Child Obesity

 

Child Obesity

It is very sad to see so much child obesity in the world, but it is unfortunately a reality. If there is no obesity in your own home, then it can easily be your neighbour’s child or even in their class.

As you can think, it will not only affect the child physically, but can have serious consequences on an emotional level as well. Peers and society might reject them in a way and their self-confidence might take a big knock.

With more and more children having access to cellphones and television, they are more likely to become stagnant, and their metabolism will also become stagnant. The child might also start withdrawing from social events, fellowship and relationship with others.

Junk food, highly processed food devoid of nutrients and food loaded with sugar and colourants, can all contribute to child obesity. With it being so accessible everywhere, I think it is your responsibility as the parent to keep those items out of your home as far as possible. Rather enjoy it as an occasional treat at a party.

Start looking for alternative food items that won’t make your child feel starved and rejected. They will feel like they are missing out at the beginning, but keep strong mommy, you are saving your child from sickness, disease and rejection in the long run.

Most people have an emotional relationship with food that creates a false sense of happiness that will be feeding the emotion. You need to help your child and yourself make a positive connection to healthy food. Healthy food does not mean being deprived by just living on salad and bland food.

Your child is already going through so many changes as they are growing up. Hormones can make them feel awkward and emotional at times, and they won’t always feel very comfortable or at home in their own bodies. Why make this process worse by giving them the wrong food to find comfort in?

Get them moving! Whether it is hiking, walking, cycling, running, swimming, dancing, soccer etc. It might be hard in the beginning, but once they start moving, they will start to feel better physically and emotionally due to all the feel-good hormones that are released and oxygen moving through their bodies.

Make changes by transitioning into a predominantly plant-based diet. Include more fruit and vegetables, brown rice, lentils, chickpeas, beans, nuts and seeds.

Get creative! As soon as the wheel of creativity starts moving, they will feel inspired and will start looking at things a bit differently.

Drink BarleyLife by AIM. This is a concentrated barley grass powder that is packed with valuable vitamins, nutrients and amino acids. It also helps to detox the body and contributes to a more alkaline environment where pathogens have a hard time to thrive in. This product is crucial for development and nourishment of cells.

Drink AIMega oil capsules. This is an organic seed oil blend containing essential fatty acids necessary for normal growth and development. It also nourishes your hormonal system, hair, nails, skin and the brain. Great for better cell metabolism.

You can find BarleyLife, AIMega and other products mentioned in this article on my online shop;

 myaimstore.com/healthamplified

Teach your child to identify different feelings and emotions and why they are feeling like that.

Does the child have parents that have gone through a divorce? The trauma in the process could have taken root in their lives. Get to the root of the emotion if you can and get some help if you don’t personally know how to deal with it.

Your body has the ability to heal itself. Give your body the right fuel, and it will be able to transform itself. Give it the wrong fuel, and your body will just be trying to do damage control.

It is a very different story filling your stomach just to get it full in comparison to filling your stomach to fill it up AND TO NOURISH IT through intentional eating. It is a very different feeling or point of satiety. You can have a full meal and then still have a feeling of “hunger” afterwards. This feeling is because your body did not receive enough nutrients, vitamins and minerals that your cells can utilise. You will feel rejuvenated if you have the right fuel, instead of plumping down on the couch after every meal or wanting to have a nap. I’m not talking about your occasional afternoon nap.

Most children that are obese are also struggling with constipation. If the food transit time is much slower than what it should be, the food sits in your gut and can ferment. Toxic substances that were supposed to be removed by the body can be reabsorbed into the body leaving you with aches and pains and symptoms that don’t even look like it is coming from your gut.

You need plant-based fibre to move through the digestive tract, not a diet primarily consisting of meat, refined oils, processed food and refined carbohydrates, especially not served together in the same meal. That, my friends, is a recipe for constipation. The plant fibers act as brushes, gently pushing along the food and keeping the intestines clean. An excellent product that can assist your body in the removal of waste is Herbal Fibre Blend by AIM. A combination of psyllium husk and selected herbs that gently cleanses the intestines, killing off parasites and soothing the delicate membranes. Prepzymes by AIM is a combination of enzymes that help to break down food when your body needs a kickstart. Moving right along!

A predominantly plant-based lifestyle does not have to be expensive. There is a misconception. Yes, “gluten-free” products are more expensive, but your focus must shift from gluten free to a predominantly plant-based lifestyle. Brown rice, beans, vegetables and fruit are not more expensive than meat. You won’t just be living on beans, but you will be incorporating beans, lentils and other legumes and pulses in your diet.

Make the shift for the entire family, not just the child. You might send them into binge eating and secret eating, feeling further rejection, shame and guilt. The whole family will benefit from it.

Eat enough fruit and you won’t crave sugar, eat enough plant oils in the form of avocado, corn, olives, cold pressed olive oil, nuts and seeds and you won’t crave so many salty and deep-fried food items. Remember, this is why AIMega cold pressed plant oil supplement can be to your benefit.

Don’t focus on the weight when making the transition. Focus on where you can incorporate wholefood, plant-based items and substitute the junk and items devoid of nutrients. You will feel more energised, have clearer thoughts and more stable moods. The weight will then start to drop.

Food Lover’s Market and any fruit and vegetable markets will become your new best friend. Get the kids and the rest of the family excited about healthier food. There are thousands of plant-based recipes on the internet. Get a few ideas and start planning where and how you can incorporate healthier food.

If you would like a personal consultation and would like me to walk a road with you, please contact me at info@healthamplified.co.za

You can also visit our website healthamplified.co.za

Happy transitioning!

Lizelle