CNN ran a story on it this week and it shows just how much an unhealthy lifestyle is affecting our kids.

Studies have variously found that obese students — and especially girls — tend to have lower test scores than their slimmer peers, are more likely to be held back a grade, and are less likely to go on to college. The latest such study, published this week in the journal Child Development, followed 6,250 children from kindergarten through fifth grade and found that those who were obese throughout that period scored lower on math tests than non-obese children.”

I recently posted on studies that have proven a vegetarian diet is perfectly fine for kids. You can read that post to see how you can make sure that your child’s vegetarian diet provides healthy, balanced and complete nutrition. But here are some other steps you can take to help your kids fight childhood obesity:

1. Make them earn their screen time.

One of the biggest contributors to childhood obesity is sitting in front of the computer or television. TV used to be the problem, but now we have Facebook and online games to contend with, too. Set up an agreement that for every hour they want to spend on the computer, watching television or playing the XBox, they’ll have to first spend 30 minutes doing something active.

2. Play with your kids.

We need exercise as much as our kids do and we can get it by taking a cue from kids themselves. Most kids get their exercise by playing and it’s a fun way for us to get moving, too. Start playing kickball in the backyard, shooting a few hoops after dinner in your driveway or tying on some rollerblades and going for a spin around the neighborhood. Not only will you both be getting fit, you’ll also be spending some quality time together.

As parents, we want only the best for our children. The best gift we can give them is good health.

One of the things discussed at the summit was a study released in 2006 that named the vegetarian diet as one of the healthiest diets in the world.

As on article from InForum writes,

A five-year Oxford University study of 22,000 people, published in the International Journal of Obesity in 2006, found that those on a vegetarian or vegan diet gained the least weight. A review of 87 studies in Nutrition Reviews concluded that a vegetarian diet is highly effective for weight loss.”

Of course, most vegetarians already know that a diet based solely on plant foods is healthy. What the study (and the summit discussion) pointed out is that it’s also the best diet for fighting obesity.

Experts at the summit stated that the two leading dietary causes of obesity are animal fats and dairy products.

A vegetarian diet alone can eliminate a great many of the foods that are known to contribute to obesity.

The vegetarian diet also helps fight obesity because of it’s high plant and grain fiber content and it’s rich supply of anti-oxidants and vitamins. Of course, this is only if you’re eating a vegetarian diet that’s chock-full of fresh produce and whole grains, as opposed to one that is filled with processed foods and low on the fresh ones.

I think it’s great that the vegetarian diet is getting more and more attention and approval from the scientific and medical communities. It makes it that much easier to explain our choices to non-vegetarians and it will also make vegetarian options easier to find at restaurants and other venues.

If you’ve used the vegetarian diet to help you lose weight, I’d love to hear your success story!

The series will cover subjects such as the health risks of obesity and excess body fat, the growing problem of childhood obesity, the best scientific evidence on losing weight and inspirational stories about communities that are working together to fight obesity.

Vegetarianism has always been touted as a great way to eat a healthy diet and to maintain a healthy weight. I know that I have struggled far less with my weight since becoming a vegetarian. However, I didn’t start winning the war against those ten or fifteen pounds that came and went until I started making sure I was eating the right kind of vegetarian diet.

A Vegetarian, but Not Necessarily a Healthy One

I struggled with portion sizes, skipping meals and with eating foods that were vegetarian, but not necessarily healthy. A big part of my problem was sugar. In an interview with National Public Radio, John Hoffman, HBO Vice President and executive producer of “The Weight of the Nation,” said their three years of research says sugar is one of the biggest causes of obesity in America.

There are strong recommendations about what people can do in their daily lives. I think the loudest one is that sugar-sweetened beverages, whether that be in juice, in sports drinks, in energy drinks, in sodas, that there is no reason for these to be in our lives. They are not something that were part of the human diet until recently, and we don’t have the biology that knows how to compensate for those – that fast rush of sugar. So we have many experts who say that this is the number one change that should happen in the American diet.”

How Healthy is Your Vegetarian Diet?

I had been a vegetarian for a couple of years before I finally got scared about the amount of sugar in my diet. It was extremely hard for me to give up my favorite cola and to cut back on sweets, even those that were low in fat. However, once I did, I never looked back. I lost several pounds over the course of a couple months, stopped going through that 3pm energy slump and I also got headaches less frequently.

Sugar wasn’t the only thing I had to cut back on – I also limited fried foods, white flour and starchy vegetables. But the sugar issue got me to really take a look at my diet and realize that eating a vegetarian diet wasn’t enough; I had to eat a healthy vegetarian diet.

I’m looking forward to watching the documentary. You can see the trailer and get more information at HBO’s webpage for the program. You can also read the NPR interview with John Hoffman at the NPR link.

