Multivitamins: Friend or Foe

Multivitamins: Friend or Foe

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Just when you thought you could not fit another thing on life’s plate… PLOP! Are you getting the recommended daily dose of all the needed vitamins and minerals? Are you eating a healthy well-balanced diet? Have you been caught coming out of McDonald’s drive-thru several times this week? Do you choose not to worry about recommended daily dosage because you supplement with a daily multivitamin? Which is worse… not enough or too much?

Before you make the decision to change your diet, or supplement it with a vitamin, talk to your doctor. Do some research regarding the levels you need for your specific gender and age. Go to WebMD for a listing of the daily required levels. You can also visit WebMD to determine what vitamins and minerals are in the food you consume. Research the products you put into your body at Consumer Search. Read those all-important food labels, which we often take for granted. Be mindful that the added colorings and sugars, often found in multivitamins, could do more harm than good.

Nothing can replace a healthy well-balanced diet. Not only is food better for you than a pill, but the body can also break down the food much better and easier than swallowing a pill. Per Dr. Scott Olson, “Typically, many one-a-day supplements are packed tightly in a capsule form for easy swallowing. Many times these compressed pills are too hard to actually digest in your stomach. X-ray technicians often see these pills far from the stomach, never having dissolved. A pill that is not digested is worthless and simply increases the nutrient content of your toilet water.”

Now, that doesn’t mean that you should not take multivitamins. It simply means that you need to understand what vitamins and minerals you are not receiving from the food you eat. Once that is determined, you will then need to figure out what supplements you need, and in what amount. Too much of a supplement can be just as dangerous as not enough. Maybe you don’t need every vitamin or mineral found in a multivitamin. You may just need a calcium supplement. Discuss your eating habits and any deficiencies you think you may have with your family doctor.

What about our children? Should we be giving them those cute little gummy bear vitamins? Just like an adult, the major source of vitamins and minerals should come from the food they eat. Baylor College of Medicine published an index chart, which you can use, to calculate your child’s calorie intake and determine the levels of vitamins and minerals that may be lacking. The USDA created a program called ChooseMyPlate.gov to help you plan and prepare a healthy well-balanced meal for your child. If you determine that your child is lacking in nutrients and requires a supplement discuss your concerns with your family physician.

Remember to buy age appropriate vitamins. Children’s vitamins come in liquid and the gummy version. Which would be more appropriate for your child? Most importantly, vitamins look like candy to a child. Explain to your child it is NOT candy, keep them stored out of the reach of a child, and explain they can only take this vitamin when given by an adult. If a child takes more than the prescribed daily allowance you may need to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at (800) 222-1222 to be automatically redirected to your local poison control center. If the child is experiencing difficulty breathing, severe throat pain, burns on the lips or mouth, convulsions, unconsciousness, or extreme sleepiness call 911 for emergency services.

Your health, and your child’s health, should be a priority and you are the master of your body and the caretaker of your child’s. Take control and discuss any change in diet and the need for supplemental vitamins and minerals with your family physician. As Thomas Jefferson said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children

Belinda @ Kids Matter

“During the last decade, pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has reached epidemic proportions, becoming one of the most frequent chronic liver diseases in the global child population,” says MedScape. “Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is now the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the U.S.,” reports WebMD.

Just when you thought you were doing everything you could to protect your child… BAM… out comes another disease and you have to re-evaluate your child’s medical needs. NAFLD is NOT a new disease. It is a GROWING disease. Why? Because, childhood obesity is at an all-time high. It has now reached a critical level and we, as parents, grandparents, and custodians, must take back control. We must insist on healthy diets and physical activity. Unless you plan to donate your liver or wait patiently as your child sits on the liver transplant waiting list, you must realize that the time to act is NOW. To get information on liver transplants please visit the American Liver Foundation.

What is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

As defined by the Mayo Clinic, “NAFLD is a term used to describe the accumulation of fat in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol. In some people with NAFLD, the fat that accumulates can cause inflammation and scarring in the liver. This more serious form of NAFLD is sometimes called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. At its most severe, NAFLD can progress to liver failure.” “NAFLD occurs when the liver is overloaded with more sugar than it can process. When this happens, the process of de novo lipogenesis starts – the conversion of carbohydrates into ‘new fat’, also known as triglycerides. As you may be aware, elevated triglycerides are not a good sign, and when this chronically happens at the liver, it can lead to hepatic cirrhosis (scarring of the liver),” says Evolutionary Health Systems.

Who is at risk?

·       The overweight – Check your child’s weight/height ratio using the appropriate graph found on About.com.

·       Those with high blood fat levels, either triglycerides or LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

·       Those with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

·       Those with high blood pressure.

·       Those with a family history of fatty liver disease.

How is it diagnosed?

·       Through blood tests that check the liver enzymes for fat content.

·       Through an ultrasound of the liver.

·       Through a liver biopsy. (Inserting a needle into your child’s liver and withdrawing tissue.)

How is it treated?

At this time there is no cure for fatty liver disease. The good news is, however, that with proper diet and exercise you may be able to reverse the condition in your child.

