Health Essentials

There are a few basic health essentials that form the foundation for achieving and maintaining a desirable level of health. When given the right building blocks, our bodies have an amazing capacity to renew themselves. A healthy child is a more creative and productive child, who is resistant to many of the physical, mental and emotional challenges that are so prevalent today.

Nutritious Foods

Adding more raw vegetables and fruits to our diet is important. Also there is a lot of research on the importance of breakfast. It has been found that a nutritious breakfast will not only help with creating healthy children, but also increase their ability to learn. A 1997 study by the State of Minnesota found that students eating breakfast before school had a general increase in reading and math scores, improved behavior and attendance, reduced nurse visits, and better attention spans.

This was confirmed a year later by a joint study between Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. They found that kids eating a good breakfast did better behaviorally and academically.

Breakfast jump starts our brains and bodies that have been depleted of glucose during the night, so that by morning the body is basically fasting. A good, nutritious breakfast replenishes the glucose and provides for the morning energy needs. The American Dietetic Association also found that a good breakfast lowers blood cholesterol and controls weight.

Water

Since the body is 60 to 65% water, the body’s cells need sufficient water to function properly. Although eight (8) glasses a day is recommended, this can vary dependent on factors such as temperature, humidity, environment, nutrition and life style.

A properly hydrated body is more healthy and resistant. Water also helps with digestion, helps reduce cramping by ensuring our blood is properly oxygenated, eliminates bad breath by keeping our tongue hydrated, lubricates our joints, increases blood volume thereby reducing hypertension, reduces infections by keeping our lymphatic system functioning properly, supports the back by keeping discs hydrated, and eliminates headaches by hydrating the brain and eliminating toxins.

Supplementation

One of the most important of the health essentials is supplementing our diet with natural herbs and vitamins. Because of the depletion of our soil, our foods are not as rich in vitamins and minerals as they once were. Supplementing our diet with natural food supplements and herbs makes sense. Stay away from synthetic vitamins as they are not processed properly by our bodies. Do some research as there are many good products available on the market.

Exercise

Working out a few times per week can be fun as well as good for us. Pick an activity that is enjoyable. If you like sports do that. If you like nature, plan your walks around that. When you need to get somewhere within a reasonable distance, walk or ride your bike instead of driving. There are many ways that we can fit exercise into our daily routines effortlessly. Find some aerobic and strength exercises that are most appealing, and begin to form a consistent habit.

These basic four health essentials will form the foundation for health and longevity. Build these into your lifestyle gradually at your own pace. Habits are difficult to change at first, but once you get rolling you will feel better, and thus motivated to continue. Click here for the Transforming Child Behavior Home Page.

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SBI!