All about children's health

5 Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle for Kids

With the continuing change that the world is experiencing, more and more children from all over the world are suffering from a case of obesity. This is brought about by the lifestyle change that progress demands. It has never been more important for parents and guardians alike to make sure their kids have a healthy lifestyle. Obesity, if not addressed can cause serious health problems in childhood and later in life. Children will benefit physically, mentally, socially and academically from a healthy lifestyle of proper nutrition and exercise.

But what benefits exactly does a healthy living have on children? What good does a healthy lifestyle give? There are actually a lot of benefits a healthy living brings, but I'll be mentioning five (5).

1. A child who eats right and exercises regularly will have a physically healthy body that can lower risk from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and more. These conditions are usually associated with obesity.

2. Aside from physical health, a healthy lifestyle will also provide mental health. Proper diet and exercise helps children handle mental challenges well. A healthy lifestyle provides better sleep at night and more energy to make children feel better mentally. It can also lessen depression.

3. Healthy kids also benefit socially. Physically active and healthy kid usually has high self-esteem and will help him make friends easily. Kids who join sports or other physical activities are more likely to make friends than those who stay in front of the TV and computer.

4. Healthy kids are also more likely to benefit emotionally. They'll have high self-esteem because they feel better about their appearance physically. They'll also be more confident in themselves in socializing with other children.

5. Lastly, kids who have healthy lifestyle benefit academically. Children who eat properly, exercise regularly, and get ample sleep have the physical and mental energy to deal with academic challenges daily. They are also able to retain their lessons well than kids who have unhealthy lifestyle.

These are just some of the benefits that children who have a healthy lifestyle experience. It's important for parents and guardians to monitor and guide their children to live healthy. If not addressed properly, children will feel suffer serious health problems because of obesity. As they say, prevention is always better than the cure. So a child who is healthy will live a better life than those who are not.

My name is Zero Carter. I'm an internet marketer who enjoys doing research online.

Childhood Obesity Dangers

There are many causes for childhood obesity, but the most prominent cause is obesity in parents. When parents are obese their children are already exposed to the idea of obesity being okay, meaning they won't consider it odd to over eat and become much larger than anyone else their age. This predisposition to food is very bad for a child, and most of the time results in childhood obesity, which is much more dangerous than obesity in adults.

Studies have proven that if children are obese then they will more than likely also be obese when they're older. Working to not be obese is something children will struggle with for a long time if they're used to being overweight, but it's always better for them to be of standard weight for their age. There are many health problems associated with childhood obesity, some occur mentally and some physically.

The first health problems caused by childhood obesity will be psychological. These problems can be cause by bullying at school by piers or even by family members. It's well-known that children often gang up on others with an obvious weakness, and weight is an obvious weakness that many children have. This bullying can cause serious psychological damage in the form of paranoia, and can even lead to eating disorders like anorexia, having the opposite effect of the childhood obesity and causing even more problems.

Diabetes is a big problem for those suffering with obesity. Diabetes is a condition where people have high blood sugar as a result of their body not producing enough insulin, or the insulin it is producing having no effect on the level of blood sugar there is. This is a serious condition which can lead to the loss of a foot and permanent damage of someone's sight if people aren't careful.

Cancer is another well-known result of childhood obesity. Cancer kills thousands of people every year, and no matter how much research is made into treatments, the best cure for cancer caused by obesity is prevention of the obesity itself. If parents make the effort to help their children lose the weight, maybe by losing their excess weight themselves, then they might well save their child's life.

A final, but not the final, result of childhood obesity is cartoid arteries. This is the process of the arteries aging by as much as thirty years due to the higher levels of cholesterol in the body. Exercise and a good diet are the best cures for this and more health conditions childhood obesity causes.

Chris Backman was worried when he research childhood obesity for this article, as he was very worried for his children, even though they are a healthy weight. Using soft play centres is something Chris does with his children anyway, but now he is more aware of why he must use them.

The Healthiest Foods You Can Get for your childrens

The following is a list of the healthiest foods that you can get. This will help you get an idea as to what foods are the best for your body.

Fruits

-Apricots
Apricots contain Beta-carotene which helps to prevent radical damage and also helps to protect the eyes. A single apricot contains 17 calories, 0 fat, and one gram of fiber. You can eat them dried or soft.

-Mango
A medium sized mango packs 57 MG of vitamin C, which is nearly your entire daily dose. This antioxidant will help prevent arthritis and also boost your immune system.

