| Ten minutes per day in physical activity may add | | | | weight-bearing physical activity is recognized as an |
| years of quality living to your child's future. As role | | | | important determinant of peak bone mass and |
| models, parents and leaders should plant the seeds | | | | physical activity intervention may represent a feasible |
| of active physical movement. The best thing is.... It's | | | | strategy for primary prevention of osteoporosis. (10 |
| free. Creating a family fun activity like kick ball, dodge | | | | minutes, 3 times a week over a two year period)." |
| ball, throwing the football, jumping rope, wrestling, | | | | Activity not only decreases the risk of skeletal |
| tickling, walking the dog and trying to out do the dog | | | | weakness, but may also ensure academic success |
| are simple yet create long lasting memories and if | | | | and development. According to the Journal of Applied |
| done regularly will positively impact their future health. | | | | Physiology 2002, "sedentary lifestyle is associated |
| What many do not know is the reason 'Why' it is | | | | with lower cognitive skills." Although sitting in front of |
| critical to insist on physical activity. The critical truth is | | | | a television or playing videogames may increase |
| regular physical activity creates chain reactions which | | | | some cognitive skills, active physical exercise yields |
| produce and excretes 'essential and required | | | | much higher long term results. |
| nutrients' that stimulate and maintain proper cellular | | | | The above articles illustrate the many reasons why |
| function. The big reason why this is important is, that | | | | physical activity is so important to health, especially in |
| we are only as healthy as the dirt our plants grow in. | | | | children during formative years. Just ten minutes a |
| The cells of the body are like the soil one would plant | | | | day can offset the predictable trend toward illness |
| something in. From the top of your head to the tips | | | | that inactivity encourages. |
| of your toes, all systems within our human body will | | | | Risks of Inactivity |
| retrieve nutrients from its cells (soil) to continue the | | | | Not only does physical activity offset illness, |
| activity of maintaining us alive. Therefore, keeping our | | | | INACTIVITY may cause it. According to a 2004 |
| soil will nourish through meals and physical activity is | | | | article in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, "lack of |
| essential to grow these children into healthy adults. | | | | movement is a major public health problem, and |
| There is plenty of research available to show the | | | | compelling evidence suggests that it is a contributing |
| positive or negative side effects of physical activity | | | | factor in several chronic diseases and conditions." |
| or physical inactivity. Either way, there is a clear | | | | "Currently, modern chronic disease, including |
| predictable outcome for your path. I encourage you | | | | cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic |
| to guide and lead your children onto the path which | | | | syndrome, and cancer are the leading killers in |
| will yield the most fruits in the future. Physical activity | | | | Westernized society. Obesity, diabetes, and |
| is part of this path. Choosing not to will absolutely | | | | hypertension are now even commonplace in children. |
| lead them onto a path of chronic and life threatening | | | | Clearly, there is a solution to this epidemic that is |
| diseases. This is a fact. Below are brief excerpts of | | | | inundating societies worldwide: exercise and diet." The |
| research supporting each side of the fence. Being | | | | journal of Applied Physiology 2005. |
| informed is our best defense. However, then comes | | | | It is important to understand that physical activity is |
| the 'knowing yet not doing, is really not knowing at | | | | an essential requirement for creating health and a lack |
| all' part of the equation. | | | | of activity will create sickness. There is overwhelming |
| Unless, we as a community begin to move towards | | | | research available to support either side. Clearly every |
| creating these types of habits within ourselves and | | | | parent wants what is best for their child. However, |
| our children the current sickness rates will be small | | | | have you thought about your children's friends? They |
| potatoes in the future. | | | | too can potentially be part of a statistic which can |
| Benefits of Activity | | | | affect your family circle. You see, we are all in this |
| "Daily physical exertion is an essential nutrient." A | | | | together. Your child can marry someone which has |
| study published by Eaton & Eaton, Comparative | | | | not lead a healthy life and as a result be prone to |
| Biochem. & Physiology 2003. | | | | more sickness in the future. This is the reason for us |
| "Physical activity has been shown to increase the | | | | as a community to work together to change the |
| body's antioxidant mechanisms." A study published by | | | | future. It really only takes 10 minutes per day to |
| Roberts, C.K. & Barnard, Effects of exercise and | | | | impact our children's health in the future, besides, the |
| diet on chronic disease 2005. | | | | activity is free but the memories and benefits are |
| Pediatrics Vol. 112 December 2003 cites, "childhood | | | | priceless! |