Growing up I can remember that my siblings and I never wanted for anything. We were always kitted out in the latest styles, the cupboards, fridge and freezer was well stocked and we were showered with love. Now that I have my own children I too ensure that they have everything they need and most parents I know have a similar mindset and know that it is sometimes necessary for us parents to do without so that the needs of our children are always met.
One area that needs improvement is our education on the issue of health and wellness. As well as being too reliant on allopathic medicine which treat symptoms and do nothing to combat the root cause of a dis-ease, we also have to accept that we can't eat the same way our parents and grandparents did without succumbing to a multitude of ailments.
Here's some of the questions I had to ask myself when my eldest son developed eczema:
Are we providing our children with the correct nutrition that will enable them to grow into healthy adults? Are we aware of how breastfeeding is key to a baby building a healthy immune system?
Do we question our GP on the ingredients contained in the vaccines that are given to our children throughout their childhood?
What are the possible side effects? What is the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 and have you read it?
What studies have been done on the safety of vaccines?
What effect does antibiotics have on the immune system?
Do we know which antibiotics or growth hormones have been pumped into the burger or chicken from the fast food outlet that we readily feed our children as a "treat"?
What are GMO's and what studies have been done to rule out any adverse effects?
How will they effect our children as they grow?
I know 8 years ago I didn't have the answer to most of those questions and I had to do a lot of research to address the symptoms that my son presented. We can't keep saying that our parents ate that way and it never kill them! The truth is that most of them that don't follow a healthy lifestyle now complain of aches and pains, their joints are riddled with arthritis, they're on medication for diabetes or they have the onset of Alzheimer's. None of these diseases are a definite contributory factor of ageing. They develop over a period of time primarily due to poor lifestyle choices. Now with all the other forms of pollution that we have to deal with, it is crucial that we take responsibility for ensuring that we re-educate ourselves in all the aforementioned areas so that we can provide our children with one of the most valuable gifts that we can, good health.
Here's a selection of the books that I have used and will be using to further my education. I also have some digital books that I use.
We owe it to our children to give them the best possible start in life and set a strong foundation upon which they can build to be healthy, strong and successful men and women of the future.