·       Losing weight and eating healthy.

·       Lowering your cholesterol and triglycerides.

·       Controlling your diabetes.

·       At least 60 minutes a day of physical activity.

How do we prevent it?

·       Take back control over all the electronic devices.

·       Prepare healthy meals and encourage better eating habits. Lead by example.

·       Encourage in, and participate in, physical activities with your child.

·       Limit television and gaming activities.

·       Take your child for an annual physical.

Now that you know what fatty liver disease is and understand that it is quickly becoming an epidemic in our children; you are armed with the information you need to fight this disease. Protect your child now! A medical waiting list is never where you want to see your child’s name.

Autism Spectrum Diagnoses

The Center for Disease Control released a new report last week stating that 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with some form of Autism.That is a 23 percent increase from their report in 2009 and a 78 percent increase in the report from 2007. In addition to the increase, the CDC goes on to report that boys (1 in 54) are almost 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with a form of Autism than girls (1 in 252).

The majority (62%) of the children in this study had no intellectual disability. The majority of the children were rated as average or above average on intelligence tests.

Should this study frighten parents? I do not believe so. I believe that this article encourages parents to be proactive in treatment for their children. The study states that most parents noticed a developmental delay in their child prior to the age of 1. Most of these delays were thought to be vision or hearing related. Due to this early intervention, the children were able to be diagnosed at an earlier age. The earlier a child is diagnosed, the sooner parents were able to obtain therapy including but not limited to speech, occupational and physical therapy.

With early detection, dedicated family and quality therapists many of these children have been able to make great strides in their health.

As you review the developmental milestone reports that your doctors provide you and the numerous ones that you can find online, please keep in mind that each child develops differently. These reports are just guidelines of when your child should be reaching, or should be closing to reaching a milestone. On the other side of that coin, if your child is nowhere near reaching a milestone, you need to advise you pediatrician immediately and see how they think you should proceed. Allow your doctor to be a partner in your family's wellness. Provide them with the information they need to make sure your child is on the right track.

Read the full report from the CDC here.

Childhood Obesity

If you read any newspapers and/or magazines, you have probably seen that headline lots. It is in print, it is on the news, it is the new buzz phrase. Even though we are all talking about it, it does not seem to be going away any time soon.

Here are some links to help you keep your family healthy and happy. If you want the kids to learn about nutrition you can go to Nutrition for Healthy Kids and they have a free home school curriculum, broken down by subject.

Food

All Day I Dream About Food made gummy fruit snacks that contain no added sugar. This link is to all of her recipes that are labeled "healthy snacks". She has some yummy ones, including a revised gummy fruit snack that is more shelf stable.

Real Simple shows a snack station that is stored in the refrigerator for the kids. They can go in and help themselves to a healthy snack.

I also love the blog Super Healthy Kids. She posts amazing recipes and tips but the best part: Healthy Meal Plans! Check out her blog, you will wonder how you managed before you found it!

Since the current generation is the first to spend more time indoors than outdoors, I have scoured the Internet looking for fitness ideas also.

Most people are familiar with First Lady Michelle Obama's quest to help us raise a healthier generation of kids and her Let's Move Campaign is helping to do just that. She has brought to light many facts and findings on health and is inspiring many to get up and move!

Kids Health and Sesame Workshop partnered to provide Healthy Habits for Life. You can download the book and read through it with your kids. The above link takes you to the Preschool edition but they go up to 12th grade.

E Max Health has a list of 50 ways for kids to exercise, without them even realizing it.

What does your family do to stay healthy?

Tueday Teachings - Combating the High Costs of Food

As families struggle to make ends meet, the deck seems to be stacked against us. If your household is anything like mine, you are shocked each time you walk into a grocery store. Most budgeting programs advise you to spend 10% of your annual income on food, but most Americans average spending a little over 20%.

Every household wants to cut costs and save money, but that can be hard to do when your paycheck is stretched tight for just the "essentials". I have found some websites that I hope can help. As you are looking at these websites and trying to save money, get the kids involved. Let them figure out the cost per serving of your food, how much you can spend at the grocery to use only 10% of your income. Which item is really more affordable, the smaller package or the larger package?

First, the Iowa State University Extension Office has a great website called Spend Smart, Eat Smart. There is great information on here about how to save money. There is a section that shows you how much you should be spending at the grocery. How to find the best deals in the store and then there is a recipe section with the cost per recipe and the cost per serving broken down for you. I know what you are thinking: "I can not cook from scratch, I need convenience foods!" We all need some level of convenience in our lives, I understand this. I have a family and a full time job too, but I also want to spend my money on experiences for my family, not just food.

For recipes, I love Food Hero! They have some great and economical recipes on their website, as well as some food storage hints and tips. I personally can not wait to make the Chicken and Dumpling Casserole. My family loves Chicken and Dumplings, which is already an inexpensive meal, but this I can make during the week after work. This website is a product of Oregon State University and it has lots of recipes. You can get a free membership and save your favorites in your own recipe box.

