National Childhood Obesity Week

National Childhood Obesity Week

It is National Childhood Obesity Week this week.  It is a shocking fact that nearly 1 in 3 children in the UK are obese.  That's a third. And MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition … Do it!)  ask, does that sound right to you?

Although obese children might be unaware of the problem and go on living and playing just as happily MEND tell us, - there are some serious dangers of obesity.

Although we associate these conditions with adults, children too can develop diabetes and coronary heart disease. They could also end up developing a bad sense of body image that knocks their confidence in a long-term way.

A lot of the time people trot out that old saying,  'It's just puppy fat they’ll grow out of it.’  But 40-70% of the time an obese child grows into an overweight adult.

It's time to cut these child obesity rates down.   And it is quite simple, to lose weight you need to do more activity and eat more healthily.  Long-term the effects won't work unless you're doing both of these together!

Often it's difficult to know what is and isn't healthy.  You can't go wrong with a salad but other meals can be misleading.   Like some well-known slimming organisation's meals that have recently been found to have really high levels of salt in them!

If parents are eating unhealthily then the pattern is likely to be carried on by the children.  But by drawing up a new fitness week plan you can kickstart your family's new routine.  And once you have been doing it for a while it'll soon become second nature!

During the week MEND will be holding more than 30 activities and 'MEND Move it week' intends to get children and their families moving together!

Join the Facebook and Twitter pages for up to the minute information on what is going on and how you can get involved.

Better yet - get the ball rolling and start organising your own event!  You can get all the information you need online for some great ideas for your MEND programme event.

For more info on how to stop obesity, head to the National Childhood Obesity Week website.

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and are only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and not as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Food Cravings

Food Cravings -  with thanks to Genesis Davies

Have you ever found yourself suddenly desperate to eat a bar of chocolate or find yourself eating and eating even though you aren't really hungry? You could be suffering from food cravings and unless you are  pregnant, they are probably your body's way of telling you that you are lacking certain vitamins or minerals. At one point, we didn't have a lot of choice in what we could eat and our bodies were built to crave the food that had within it, what we were missing. However, as time has passed and we have developed better methods of growing and cultivating and processing our food, our bodies have lost touch with what we truly need. Not all is lost, though, you can still guess pretty accurately what it is that you are lacking by taking a closer look at exactly what you are longing to eat.

Chocolate, for example, usually indicates a lack of magnesium. Instead of drinking a gallon of chocolate milk, or buying up the sweet shop, try eating some nuts or seeds which also contain this mineral. Or you could add some beans to your daily diet to get rid of that craving. If you find yourself deliberately burning your steak just to delight in the crispy, blackened parts, it is likely that your body is begging for carbon. Carbon can be more healthily found in fresh fruits like strawberries, bananas and apples. And they aren't carcinogenic, either!

Can't stay away from fizzy drinks? You might be low on calcium. Instead of downing yet another can of pop, try eating some cheese, or a leafy green veggie, like kale or spinach. Sesame seeds also contain calcium, as do dairy products like yogurt and milk. More general cravings are even more common and include salty or sweet foods. Although these tend to cover a broader spectrum of deficiencies, we know what the most common ones are that tend to cause these types of desires. For example, if you find your sweet tooth getting out of control, it might be due to a lack of chromium, carbon, phosphorus, or sulphur. Each of these can be found in a variety of foods with broccoli covering chromium and sulphur, meats and dairy contain phosphorus and carbon can be found in fresh fruits.

Salty food cravings are usually attributed to a lack of chloride which can be fixed naturally by eating raw goat cheese or sea salt. Fish also contains this mineral and is a good alternative source. Cravings aren't just a weird thing your body does, they are trying to tell us something and it is a good idea to pay attention. Instead of reaching for sweets and chocolate the next time you feel that sweet tooth acting up or opening a bag of crisps when you start to get the munchies, stop for a moment and look at the real reason you want that food. It could be the healthiest choice you make!

 Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge.  It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

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Exercise: Why do we need it and what should it be?

Exercise: Why do we need it and what should it be?

Exercise, is it really important? Well exercise is a regular part of some peoples lives and they would’t feel right without taking their morning exercise such as jogging or even just simple stretching. Then there are those that couldn’t end the day without going to the gym to run a whole mile on a treadmill, or to lift heavy weights  to build up their muscles. Then there are the rest of us, me included to whom this would be unthinkable, so I thought it would be worth finding out  the true reason that we need to exercise and how much of it we really need.

Men know that a good physique will attract the women and also gives them a good opportunity to show off.  Women also want a good figure for the same reason: to feel good about themselves. This is the reason that some people make it their habit to go to the gym and do weight loss exercise because it makes them feel good about how they look. But a lot of people don’t have that kind of reasoning, and do not place such importance on looking good physically and that is why obesity has become an increasing problem in some countries, especially in the US and the UK.

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated and is being stored in the body to such an extent that health may be negatively affected. Obesity results from taking in too much energy, in the form of calories with too little output in the form of exercise or moving about generally.

Well we know that that not looking good is not the only reason why being fat is not good. There are links to diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus type 2,  certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis that have been well documented.   As a result, we are told, obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy, although there are differing opinions in this respect.

Experts say that being overweight doesn’t only make you feel heavy and uneasy on the outside, but also heavy and uneasy on the inside. I am not sure that I entirely agree with that as many people are overweight and happy and lead active lives. 

The moral of the story then is that you must put out as much as you put in to your body to maintain a steady weight or to lose weight you will need to use more energy than you take in, in the form of calories.  And this is where the trouble starts.  People who are very overweight feel self conscious about going to the gym and coming face to face with the toned sinewy and sweaty bodies of the dedicated exercisers.  But the gym is not the only form of exercise available.  Walking is great and so is swimming.  All right, I know that if you were reluctant to go eyeball to manic eyeball with the gym bunnies then stripping off to a swimsuit might be a bit of an ask to begin with, so maybe start with walking.  After all why confine yourself to a treadmill smelling other peoples sweaty pits when you could get out in the fresh air and replace a food feast with a visual feast to get your exercise.  I am not a diet Nazi and I do firmly believe that you can be overweight and still be healthy and happy - but proabably not in the long term. 

The secret for everyone is to keep active.  If you have a dog, that will be taken care of for you!  But try taking you pooch for a more demanding walk or a longer walk to use more calories.

I think that those programmes like the Wii games and keep fit modules would also be great fun although I confess I have not tried them myself.   I think the secret of exercise is to make it interesting.  Try to find something that appeals to you, that you will look forward to doing, rather than something to have to do.

Use a bit of imagination when you think about the exercise that will work for you.  There is no need to go mad, just keep moving and keep as fit as you can and try to find something that you think you can stick at.  There is nothing more demoralising or counterproductive than starting on an exercise campaign and then giving up after a couple of weeks.  If it is going to be a part of your life and do you the maximum good, then it needs to stick!  Good luck!

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Summer Feet

Summer Feet!

As summer finally seems to have arrived I thought we would talk about our feet, and how we can best protect them through the summer.

When you go barefoot, the middle of your foot strikes the ground as you walk or run. When you wear shoes or sandals, it is the back of your foot strikes the ground. Now that summer is here and flip-flops are everywhere, it is worth bearing in mind that when you walk in flip-flops, the front of your foot is more likely to contact the ground first.

Here are some summer foot facts!

•    When you go barefoot, your feet tend to turn to the sides to give you more traction. When you wear shoes of any kind, your feet tend to move forward without turning outwards. If you have a problem with your feet turning outward, don't wear flip-flops. If you have a problem with your feet turning inward, wear flip-flops whenever you can!

•    If you wear socks with sandals, you protect the soles of your feet from fungal infections, but fungi can still penetrate your socks at the sides of your feet. If you don't wear socks at all, simply rinsing your sandals or flip-flops with cold water after extended use will remove athlete's foot fungi--but be sure to dry your footwear before you use it again.