If you’ve had to revamp or improve your vegetarian diet, I’d love to hear what your problem areas were and how you worked or are working through them.

I’ve been a huge fan since the publication of their first book, “You: The Owner’s Manual.” In fact, even though they don’t necessarily endorse vegetarianism, it was information I learned from them that helped me make the decision to switch to the vegetarian lifestyle.
I love their real-world advice backed up with solid science.

This article, called “Antioxidant-Rich Blueberries; The Super Brain Food”, caught my eye right away. Most vegetarians eat a lot of fruit, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to target the fruits (and other vegetarian foods) that are the most nutritious and have the most value.

In the article, the good doctors share claim that

 Blueberries improve memory and learning, and delay age-related cognitive decline like that seen with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.”

Since I’m a woman of a certain age (as in not a spring chicken), anything that will help me to retain what faculties I have is something of interest to me. I’ve known for a long time that blueberries are loaded with Vitamin C and antioxidants, making them one of the so-called “super foods”, but I’d never heard of a connection between blueberries and brain function. So what is that connection?

Drs. Oz and Roizin explain it this way:

They’re high in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants called flavonoids (also called polyphenols). In your brain, flavonoids interact with proteins and enzymes in ways that keep your brain younger. Scientists don’t know exactly how all those elements play together, but blueberry flavonoids do seem to keep you smarter. People who eat a high-flavonoid diet stay sharper than folks with low-flavonoid diets. In fact, drinking blueberry juice daily can improve your memory function by 30%.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ll be adding even more blueberries to my diet. They’re about to come into season, so try them yourself in smoothies, compotes and tossed onto oatmeal or cold cereal.

It sounds like a smart plan to me.

So this morning I was intrigued by an article Organic Gardening sent me called “7 Scary Reasons to Go Organic.” If anyone else had sent it, I would have frowned at the “scare tactic” title, but I trust Organic Gardening, so I wanted to know what those scary reasons might be.

As it turns out, the article focuses on reasons for eating organic that many people may be unaware exist. For instance:

1. Eating and buying organic can help end world hunger.

The United Nations conducted a study recently that showed that using organic growing methods can actually produce greater yields, especially in areas that suffer agriculturally. In fact, “African farmers who switched from chemical to organic systems enjoyed double the yield in many instances.” This means that supporting organic produce can not only provide more income for these areas, but also more food for themselves.

2. We’re Eating Shampoo

A 2010 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that hormone-disrupting phthalates, common fragrance chemicals used in soaps and shampoos, are winding up inside produce. A potential source? Human sewage sludge applied as a fertilizer to farm fields. The sludge can be tainted with shampoo chemicals that wash down the drain—and wind up at the water-treatment plant, the source of the sludge. Luckily, the use of human sewage sludge is banned in organic farming.”

Organic Gardening’s advice? ” If you buy your produce from local farmers who aren’t certified organic, be sure to ask them how they fertilize the soil.”

3. Eating Non-Organic Can Make You Fat (Yes, even non-organic veggies)

Many chemicals commonly used to grow nonorganic food are hormone disruptors, and scientists are starting to discover that they tamper with our body’s natural weight-loss chemistry. (They actually call them “obesogens.”) Certain bug-killing organophosphate pesticides are linked to obesity, a known risk factor for many other diseases, including cancer and type 2 diabetes.”

4. Eating Non-Organic Lessens Your Ability to Fight Cancer

There’s a class of pesticides called organophosphates that includes roughly 20 pesticides, which together account for 70 percent of the pesticides used in the U.S. And a study in the online journal PLoS One found that those pesticides could interfere with vitamin D, the miracle vitamin that wards off cancer, diabetes, infections, heart disease, and broken bones and boosts your immune system. It’s thought that these pesticides interfere with your body’s metabolism of vitamin D, so even if you’re getting enough, the pesticides prevent your body from absorbing it properly.”

Believe it or not, eating organic for just five days can rid your body of these pesticides!

These are just four of the reasons Organic Gardening discusses, but I urge you to read the rest of the article. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can find ways to work more organic foods into your family’s diet.

Mario Batali Joins the Meatless Movement

I seriously doubt that Mario Batali is about to become a vegetarian. The Washington Post has quoted the Food Network star and Iron Chef America regular as saying that lardon (unsmoked and cubed pork fat) is “best song sung in the key of pig” and his menus spotlight pork and beef products more than any other. However, I think it’s fantastic that such a noted chef and celebrity is on board with the Meatless Mondays movement. It brings needed attention to the health benefits of removing meat from the daily diet and does so without sounding fanatical.

Meatless Mondays Grows Globally

The Meatless Mondays idea became popular in 2003 when it was launched by the non-profit group Healthy Monday, which worked with Johns Hopkins to promote a meatless or at least meat-reduced diet. It really took off in 2009, when institutions like public schools and hospitals started joining in. Needless to say, the meat industry is less than excited and has launched its own campaign to promote a healthier image of meat in the daily diet.

