Image Map

Friday, November 5, 2010

Wake Up Call For Parents!

It's 8:00 am, do you know what's happening in your child's body? OK, disregard the time, I was just trying to get your attention. Actually, look at the time...and realize that it is never too late to start your child on the road to good health! People ask me all the time: "Iva, why do you do this? Why do you send all these messages about nutrition out? Why did you write a book about being healthy? Why?" I have a very simple answer for you. I love my kids. I love my kids and I know you love yours. We want the best for our children and shouldn't that include the best nutrition? Would you buy your teenager a car that you knew was unsafe? Then why feed him or her food that is unsafe?? I'm not even talking about GMOs or pesticides or any of that...yet. I'm talking about sugar, fat, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils...there is so much scary, scary stuff out there that is in our food and going into our children's bodies! If you think it has no effect on their health, you're wrong. Sorry to tell you, but you are just plain wrong. Just take a look at type 2 diabetes, alone.

Type 2 diabetes used to be called "Adult onset" diabetes because it usually hit in the mid 30's to 40's. There has been an incredible jump in the number of type 2 diabetes cases...and it's been in children. Yes, that's right, it is no longer adult onset - it's happening in our kids. Why is that important? What's the difference between type 2 and type 1?

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Type 1 diabetes (formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) results when the pancreas loses its ability to make the hormone insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the person's own immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Once those cells are destroyed, they won't ever make insulin again.

There is no way to prevent a child from getting type 1 diabetes, there is no known cause, it just happens.

Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes) is different from type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results from the body's inability to respond to insulin normally. Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, most people with type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin, but not enough to meet their body's needs.

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented! There are ways to safeguard your child from this dangerous disease! The Mayo Clinic suggests:

* Make sure kids eat a healthy diet. Encouraging your kids to eat low-fat, nutrient rich foods -- like whole-grain cereals and breads, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and lean proteins -- can help prevent excessive weight gain, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

* Limit sugary foods and beverages. Consuming lots of sugar-filled foods and beverages -- like sodas, juices, and iced teas -- also can lead to excessive weight gain.

* Encourage increased physical activity. Staying active and decreasing the amount of time spent in sedentary activities -- like watching TV or playing video or computer games -- can also reduce the risk of weight gain and help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Being active can be as simple as walking the dog or mowing the lawn. Try to do something that gets you and your kids moving every day.

So ask me again, why I write about health, why I tweet about nutrition, why I wrote a book about being healthy...I wrote it out of love for our kids.
 

Blog Design By Lucky Girl Design Studio © All Rights Reserved.