With so many issues arising in the current times regarding the health of people all over the world, there is one particular area that needs the most attention and that is the health of children. While we move forward on all fronts and try to find solutions for the many diseases that are plaguing our societies, we have to show special care towards making sure that the children in ours and all the following generations are given the most attention. The reason for that is quite simple and it is the fact that it is these children who will one day grow up and move mankind forward in this world. Keeping that in mind, we have to focus on ways to make sure that the children stay healthy and a major aspect of this if food, the food they consume. It is a very simple notion to understand that if we want children that are happy, content and capable of achieving academically, we have to make sure that they are healthy in every regard. The impact of food on the health of children has been discussed here in detail to make you fully aware of what our responsibilities are.
Why children need to eat healthy?
Childhood is the part of our life that determines or has a huge bearing how the rest of our lives are going to be and eating correctly in childhood sets a platform for our eating habits, being showed the right type of foods to eat and in what quantity can hugely help in future years when it comes to our diets. When it comes to physical fitness for children the food that the children eat plays a very crucial role. Providing children with food that is healthy is extremely important because during childhood the body is growing and eating the right food is the only way to ensure that maximum growth is achieved. Unfortunately we are now becoming a society where children are excessively treated to junk food that not only weakens their bodies but it also deprives them of all the necessary nutrients. To make the matters worse, these foods are filled with excessive amounts of bad ingredients that encourage the accumulation of fats and a serious imbalance of cholesterol levels. This is in no way productive and the need to eat healthy during childhood for maximum physical and mental growth is never properly met. As a result of that, some children nowadays are being challenged both physically and mentally due to excessive eating and not enough exercise. Diseases that were supposed to be found in old people only are now starting to arise in children and this requires an immediate step of caution.
Childhood obesity
With so many fast food chains operating all over the world and providing food at extremely cheap prices, there is a huge crowd of people that are constantly eating junk food. These people are not only damaging their own bodies, but are setting the wrong eating habits for their children. The term childhood obesity is one that is not only a case of complete disbelief but it is also a very alarming thing that is growing in our society every day. Add to that the fact that this condition only worsens the chances of fighting other childhood related diseases and you have the perfect recipe for disaster. Children that grow obese are not only being challenged academically they also become alienated by a society that is already worshipping impossible standards of fitness. This can lead to problems that will be unlike anything we have seen so far and that is a very alarming situation, one that needs immediate action.
Common childhood illnesses
There are a number of problems that arise in children and the number of diseases that are being caused due to obesity is quite astonishing. Furthermore, the diseases themselves are those that you would not expect to see in children. These diseases include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, asthma, sleep disorders and several other problems that can even lead to the development of heart conditions. What must be realised here is that these problems are not just threatening the health of children but are also threatening the future of mankind.
Staying healthy and fit
With so much to worry about, we must immediately turn towards the time tested solution and that is achieving fitness and eating well. Not only should we focus on making sure that the food our children eat is healthy and balanced, it should also be complemented with proper physical activity in order to maintain physical strength. This will lead to a society that is healthy as a whole and will ensure that the children of the future are strong and capable of surviving whatever the world may throw at them. For more information, you can also visit this link to a policy released by the British government on children’s health.