And... It's a Wrap!

Time has certainly flown by as we concluded Workshop Houston's Summer Leadership Institute last Thursday. In our final classes, we learned about urban farming, current issues facing teens like substance abuse and eating disorders, careers in nutrition, and educational opportunities in the field.

My hope is that each student will take what they have learned, apply it, and live long lives with vibrant health. The goal was to educate young people about food choices and get them to think before they eat. One of our class mantras in regards to moderation was: "Too much of a good thing is bad, and too much of a bad thing is worse." Eating good food in the right proportions and in the right quantities coupled with exercise and healthy lifestyle choices is a formula for optimal health and longevity.

Obesity, Diabetes, Exercise, and Prevention

In week 5, the students learned the importance of knowing their blood pressure, how to take their resting heart rates, and what these numbers mean to their health. They also had the opportunity to examine the effects that physical activity has on cardiovascular health.

Healthy, active lifestyles coupled with good nutrition are two of the best ways to prevent the onset of sickness and disease. Knowing one's family medical history is critical. Conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity often have dietary, cultural, and inherited family behaviors attached to them. The lesson here is that when you know better, you do better.

On Thursday we were rained out, so we will pick up on Tuesday with urban farming!

Week 4: Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle, Disease, and Prevention

Week 4 marked the beginning of Nutrition 102. We examined dietary needs at every stage of life: infancy, childhood, teenage years, adulthood, and elderly. What we eat and how much we eat is contingent upon where we are in our various stages of development.We also studied the connection between nutrition and disease prevention. Foods have the power to hurt and to heal. One of our class mantras is "even too much of a good thing is bad". Balanced, healthy diets create the best environment in the body for optimal health. Eating enough of the right foods builds the immune system and allows the body to ward off foreign invaders as well as heal itself.

This week, we are looking at the role that exercise plays in managing weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and overall health. The quality and methods of producing the foods we eat have a direct impact on our collective health and quality of life. On Thursday, our focus will shift to farming and urban gardening.