Parenting is not easy, and of course, is not a 9 to 5. It is an around-the-clock job. More often than not there are a lot of myths that surround parenting and a child's healthy life. But fear not, because we will burst five myths around parenting and your child's health, which will help you ensure a safe and healthy life for your kid. Myth: It Is Okay To Feed Your Child Honey After 6 Months Truth: Babies younger than 1 year of age should not be fed honey. This is because there is a type of bacteria called Clostridium that causes infant botulism, and it is found in honey. This can cause muscle weakness, with signs like poor sucking, weak cry, constipation, and also decreased muscle tone. Myth: A Baby Walker Promotes Early Walking Truth: While a baby walker can help babies learn to balance, it does not make them walk earlier. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called to stop the production and sale of baby walkers, as it can often increase the child's dependency on a walker, leading to poor balance. There is also a risk of falling and causing severe injuries to the child. Myth: My Child's Height Will Stop If He Starts Gymming At An Early Age Truth: No, your child's height will not be affected if he or she hits the gym at an early age. Apar Jain, a health coach, gym trainer, and nutritionist explains that height is largely influenced by genetics, and growth occurs in the plates of our long bones, which remain open through adolescence and close around the age of 16 to 18. "When approached correctly, gym training at a young age can support healthy development. Resistance training, when supervised and focused on form, strengthens bones, muscles, and joints. It can also improve posture," he explains. Myth: Weight Training During Adolescence Can Stunt Growth Truth: "No," explains Jain, "research shows that when done properly, weight training does not negatively impact growth." Rather, it helps in strengthening muscles, improving bone density, and supporting joint health. The key is, explains Jain, "a well-structured program that avoids excessive loads, focuses on technique, and allows for recovery." Myth: Being Strict And Punishing My Children Will Raise Them Well Truth: No. While, this strategy has been going on for generations, often passed down. Researchers say otherwise. Being harsh, rigid, and strict can often lead to bad mental health in your kids. Punishing can make them feel threatened and even rebel. Children do make mistakes, but parents need to explain to them what went wrong and how can they make it better. This guides them, instead of ingraining fear into their brain, which may lead to a loss of self-esteem, as they grow up. Source: TN

When the winter chill makes us shiver, eating or drinking something warm, besides cozying up in a blanket is our first instinct. Get expert advice on healthy options. It's that time of the year when all we want to do is snuggle deep into our cozy blankets and keep warm. In winter, our body starts craving foods that are warm and make us feel warmer from within. During the winter season, it is better to consume foods that take longer to digest as the body temperature rises during metabolism. Fewer daylight hours also play a major role in cravings. Here are the foods that you must consume in winter to stay warm: Cereals Start your day with oatmeal, porridge, and whole wheat preparations. Even though we often crave pizzas and plates of pasta, it’s better to eat them once in a while as they will not help keep our body warm and will only have a temporary effect since simple carbohydrates digest quickly. Moms-to-be and new mommies can have porridge or oatmeal preparations enriched with vegetables. Kids can be given a whole wheat sandwich or they can also have hot milk with cornflakes or rolls with egg or vegetable stuffing. Soups Soups are an excellent option as they contain a good amount of vegetables and keep our body warm inside out. Soups made out of pulses, gourds, and barley are good options and can also be a major meal with carbs added in. With a dash of spices like cumin, cinnamon, and ginger there you go as you have just had the healthiest meal of your day. These are very healthy options for moms-to-be. Lactating mothers can also enjoy soup as a midnight snack or evening snack. Kids can enjoy soups as an evening snack after their play time which will fill their tummy and at the same time keep them warm. Fruits Fruits that are locally grown during winter often prove to be beneficial. Bananas, strawberries, kiwis, apples, plums, litchis, papaya, custard apple, and pomegranate are some of the best options. Bananas being a good source of magnesium help regulate the body temperature. Kids can be given bananas or dip the same in homemade peanut butter. Moms-to-be can avoid papaya and enjoy citrus fruits, pomegranates, and bananas. Lactating mothers can enjoy all the above-mentioned fruits as a snack preferably during the day. Dry fruits and nuts Almonds, cashews, and walnuts are very good sources of good fats and also help in regulating body temperature. Figs, dates, and olives are also good options as they are often used in countries that experience severe chills. Dates are excellent sources of iron and a combination of hot herbal concoction with a date will just be what you are looking