700 Children's® – A Blog by Pediatric Experts

Posts About Nutrition & Fitness

Posted by: Mike Patrick, MD on May 27, 2026

Botulism is a disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria produces a substance called botulinum toxin, which works at the cellular level, causing muscle paralysis.

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Starting an Exercise Program
If you don’t love exercise, you’re not alone—but finding activities you actually enjoy can make all the difference. Learn how to start small, build a routine that fits your life, stay motivated, and turn movement into something you look forward to.
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Homemade Baby Food: The Danger of Nitrates
Many parents want to make homemade baby food. And why not? But danger lurks in that good-looking meal, primarily in the form of nitrate contamination and botulism.

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Pediatric News You Can Use From America’s Largest Pediatric Hospital and Research Center

700 Children’s® features the most current pediatric health care information and research from our pediatric experts – physicians and specialists who have seen it all. Many of them are parents and bring a special understanding to what our patients and families experience. If you have a child – or care for a child – 700 Children’s was created especially for you.

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Latest Posts

Understanding the Dangers of Treadmills

Nov 01, 2016

Exercise equipment is commonly used to improve personal health and well-being and treadmills account for about 25% of exercise equipment purchased for home use. Previous studies have shown that the rate of treadmill-related injuries appears to be rising. Read More

Shoulder Injuries in Young Athletes

Aug 26, 2016

Shoulder injuries in young athletes are very common and can vary in cause and severity depending on each individual athlete’s training schedule and what sports they are playing. Read More

Healthy Eating for Young Athletes

Jul 29, 2016

Eating right is an important part of life for young athletes. Getting the proper nutrition before and after a workout, practice, or the big game is essential to helping kids prevent injury and perform at an optimal level. Read More

High-Fructose Corn Syrup and Fruit Juice: What You Need to Know

Jul 05, 2016

Fruit juice tastes good and is fun to drink. The key is to monitor and seriously decrease our intake, especially if obesity is a concern. Read More

Little girl drinking water.

It’s World Kidney Day! Celebrate and Raise a Glass…of Water!

Mar 10, 2016

Your kidneys are important bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. Think of your kidneys as the body’s garbage men. They filter and remove waste substances from our blood, including salts, toxins, and water. Read More

women reading back of bottle in store

How to Read Food Labels

May 06, 2015

Do you ever find yourself standing in the aisle of the grocery store pondering which products to choose? With so many options, it’s hard to know which foods are the most nutritious. Read More

girl with hat

Easy Ways to Prevent Seasonal Depression

Feb 03, 2015

When it’s cold it’s hard to get motivated and find ways to be active indoors. Most people tend to experience symptoms of seasonal depression during the winter months, or those who suffer from depression year-round report an increase during this time of year. Read More

The Pros and Cons of Homemade Baby Food

Oct 03, 2014

Commercial baby food is expensive, and many parents question the quality of ingredients in the jar. Homemade baby food provides convenience, flexibility and more choices. Read More