A recent study was attempting to determine a possible link between high levels of the brain chemical serotonin and aggression/anger. Instead, researchers stumbled upon an unexpected discovery.

In the study, mice were genetically engineered to overproduce serotonin. Most of the mice died at an early age because they were unable to regulate their body temperature and heart rate. The finding led researchers to believe that an overproduction of serotonin could be responsible for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. SIDS, otherwise known as crib death, is one of the most common causes of death in children between the ages of 1 and 12 months old.

The studies findings support previous research which linked SIDS to abnormal production of serotonin.

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It isn't surprising that pregnant women are supposed to eat healthfully. Good nutrition will help a baby develop properly. But did you know that poor nutrition can not only negatively effect a baby's development, but it can also cause long-term damage?

A study by the Royal Veterinary College and London's Wellcome Trust, shows that when pregnant rats are fed fatty, processed foods during pregnancy, their offspring have high levels of fat in their bloodstream and around major organs -- even into their teenage years.

Fat gathered around internal organs has been linked to development of type II diabetes. Male rats tended to have higher insulin levels and normal blood sugar, while female offspring tended to have low insulin, high blood sugar, and tended to be more overweight.

While further research is obviously necessary, this is just one more link between healthy diet and a healthy life.

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Vitamin D is critical for bone health and also plays a role in immunity. But many US infants and toddlers aren't getting enough vitamin D. According to research from the Children's Hospital in Boston, a full 40% aren't getting the appropriate amount of vitamin D.

Breast milk doesn't contain high quantities of vitamin D, so if you're breastfeeding your infant ask your doctor if supplementing the vitamin is a good idea. Toddlers can benefit from vitamin D-fortified milk. Perhaps the best source of vitamin D is sunlight. While it's, of course, important to protect your child's skin, some exposure to sunlight is healthful as it triggers the production of vitamin D in the body.

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My nephew was born nearly nine weeks premature. It was a scary time for the whole family, but, in some ways, we were lucky. He had trouble breathing and had to be on a ventilator for a while. And, when he was able to start eating from a bottle (several weeks after birth), he had trouble swallowing and often choked. But, frightening as that was, his complications could have been much worse. We were able to visit him in the neonatal intensive care unit and hold him almost as often as we wanted. Other babies weren't so fortunate and had to spend almost all of their time in incubators.

A Canadian study revealed that, even for babies born as early as 28 weeks, cuddling is important. The skin-to-skin contact with loved one, particularly parents, provides comfort, reduces the infant's stress, helps them cope with medical procedures, and enhances attachment.

The study followed babies born between 28 and 31 weeks. Researchers performed a heel prick test (a common test for testing blood sugar) on babies that were being actively cuddled and babies that were not being touched. The pain response in those that were being cuddled and reassured was much less and their stress washed away more quickly.

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According to a recent study, babies who were breastfed exclusively for at least the first three months of life scored higher on IQ tests at age six than children who weren't breastfed exclusively. Previous research has shown that breastfed babies had enhanced thinking, learning, and memory abilities.

Researchers aren't exactly sure what the link between breastfeeding and IQ is. It could be a nutrient in breast milk -- perhaps the amino acids or cholesterol that's found in breast milk but not in formula. Or it could be the attachment-inducing act of breastfeeding.

The researchers of this study recommend breastfeeding exclusively for at least three months, though six months to one year may have added benefits.

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Exercising with strollers is the new fitness craze in Sydney, Australia. It can be difficult for new moms to find time to exercise. Many don't want to leave their child with a sitter so they can get a work out in and it's a bit difficult to tend to your baby while exercising. Stroller work outs are a win-win situation -- they give new moms a great way to work out and have their baby safely with them. Plus, the classes are a good opportunity to get outside and meet other new moms.

Strollercize classes are held all over the US and Canada. If you're a new mom and you're looking for a fun way to get back to your pre-baby weight, try to find a class near you. It's a fun, safe, and entertaining way to get fit.