Meatless Mondays Bring Us a Slew of Exciting Recipes

When I was researching Meatless Mondays and the Mario Batali story, I found some fantastic sounding recipes that you’ll want to check out. Meatless Mondays.com features new recipes every Monday and there are tons of really delicious sounding recipes already on the site.

If you’re the only vegetarian in your family, why not try Meatless Mondays in your home? Putting a new and exciting vegetarian recipe on the table every Monday may be just what it takes to get your family to eat a healthier and more plant-based diet.

Are You an Unhealthy Vegetarian?”

In the piece, she describes the different types of vegetarians, such as ovo-lacto vegetarians and pescetarians and then introduces readers to what she calls the carboterian.

What is a Carboterian?

According to Stack, she runs into carboterians quite a bit in her practice. As she says,

Many people who claim to be vegetarians actually eat very few vegetables. Unfortunately, this is the majority of “vegetarians” I have been exposed to. They are typically overweight and live mostly on breads, pasta, rice, cheese, milk, cookies and pizza. This form of vegetarianism is by far, the most unhealthy type.”

I’ve never really thought about it prior to reading the article, but I guess there really is such a thing as unhealthy vegetarianism. Of course, we all know vegetarians (maybe we were these vegetarians) don’t get enough exercise or take vitamins regularly. But I think we always assume that a vegetarian is eating a basically healthy diet if not an extremely healthy one.

Carboterians Have the Same Health Risks as Everyone Else

Stack points out that these vegetarians she calls carboterians are at the same risk for nutrition-related disease as everyone else and maybe even more than many meat-eaters. She warns,

My work with this type vegetarian is very difficult. Many habits and addictions need to be broken. If these individuals are not already suffering heart disease or adult onset diabetes they will be soon. Cholesterol levels will be very high. Bad cholesterol (LDL) will be high, good cholesterol (HDL) will be low and triglycerides will be elevated as well. High triglycerides are a sure sign that too much sugar and bread are being consumed.”

Even Vegetarians Need a Reality Check

Maybe this is a good way for us to remember that a vegetarian diet doesn’t necessarily mean a healthy diet. There are plenty of foods out there that are just as unhealthy for us as meat. Maybe we should all take a look at our diets every now and then to make sure we’re not falling into the carboterian trap.

It’s called targeted advertising; the ads I see on the net are linked to my digital footprint. Because of my age and my passion for healthy living, advertisers think I’m at a stage in my life when I’m likely to be worried about the aging process and, therefore, eager to part with my cash in a desperate bid to look younger!

Now, without knocking a good skin care routine, I’m sensible enough to know that no amount of face cream or lotion is going to halt the aging process. But what if there was an easier and less expensive way that could help us to look and feel good as we age? A lifestyle choice? Would you be interested in finding out more?

Well it seems that a Florida grandmother may be on to something.

You could find her story all over the net last week, after she appeared on ABC news; it literally went global, with the UK’s Daily Mail website and Australia’s News Nine MSN, to name just two news websites, featuring her remarkable story.

So, what is her story? Well, Annette Larkins, is a 70-year-old American who looks at least 30 years younger – and guess what her secret is? No, it’s not face cream she bought on the net; Mrs Larkins credits her youthful appearance to a raw vegan diet. She grows fruit and vegetables in her garden, collects rainwater to drink and is an avid juicer. She told ABC:

My diet consists of fruits, nuts, vegetables and seeds. I do a lot of sprouting of seeds…

I am very vibrant, I have lots of energy, as I told you before, I am up no later than 5:30 in the morning as a rule, and I am ready to go”.

If you take a look at her photograph, you have to agree that it’s difficult to believe she’s 70 years old.

It’s quite incredible. While her amazing youthful looks could be attributed to good genes, it has to be acknowledged that her diet may also have provided her with a helping hand. Mrs Larkins became a vegetarian in her 20’s but converted to a raw vegan diet 27 years ago.

I’d guess that most people become vegetarian or vegan for health or ethical reasons, and it’s less likely that people would become a vegan for the sake of vanity alone. There has to be some other pay-off. But doesn’t it feel good to know that by consuming large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, we could delay the aging process? A surprising and pleasant bonus if you like.

While I do admit to being in awe of the way Annette Larkins looks, what really stands out for me in the ABC interview is how vibrant she is; the way she talks about how good she feels and the way her husband proudly describes how accomplished she is in other areas of her life.

This, for me, is what a healthy vegetarian lifestyle is all about. I’m not a raw vegan, but I do include lots of raw fruit and vegetables in my diet and I’m a big believer in the energy-boosting power of fresh, raw fruit and vegetable juices.

