Ellyn Satter’s - The Vision Times

There’s useful information about obesity here.

Here’s some great photos on this topic: http://todayspictures.slate.com/20100310/

Hello and here is an extract from my website. I hope that your readers will find the information of high interest and topical.

Good Nutrition Helps Child Development
It is a very sad indictment on our society, don’t you think? Obesity facts show that the obesity epidemic has flowed over into our youth. The sad reality is that unhealthy overweight children will in all probability evolve into unhealthy and overweight or obese adults
• High quality dietary supplements can help alleviate the nutritional void created by poor lifestyle choices and fast-food diets.
During childhood, optimal nutrition is critical to proper growth and development. Unfortunately, many children today don’t receive adequate amounts of key vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients.
Nutritional protein powder shakes provide an optimal array of vitamin, minerals, soy protein and micro-nutrients in a pleasant-tasting shake that children seem to love
Experts have identified the following vitamins and minerals as especially vital for promoting a child’s long-term health:
• Calcium: Calcium is essential for the development of strong bones during childhood. A lack of calcium can lead to brittle bones, making your child more susceptible to bone fractures and breaks as well as osteoporosis later in life.
• Vitamin A-is important for children because it promotes normal growth, healthy skin, and proper vision.
• B Vitamins-are important in metabolic activity such as energy production. The B vitamins also aid in red blood cell development.
• Vitamin C-promotes proper wound healing for all of those childhood cuts and scrapes, as well as increased resistance to infection
• Vitamin D-works hand-in-hand with calcium to increase its absorption. Vitamin D also promotes proper tooth and bone formation, helping in the battle against Childhood Obesity
• Vitamin E-is a powerful antioxidant which works to fight free radical damage and plays a role in building a strong immune system.
• Iron-is essential for blood production and muscle development. Low iron levels can lead to anemia.
• omega 3 -for powerful proper brain development
A quality balanced vitamin & mineral supplement is a simple way to ensure children of all ages receive the nutrients their bodies need at every stage of growth and development. Supplements enhance the fight against overweight youth and improve Child Development
• “In light of the current youth overweight epidemic and underlying poor dietary habits, prevention is a public health priority. Our findings suggest enhanced learning as an additional benefit of a healthy diet in childhood,” researchers stated. “Diet Quality and Academic Performance.” Journal of School Health, April 2008, Vol. 78, No. 4
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Childhood obesity
Childhood Obesity & Child Development
The incidence of Childhood Obesity and children obesity in the PreTeen and teenage period is alarming,and optimal nutrition is critical to restore proper healthy growth and development
Sadly, many children today don’t receive adequate amounts of key vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients
• A quality balanced vitamin/mineral supplement is a simple way to ensure children of all ages receive the nutrients their bodies need at every stage of growth and development.
• Among the many choices on the market, the kids product has been especially designed for youngsters, and provides an optimal array of vitamin, minerals, soy protein and micro-nutrients in a great-tasting shake that PreTeen and teenage kids just love.
Anyone who has tended a garden knows that the right combination of nutrients is essential to healthy, thriving plants. The same holds true for our children, whose growing bodies demand the right fuel for proper development
Unfortunately, as families try to deal with ever-increasing pressures on their time, nutrition is taking a backseat to speed and convenience.
• High fat, nutritionally questionable ready-to-eat and take-out meals are the favored choice for the family dinner table. In fact, studies show that just 38% of meals are actually “homemade.”
Add to this the ramifications of a new style of eating created by sedentary kids preferring watching a flickering TV or computer screen to playing in the fresh air- and it’s clear to see why obesity in our youth, and the incidence of overweight children is on the rise.
Grazing — the habit of eating whatever, whenever — can add 500-1,000 calories a day to a child’s diet. Sugary sodas can add another 200 calories per can. With teen boys drinking an average of three sodas per day, it’s no wonder our kids are getting fatter.
We can change the course of our childrens future by helping them to make healthy lifestyle choices now. With proper nutrition for kids, we can fortify their growing bodies with the nutrients they need.
This will go a long way to prevent the catastrophic trend toward Childhood Obesity and the development of serious illnesses later in life. Kids nutrition plays an integral part in solving the “overweight children” epidemic.
Healthy kids become healthy adults
Circulatory System
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Circulatory System- Problems and Diseases
The cardiovascular system is made up of the blood, heart and blood vessels. The blood is comprised of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and blood plasma. The blood vessels comprise veins, arteries and capillaries. All of these elements comprise the major workings for the circulatory system.
Any of the parts in poor or compromised condition can cause various complications, anything from mild heart or cardiovascular disease to severe life-threatening situations.
Common problems and diseases of the Circulatory System include:
• Aortic Aneurysm, Angina, Atherosclerosis (or a hardening of the arteries)
• High Blood Pressure/ hypertension: when the systolic pressure exceeds 140 mmHg and diastolic pressure exceeds 90 mmHg.
• Peripheral Vascular Disease: Usually caused by fatty acid deposits in the arteries of the leg portion. It can develop as a complication of obesity, high blood pressure and smoking
Heart Disease
• Your heart pumps oxygen and nutrients through your blood vessels to every part of your body,so even a minor problem along the way can affect how every system in your body functions.
One proven ingredient that helps keep blood vessels in good shape to boost cardiovascular health is Pycnogenol® (pronounced pick-noj’-i-nall), a natural, super-powered antioxidant derived from pine bark.
Research shows that antioxidants play a key role in helping to prevent both degenerative and age-related diseases.
• More than 190 scientific articles and clinical trials have confirmed Pycnogenol’s safety and clinical effectiveness over the past 35 years.
• Pycnogenol offers an incredible list of clinically proven benefits, including improving blood circulation and preventing blood clots, and supporting heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
• In a study of patients with borderline high blood pressure, Pycnogenol supplemented over eight weeks significantly lowered blood pressure. In another study in patients with high blood pressure already on calcium channel blocker medication, nearly 60 percent of patients who supplemented with Pycnogenol were able to cut their prescribed medication dosage in half to keep their blood pressure in a healthy range.
• Pycnogenol also causes platelets in the blood cells to be less sticky, which relaxes and widens the blood vessels, improves blood flow and reduces the chance of blood clots. In addition, several studies show Pycnogenol lowers LD cholesterol and increases HDL, and strengthens capillary wall in the blood vessels, making them less likely to rupture.
• Go to products containing Pycnogenol and other powerful phytonutrients, isoflavones, antioxidants and products focused on fiber , for a synergistic blend to help your body function at optimum levels.
Sources: http://www.pycnogenol.com/consumer Pycnogenol® for Cardiovascular Health: http://www.pycnogenol.com/pdf/Pycnogenol%20for%20Cardiovascular%20Health.pdf
Soluble dietary fiber and nutritional supplementation play crtitical roles in the overall health and wellbeing of the Circulatory System
• The simplest analogy to offer for soluble fiber is the plumber cleaning out the drain pipe. Dissolved in the system, dietary fiber acts like a “brush” and cleans out the capilliaries, arteries and veins. Deposits are removed, and the end result is a smooth-flowing “pipe” system

A unique way to combat childhood obesity is the KIDFIT application and the GreenPS application. KIDFIT is the first child fitness mobile application designed specifically to combat childhood obesity. GreenPS gives nutritional education while locating fresh produce and meats by gps on a map. Check it out at kidfitkids.com!