Four Steps to a Healthy Child

Our physical health plays an important role in developing good habits of nutrition and fitness. Today childhood obesity, poor nutrition, and poor fitness, is recognize as an uphill battle as students are becoming less active. Encouraging healthy practices extends beyond the home and need to become apart of each and every student goal for a healthy life. Physical activity is bodily movement of any type and may include recreational, fitness and sport activities such as jumping rope, playing soccer, lifting weights, as well as daily activities such as walking to the store, taking the stairs or raking the leaves. The benefits of regular physical activity include:

 

  • Reduces the risk for overweight, diabetes and other chronic diseases
  • Assists in improved academic performance
  • Helps children feel better about themselves
  • Reduces the risk for depression and the effects of stress
  • Helps children prepare to be productive, healthy members of society and
  • Improves overall quality of life

 

Here is some activity that could be encouraged;

 

  1. Drinking Water

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. Drinking sufficient quantities of water daily can also have significant health benefits.  For example, it is well documented that drinking sufficient amounts of water will help reduce constipation, but most people do not know that drinking eight glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%.  Drinking enough water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer (by 50%) and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer.

 

  1. Dieting

The foods you eat every day can have a tremendous effect on your health. Decades of research have produced study after study showing links between diet and serious illness. A healthy diet has the power to prevent heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders, some forms of cancer, blindness, and birth defects.

 

  1. Walking

Walkers have less incidence of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other killer diseases. They live longer and get mental health and spiritual benefits. There are many other benefits to getting your walk on.

 

  1. Weight Training

Weight training is an essential part of the mix, enhancing muscle strength, tone and bulk and contributing to an efficient metabolism. Many people get self esteem and confidence out of bodybuilding, shaping and toning, and power lifting. Weight training is very beneficial to the health of the body and it can become very satisfying to ones life.