•    If you step on a sharp object while you are wearing rubber flip-flops, both the object and the rubber from your shoes may become imbedded in your foot. Both have to be removed to allow complete healing of your foot.

•    If you are allergic to latex, you may develop a rash where the flip-flop strap is in contact with your toes and if a rash develops this is likely to be the cause.

•    Constant gripping of the flip-flop with your toes can result in the development of hammertoes although you would have to wear them an awful lot for this to become a possibility!

•    Don't forget to put sunscreen on your feet. Exposed skin on your feet can burn, too.

The best advice is to wear the right shoes for every occasion. There's no doubt that flip-flops are great for walking on the beach. They're not good, however, for taking a mountain hike. And don't wear the same pair of flip-flops day after day because they will accumulate athlete's foot fungus and infectious bacteria.  It is worth knowing that once your flip-flops have softened up enough so that you can easily roll them into a ball, they will not offer enough support to protect your feet from rocks, sharp objects, and trips and falls.

There is one occasion when flip-flops will always fall flat in terms of foot health. That's when you walk across any ground that may be contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, or animal or human faeces or urine, or if pets have been infected by worms. The comfort you feel on your feet just is not worth the risk of parasitic infection or chemical burns. So be foot aware this summer for a trouble free holiday season.

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and are only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and not as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Allergies

Allergies

After UK Health Radio’s recent very successful visit to the allergy show I thought that we could look today at some basics for those of us unlucky enough to have or suspect that we might have allergies. 

According to some very useful information I found on the Internet site http://www.webmd.boots.com/allergies/guide/allergies-treatment-care it is estimated that one in three of the UK population will suffer from allergies at some time in their lives and that number is on the increase. Common causes of allergy symptoms include food allergies, such as peanut allergy, and seasonal allergies resulting from grass, weed, tree pollen or various moulds. Pet allergies can also cause miserable symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion and wheezing, while allergic skin conditions can cause a rash and itchy skin.

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Some symptoms of allergy include:

Sneezing, difficulty breathing, cramps, and vomiting and if you are prone to allergy you should learn specific allergy symptoms, and emergency warning signs.

Some of the most common allergic conditions are: 

Allergic rhinitis (Hay Fever)

Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is an allergic response to pollen or other microscopic substances.

Urticaria (Hives)

This condition can be caused by a variety of irritants.

Allergy to bee sting.

The normal reaction of a non-allergic person to a bee sting is different from a bee sting allergy. Make sure that you know the difference!

Allergic reaction to pet hair and dander

An allergy to cats fur and dogs hair and the coats of other animals.

Food allergies and food intolerances

A food allergy is the immune systems response to certain food. A food intolerance is the digestive’s system response to food.

Allergy to latex

Ensure that you know how to spot the symptoms of latex allergy and what you need to do in case of a severe reaction.

Mould Allergies

Mould is always present in most indoor and outdoor spaces, and in many foods.

Drug Allergies

Many medicines can trigger reactions and these can sometimes be very severe.

Atopic dermatitis (Eczema)

This is a well-recognised condition characterised by itchy skin and is common in children and infants, although it can affect some people all their lives.

Milk allergy

Many products that you would not suspect of containing milk - do! Check labels carefully.

Allergy to nuts

An allergy to nuts can be very serious and can even be fatal if immediate action is not taken. Always ensure that children wear med alerts if they have a nut allergy.

There are lots of allergy treatment options. Over-the-counter and prescription medications can ease annoying symptoms and immunotherapy can also help.  Natural remedies abound to help with congested nasal passages and scratchy throats.  Then there are oral medicines and nasal sprays that are often used with hay fever.   There are eye drops that can be used for irritated eyes, but always ensure that they are Ok for your eyes. 

For some people, immunotherapy has meant the end of their days of taking allergy medication.

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge.  It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

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