I always
tell our girls that a teenagers’ hormones can be like fireworks! Hormones
fluctuate throughout the month and we need to try and keep it as stable as
possible.
Sugar,
caffeine and refined carbohydrates like cake, rusks, bread, white pasta and
pizza can all put strain on the endocrine system. Please remember that 2minute
wheat noodles are not their own food group and cannot be a staple diet,
especially not in a teenager’s diet. It will only fill up their stomachs, but
is empty and stripped of valuable nutrients that will also leave your teenager
with a drop in blood sugar.
A drop in their blood sugar means a terrible
mood, fatigue, symptoms of depression and unnecessary conflict. Don’t forget
that the little packet of flavouring is dynamite and will send your teenager
deeper into space! It is filled with artificial flavouring and MSG (flavour
enhancers), which is one recipe that can throw off your hormones. Please limit
the noodles, throw
away the small packet of flavouring and use your own
condiments and herbs the day that they can have those noodles.
Brain fog,
lack of concentration, fatigue, lack of vision and tearfulness are all part of
the package and negative side effects of sugar, caffeine and refined
carbohydrates. They will not be able to cope as well with situations and
challenges that they are facing. A false sense of loneliness, rejection,
emotional lows and anger can set in. Please don’t let your child bombard
her/his body in the process of teenage development.
You can just
imagine what effects it can have on PMS. It might send your child’s hormones
through the roof and everyone will be walking on egg shells. Her hormones are
already trying to stabilise. Disrupt the hormones by eating a diet based on
refined carbohydrates, sugar and caffeine, and she will be left with worse skin
breakouts and low self-esteem. All of this will put extra strain on the body,
stress on the immune system, and then they can be open to illnesses.
How can
you help your teenager?
It is our
responsibility as moms (and dads…) to teach your children about a healthy
lifestyle. Yes, they are at the stage where they want to do everything
themselves and are too cool to listen to your advice. They seem to be under the
impression that we were only born yesterday. They might not take your advice,
but what you can do is feed them nutritious food. Focus on adding nutritious
food instead of placing focus on all the things that they cannot have. Your general guideline should be in keeping
sugar, refined carbohydrates and caffeine to a bare minimum. Try not to keep it
in the house, but let them enjoy it on occasion.
Make sure
that they are eating enough wholegrains. These contain B vitamins to help the
body cope with stress and provides a slow release of energy. We need to try and
stay away from the food that will spike their blood sugar, and then their
emotions. Oats, brown rice, lentils, millet, buckwheat, sweet potatoes and baby
potatoes will all provide a slow, continuous release of energy.
Don’t forget
good fats and oils. Give them the right oils and they won’t crave comfort food
so often. Their hormones need good oils and the oil won’t make their skin oily
and lead to breakouts. Refined, processed and heated oils are the culprits. Avocadoes,
nuts and seeds, olives, corn and olive oil are all examples of good oils. See
it as salve for their hormones.
Good fats
and oils are also essential for proper cell metabolism because it helps to
nourish the cell membranes. It then allows good nutrition to reach at cellular
level, and toxins to leave through the cell membranes. Your brain, hair, skin
and nails all need good fats and oils. I would highly recommend my AIM product
called AIMega. It is an organic seed oil blend containing essential fatty acids
for necessary growth and development. You can find AIMega on my online
shop, www.myaimstore.com/healthamplified.
We all need
fruit and vegetables and it is not even up for discussion with your teenager.
They need the right kind of sugar in the form of fruit and dates. The brain
needs glucose to function properly. All the vitamins and minerals help to keep
the body and its immune system strong and heathy. Sweets and junk food cravings
will decrease once they start eating fruit and dates.
We need to
feed them vegetables to keep their cells clean and strong. The vitamins and
minerals fight free radicals formed during stress and removes toxins and
chemicals that entered the body. Green, red and orange-coloured vegetables are
crucial in your diet. I can make your life a little easier for you by
introducing you to AIM’s GardenTrio. Three products that work in synergy. This
is BarleyLife, a green powder leaf concentrate, Redibeets which is a
concentrated beetroot powder and JustCarrots, a concentrated carrot powder.
These are all fresh green barley grass, beets and carrots that have been juiced
and dried. Just mix the three powders together with water or juice in the
morning and you are good to go. One less thing to worry about!
Protein
helps to stabilise blood sugar levels and are building blocks for the body.
These blocks are called amino acids. All these wild emotions that can be
associated with teenagers can be pulled a bit closer together by incorporating
protein. Protein also keeps you fuller for longer. We prefer a predominantly
plant-based diet so we include plant-based protein where we can. Our digestion,
sleep, energy levels and health are just so much better on a plant-based diet.
Ingredients like beans, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, nuts and seeds (especially
chia seeds), nut butter, green leafy vegetables, soya milk, tofu and brown rice
are all staple foods in our home.
If you
prefer to include meat, eggs and dairy as your protein sources, make sure that
you don’t consume too much of it. It can be filled with growth hormones and
antibiotics, which will then directly influence your own hormones. If you do
include yoghurt, make sure that it is of good quality with no sugar and colourants.
The growth hormones from the cow milk, the sugar and the colourants is a recipe
for disaster. I suggest that you buy a plain yoghurt and then add your own fruit
and some nuts. Please take note that dairy is one of the biggest instigators of
pimples and acne and can worsen it.
If you feel
that your teenager is not eating properly, I have a vegan pea protein powder
that you can add to smoothies. It will help keep their blood sugar levels
stable, it will keep them fuller for a bit longer and will help with muscle
growth and development. You can order ProPeas on my online store www.myaimstore.com/healthamplified
Get them to
start moving! Preferably away from the couch and cellphone and into nature and
some fresh air. Feel good hormones get released and your teenager will feel
happier and good about themselves, even if it is just 10% better at first.
If you can’t
get your child to join sports or some kind of physical activity, take the
family to a Saturday Park Run or find a nature trail to walk somewhere over the
weekend. If all else fails, then take the family ice skating!
By eating
the right foods, you will nourish your cells, have sustained energy, happier
hormones and stabilised moods. Your child will be able to cope better in
everyday challenges with the occasional tantrum or door slamming. A happy
teenager is a happier family!
In ending
off, if you have changed your diet and lifestyle for at least 3 months and you
see that your child is still struggling with symptoms of depression and severe
PMS, then you need to look for deeper emotional hurts and root causes that
should be dealt with.
You can
contact me at info@healthamplified.co.za to set up a consultation. We can
advise you on meal plans, snack ideas, shopping lists etc. We also do
counselling and emotion healing to help you on your journey to better health.
Our website is www.healthamplified.co.za
Let’s get
our teenagers back to earth!
Blessings.
Lizelle
This was mind opening, thanks so much
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