In This Issue:
1) A Special Guide about Children’s Nutrition
2) Revised Edition of FHTL Now Available!
3) Upcoming Events
4) Candid about Calcium
5) Reader Testimonials
FROM HERE TO LONGEVITY E-NEWSLETTER
Your Complete Guide for a Long and Healthy Life Issue 3 — October, 2004
Dear Reader,
Thank you to everyone who continues to encourage and support us in creating this publication. We are enthusiastic about launching this updated version and appreciate your belief and inspiration. Your readership and support makes all the difference.
Today’s issue is going out to 1,704 subscribers. Thank you in advance for forwarding this issue to friends, family, and associates!
Mitra Ray, Ph.D.
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A Special Guide about Children’s Nutrition
Recently, I wrote a special edition of this article, titled, A Guide to Parents about Children’s Nutrition for Country Kindness Montessori School, located in our community. As a parent, I know that we all want what is best for our kids. While we search for the best schooling and the best instruction in whatever endeavors they take part in, nutrition is perhaps our biggest blind spot as a nation.
The nutritional needs of children are most important in their early years. Below we see that the need for nutritional diligence of a 1-year-old is almost twice that of an 18-year-old. Yet, the worst foods are typically found on the children’s menu in a restaurant.
Most parents complain to me that they cannot get their kids to eat nutritious foods. Others say that they are confused by the media about what is nutritious. As a biochemist and a mother of two children, I am dedicated to improving children’s nutrition. I see this as the foundation of a functioning and healthy society.
With the nation seeing an epidemic of obesity as well as a dramatic rise in prescriptions for the strongest, legal psychotropic drugs to suppress children’s behavior, we need to rethink what we feed our kids.
A recent study showed that the biggest threat to a child is not being abducted or domestic violence or any other social injustice of that nature. The biggest threat is childhood obesity. Younger and younger children have clogged arteries; and, for the first time in human history, this generation is slated to live shorter lives than their parents! We need to pay attention.
There are many resources for parents to find out more. I am working with well-known pediatricians and nutritionists to develop a guideline for parents. Briefly, here is an outline for parents. While the list may seem difficult to implement at first, these are the only foods that are acceptable if their little brains and bodies are to grow and function properly.
Fruits All whole fruits are a great source of nutrition for children. On the other hand, fruit juices or fruit sticks or otherwise processed fruits begin to concentrate the sugar and set up the hormonal landscape of a child for Type II diabetes and obesity. Also, too much sugar will disrupt brain development.
Vegetables It is important to constantly expose children to different kinds of vegetables as vegetables are King in the world of nutrition. Initially, a young child has trouble chewing the fiber in veggies, so it is important to start with small sizes and/or steamed veggies. To make them tastier, you can add organic butter and sea salt to steamed veggies. You can also teach a child to start eating salads, using organic dressings. Be sure that the dressings are not high in sugar or fat substitutes.
Most importantly, kids mimic their parents. If you eat a salad every day, eventually, your child will do it, too. One dressing that my kids like is found at Trader Joes. It is their Raspberry & Balsamic Fat-Free Dressing, to which I add an equal part of organic cold-pressed olive oil, and a dash of organic high-lignan flax seed oil in order to add back some good fats.
Fats Speaking of fats, it takes a lot of good fat to develop a healthy brain. Yet, today, kids are eating too much processed food with high amounts of saturated fat or worse, partially hydrogenated fat — also known as trans fats. On the other hand, they need the good fats from sources such as organic almonds, wild fish, flax seed oil, primrose oil, etc. Most cereals, cookies, candies, and crackers have hydrogenated fat and should be avoided completely. The body cannot process hydrogenated fat and studies from Harvard show that even a 2% increase in calories from trans fat will increase chances of a stroke by 98%. It is also the beginning of heart disease, which kills 1 in every 2.5 Americans today. I advise people to go through their kitchen and throw away everything that has the words “partially hydrogenated oil or fat.”