-Cantaloupe
Cantaloupes contain 117 GG of vitamin C, which is almost twice the recommended dose. Half a melon contains 853 MG of potassium, which is nearly twice as much as a banana, which helps to lower blood pressure. Half a melon contains 97 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 2 grams of fiber.

-Tomato
A tomato can help cut the risk of bladder, stomach, and colon cancers in half if you eat one daily.
A tomaton contains 26 calories, 0 fat, and only 1 gram of fiber.

Vegetables

-Onions
An onion can help to protect against cancer. A cup of onions offers 61 calories, 0 fat, and 3 grams of fiber.

-Broccoli
Broccoli can help protect against breast cancer, and it also contains a lot of vitamin C and beta- carotene. One cup of chopped broccoli contains 25 calories, 0 fat, and 3 grams of fiber.

-Spinach
Spinach contains carotenoids that can help fend off macular degeneration, which is a major cause of blindness in older people. One cup contains 7 calories, 0 fat, and 1 gram of fiber.

Grains, beans, and nuts

-Peanuts
Peanuts and other nuts can lower your risk of heart disease by 20 percent. One ounce contains 166 calories, 14 grams of fat, and over 2 grams of fiber.

-Pinto beans
A half cut of pinto beans offers more than 25 percent of your daily folate requirement, which protects you against heart disease. Half a cup contains 103 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 6 grams of fiber.

-Skim milk
Skim milk offers vitamin B2, which is important for good vision and along with Vitamin A could improve allergies. You also get calcium and vitamin D as well. One cup contains 86 calories, o fat, and 0 fiber.

Seafood

-Salmon
All cold water fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna are excellent sources of omega 3 fatty acids, which help to reduce the risk of cardiac disease.
A 3 ounce portion of salmon contains 127 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 0 fiber.

-Crab
Crab is a great source of vitamin B12 and immunity boosting zinc. A 3 ounce serving of crab offers 84 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 0 fiber.

Source : http://www.my-childrenshealth.com

Healthy Food Choices

Eating healthy is something we all would like to do,
although it can be hard. In order to eat healthy, you
must first make the right food choices. Eating healthy
is all about what you eat, which makes the choices very
crucial to your results.

Grains
You should consume 6 ounces of grains per day. To do this,
you can eat 3 ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, rice,
crackers, or pasta. You can get an ounce of grains in
a single slice of bread, or 1 cut of cereal.

Vegetables
These should be varied, as you should eat 2 1/2 cups of
them each day. You should start eating more of the dark
vegetables, such as broccili and spinach. Carrots and
sweet potatoes are good as well. You should also eat
more dry beans such as peas, pinto beans, and even kidney
beans.

Fruits
Fruits are very important. You should try to eat 2 cups
of them each day. Focus on eating a variety, such as
fresh, frozen, canned, or even dried fruit. You can
drink fruit juices as well, although you should use
moderation when doing so.

Milk
Milk is your calcium rich friend. For adults, 3 cups
is the ideal goal. For kids 2 - 8, 2 cups is where you
want to be. When choosing milk products or yogurt, you
should go for fat-free or low-fat. Those of you who
don't like milk or can't have it, should go for lactose
free products or other sources of calcium such as fortified
foods and beverages.

Meat and beans
Eating 5 ounces a day is the ideal goal, as you should go
lean with your protein. When eating meat, always bake it,
grill it, or broil it, as this will prevent grease from
adding to the equation. You should vary your protein
as well, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts.

When cooking your food, you should also limit solid fats
such as butter, margarine, shortening, and lard. These
foods may add flavor to your dishes, although they can
also help raise your cholesterol as well. Therefore, you
should try to add these foods and any foods that happen
to contain them.

To help keep your saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium low,
you can check the nutrition facts label. This label can
be found on the food package and will tell you all the
information you need to know about the food item.

By picking your foods wisely and watching what you eat,
you'll help control your lifestyle. Exercise is great as
well, as it goes along perfect with a healthy eating
lifestyle. No matter what your age may be, eating healthy
will help you keep your active lifestyle for years and
years - even help you and your health in the long run
as well.

Healthy Eating For Students

For students, eating at college is an entire new
ball game, with late night pizza delivery and food
from buggies. Even though some of these quick and
simple options taste great, they are probably
not healthy for a student's body.

