Huntingdon Pennsylvania Yoga Massage Health Wellness

Children’s Health

by

Brandy Siegler and Marlene Dunwoody

Wellness Specialists

Many children's health problems today are associated with poor diet, overexposure to pesticides, lack of essential vitamins and minerals, and poor indoor air quality and water quality. Some health problems that may be directly affected by these factors are chronic colds, bronchitis, ear infections, allergies, asthma, ADHD and ADD. It's no wonder that children have a hard time maintaining good health. Our children are being bombarded with nutrient-poor, processed food choices on a daily basis. Many of these products are "enhanced" with excess salt and sugar and contain artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors and preservatives.

The healthiest foods for children's growing bodies are the closest to nature. For example, fruits and vegetables should be in season and served fresh or lightly steamed. Frozen fruits and vegetables are the next best choice. Dark green and orange vegetables are very important for their nutritional value.  Whenever possible, select organically grown fruits and vegetables that are free from pesticide and herbicide residues. This is especially important for children. In 1989, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reported on a comprehensive 2-year study that showed, compared to adults, the average child receives 4 times more exposure to eight cancer-causing pesticides in foods. Therefore, it’s best to buy organic produce, whenever possible.

At least half of the grains eaten during the day should be whole grains. Whole grains contain the entire seed of the plant, also known as the grain kernel. Some examples include whole-wheat flour, bulgur, oatmeal, whole cornmeal, and brown rice.

Calcium and trace minerals are absolutely essential for growing healthy bones and teeth. Food sources include dark leafy green vegetables, milk and dairy products, and soy. According to the USDA, only about 14% of girls and 36% of boys ages 12 to 19 get the recommended daily amount of calcium, which is 1300 mg daily from ages 12-18 and 1000 mg daily at age 19.

Complete proteins are essential for growth and repair of all body tissues. Every cell in the body requires protein. Sources include meat, milk, cheese, eggs, fish, poultry, nuts, and many legumes including soy. If possible, buy meats, eggs, and dairy products from animals raised without hormones and antibiotics.

Children also need balance with their food consumption during the day in order to maintain energy. Breakfast needs to consist of complex carbohydrates and protein in order to keep children alert throughout the day. Hunger can cause restlessness, fatigue and headaches, making staying alert and energetic difficult. Wholesome nutrient-rich snacks should replace nutrient-poor, processed snack foods. Reduce or eliminate refined sugars.

These nutritional recommendations provide a basis for meeting nutritional requirements, avoiding deficiencies, and boosting immunity and the ability to resist infections. Vitamins and minerals are absolutely necessary for normal body function- including normal metabolism, growth, and development. This is so important in children's formative years when growth is so rapid.

Children's bodies need ample vitamins, minerals, and protein. Nature has provided us with an immune system that needs the support of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
If a child's diet falls short of being nutritionally complete on a daily basis, you may want to consider using a properly balanced vitamin/mineral supplement, a healthy protein supplement, and additional calcium. High-quality supplements can serve as insurance that a child is receiving the proper nutrients that he or she needs and can help your child stay well. All supplements that are consumed by both children and adults should be free of artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors, and preservatives. They should be as close to natural as possible and have ample amounts of the recommended percentage daily value for both vitamins and minerals. You may be surprised at the number of children's supplements that contain many artificial ingredients.

Clean water is also essential to good health. Purified bottled water or a quality, in-home water filtration system will provide your family with safe drinking water. Reverse osmosis water filtration systems are very good at removing pollutants, chemicals, and heavy metals such as lead, chlorine, and fluoride.

Indoor air quality is also important, especially for children with asthma, allergies and repeated colds and infections. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air quality inside your home can be several times worse than outdoor air. Some advanced air purifiers can remove pollen, pet dander, tobacco smoke, and mold from the indoor air, providing a clean breathing environment.

In summary, a well-balanced whole foods diet, clean water, clean indoor air, and nutritionally complete vitamin/mineral supplements help children grow optimally, feel their best, and resist common infections, allergies and other ailments.

For more information please join us for a Healthy Kids Hour Talk on Saturday February 25^th at 1:00pm at the Day’s Inn in Huntingdon. There will be a $3.00 investment to cover the cost of materials. We are parents sharing with parents what has worked for us. Hope to see you there!