Helping Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
in Our Children
By Lynn Shansky

We are in a critical time in American history as type 2 diabetes accounts for 45% of all new diabetes among children. We need to educate our children about food and exercise and how it relates to their health or they will be robbed of a healthy future. Type 2 diabetes was never heard of in children twenty years ago but now there is a one in three chance of developing this disease due to poor dietary habits, obesity and lack of exercise. This is the first time in history that children may not outlive their parents.

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin in small quantities, but not enough to fuel the cells. Teens can be more at risk for type 2 diabetes because changes in hormone levels during puberty can contribute to insulin resistance, lowering the effectiveness of the body’s normal blood sugar control. Family history, race, diet, weight and lack of exercise are risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a very important risk factor. When there is too much stored body fat, both fat and muscle cells become less responsive to insulin in the bloodstream.

The volume of prepackaged foods, easy availability of fast and junk food and the prevalence of super-sized portions make it easy for children in our society to be at risk for type 2 diabetes. Many complications can arise from bad diets. These include clogged arteries or fatty livers which may be the leading cause of type 2 diabetes. Many children wind up overweight because of the constraints that poverty and culture have upon their lives. Unfortunately, many fast foods are less expensive and more readily available than healthy foods. Additionally, ice cream, soft drinks and cookies are often used as rewards for children in place of more expensive gifts and being fat shows that at least you’re not going hungry.

Almost half of all Americans between 12 and 21 get no vigorous exercise. Many children sit for hours in front of TVs and computers, often taking in more calories than they expend in their daily activities. In many neighborhoods it isn’t safe for children to play outside or walk to school. Their parents drive them everywhere, even a short distance of a couple of blocks to the store. Some parents discourage their children from being too physically active because if they get hurt , they may not havea health plan to cover their injuries.

Advertising junk food on television has enticed children into eating huge amounts of unhealthy food. Most foods and beverages introduced and marketed to children are high in calories, sugar, fat and salt, and low in nutrients. In 2004, food and beverage companies spent an estimated $10 billion to market foods to America ’s youth, influencing about $500 billion in purchases with children ages 2 to 15.

Following are some ways that parents may help prevent type 2 diabetes in their children:

Be a good role model. Parents are the biggest influence on their kids. If you want your kids to eat more fruits and vegetables and less junk food, you need to be a good role model. Someone once said, “What you say will speak to your kids. What you do will scream to them.” A survey of 1,487 children conducted for the America On the Move foundation found 71% get their information about how to be healthy from their mothers; 43% from their fathers. Many young parents may have grown up on a high calorie, take out food, processed snacks and a diet low in fruits and vegetables themselves, and they teach their children these eating habits. To be good role models we must educate ourselves first and practice what we preach.

Choose whole foods. Whole foods are defined as those in their most natural state, unprocessed and without additives. Good whole food choices include:

• High fiber whole foods are important in balancing blood sugar levels and lowering the level of fats in the blood. Fiber-rich foods include plenty of raw fruits and vegetables as well as fresh vegetable juices. Keep fruits and veggies where children can reach them in the refrigerator or in bowls on the counter. Cut up a fresh pineapple, chop celery and buy baby carrots to store for quick snacks. Legumes, root vegetables and whole grains are good for fiber. For fiber-packed snacks try oat or rice bran crackers with nut butters or cheese.

• Avoid white flour bread, pasta, and rice. Instead, use whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, millet and whole grain cereals (without a lot of added sweeteners), whole wheat or other grain bread and pastas.

• Moderate dairy consumption has been found to be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight. Low fat dairy is recommended for children over 2 years of age, although researchers have recently linked 1% milk consumption with increased Body Mass Index ( BMI ) in children. Whenever possible, buy organic dairy products to avoid added antibiotics and hormones.

• Healthy protein sources are organic, skinless chicken, fish, legumes and nuts. A good fat for the whole family is Omega-3 found in cold water fish and flaxseed or added to eggs. Fish oils can also be taken in supplement form but be sure it is a brand free of mercury and other contaminants.

• Spirulina helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. Other foods that help to normalize blood sugar include berries, brewer’s yeast, garlic, kelp, Sauerkraut and soybeans.

