Good food, good health - Healthy liver function through good nutrition in childhood

Good food, good health - Healthy liver function through good nutrition in childhood

I believe that as a nation we now recognize the responsibility we have for nutrition and our children. There are many more stories about obesity, which is increasing across all age groups overall, but worryingly it has increased sharply in children over the last decade.

As our children's waistlines increase, we greatly increase the risk of future illnesses and poor health for them in adulthood, so much so that health officials have said that if the trend continues as it is, the next generation is more likely to die before their parents!

So, as parents, we need to develop a sensible, healthy diet plan with good food for our children, introduce new fresh foods regularly and make meals and meal times fun.

Fast food should really be limited to one or two treats, chips, biscuits and carbonated drinks should also be kept to an absolute minimum, as these foods are what boost overweight children. A child's liver function will soon be slowed by excessive fat buildup, which can lead to liver damage.

When the liver is damaged by fatty acids - saturated fat - cholesterol regulation is hindered, it doesn't produce enough "good" HDL and causes levels of "bad" LDL to rise, resulting in a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes later in life.

We always say, “You are what you eat” and that a varied diet of good foods for good health should be everyone's goal, along with moderate exercise and plenty of fluids.

In this way we give our body the best possible help to obtain the full spectrum of nutrients and vitamins necessary for optimal performance.

Obviously, it is necessary to take into account other factors that can greatly affect our health and well-being, including lack of sleep, living environment, geographical location, pollutants, genetic conditions, etc.

A diet of good nutrition is crucial for all of us at any age, but studies have shown that in childhood, and especially in younger years, a diet of good nutrition can really make all the difference.

A study conducted at Bristol University showed that women with longer legs tend to have healthier livers, researchers said, and that women with shorter legs are more susceptible to liver damage.

The key, they say, seems to be childhood diet. A healthy diet is beneficial in the early stages of life as it allows the body to grow consistently and evenly, thereby promoting good liver function and growth.

Recently there have also been several studies showing that babies' health can be greatly improved when pregnant mothers eat a good, varied diet and avoid smoking and alcohol.

They found that larger people generally have larger livers, allowing the body to remove a greater amount of harmful substances from the blood as the body's detoxification agent.

A buildup of “toxins” in the liver can cause it to become “sluggish,” and this can be detrimental to maintaining good health and well-being of the body.

A healthy liver is vital to good health, and eating nutritious food helps create new liver cells and can even repair some damaged cells.

Therefore, liver performance is greatly improved or impaired by the diet we eat.

It's really easy to add helpful detoxifying foods to your diet by simply eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; If you're getting your five a day, you're well on your way. Take protein from lean meat, fish twice a week, grains and nuts - preferably unsalted.

The way we prepare our food is also important - overcooked and a lot of the good stuff is lost, so lightly boiled, steamed, fried and grilled foods are the best ways to maximize the vitamins and nutrients in the food.

We believe that our daily requirements for vitamins and nutrients can be met through a healthy, varied diet, but during or after illness, when loss of appetite is common, taking a nutritional supplement may help, but as always you should seek medical advice first.

So embrace our motto “good food for good health” and a good, varied diet of healthy foods can only help achieve good health and well-being for you and your children.

Sandra & Teddy