Kids’ Sodium Intake On The Rise

New government research shows that more than 90 percent of kids in the US, ages 6-18 years old, eat more sodium than recommended and it’s not coming from the salt shaker. This influx in sodium is coming from everyday foods such as pizza, bread, sandwiches, cold cuts, chicken nuggets and patties, Mexican dishes, pasta dishes, and soups. The concern is that this increase in sodium in young kids will lead to high blood pressure and heart disease in the future.

            According to CDC standards, kids should consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Currently, numbers show that kids are digesting about 3,300 mg of sodium per day. Prior to asking for a salt packet or reaching for the salt shaker, sodium is already found in many foods. Based on government research, 65 percent of sodium comes from store foods, 13 percent comes from fast food, and 9 percent comes from the school cafeteria. Here are a few tips to reduce sodium intake:

• Introduce fresh fruits and vegetables.
• When cooking, substitute salt with garlic, onion powder, citrus juice, or other salt-free seasonings.
• Prepare foods from their most natural state, dry or fresh.
• When buying meals, look for those with less than 600mg of sodium per meal.
• Ask for no salt to be added when eating out at restaurants or fast food establishments.

Similar to adults, kids consume majority of their sodium from processed foods and meals prepared outside of the home. While the occasional treat is understandable and well deserved, try to keep kids’ sodium intake under 2,300 mg per day. A healthy child foreshadows a healthy adult!

Excerpt from: Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Who Speaks? Autism Speaks.

Just as their young child is beginning to walk and function by themselves, one of the most trying experiences for a parent is to be told is that their child may be on the autism spectrum.  Unfortunately, more parents are hearing those harsh words.  One in every 88 children in the US is diagnosed as being on the spectrum for autism. What does being on the spectrum mean? Autism Speaks defines it as, “having exceptional abilities in visual skills, music and academic skills. About 40 percent have intellectual disability (IQ less than 70), and many have normal to above average intelligence. Indeed, many persons on the spectrum take deserved pride in their distinctive abilities and “atypical” ways of viewing the world. Others with autism have significant disability and are unable to live independently. About 25 percent of individuals with ASD are nonverbal but can learn to communicate using other means.”

Autism affects more children in the US than Diabetes, AIDS, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and Down Syndrome combined.

            Autism can be diagnosed as early as 18-24 months. Once a child is diagnosed, many parents must realize that their child may have to go to extreme measures to live a somewhat normal life compared to other children. This is modeled in a new book by autistic teen, Trevor Pacelli, titled Growing Up Autistic: 100 Lessons To Understand How Autistic People See Life. In his book, Pacelli explains what it is like growing up autistic, being diagnosed at 5 years old, and how people can better understand what goes on inside the mind of a person on the spectrum. Within the book, Pacelli shares 10 things people should know about autistic children and teens and how they think: 

1.      They get either A’s or F’s
2.      Nobody on earth thinks like them.
3.      Time alone vs. time with others
4.      Some actually prefer to be alone
5.      Balance solo activities with parental interaction
6.      They also want to go out
7.      They need to vent their problems
8.      Getting out of the home helps with social skills
9.      Everyone needs to be socially active
10.  Some can have mood swings

While many parents and caregivers may not understand how the autistic brain functions, the fact that autism affects hundreds of thousands of children in this country is reason enough why we need to be educated. Understanding how this abnormal brain functions, is the first step in finding a cure so that it can function normally. Listen to how autism speaks.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/faq

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/growing-up-autistic-teen-_n_2005778.html?utm_hp_ref=parents&ir=Parents

Is 5 Years Old Too Young For An Addiction?

Most working adults will tell you that if they start their day without coffee, it will inevitably be tiresome, slow, and less productive as a morning with Folgers in their cup. Now, what if someone told you that a five year old was having that same reaction? Could someone that young be addicted to caffeine? Recent studies are showing that children are becoming addicted to caffeine as young as five, not because of coffee, but because of everything that comes cold and thirst quenching.  And, the frequency in which they consume these beverages adds to the problem.  Here are just a few things children are drinking that have their caffeine adrenalin soaring through their little young bodies:

• ·         Arizona Green Tea Energy ® 200 mg equivalent to 4 Cokes
• ·         Orange Soda ® Filled with acid & one 12 ounce contains 41 mg of caffeine
• ·         Mountain Dew ® Has 55 mg of caffeine
• ·         Pepsi ® Contains 38 mg of caffeine/ 54 mg for Pepsi ONE

With the average suggested caffeine intake at fewer than 200 mg per day, most people surpass this number based on the size of their cup. If you think that switching your soda with a diet version will make it better, THINK AGAIN! When companies remove sugar, they add more substitute sweeteners, therefore, enhancing the amount of caffeine. With sodas, sports drinks, teas, and energy boosters present in many homes across America, children have more accessibility to this “drug” than ever before (if it can cause an addiction, yes, it is a drug).

            Are you now wondering what the caffeine is really doing to these young bodies? Caffeine is a stimulant. It is used to boost endorphins within the body for a short amount of time by speeding up the heart rate and releasing energy. The problem with caffeine is that, when the heart rate is increased and then drops, it weakens the heart. Just think, a child’s heart is far less developed than that of an adult; therefore, their heart is being damaged before it reaches its full potential. Enhanced heart rates can lead to heart attack or stroke. When the body is on caffeine, it makes it harder to sleep. In children, since their body does not absorb caffeine as quickly as an adult, it stays in their system longer and makes it harder for them to go to sleep, disrupting their sleep pattern.

            In recent news, a Maryland family has filed a lawsuit against Monster, an energy drink company, after their 14 year old daughter drank two cans in a 24hr period and went into cardiac arrest. This is just one of five cases being investigated throughout the country in which young people have suffered extreme heart conditions after drinking these energy boosters.

            With stories such as these in the news, parents are pushing for energy drinks and soft drink companies to place disclaimers on their products, warning of caffeine amounts and possible dangers. Should companies place a disclaimer on these products, or should parents take away the caffeinated drinks and hand over a bottle of water? What is your child having with their dinner tonight?

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/childrens-health/articles/2010/12/16/kids-are-getting-amped-on-caffeine-even-at-age-5

Kids are Exercising Their Way to Good Grades

A recent study has once again confirmed that the more physically active a child is, the more success they will have in the classroom. The findings, that are from one high quality intervention study and one high quality observational study, are being published in the January 2012 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. It is noted in the article that “increases in the blood and oxygen flow to the brain that accompanies exercise may play a role in improving classroom performance.” Simply, this physical reaction reduces stress and greatly improves mood which results in better grades in school.

So, we call on all parents and caregivers to get kids active! Encourage them to play and exercise more, and join in on the fun yourselves. The White House even launched a program in 2010, Let’s Move, to raise a healthier generation of kids. Visit the program’s website for tips on getting active. The results will leave the kids happy, healthy and more successful!