Children’s nutrition is a loaded subject. At no other time in our lives is building a solid foundation for health more important. Yet, at no other time in our lives are we so completely at the mercy of others making decisions for us.
That means it’s up to the grown-ups in a child’s life to understand the importance of healthy food (and beverage) choices in order to introduce healthy habits to their children.
Easier said than done! It seems as though, in the case of children’s nutrition specifically, the simplicity of healthy choices becomes muddled with strange connotations of what a “happy childhood” should be and what our oftentimes skewed views of food are as adults.
Our society is familiar with the concept of an early window of opportunity to teach children things like foreign languages or a skill, like playing a musical instrument. We’ve heard that children are at peak developmental stages very early in life, and therefore we should maximize their opportunities by teaching them these advanced concepts at early ages.
Whether you agree or not, have applied it with your children or not, it’s a socially acceptable concept that seems to make sense to most people. It’s peculiar that, as a society, we don’t yet understand that the very same principles apply to the health of a child.
The early developmental years are a critical time for creating a solid foundation for nutritional health, as well as movement and mindset. What we feed our children (or what we passively allow them to eat or others to feed them), and what we teach our children about nutrition NOW will impact their health for the rest of their lives.
Our family is certainly not perfect in any way, including our nutritional choices. But, we stick to a few basic principles overall in an ongoing, concerted effort to make the healthiest choices possible. We apply the simple Wellness Formula to all of our lifestyle choices, including the nutritional ones.
The Wellness Formula describes how health is created and how sickness is allowed to develop. In order to create optimal health and function, we must make pure and sufficient choices. As described by Wellness expert, Dr. James Chestnut, these are things that meet our body’s innate genetic requirements for health. The two types of choices that move us unequivocally away from health are toxic and deficient ones. Toxic choices are things that work against our body’s efforts to create health – they are not requirements for health.
In applying this to children’s nutrition, we simply talk about what food choices the body truly needs in order to build a strong, healthy body and a brilliant mind, as opposed to which choices are interfering with our body’s efforts and are leading to a loss of health. Kids get this. There are building blocks for health, and then there are things that come by and destroy what you’ve been building. You get to choose.
Another concept that works around here is, “fill up with health first”. It’s not about saying you can “never” have that cookie or that birthday cake or that less-than-healthy food choice. It’s about making sure you’ve given your body what it needs first – the raw materials for building health. If you know you’re going to be eating something more toxic later in the day, then make sure you fuel up with lots of healthy choices first, that’s all.
It’s also about teaching responsibility and accountability to kids when it comes to their health. There are limitations to matter! They can’t fill up with health first, then choose toxic garbage every single day. That’s too much for our physiology to overcome. A toxin is a toxin, no matter how much broccoli preceded it!
As grown-ups, we sure do pass on some odd beliefs and customs to our younger generation regarding food. One example is how we talk about food. When a food choice obviously doesn’t create any health, and in fact moves us away from health, should we really be calling it a “treat”? Isn’t that completely mixed messaging we’re sending our children (and ourselves)? It’s not a treat if it’s contributing to chronic illness!
Let’s call it like it is. How about a “tasty toxin”! (Thanks to Dr. Chestnut for that little gem!) Sure, it tastes great… and you should go ahead and enjoy it in that moment once you’ve made the choice. But let’s be perfectly clear – it’s not good for you and making that choice with any regularity has devastating consequences over time.
That’s the crux right there. If we truly understood the consequences of the choices we’re making on behalf of our children, we’d choose differently. If we clearly understood the consequences of that toxic choice, maybe we’d pass on it. If we clearly …
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Cat Dental Care – Taking Care of Your Cat’s Teeth is Important For His Overall Health
Making sure your cat has healthy teeth and gums is one area where you and your veterinarian must work together. Dental polishings and scalings by your veterinarian are an important part of preventive medicine, and keeping teeth clean between veterinary appointments is something that should be done by all cat owners.
Plaque buildup on teeth causes the gums to recede, and opens pockets at the root line that are havens for bacterial infections. If left unchecked, these infections can lead to tooth loss, making eating painful for your cat, and it will be putting his immune system and internal organs under stress. This in turn leads to illness and premature aging. Rotting teeth in gums can also become a powerful source of bad breath, which some cat owners treat with products that only temporarily take care of the smell, but do nothing about the real problem.
Although some cat owners and groomers scale the plaque themselves, this process will not take care of the problem at the root line. Therefore, regular cleanings by a veterinarian under anesthesia are essential to ensure good dental health.
In between vet cleanings, brushing 2 or 3 times a week with a child’s toothbrush or fingertip brush, and using toothpaste designed for pets, will slow the building of plaque and extend the time between dental scalings.
Brushing your cat’s teeth is not always an easy thing to do, but if your cat will allow it, you can make a big difference in his oral health. Doing this regularly also saves you money by increasing the time between veterinary dental cleanings.
