A Kid's Guide to Health
Do you know how important your health is? Many kids today aren't aware of just how important good health really is. It's easy to make bad choices, and chances are you know someone who may not make the best choices when it comes to their health.
It's important to remember that every choice you make today can affect your life later. For instance, if you don't take care of your health, such as practice good hand washing habits, you can become sick later. If you don't eat the right foods, your body can become weak, sluggish, and you can feel tired.
Load up on too many sweets and you can become overweight. Don't exercise and you'll not only gain weight, but you won't be as strong, fit, and healthy. When it comes to your health, it's all about making the right choices. Whether it is washing your hands to fight germs, eating the best foods for your health, getting enough sleep at night, exercising, or staying away from harmful substances such as drugs and alcohol, it's up to you to make the right choices for your health, body, and mind.
What you put into your body is just as important as what you put on the outside. Many kids want to wear the nicest clothes and the latest styles, but what you wear on the outside isn't half as important as what you put inside your body. The food you eat can brighten your skin, make your hair healthy and shiny, and keep your teeth, eyes, and even your fingernails strong. Eating things like fruits and vegetables gives your body the vitamins and minerals needed to be your healthiest you. While every kid wants to look cool or pretty, the real work starts on the inside. Choose the right foods and you're on your way to being the best and healthiest person you can be.
It's not enough to just choose the right food, but you need to exercise at least 1 hour every day. Let's face it. Sometimes staying in the house is just plain fun. There are video games to be played, TV shows to watch, websites to search, and more. But the more you stay inside and play video games, sit at the computer, or stretch out on the sofa to watch your favorite show, the less you are moving. Your body needs to move to burn calories and keep your muscles strong and healthy. Getting fresh air helps your lungs and getting safe sunlight (never getting a sunburn), helps your body make Vitamin D. If you can't go outside and play, you can always do something indoors to get your body moving. Try turning off the TV and putting on the radio and dancing. If you love video games, you can ask your parents to buy fitness games. That way you can play games while moving and burning calories at the same time. Move every day, and you'll be on your way to a stronger, healthier you.
While eating the right foods and exercising are two important ways to stay healthy, it isn't all you need to do. Another very important step in being the best you can be is to get enough sleep at night. You're probably busy with school, homework, finding time to play each day, and any extracurricular activities you might have. In fact, you might find that you wake up early for school and sometimes have a hard time going to sleep at night. This isn't good. Always make sure that you are getting enough sleep, try for 8 hours a night. If you have to go to bed earlier then do it. It's more important to get the sleep you need to keep your body healthy than it is to stay up late. Sleep keeps your immune system strong and repairs your body's cells. Your body is actually fixing itself while you sleep! Sleep is so important in keeping your brain alert, making sure your body grows, and even fighting off sickness and germs that you encounter on a daily basis.
Though sleep is very important for staying healthy, it isn't the only thing you can do to fight off germs. Do you know what the other important tool you have in your fight against germs, bacteria, viruses and sickness is? It's hand washing. Washing your hands is so important it can mean the difference between feeling full of energy and life or staying in bed for two weeks fighting off the flu. Germs are everywhere. They're on door knobs, desks, pencils, pens, in bathrooms, kitchens, and outside in the dirt and air. In fact, there's practically nowhere you can go where you won't encounter these pesky invaders that want to get inside your body and make you sick. Your best defense against germs, bacteria and viruses is to wash your hands. You probably already know not to use your hands over your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and that is very important. But washing your hands will make sure that any germs you've come in contact with will leave your body and be washed down the drain. Wash your hands for as long as you can say the alphabet or sing Happy Birthday to ensure they are thoroughly clean and germ free.
Finally, you can eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, and wash your hands on a regular basis, but that isn't enough to keep you healthy. There are several things you can do that will sabotage your health faster than you can turn on your gaming system or favorite television show. Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or doing drugs will put you on a fast track to poor health. The danger of drinking alcohol and doing drugs is a lot because it not only hurts your body, but can hurt your mind as well. Smoking cigarettes not only makes you smell bad, but can stain your teeth brown. Cigarettes cause cancer and rob the body of important nutrients, such as the vitamins and minerals your body needs to keep you healthy and strong. Alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes are addictive, meaning that the more you use them, the more trouble you'll have stopping. Some people who try alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes as children are so addicted, they never stop. The best way to prevent drug, alcohol, or cigarette addiction is to never start using them to begin with. Just say no! You are far too valuable and important to hurt your body and mind through drugs, smoking, or drinking. Stay strong, healthy, and smart and make good choices in your life. Your body will thank you for it.
Here are some links to fun games and sites that will teach you more about healthy living.