Involve kids. Involve kids with gardening, shopping, meal planning, and cooking to get them interested in real food. Growing vegetables can change a child’s relationship with food because they learn where food comes from. Shopping helps children learn the difference between wholesome and junk foods. Meal planning allows them to choose a favorite fruit or vegetable. Cooking not only teaches them how to cook but gives children a sense of independence. When there isn’t time to cook from scratch, stock up on natural and organic ready-to-eat foods. Make sure children have a nutritious breakfast like oatmeal, scrambled eggs and fruit. At meal times, let children serve themselves and don’t force them to clean their plates or use food as a reward. To introduce new foods, encourage kids to eat at least 3 bites before they say they don’t like it. Don’t keep sweets, chips and cookies around if it’s too hard to resist. Instead, go out occasionally as a family affair for treats.

Food marketing awareness. Teach your children about the difference between wholesome, natural foods and processed ones. Read labels in the market with your children, looking for trans fat, high fat content, high sugar and syrup content, artificial colors and flavors. Watch for labels that say “vitamin enriched” or “whole grain” because some manufacturers are using whole wheat flour in overly sweetened cereals that offer only one gram of fiber.

Choose organic. When possible buy organic fruits and vegetables because they can contain more antioxidants than produce treated with pesticides. Also buy organic dairy, grains, poultry and meats that are produced without antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides and sewage sludge, which is a source of heavy metals. Environmental toxins have been linked to long term health and learning problems, and can be a factor in weight gain.

Encourage activity. Limit computer and TV time and encourage physical activity every day. Take family walks after dinner and park farther away from stores when you go shopping. Go bicycling or skating with your children. Ask them to help with chores that could be more physically demanding like pushing a lawn mower, raking leaves, vacuuming, walking the dog or washing the car, floor or windows. Movement can be energizing and get them off the couch.

Demand changes in your child’s school nutrition environment. Many school districts are changing the way they are feeding our children, especially as a result of mandates from their states. Already, many states have banned soda on elementary and high school campuses, which are now allowed to sell onlyfruit juice, water and milk. Send your child to school with healthy lunches and snacks. For celebrations, encourage teachers to serve more fruits and vegetables instead of cakes and cookies.

Helpful Suggestions for Children with Type 2 Diabetes

If your child has diabetes, the above dietary changes are necessary along with daily exercise and monitoring blood sugar levels. In addition, consider the following nutritional supplement suggestions:

Antioxidants: Alpha lipoic acid, beta carotene, copper, CoQ10, glutathione, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E to strengthen the immune system and help fight off disease
Chromium: Enhances insulin activity
Magnesium: Low levels have been linked to diabetes
Vanadium: Vanadyl salts appear to have a glucose lowering effect on people with diabetes
Vitamin D: Low levels associated with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes
Zinc: Excreted in diabetes, potentially leading to a deficiency; is useful in the secretion, synthesis and storage of insulin
Fenugreek seeds: Reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels
Huckleberry: Helps to promote insulin production
Cedar berries: Nourishment for the pancreas
Milk Thistle: Helps cleanse the liver

It’s best to make sure your children have plenty of nutritious whole foods and regular exercise without policing them on their food intake. Set ground rules and allow children freedom to choose within those boundaries. The goal is to teach good eating and lifestyle habits so our children will have a fair chance at health as they grow.

Lynn Shansky lives in Northern California . She works in a public school and is coordinator of a nutrition grant, which promotes healthier nutrition and physical activities for students K-12. Lynn feels passionate about educating young people to make conscious choices towards healthy lifestyles and she sees this as a movement towards a healthier world. Lynn is currently working on receiving a certificate as a Nutritional Consultant .

References:
Type 2 diabetes and kids, Carol Ferguson, Taste for Life, August 2006
Lunch lessons, Ann Cooper, Harper Collins, 2006
Young and overweight, Elisabeth Hsu-Leblanc, Taste for life, August 2000
In the war against child obesity, poverty complicates the battlefield, Tonyaa Weathersbee, blackamericaweb.com
Danger signs of child obesity, Nanci Hellmich , USA today, 9/13/06
Report charges junk food advertising leads to increased obesity in kids , Caroline Mayer, Washington Post writer
What to eat, an aisle by aisle guide to savvy food choices and good eating, Marion Nestle, 2006
Diabetes free kids, Sheri Colberg, PhD, and Mary Friesz, PhD, RD, LDN
Hungry Planet, Peter Menzel, Faith D’Aluisio, Ten Speed Press
http://www.teengrowth.com/
http://www.pedialliance.com/

Book Review: Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning By Jeffrey Hollender, Geoff Davis, Meika Hollender & Reed Doyle

Everyone loves a clean home. As much as we may dislike the process of getting there, once countertops are wiped down, carpets steam-cleaned, and woodwork polished, life just seems a little better. Unfortunately, we may have actually made it a little worse. This is part of the message of Naturally Clean, which explains how our favorite cleaners could actually be making us and our loved ones sick.

