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When I was a child my mother didn’t really allow us to drink soda because it was not good for us. Today researchers have linked childhood obesity at least in part to soda and sugary drinks as a mainstay in children’s diets.
In a effort to try to combat obesity, an initiative is currently underway to limit the availability of sugary drinks in schools. I think this is an interesting first step to change children’s palates.
The guidelines for elementary and middle schools include the following: vending machines have water, 100% juice and low fat milk available. In high schools the young adults can choose from diet beverages, calorie-capped sports drinks, flavored waters and teas. This initiative, a collaboration of the American Beverage Association, the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, has been very successful. According to the statistics from 2004 this initiative has been able to reduce the number of full sugar soft drinks by 95 percent in the last four years.
While it might not seem like a big deal to stop children from drinking so much sugar, it really makes a difference in their energy levels. When children drink sugar it cause their blood sugar levels to rise quickly and the body’s response is release large amounts of insulin, a hormone that is used to regulate blood sugar. This large amount of insulin does its job and then causes children’s blood sugar levels to drop fast. The low blood sugar levels cause lack of attention, focus and energy, sleepiness, and irritability. All of these symptoms cause stress in the body, thus causing children to process their nutrients faster, leading to increased hunger. These are not good symptoms to have in the middle of a school day.
The alternative of having less sugary drinks is a good start to changing habits; but in addition to less sugary drinks, we need to have a healthy whole foods offered in the cafeteria as well. Lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains help to maintain normal peaks and valleys in the blood sugar levels in children’s body and replenish micro nutrients and minerals from the stressed state.
Chief executive Risa Lavizzo-Moure of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sayss that 35 to 50 percent of children's calories are consumed at school. As parents and mothers you can support healthy eating by packing healthy options for your children. A good rule to teach your children is to eat colors of the rainbow everyday. Make sure you help them get all those colors in. Make sure your kids know that artificial colors from soda pop don’t count.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's Bio:
“Dr. Dae" (pronounced Dr. Day) Daemon Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who completed her training at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is certified as a General Practitioner by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE). Dr. Dae provides tailored treatment to meet the unique needs of every individual she sees in her practice. She also provides specialized support for persons challenged by nutritional deficiencies, weight problems, hormonal and reproductive system disorders, attention deficit disorder and those experiencing chronic diseases. Dr. Dae is an adjunct faculty member for Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts. She is the author of Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living. Dr. Dae is a featured chef with www.myfoodmyhealth.com. Dr. Dae is a regularly featured writer for the Elite GoogleNews Website empowher.com where she shares her personal and professional vision for living whole and living well. To learn more about Dr. Dae, her products and services, please visit her on the Web at www.Healthydaes.com.
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When I was in high school, there were no soda vending machines available to students. And pretty much most kids were thin. I think its completely ridiculous to allow soft-drink vending machines in schools. The only reason schools allow it is because of the revenue that the school gets from these machines, but recent research is showing just how toxic sugar/HFCS can be when taken in the quantities that children do, without the benefit of fats/fiber and the other things that should otherwise be in food.
I say get rid of all vending machines in school.
April 25, 2011 - 3:31pmThis Comment