Bloglander

Feeling gloomy? Put down the phone!
The Atlantic features a story in its September issue (also available online) on the perils of smartphones in the hands of teens and younger kids. The conclusions are grim: "Rates of teen depression and suicide have skyrocketed since 2011. It’s not an exaggeration to describe iGen [young people born between 1995 and 2012] as being on the brink of the worst mental-health crisis in decades. Much of this deterioration can be traced to their phones ... The results could not be clearer: Teens who spend more time than average on screen activities are more likely to be unhappy, and those who spend more time than average on nonscreen activities are more likely to be happy. There’s not a single exception. All screen activities are linked to less happiness, and all nonscreen activities are linked to more happiness."

Before throwing the phones into the lake, read about ideas for moderating screen time in InHealth.


Time to hit the books, parents
One this is clear: all this smoky air has curtailed our outdoor fun. While the kids reluctantly zero in on those summer reading assignments, parents can also learn some new tricks of the trade. Check out parenting books recommended by experts right here in the Inland Northwest in the latest issue of InHealth.


Should you take vitamin and mineral supplements?
Americans spend more than $30 billion on supplements each year, according to the latest research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many of those supplements aren't useful; some may even be harmful. But there are reasons to consider a supplement. The team at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter offers some advice.