A Finnish study discovered that the bacteria found in a baby's gut may be an early predictor of future obesity. The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that babies with high amounts of bifidobacteria and low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus have a reduced risk of overweight and obesity. This study is in keeping with previous studies which determined that breast-fed babies are less likely to gain excess weight. Bifidobacteria, which seems to have a positive effect on weight control, is present in breast-fed babies.

The exact role the bacteria play in weight gain or weight maintenance is still unknown. But the correlation is strong. In the Finnish study, the bacteria mix was studied in children at birth, five times before age two, at age four, and, finally, at age 7. A majority of the children who maintained a healthy weight had higher levels of bifidobacteria and lower levels of S. aureus as babies than those kids who gained excess weight.

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The debate rages on with natural health supporters and practitioners who claim that natural breast feeding is much healthier for babies than commercially-produced formula.

Aside from health benefits, researchers in Sweden believe that breast feeding may also lead to less stress in those who are fed that way as babies.

9,000 kids from the UK to -- all born in 1970 -- were observed to provide researchers with the conclusions they were looking for. All were given a "anxiety level" rating by their childhood teachers. Parents were also asked about major life events such as divorce that happened when kids were between the ages of 5 and 10.

Although some non-surprising results were found, there was one surprise: striking differences were found in stress levels between kids who had been breast-fed and those that had been bottle-fed. One is a natural nutrition source connected to a mother: the other is an artificial device that mimics the breast. Which would you prefer as a baby?

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Do you believe that those kids who are breast fed actually end up smarter compared to those fed formula as babies? Well, not all breast fed babies end up smarter, but many do.

A new study gave credit to breast-fed babies being more smart to a very common gene that is found expressed in about 90 percent of the population.

In this case, the breast-fed babies who shared the gene with parents ended up outscoring bottle-fed peers in intelligence tests according to the research. The gene in question helps process fatty acids, which in turn assists the intelligence quotient of those kids who have it present.

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As Bethany reported yesterday, a Harvard law student has found it hard to try and breast feed her four month-old due to not being allowed extra breaks during tests to do just that.

A young mother with hopes of a career in medical research and with admission to one of the nation's most prestigious medical schools sounds like an oxymoron. But it's not -- and Sophie Currier has my vote for a few extra breaks to properly feed her infant.

Breast milk is really the only food needed by infants, although the process is much easier using packaged formulas and other non-mother products. The National Board of Medical Examiners stated that they would be altering the performance of the exam Currier is set to take if it allowed time for breast pumping and feeding of her daughter.

Apparently, no rules can ever be bent, regardless of situation. Some argue that the rules need to be the same for everyone, no matter the circumstances. Otherwise, abuse of the rules becomes rampant. But, is a mother needing to feed her baby an abuse of any rule? Hardly.

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Life is too short not to be fully "tuned in." The Daily Turn On! is designed to wake up your senses, all six of them: smell, taste, touch, hearing, sight and intuition! Everyday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will awaken your mind, your body and your life!

Did you know ... We all know that laughter is contagious, but there is more to that saying than you may think. According to a study published by PubMed (June 2007), mothers who laughed prior to breastfeeding (even several hours before) produced higher levels of melatonin. Not only does melatonin assist in relaxation, but it also helps in lessening the symptoms of eczema and the allergic reactions to dust mites and latex. (dust mites are everywhere!)

Of course, laughing is just as healthy for mom as it is for baby. Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California concluded from their many studies that laughter is truly the best medicine.

Research indicates that a good guffaw simulates the immune system and produces the following immediate results:

• An increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and even some types of cancer and tumor cells.
• An increase in activated T cells
• An increase in the immunoglobulin A, the antibody that fights upper respiratory infections
• An increase in gamma interferon which assists in increased immune function

Wouldn't it be great if everyone "tuned in" to they golden key of laughter as the best medicine? Ah, what a happier and healthier world it would be.

Turn On your senses ... Live a Fit Life!

The FDA has recently revealed that nursing mothers who are taking codeine may be putting their children at risk. Subsequently, moms who are taking the drug should be on the lookout for increased sleepiness and other signs of overdose in their children.

Fortunately the chances of a serious side effect are low, but the recommendations come in light of a 2006 incident, in which an infant whose mother had been prescribed the drug for episiotomy pain overdosed and died.

Side effects only occur in mothers whose bodies rapidly convert the the prescribed medication into morphine -- which can be deadly if it's consumed by babies via their mother's breast milk.

At first glance this may seem alarming, as codeine is commonly prescribed to new mothers -- but it's also important to remember that the condition causing the this rapid conversion of codeine appears in a very small percentage of the population.

As stated by one FDA official: "Our point is to pay attention."

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In an interesting baby welfare twist in China, the government there is now encouraging all new mothers to breast feed their babies. Why now, you ask? It's feared that the development of Chinese infants is lagging other babies in the world due to too much reliance on other types of infant food outside of normal breast feeding.

Additionally, the growing use of powdered formula is causing concern within China, even though many women there believe it's a more modern way of feeding a baby. Hint: it isn't -- it's quite the reverse.

The urgency, I think, stems from the death of 13 infants years ago that were linked to consuming fake formula (malnutrition was the cause). Fake products from China? Say it isn't so.

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After those first six months of breastfeeding (or formula), what is the best food you can provide to your baby? That question, which is extremely important, is not one that is easily answered. Are fresh fruits and vegetables the best choice? Or how about bottle Gerber baby food?

Adding complementary food items on top of breast milk at the latter portion of the first six months is considered a wise move -- but not just any food item. Rice cereal, veggies and other items like fruit that need to be seedless, peeled and in many cases, pureed.

This is common knowledge to many parents who have done the proper homework, but setting up the best nutrition that is palatable to the smallest infant is key to making a happy and healthy baby as well as provide the best tools for the most important development time for that new addition.

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Breast feeding an infant won't prevent them from becoming obese as a child, according to a new study that is refuting earlier conclusions from various U.S. medical and health officials.

Does breast feeding have an effect on adult obesity? Opinions on that subject vary, but this study's lead author states that "I'm the first to say breast-feeding is good. But I don't think it's the solution to reducing childhood or adult obesity."

The CDC in Atlanta has said before that breast-feeding is a way to reduce children's excess weight in later years, and has even set guidelines for federal chronic disease prevention grants to states call for breast-feeding promotion. This new study goes against all that, so I'm sure this won't be the last word we hear on this.

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As much as they may try, the makers of baby formula just can't simulate the real thing completely. In a new study coming out of London, data shows that babies who were breast fed have much better stereoscopic vision than babies raised on formula. The scientists think it's due to higher DHA levels in breast milk than formula, but interestingly the children who had DHA-fortified formula didn't do any better on the eye exams than those who took regular formula.

There's some kind of magic in breast milk, the kind only a mother can make.

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