Naturally Clean  is masterfully written, making complex science accessible to the public. Terms like “perfluorochemicals,” “volatile organic compounds,” and “phthalates” are introduced but not brandished like intellectual weapons. The emphasis is on functional education: page after page the reader is given clear, valuable information on chemicals found in the most common household cleaners and how these compounds may be affecting the health and wellbeing of everyone exposed to them. Presented in a very readable and easy-to-understand manner, you quickly learn basic household chemistry, concepts of toxicity and types of toxic exposure. You are given a short history of the “chemical revolution” that has brought us to this toxin-laden time, and are instructed in how to read labels (as well as why they’re actually insufficient).

“It’s a disconcerting conundrum: our homes and many of the products inside them – the “machine” at the very center of our vital efforts to keep our families safe and healthy – may, in fact, be doing just the opposite. The nest we retreat to in our escape from an often dangerous world is likely one of the most hazardous places of all.” (Page xvii)

There is certainly a spread of “bad news”: serious illnesses (such as cancer, Multiple Chemical Sensitivies and hormone disruption) are actually on the rise, childhood asthma has skyrocketed, and there are are an estimated 80,000 different chemical compounds in widespread use today, which may individually and collectively pose serious health threats to an unsuspecting populace. Naturally Clean cites the latest research and presents startling statistics that may leave you gasping for some chemically-untainted air.

Fortunately, there is also “good news” and a great deal of useful, health -preserving information you can put to use immediately. Along the toxin-revealing way, readers are introduced to naturally healthy and safe ways to accomplish the same kinds of cleaning without the toxic downside. A list of safe, non-toxic ingredients is given from which an incredible array of human- and earth-friendly household cleaners can be made. A “room-by-room” guide to non-toxic household cleaning is given, as well as an important chapter on children, why they are the most at risk population for environmental toxicity, and how to best protect them.

“The biggest surprise people have when they decide to make their own cleaners is how many they can make from so few ingredients. Indeed, an almost endless variety of safe homemade substitutes for toxic chemical cleaning formulas of all kinds can be easily prepared from just a handful of common natural materials.” (Page 79)

Naturally Clean concludes with a practical chart that details recommended products and the ingredients that make them safe for use in the home. The research team evaluated three hundred cleaning products to determine which are the safest and turned this research into a list that any reader would be wise to take along when shopping.

Addressing the issue of harmful chemicals in the home is a very important part of living a holistic lifestyle. Unfortunately, it’s also an incredibly wide topic, which makes it very difficult to thoroughly explore. Naturally Clean paves the way for us as we move into this possibly confusing tangle of chemicals and their deleterious effects on our health. In a world that seems to be getting increasingly toxic, this book is simply essential reading.

Jeffrey Hollender, President and CEO of Seventh Generation, is a vocal proponent of non-toxic, earth-friendly household products. He frequently addresses social and environmental responsibility at regional, national and international venues. Geoff Davis is a freelance writer and editor of Seventh Generation’s consumer newsletter Non-Toxic Times. Meika Hollender is an author who specializes in personal care products. Reed Doyle is a researcher with Seventh Generation specializing in product analysis.

Ryan N. Harrison, MA is a Holistic Health Educator/Consultant with a private practice (http://www.BeWholeBeWell.com).

GCNM Graduate Profile
Andhrika Kondeti, NC

I am Andhrika Kondeti. I am one of the many successful graduates of the Global College of Natural Medicine. I have been practicing Ayurveda for the past 10 years in India. Most of my practice is focused on Women’s Health and Beauty Care. I also work online at www.satmedica.com with a team of experts in Herbal Medicine, Tribal Medicine, Homeopathy and Aesthetics.

I found GCNM during a thorough search on the internet for a college of natural medicine that I felt would give me a brilliant education. I immediately saw the value of the courses being offered by GCNM. I enrolled in the Nutritional Consultant (NC) program, as I believed that better knowledge of nutrition and dietary supplements would enhance my practice in Ayurveda. As a result of completing the NC program, my expertise and knowledge on managing various conditions (like Obesity, Heart Disease, Cancer, etc.) through nutrition and dietary supplements has been significantly enhanced. The NC program greatly boosted my confidence to effectively communicate with my clients regarding healthy meal plans and exercises that will work well alongside Ayurvedic supplements.

