Nutrition and lifestyle choices are very important to eye health. Your eyes sit in an oxygen-rich environment and are exposed to wavelengths of light that can cause damage. There are cells inside your eyes that digest their weight in damaged structures every day! But keeping your eyes shut all the time is not a good…
Bariatric surgery has become a more frequently utilized option for many people dealing with intractable obesity. Losing weight benefits health in many ways, including improving blood sugar control and heart health. Bariatric surgery means that you’ve made a lifelong commitment to taking recommended dietary supplements along with eating a healthy diet. Bariatric Surgery There are…
Proper nutrition is important throughout life, but children have special nutritional needs. Children grow faster during their first few years than at any other time in their lives, and this rapid growth dramatically increases their nutritional needs. Although specific nutrient needs vary throughout the different stages of life, there is probably no more critical time…
By Dr. Jamie McManus. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin needed by the body to help maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. By assisting the body with calcium absorption, vitamin D helps to create and maintain strong bones. Without adequate levels of vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, and misshapen. Vitamin D…
By Dr. Jamie McManus. Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids, are essential to human health and cannot be made by the body. For this reason, they must be obtained from the foods we eat. Good sources of omega-3s include fatty fish and certain plant foods, including flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts. There…
Regular physical activity in children and adolescents—as with adults—promotes health and fitness. Compared with those who are inactive, physically active children have higher levels of cardiovascular fitness and stronger muscles, perform better in school, and are less likely to suffer from anxiety and/or depression. Physically active kids also are less likely to become overweight or…
Despite a parent’s best efforts to provide their child with an overall healthy and well-balanced diet, the reality is that most children are not getting the complete nutrition they need. National nutrition surveys confirm that children are not consuming the recommended number of food group servings based on the Food Guide Pyramid, with 63% of…
By Dr. Jamie McManus. Establishing healthful eating habits early in life begins with parents and caregivers of young children simply introducing and making available nutritious foods. Nourishing food choices should be available at all meals and snack times that include a variety of good foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, legumes,…
By Dr. Jamie McManus. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body with more than 99% occurring in bones and teeth, where it is the central “support structure.” Therefore, it’s critically important that children of all ages optimize their calcium intake every day to ensure proper development of bones and teeth. Calcium is found…
By Dr. Jamie McManus. When it comes to concerns about your child’s health, helping them to have strong bones may not be at the top of your list, but it should be. Building strong bones by adopting healthy nutritional and lifestyle habits in early childhood is critically important in helping to prevent osteoporosis later in…