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The title of this post sounds like the title of made-for-TV movie. But it's fact. A baby boy was mistakenly sent home with the wrong family. The mistake happened in March at Heartland Regional Medical Center in southern Illinois. Upon realizing the error, hospital workers immediately contacted the families. Though they were not required to do so, the hospital reported the incident to state authorities.

I don't know how, in today's day and age, an error like this could occur. When people I know have given birth recently there are alarms on the maternity ward, infants and their parents wear matching bracelets, and photo IDs are taken of the children. In addition, unless there are medical issues, infants usually stay with their parents more now than in the past. At the time of writing, Heartland Regional Medical Center's web site isn't responding, so I'm not sure what their internal policies are.

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Japanese researchers have determined that the softening of the skull bones in newborns to due to a vitamin D deficiency in the womb. Otherwise referred to as craniotabes, the softening of the skull bones is largely considered a normal condition in newborns, particularly in premature births. It occurs in roughly 1/3 of all newborns. The researchers of the current study suggest that it shouldn't be treated so lightly, however. They point to evidence that craniotabes can be associated with type 1 diabetes, reduced bone mass, and lowered immunity.

Vitamin D production is stimulated by sunlight; the recent research uncovered that the majority of the newborns with craniotabes were born in April and May. The lowest number were born in November. Researchers surmise that the mother's exposure to sunlight approximately 4 months prior to delivery influences the condition. High incidence of craniotabes was also present in breast-fed infants.

Researchers suggest that infants with craniotabes be treated with vitamin D and that pregnant women should be sure to get healthy amounts of vitamin D. If you're pregnant, don't take any supplements without your physician's advice. But there are plenty of natural sources of vitamin D. Go for a walk during peak sunlight hours and drink milk or orange juice that's fortified with vitamin D. Also many types of fish are rich in vitamin D (but be careful of mercury which can be harmful during pregnancy) and some cereals are fortified with vitamin D.

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14 over-the-counter cold medicines made for infants are being recalled from shelves as of this week, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

The reason for the voluntary recall stem out of what the group called an "an abundance of caution." However, all products being recalled are safe when used as directed. So, then -- why the recall?

Well, you can't dictate intelligence apparently, since there has been "rare patterns of misuse leading to overdose" with these products. While that is not hard to decipher, should we recall all products that end up being misused? that would shut down a good part of the economy, yes?

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The first few paragraphs of this recent article in The New York Times are interesting, and after that it gets really scary. The interesting part has to do with how science is discovering that seemingly minuscule environmental and physical issues can have permanent affects on infants, some good and some bad. Like did you know that the temperature of your home can affect how many sweat glands your baby develops? And appetite and metabolism are affected in similar ways by how and what the baby is exposed to in terms of hormones and nutrients?

So here's the scary part: Having discovered that things can be changed and manipulated like this, scientists are working on creating an "anti-obesity baby formula." The idea is that a baby's eating habits, metabolism, and propensity to gain weight could be modified in the developmental stages, thereby creating an adult who could essentially eat whatever they wanted and not end up overweight.

Wow, seriously? This is taking things too far people -- get a grip.

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When celebrities have babies and seem to almost instantly snap back into beautiful celebrity shape, do you find it inspiring or depressing? Or maybe frustrating is a better word for it, since it seems like they're somehow achieving the impossible.

If you're experiencing frustration in getting your pre-pregnancy figure back, like maybe progress is slower than you'd like, then take a look at this article from WebMD. It's full of great advice on how to be successful (patience and diligence is key) and gives a little dose of reality when it comes to just why and how celebrities are able to do what they do -- saying it's really not even all that healthy sometimes.

And also be sure to check out our own Jennifer Jordan's journey in our weekly That's Fit feature Fit Mama!