The food choices students make can affect whether
or not they are able to remain awake during class
and whether or not they will come down with
mononucleosis when it hits campus. The problem
is not only about eating junk food, it's more
about not getting the proper proteins, carbs,
vitamins, and minerals that people need.

When it comes to defending against illnesses,
vitamins and minerals are very important. Just
because they are important, isn't a reason for
students to run out and stock up on vitamins and
supplements. It's best for students to get their
nutrition from food.

You can find vitamin C in citric fruits, Vitamin
A in milk and diary products, and vitamin E in
nuts, whole wheat products, and even green leafy
vegetables. This is the ideal way to get
nutrition, as your body relies on these vitamins
for many reasons.

When you eat on campus, skip on the soda's and
go right to the juice machines. Explore the
different entrees available and go to the salad
bar where there are fresh vegetables. You can
also try putting some broccoli and cauliflower
in the microwave for steamed vegetables. There
are always healthy cereals and plenty of fresh
fruit available in dining halls as well.

Always remember that eating healthy isn't just
about avoiding greasy foods. Eating healthy
involves getting a balanced diet and getting the
right nutrients and vitamins to keep your body
in peak performance - or at least awake during your classes.

Solutions For Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity seems to be a problem with no solutions. There are countless seminars and conferences with doctors and obesity experts trying to come up with a solution. So far there are a lot of theories but no solid evidence what works. The fact remains children are getting bigger and bigger.

How about some common sense solutions for childhood obesity. That is what I am gong to outline here. First of all as a parent you are a role model whether you want to be or not. You have to act the part. Being healthy is a family affair. It can bring the family closer. Doing family outings together especially with exercise are fun and healthy. Some ideas are jogging, hiking and riding bikes together as a family.

Dinners should always be a family affair. Home cooked meals are the healthiest because you can control the ingredients used. Eliminate high amounts of fat from meats and butter. Only use natural healthy ingredients free of artificial colors and preservatives. Some things to watch out for that are listed in some ingredient lists are yellow 5, red 20, BHT and vitamin A palmitate. These are bad for young bodies and many are actually made from petroleum (oil). This puts a big strain on a child's body overworking the liver leading to childhood obesity. Only eat natural non processed foods. Desserts can be fruits mixed up in a bowl. Stay away from processed pre-made pies, cakes and candies.

Planning ahead is one of the best ways to eat healthy. Pack your child's lunches to include fruits, vegetables and low fat milk. If your children are old enough they can learn to pack their own healthy lunches. If you don't plan ahead your child will get into the situation where they get very hungry and end up eating whatever they can get their hands on which is usually junk food. Preparing the food ahead of time eliminates this.

The best way to ensure healthy eating for your children is to only buy food on the outer isles of the supermarket. This is where you will find fresh meats, seafood, poultry, milk, eggs, yogurt, fruits and vegetables. If you shop in these areas you will be eating natural food free of fillers and additives that are hard on your liver and that make it difficult to lose weight. This will also take temptation away as your children will only have a choice of healthy foods.

As you can see being a good role model, exercise, eating together as a family and planning ahead for meals are some simple common sense approaches for childhood obesity.

Jay Holt is a graduate from the University of Florida's nutrition college. Jay is a health and fitness advocate and has combined his literary aspirations with his love of nutrition.

His ability to see the world through a child's eyes is unequaled. His new book "Tommy the Tommy the Tomato Teaches Nutrition" is highly recommended by parents and educators everywhere (and kid-approved).

Source : http://www.my-childrenshealth.com

Choosing the Right Children's Health Insurance Plan

When it comes to heath insurance, there are quite a few options out there to choose from. This is especially true for children's plans because they tend to cover more things (like x-rays) than an adult plan because kids are accident-prone, and usually a lot healthier than adults too. However, this can mean that you have a higher premium or deductible if you choose medical insurance for children exclusively.

Of course you can invest in an affordable family plan to include yourself and your children on the same policy, but there are some legitimate reasons you might want to forego that option. For example if you happen to have any preexisting health conditions it might reflect in the cost of your insurance plan, and limit the things that are covered within it which can have an effect on the care of your children in the long run. You may simply not be able to afford a family plan but you are interested in at least getting your children covered.

No matter the reason, you will want to be sure that the children's health insurance plan you invest in covers everything from accidents on the playground to emergency x-rays that you might not have time to get permission from a primary doctor beforehand in order to get done. The beauty of most children's health insurance plans is that they're pretty flexible. This can come in handy for children with severe asthma problems, developmental delays, or are simply prone to accidents and ailments.

