"Chronic illness is a family affair."
--Richard Cohen, from Chasing Hope
Preventing diabetes among kids who are already overweight and obese is key to the mission of Growing Healthy Kids, Inc. Some kids at unhealthy weights live in food deserts, lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and are dependent on SNAP benefits at home and the USDA's free and reduced meal program at school. These kids are often bullied by other kids (and sometimes by adults who should know better), ostracized, and isolated. The psychological effects of childhood obesity are well documented, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stressors on the health of a child can have unhealthy consequences on the health of a child.
Stress
narrows the blood vessels and raises the blood pressure. Someone with diabetes is at 2-4 times higher
risk for a heart attack or stroke than someone without diabetes. Having high LDL
cholesterol means the blood vessels are narrowed because the saturated fat found
in foods from animals (think cheese, beef, chicken, ice-cream and full-fat
milk) sticks to the inside of the vessels.
Managing
stress is important to everyone’s overall health, but especially important for
anyone with diabetes or prediabetes. In
addition to “everyday” stress like the school class change bells, attending “virtual”
school at home, loud noises, unexpected events like someone’s illness or death, being bullied, or being sedentary, everyone is also juggling year of “COVID” stress, a
summer of racial injustices and uncertainty, and a presidential election of great
consequence to the health of our country and the health of democracy.
Stress can
kill you. If it doesn’t kill you, it
will age you. If it doesn’t age you, it
will remind you that living a balanced life matters a lot so turn off the
source of the stress.
I walk as my antidote for stress. Sometimes
I will throw in a little walk/run to get my heart rate up a bit. We need those walks to remind
us to stop and smell the roses every day. Exercise, time outside in nature, and eating real foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes) all play a role in managing stress. What are you and your kids doing to manage stress?
With love,
Nancy
Heinrich, MPH
Founder and
Wellness Architect
Growing
Healthy Kids, Inc.
