February has long been promoted as “Heart Health Month”…   Most of the focus is typically on the middle aged sedentary adult … get up, get moving, eat better…

I work with families… parents and their children who are struggling to eat better in a society full of tempting junk food.  It is tough.  Increasingly, I see children and teens who are losing the battle against the trappings of easy processed food.  The result?  Early signs of heart disease… particularly evidenced by abnormal blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

MYTH BUSTER:  A child does not need to be overweight and sedentary to have abnormal blood lipids.

Here’s my suggestion:  if you child DOES NOT consume a regular diet of 4 – 5 cups of fruits and vegetables per day and get at least 3 servings of high-fiber grains (”high fiber” = at least 3 gm fiber per serving)… and/or if your child DOES consume processed foods (chips, fries, sweets, etc) and fatty forms of animal foods (ie. 80/20 ground beef, dark meat chicken with the skin, whole fat dairy) on a regular basis… then it would be a great idea to get their lipids screened.

What to look for?  The National Cholesterol Education Program classification of cholesterol levels in children and adolescents are as follows:

Acceptable:  Total Cholesterol less than 170 mg/dL and LDL Cholesterol less than 110 mg/dL

Borderline: Total Cholesterol 170-199 mg/dL and LDL Cholesterol 110 – 129 mg/dL

High:  Total Cholesterol greater than 200 mg/dL and LDL Cholesterol greater than 130 mg/dL

Next time you take your child to a routine medical check up… PLEASE request a lipid panel!

Research, though sometimes confusing and construed to fit the whims of the day, can be very helpful in piecing together the puzzle that is childhood obesity today.

One such piece of research released this month in the American Journal of Public Health (February 2010, Vol 100, No. 2 | American Journal of Public Health 334-340 © 2010) has shed light on the link between childhood obesity and the exposure to TV food commercials.

In this particular study, it was the exposure to and influence of TV commercial content, not the “couch potato” (sedentary activity) effect of watching TV, that was a significant influence on the increase in BMI over time.  How can TV food commercials impact childhood obesity in such a profound way?

Researchers believe that the TV advertising had the significant effect of influencing food preferences – especially among the younger (0-6 year old) children in the study.  It was concluded that the more TV commercials (for sweetened cereals, junk food and fast food chains) viewed, the more likely the child will want to try the food.  And we all know what happens once a child tries a colorful, sweet or highly palatable salty-crunchy food …

“… much of the food we’re eating–this trifecta of fat, sugar, and salt–stimulates us.  And we now see from the science–this highly palatable food is excessively activating the neural circuitry of our brains.  We now know… the reason we keep on eating is because of this sustained stimulation.” Dr. David Kessler, pediatrician, former FDA commissioner, former dean of the Yale & UCSF medical schools, author of The End of Overeating: Why a chocolate chip cookie has such power over us- Fat, Sugar, Salt and the Brain

… they always want more.

Thanks again to First Lady Michelle Obama for keeping childhood obesity at the forefront of the national news.  Although Colorado is perceived at the “healthiest state”, today’s Denver Post article : “Obesity plan feels at home in Colo.” points out that the number of obese children in Colorado climbed from 48,000 in 2003 to 72,000 in 2007!  The end is not in sight.  There’s still a great deal of work to do on every front.  Obama’s four-part campaign includes serving healthier food in schools, increasing the access to and affordability of healthier foods, encouraging physical activity among the nation’s children… and my personal passion… helping parents make better food choices.  I feel privileged to be “in the trenches” of the childhood obesity epidemic.  To sit across the table from a family and see them make eye-opening discoveries about the foods that are going into their bodies is so rewarding.  It is not easy to motivate a young teen who cannot yet feel the effects of their elevated cholesterol and borderline blood sugar readings – yet I do it, because their future is at stake.  Parents, educators, nutrition professionals, legislators and childhood advocates must continue to lock arms and do what is necessary, though sometimes challenging, to help the nation’s children be more fit from the inside-out!

I understand that the world does not go around unless products and goods are being manufactured and sold… however, I often question whether it should be at the expense of the health and wellness of a generation of children and their families.  While the government, lobbyists and food producers of the US battle to determine what is best for all… I sit across the kitchen table from real-life families who are struggling to understand why it is so hard to select nutritious foods off of the grocery store shelves!  Now, in an ideal world (a world most of us DO NOT live in) it would be simple… we could simply avoid purchasing any foods that come in a box, package or container.  We could instead have a backyard garden, shop at local farmer’s markets to buy raw ingredients and make all consumable products from scratch – so we know exactly what is going into our food.  Again, I reiterate – I work with “real-life” families who have busy schedules to navigate, limited financial resources, and a wide range of personal food preferences to work around.  Cooking from scratch is not always an option for most of the hectic families that I work with on a daily basis!  So how do I guide families through the packaged food jungle?  There are several key steps:

1) Prioritize – It is often overwhelming for families to take all factors into consideration at once. I encourage families to break down the processed food world into smaller pieces.  For example, a family may decide to take a week to track sugar consumption and become aware of all of the hidden sources.  Alternatively, a family could make it a goal to purchase only packaged foods with five or less ingredients…ingredients that are known and identifiable.  Perhaps the family’s weak spot is in the  area of caloric beverages like juice drinks, sport waters, and flavored coffee beverages – this may be a good place to start!

