As your children are getting ready to start the next school year, I encourage you to think about their health from this perspective:
Health comes from above (God), down; inside (the integrity of the internal environment of their bodies), outward. What do I mean by this?
Seventy percent of our immune system resides in the digestive system – stomach, small intestines, large intestines, primarily. If their digestive system is healthy, they have a much greater chance of warding off all the contagious germs that we are all exposed to every day. But our health doesn’t fully reside there – it flows out from there to our entire body. It’s what is known as “systemically.” Throughout all the systems of the body.
Your children don’t get sick because they touched a doorknob, or some other child sneezed on them. We are all exposed to germs all around us every day. In fact, it might surprise you, that we as humans are just one part of an entire ecosystem of all kinds of organisms. Our bodies are made to co-exist with these so-called invaders. But if the integrity of the internal environment of our bodies are not strong enough to co-exist, or even fend off these organisms – viruses, bacteria, even parasites – then we will get sick.
I encourage you to manage what is in yours, and your child’s control – the internal environment of the body. Because trying to control the external environment is quite frankly, futile. You can spray down all the surfaces you or your child could be exposed to with anti-microbial, toxic products, and you really won’t put a dent into killing off these organisms – they are here to stay. All you are doing is building up a resistance to all bacteria – the bad, but also the good, that our bodies need.
How to Control Your Internal Environment
Diet
Think about the average child’s breakfast – including those provided by our government: sugary cereals with milk, sweet breads of all kinds, pancakes, waffles and French toast – the list goes on and on. The bulk of their breakfast is made up of sugary food-like substances that include a serving of milk. Cow’s milk is the number one hidden food sensitivity and yet it is highly promoted and provided by our federal government in all schools. Processed sugars, which all of the above foods are made from, are highly addictive and puts the body into a crash and burn state over and over again.Children are fed these foods on a daily basis, they bounce off the walls and then can hardly keep their eyes open, in turn are diagnosed as having ADD/ADHD and then put on Ritalin a controlled substance drug that is listed as having a “high potential for abuse.”
Take control of your child’s diet by starting them off with real, healthy food; pack their lunches and prepare a healthy meal for dinner. Where to start? Just serve them real food – not processed, packaged and fast foods. See two of my blogs “The Reliance on Packaged & Processed Foods” and “It’s All About Self-Induced Inflammation” to learn more on the harming effects of these foods.
Sleep
According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine1 here is the number of hours children should have based on age:
- Children 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours (including naps) on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
- Children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
- Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
Sleep for all of us is vital to not just our physical health but our emotional and cognitive health as well. Most children are living the example of their parents – burning the candle at both ends.
The study goes on to say:
- Sleeping the number of recommended hours on a regular basis is associated with better health outcomes including: improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health.
- Regularly sleeping fewer than the number of recommended hours is associated with attention, behavior, and learning problems. Insufficient sleep also increases the risk of accidents, injuries, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and depression. Insufficient sleep for teenagers is associated with increased risk of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts.
- Regularly sleeping more than the recommended hours may be associated with adverse health outcomes such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and mental health problems.
- Parents who are concerned that their child is sleeping too little or too much should consult their healthcare provider for evaluation of a possible sleep disorder.
Balance – time management
This ties in closely with sleep and rest. How much is on your child’s calendar? Are they signed up for more than one extracurricular activity a semester? Are you using these activities as a form of childcare? I am always appalled at how many activities one child is signed up for at any given time, not to mention how many hours a week are dedicated to it – for both the parent and the child. We each only have 24 hours in any given day. Just as we should do with our finances, we need to prioritize how our child is spending their 24 hours – learning/homework; sleep; exercise/social time; mealtime. These all need to be prioritized and in balance. When life is out of balance that puts major stress on a child. Stress causes inflammation and inflammation is the common denominator of ALL chronic and degenerative diseases, that are sadly, starting earlier and earlier in a person’s life.
Exercise
Again, balance. It is vital that children engage in regular physical activity. But that doesn’t mean you sign them up for every sport that comes down the pike. This can be combined with family time – adults and children enjoying fresh air, sunshine and physical activity together. This goes back to priorities with their time – exercise should not replace other vital activities like sleep, studying and mealtime, but instead exercise should be priority over internet, video games and television.
Sunshine
Our best quality source of real Vitamin D is from the sun. Vitamin D is vital to our health and immune system. Don’t replace real sunshine and fresh air with a synthetic supplement, instead combine play time with sunshine for optimum health support.
Emotional Health
Far too many children are living in toxic home environments – way more than we are aware. In fact, it’s right in front of us and we don’t even see it. These children are living in traumatic situations day in and day. Needless to say, living with traumatic stress has a direct impact on a child’s physical health. Things like digestive disorders, headaches, and mood disorders are all very common ramifications of a stressful and traumatic life. Parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, pastors – please, please, please train yourself to become in-tuned to the trauma that is going on around you. Say something, do something. It is better safe than to be sorry.
Spiritual Health
Life without a morals and values compass is a life of chaos. God’s Biblical principles are the foundation of living a life of peace, joy, love, kindness, faithfulness, goodness and self-control. God’s Word is an amazing “north star” – what is your child’s north star? What do they have to measure all choices in life against? Imagine these fruits of the Spirit saturated your child’s life – in school and out. How awesome of a picture is that? See that they are fed the truth of God’s Word on a regular basis – throughout the week, not just on Sundays.
In Summary
Health comes from God down to us, and from the integrity of our internal environments of our body, outward. It’s not what we touch and who sneezes on us, it’s all about our own immune system – how strong is it?
Build up yours and your child’s immune system by consuming real foods, minimize sugars, get enough sleep, exercise, fresh air, and sunshine. Don’t overbook your child’s social calendar – leave room for down time, rest, relaxation and simple play. And be conscious of your child’s and the children around you – their emotional health, their social circles, their family life – is it quality, or is it lacking? What can you do to help? And lastly, but most important, feed them God’s Word of truth on a regular basis.
My prayer is that your children have the best school year ever because their health is in balance, wholistically.