Just Eat the Food

Earlier this month the Los Angles Times reported that "Vitamins Aren't a Cure All," I whole heartily agree. This article sites many very well managed, long term studies involving tens of thousands of participant where increasing a certain vitamin via a vitamin supplement did not protect the participants from an increase in certain chronic diseases. Also cited where studies where an increase in a vitamin from a supplement increase the likelihood of developing the disease (remember the study where Finnish smokers given beta carotene had more incidence of lung cancer?).

Food is smarter than us. It has been around for millions of years, nourishing us and the other living inhabitants of this world. It has evolved to provide us with exactly what we need, in combination with other of the plant's properties to aid in enhanced absorption of the vitamins, minerals and other plant nutrients (phytonutrients). Even those we have yet to isolate and name. The plant knows what it is doing, all we have to do is eat it.

So why are scientist working to replicate a specific nutrient and put it in a pill? It doesn't seem to be working. We know a diet of fruits, vegetables, low fat proteins, high fiber grains and healthy fats (vegetable fats) produces healthy individuals around the world. So much time, money and other resources are spent trying to out-do nature. We don't need to dissect the food. Just because our scientists have not "discovered" and named every component of a plant food doesn't mean it's not there. It is and when we eat it we reap the benefits. Why don't we just spend all of those research and marketing dollars spent on supplements on getting healthy fresh food to everyone. We would all be healthier and happier for it.

Screen Time Most Often a Detriment to Children's Health

This past week, the National Institute of Health and a nonprofit advocacy group called Common Sense Media presented the results of a study on media use and children's mental and physical health. They chose 173 studies from 1,800, from 1980 until present, that met the study's criteria. They concluded that "In a clear majority of those studies more time with television, films, video games, magazines, music and the Internet was linked to rises in childhood obesity, tobacco use and sexual behavior. A majority also showed strong correlations — what the researchers deemed “statistically significant associations” — with drug and alcohol use and low academic achievement."

Will this finally stop the debate? We now have long term scientific evidence that too much media time leads to undesirable characteristics in our children. Either from content or just sitting around too much (most likely both) our children are not benefiting from the vast majority of their screen time. We also know from many other studies that children who eat at least 3 meals a week with their family, with no other distractions such as radio, TV, or reading materials, eat healthier in and out of the home, have better grades, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and have better self esteem.

So why can't we turn off the TV and actually talk to each other? Why can't we eat together? If a child has time to watch 45 hours a week of media, they certainly have time for a family meal. Make it a priority to have at least 3 family meals a week. There is no financial cost to this. You will actually save money now and in the future. Individual servings of frozen or boxed foods are expensive, usually loaded with salt or fat, and are each cooked separately. One family meal eaten by everyone saves food and power costs. Having the whole family in one room means that the lights in all of the other rooms are off, as are electrical media gadgets, TVs and computers. In the long run you can save money on health care, avoiding fees to doctors, nutritionists, counselors, psychologists and therapists.

If you don't know what to talk about, there are several products that help families learn to have conversations at the table. But to avoid that cost, just ask each person at the table to recount one really good or even one really unpleasant moment of their day. Once everyone gets used to talking, dinner conversations can be fun, educational, and give you invaluable insight into the lives of those you live with. (If that seems too controversial, just talk about the food.) Watch what happens when there is no screen distraction in your home. I believe you will be amazed.