0 Encourage Healthy Weight in Your Children

The Baylor College of Medicine has published a brochure to help families deal with issues of overweight in its younger members.

It discusses the causes of overweight in children and offers solutions that involve the whole family.

Its short, easy to read, and full of great tips, including:

• Plan parties and vacations around movement and play.
  
• When taking part in activities, emphasize fun, not skill.
  
• Don’t draw attention to healthy foods you’ve purchased.
  
• In restaurants or cafeterias - Choose smaller sizes, share side orders, set aside half of a restaurant dinner for lunch the next day.
  
• Don’t overly restrict sweets or treats—try “everyday” and “sometimes” foods.

And its available free online:

English version (pdf):
Your Childs Weight
Help Your Child with Successful Weight Management

Spanish version (pdf):
El Peso de Su Hijo
Ayude a su hijo a manejar su peso con exito

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Photo compliments of the Cincinnati Childrens Hospitals Young and Healthy magazine. It appears in the magazines "Ask Dr. Manfroy" column. Dr. Manfroys response to My overweight child seems to be losing interest in school and activities. Can you help me understand what’s going on? offers additional insight into the sensitive issue of overweight in children.

0 These characteristics of children with mental disorders

These characteristics of children with mental disorders - As a parent, you will immediately know if the physical state of the child was unwell. But what if the childs mental condition is not healthy? Signs of mental illness in children and adults is different. Theore you must be keen to see it for the health of your baby. The following symptoms of mental disorders in children reported by FoxNews:

• Hyperactivity: difficulty concentrating, can not be silent and unruly
• Changes in the school: poor grades, stomach pains and headaches, make excuses to not go to school, social, and behavioral changes
• Loss of interest in extra-curricular activities on a regular basis
• Changes in sleep: too much or not enough
• Eating and exercise: eating too much or not enough, too much exercise, taking laxatives.
• Increased mood swings, irritability, and often lethargic
• Often hysterical, crying and screaming with no obvious cause
• Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness
• Often feel anxious and fearful
• Destroying property, like hurting animals,
• Talk about death, do not want to live, and suicidal thoughts.

If your baby experience the above, do not immediately scolded. Approach him and immediately consult a psychologist.

0 Best Weight Loss Plan for Children

(Article first published as Addressing Childhood Obesity on Technorati.)

The sobering fact is that 1 in 3 children in America are either overweight or obese, placing them at risk for early onset diabetes, heart disease and even acid reflux. A sensible plan which leads to sustainable weight loss can prevent a lifelong battle with obesity and reduced self esteem.

According to a report in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, childhood obesity increases the incidence of gastric reflux by up to 40%. Reflux disease can lead to decreased quality of life, chronic respiratory conditions and increased risk of cancer of the esophagus.

Excess weight in children is linked to many of the same causes as adults. Too many poor quality calories, insufficient exercise and over consumption of food and drinks containing high fructose corn syrup lead to metabolic overload, as the body scrambles to store excess calories as fat. Fortunately there are a number of important steps that parents can take to encourage natural weight loss in their children, and for the whole family.

Dump the Junk Food

The single most important step you can take to help your child lose weight and stay healthy is to limit calories from highly refined junk foods (chips, crackers, snacks), fast foods (fries, burgers and shakes) and sweetened soft drinks, including soda and fruit juices. These foods provide no nutrition and encourage fat storage at an early age.

Start by making small substitutions, such as a serving of vegetables for fries or stevia sweetened ice tea for sugary soft drinks. Slowly increase the substitutions until junk food is totally eliminated, or used just as a special incentive. These small steps will help prevent the onset of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and ultimately diabetes.

Stay Active for Life
Studies show that children who are active at an early age tend to stay active and exercise on a regular schedule throughout their adult life. This is important, as exercise provide the fuel which switches the body into fat burning mode. Physical activity conditions the muscles and cells to properly utilize sugar from the blood, avoiding metabolic disease.

Make it fun, and target 45 to 60 minutes of activity per day, although it doesn’t have to be all at the same time. Walk the dog, pick up a quick game of basketball in the driveway or play Frisbee in the park. Are all ideal ways to remain active. Parental involvement is the key to making exercise a permanent part of your child’s life.

Eat Breakfast, Dine Out Less

The science behind successful weight loss is based on eating the most important meal of the day – breakfast. This is especially important for kids, as breakfast will supercharge their metabolic engine and provide them with the energy they need to take them through their busy daily schedule. Avoid sugared cereals and chocolate milk in favor of high protein, high fiber choices. Healthy options include a slice of whole grain bread with peanut butter or a bowl of naturally sweet mixed fruit and berries.

Cook meals at home where you can control ingredients as well as portion sizes. Turn it into a fun experience and involve your child in meal preparation. Not only will they enjoy eating more, but they’ll develop a healthy dietary lifestyle which will serve them through adulthood.