There are brands in the health food isles that sell products without hydrogenated fats and they advertise this fact. Another acceptable substitute is cookies, candies and crackers made with butter. But remember, they are still “organic junk food” — only a treat for special occasions in my home. Fruits and vegetables are the only real sources of carbohydrates that provide energy, protect from disease, and help to maintain low body fat over a lifetime.
Proteins Because protein provides the building blocks for developing muscles, organs and other tissue in the body, it is important that kids have some protein at every meal. Most kids eat too many processed carbohydrates and not enough protein. Lean proteins, such as chicken, turkey (without nitrates), and fish (including shellfish), should be a regular part of every meal. Lean cuts of red meat are also acceptable.
Buying free-range, hormone-free, grass-fed meats ensures higher nutritional value and fewer toxins. Small amounts of soft cheeses such as organic cottage cheese or mozzarella cheese, or whole milk yogurt also can provide some protein during snacks. It is important to buy organic dairy products because toxins concentrate in fats.
Water is the only way to hydrate a body. No other drink actually hydrates the body. So it is imperative to teach kids to drink good, clean water. Well water that has been tested for lead and other contaminants or filtered water is the best. If you have municipally treated water, make sure you have a filter in your house that removes chlorine.
Snack Ideas
- Apples/Grapes
- Mini Peeled carrots (Earthbound Farm makes individual packets of organic carrots with ranch dip.)
- Organic Nuts (cashews and almonds) with organic raisins or other dried fruits without added sugar or preservatives
- Organic crackers (without hydrogenated oils), popcorn, baked goods and other such processed carbohydrates are OK, but only on special occasions. If eaten on a regular basis — while they may not have some of the normal toxins in processed foods — they still elicit an insulin response that leads eventually to diabetes, cancer, and other degenerative diseases.
- While some of these options are more expensive than some un-healthy snack choices, it is important to remember not to give in to all the marketing aimed at kids. Cartoon characters and lower prices usually point to what amounts to poison for a small body. Your child deserves the extra few dollars in your grocery bill to go healthy and go organic. It is ultimately an investment in a child’s heathcare costs down the road; more importantly, it is an investment in your child as they grow into a healthier, happier adulthood.
Have a healthy, happy fall!
Mitra
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“While the habits of children’s friends can make a difference, the parent’s influence is stronger…” -Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute for Cancer Research
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Revised Edition of FHTL Now Available!
We are excited to announce that the newly revised edition of From Here to Longevity is now available for purchase! We have invested over 100 hours of work, updating information, adding testimonials, making corrections, and enhancing the overall durability of the book.
To purchase your copy, click here
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Candid about Calcium
Almost daily, we receive questions and comments from readers who are committed to their health. While Dr. Ray tries to read every question and comment, she simply doesn’t have time to answer every one. Occassionaly, we receive a question several times and when we do, Dr. Ray takes time to write a reply.
This month’s question comes from Jean, who is interested in the facts of calcium content in Juice Plus+® a whole food fruit and vegetable concentrate.
Jean writes:
Hi Mitra,
I hope you had a terrific summer.
I am concerned about the new food labels on Juice Plus+® because they show a low % RDA for both iron and calcium.
Didn’t you double up on Juice Plus+® when you were pregnant, without taking any prenatal supplements? Which meant that you thought Juice Plus+® had enough calcium and iron?
Thanks so much!
Jean Murphy
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Hi Jean,
Taking calcium does not prevent osteoporosis and taking iron does not cure anemia.
First, calcium loss is due to a diet rich in acidic foods, not the lack of calcium in our diets. Americans get plenty of calcium. But because our diets are acidic, the body uses the bicarbonate from the bones to neutralize the acidity. Unfortunately, this bicarbonate is bound to calcium, and calcium is lost in the process. Taking more calcium doesn’t help, because the bones will not absorb this calcium. Exercise and movement is the only trigger for the bones to take up nutrients.