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Although there's no doubt that the organics and "green living" industry is growing by leaps and bounds, it seems one of the biggest growth areas is anything related to babies -- be it baby food, baby clothes, baby diapers, or even cleaning products for baby's room. It seems one of the biggest incentives for people to switch to a greener lifestyle is having a baby -- so much so it's earned the name "baby organics."

There is no proof that adopting an organic approach with your children actually makes a difference in their health and wellness, but it certainly doesn't hurt anything either. Limiting your baby's exposure to chemicals, even if they're only potentially harmful, definitely seems like a good way to go.

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How much you weighed at birth may still be having an effect on your life, specifically in how successful and healthy you are as an adult. This information comes from a good sized study that looked at more than 12,000 people over a period of 35+ years. The findings show that people who weighed less than 5.5 lbs. at birth are one-third more likely to drop out of high school, make an average of 15 percent less income each year, and have the health of someone over 40 years old when they're only in their thirties.

There are all kinds of theories out there on why this is, the most popular one linking low-income parents and poor prenatal care to low birth-weight outcomes, which in turn means the child is at increased risk due to being raised in an underprivileged environment. What do you think? Is this true?

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As stressful and tense as work is for most of us, you'd think massages would be more common. I'm sure it doesn't help that there are so many different kinds available, or that it's a little intimidating to walk into a massage facility (usually a spa or healthcare setting) and try to figure out what exactly you want. And since they're not exactly cheap, it would really suck to end up with a style you didn't like.

But massages are getting more and more common, and these days massages aren't just for relaxing -- people are now seeking them out to treat health issues. Many people, including office workers and corporate leaders, are using massages as a treatment for repetitive strain injuries, chronic pain, and generalized discomfort related to too much time spent working at a desk and on the computer (not to mention stress). Patients are talking with their doctors about treatment options for these issues and doctors are actually recommending and prescribing massages. And as the pile of medical evidence grows in regard to conditions helped or relieved by massage, more and more insurance companies are stepping up to offer coverage. The proof? The number of people who reported having massages that were covered by insurance doubled (from 5% to 10%) between 2005 and 2006.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz. I'm five months pregnant with my first child and crunches don't feel comfortable anymore. I don't want to just ignore my abdominal muscles for another five months. I still walk, swim, and do some weight training though. Any suggestions on something I can do for my abs while I continue my pregnancy? Kristi

A. Congratulations Kristi! Motherhood is amazing and you are in for so much fun. Hooray for you! I'm thrilled to hear you're pursuing a fit pregnancy, as being a healthy home is one of the nicest things you can do for yourself and your teeny baby, and you are the home! From your question, I'm guessing you're interested in maintaining abdominal strength and not flat abs. (Which would be both dangerous and silly, by the way.) Very smart. Your back and abs work together to create stability, so you're wise to prioritize this issue.

I suggest that you pursue stability training which will engage your hips, back and abdominal muscles at the same time. Invest in two Versa Disks. These balance tools are very low to the ground and would be ideal for you to stand on while going through a variety of motions. You can even do some strength training with light weights if you feel uber comfortable doing so. LIGHT WEIGHTS. The good news with the Versa Disks is this....you can work your abs just trying to stand still on them. If you are of high-level fitness you can use a small medicine ball or other light weight to make it a bit more challenging.

Another neat exercise that will challenge your abs without requiring you to lie down on your back is something you can do with a cable system and lat pull bar, or tubing. Stand facing the lat pull bar with your knees slightly bent. Grab the bar with almost straight arms and pull it down toward your thighs. You'll have to engage your abs to go through this motion, as well as your lats. Choose a weight you can repeat at least 20 times.

Safety first always. Hate to call you 'fragile', but you do have to be extra cautious right now. If any exercise feels bad at all to you, stop doing it. You and your child's health comes first. Even if you had to ignore your ab strength for the next five months, you'd be able to regain it one your child is born. Good luck Kristi! I wish both well. Fitz

Q. Hi Fitz. I want to lose weight quickly. What weight loss drugs do you recommend.? Eddie

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