The best way you can help your child lose weight and remain healthy is to get involved and be a role model, leading the way through a reduced calorie, physically active lifestyle. Childhood obesity is at epidemic levels today because our kids have been overwhelmed with a barrage of marketing schemes from the large food manufacturers pushing countless different types of junk food. Use these foods only as a special treat, as you show your child how important it is to eat properly and exercise regularly for the rest of their lives.

0 Do We Give Our Children Too Many Vaccines

The Problem with multiple vaccines
There is growing concern among parents regarding the number of vaccines that children now receive. Children are required by government schools to have completed the required vaccines prior to enrolling in school. The list of required vaccines continues rising, along with the costs. The number of vaccines raises concerns about safety and reasons for the large numbers of vaccines.

To put the situation in perspective consider that about one hundred years ago, children received a single vaccine for smallpox. Over time, the number of vaccines increased to five, which was about forty five years ago. These five vaccines were for diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, and smallpox. In the past forty years the number doubles to where todays children receive 11 routine vaccines. Many of the vaccines are in the form of multiple shots.

Increasing costs of vaccines
In the early 1980s the cost to immunize a child with the required vaccines was $75 to $100. Not only has the number of vaccines doubled, the cost has more than doubled. Presently the cost of obtaining the recommended vaccines is about $1,250. Even accounting for inflation, the increase in cost is dramatic. The cost is about to become more for teenage girls. The vaccination that reportedly protects against cervical cancer costs about $360 for a three dose series, which raises the total for the vaccines to about $1600. Although the number of shots has been reduced, the combination shots make it difficult to trace down which shot children are experiencing a reaction to when there are side effects.

Number of Antigens Children are exposed to
Part of the reason for the increased costs is that many of these vaccinations are for multiple antigens. (An antigen is a compound which when introduced into your body stimulates your immune system to produce chemical substances called anti-bodies. These antibodies are instructed to either kill or neutralize any substance they consider a threat.)

The combination shots increase the cost of the vaccines. One of the reasons for the combo shots is an effort to reduce the number of physical injections the child receives. In terms of the number of chemicals injected into the developing bodies of children is amazing.. When a girl receives all doses of all the recommended vaccines, the number of antigens received is 156 in the form of 45 shots. Boys, on the other hand receive 144 vaccine antigens in about 42 injections.

Think about that for a moment. When you follow the vaccine schedule, you are introducing 144-156 alien chemicals into your childs developing body. Since they are vaccines, these chemicals are injected into the body and bypass the natural defenses of the body. You might consider it foolish to take your infant through 150 different chemical plants so that they could be exposed to those substances, yet when you follow the schedule, you are taking similar action. If your child is sensitive or allergic to many foreign chemicals, the introduction of this many chemicals in so short a time span is asking for trouble.

The government recommends many vaccinations. The required vaccinations include: hepatitis A and B; inactivated poliovirus (IPV); rotavirus; haemophilus influenzae Type B (Hib); measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); pneumococcal conjugate (PCV); varicella (chickenpox); influenza; and diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP). In addition, there is Tdap - tetanus diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine and meningitis vaccine (MCV4) for those entering high school.

Vaccine Reactions
Researches have documented reactions to the pertussis and chicken pox vaccines. The danger with the chicken pox is that many of those vaccinated develop shingles within 10 years of the vaccination.

Vaccination has been cited as one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. However, it doesnt require an advanced degree in science to grasp that the public health accolades, celebrating high vaccination rates and low infection rates, have lead to serious health consequences across the globe. Among those consequences are biological reactions to vaccine ingredients. Vaccine ingredients seem to be playing a substantial role in some of todays health problems.

Sometimes it is the additives to the vaccines that create problems rather than the vaccines themselves. Gelatin, one of many ingredients often used has been documented to cause allergies and asthma. Vaccines known to contain gelatin include chickenpox, MMR, Boostrix (a pertussis booster for teens), Tripedia (DTaP) and Zostrix which is the vaccine used for adult shingles.

Formaldehyde is another dangerous additive. It is used to inactivate some of the bacteria in the vaccines. It has also been found to interrupt the normal function of the immune system. Although the CDC site downplays the exposure and danger of formaldehyde, the National Cancer Institute identifies it as known human carcinogen. Formaldehyde, besides being a preservative for lab specimens, can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, difficulty in breathing and asthma attacks. The chemical is categorized as a hazardous chemical on eight federal regulatory lists. With the current vaccine children receive more than ten times the recommended safe amounts. Vaccines containing formaldehyde include DTaP, polio, and influenza.

MSG is another common additive. MSG is added to stabilize the vaccines. MSG is often used as a flavor enhancer, yet in some populations, the substance agitates the neural system. MSG is considered by many to be an excitotoxin due to the way it agitates or excites the nervous system.

Egg proteins are also contained in some vaccines. Although government sites downplay the potential reaction, people who are allergic to egg proteins may react to these substances.

