A Healthy Future Starts with Smart Eating
In December, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher, issued his “state of the health of
our nation” address and virtually declared war on obesity as the number one health concern in
America today. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also issued statements over the past
two years affirming that childhood obesity is the most important issue for pediatricians, and
family physicians providing care to children, to focus on. The statistics are horrifying–almost a
tripling in the number of children who are overweight or obese since the 1970s.
The adult diseases that threaten
overweight children
There is a myriad of negative health results
that accompany this trend, including
increases in diagnoses of conditions that
were previously almost unheard of in
children and adolescents. Hypertension,
osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes are
among these, essentially caused by being
overweight and following diets that are
too high in calories, salt, sugar and fat,
especially saturated fat. The same issues
are facing adults, where now 60 percent
of adults are overweight to obese. These
childhood weight trends do not bode well
for the future health of our nation!
Health traps your children face daily
How can we help prevent any worsening
of these statistics and how can we help
Herbalife bring the message of good
nutrition to all families in America? The
story begins with parents. It starts every
day when we fix our children’s breakfast.
It continues when we send them off to
school with money for school lunches.
After-school activities that are sedentary,
and eating on the run, compound the
situation. Everything is “super-sized” now,
from sodas to french fries. The result?
Fourteen percent (triple the numbers of 25
years ago) of our children and adolescents
are seriously overweight and are being
diagnosed with disorders that were until
recently rarely seen under the age of 40.
The four essentials for healthy living
We must all, as parents, commit to “cleaning up” our nutritional act, at home and away from home. The Medical Advisory Board at Herbalife is focused on
teaching people around the world how to implement the ingredients for wellness into our daily lives–for the entire family. Having a healthy lifestyle includes four important components–they form a continuous circle around us and are interconnected. The results: a healthy life.
Getting the balance right
We really need to focus on all four of
these components to have a healthy life.
If we improve our nutrition, including a
commitment to minimize fast foods, we
will have a much easier time with weight
control. We will have more energy for
physical activity, which will in turn help with
weight control. And when we are feeding
our bodies all the micronutrients we need
and being physically active on a regular
basis, the stresses of daily life are more
easily dealt with and our bodies are less
adversely affected by the “ups and downs”
of life. Even our children are forced to deal
with stress–a coach or teacher yelling at
them, something another child said or just
keeping up with homework and day-today
family struggles.
Healthier living–meal-by-meal
Children love sugar-coated cereals
and they are so easy for busy families
to use, especially on hectic weekday
mornings. My children knew it wasn’t
even worth asking for those sugarcoated
cereals–we had nothing but the
high-fiber varieties at our house. Once
Herbalife came into our lives, Adam
and Heather began every day with a
protein shake made with Thermojetics® Formula 1 Protein Drink Mix, nonfat
milk and fresh fruit (or orange juice
on occasion). They were 11 and 7
then and now are 22 and 18! They
rarely missed a day of school due
to the usual colds and flus that
result in many days out of school for
most children. It’s important to send
your children off with a balance of
micronutrients and a healthy amount
of protein to help maintain balanced
blood sugars so essential to their
concentration and learning.
Shake up to a healthier breakfast
Thermojetics® Formula 1 Protein Drink Mix and DinoShake® are both healthy
options for breakfast as well as
after-school snacks. Thermojetics®
Formula 1 Protein Drink Mix is soy
protein-based while DinoShake® is
milk-based. Many children like to
eat what Mom and Dad are having,
while others want their “own special
drink.” Either shake is perfectly fine
for children to drink. If your child has
a weight problem, I would suggest
Thermojetics® Formula 1 Protein Drink
Mix. Its fiber content and balance of
macro- and micronutrients make it a
better meal replacement. DinoShake®
is formulated to be a snack. For
younger children, ages two to eight, Dinomins® are the appropriate vitamin
supplement. Once your child can
swallow tablets, you may consider
switching them to Thermojetics® Formula 2 Multivitamin-Mineral & Herbal Tablets.
Upgrade your child’s packed lunch
Focus on sandwiches made with
healthy choices such as turkey breast,
low-fat cheese or tuna salad made with
more mustard and less mayonnaise.
Always use whole-grain breads. Bear in
mind that the intake of white flour and
white sugar is associated with ultimate
development of insulin resistance and
glucose intolerance. Pack veggie sticks
(carrots, celery, jicama) along with
a reduced-fat ranch-type dressing.
Instead of granola bars or cookies,
consider a Thermojetics® High-Protein, Low-Carb Bar.
The Herbalife answer to afterschool
munchies
After school is a problematic time
for kids who have or are developing
weight issues. We must have easily
available low-calorie foods for snacks
and increase their activity. Remember
they have been sitting in the classroom
for five or six hours. They need to
be outside (weather permitting) being
physically active for at least an hour
before starting homework. If your
children are participating in sports, they
really need a healthy snack to keep
them going. Try another shake–two
tablespoons of Thermojetics® Formula 1 Protein Drink Mix in juice. Add in half
a banana, or other fresh fruit, blend and
enjoy. Adam and Heather always liked
frozen blueberries and/or strawberries
mixed in their shakes. Use Chocolate
Thermojetics® Formula 1 Protein Drink
Mix plus soymilk and it tastes like a
chocolate-strawberry truffle!
Your child’s future health is in your
hands today
What our children eat can determine
whether they are active adults with no
weight concerns or overweight with
all of the associated emotional and
physical difficulties. We need to help
our children develop healthy attitudes
about their eating, their weight and
their level of fitness. Herbalife is not
about dieting, but rather about lifestyle
choices that will lead to long, active lives.
We must set the example by committing
to nutritional foods and Herbalife
supplements that can help you and
your children have the healthiest lives
possible!
Nutritional
foods and
Herbalife
supplements
can help you
and your
children lead
the healthiest
lives
possible!
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