A good article was just recently published by the American Institute for Cancer Research linking a rise in soda consumption to childhood obesity. The article goes on to report that, “In general, kids who drink the most soft drinks get only about three-quarters of the calcium that non-consumers of these drinks do.” I believe this is a two-part problem introduced by the soda: one part sugar and calories, the other part is the fact that our bodies must use bicarbonate from our bones to neutralize the acidity of these nutriton-less drinks.
So, only exercise and a less acidic diet prevent osteoporosis. Juice Plus+® is alkaline and helps with lowering acidity. Also, people report that Juice Plus+® helps to increase bone density. I myself have never taken calcium and yet my bone density is off the chart — more than the average 18-year-old, which is the age of maximum bone density for women.
Next, anemia is due to not having enough animal protein. Taking isolated iron can really mess up our balance of absorption of minerals. See my book and read the chapter titled The Vitamin Hoax for more on this. Juice Plus+® helps to digest and assimilate the food that we do eat better: therefore, we do see results with anemic people. The combination of Juice Plus+® and at least a small amount of animal protein is all that is necessary to supply the iron we need to avoid becoming anemic.
Please remember that these principals make a difference for all of us, including our little people — not just for women who are concerned (and rightfully so) about osteoporosis and anemia. Good nutritonal habits start at home in the family.
I hope this helps.
Mitra
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Reader Testimonials
Here are some of the dozens of testimonials and comments we received from our eNewsletter subscribers.
Dear Mitra and Doug, Thanks so much for sharing your newsletter with me. I would like very much to continue receiving it. I plan to share it within our group as well. Thanks for all you do,
-Nancy J
I loved Dr. Ray’s book. It was recommended to me by my surgeon, who asks all of his patients to take Juice Plus+® before and after surgery. The book was great, and her newsletter is a wonderful follow-up. It’s good to be reminded to literally stop whatever I’m doing (as the mother of 2 year old twins, I’m always doing something!) and take a deep breath. Thank you for caring enough to educate those of us who do not have a background in a health-related field (and those who do) in an understandable way without being patronizing. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
-Denice Brown, Friday Harbor, WA
PLEASE put me on your newsletter list. A friend sent me the 1st one and I loved it. Keep up the great work.
-John Medeiros, CRNA
I have been reading your book, “From Here to Longevity” and have learned so much and will have to read the book a second time because there is sooo much information. I really want to thank you for writing this book. This book gives people information that is so important for survival. I also have two small children and by reading her book I am learning what I need to do to protect them. I hope to be able to help them learn about healthy eating and keeping their environment healthy. Thank you so much, Dr Mitra Ray. I will keep looking on your web site to see when you will be speaking again in the Bay Area. Regards,
-Lu Ann
Wonderful informative reading. Thank you 
-Kathy Moore, Perth, Western Australia
Hi, I was a first time attendee at the recent JuicePlus+ conference. I loved it and can’t wait to go back next year. Mitra, I saw you out there on the dance floor. You looked wonderful and moved even better. I am recently on board with JuicePlus and I am so excited. I once was with Mannatech but I feel JuicePlus has so much more to offer ….. Thanks for your contribution,
-J.Boullion, Baton Rouge, LA
Dear Mitra, Thank you for your ongoing efforts to enhance our awareness for better health in a variety of ways. You have made a difference in the lives of people all over the world, including ours. You have given so much of yourself for our common goal….”building healthy bodies for life and longevity”! You are a true blessing! We value and appreciate you,
-Les & Pam Barnhart, Simi Valley, California
Hi Mitra, Your newsletter is wonderful. Thank you for sharing so openly. I feel your heart. By the way, I have been using your book in all my business talks as an example of the calibre of people who are endorsing and behind our product. Love,
-Carol Ranoa
Thank you eNewsletter readers, for the sincere, kind words of encouragement and appreciation you have sent us!
FHTL Back to School Special
For parents who are interested in finding out more in-depth information on how to support their families’ health and longevity, we are offering a free shipping special for the months of October and Novemeber, 2004.
Purchase Now
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