From obesity to kidney stones
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- October
- 30
I thought the childhood obesity epidemic was bad enough. But now this. The New York Times reports there is a rise in U.S. children getting kidney stones.
If that isn’t a sign of our poor diet times, I don’t know what is. The culprit, according to the article, is salt. And it’s not just about pouring too much of the white stuff on our foods. The additive can be found—in abundance—in canned soups, deli meats and the popular kid drink, Gatorade. Here’s an interesting press release from Johns Hopkins Medicine that provides doctors’ recommendations on preventing the disorder as well as signs and symptoms to look out for.
I find it really sad that America’s children are growing up with health problems often associated with older age. And that they are preventable, is even more disheartening.
I wish that we could live in a place where all our food—slow or fast—was healthy, where we could pick our fruits and vegetables from trees and the earth and make presto fabulous meals in two minutes. But after I shake myself from that fantasy, I know that all we can do is make the best choices we can.
Unfortunately, what seems like a healthy choice, is often quite the opposite—nothing that reading the label can’t solve. And if you don’t know what cellulose gum is, look it up.
The upside of an alarming article such as this one, is that it may give you pause when reaching for that can of chicken soup or that cold cut. And if not, well then, that’s your choice.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 30th, 2008 at 3:07 pm by Marcela Rojas.
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Thank you for your article link. Unfortunately for many they are unaware of all the risks when it comes to modern day food choices. Most pediatricians are not doing a good job educating parents on healthy eating. Many parents assume juice is the best choice for their children because it has fruit in it and if kids drink milk every day everything will be okay regardless of diet. Parents rely so much on their pediatricians yet information like the information in this article is just not being offered. Not everyone reads Ice Cream For Breakfast or the New York Times, but just about everyone brings their children to the pediatrician for regular well check ups.
The rule of thumb I use when it comes to healthy eating is very simple and really pretty logical. If at all possible, do not eat from a can or a box. Granted, there are exceptions, but I think you can help the health of your child (and yourself) tremendously by avoiding food presented to you in these formats.
As an addendum to boxed foods…frozen food is a terrible offender.
In other words, lazy food is by nature unhealthy. You choose.
I agree with you on your rule of thumb. However it is good to note that many frozen veggies are good alternatives to fresh. Not canned, just frozen with no extras.