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Is Your Child Physically Active? |
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Written by Dr. Marc Tinsley
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Monday, 03 May 2010 15:41 |
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Most parents assume that their children are physically active but unfortunately, most children are not moving enough. Children are lying in bed for 8-10 hours per night, sitting in school for another 7 hours or so, and plopped in front of the TV or computer for 4 or 6 hours every day. Then add the time that they are sitting down to meals and riding in the car and it’s easy to see that many children are too sitting too much.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children and adolescents should participate in 60 minutes or more of physical activity every day to stay healthy. This means that at least one hour of your child’s day should include aerobic tasks, muscle strengthening motions, and bone strengthening movements.
The majority of your child’s physical activity should consist of aerobic activity. Activities like bike riding, walking and hiking are classified as moderate intensity and should be included every day. Moderate activities will make your child’s heart beat faster and they will breathe harder but not get out of breath.
More intense activities that get your child’s heart beating even faster are classified as vigorous. Jumping rope, swimming, and running or chasing games often make a child want to stop and catch their breath after a few moments. Your child should participate in these activities at least 3 days per week.
To increase muscle strength, your child can climb and swing on playground equipment, wrestle or play tug of war with others, or do push-ups or chin-ups. These daily activities should challenge their muscles but they should not be so difficult that they cannot do them over and over.
Hopping, skipping, jumping, and tumbling are great ways for your child to strengthen their bones every day. Sports that involve kicking, throwing, or swinging are good choices too. Since these activities involve a bit more impact, children should be reminded to use caution and to stop if they feel any discomfort.
Active children are healthy children. By inspiring your child to be active for at least 60 minutes each day, you will be helping them develop healthy habits and attitudes that will last a lifetime.
Dr. Marc Tinsley is a chiropractic physician, fitness and rehabiltation expert, professional speaker, writer, and founder of Fitness For The Rest Of Us™. He is a leading authority in functional health, fitness and wellness who uses systems of healing and support that work with the body instead of against it. Dr. Tinsley is distinguished for his unique holistic approach in supporting the body's natural health systems and combining the art and science of chiropractic, exercise, nutrition and emotional health. Dr Tinsley is available for keynotes and workshops at conventions, conferences, meetings, in-services, and other events for business, schools, associations, non-profits, local government and more. He practices in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
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Last Updated on Monday, 10 May 2010 14:52 |
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Attention Parents: Is Obesity in Your Child’s Future? |
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Written by Dr. Eric Plasker
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Tuesday, 23 February 2010 20:20 |
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Did you know that being obese can take as many as 20 years off of your life? Or, that an overweight child has a 70 percent chance of becoming an overweight or obese adult—not to mention that obese children are prone to gallbladder disease, asthma, pneumonia and Type 2 diabetes!
America is in the midst of a health crisis, as the bodies of both adults and children reach shocking physical proportions. Many corporations are launching wellness initiatives to help employees fight fat; but what is being done for children? The situation has gone beyond simply changing the nutritional value of school lunches. The time has come for a full-blown intervention: The 100 Year Lifestyle solution. Parental participation necessary.
Shown to be one of the most effective ways to fight childhood obesity, parents need to not only encourage their children to lead healthy, active lives free of junk food and full of Superfoods, but they must participate in the life change. Here are some good places to start:
• Superfoods: Eat plenty of Superfoods including: blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, broccoli, flaxseed, soy, beans and wild salmon. Forget the processed foods full of fat and other energy-draining ingredients. You might as well eat the cardboard box they come in!
• Exercise: Get at least 30 minutes of exercise three to five days per week to get your ESS in shape! (Endurance, Strength and Structure). Sign your kids up for sports or other after-school, physical activities. Or, make sure they go out and play after school rather than watching television. For parents, most of you are sitting for a living at your 9-5 job. Try weight training or jogging with a partner after work. Sign up for a gym membership and make exercise your new hobby. Whatever the activity, just get your bodies moving at least three days a week.
• Sleep: Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night for adults and 8-9.5 hours of sleep for children. The more sleep you get, the higher your metabolism.
Dr. Plasker is author of The 100 Year Lifestyle; a best-selling book and wellness system that enables people to make the most of their years through a unique, total-life program that addresses health, nutrition, exercise, mental agility, creativity, finances, friends and family, work, community, and achieving a sense of purpose. His innovative wellness model, created from a synergistic blend of Eastern and Western philosophies, has begun to transform healthcare delivery to millions who practice his principles. The owner of two highly successful family practices for almost 20 years, Dr. Plasker has been featured extensively by the media including CNN, FOX, NBC, Self, Woman’s World, Health and in major newspapers around the country.