Look for policies that do not restrict a lot of coverage because of preexisting conditions as this can really limit the kinds of coverage that your child is eligible for when the need for medical care arises. There is nothing worse than taking a child to the hospital only to learn that your insurance will not cover the visit and you now have to come up with a few hundred dollars (if not more) to pay the hospital off.

Easily avoid this by making sure that you understand exactly how to use a specific health insurance policy. This is why it's a good idea to take a few days to review any policies you are interested in before you commit to one. If you don't understand any aspect of the policy it is usually pretty affordable to have a lawyer go over each policy with you to ensure that you are comfortable with the decision that you make.

Healthy eating for children's

Fast food is a big part of modern life these days,
making it very hard to teach a child how he or she
should eat healthy. The cheapest and easiest foods
are those that are normally the least healthy. If
you give your child the choice between healthy food
and junk food, you normally won't like the results.

Even though it isn't possible to get a child to like
all healthy foods, there are some ways to get your
child to try and hopefully like at least a few of
them. You can be as creative as you like, as getting
kids to eat healthy foods can be a little harder than
you may think.

- Sneak the healthy food in.

Even though it would
be great if your kid understood the importance of
fruits and vegetables, this isn't always possible.
If you can't get them to eat good food willingly,
there are ways to sneak them in, such as making
muffins out of bananas or apples, or pizza with
spinach on it.

- Call fruits and vegetables by funny names.

You can refer to broccoli as "trees", making them
more fun to eat. There are many different names
you can call fruits and vegetables, even making up
your own if you prefer. Most kids prefer to eat
foods that sound fun.

- Make the foods taste better.

Ranch dressing is
great for broccoli, while peanut butter is a great
topping for celery. There are several combinations
for vegetables that can make them taste much
better. You can let your child pick a topping
for a vegetable, even if it's something you wouldn't
normally like yourself.

- Dress the vegetables up.

Just as much as calling
them names help kids eat healthy foods, making them
look funny also helps. You can do this by making
funny designs on the plate, or setting them up to
look like people. Although some parents don't like
their kids playing with their food, sometimes it
helps to get them to eat healthier.

There are several ways to make your kids eat
healthier, but to make them enjoy it also has to
be fun as well. This isn't always an easy task,
because kids normally don't like foods that are
good for them. It can however, be done with a bit
of creativity. Hopefully, doing this will help
your child develop a love of healthy foods for the
rest of their lives.

Children's health and fitness

Parents have a lot of responsibilities to their children. They have to provide food, shelter, clothing and love. In addition, they have to teach manners, how to tie shoes and how to use the potty. While parents do have a lot on their plates, they can't forget the importance of teaching their kids health and fitness.

It's very important that children learn at a young age about healthy eating and exercise. If they learn to love fruits and vegetables and enjoy being active as children, it will really help them the rest of their lives.

It can be easy for parents to get caught up in other things that they don't think about health and fitness. With work, errands, cooking, cleaning and just taking care of a child's need, it can seem that there is no time to devote to exercise or think about what kids are eating. After all, it's quicker to give your kids a processed snack or pick up fast food than it is to prepare a healthy snack or lunch.

Parents can use many excuses for not doing the right things. They're too busy, too tired, or they just don't know what to do or how to change. You can always find an excuse for not doing something. At some point, you just have to come to the realization that it's important and you have to find a way to make it happen.

Childhood obesity is a major problem and it's because too many parents make excuses. They don't take responsibility for their child's health. The easy route is to let your kids watch as much TV as they want. But the best thing for them is to make them turn of the TV and do something active. The same is often true for food.

First, parents should start educating themselves about health and fitness. Purchase more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds and stop buying a lot of processed snacks. Take 30 minutes out of your day to participate in some fun kids exercises with your children. If you do it with them, they are more likely to join in.

Teaching your kids about health and fitness is a conscious choice. It takes effort, but in the end it is well worth it. Show your kids that being healthy will help them feel better and live a long, happy life. As a parent, that is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

Remember that the reason to learn about health and fitness for kids is to give you skills and knowledge necessary to help your children become the healthiest people they can be. Download a free report with tips and instructions you need to get started quickly with fitness by visiting Kids Exercise and learn how to have fun while playing exercise games.

Source : http://www.my-childrenshealth.com