Fighting Childhood Obesity With Clear, Clean Water

It's no secret that childhood obesity is at an all time high. Kids are more inclined to eat processed snacks, microwavable hot pockets and pizzas or a bowl of macaroni and cheese after school before they plop down in front of the television, computer or video games for hours on end. On top of it all, many of these kids think nothing of drinking a six pack of fizzy drinks or several boxed juice drinks with their "snacks". The consumption of all these cards combined with lack of activity and no fresh water intake leads to obesity and it leads there down an express path.

The side effects of childhood obesity are many. Kids can suffer from low self esteem from their body weight, lack of energy and also poor diet choices can lead to Type II diabetes which can lead to another cluster of health problems including circulatory problems, blindness and even death if the diabetes isn't kept in check.

Not drinking enough water can also frustrate efforts to lose weight. Many kids get discouraged when they attempt to lose weight by cutting down on their portions and drinking diet drinks instead of their regular choices. However when the kidneys don't get enough water to keep the body flushed of toxins, they will employ the liver to help filter out toxins. When the liver is busy helping the kidneys do their job, it can't do it's main function of metabolizing fat and the result is less to no fat burning and no weight loss.

What You Can Do

If you have a child in your life that is overweight, no amount of pleading, teasing or "putting your foot down" will work. It is far better to sit down with your child and explain that being a little overweight and not very active can lead to some serious health problems even now and definitely down the road. Ask your child for his or her input as to foods they think should be cut out and types of fruits and fresh veggies that can replace the current foods being eaten.

Recipe Makeovers Work Wonders

Look at recipes with your child and talk about healthy ways to make old favorites. Substituting brown rice for white rice for example is a great way to get whole grains into your child instead of white rice which on the average has had nearly 75% of the vitamins and nutrients removed and can basically be considered empty calories.

Drink Water

Encourage your child to drink plenty of water. Talk about how even though sodas, teas and juices are made with water as a prime ingredient, they aren't useful to the body for cleansing and hydrating purposes. In the beginning, don't make sodas and juices available, if your child is having a hard time switching and also set a good example yourself and drink at least 8 large glasses of water a day, you'll find you have more energy, firmer skin and most people report a very positive change in their complexions. If you don't already, filter out the impurities in your water and make sure that you and your family are getting the best quality water available.

Get Active

The last part of getting healthy is to get active. You don't have to grab your child and sign up for marathons. Take a walk and talk about your days, it's a great way to spend quality time with your child. Other activities include playing tennis, jogging, swimming and doing aerobics. If you want to do something different, sign up for kick boxing classes - all of these are great ways to reconnect as well as participate in getting healthy with your child.

Use these tips and get on the path to good health. Teaching your child to make good healthy choices now in regards to food, water and exercise will be lifestyle choices they will carry all throughout their lives.