Raising Healthy Families {3 Simple Steps}

June 30, 2014 By Dr. Jake

Written by Dr. Jake, Ask Dr. Jake Contributor

Now that we are into our thirties and most of our friends, family and patients have children under the age of twelve, we have began to recognize that most folks don’t understand the most important principle of life besides loving the Lord, it’s your health.

There are some very simple, lateral changes that you can make with your lifestyle that will reap untold benefits with your health.

Here are 3 simple steps to keep your family healthy during this season:

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D helps to prevent certain types of cancer, is essential with brain function and staving off depression and other mood disorders as well as kidney infections.

It is also crucial for your immune system to function properly. In addition, vitamin D has been known to help with conditions such as fibromyalgia, autism and even obesity.

The majority of your sunlight comes from exposure to the sun, just being outside for less than an hour per day…which means you have to be outside, easily transitioning into the next step.

In the winter months (Oct– Mar) you make little or no vitamin D, if you live above the 35th latitude. So you have to supplement. I recommend Maximized Living’s D3.

Turn off the TV, video games and get outside!

Of course you know, be relational, turn off the TV and video games, but look at the stats and you will realize how much influence the world has on your young ones:

The number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 210 (3.5 hours)
Number of minutes per week the average child watches television: 1,680 (28 hours)
Percentage of 4-to-6-year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54 %
1 in 5 ads for food, 70% fast food
5.2 food ads presented every hour. Science Daily 2009
80 drug ads every hour on TV NPR 2009
In 2009, preschoolers saw 56% more ads for Subway, 21% more ads for McDonald’s and 9% more ads for Burger King, compared with 2007.
Children age 6 to 11 saw even more: 59% more ads for Subway, 26% more for McDonald’s and 10% more for Burger King.

Source: L.A. Times 2010

Enough said I think. Good moments in life don’t come from watching movies, which are definitely fun. They are made by getting outdoors, or playing games. Laughing AT each other not WITH each other to a tv show. As toxic mass amounts of television can be to your mind, the next step helps you to remove toxic things from your body.

Don’t Consume Toxic Meat

It takes approximately 5 to 8 pounds of chemically sprayed grain to produce 1 pound of beef. Therefore you will ingest considerably more cancer causing chemicals from meat than from fruit and vegetables.

On average, one glass of inorganic, store-bought milk contains the residue of about a hundred different antibiotics. Once in our bodies, these antibiotics ultimately weaken our immune system.

Big Shopping Tip Alert: If you are going to buy anything organic, start with animal products, meat, butter, cheese.

Grass Fed Beef, Free Range Chicken, Wild Caught Fish and Dairy from Natural Sources are great ways to remove toxins from your body. Plus good meats like these provide great proteins, the perfect ratios of good fats and honestly, it taste better.

Other Toxins that sneak into our lives are:

Fluoride- Water, toothpastes, mouthwash
Mold- HVAC, water damage
Pesticides– Food, environment
Drugs– Over the counter and prescriptions
Victim mindset- brainwashing food and drug ads

How do you keep your family healthy?

Comments

Anna says:

July 1, 2014 at 5:17 pm

Awesome post. I love your point about families spending more time together, outside. Watching TV is not really quality family time in my eyes. Being outside, run around, playing games is the best fun and it creates awesome memories. I certainly have lots of great memories from all the games and mischief we did as kids 🙂
Samantha says:

July 1, 2014 at 5:50 pm

great tips!
Renee Kohley says:

July 1, 2014 at 8:34 pm

Love this. All great ideas and great reminders!
Aubrey says:

July 1, 2014 at 9:48 pm

Ouch, it’s difficult to read those stats! As a WAHM it can be especially tough for me to balance screen time for the kids.. when my job requires sitting at a computer at home. Thanks for the tips!
linda spiker says:

July 1, 2014 at 11:23 pm

Love all three of these tips and they are pretty easy to do!
Jacqueline @ Deeprootsathome.com says:

July 8, 2014 at 11:03 am

I love it when Dr. Jake takes the time to write. This is very important stuff and it would be wise if more families (parents) heeded it. Thanks for taking the time from your busy schedule. Jake and Rachel, I am praying for your precious family and that the Lord would bless you richly with grace, joy, and peace in Him.