Greetings!
Ahhh, Spring is in the air, our desert is greening up, and it's 'Spring Break" time in Havasu... but it's a BUSY place up here at the Farmstand as we wrap up our celebration of "National Nutrition Month(r)." Of course, we celebrate with healthy food EVERY Friday and Saturday up here, but this month we're making an extra effort to spread the word about good nutrition.
Many thanks to those of you who stepped up to the "plate" and offered to help with our
healthy school lunch campaign. If you would like to participate, please send me a quick email to
organicproducegals@hotmail.com with your name, phone #, and the school your child(ren) attend, I can get it going. It would be great to have a representative for each school to get us in front of the PTSO or whatever powers that be! For more info, here are a couple of resources:
This week's nutrition lesson comes from the pediatrician Dr. William Sears. I met him at the Expo, too! Oh, his presentations were packed with info, I took notes as fast as I could, but definitely need to check out a couple of his books, like "The N.D.D. Book: Nutrition Deficit Disorder Affects Your Child's Learning, Behavior, & Health, and What you Can Do About It".
He cites that many children (and adults) suffer from the "D's" like ADD/ADHD, OCD, BPD, CVD, D-iabetes... but these "disorders" all have their roots in "N.D.D." or "Nutritional Deficiency Disorder!" He also claims that Alzheimer's Disease (AD) begins at a young age with brain cell death due to poor nutrition, you just don't see the cumulative effects until later in life. He challenges us all with the following suggestions:
1. Shape young tastes by feeding children real food beginning at the age of 6 mos. old. Try making your own baby food. Keep them away from processed, packaged, and junk foods.
2. Dr. Bill's "Rule of Two's": Eat TWICE as often, HALF as much, and chew TWICE as long.
3. Stabilize insulin levels. Eat more fiber, whole grains, and less sugar.
4. Go fish! Eat more fish! The #1 dietary deficiency is EPA/DHA which are found in fish. They improve heart health, brain development, visual acuity, brain function, asthma, immune function, arthritis, skin and hair health, and decrease inflammation.
5. Give your family an oil change! Eat more nuts, avocados, fish oils, olive oil, and flax. Eat less processed oils, "Don't go through the factory!" he says, leave that for the cars!
6. "The answer to health care is self care!" That's what he said in two lectures. Instead of asking your doctor, "What can I take?" ask, "What can I DO?" And the government isn't going to do it either.
7. Boost your body's own natural immune system by what you eat.
There was more info... but these ones stood out to me the most. Here's another one of his books: The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood: Ten Ways to get Your Family on the Right Nutritional Track"
Stay tuned for more upcoming EXPO updates...
