Malaysian statistics on children show:
- Over 20% of children are obese and overweight1
- 8% children below 5 years are underweight
- More young people, some as young as 7, suffer from Type 2 Diabetes2
In the past, when children were sick, it usually involved infectious diseases like colds, coughs and other bacterial and virus infections. But today, chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension and developmental disabilities like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism are commonly found in children. It is no wonder then, that by the time they reach adulthood, 7 out of 10 Malaysian adults will suffer from chronic diseases.3 What are the reasons for this alarming rise in chronic diseases in children? Generally, children develop chronic diseases as a result of hereditary genetic conditions, lifestyle or environmental factors, or a combination of these. We can’t do much about our genes or the polluted environment that we live in; at most we can tap into the power of epigenetics to control how our genes work and perhaps surround ourselves with air purifiers, but we do have a measure of control over our lifestyle factors, especially the food we eat.
We are What We Eat
The other side of this coin is ‘Garbage in, garbage out’ is a popular phrase that proves unhealthy eating habits can manifest in a sickly body. Most children today are well acquainted with fast food, junk food and commercially-prepared food that is high in fat, salt and sugar content. It is so popular that a study reports that 15% of pre-schoolers ask for fast food daily while 84% of parents report taking their children to a fast food restaurant at least once a week.4
Today’s modern diet for children is often high in carbohydrates, protein and fat, but sorely lacking in healthy offerings like vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Tasty, unwholesome food is also highly acidic; for instance, acid-forming food like meat, rice, noodles, bread, pastries and desserts increases the production of free radicals in our body and weakens the body’s immunity.
This unhealthy eating pattern causes an imbalanced nutrient consumption, which is why more and more children are becoming vulnerable to chronic diseases. An uncontrolled diet also leads to obesity, an increasingly alarming problem that sharply increases the risk of diabetes, heart diseases, liver diseases, asthma and sleep apnoea, not to mention the emotional downside, such as low self-esteem which causes social awkwardness and poor performance.
Start Right
One of the keys to cultivating good health is good eating habits, which include a balanced and natural diet with at least 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and consuming food that is cooked in a healthy manner, like raw, steamed and lightly grilled food.
However, some children are often picky eaters and dislike food that is bland and unseasoned including most fruits and vegetables. Modern hectic lifestyles also result in frequent consumption of take-away food or processed food like sausages.
That’s why it is vital to compensate for the nutrients that children miss out in their diet. One such natural food that is loaded with nutrients is spirulina.
Spirulina has often been described as a superfood, a powerhouse of highly-concentrated macro and micro nutrients, and one of the world’s richest and most complete sources of nutrition. It contains important plant nutrients including all the essential amino acids (protein) and a high concentration of over 18 vitamins, 20 minerals, essential fatty acids and antioxidants. Cholesterol and fat-free, spirulina cell walls also do not contain cellulose, and is therefore easily digested and absorbed into the body, making it the ideal nutritional choice for growing kids who may have immature digestive systems.
Elken Spirulina is an even more superior choice as it has been certified 100% pure and organic, thus giving parents a peace of mind when giving it to their kids. It comprises 70% protein, and over 46 essential nutrients, including rare nutrients like Vitamin B12, H and K and Gamma-Linolenic Acid as well as potent antioxidants like Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), beta-carotene and chlorophyll. As Elken Spirulina is alkaline-forming in nature, taking it also helps to balance out the acidity in the body which has often been singled out as the main cause of chronic diseases.
Available in small tablets which can be chewed, swallowed, or crushed and mixed into food, Elken Spirulina is not just any supplement, but the perfect food for people of all ages, especially children and sickly people.
Not only that, Elken Spirulina has also been bestowed the JHFA Authorization by Japan Health Food & Nutritional Food Association to indicate its health benefits and garnered numerous prestigious international awards like the Gold Diamond Award, National Biotechnology & Medical Care Award and the Golden Award.
The best gift you can give your children is the gift of health – give your child a strong start in life with Elken Spirulina!
Source
- Third National Health and Morbidity Survey, conducted in 2006 http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/24/nation/6710240&sec=nation
- http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/24/nation/6710240&sec=nation
- http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/303/7/682.full
- http://fastfoodmarketing.org/fast_food_facts_in_brief.aspx