The key to getting a cat used to having his teeth brushed is to do it in small steps at a time. Be patient and encouraging during the process, and make teeth cleaning part of a session of petting, and playing with your cat at the end.…
Need Help Taking Care Of Your Teeth? Read On
Are you interested in improving your dental care but don’t know where to begin? Maybe you already practice good dental care habits but would like additional information? Either way, the following article is here to help anyone looking for a cleaner mouth to help avoid any costly dentist trip. Keep reading for tips on dental care.
If you have bad breath and a dry mouth, it may be a side effect of a prescription medication. If you aren’t producing enough saliva, then discomfort and cavities can occur. Ask your doctor if the medication he or she has prescribed you affects your saliva production. If that is true, you may be able to take a different medicine. If you cannot do this, perhaps your doctor has a dry mouth treatment.
Avoid snacking on carbs if possible. Potato chips and other salty snacks will not be easy to remove from your teeth. If you need to have a snack, choose some fruits or another healthy food. Clean your teeth immediately afterward if you can, or plan on spending more time flossing later.
If you have anxiety about going to the dentist you are not alone. Many people fear the trip to the dentist, but there really is no reason to be nervous. All of the staff is highly trained and usually do their best to make sure you are comfortable, whether you are in for a simple cleaning or a complicated oral surgery.
Receding gum lines is known cause a host of illnesses. Brushing and flossing is important to your gum health. Everyone should floss and brush their teeth in the morning and at bedtime as well as between meals to help prevent gum disease. Use good brushing and flossing techniques to help prevent future illness.
Never, ever chew on ice! Over time, chewing ice may crack the enamel on your teeth. As a result, you will be more prone to developing cavities and other problems caused by bacteria. Be careful if you eat popcorn, nuts or other hard foods. You must make an appointment with a dentist quickly if you find that you have a cracked tooth.
If you are only going to brush twice a day, do it when you are first getting up and when you finally go to bed. Early morning brushing gets rid of morning breath and deals with anything that settled in during your sleep. Brushing at bedtime helps your plaque-fighting saliva out, since it is going to dry up overnight.
Examine your toothbrush several times a month. Look for signs that you might need to buy a new one. The bristles are often the first indication. If you see that they are becoming frayed, go out and purchase something else. In general, you shouldn’t go longer than four months without getting another brush.
After reading the above article you should fully understand what is needed to help care for your mouth. Follow the steps in this article and use it as a guide each day to give you that cleaner mouth. Tell your family about these great tips so everyone around you can have a whiter smile.…
The Ins And Outs Of Taking Care Of Your Teeth
Dental care is an important part of modern life. Poor dental hygene has taken the life of many people before, an you do not want it to be the cause of your pain or demise. Use the following tips to take great care of your teeth. the results are worth the work.
Brush your teeth after each meal. The longer food particles remain in your mouth, the higher the risk of damage. If you brush within 30 minutes after eating you’ll significantly limit any damage from plaque. If you want to try to lessen the number of cavities you get, this will help with that.
Go to your regular dentist, at least, twice a year, or as needed. The single most effective way to protect your mouth is to receive consistent, adequate dental care. Also, you will be more comfortable with your dentist when you see him or her regularly. Establishing a good relation is important if any serious work will need to be done.
If your teeth are looking a little less than white these days, try not to stress out about it too much. There are many great products that you can purchase that really work to whiten your teeth. There are strips, pens, toothpaste and gums that can all help to lessen the staining.
Are you dealing with tooth decay? You should go to your dentist and ask about dental sealant. Your dentist will be able to place a protective coating on your molars so the tooth decay does not go any further. Do not wait for the situation to get worse; go to your dentist as soon as you notice the decay.
If you suffer from a dry mouth, use a toothpaste and mouthwash specially designed to help relieve dry mouth. Many of today’s leading toothpaste brands contain ingredients that will dry out your mouth. Therefore, if you suffer from dry mouth, look for dry mouth relief toothpastes and mouth washes.
It is ideal to brush in a downward motion. Food and bacteria gets stuck underneath the edges of your gums, and this will help to pull that debris loose. Brushing sideways is okay, but you need to also move your brush up and down to be effective.
If you are having a difficult time paying for necessary dental work, consider visiting a dental college. College students in the later stages of their training need real people to work on, and they will often perform work at a significantly reduced cost. All students are supervised by their professors or certified dentists, so you remain in safe hands during your procedure.
When you think of dental care you usually think about brushing your own teeth, but what about your pets? Good oral hygiene is not only good for you, but for your pets as well. There are tooth brushes and tooth pastes that are specially made for animals, and certain bones and treats that are made to help reduce tarter build up.
Do not let poor dental hygiene reduce your quality of life. It is important to take care of your mouth. Use the tips from above on dental hygiene to keep your teeth and gums clean. Enjoy you life free from mouth pain when you take great care of your teeth.…