It's Your Health!

Much of the last meeting of the ADA focused on obesity and its epidemic proportions.

With the serious increase of obesity among kids, baby boomers could be the first generation to out-live their children!

Following are some tips from the ADA that will, hopefully, inspire you and your family toward a healthier lifestyle -- or to complement your current attempts and achievements at living healthier.

• Kids need to spend more time on the playground and less on PlayStation. Fifteen percent of our children and teenagers are overweight. The average American child spends more than four hours a day watching television, playing video games or surfing the Web. See also: 10 Tips to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity For Youth.
• Trans fats are far worse for your health than saturated fats. Both increase cholesterol, but unlike saturated fats, trans fats increase the small-density molecules that clump together to form arterial plaque.
• Each year as many women die from complications of osteoporosis of the hip as from breast cancer. Men also need to be aware of the dangers of osteoporosis.
• For heart health, focus on vegetable and olive oils, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fish. Avoid trans fats, which are found in hydrogenated oils, processed foods, fried foods, most commercial baked goods and most margarines.