2) Learn the Label – Although it is still a very flawed tool, the food label can provide us with some valuable information.  Go to http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/ConsumerInformation/ucm078889.htm to learn more about the important aspects of the label.  Another up-and-coming resource can be found at www.nuval.com.  NuVal, developed by Dr. David Katz, is a food scoring system that may be coming to a grocery store near you in the future.

3) Involve the entire family – The dialogue in the grocery store could go something like this… “OK kids, there are over 100 cereals on this isle – let’s see if we can find one with more than 3 grams of fiber, less than 12 grams of sugar, and no artificial colors per serving… ready – set – go!”

4) Teach awareness – Let your children know that there’s a reason why their “favorite food” comes out of a brightly colored package and is promoted by a fun cartoon character, a spin-off TV show and an exciting game-oriented website! Help your children look beyond the gimmick to the true value of a food.

5) Take a deep breath and release the guilt – It is not uncommon for me to see tears of frustration and guilt coming out of a mother’s eyes when she is faced with the reality that the health of her children has been adversely affected by the food choices that the family has been making.  This is a normal part of change – grieving for the mistakes made in the past and doing the hard work of turning in a new direction.  I urge families to take time to mentally and emotionally “wrap their head around” the WHY of making nutrition and activity changes in their lives and then envision the resulting improvement in health and vitality for life.  Take a break – even if it is a few minutes per day to visualize the outcome and breathe deep – knowing that change takes time and focus!

Let us know how an IMAGEplus+ Dietitian-Coach can help your family today!

At IMAGEplus+ Health Concepts we strive to help move individuals and families toward better health habits, and we look for ways to infuse health into what is already part of their routine!  Take our line of HEALTHY Coffee & Tea as a prime example… it’s easy to forget to take a new vitamin supplement that is recommended by your dietitian or doctor… but forget to drink your cup of coffee in the morning?  NO WAY!  It is a habit that is not easily broken.  We are so excited when we meet a coffee or tea drinker – because it is one more opportunity to infuse HEALTH into an established habit!  What has been the result?  It is all “coincidental”… but after a few months on HEALTHY coffee or tea, we have seen appetite suppressed, hypertension decreased, cholesterol levels come down and more…

What makes this product unique?  What is so healthy about coffee?  OrGano Gold coffee and tea are infused with the “King of Herbs”, Ganoderma (Reishi) – an herb that has been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years.  Don’t take our word for it though… visit www.pubmed.com and search for Ganoderma, or go to www.reishi.com and click on the research link for more info.  To give this product a try, visit our HEALTHY coffee website, www.great4ucoffee.organogold.com/na/biz/ and click on the shop/enroll button!

Have a GREAT HEALTHY COFFEE DAY!

Just a snippet from an article in today’s Denver Post (source: The Philadelphia Inquirer). Brian Wansink, author of “Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think” comments on Jennifer Orlet Fisher’s research… “When it comes to childhood obesity or obesity in general, people love to point fingers…” Fisher’s work “shows how a parent or other gatekeepers in a household can make a difference in childhood obesity, tonight.”

I could not agree more! That is the reason why I am passionate about sitting down across the kitchen table with parents and their children to help them all bring a mindful presence back into their eating!

Popsicles, “juice” boxes, and mac ‘n cheese… Oh NO!  Summer time can be a great time for kids to get outdoors, play and explore.  What can we do as parents to help our children get the most out of summer?  Number 1: Don’t skimp on healthy, nutritious meals and snacks!  Nutrition often takes a backseat in the summer… kids sleep in late and skip breakfast more often.  Convenient, packaged foods are thrown together to get through a day at the zoo.  Pool-side fair includes hot dogs, pizza, candy and pop!  Make a difference in your child’s health this summer… Plant a garden and share in the labor and rewards of a bountiful harvest… or volunteer at an urban garden (www.dug.org)… visit a farmer’s market every week and ask your kids to pick out a new fruit or vegetable that the family has never tried… pack nutritious snacks before heading out for the day… fresh fruits and veggies, small portions of 100% fruit juice, air-popped popcorn, light yogurt that has been frozen ahead of time, GORP or trail mix are all great portable choices.  Number 2: Don’t… I repeat… DON’T let kids have more than 2 hours of screen time (this means any form of screen) a day!  Recently I read an article about Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey.  In this article he mentioned how he grew to absolutely love the outdoors… his mom used to say to him something to the effect of… “The sun is shining, you must be outdoors!”.  I encourage you as a parent to entice your children outdoors.  Give them some creative ideas… share with them… “When I was a kid in the summer I would…” then empower them to do likewise!  This summer give your kids the two powerful ingredients for health and vitality:  nutrition and outdoor play!

