Health and Fitness

Have you ever wondered why you have been told to drink water everyday (at least 2-3 litres in a day)? Why we need to eat a balanced diet? Too much sugar erodes the teeth away and rots them? 

Mothers have always educated their children as they have learnt from their peers and children need to follow these simple rules for their own benefits. In olden days or even 30-40 years ago, habitual behaviour was much different compared to today's new generation. Born in the late 70's, we were told what to do, where to go, what to eat while we were growing up, today the children are telling their parents on 'what' they want to eat or drink! This behavioural change in children is moulding them to behave in such a manner that they control their parents' decisions, thus making the parents buy certain items rather than the parent buying the 'obvious' healthy foods for example. This is modifying the child's mindset and thus when they grown up and go through teenage years (moody time) then into adulthood (stage of responsibility), their behaviour will be reflected upon their own children and thus the vicious cycle carried on into doom.

Eating a balanced diet improves one's functions of the entire body. Some children, who choose their diet would naturally opt for sweets, chocolates and doughnuts! These cravings do not suffice a balance diet and thus they suffer from deficiency illness or malnutrition.

Some children these days are much involved in video games and stay indoors stuck to the TV or Monitor Screen hence not receiving much physical exercises done. In our days all cartoons were televised in the late afternoon and you get to watch them after accomplishing your mountain of homework! News were televised bang on 8pm with no more than one channel, compared to multi-news channels available these days.

Is digital age partly to be blamed?

Many allergies, illnesses, diseases are occurring these days which were never heard of in our 'House on the prairie' days! Some people are allergic to vegetables which does amaze me and some people are scared of food, phobia known as 'Cibophobia.' http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/library/cibophobia/ 

Parents or carers definitely need to take up responsibility in obtaining a practical rule in the house of eating healthy breakfast, lunch at a reasonable time and dinner at a good time (by 7-8pm). Teachers and role models in children's lives need to portray a positive image and behave in a likable manner for the children to emulate on and improve their own lives. Sports personalities such as Kelly Holmes http://www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk/teens/life/features/celebrity_health/kelly_holmes.html and Freddie Flintoff  http://www.affoundation.co.uk/ portray brilliant examples of role models for children and such figures should be used for such positive campaigns. 

To conclude, how important is health and fitness for you? Do you fit it in your busy life or it fits you in your busy life?