As parents, we work hard to give our children every possible advantage in life. Yet too often we don’t have the time (or don’t make the time) to look after their nutritional health. We’re too busy. We don’t completely understand what eating right means ourselves. And we’re battling some pretty formidable enemies such as junk food and fast food.

As a result, our children eat and drink too much sugar, consume too many empty calories, and don’t eat enough of the good things they need - especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Because of this, our children will be at risk of developing degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke at a much younger age.

Here are a few of the startling statistics:

• Less than 7% of all children and adolescents consume the recommended 3 servings of vegetables per day. (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)
• 1 child in 4 is obese. (International Journal of Obesity)
• Nearly 50% of obese adolescents remain obese as adults. (International Journal of Obesity)
• About 6% of elementary school children and 7% of adolescent children miss 11 or more days of school yearly due to illness or injury. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
• In the last 20 years, Type 2 diabetes has increased ten-fold. (International Journal of Obesity)
• By the age of 12, an estimated 70% of our children have developed the beginning stages of hardening of the arteries.  (Bogalusa Heart Study)
• 7% of school age children are diagnosed as ADHD. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

Afraid of Swine Flu and other viruses? Studies have demonstrated that having Good Nutrition reduces considerably the risk of chronic diseases, including Heart Disease, Stroke and Cancer.

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will have cancer in his or her lifetime.
• Over 20 million children and adults have diabetes.
• 64% of adults are overweight.
• By the age of 12, an estimated 70% of our children have developed the beginning stages of hardening of the arteries.
• 1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes.
• 1 in 4 children is obese.
• Nearly 50% of obese adolescents remain obese as adults.
• 7% of school age children are diagnosed with ADHD.
• Over 93% of all children and adolescents do not consume the
  recommended 3 servings of vegetables.

What are you doing to change those numbers?

Nobody enjoys being sick. Improve your overall health and boost your immune system with these simple tips.

Unfortunately, everyone gets sick. However, you have probably noticed that some people seem to get sick a lot more frequently than other people. If you want to reduce the amount of time you waste on sick days, follow these suggestions for good health and a strong immune system.

The healthier you are, the less prone to illness you will be. Lots of factors contribute to your overall health, and many of these factors are well within your control. First of all, you need to make sure that you are eating well.

While you sleep, you immune system is most active. As a result, in order to be healthy, you need to get around eight hours of sleep a night.

You also need to eliminate habits that you know are unhealthy. Smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, for example, all weaken your immune system and put you at risk for numerous illnesses.

Eat More Fruit and Vegetables

Healthy eating includes eating at least five portions, and ideally 7-13 portions, of a variety of fruit or vegetables each day. Fruit and vegetables include fresh, frozen, tinned, or dried varieties, and fruit juice. On average, people who eat lots of ‘fruit and veg’ tend to be healthier and live longer. They are rich in vitamins and minerals which keep the body healthy. They also contain chemicals called ‘anti-oxidants’, such as carotene, which are thought to protect against damaging chemicals that get into the body.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends eating 7 to 13 serving of fruits and vegetablles…almost no one does it!