Almost one in five school-aged children is considered obese in the United States. In addition, kids are showing signs of chronic diseases that usually don't appear in human beings until middle age ? diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and gall bladder diseases, diseases that develop largely because of a lifetime of poor eating habits. And school lunches aren't helping!
The combination of poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle ? lots of time in front of the computer, TV, and video games ? are wreaking havoc on kids from preschool through high school, and the practice of hiring corporate fast food giants like McDonald's and Pizza Hut to run school lunch programs, coupled with the presence of vending machines filled with candy, sodas, and other sugary snacks, is contributing to the problem.
Luckily, parents and health professionals have wised up, and are fighting back. School administrations around the country are removing vending machines from schools or filling them with healthier snacks, and rejecting McDonald's in favor of healthier school lunches. Sodas filled with sugar or suspect sugar substitutes are giving way to bottled water or pure fruit juices, still containing some natural sugars but devoid of added sugar concentrates like high-fructose corn syrup, and containing more nutritional value.
Fries, burgers, and pizza are being replaced with baked potatoes, salads, fresh fruits and healthier protein sources such as chicken, fish, and even vegetarian sources like beans and tofu.
Both Senators Frist (R-Tennessee) and Harkin (D-Iowa) introduced bills in the U.S. Senate in 2005 to reduce childhood obesity by improving school lunch programs around the country, prodded by Parentsaction.org, a parents' lobbying group determined to changes things for the better in the country's lunchrooms. Meanwhile, kids are responding surprisingly well to changes that have already been made in many schools, many students opting for healthier foods even when the less healthy versions are still available side by side with the healthy options. School fitness programs are also being reviewed and adapted to assist children with weight issues, with varying degrees of success.
The problem of childhood obesity grew over a period of years, and isn't going to go away overnight; but with parents, teachers, school administrators, and even politicians looking at the problem, the possibility of long-term solutions for kids at risk look better than they ever have. And with more of an understanding of how obesity overtakes a child, and possible solutions, kids today are more likely to get help than the ostracism and blame they would have received in the past.
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Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most frequently lethal cancer in the United States.
Among all causes of death, lung cancer ranks second after heart disease for males, and third after heart and cerebrovascular disease for females.
In 2002 alone, over 150,000 people in the United States died of lung cancer.
Cancers form when certain cells in the body grow and multiply in an uncontrolled fashion.
When such uncontrolled growth affects lung tissues, a lung cancer forms.
Lung cancer is classified into two main types- small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
An estimated 80 percent of lung cancer patients have non-small cell lung cancer.
Smoking or inhaling second hand smoke, environmental exposures such as asbestos and radon gas, and a family history of lung cancer increase the risk of an individual getting lung cancer.
However, some lung cancers arise in the absence of these risk factors.
Factors that...
Food Processing Industry in China Expanding Fast
China has large tractable lands providing ample source for growing food crops. The food resources are varied in number and type, widely available, and naturally grown without any adverse effects. The food products are unique in nutritional and medicinal values. China feels that these resources could be further developed so that variety could be added to the available foodstuff, which could help raise the people's standard of living.
Recent market studies show that China has developed a strong domestic demand for dairy products, which is attracting more of the world's dairy firms.
In 2001, China imported dairy products of about 195 mt., which increased to 388 mt in 2004.
China faces some challenges in its food industry which range from meeting nutritional requirements for different consumers, increasing the availability of food with high-quality protein, vitamins and other minerals, as also providing some high-quality but low-priced...
Hiking with Children
There is nothing quite like hiking with small children.
The thrill of introducing these young ones to the wonder of nature is matched only by their eyes as they take it all in.
If you follow a few simple rules when hiking with children, things go extremely well.
Forget these simple rules and your treks with the young can be a recipe for disaster.The first thing to remember is that young ones don't understand or know the dangers of a trail that might seem the most basic of realities to anyone else.
Poison oak, snakes and wild animals seem fun to the youngest of hikers.
You know better and need to make sure that your partners do as well.
You'll need to be the eyes and ears of those who eyes and ears aren't yet up to the task.
You'd be surprised how quickly they can get themselves into trouble so you'll need to keep on your toes.Secondly, you'll want to bring lots of snacks.
Little legs burn a lot of energy when they're...
Central Market adds The Original Ceylon Tea Company to its extraordinary tea line-up.
DALLAS, TX (ContentDesk) December 17 2003--Central Market, the fresh market destination for people who are passionate about food, has added The Original Ceylon Tea Company products for people who are passionate about premium tea.The Original Ceylon Tea Company offers tea lovers 100% pure, high mountain grown tea from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in flavors and blends sure to please the most discriminating palate.
Tea lovers can choose from traditional English Breakfast Tea, Green Tea and Earl Grey, as well as Raspberry, Mango, Passion Fruit.
For those seeking to reach new heights in organic tea, the company is the exclusive North American source of the world-renowned Needwood Organic Tea; the first plantation to receive international organic certification.For the more adventurous, there's 1001 Nights.
This masterful blending of premium green and black teas is caressed with the cut blossoms of roses, orange blossoms and sun flowers, then bathed in the sweet liquor of...
Smashing the Myth of the Press Release
A musician spends years honing his craft. He writes world-class songs and performs them in a manner that moves his listeners to tears. He records a demo tape and sends it to record labels. He gets a contract and becomes rich, famous and adored. The lesson: demo tapes are the secret of becoming a famous musician.
Wait, you say, the demo tape was just a tool, just his way of conveying his talent. It's his ability as a musician that got him the contract and made him famous. You're right, of...
Smashing the Myth of the Press Release Fruit baskets vacuum cleaner Backlash in the School Cafeteria:
Fruit baskets seeds Backlash in the School Cafeteria: 
Avoid information overload when searching for airline tickets
No more information overload on travel!The importance of avoiding information overload when searching for the cheapest airline tickets online cannot be stressed enough theses days. This article will explain how you should take your time and do your research to be able to cherry pick your way through.What we Internet surfers don't seem to understand is that there are millions of travel sites out there claiming they have access to the lowest airfares. When its time to book your travel plans the...
Fruit baskets