Posts Tagged ‘children’s health’

Children’s health in America is changing. The sustained energy that seems to last the whole day is part of childhood. We equate childhood with physical performance and vitality.

CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS

The rate of chronic health conditions among children in America has increased from 12.8% in 1994 to 26.6% in 2006, for conditions such as obesity, asthma and behavior/learning problems, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

SUGAR

A day filled with sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, maltodextin, and other odd sweeteners will change the playing field. Toxic artificial colors and sweeteners combine to take the octane out of childhood.

EPIGENETICS

The study of epigenetics tells a story. The not so good news is that there is sufficient evidence that adult lifestyle can change the health of their future children. The same bad behaviors that can shorten your life can predispose your offspring to the same health risks. This can happen before they are conceived.

DNA

Children’s health is a measure of your history. Taking extra measures to protect your health helps ensure healthy offspring. The message is loud and clear everyday choices affect future generations.

Your DNA may not be your destiny, but your health habits may be the foundation of your child’s future.

GENES

In a remote area of northern Sweden a tiny population revealed how genes work.

In a place called Norrbotten, in the 19^th century, peoples lives depended on the harvest. There were years in the 1800’s where there was total crop failure and famine. In other years in the same time period when crops were abundant and people were able to gorge themselves for months.

In the 1980’s, Dr Lars Olov Bygren, a preventive-health specialist who is at the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, wondered what long term effects the feast and famine years might have had on children growing up in Norrbotten in the 19^th century. On them, on their offspring including their grandkids as well.

He took random sample of 99 individuals born in the Overkalix parish of Norrbotten in 1905 and used historical records to trace their parents and grandparents back to birth. By analyzing meticulous agricultural records, Byren and two colleagues determined how much food had been available to the parents and grandparents when they were young.

Bygren’s research showed that in Overkalix, boys who enjoyed those rare overabundant winters-kids who went from normal eating to gluttony in a single season –produced sons and grandsons who lived shorter lives. Bygren and his team controlled for certain socioeconomic variations, the difference in longevity was an astonishing 32 years. They also found significant drops in lifespan along the female line. This means the daughters and granddaughters of girls who went from a normal to a gluttonous diet also lived shorter lives.

Bygren showed that conditions in the womb affected the offspring’s health into adulthood. In 1986 Lancer published the first of two papers showing that if pregnant women ate poorly, her child would be at a significantly higher risk for cardiovascular disease

THE ANSWER

Bygren and other scientists have historical evidence that suggests powerful environmental conditions can leave an imprint on the genetic material in eggs and sperm. These genetic imprints can short-circuit evolution and pass along new traits in a single generation.

Patterns of how childhood chronic conditions have changed over time can be found in our lifestyles. The answer to obesity, asthma, behavior/learning problems, and metabolic syndrome has been found.

Childhood obesity affects health and that is critical when looking at this epidemic.

Obesity

Overweight children are at risk of developing adult conditions at a young age.

Genes

A parent’s job is to turn on their child’s longevity genes. This is done by neutralizing today’s lifestyle.

Parents

Parents have busy lifestyles, and it seems that fast food solutions are the norm. However, it can wind up being costly and time consuming in the long run. Sedentary children who consume a high junk food diet are not only on there way to developing atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, they also will need prescriptive drugs at a younger age.

We can go on and on about the culture’s influence on eating habits which are seen on TV network advertisements in the form of junk food ads. 

As a result of all these influences one in three children is overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Facts

The fact is overweight children are at risk of developing serious and costly health conditions that are usually seen in middle aged adults. The Center For Disease Control (C.D.C.) study found that 22 percent of overweight (and 43 percent of obese) young people had, abnormal blood lipid levels with high triglycerides, a known risk factor for heart disease.

If this is our culture’s way to save time and money by fast food purchases they are making a big mistake. This is the junk food generation that can bankrupt our nation. 

The fact is obesity is expensive, for the parent, child, and country.

Intervention

Intervention has to begin in the home. The food manufactures don’t have the incentive that the family has. For the faux food industry it is all about profit. For the family it is about raising healthy children. That means making wise choices about what is served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. What goes on the grocery list and the table is one of the most important elements in your child’s life.

Comprehensive weight-loss programs for children are scarce. It is up to parents to begin their own intervention program. Making changes are not expensive and pay off big time.

“The family is the underutilized weapon in the fight against childhood obesity,” said Dr. David Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children’s Hospital Boston.

Get Nutritional Advice

To change your family’s food habits, get good nutritional advice. The reason that this has become a learning process is because of all the misinformation put out for public consumption.

Children will tend to mimic what they see the adults around them do. This means to be a good role model includes what you stock your pantry with. The food industry is not as interested in your children’s health, as it is in successful ad campaigns. It is wise and prudent to seek the counsel of someone well versed in nutrition.

It is next to impossible for children to change eating habits if the rest of family is not changing their way of eating. When children eat better they have more energy for activities that are part of a healthy lifestyle.

A Child’s Health Begins with the Parent

That is why the L.E.A.N. Start Program is so effective. The parents go thought the learning process with the child, in an interactive and fun way.  This program was developed by one of the most highly respected pediatricians in America, Dr. William Sears.

Kathy Bee is a nutrition/lifestyle educator who is a certified coach for the L.E.A.N Start Program.

Children’s health programs that presents the healthiest diet are a challenge. For this to work the whole family has to change their lifestyle. It is one that consists of the highest quality of food, the optimal activity level, and an optimistic outlook on life. Referring to the consequential damages of a poor lifestyle it is easy to show the link between diet and health. 

What to Eat

Diets rich in Omega-fats are associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease. When we refine oils from plants, we are consuming a high omega-6 diet. Refined vegetable oils, high in Omega-6 fatty acids changed the way our bodies function. It causes our body to malfunction, and causes inflammation, poor skin quality, such as dry skin, increased oxidation.

Omega-3 fatty acids are an immune-enhancer. Whole foods are the source of Omega-3 fatty acids. It is found in small amounts in plant foods. The most abundant forms come from fish, but also from grass fed beef.

The colorful fruit and vegetables contain for vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants. Low glycemic foods are better in controlling sugar levels.

Exclusions

What seems like limitations are what will provide lifelong health. By reducing these substances you avoid most chronic conditions. At the same time you slow down the aging process. This is a bold defense strategy that works. By eliminating most pre-packaged foods you are cutting down on most of the elements that shouldn’t be in our diet.

This includes the artificial colors and flavors, sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, high percentage of omega-6 fatty acids, and preservatives.

Program

There are very creative and helpful programs that understand that learning, behavior, energy, attitude, health and happiness are tied to food and physical activity.

Once your habits are ingrained it is harder to change. However, it is a responsibility to both yourself and your family.

The L.E.A.N program that Kathy Bee will be talking about is one of the best places to start. It is a program developed by Dr. William Sears America’s pediatrician. This program realizes that a children’s health program begins with the parent. 

“The best gift you can give a child is the gift of health” Dr. Sears