Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Is childhood obesity dangerous?


Absolutely!
Childhood obesity is at an all time high. It makes you wonder what’s
happening to the kids in our community and what can we do about it.

Research shows that type 2 diabetes (adult onset) is closely linked to those that are
overweight or obese. This used to be a disease associated with adults, but its
prevalence has increased dramatically in children and adolescents. In 2000, 28% of
children age 6-19 years of age in the US were overweight (nearly tripling the totals
from 1980-2000). By 2004, the statistic rose to 33.6%. Overweight adolescents have
a 70% chance of becoming overweight, or worse yet, obese adults. That’s almost 3 of
every 4 children!

Without a change, these children become overweight or obese adults who not only
risk getting type 2 diabetes, but various other health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, orthopedic problems, and some forms of cancer.

Do these diseases sound familiar? So much of our health is under our control. These are lifestyle diseases, so change your lifestyle! It’s important to lead by example, as your children will take on your habits. And unhealthy habits not only affect physical health but emotional health as well.

Start living a healthier life today and change your tomorrow!


FREE natural health reports at www.YostFamilyChiropractic.com
Written by Dr. Heather Yost
Urbandale Living Magazine – March 2010

What foods should I feed my children?

The link between the food kids eat and their health and well‐being is widely recognized today. And when it comes to the health and happiness of our children, I think that all parents will agree that only the very best will do.

Nutrition can be a confusing subject and many parents wonder where to start. Since diet is crucial to the health of our children, we should not rely upon processed foods from jars and boxes. There is nothing better for your child than home‐cooked meals made from fresh ingredients. And the good news is, that cooking doesn’t have to be time‐consuming or complicated. The key is to choose your 4‐5 recipes for the week ahead of time, make a grocery list, and make meals in bulk so you can freeze extras.

Make sure to pack your meals with fruits and vegetables. Researchers estimate that a diet filled with fruits and vegetables instead of unhealthy fats and refined foods, combined with increased exercise, could reduce the occurrence of cancer by at least 30%. Who doesn’t want those statistics for their child? The more colorful the food, the more nutritious it is. Choose spinach over regular lettuce, sweet potato over an ordinary potato, and go for the brightest peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and fruits you can find.

Pick recipe books that help you make nutritious and easy meals. Some of my favorites are as follows: First Meals by: Annabel Karmel (too much dairy.. just alter recipes), Crazy Makers by: Carol Simontacchi, Feed Me I’m Yours by: Vicki Lansky, and Growing Healthy Families by: Holistic Moms Network.

Remember to give your children the very best start possible and start their day with nutritious foods!

For more information and opportunities to learn more, contact us at Yost Family Chiropractic.
Written by Dr. Heather Yost
Provided for Urbandale Living Magazine (April 2010)