Spirituality and Kids

Last week, USA Today detailed some fascinating and surprising findings about the importance of spirituality to children’s happiness. According to the original research detailed in the article, up to 16.5 percent of a child’s happiness can be directly attributed to spirituality. That's more than three times the percentage for adults. The research, conducted by the University of British Columbia, examined kids between the ages of nine and 12.

Sometimes, we can get too wrapped up in more obvious health of the mind and the body. This study shows that it's vital to remember that we cannot neglect the spirit, especially for our kids.

Remember Hope Lab?

Earlier this year, we posted a blog entry about the Hope Lab contest for the best interactive game to get kids moving. Well, there are a number of winners with very cool ideas. You can check them out at: http://www.hopelab.org/2008/03/17/winners-announced-in-hopelab%e2%80%99s-global-competition-to-get-kids-moving-press-release/. Someone at Hope Lab clearly needs to take a course on writing short hyperlinks.

Anyway, among the winners was an idea for a simple, fun and updated take on musical chairs. This is a great reminder that games like musical chairs, tag, hide and seek and even Twister can have a great, healthy component as well as being fun.

Fight the Finicky Eater

Some kids will do almost anything to avoid eating their veggies. Here’s a great tip: add a bit of grated Parmesan cheese (call it something fun like “sprinkle cheese”), or a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper on your kids’ vegetables. It’s a great, healthy way to help your kids enjoy a wider variety of foods.

Live Like the Lorax

Remember the Lorax of Dr. Seuss fame (“I speak for the trees!”)? Well, now there’s any easy way for you to speak for the trees. Go to www.catalogchoice.org, where you can sign up for free account and choose which direct mail catalogs you do and don’t want to receive. Users have completed more than two million cancellations already. This will not only support the environment, but also reduce the amount of junk you have to juggle walking in the door after a long day at work.

When Your Workout Is Winning

Why do we feel on some days like we can do two spinning classes and then hit the weight room, and on others feel like doing two miles on the treadmill is a Herculean task? The March issue of Shape offered four possible explanations and what to do about them:

·          Exercise hangovers—if you really exercised hard yesterday, you could naturally feel weaker today. Following a really demanding workout, you may want to reduce the intensity of your routine or increase your recovery time.

·          Sleep deprivation—lack of sleep can reduce energy and concentration in every facet of your life, including the gym. In any case, you should aim for a minimum of seven hours of sleep and more after an intense workout.

·          Skipping meals—skipping breakfast or lunch—even if it’s to work out—reduces the functioning of your mind and body. Eating a small snack like yogurt, fruit or whole-wheat crackers can energize your workout.

·          Stress—anxiety and deadlines can make it harder to get to your workout. Unfortunately, this is the time that you need it most. Try short, focused cardio before work to reduce your anxiety level and improve your performance.

The Rest of the Story

According to a study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, people who exercised at least 30 minutes a day from their 20s through middle age gained little or no weight and maintained their body mass index, virtually regardless of what they ate. Once again, this study proves the simple thermodynamics of weight gain and loss. However, what it ignores is the importance of balance.

Fitness and wellness are not just about what size of jeans you wear. The path to wellness is not hitting the treadmill for an hour and then rewarding your efforts with a basket of chicken strips and fries. True health is based not just on the body, but in the body’s healthy balance with the mind and the spirit. 

And in Other Wrinkle-fighting News

There may not be a real fountain of youth, but the vitamin C in oranges comes pretty close. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who eat foods rich in vitamin C had fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those whose diets contained only small amounts of the vitamin. This is because vitamin C helps form collagen, which helps to smooth fine lines and those dreaded wrinkles. Good sources of vitamin C include: papaya, oranges, pineapple, guava, broccoli, red bell peppers (raw), strawberries, cantaloupe, parsley, kiwi, brussel sprouts and even cauliflower.

Another Reason to Love Salad

Researchers have found that vitamin K—commonly found in lettuce and spinach—can boost skin elasticity. This may not mean much when you’re in your 20s or 30s, but can make a difference in the 40s and beyond. Another added benefit, these green leafy vegetables contain fiber, which can help you feel full.

The Peace of Pets

Reams of research support the common-sense notion that pets can bring a significant boost to our spirits. According to the March issue of Natural Health, a 2003 study in the American Journal of Cardiology discovered that men who had suffered heart attacks were more likely to be alive four years later if they owned a dog. Studies have also shown that pet owners have lower blood pressure, suffer from less stress, anxiety and depression, and more. Researchers postulate that pets give affection with no strings or requirements attached and that they also serve as a social link to others. A great resource and great champion of pet adoption in the Michigan area is the Michigan Human Society. Check them out at www.michiganhumane.org.

Burn, Baby Burn

As many new mothers have learned, that cute stroller isn’t just an accessory for your baby. It’s a fat-burning machine. You burn 82 more calories per hour walking on a flat surface while pushing a stroller than you do just walking alone. If you don’t have a stroller—or a baby—try walking up hill at the same pace to enjoy this effect.