Another type of additive in many vaccines are adjuvats. These are chemical substances used to enhance the potency of the vaccine chemicals. The adjuvats amplify the effects of the vaccine. There are many types of chemicals used to increase the potency of vaccines. Variations of aluminum salts are often used in human based vaccines. At times, oil based adjuvats are included in vaccines. One of the controversial ones is squalene. Squalene triggers a strong auto-immune response to antibodies. Squalene is controversial in many circles. According to the CDC, no vaccines produced in the US contain squalene.

"There is no squalene in any FDA-approved vaccine in the US. There is no squalene in any kind of seasonal flu vaccine or in the H1N1 vaccine."-Patricia El-Hinnawy

This is in contradiction to the statements of vaccine manufacturers. One spokesmen at GlaxoSmithKline, claims that its vaccines do have squalene.

"A novel feature of the two H1N1 vaccines being developed by companies Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline is the addition of squalene-containing adjuvants to boost immunogenicity and dramatically reduce the amount of viral antigen needed. This translates to much faster production of desired vaccine quantities."-Meryl Nass, MD

With all the controversy, it behooves parents to consider the old Latin phrase, "Let the buyer beware". You will need to investigate matters yourself and find medical information you trust.

Follow the Money
The sales figures for preventative vaccines in 2007 amounted to $16.3 billion. This is an increase from the $11.7 billion generated in 2006. Since many vaccines are mandated by governments, the likelihood of the sales declining is low. The portion of these numbers that were for pediatric vaccines was $8 billion.

Jeff Murrah, LPC, FT, LCDC is a counselor with over 30+ years of experience in dealing with addictions and mental health issues, including reactions vaccine reactions. His experience has led to the writing of this and other articles on similar issues. He can be reached at http://www.RestoreTheFamily.com

Article by : Jeffrey Murrah, Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Murrah

0 Nourishing our children documentary blows away illusions about processed food vs traditional diets

Nourishing our children documentary blows away illusions about processed food vs. traditional diets

A new two-hour video available on Premium NaturalNews TV blows away any remaining illusions about "healthy," processed food.

"Nourishing Our Children" advocates traditional diets, and is radical in that it turns the food pyramid upside down. For example, it shows how unhealthy processed cereals are, despite decades of "food pyramids" having conditioned us into believing cereals and cooked grains were a foundation of good health.

Watch the preview at: http://premium.naturalnews.tv/Nourishing_Our_Children.htm

If you were outraged by our investigation last year that uncovered how cereal companies only mimic blueberries through artificial chemicals in their "blueberry" products like cereals, wait until you see what is said in "Nourishing Our Children."

"Nourishing Our Children" is based on the work of Weston A. Price, a dentist who kept notes during his worldwide travels that correlated traditional diets with more robust and healthy people, from a young age onward. The genius of "Nourishing Our Children" is that it puts Dr. Prices work into very understandable sections, and orients it for the modern parent and child.

One review of "Nourishing Our Children" by Amy Love says:

"A well-organized and thorough examination of the incredible work and life-changing teachings of Dr. Weston A. Price, Nourishing Our Children is a most helpful resource for anyone looking for true guidance in the realm of nutrition. As a nutritional therapist, I see day in and day out how necessary education is, and Nourishing Our Children is an invaluable resource in my practice."

It is notable that there are several testimonials of parents who say their nine-year-old children viewed the film with them, and the kids were fascinated by how different the diet that Dr. Price recommends is from the government recommendations today. It is refreshing to know that a video on nutrition that takes them away from candy, processed foods, and confusing, industry-influenced, ever-waffling government recommendations can make sense, even to children.

Sections of "Nourishing Our Children" include:

• "Whats Really in the Cereal Bowl"
• "The Ploy of Soy"
• "What You Dont Know About Your Protein Bar"
• "The Skinny on Fat"
• "Got Real Milk? Chances Are You Dont"
• "Diet for Motherhood," and more

Plus there are sections that deal with fluoride in the water, traditional fats and oils, and healthy meal preparation for the whole family.

If you are a parent imagining a child:

• Raised according to the nutritional wisdom of our ancestors
• Growing up free of the common ailments and diseases that we currently take for granted
• Whose strong, white teeth grow in straight - and free of tooth decay
• Who is attentive and engaged, and can learn easily and readily because of optimal brain development
• Who is energetic by day and sleeps soundly at night
• Who has a strong immune system, does not experience childhood illnesses or allergies, and has a stable, cheerful and optimistic disposition

And youd like to learn "how to nourish, rather than merely feed, your family," as the filmmaker says, then click now to "Nourishing Our Children:"

http://premium.naturalnews.tv/Nourishing_Our_Children.htm

The maker of this video, Sandrine Hahn, was inspired by hearing a wake-up call that nutrient-dense foods are key for childhood development into healthy adults. She transformed 107 PowerPoint slides into 1,500 animated frames that run like a movie. The narration is accompanied by a musical score and sound effects that create a dynamic, inspirational, educational experience!

To view this informative and visually beautiful program and learn one of the most important things in our lives - to nourish our children, click here:

http://premium.naturalnews.tv/Nourishing_Our_Children.htm