資料來源
http://mannatech.com/DMNews_14Articles.asp
標題
The foundation for a happy life (8/7/2006)
副題
Childhood choices have long-term consequences
It’s no secret that poor nutrition in childhood can have negative effects that last a lifetime. For example, studies have shown that diet can affect brain development, skeletal structure and height, with adults in malnourished populations being on average 10 percent shorter.
What many people are now realizing, however, is just how deficient nutrition has become among America’s youth. Only recently, after years of alarming reports, have educators started to take steps such as banning soft-drink sales at schools.
At Mannatech, the Coppell based manufacturer of innovative nutritional supplements, none of this comes as a surprise. The company has been working since its inception in 1994 to educate consumers on ways to lead healthier lives. And company officials are determined to help families avoid the pitfalls that experts are predicting.
“Currently in the U.S., about 6 percent of the population is diabetic,” says Stephen Boyd, M.D., Ph.D., Mannatech’s medical director. “But of the children born after the year 2000, about 30 percent are expected to become diabetic.”
“The percentage of overweight children has more than doubled in the
last 30 years,” adds Steve Nugent, NMD, Ph.D., Mannatech’s executive director of complementary health and education. “Four of the leading causes of death in the U.S.— heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes — are linked to diet, and some diseases known to have a dietary component, such as atherosclerosis, are known to begin in childhood.”
The sooner children build a strong foundation for good health, the better, they say.
“Children are particularly vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies, because they’re growing so rapidly,” Dr. Boyd says. “Good nutrition not only fuels the growth, but it also creates the proper structures for that growth. Their need for nutritional intake is even greater than adult needs.”
Of course, as any parent knows, children have their own ideas when it comes to “nutritional intake.” Add the convenience of junk foods, busy schedules and stressed-out parents, and many families end up on the path of least resistance, relying on high-calorie, low-quality meals.
Still, Mannatech’s leaders insist, healthful diets are attainable. Though with modern lifestyles being what they are, some parents are likely to need help.
That’s why Mannatech offers two supplements designed especially for kids: GlycoBears and MannaBears.
GlycoBears include 26 essential vitamins and minerals, plus annatech’s patented Ambrotose complex and other nutrients, in a base made from 30 different fruits and vegetables. The chewable treats are free of artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners and they also do not contain iron, yeast, sucrose, dextrose or hydrogenated oils.
MannaBears provide Mannatech’s specially formulated glyconutritional blend, plus the nutritional goodness of nearly a dozen dehydrated fruits and vegetables. In addition, the colorful treats contain aloe vera gel and xylitol and are packed into a wholesome pectin base derived from natural sources.
“What we have tried to do is create child-friendly supplements, because children don’t understand the value of things that they don’t enjoy,” says Dr. Boyd. “Adults may do things such as exercise or eat
certain vegetables, but children are different — they are not going to take things that don’t taste good to them.”
Healthy foods — check. Now, if only there were such a simple solution for math homework.
