by Mitchell C. Adams

Tags: atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries

photo credit: gotplaid?

The problem of obesity is clearly evident in our current society. Research indicates that the rates of obesity have, at best, doubled with some sections of society. But among children, the rate of obesity has tripled. People who suffer from obesity cannot merely slough it off as an appearance issue. They should educate themselves about the possible health consequences of being overweight. This is even more important in children who become obese at an early age. It is a travesty that obese children, if their habits remain the same, will always have to struggle with health problems beginning in childhood.

Unfortunately in some families the trend towards obesity can be hereditary. Even if this is the case, there are still many steps than a parent can take to help prevent their child developing obesity. Of course the primary factor is the child’s nutrition. Steps should be taken where possible to prevent children over consuming fast foods or snack foods that are low in nutritional value.

It can be difficult to encourage children to eat properly. Really it’s up to you. You should start feeding them better quality food at an early age and begin to train them into proper eating behaviour. If you don’t all eat together and spend time at the dinner table eating properly, this will be difficult. If you allow them to eat their dinner quickly and rush away from the table, you’re selling bad habits for the future. Believe it or not the slower a child eats the less food normally they will consume.

Recently across the USA and the UK in particular, a trend has developed where food is used as a reward. You see this happening with school achievements. They are given ice cream or sweets for doing well with school reports, sports, or even homework. Subconsciously this reinforces the pleasure of eating, and in later years can lead to problems of obesity.

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Ways that you can counteract unhealthy snack eating are to have convenient healthy foods such as small prepackaged salads handy in your fridge. You could also have for example, small fruit salads which you can keep from browning by adding a touch of lemon juice over the sliced fruit. Carrot sticks are also a tasty idea, and perhaps a few small portions of smoothies with pure yoghurt would be another good nutritional choice to have in the fridge.

Why you may not be able to eliminate every undesirable snack choice, you can certainly cut down on your children’s choices by doing your best to eliminate the less desirable items from your kitchen. When you do this then you’re not having to worry so much about childrens party cakes and possible health risks because their normal diet is usually healthy and nutritious.

Healthy foods are not always a convenient option for the busy parent. In today’s society, foods that are high in fat and other unhealthy components are more readily available than their healthier counterparts. But when possible, parents should strive to fill their child’s diet with as much healthy food possible. The sugary snack should be used only as an occasional enjoyment rather than a daily requirement. Doing this will ensure a healthier diet for your child and relieve you from being distressed over their daily eating habits.

A nutritious diet is a key ingredient for an active child. Healthy foods provide longer-lasting energy rather than the short spurts that sugary foods tend to give. The more playing that a child does, the more calories that child will burn. A healthy diet that is coupled with a sufficient amount of activity is important for a child to maintain a body that is physically fit.

Tags: child obesity, obesity, fast foods



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New study reveals that city traffic could be the biggest proliferator of “urban hayfever”

Diesel cars are making millions of city dwellers’ lives a misery, KLEENEX® Consultant Allergy Expert Dr. Adrian Morris warns today.

The pollen binds itself to cars’ exhaust residue, making it more likely to induce hayfever. The heavy diesel exhaust particles then carry the pollen residue deep into people’s airways.

With diesel vehicles currently totalling around 40% of new cars being sold, this is a massive problem for hayfever sufferers, who make up around 60% of the population according to the research carried out by Kleenex.

The revelation comes as nearly 9 in 10 people (86%) said they believed they were safer from the symptoms of hayfever in the city than in the countryside, where the condition was first coined as pollen binds itself to hay.

Dr. Morris explains: “It used to be hay that pollen would bind itself to but what most people don’t know is that today it is the diesel exhaust residue on cars. With the amount of diesel cars constantly increasing, especially in cities, this is a massive problem for the UK’s many hayfever sufferers.

DR. MORRIS’S TOP TIPS FOR AVOIDING HAYFEVER HELL

• Let it out – gently blowing your nose will help eradicate the pollen grains and diesel residue from your respiratory system

• Applying a little petroleum jelly to the lower nostrils will also help

• Try and avoid both heavily congested traffic areas and parks

• Don’t forget your tissues, antihistamines and water when you’re out and about

For further press information please contact

Helen Shepherd or Jasmine Richards, Mandate Communications

Notes to Editor

About KLEENEX® brand:

KLEENEX® is the number 1 brand in the UK holding a value share of 45% of the facial tissue category

KLEENEX^® has driven all the major market innovations such as Kleenex Anti-Viral, KLEENEX^® Ultra Soft, KLEENEX^® Balsam, KLEENEX^® Travellers & KLEENEX^® pocket packs

3 packs of KLEENEX^® are sold every second in the UK (AC Nielsen, 2007)

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people–nearly a quarter of the world’s population–trust K-C’s brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well being. With brands such as KLEENEX®, Andrex®, Huggies®, Pull-Ups®, Kotex® and Depend®, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 135-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

Facts About Hayfever

• The poll shows that up to 60% of the UK population suffers from hayfever or has done in the past (estimated up to 36 million Britons)

• It is estimated that one in three children suffer from hayfever in the UK. The number of children who suffer from hayfever has trebled in the past three decades and a study from the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (commissioned by Benadryl) showed a correlation between high pollen counts and poor concentration levels

• Teenagers and those aged 16-24 are the worse affected (as much as 75%) compared to the least affected over 55s (49%)

• Explained by allergy expert, Dr Adrian Morris - the allergic reaction to pollen causes the eyes to stream and nose to run as it’s the body’s way to extract the ‘irritant’ from the system. By continually sniffing, the pollen is drawn further into the nasal passage where the body continues to react, which is why it’s better to blow your nose and remove the irritant

• Climate change could bring year-round misery for hayfever sufferers allergic to pollen. The National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU) has confirmed that pollen is in the air months before the hayfever season usually starts

• Due to record temperatures, trees and flowers are starting to bloom sooner. Allergy UK advised that due to milder winters and the earlier spring season, they are seeing an increase in people suffering from hayfever all year round

• Increased pollution is also a factor which has contributed to the rise of hayfever sufferers with those living in urban areas most affected

• Hayfever can not only result in the usual symptoms of runny noses, watery eyes and itchy throat but in some cases asthma attacks can be triggered by pollen in susceptible individuals

• Sneezing fits can mean a driver loses concentration and vision for up to half a mile. Up to three million motorists put themselves and other road users at risk by driving whilst taking over-the-counter remedies – some of which have a worse effect on a person’s driving than being over the alcohol limit, causing drowsiness and affecting the driver’s concentration (Road Safety Scotland)

• Hayfever can affect the sufferer’s sleep pattern which can affect their concentration at work or school

• A study by Education for Health showed that those with hayfever were about 40% more likely to drop a grade between their mock exams and summer GCSEs than non-sufferers. Students who took sedating hayfever medication were 70% more likely to drop a grade than those without hayfever

Helen Shepherd
Visit our website: www.yourmandate.com

Mandate is part of the Engine Group

Tags: hay fever, kleenex, diesel allergy, allergies, exhaust gas