Yesterday I mentioned the first of two headlines featured in the Denver Post that directly relate to Family Nutrition… bottom line of STORY #1: What is eaten during pregnancy can affect a baby’s health and weight status! Today I continue with STORY #2: “Toxic metal detected in corn syrup“… as if there weren’t enough reasons to lay off of the regular soda!  Although this study was small (just 20 samples) it has significant implications because high fructose corn syrup is so prevelant in the typical American diet… and even traces can add up, especially for young children and teens.  Researchers found that there were traces of mercury in 9 of the 20 samples examined.  The toxic metal exposure comes as a result of a manufacturing process that helps extract high fructose conrn syrup from corn kernels. So, what do we do as a family??? First, check food labels before you buy… realize how many of the foods you regularly eat contain corn syrup as an ingredient. Where does corn syrup hide? Condiments/seasonings/sauces, cereal, processed breads, beverages, canned fruit, flavored yogurt… and many more!  Second, if there’s a close alternative (ie. different brand or similar food item) that does not contain corn syrup, buy this alternative product instead.  Third… and most important… shop around the outside of the grocery store to find whole, unproccessed foods… start with fruits and vegetables and lean cuts of meat, fish and poultry and choose dairy products without added sugar (ie. lowfat milk, plain yogurt, cottage cheese).  Finally, carefully navigate the center isles of the store… look for whole grains (brown rice, oats, corn tortillas, whole wheat pasta), canned beans/legumes, and minimally processed staples.  BOTTOM LINE: More research is needed to warrant a complete removal of corn syrup from our diets… but to be on the safe side, begin to wean your family off of this often-present ingredient by choosing nutrient-rich whole foods instead of highly processed foods and beverages!

Nearly every day there are nutrition-related news stories hitting the mainstream media… today is no exception.  Usually I just glance over the articles – but today I paused because both of today’s stories in the Denver Post had a direct link to the families we seek to serve at IMAGEplus+ Health Concepts!  NEWS STORY #1:  “Monkeys hand humans fat clue”. New research coming out of the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine points to the theory that childhood obesity begins in the womb. Monkeys who ate a diet high in fat from processed foods had pre-term fetus’ that had already developed a fatty liver (which can contribute to diabetes and other chronic health problems later in life) and full-term babies who became overweight by the time they were 6 months old.  Even more striking – it did not matter if the mothers became fat on the “junk food” diet… it still affected the health and weight status of their babies!  What does this mean for women who are or hope to become pregnant? Although more research is needed and we are limited by the non-human nature of this study, we can safely assume that what a pregnant woman eats does affect her offspring.  The quality, not just the quantity of food consumed has potential to affect the future health and weight status of her newborn.  What is the solution? Fresh, whole foods… more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, lowfat dairy (or dairy-substitute)!  NEED HELP??? It is not easy to make lifestyle changes, but if you knew that your choices could affect your baby… would you at least want to try to improve your diet to include more whole foods?  We can help!  Call an IMAGEplus+ Coach or Registered Dietitian TODAY at (888) 314-9998.

NEWS STORY #2… to be continued, tomorrow…

Without a doubt, the new year is a great time to focus on weight loss among adults… thus the plethora of new advertisements for the latest, greatest weight loss lotion, potion or … diet!  But what about our kids, our families? What do they need as they assess their health in the new year?  Do they need another diet… or does Mom need to be on another diet?  NO!  Families need more than just another fad diet to achieve optimal health.  Beginning the first week of February, IMAGEplus+ Health Concepts is offering SOMETHING NEW for parents who are struggling to get meals on the table or broccoli past their kids’ lips… the Family Nutrition Camp.  What will make the difference for families?… HINT: It is not more information!  What makes the difference is how our IMAGEplus+ dietitians and coaches empower families to apply what they know into their everyday life and provide them with one-on-one support and encouragement throughout the process.  Do you know a family who could use help with their nutrition and health??? Send them to the Family Nutrition Camp… it will change the way the eat, think and live!