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Many people desire a fit and healthy body, and we pay a lot of attention to how we present ourselves to others. Children - especially teenagers - are particularly conscious about their appearance and are easily influenced by the habits of those around them, and by their self-appointed role models. However, the habits they model themselves after are not always healthy, so it is really important for a family to guide their children in the right direction and educate them appropriately. Promoting a healthy lifestyle, compassion and love for all life goes a long way to making any person truly beautiful.
In recent years, people have been becoming a lot more conscious about their health and how they treat their bodies. A proper diet has taken precedence for many, and long-held notions about “health food” have changed, partly as a result of new nutrition studies and research. About a decade ago, most parents believed that regular consumption of meat and dairy was imperative for good health. Research is now available, however, proving that a well-balanced plant-based vegan diet is nutritionally superior and is a significant help in preventing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other ailments that plague our society. A majority of people have yet to recognize the importance of veganism, but with an increasing number of professional organizations taking on vegan education, this is changing, slowly but surely.
With the busy work-centered lifestyles that most people lead, it becomes very difficult for some to eat healthy food and get adequate exercise. More and more children are becoming obese due to convenient fast foods that are filled with empty calories. It’s important, now more than ever, for adults in the family to make time to discuss health issues and ensure that their children are eating the right foods. A well-planned vegan diet results in measurable physiological and biochemical improvements and changes in outlook, energy level, perspective and overall well-being.
Nutritionist and dietician Malgorzata Desmond conducted research regarding children’s nutrition. She did an observational study of vegan, vegetarian and omnivore children (2-10 years old) and looked at parameters such as weight, height, intelligence, total blood count, cholesterol, etc. Vegan children were found to have the most favorable cardiovascular risk profile with lowest levels of bad cholesterol, saturated fatty acid intake, higher intakes of fiber and lower body weights, etc.
Because many children suffer from obesity, there is an emerging trend of opting for cosmetic surgery to remove those extra pounds. Quick-fix solutions, seductive as they may be, must not be encouraged, especially when it comes to children. Obesity is a problem and what we need to focus on is its root cause, which is our diet. A well-planned vegan diet has been proven to reduce weight efficiently and naturally. Children and adults alike need to be educated about the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Our food choices contribute a lot to the way we present ourselves to people around us, and how we feel about ourselves. Still, this topic goes deeper than food. In addition to our diet, most people use some commercial beauty products, and many of these products contain animal products and/or are cruelly tested on animals before they are sold to the public. There is some irony in the creation of such ugliness in the name of beauty. Parents who educate themselves and their children about not only healthy vegan food choices, but also the cruelty in the cosmetics/personal care product industry will go a step further to understanding that true beauty is more than skin deep; it is created from our beliefs, thoughts, attitudes and actions toward our fellow beings, and the planet.
