Sugary and salty foods can be addictive and leave you wanting more! Excessive intake of sugar could lead to weight gain and also Type II Diabetes. Britain has the fifth highest rate of Type II Diabetes in children and Gulf countries have similar statistics. In the1980s it was decided that the way to combat heart disease in America was to eat less fat. So the food industry set off to make fat the enemy; this was a message that spread worldwide and we were persuaded to eat margarine instead of butter, and other low fat processed foods.
This was done with the best intentions to make food healthier but it also became a worldwide trillion-dollar food industry. Food with less fat became less tasty and so in order to make sure these more expensive modified products sold well, sugar and salt were added to replace the feel good factor of the fat on the taste buds. Sugar is now added habitually to so many foods including bread and milk.
Benefits and drawbacks of skimmed milk
We are all persuaded that drinking skimmed milk is better for us than whole milk. Skimmed milk has the obvious benefits of being kind to your waistline and not filling your body with fat or cholesterol. But, what about the nutritional potency of skim milk? Since the fat is removed, does this mean that vital nutrients are as well? There are drawbacks to skimmed milk that are not advertised such as while skimmed milk delivers a lot of vitamins and minerals, some of these vitamins are fortified. Whole milk naturally contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, which skim milk lacks since the fat is removed. Therefore, manufacturers will add vitamin A and D, which isn’t quite as natural, but still beneficial. Some skimmed milk also contains added sugar. I always give my children whole milk, as it is the natural way to drink milk. If you have high cholesterol you would probably be told by your doctor to switch to skimmed milk. While fat content in food was considered by the experts to be the body’s enemy causing heart disease, the extra sugar in our food worldwide might explain why we now have a worldwide Type II Diabetes epidemic. Sugar is now in so many of our foods that it is easy to become addicted. According to research, the majority of people, regardless of weight, release twice as much insulin as they did 30 years ago.
The four main symptoms of diabetes to look out for are: Excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme tiredness and weight loss. If you or your child is diagnosed then it is vital to get into a good routine and have first class healthcare.
The solution is to use your own common sense and eat a little of everything but in moderation: Two light meals and one main meal daily, with three snacks per day, one of which can be a treat, such as a biscuit or a small chocolate bar. Desserts during the week should be healthy but it is fine to have a treat and have a real pudding on Friday. You could even have a take-away once per week. If the children eat healthy cereals during the week let them have a Friday treat of a chocolate croissant or pancakes made by dad as a special treat! If you would like a free copy of my guide to healthy eating e-mail me at [email protected]. I have found that if you eat healthy simple real food then you really do not need to diet as your body takes care of your weight. It is also important to listen to your own body and you will get the signals it sends either to drink milk or eat a piece of fruit.
Recipe of the week
Simple Fruit Salad
This is a great recipe to encourage your family to eat fruit. Packed full of fiber and vitamins, this makes a refreshing after school snack.
Serves 6, Preparation time: 20 min
Ingredients
1 small pineapple, peeled and cubed
Half a small melon, peeled and cubed
1 handful of seedless grapes, halved
2 apples, cored and chopped but not peeled
4 small oranges (e.g. clementines), peeled and segmented
1 banana, peeled and chopped
1 handful of fresh or frozen strawberries
1 small glass of pure fruit juice
The fruit should all be chopped into roughly bite sized pieces. Put the fruit into a large bowl and mix in the juice. Store in the fridge until needed. Can be served with plain yogurt or low fat ice cream.
Ask Alva
My children drink mainly soft drinks and only drink water at meal times. Is this enough?
— Hamda
Over-consumption of soft drinks has been linked to obesity, Type II Diabetes and other health problems. If your children regularly drink fizzy drinks, they could have a greater risk for a number of health problems including obesity, Type II Diabetes and even weaker bones. There is no problem drinking soft drinks now and then, but many children consume far too much of these unhealthy drinks when they should be drinking water.
If you restrict access to soft drinks your children will eventually stop asking for them — remember this is for your children’s own good! In the Gulf, water should always be the main drink of the day. — Alva
