more research needs to be conducted...

Many of the foods that we found to be associated with increased risk of type 1 diabetes and the disease process are considered part of a healthy diet and it is important that our results are replicated in other studies before anyone considers making changes to their child's diet.

Professor Suvi Virtanen, study co-author

The study also looked at foods that might lower the risk of type 1 diabetes. Those foods include: berries, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage.

What's it all mean?
Honestly, it's too early to know what it means. As stated above, diet has never been listed as a risk factor for developing the disease. It's classified as a chronic autoimmune disease caused by genetics and "other factors."

It's too early to declare that bananas belong in that "other factors" category. Type 1 diabetes affects about 1 in 400 children, and that number is going up. In recent years, there's been a 30% increase in T1D diagnoses in the United States. Read more here.

DID YOU HEAR

🦠 Bacteria rave inside your microwave 
If you're anything like us, you have spent the majority of your life believing the microwave kills every living thing that dares to go inside it. But according to a new study coming out of Spain, more than 100 different bacteria can survive inside your microwave. In fact, they're probably in your microwave right now. GO CLEAN IT!!!!!

🙅‍♀️ (Don't) call me by your name
BabyCenter surveyed 478 parents who had kids up to age 5, and they found that nearly 10% of them regretted the name they chose for their little one. One mom, who named her baby Cleo, claims she "can't help but cringe" when someone calls her by her name. It's likely she'll end up changing her daughter's name. And she won't be alone. 6% of the parents surveyed admitted to legally changing their baby's name. Click here to view the top 10 baby names of 2023.

👃 How to shorten cold symptoms
Cold and flu season is fast approaching, which means the sniffles will be invading your household before you know it. According to new research, saltwater nasal drops are a cheap and effective way to shorten cold symptoms in children. The study found that the drops could cut the length of a cold by up to two days and even prevent the spread of it.

🫘 Don't eat poppy seeds before giving birth
Prepare to be shocked when reading this story of a mom who had her baby taken away one day after giving birth. The hospital performed a drug test on her before she gave birth and a nurse told her she tested positive for opiates. It was later determined the positive test was due to her eating a poppy seed salad the night before she went into labor.

🃏 Playdate business cards are now a thing
Parents are now sending their children to school with business cards in hopes of landing more playdates.

A DOSE OF GOOD

@_lifewithlewis_

What even is privacy when you have a toddler? 😂 #toddlersoftiktok #kidsbelike #toddlersbelike #momjokes #fypシ゚viral #parentinghumor #momhu... See more

BITES WITH KIYAH

If you’ve been following us, or me specifically, for a while, you’ll know that it’s hard for me to go the weekend without baking cookies. I realized recently that I have been baking almost exclusively chocolate chip cookies for the last couple of months.

This weekend it was 40 degrees when I woke up, which seemed like a sign to switch it up - so a fall flavor and smell graced our kitchen this week: Gingersnaps!

Get your own printable PDF of our recipe here.


Kiyah is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition. Follow her on Instagram and Youtube.

HERE’S A QUESTION

When's the last time you cleaned your microwave? (Honestly!)

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Last week, we asked you how much you spent on your last family vacation, and there was a tie for first place between, “$1,000 to $3,000” and “What’s a vacation?”

RECALLS

Check your eggs!
At least 65 people have been sickened in nine states after eating eggs contaminated with salmonella. 24 of those people had to be hospitalized.

The recalled eggs came from Milo’s Poultry Farms and were distributed to Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, the CDC said. Eggs labeled 'Milo’s Poultry Farms' and 'Tony’s Fresh Market' are subject to the recall.

You can read more here.

Also, the absolutely massive apple juice recall is still going on and expanding.