GCNM courses are quite interesting, informative and affordable. It is very convenient to study at my own pace. The subjects covered are broad in regard to the many aspects of Holistic Health and give a good overview. The best part of the program is the student support that consists of direct interaction with expert faculty who guide in every aspect of the program; they are just a click away. Another significant part of the course is the online Student Forum where we can discuss various subjects on Holistic Health with other students and faculty around the clock. Presently, I am enrolled in the Master Herbalist program and I am very excited to study medicinal herbs from the different parts of the world.

I would like to thank the GCNM faculty and staff for their words of encouragement throughout the program. I look forward to my future studies with GCNM and recommend this school to everyone.

___________________________________
[You can learn more about the Global College of Natural Medicine by logging on at www.GCNM.com, where you will find details on the school, its programs, tuition, and contact information.]

Motivational Tips
"C" Stands for Different
By Lynn M. Scheurell  

By Webster’s Dictionary definition, a catalyst is something that provokes significant action. That’s what I do – I provoke my clients to think and act differently in their lives for greater fulfillment. After all, we have to do different to get different. It is my intention that you find something thought provoking enough to do something different in your own life.

Connection
Connection happens on two levels. First is connection with the self in an essential sense of center that is unshakable by external events. The second is connection with others for community.

Creativity
When creativity is open, it’s delicious to explore the unseen - what’s around your next corner. By being curious, receptive and initiating questions or actions, you can play with infinite possibilities.

Clarity
By reducing the “noise” in your head, your being, thinking and doing becomes crystallized. Decisions are easier, right action is smoother, communications and relationships are cleaner, and your calendar becomes focused.

Considerations
Life is full of considerations, some of which are necessary. However, it is important to recognize which are real. It is important to not tolerate the unnecessary – compromise only when it’s meaningful.

Courage
There are times when situations require us to confront things that make us uncomfortable or even afraid. Until we pass through it, we do not learn our lessons. Having the courage to face it gives us the ability to move forward.

Confidence
When you are comfortable in who you are, you naturally make choices that support your knowingness and demonstrate trust in who/where you are. It’s a powerful magnet to attracting more of what you want.

Contribution
It is in giving that we grow, by sharing what we have that we increase our own capacities. Giving back where we can creates good karma.

Collaboration
Building by partnership/teamwork creates a synergy that otherwise wouldn’t exist. When two or more are gathered in focus, great things are created and achieved.

Celebration
Honoring what has happened in celebration feels good. It is a timeless ritual to acknowledge hard work and mark a milestone or an ending. Without celebration, we may not know that we are moving into a new beginning.

Circle Back
Review the lessons learned to see if you’ve missed anything, or if you can use something previously discarded in a new way. Circling back allows you to express appreciation for both the people who have been touched by your learning journey and your progress.

Compassion
Through compassion for others, we acknowledge our oneness. While we are all at different places on our respective journeys, the destination is the same.

Conviction
As long as you are in alignment with your higher self, believing in what you know to be true for you is the backbone to good decisions, personal leadership, accountability, and good health.

Communication
Speak your truth clearly, concisely and honestly. You can avoid about 80% of problems with other people by having good communication skills. You can resolve 100% of your personal challenges by being honest with yourself.

Control
Control means doing what you can and releasing whatever you just did – it has to go do/be whatever you have given it life to do. Control is a superficial illusion, attempting to force situations, people, or things to fit – it’s like trying to push a river. Being in flow means recognizing that there is no control.

Common Sense
Maybe this should be “un”-common sense… Common sense comes from everyday living. If something makes sense to you, do it. However, just because somebody else does it a certain way doesn’t mean that it makes the best sense for you.

If any one of these resonated with you on some level, that’s an indicator of where you can start doing something differently. If more than one hit a nerve, start with the first one. You will notice that people and situations around you will change – be alert. Watch for synchronicities and pay attention to how you feel – that’s the best measure of your success in being different.

About the Author: Lynn Scheurell facilitates positive transformation for her clients using both linear and intuitive thinking. Her company, Creative Catalyst, is a leader in initiating dramatic change for independent professionals and decision-makers. Download your own free report right now to learn Your 6 Power Points for Personal Success – and How What You Don’t Know Can Cost You Years of Hard Work! at www.mycreativecatalyst.com .

Global Health Newsletter brought to you
 by the Global College of Natural Medicine
and  Global Institute For Alternative Medicine