A Couple Steps in the Right Direction

Child with plate of sugar

As an avid self-healther, I’m always checking out stories about health and nutrition online. Today I was struck by a couple of headlines that seem to indicate the powers-that-be are taking a step in the right direction when it comes to the health of the masses. So if you’re interested in taking a break from all things election related, check these out.

To Keep Teens Slim, Focus on Health Not Weight” from U.S. News & World Report discusses new guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that concentrate on the importance of encouraging healthy lifestyle choices rather than a specific number on the scale. Fantastic!

We all know that childhood obesity is a real problem, and what we’ve been doing thus far isn’t the answer. Hearing the mainstream recognize (and advocate) for a different approach is definitely a step in the right direction. After all, the earlier those healthy eating habits are established, the more likely they are to stick throughout life. And let’s be honest here: even those wiry, thin teens who subsist on processed, sugar-laden foods are in for some health concerns if they don’t start making different choices.

Speaking of foods to avoid, Live Science posted an article about new sugar consumption recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA). Titled “Not So Sweet: New Sugar Limits for Kids Announced,” the article explains that kids from two to eighteen should limit their added sugar intake to no more than six teaspoons (or a hundred calories) per day. They also suggest this age group limit their sugary beverage intake to no more than one (8 oz.) serving per week. They even went as far as saying children under the age of two should have no added sugars in their diet.

Whether this meets with your self-healther standards or not, it’s a step in the right direction from an organization that people tend to listen to. Perhaps things are starting to shift in our favor.

Of course, SRP has been touting these messages all along. You can browse through the SRP Historical Archives to learn more about how the philosophy of Dr. Royal Lee and nutrition pioneers originated. Or to see how it’s applied in the here and now, check in with the SRP Self-Health Nutrition blog. Both resources are definitely big steps in the right direction for your self-health education.

Photo from iStock/OcusFocus

Paula Widish

Paula Widish, author of Trophia: Simple Steps to Everyday Self-Health, is a freelance writer and self-healther. She loves nothing more than sharing tidbits of information she discovers with others. (Actually, she loves her family more than that—and probably bacon too.) Paula has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Public Relations and is a Certified Professional Life Coach through International Coach Academy.

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