for. Pregnant ladies can enjoy a fistful of dry fruits in a day. Lactating mothers can also enjoy a fistful of dry fruits or have a laddoo made out of it. Kids who enjoy eating dry fruits can also be given a fistful daily. Powdered dry fruit mix can also be added to their milk or cereal mix. Spices Spices are a great way to maintain thermogenesis. As our Indian cuisine most often includes spices in the preparations, this easily becomes a part of our daily diet. Some of the superstars are ginger, cumin, pepper, sesame, and cinnamon. Ginger can be used in our tea, soup, or even during seasoning of any curries. Cumin helps in keeping your body warm for longer periods. Hence, be generous in adding cumin to your preparations. Cinnamon powder can be added to salads and hot chocolate or lattes as it enhances flavor and increases metabolism. Pregnant mothers can include spices in their diet soups or normal food preparations. Kids can be given very minimal spices as they would not find the taste appealing always. It can be added to their meal preparations, soups, and milk. It is better for lactating mothers to avoid spicy foods but they can definitely enjoy cumin water, and ginger in the form of dry ginger too. Cinnamon can be added to their milk, but do not overdo any of the spices while breastfeeding. Moderation is key. Meat For non-vegetarians, meat can be a part of the diet as it raises body temperature during metabolism and is an excellent source of iron and protein. Meat can be included in a pregnant mother’s diet if your doctor allows it. It helps in meeting your iron requirements. It is completely okay for a lactating mother to include meat after a week of delivery. It is always better to start with soups and light curries. Once you are comfortable consuming it, you can slowly start including stir-fried or roasted meat in your diet. Meat can be introduced in a toddler’s diet after they turn 1 year old. Honey Honey standalone, or added in salads will also help in winter as they are traditionally known as a cure for cough and cold. Honey can be included in a pregnant and lactating mother’s diet as long as they do not have a history of diabetes. Kids can start having honey only after they turn 1 year old. Hot Beverages This is good news for hot beverage lovers as consuming them in winter warms up the body from within. Coffee is a great option as long as not consumed more than twice a day. Hot Chocolate, tea, or just a cup of warm milk will come to your rescue during this season. Pregnant moms should avoid caffeinated beverages until delivery. They can opt for haldi milk, decaffeinated beverages, soups, etc instead. Lactating mothers are allowed to have 2 cups in a day. Kids can have hot chocolate and strictly refrain from coffee and tea. 9. Ghee Ghee helps in strengthening your immunity. It can be added to any of your preparations or you can combine or alternate vegetable oils with ghee in winter. Ghee can be used in food preparations for pregnant, and lactating mothers and kids. You can have a combination of all the above-mentioned foods in adequate quantities in your diet during this season. Eat well, stay warm.

"Protein is one of the three essential macronutrients, along with carbs and fat," dietitian Christine Byrne, owner of Ruby Oak Nutrition in North Carolina, told Newsweek. She said that our bodies need all three macronutrients each day. "When your body digests protein, it breaks it down into various amino acids that all play important roles in the body. Amino acids are building blocks of your muscles, bones, cartilage, skin, hair, nails, and cells, so they're crucial for building and repairing all of these tissues. "Amino acids also support hormone function, healthy digestion, and oxygen transport through your body." Protein is particularly popular in nutrition and wellness spaces, as a satiating macronutrient that can help us feel full, fuel the body for workouts, help build muscle healthily, and impact our metabolism. Using Fruit for High-Protein Meals All the experts who spoke to Newsweek said that fruit wouldn't be their first choice for protein, but that it could help contribute towards daily intakes. Nutritional therapist and cookbook author Jenny Tschiesche said: "Fruit isn't considered a primary protein source, but the protein content can vary. If you're looking to boost your diet's protein content, some fruits are preferable." A fruit's botanical family could make a difference, she said. "For example, guava, from the myrtle family, is known for its protein-rich composition." And avocados store more protein and healthy fats in their flesh, she added. "Additionally, fruits grown in nutrient-rich soil often have a higher protein content," said Tschiesche. Nutritional therapist Rakhi Lad, of Healthology, told Newsweek: "While fruit offers wonderful nutritional benefits—like vitamins, fiber, polyphenols and antioxidants—it wouldn't be my first pick for protein." Instead, she recommended eating fruit with a protein source, such as Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts, or chia seeds. Eight High-Protein Fruits The nutrition experts suggested some fruits with higher protein content than most other fruits. 