Infants, Children and Teenagers
Health and Nourishment Habits of Infants, Children & Teenagers
Researching the eating habits of 3000 Toddlers found that American Infants were eating the same Junk Food as their Parents. They are not eating Fruits or Veggies, but Junk Food, Soft Drinks and Candy's.
They found that:
Chips (American French Fries) are the most popular Vegetable eaten by Toddlers aged 19 to 24 months
About 25 % of Children were not eating any healthy Vegetables on the day of the Survey
Most of the Infants between 19 and 24 Months ate Sweets at least once a day
Infants seven months and older are given Soft Drinks in their bottles (see Tom's Story!Chapter Sugar)
The Researches blamed the Infants Bad Nourishment Habits on the Parents busy schedules and said that Parents have to eat healthier themselves and act as healthy role models for their children.
What is that saying: ‘The Apple seldom falls for away from the Tree.'
Another Study published in the American Journal of Public Health in August 2002:
Kids who drink sweet beverages:
- Have a high overall Calorie Intake
- Are less likely to eat Fruit
- Are at higher risk for Obesity
Eating habits from 500 Students were analysed from Grade 4 to 6. The Records were taken over a 3 to 7 day period.
The results of Children's Eating and drinking habits
50 % of there daily Liquid intake was made up from sweetened beverages.
Children with the highest consumption took in over 300 Calories more every day than children with lower intakes.
Those Children ate more than 60% less Fruit as those with the lowest sweetened beverage intake.
They speculated that the Level of sweetened Beverages consumption could be used as a marker for poor Nutrition habits and low fruit consumption.
In July 2004 Philadelphia, as the first time in History a City, has Banned Soft drinks in Schools Vending machines to fight Obesity and keep there students safe and healthy.
The National Soft Drink Association (Representative of most Soft Drink Manufacturers) expressed that they have concerns about obesity, yet don't feel a total ban on Soft Drinks is necessary.
The British Newspaper "The Times" published an article late 2005 stating that research had found out that the most fat/obese children of the world live in Scotland.
Due to Fast Food, Soft Drinks and lack of Movement Scotland as the land of frugality has left America and Australia behind and has the proportional fattest Children in the World.
Figures show that more than 56% of Australians are overweight or obese.
And a new Study also shows were our fattest Children live: They live at the Gold Coast!
Looking at all this I think it is shocking and irresponsible that parents are feeding their Toddlers and young Children with Junk Food and Soft Drinks without thinking about the damaging effect is has on their Health.
Everybody knows that you have to eat vegetables as they are good for you!
My biggest shock was when I found out that Chips (American French Fries) are classified as Veggies! For the 19 to 24 month old Children the most popular vegetable => as the Study above shows.
And it goes on they are 1/3 of the Vegetables eaten by Teenagers.
Now how on Earth can one of the most Toxic Foods be classified as Vegetables?
If you love your Children then give them Food that protects them, builds up a healthy Immune System and prevents them from Disease. Keep them away from those foods that overload their System with Health Damaging Toxins.
The Journal of the American Medical Association printed an article in December 2005 regarding the risk the youth of today are placing themselves in. This is due to the diet, exercise and lifestyle habits of the adolescents.
Health professionals have issued advice on the danger that these adolescents have a great chance of inheriting heart disease, Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, orthopaedic and gastrointestinal problems and are three times more likely to develop high cholesterol than their counterparts that partake in some form of exercise.
It is estimated that 31% of children in the United States are presently overweight or are in jeopardy of becoming this way.
It has also been calculated that up to 7.5 million adolescents worldwide are unfit.
Important for the health and also Concentration and Memory of our Children is also a sufficient amount of clean filtered Water (40ml/kg bodyweight).
Studies show that School kids do not drink enough water during school hours and playing sport. Teachers should not only allow their kids to take a water bottle to class but also motivate them to drink regularly during the class. Unfortunately most schools do not have good water filters as they seem to concentrate more on water bubblers and coolers.
Children feel and experience stress and face day to day pressure and can also find it difficult to deal with stressful situations. An aromatherapy bath can help to relax your Child and release tension built up during the day. Add one drop of Sandalwood pure essential Oil and one drop of Lavender pure essential Oil together with two cups of Lavender Bubbles into their bath water.
When your child falls sick the next time keep in mind that there are Natural Remedies available, as there is no need to give children pharmaceutical painkillers etc. (for example, Painkillers for Children).
The Seven Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity by the British Medical Journal
Up to 155 Million Youngsters worldwide are suffering from being overweight or obese! The susceptibility to gain weight begins as early as in the womb. This is why a child can develop habits by the early age of three which ensures them to suffer from weight problems. Studies of more than 9,000 children showed this by monitoring there growth from birth. Researchers devised a check list to warn parents of the early signs of obesity in there children. This should help to cut back the occurrence of childhood obesity.
The seven factors are:
1. Early Size
2. Early Body Fat
3. High Birth Weight (see also Vitamin D)
4. Having obese parents
5. Quick growth from age 1 to 2
6. Watching more than eight hours of TV a week
7. Getting less than 10.5 hours sleep per night
The resolution is easy:
Like most of the problems we can have in life - Preventing it is easier than treating it.
But the apple seldom falls far away from the tree - so you as a parent have to be a good example and live the way and your children will follow you. Educate your children towards a healthy life style with healthy eating (Stone Age Nutrition), motivate your children to exercise and get them to do outside activities, limited there TV time (No TV's in bedrooms!) and also limited the time for Video and Computer games.
It is also necessary to be aware of what kind of Computer games your children are playing and where they surf to in the Internet.
To make sure your Children develop to a healthy and happy adult they need on the one side all your love and support and on the other side the appropriate nutrients including all Vitamins, Minerals, Enzymes, Trace Elements, Proteins, Carbohydrates and Essential Fatty Acids.
