| Starting in 2009 many school districts removed | | | | However, in 2009 many health experts recommended |
| chocolate milk from their school lunch programs. An | | | | students who play sports be screened for heart |
| 8-oz. serving of reduced-fat chocolate milk has almost | | | | disease. One in 100,000 people ages 12 to 24 dies |
| as many calories and sugar as a 12-oz. can of Coke, | | | | suddenly from undiagnosed congenital heart problems. |
| contributing to the childhood obesity crisis. Although milk | | | | Children who play sports are almost 3 times as |
| has been an integral part of school lunches since the | | | | vulnerable. Death usually occurs when they're in training |
| federally subsidized program was started in 1946, | | | | for or participating in sports - when adrenalin is flowing |
| flavored milk has been a concern since the 2006 rule | | | | and the heart is at peak performance. When more |
| requiring schools to have comprehensive "wellness | | | | than 2,000 high school athletes in Houston were tested, |
| programs". Because more than half of U.S. flavored | | | | 10% had abnormal EKG's. Nevertheless, giving |
| milk is sold in schools, the dairy industry is "cow-ering" | | | | cardiovascular examinations only to students because |
| about the loss of market share. | | | | of their family history or their school physical was the |
| A 2009 study published in the Proceedings of the | | | | American Heart Association's heartfelt opinion. |
| National Academy of Sciences showed that exercise | | | | In 2010 the Centers for Disease Control and |
| improves brain function in children. The study of 1.2 | | | | Prevention reported the first multi-state outbreak of |
| million Swedish males - including 1500 identical twins - | | | | salmonella associated with the African dwarf frog - |
| found that 18-year-olds in excellent cardiovascular | | | | the cute, little amphibian sold in pet stores. The CDC |
| condition did better on cognitive tests than less fit | | | | began investigating after the Utah Health Department |
| 18-year-olds. Also, those who increased their fitness | | | | reported 5 children infected by salmonella typhimurium. |
| between ages 15 and 18 got better scores then those | | | | All 5 children had these frogs and all the frogs came |
| who decreased their fitness during those ages. In fact, | | | | from the same California distributor. In 2009 salmonella |
| the fittest 18-year-olds were likelier to achieve higher | | | | from African dwarf frogs sickened at least 85 people |
| educational and socioeconomic status later in life. | | | | - most under age 10 - and a third were hospitalized. |
| According to this study, exercise provides a stronger | | | | Supposedly these frogs sing. If so, parents should insist |
| future. | | | | they sing "Far Away". |