1. Guava: 4.2 grams of protein per cup 2. Avocado: 3 grams of protein per avocado 3. Apricot: 2.2 grams of protein per cup of apricot halves 4. Jackfruit: 2.8 grams of protein per cup, sliced; a tropical fruit, sometimes used as a meat substitute 5. Blackberries: 2g per serving 6. Banana: 2g per large banana 7. Kiwi: 2g per large kiwi 8. Oranges: 1.2g per large orange "Guava, a fruit that's popular in tropical regions, contains 4.2 grams of protein and 112 calories per one-cup serving," said Byrne. "That's a decent amount of protein, especially if paired with a protein-rich food like yogurt." However, because of its high fiber content, Byrne recommended eating no more than a cup of the fruit "to avoid uncomfortable fullness." What Is the Most Protein Dense Food? Byrne also said that it was important to put things into perspective when it came to protein in fruit. "Most people should be aiming for at least 20 grams of protein per meal, and even the highest-protein fruit on this list has just 4.2 grams per serving," she said. "None of them should be considered high-protein foods, and you should be getting most of your protein from other sources, like meat, fish, eggs, milk, soy, nuts, seeds, and legumes." Instead, Byrne recommended choosing fruit that you enjoy and eating a variety, rather than deciding based on protein content. Tschiesche agreed, adding that fruit was still an essential part of the diet, just for other reasons, including as a source of fiber, "which helps maintain a healthy digestive system and aids in weight management." "Fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants necessary for overall health," she continued. "They also have high water content, helping to keep you hydrated. "Fruits provide various antioxidants, including vitamin C and beta carotene, which help fight free radicals and reduce the risk of chronic disease. They also contain natural sugars, offering a quick energy source without the crash from refined sugars."

Friday marks half a century since Japanese merchandising company Sanrio created the first iteration of Kitty White, or Hello Kitty, a cheerful feline girl (not, as her creator controversially revealed in 2014, a cat) who lives with her family in London's suburbs. In the decades since debuting, she has become a UNICEF ambassador, a special envoy for Japan's Foreign Ministry, and the subject of themed restaurants, cafes, two amusement parks, and even a maternity hospital. CNN News. As such, Hello Kitty is also a commercial behemoth that has earned her creator an estimated $80 billion, placing her alongside Pokemon, Mickey Mouse, and Winnie-the-Pooh as history's top-grossing franchises. Unlike others on the list, however, the merchandise wasn't a profitable extension of Hello Kitty's on-screen popularity — it was her raison d’être from the start. Designed to adorn children's items and stationery, she was first drawn by Yuko Shimizu, one of Sanrio's in-house illustrators, in 1974. The company wanted designs embodying "kawaii," a Japanese term for cuteness, and the 24-year-old's cat-like creation was inspired by a kitten her father had given her as a gift. Hello Kitty made her commercial debut the next year, appearing on a line of vinyl coin purses alongside several other new characters. She proved, by far, to be the company's most popular new design. Sanrio’s sales soared almost immediately as her image was pasted onto toys, stickers, and much else. But if the character's early success can be attributed to Shimizu’s simple, memorable design — comprising a mouthless face, oval yellow nose, whiskers, and a bow — her status as a pop culture icon is thanks to illustrator Yuko Yamaguchi. Considered Hello Kitty's third designer (Shimizu left Sanrio three years after inventing the character and was replaced by Setsuko Yonekubo, who briefly oversaw the design in the late 1970s) Yamaguchi has steered the character's visual identity for almost 45 years. Speaking to CNN at Sanrio's Tokyo headquarters, she recalled joining the company at a time when Hello Kitty products were declining in popularity. In 1979, Sanrio decided to revitalize the brand, and Yamaguchi was one of several illustrators tasked with creating and presenting new imagery. Aware that Hello Kitty was an aspiring musician, she drew a scene envisaging the character surrounded by her family after receiving her first grand piano. "Even though Hello Kitty says she wants to be a pianist, she has never been depicted playing the piano," she said, adding: "I was asked to be the designer of Hello Kitty on the spot." Yamaguchi started meeting with Hello Kitty's fans, past and present, to understand why sales were down. She also made a formative year-long visit to San Francisco in 1984, amid a booming US interest in teddy bears. After returning to Japan, Yamaguchi began creating new drawings and a cast of friends for Hello Kitty — including the teddy bear, Tiny Chum. "I wanted Hello Kitty to become more energetic," she said. "And since she was the face of Sanrio, and was born as a symbol of friendship, I wanted to make lots of friends for her." Subtle evolution While Hello Kitty's key features remained largely unchanged, Yamaguchi (who previously told Time magazine that the character doesn’t have a mouth "so that people who look at her can project their feelings onto her face") placed her in different scenarios, broadening her appeal. "She's good at