Overweight Children In Your Family

From the Wholefood Farmacy Newsletter:

"A new study published by the University of Michigan, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, and the University of Michigan Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit, shows that a large number of parents may be in denial about their children’s weight. The research was published in CHEAR’s journal Vol. 2, Issue 3; December 10, 2007.

With each passing year, the risks to children who are overweight or obese are becoming clearer and well documented. With respect to asthma, obese children age 6-17 are more than twice as likely to have asthma as children who are at a healthy weight.

Children who are overweight are also at risk for diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure as well as other chronic diseases that are usually seen only in adults. Moreover, overweight children are very likely to be overweight for life, a condition that carries with it serious, life long health and emotional consequences.

According to the study, one-quarter of US children ages 6 to 17 are either obese or overweight, based on the parent reporting of children’s height and weight. Surprisingly, less than 10% of parents of obese children ages 6 to 11 reported being “very concerned” about their children’s weight.

More than 40% of parents of obese children age 6-11 perceive their children’s weight status as “about the right weight”. In reality, a 6-year-old boy of average height, (3 feet 9 inches) would be considered obese if he weighs 55 lbs. or more.

"Obesity isn't just something that affects the clothes that you buy or how you are perceived by your friends and your schoolmates," the researchers said. "It is something that can have health effects, not only in adulthood but in childhood."

We encourage parents of children and teens to use the Body Mass Calculator offered by the Centers for Disease Control by clicking here: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx

If you find that your child or teen needs to lose weight, experts agree that small gradual changes offer the best chances for success. One small change that everyone can live with is having healthy, convenient snacks on hand at all times. From there, gradually phase out the junk food, fast food, sodas, energy drinks and candy as you discover healthier choices that your children enjoy.

The New You Resolution Pantry offers an incredible selection of healthy whole food based snacks, meals, soups and smoothie mixes. Click the link below for a Special Limited Time Offer from The Wholefood Farmacy."

Dietary Fiber Health

From the Wholefood Farmacy Newsletter:

"You don't usually see it or taste it, but fiber works wonders for your body. Dietary fiber, or roughage, is a known cancer fighter found only in the cell walls of plant foods. For years, studies have pointed to the fact that increased fiber intake decreases the risk of colorectal cancer.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (1999), this protective effect may be due to fiber's tendency to add bulk to your digestive system, shortening the amount of time that wastes travel through the colon. As this waste often contains carcinogens, it is best if it is removed as quickly as possible; so, increased fiber decreases chances for intestinal cells to be affected.

The Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1999) reported that Fiber may also help protect against breast cancer, an effect noted especially with consumption of whole grains and wheat bran. Additionally, studies suggest that high amounts of fiber may also prevent breast cancer by binding to estrogen. When bacteria in the lower intestine break down fiber, a substance called butyrate is produced which may inhibit the growth of tumors of the colon and rectum as reported in the Journal of Oncology Research in 2000. Fiber may also have a protective effect against mouth, throat, and esophageal cancers according to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2001.

If you're like most North Americans, you take in only 10 to 15 grams of fiber per day. However, most studies have shown that optimal intake for cancer prevention is at least 30 to 35 grams per day. Recent studies suggest that small increases in fiber, such as adding vegetables to a chicken stir-fry or having a hamburger on a whole wheat bun, do not offer much protection. On the other hand, when we replace high-fat, animal products such as chicken, fish, cheese, and eggs with plant foods, we easily boost fiber to levels where real protection is possible.

Whole foods contain two types of dietary fiber which are known as soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. It cuts cholesterol and adds to your feeling of fullness. Good sources of soluble fiber are oats, oat bran, oatmeal, apples, citrus fruits, strawberries, dried beans, barley, rye flour, potatoes, raw cabbage, and pasta.

As you may have guessed, insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and is found in whole grain brans, fruit pulp, and vegetable peels and skins. It is the type of fiber most strongly linked to cancer protection and improved waste removal. Good sources of insoluble fiber are wheat bran, whole wheat products, cereals made from bran or shredded wheat, crunchy vegetables, barley, grains, whole wheat pasta, and rye flour.

It is best to choose fiber-rich foods over fiber supplements in order to get the full range of the cancer-fighting phytochemicals that fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains contain."