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.
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..Glucosamine is readily produced in the human body and is... Read More
Looking for an easy and natural way increase your vitality... Read More
I first learned of Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) in... Read More
Zingiber officinale has been held in the highest regard by... Read More
One must always keep in mind that copper is not... Read More
Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More
Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More
Nutrition is extremely important for any young person, especially an... Read More
The Zone Diet has been around since around 1995, when... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More
If you're looking for a power-packed entr?e or soup to... Read More
Hi Readers,My message today is simple short and perhaps blunt... Read More
Ambrotose? - the Nutritional Alphabet of the "Sweet Language of... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
In today's world, there's a definite need to be proactive... Read More
Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More
The Health and Nutrition Industry has come about as peoples... Read More
Picture yourself in one of the following scenarios.You're cruising along... Read More
Water is the single most important element for human existence,... Read More
Cholesterol finds its way into our bodies in two main... Read More
What is the Atkins diet and how can it help... Read More
If you are like most people, you are probably confused... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..The adrenal or "stress glands" are small, triangular shaped glands... Read More
We all need fat in our diet on a daily... Read More
Most red and white meats are very fatty and are... Read More
High Fructose Corn SyrupBefore we get to high fructose corn... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to... Read More
Sugar intake is a real concern for people who've had... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
How often do you pick up items at the grocery... Read More
The topic of nutrition is one that is always present... Read More
Beverages - and not just alcohol - are a significant... Read More
(ARA) - By now you probably think you've heard all... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
Ambrotose? - the Nutritional Alphabet of the "Sweet Language of... Read More
LIFESTYLE WELLNESS = An Adventure of Health + Vitality!Not a... Read More
Do you need omega 3 fatty acid in your diet?... Read More
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
During the past thirty years there has been a steadily... Read More
Female and male athletes respond to training in a fairly... Read More
Water is the most abundant substance in the human body.... Read More
I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determination weakens... Read More
Here's something you probably don't know. The fruit and vegetables... Read More
Are you sick and tired of the confusion about our... Read More
Creating Your Target is easy.What I use to help create... Read More
When we think about the benefits of being ensuring a... Read More
Nutrition |