 Remember when your parents told you get outside and play? We all thought it was to get out of their hair, but it’s really more than given them peace. Being outside in the sun helps us to increase our natural Vitamin D3 levels. This article is not about bone health, but mental health. Kids today are staying indoors too much and guess what we’re seeing? More violence, introverted kids who can only be social by texting each other or playing video games hiding behind make believe name and not openly communicating. If you want to have peaceful kids, give them Vitamin D and Fish oil!
When we increase our Vitamin D3 levels (the body uses 4600IU daily), we mentally feel better and it can ward off depression. When I hear about kids or teenagers being depressed, one issue that parents need to take control is their nutritional health! Seventy percent of children and adults in the US are Vitamin D deficient. The cause of deficiency is a combination of not enough sun exposure, and a diet low in Vitamin D. We have a major epidemic on our hands and anti-depressants aren’t the answer, but improving levels of Vitamin D are! I take mental health seriously and hear many clients daily about the perils of not being able to cope with everyday situations or fighting depression for no known reason. Just adding a Vitamin D supplement can do wonders for kids! I suggest taking away their tech toys and get them outside and play. Being outside is healthy and there are many activities which kids can enjoy and ought to enjoy. When I was a kid, it was fun not to have toys, because it allowed your mind to be creative. We use to play cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers before it became politically incorrect. We got our clothes dirty and skinned our elbows and we still became highly functional adults! Diet is a major concern today as too many do not cook anymore and run through the drive-thru for an evening meal. It is time to regroup and get back to the dinner table. I’m not here to tell you how to raise your kids, but who we’re fooling, of course I am! To increase their level of vitamin D through food, you should include more oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel and tuna in their diet. Egg yolks and mushrooms also provide vitamin D, or you could choose a cereal and milk fortified with vitamin D. Parents, please take your kids health seriously. Just watch the news, the violence caused by children or teenagers is increasing. I know it’s not just a Vitamin D deficiency, but a lack of love in the home. But making sure your kids have their daily dose of Vitamin D is an act of love in itself. Ward W. Bond, Ph.D.  Everyone loves a good steak or a hamburger now and then, but too many people are eating red meat every day. Red meat from a conventional supermarket is something I always ignore. When I do have the taste for a steak or hamburger, it's organic every time.
Many people do not understand how red meat is so taxing to the digestive tract. It requires your body to use more energy to break it down. How do you feel after a big steak or burger? I bet your feel like relaxing a bit. I've never heard of anyone wanting to run a marathon or indulge in an activity except for nap after eating red meat. Why so dangerous? Red meat itself contains hormones and antibiotics, but add the grilling process and you have a set up for ill health. Sure, I know grilling makes food tastes better. I agree, but you must understand that your not just grilling meat, your grilling everything else in the meat! A 20-year study from the American Cancer Society confirms those who eat the most red meat -- beef and/or pork and/or processed meat products -- get colon cancer 30% to 40% more often than those who eat these foods only once in a while. The news is particularly bad for those who favor lots of lunchmeats, hot dogs, and sausages. Eating lots of these processed foods raises colon cancer risk by 50%! Personally, I'm not a fan of any processed meats and after the exposed pink slime from the meat companies, who would want to eat it? We all need to lean more towards healthy fish and chicken. I know, I know, you're tired of chicken and so am I! Eat fish such as Halibut, Salmon, Mahi-Mahi which are high in proteins and full of healthy fats (halibut, salmon) and use organic spices and seasonings to add a variety of flavoring. I love Mahi-Mahi because it's almost fat free and with high protein. If you are looking to lose weight, Mahi is a sure-fire way of you reaching your goal. So when it comes to red meant, keep it down to once a month and use it as a special occasion. And just this one time, you can have fries with that, but only sweet potato fries. :) Ward W. Bond, Ph.D. |
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