sports, and she looks cute and chic too," she explained. "I think of her as a blank canvas that you can transform into all sorts of things. There's not much that doesn't suit her… I think that when everyone talks to Hello Kitty, she probably answers them in some way." Sales of Hello Kitty products flourished in Japan between the 1980s and mid-1990s. Much of the company's earlier merchandise was aimed at young girls, including school supplies and personal care items like toothbrushes. But, even then, illustrator Yamaguchi knew the character would need to evolve and grow with her fans. It's a realization the illustrator traces back to a letter she received from a fan in 1987: "She was a big fan of Hello Kitty but, in the letter, she wrote that her friends and parents had told her that it is a child's character and that she should have outgrown it. But she didn't want to, so she asked me to make products for high school students like her." Inspired by the trends she saw in Tokyo's Harajuku fashion district at the time, Yamaguchi began incorporating contemporary style into her designs, in the hope of appealing to older fans.  In 1999, Sanrio told the New York Times that the character was appearing on 12,000 new product lines a year, spanning almost every category imaginable, from clothing to board games, greeting cards to lunch boxes. The company also began using Hello Kitty on more adult items, like electronics and kitchen appliances, as it became clear that nostalgia was becoming a major selling point. As a result, some of today's biggest Hello Kitty fans are those who grew up with her in the 1980s and '90s. Among them is Asako Kanda, who started collecting Sanrio products in third grade and now owns over 10,000 items adorned with the character's expressionless face. "My mother gave me Hello Kitty stationery and school supplies like pencil cases and plastic boards. When I saw them, I thought they were so cute, and they quickly became my favorite. That's where it started," she said, showing CNN around a dedicated Hello Kitty room in her Tokyo home. "Once I began buying things for myself, I could get items for the kitchen, bathroom, and other daily necessities. I wanted to unify everything with Hello Kitty from that point on." After more than 36 years of collecting, Kanda still buys around two Hello Kitty items every month. Sanrio releases new products every week, and she scans them looking for anything that is "memorable or cute." "As life goes on, there are times when you face unpleasant or sad experiences," she said, "During those times, looking at Hello Kitty goods has brought me comfort and solace." Going global As Japan's economy stagnated in the 1990s, Sanrio expanded its international presence. In Hello Kitty's early years, the company had sold products door-to-door in the US, before setting up the first overseas branch of its retail store, Gift Gate, in San Jose in 1976. But following an explosion of Western interest in Japanese culture — from "Dragon Ball Z" to Tamagotchis and Beyblade — she captured the imagination of American consumers around the turn of the millennium, according to Atsuo Nakayama, a Japanese sociologist specializing in the entertainment industry. "Just after 9/11, the world was changing," he told CNN. "And I think that the Japanese 'kawaii' culture was an alternative fit for America, somehow." Much of Hello Kitty's commercial success has been achieved through licensing. She has spawned books, video games, and animated TV series, like the long-running "Hello Kitty and Friends," which helped further develop her character. (Although, despite being raised in London, she was given a North American accent in English dubbed versions.) She has also been part of deals with major consumer and luxury brands and has appeared on an EVA Air plane, Fender Stratocaster guitars, and Swarovski jewelry. And while Sanrio's declining fortunes at the turn of the 2010s sparked fears that Hello Kitty’s cultural relevance was fading, the company's share price has rocketed in the last two years. It now stands over 10 times its Covid-era low. According to Atsuo, nostalgia is once again a key driving force — at home in Japan, and abroad. "Hello Kitty is on the rise again in America, and I think that this is because the first generation has now become parents and passed (their interests) on to their children," Atsuo said, adding: "(Her popularity) has risen and fallen many times like this, and it creates a regular opportunity for people who were captivated by Hello Kitty to remember it and want to collect it again." Sanrio's recent successes are also, in part, due to its diversifying away from Hello Kitty. The character now only accounts for around 30% of Sanrio's gross profit in product sales and licensing, down from 76% a decade earlier, according to the Wall Street Journal. Recent creations like Gudetama (a lazy egg yolk) and Aggressive Retsuko (an introverted death-metal-loving red panda) have both featured in their own Netflix series. Yet, even as Sanrio's business model changes, Yamaguchi believes Hello Kitty will endure. "Of course, there are many characters in the world that have been around longer than Hello Kitty," the illustrator said, adding: "I hope she continues working hard so she can celebrate her 100th anniversary in 50 years."