Terry Wahls MD
Dr. Terry Wahls’ Discusses Her Multiple Sclerosis Protocol ie diet to help with multiple sclerosis.
See our previous blog on the subject here.
Dr. Terry Wahls’ Discusses Her Multiple Sclerosis Protocol
diet
The Best Foods for Fibromyalgia
Getting a health vegan diet
The Best Foods for Fibromyalgia
Majority of parents don’t follow the recommended food guidelines for their toddler
Majority of parents don’t follow the recommended food guidelines for their toddler
New research shows that only 14% of parents follow the recommended serving frequency for each of the food groups when feeding their children
New research released today from the Infant & Toddler Forum finds that whilst the majority of the nation’s parents are confident about what food groups to include in their child’s diet, they struggle to put their knowledge into practice. Over a third (35%) are worried they do not give their children the right balance of foods and more than a quarter (26%) feel their child is not getting enough variety.
Amongst the surveyed parents of children aged 1-5, whilst 80% of them correctly identified the key food groups that when combined form a balanced diet, improving their know how is key, and nearly a third (28%) take the advice given to them by experts on what they should be feeding their children.
Few parents also know how often to include the food groups over the day. Only about half of the parents were aware that they should offer their toddler meat, fish, eggs, nuts and pulses two or three times a day despite it being the most important food group for iron, which one in eight toddlers don’t get enough of in their diet.
Similarly, nearly 65 % of the surveyed parents mistakenly thought they should only offer their toddler starchy food; like bread, rice and pasta, once or twice a day, with only 28 % being aware that they need to be offered 3-to-5 times a day.
Parents were found to be cautious of sugary foods – 22% think there should be a complete ban on giving their child cakes, biscuits and sweet puddings, yet it is acceptable for children to have these foods once a day. But confectionary and sweet drinks, including fruit juices, need to be limited to once a week.
When it comes to seeking advice on their child’s diet, about a third turn to fellow parents when out of ideas on how to manage their child’s diet and almost four in 10 use the internet and social media platforms to learn new recipes.
Judy More, Paediatric dietitian and member of the ITF says: ‘some parents find feeding their toddlers a challenge as they are not sure about the best foods to offer, and how much they should expect their toddler to eat. However, we know that those working with and caring for toddlers are constantly innovating to solve everyday challenges. So, who better to recommend practical ideas to help take the guidance and make it easy for everyone to use’.
Dr Gillian Harris, Child and Clinical psychologist and member of the ITF added: “It’s never too early to start promoting positive behaviour and healthy eating habits to help parents strike the right balance in their toddlers’ diets Following on from last year’s #rethinktoddlerportionsizes campaign, the Infant & Toddler Forum are calling upon parents to share their practical ideas to feed toddlers well at every meal time via a new ideas-sharing online community.
Diets for older people
As we get older, it is inevitable that our health will gradually weaken at some point, irrespective of how well we looked after our bodies throughout our lives. However, we can continue to be full of freshness and vigor well into our pensionable years if we exercise adequately and get the nutrition that our bodies need. Malnutrition or an unhealthy diet will only quicken the onset of health problems once we surpass middle age.
People of all ages struggle to get the ideal nutrition for them, as evidenced by shocking child obesity figures, but the elderly often find it even more difficult to eat healthily for varying reasons. They may struggle to find the money to afford healthy meals every day, while they could also be physically unable to prepare proper meals. They could find it hard to get to a store to buy the foods that they need, or their appetite could be lacking if they suffer from loneliness or depression. As a consequence of failing to get adequate nutrition, elderly people are left increasingly susceptible to dietary-related diseases such as prostate cancer, osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
It’s worth encouraging older people to try healthier diets that are best suited to what their bodies need. A TLC diet containing skinless poultry, fruit and vegetable salad, a roast beef sandwich and oatmeal is ideal for those with blood pressure or cholesterol concerns. If you’re trying to encourage better heart health, a Mediterranean diet with pasta noodles, sundried tomatoes, seafood and wholegrain toast will go a long way towards this. Whatever the nature of your elders’ dietary needs, it’s generally best to incorporate fiber, iron, unsaturated fats, calcium and vitamin D while eliminating salt, empty calorie foods, trans fats and red meat.
Of course, we shouldn’t merely tell our elders what is best for them. A degree of participation on our part can be massively helpful, whether it’s by doing our parents’ grocery shopping, cooking meals or them or turning one dinner a week into a family occasion to which they will really look forward. This not only enables them to eat healthier, but also offers a social platform that they enjoy immensely.
This infographic from Be Independent Home Care (https://www.beindependenthomecare.ie/our-services/private-home-care.html) offers further advice on how we can enable our elders to get the dietary requirements that will help them to a happier, healthier life.
Diets for older people
Fibromyalgia Diet: 7 Foods to Avoid
Fibromyalgia Diet: 7 Foods to Avoid
Fibromyalgia Diet: 7 Foods to Avoid