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Sleep Deprived in El Nino |
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Written by Renee Martinez
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Friday, 24 July 2009 12:24 |
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Is it me or is the weather so bad that the children should have stayed in school and skipped summer vacation?
I actually like rain. I enjoy the peacefulness that comes with a nice dreary rainy day. It always induces a contemplative mood for me. With kids, the experience is a bit less spiritual.
On a rainy day the kids complain more. The house begins to feel like prison, then the children start to revolt and eventually the house starts to look like a junk yard...which is the point at which you are finding me.
This summer may be a bit different. El Nino, the warming and cooling of eastern Pacific waters off the west coast of South America, has developed and is expected to persist through the winter months. According to Pablo Pereira of the LA Weather Examiner, "In the USA, look for more precipitation in the arid Southwest, less wintry weather across the North and a reduced risk of Florida wildfires. The downside can include damaging winter storms in California and increased storminess in the South."
All their craziness is making me really tired (and a little crabby).
Boy #1 complains that he's bored and has nothing to do. If I let him, he would play the Wii non-stop, but I don't let him. His Wii playing time is limited to maybe 3 times per week for 30 minutes per playing period (when the little guys are ub bed). With most of his friends at camp this summer (plus all the rain), I can understand his boredom. I remind him how lucky he is to have brothers to play with as built-in playdates.
Characteristic of Boy #2 is the knack for causing trouble when he is bored. He pushes one brother or hits another, then complains that his brothers are bugging him.Genrally, #1 and #2 play well together. They've been laying with Legos a ot and using their imagination. They also both enjoy doing crafts and drawing.
Boy #3 is loud, so there's always lots of noise when he's around. He doesn't realize how loud he is, he talks so incredibly loud that it sometimes makes my ears hurt. I'm getting his hearing checked just to be sure he doesn't have a hearing problem because when I ask him to speak quietly, he yells, "I'm talking quiet mommy!" Boy #2 is also in a hitting and throwing phase.
Boy #4 is almost walking and doesn't want to stay still anymore. Once he starts walking, I'm worried about him getting into Boy #3's things becasue it's going to cause some craziness.
It may be more stressful, (and I'm exhausted) but really, with a little creativity, there are plenty of thing to do, as long as I'm a little more patient than normal. One good thing about El Nino i that my garden is looking incredible!
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Last Updated on Monday, 04 January 2010 23:55 |
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Chemicals and Boys Infertility |
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Written by Renee Martinez
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Tuesday, 07 July 2009 05:09 |
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Have you ever stopped to think about the many chemicals all around us and their affect on our sons? In doing a little research, I came across this article. It's an issue that has concerned me. I often wonder what on earth I'm putting on my body when I use skin care products with ingredients I have no idea how to say. When I was pregnant, perfumes ingredients and processed foods seemed like a bad idea. Learning about the relationship between chemicals and infertility in boys, makes me realize how little we really know about the chemicals around us.
According to Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council, hormone-disrupting chemicals pose a significant threat to male fertility for boys in utero. He also linked chemicals found in many food and cosmetic products to raising rates of birth defects and testicular cancer and falling sperm counts.
Chemicals in consumer products and food that have been reported to disrupt the sex hormones include:
Phthalates: Found in vinyl flooring, plastics, soaps, toothpaste
Bisphenol: Found in babies' bottles, food can linings. mobile phones, computers
Pesticides: Including pyrethroids, linuron, vinclozolin and fenitrothion
THE HIDDEN DANGERS IN EVERY HOME Phthalates are used in a wide variety of products including: Air freshener Baby toys (plastic) Backpacks Beach balls Bubble bath Cleaning agents Coatings for tablets Computers Deodorant Disinfectant DVD players Electrical cables Garden hoses Hair gels and mousse Hairspray Ink Insect repellent Lipstick Mobile phones Moisturisers Nail polish Paint Perfume Plastic raincoats Portable music players PVC flooring Shampoo Shaving foam Shower curtains Soap Sunscreens Toothbrushes Trainers Vinyl blinds Wallpaper (PVC) Washing-up liquid Wellington boots FACTFILE Phthalates have been used since the 1930s to make plastics softer and more flexible In fragrances they help smells last longer and can mask chemical odours Phthalates are not firmly bound into products and have found their way into the environment including remote marine locations They can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested in food Phthalates damaged the liver and reproductive system in tests on animals.
Additional links:
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Last Updated on Monday, 04 January 2010 23:55 |
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in Article Discussion by missvictoriawebb, 07-07-10 20:56