Tuesday's Two Cents

I am the firmest believer you could meet who thinks that you really are what you eat. Yesterday I came across an interesting tidbit to confirm this belief of mine even more. As long as you don't laugh I will tell you that it came from the September issue of Good Housekeeping. (I know, I know. But this new house possessed me to buy it.) According to a blurb in the magazine and studies done on children, hyperactivity can be linked to food additives such as food dyes. Lately my son has displayed other-than-normal behavior so I checked the labels on his latest favorite and a treat that I have only recently begun to allow, Goldfish. No food dyes here. Phew. But things like Fruity Pebbles, my husband's grocery store pick, are loaded with about 20 different food dyes.
These days parents and the media blame bad behavior on diagnosed disorders and blah, blah, blah. I don't really buy into much of that. I think that if you're child has some issues (or if YOU have some issues for that matter!) don't be so quick to attach a label and medicate. Look into the problem, change up your diet, try more organic foods, throw in some exercise, get eight hours of sleep, make sure your children take naps, deal with it, and see what happens. If there are still issues, then decide what further steps you need to take. My husband has currently been having problems with his shoulder. His first thought is to go to the doctor and see how the problem can be fixed. I told him, do what you can do first. Strengthen the muscles around the shoulder and in the other areas of your body, do some yoga, and see if there's any improvement. If not, then see a doctor. We all want a quick fix. But sometimes those quick fixes end up being expensive, stressful (as in the case of a child hyped up on Fruity Pebbles every morning), and harmful to our bodies in the long run.
My point: Check your food labels. Eat natural. Do what you can do before paying someone to make you or your child all better. Turn your bad habits into helpful and healthy lifestyle changes.

Feel free to comment and share your own healthy habits.
Have a great day everyone!

Amanda