Another great website for inexpensive recipes and general frugal ideas is Cheap, Healthy, Good. They do whole foods as often as possible but are not ashamed to use some convenience items also. I have made a few recipes from their website and I highly recommend them! In addition to the great recipes, the blog is very funny to read. It is written by 3-4 ladies with a great sense of humor and a large desire to help people.

What are some of the things you are doing to save money?
Coupons?
Generics?
Menu Planning?
All homemade?

Share your ideas with us.

Monday Meanderings - Healthy Eating

The United States Department of Agriculture made a huge announcement last Thursday. The Food Pyramid that was revealed in 1992 has been replaced by the new My Plate.

As you can see on My Plate, half of the plate is filled with fruits and vegetables, grains and protiens fill the other half and then there is a seperate small plate to represent dairy. This is an easier picture for citizens to understand and comprehend as we go about our meal planning. In addition to the recommendations above the USDA also recommends that at least half of yoru daily grains be whole grains and that your dairy be fat-free or low fat (1%).

You can read the new dietary guidelines here. They have not updated all of the guidelines yet. I was hoping that they personalized recommendations for preschoolers would be completed for this article but as of yet they are still updating them.

Here are links to some great resources for keeping kids healthy.

First we have Kids Health which is dedicated to keeping kids safe and healthy. They have a variety of articles on the website from social-emotional to weight loss and healthy recipes. Here is a link to a quiz for kids entitled, What is the right size for me?

Next is Eating Well Magazine with a list of great recipes for kids and families. Personally, I am going to be trying out the spaghetti and meatballs very soon. It looks delicious and you get six servings and only use 8 ounces of meat! Economical, healthy and looks delicious.

Have you heard about Super Healthy Kids yet? If not, you should really drop everything and head on over to her website. She sells a plate that is perfect for kids to use for portion control and it fits the new dietary guidelines. She has been selling the plates for a few years now and has great testimonies from parents that have used the plates to change thier families eating habits. She also has some amazing recipes on her blog. I made her 100% fruit rolls and they were really delicious!

Kids not as healthy as parents think

Photo Credit

The title of this post is the same title of an article in the USA Today on April 13th. The article went on to quote survey results from the YMCA's Family Health Snapshot. When parents were asked if they were providing a healthy home environment for their families, 9 out of 10 parents responded a resounding yes. As the survey dug deeper with more specific questions they found that was not the case.

Health guidelines state that children should have a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day and 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. 79% of parents admitted that their kids do not get 60 minutes of physical activity per day and only 14% said their kids eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. 62% of parents stated that their kids eat junk food one to four times per week.

What were some of the obstacles parents felt they faced in making a healthy home environment? Technology - social networks, TVs, cell phones, video games and computers. This is a new age for parents. They were not sitting in front of computers after school when they were children and sometimes they have a difficult time in breaking the cycle for their kids. There are ways to break the cycle though. I realize parents are tired when they come home from a full day at work and kids have lots of homework that need to be completed but health has to be a priority.

After dinner, go for a walk or play ball in the backyard. Summer is coming so try to get outside with the kids. If they want non school related time on the computer, set up a program for them to earn that time. For every 30 minutes of physical activity they can have 15 minutes of computer or TV time. There is no reason to let our kids health decline into obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Take a stand for your kids! Let your kids see you making great health choices. Eat your vegetables and fruits, go for walks, dance around the house. Make great choices for yourself and your kids will follow.

Kids Matter!

Staying Healthy

In Kentucky the winter weather is in full force. Anyone that has a child in child care or school knows that this is a rough time. When you get a few kids together and one of them has a cold, the others usually end up with it also. Below are some tips on keeping your family healthy.

1) Wash hands. It is not enough to just run your hands under the water and maybe use a dab of soap. Let the water get warm, lather well and sing the ABC song while washing to be sure you get your hands clean.

2) When washing your hands be sure you are scrubbing between your fingers and on your nail beds. Here at the Child Care Council we have one of the germ finder boxes. After you wash you put your hands under the light and see all the germs you missed. It is very enlightening.

3) Sneeze and cough into your elbows. If you are having trouble teaching your kids to do this there is a great product called Germy Wormy which is basically a bandage that you put on the child's elbow. There is a very cute picture of a worm on the bandage and the kids like coughing on the worm. Once they do this, explain that the worm now has their germs. You could easily make something at home to mimic this product using your child's favorite cartoon character and a bandage.

4) Clean the heavily cleaned items. These are items I do not usually think about cleaning as often but clean your phone, doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, sink faucets and any other items that get touched frequently in your home.

5) Get enough sleep.When you are sleeping is when your body "recovers" from the day. Make sure you and your children are getting enough sleep every night.

6) Eat well. Make sure there are fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy products in your diet every day. If you are not getting enough, consider a daily supplement but it is always best to get your nutrients from healthy food.

7) Exercise. It is cold outside but you can still get some exercise inside. Your body needs a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate activity each day. This helps your immune system and helps to fight off bugs.

Follow these tips and try to take are of yourself. Spring is getting closer every day.