The aging process is about so much more than the way our faces look.

I’d be lying to you if I didn’t confess that I hope to look good as I age, but, for me, that’s not the number one reason for adopting a healthy vegetarian lifestyle, and it obviously isn’t for Annette Larkins either.

As I grow older, I want to have the energy to do all the things I love to do – to continue to travel and experience different cultures, to learn new things – my list is endless as there’s still so much I want to achieve. I honestly believe that my vegetarian diet increases my body’s energy levels and gives me a clearer mind. Since I gave up meat and included more fresh, living foods in my diet, I’ve banished lethargy and brain-fog. Just like Mrs Larkins, I wake up each day feeling full of life, bursting with energy and excited about each day. Surely that’s what it really means when we use the term anti-aging?

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. Have you experienced any pleasant side effects as the result of your vegetarian or vegan diet, linked to your appearance or anything else? Please feel free to comment below.

Do we need any more reason than this?

It sounds pretty convincing to me, and I can honestly vouch for the fact that my husband and I noticed a positive change to our overall mood state since starting down the vegetarian road some seven years ago.

Let me explain further, I came across an article featured in The Huffington Post this week called “Vegetarian Diet Could Make You Happier And Less Stressed, Study Shows”. The article focused on findings published in Nutrition Journal, that reducing meat, fish and poultry intake improved short-term mood in modern-day meat eaters.

How is this so?

Well, it comes down to something called arachidonic acid (AA), which is found in meat and fish. AA is an animal source of omega-6 fatty acid and much of the meat eaten in the US today is high in AA. Earlier research has found that high levels of AA in meat can cause brain changes that affect our mood. This wasn’t always the case; the article explains that, in the past, our ancestors ate sources of grass-fed meat that had a lower average omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid profile than today’s grain-fed meat.

The study got me thinking, could this be part of the reason why we’ve seen an increase in mental health disorders over the years? Millions of Americans suffer from a variety of mental health problems, would those people be better off if they were to ditch the anti-depressant pills and switch to a vegetarian diet? We blame the stresses and strains of modern day living for many mental health problems, but is it possible that the way we feel is also linked to the foods we eat.

Obviously, if you are taking meds for mental health problems, I’m not suggesting that you’d switch to a veggie diet without consulting your doctor first, but I do think the link between a vegetarian diet and positive mood is something to consider and explore further.

This recent study showed that meat eaters who changed to a vegetarian diet experienced short-term improvements to their mood,

but what about those of us who have been vegetarian for some time? Is there anything out there to suggest that vegetarians are happier in the long-term?

Well yes, there is. Reading this article reminded me of another study I read back in 2010 also in Nutrition Journal. This study focused on 138 Seventh Day Adventists; 60 were vegetarians and 78 meat eaters. Seventh Day Adventists were chosen for the study because of their consistent lifestyle, if a more random group had been chosen, many different external influences come in to play, and it can be harder to reach valid conclusions.

In this study, the vegetarians scored lower on tests for depression and reported better mood states than the meat and fish eaters.

This was not expected. Why? Well, like me, you may have heard, repeatedly, that fish is an excellent brain food because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The researchers expected to find that vegetarians suffered more from mood imbalances than meat eaters because of a lack of fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids in their diet.

This challenges the idea that fish is the only, or best, source of omega-3 fatty acids. It was thought, in the past, that plant-based omega-3s, found in flax, nuts and oils, were less effective than EPA and DHA when it comes to providing the brain with a boost. It would seem that this isn’t entirely the case, with this study reporting that vegetarians experience less stress, depression, anxiety, tension, anger and confusion than meat eaters. It also found that the vegetarians had better “mental balance” and “emotional control” when compared with the meat eaters.

Of course, we’re only going to reap the benefits to our mental health by including plenty of foods in our diet that are rich in plant-based omega-3 oils. We need to be eating omega-3s that contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) such as:

• Walnuts
• Brazil nuts
• Soy nuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Flaxseeds
• Flaxseed oil
• Canola oil

For an ALA power-packed punch,

I use oils to make salad dressings; I add nuts and seeds to salads to give them an extra crunch or sprinkle them over muesli, yoghurt, soups and stews.

My husband and I love our crunchy salads – vibrant in color and rich in texture – and nuts and seeds are a regular staple of our diet; they make for a tasty, energy-boosting snack if you ever hit that afternoon slump. Hand on heart I think we would both attest to an improvement in our mood since we switched to a vegetarian diet. After I’d been eating a vegetarian diet for a few months, it suddenly dawned on me that I felt more alert and yet calmer than I’d ever done before. My outlook on life has changed, and I simply feel far more positive than I did several years ago.

I, for one, am pleased to see the new study this week because it reminds us that the benefits of a healthy and varied veggie diet reach far beyond our physical health.