Dr. Christine Wood, M.D, a practicing pediatrician in Encinitas, California, is the author of How to Get Kids to Eat Great & Love It!, offers some sound advice about developing healthy eating lifestyles for your family.
Here's what Dr. Wood has to say. Today almost one out of three children in the United States is either overweight or borderline overweight and is likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, Dr. Wood warns that these obese children may not live longer than their parents ? a depressing thought!
What's causing this trend? Simply stated, Dr. Wood suggested too many calories and too little activity, although it is more complex than that. The mainstream media is marketing fast food and sedentary activities to our children. Consequently, here are some of their unhealthy options:
* Easy access to fast food for stressed out parents.
* Schools offer sodas and candies in their vending machines.
* Children are increasingly exposed to inexpensive, processed food choices.
* Since the introduction of cable TV and remote controls, Game Boy, home personal computers, among other things, more sedentary options are available than ever before.
* Food companies are taking advantage of the time children spend in front by marketing directly to them.
The bottomline, obviously, is that our children are not getting the nutrition and exercise they need. So, what are parents to do? Dr. Wood offers the following suggestions:
* Examine the foods that are brought into the home for their nutritional value.
* Understand how to read nutrition labels.
* Set limits on media and sedentary activities. Encourage family interaction: Does your child really need to have a TV and/or PC in his room?
* Decide, as a family project, the healthy menus and healthy choices of restaurant to frequent.
* Become actively informed in your child's school so that the PTA and School Board may learn about your concerns regarding food choices.
If we don't make some changes, the trends of today predict that our young children will be at high risk for obesity and obesity-related health risks like heart attacks, strokes, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Encouraging good eating habits and physical lifestyle in our children starts with us, the parents. This includes introducing a quality nutritional supplement program with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that are necessary protection for our children as they face more nutritional and environmental challenges than ever before.
Remember: When you are maximizing your family's health potential, we everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.
? Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW
PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required. Email: eagibbs@ureach.com.
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: "... helping you maximize your potential." For more information and a free health assessment, go to eagibbs@ureach.com.
maide service in Park Ridge ..There are so many topics to discuss which affect our... Read More
Beverages - and not just alcohol - are a significant... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
Food nutrition factsFinding food nutrition facts and dietary nutrition used... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
Calcium helps reduce constipationUsing calcium and magnesium in the right... Read More
Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, is a member of the... Read More
First of all you have to have a bucket. You... Read More
For all I prefer to buy my fresh produce at... Read More
In today's world, there's a definite need to be proactive... Read More
People want to get the very best they can when... Read More
You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to... Read More
Although you may have heard about soy and all of... Read More
Since 1994, food manufacturers have required the Food and Drug... Read More
The Health and Nutrition Industry has come about as peoples... Read More
Following a diet program of any sort can sometimes be... Read More
After we have eaten a meal -- and often we... Read More
When we think about the benefits of being ensuring a... Read More
The secret of success is knowing how to deal with... Read More
When Helen Boardman was still a girlish 99, she fell... Read More
Modern life can be stressful. There are so many concerns... Read More
Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More
Summer brings a lot of fantastic things with it, but... Read More
New studies bring to our attention that high levels of... Read More
There seems to be fairly poor tracking by any formal... Read More
after renovation cleaning Highland Park ..You say you don't know what glyconutrients are? You are... Read More
Proper hydration is extremely important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake... Read More
Just as our country is currently engaged in a war... Read More
Because I believe diet and exercise are so important, I'm... Read More
While oxygen is the key to human survival, it is... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
You may have noticed an ever-expanding choice of oils at... Read More
Instead of Butter: Use top quality, cold pressed, extra virgin... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
The subject of health care itself often seems plagued with... Read More
Eating orange mean absorbing vitamin C to our body, is... Read More
Essential Fatty Acids are oils, omega-3 and omega-6, that you... Read More
I first learned of Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) in... Read More
Fire ElementAccording to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five... Read More
Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what... Read More
These are questions we have to ask ourselves? because after... Read More
The word herb is used to refer to any part... Read More
Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet,... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
The makers of Bumble Bee Tuna generated some buzz today... Read More
In this newsletter we will discuss the current controversy about... Read More
With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More
People who consume too much alcohol have good chance of... Read More
One must always keep in mind that copper is not... Read More
Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules are a nutritious, all-natural alternative... Read More
Nutrition |