Everyday Essential #1: Fresh Air and Sunshine For Healthy Family and Children

I want to share with you the "everyday essentials" that I have found important to being a healthy family. The first everyday essential is getting outdoors to breath in fresh air and soak in a moderate dose of sunlight.

As everyone knows we need oxygen to live and without it we would not exist. Well the best way to take in that oxygen is by breathing in the fresh air outdoors. When indoors, we are most likely breathing in air that is stale and contaminated. Most items found in the home or office contain nerotoxins, carcinogens, and reproductive or developmental toxins. Things like household cleaners, air fresheners, paint, curtains, carpets, rugs, drywall, etc. Over the last 10 years scientists have discovered that the levels of safe exposure to toxic chemicals are much lower than thought before.

I will have a future post that will go into much more detail about having a healthy home. I will talk further about what particular items are very toxic and alternatives to them.

Getting outside with my children is also very important for the fact that it's fun! It's a great way to release some energy and get our bodies moving. We love to go on walks and see what new creatures we can find or what fun imaginative games we can play. We just moved to a little country town in NC from Puyallup,WA about 5 months ago. So for us, this is a whole new adventure! We have discovered the most amazing array of bugs and creatures here! My children love to go outside because they are not confined to certain boundaries that get old quickly. I have found that children are not really looking to have the latest and greatest all the time. What they really are needing and wanting is for their parents to enjoy being with them and appreciating who they are.

One fun outdoor activity we recently discovered, made up by one of our friends, is a game called "Big Ball Soccer". It can be a bit of a rough game, depending on who is playing, but a lot of fun. This game isn't intended for really small children, but if you have older ones they'll love it. My four year old didn't quite like it but says when he turns 5 he will. What you need are two teams, count doesn't matter, one of those big exercise balls and a flat grassy area. Set a goal on two opposite sides using whatever is available. The object is to get the ball through the goal on the opposite side by carrying it, bouncing it, throwing it, or any other method. It is fun for adults too! You pretty much make up your own rules. A good way to make getting out and running around a lot of fun!

On to the next important reason to get out in the sun everyday. Getting 10-15 minutes of sun exposure (UV rays) everyday or several times a week (void of sunscreen) is the most efficient way your body can make vitamin D. Why is that important you ask? Well vitamin D is essential in aiding the body to absorb calcium for strong healthy bones, preventing disease, supporting the immune system and healthy cell reproduction. Experts suggest if you want to use sunscreen, wait to put it on after 5-10 minutes of sun exposure. Your body is able to begin making vitamin D within those first 5-10 minutes of exposure. Studies show that the use of even a sunscreen of 8 SPF can reduce your skin's ability to make vitamin D by almost 95%. So sun in mild doses is good!


Tomorrow when you wake up plan to spend sometime outside enjoying God's amazing creation and the wonderful family He has blessed you with!

-Barbara

My Journey To Healthy Family and Children

My journey to healthy eating and living actually began before I ever had a family of my own. As a child I struggled with food addictions and weight issues that continued into to my adult life. I was walking in intimidation, fear, worry and doubt. Consequently, I used food as a way of comfort and escape and thus had continual weight issues. Through this struggle I obviously became very frustrated with the unhealthy way of eating and living that I was stuck in. It wasn't until 1996 when I went to massage school, that I started to become educated about the human body and ways to become healthy. Though I didn't make choices for healthy eating and living then, it exposed me to alternative ways of thinking about my health. From then I began to read and research about health and nutrition. Step by step I made better choices along the way to have a healthy life.



In 1997, after graduating from massage school, I began my 10 year career as a massage therapist. In order to encourage my clients to take care of themselves I needed to take care of myself physically, mentally and spiritually. I needed to exercise regularly, eat nutritiously, fellowship and build relationships with others, spend intimate time daily with the Lord and speak words that bring life. Although my journey to a healthy way of eating and living is still a work in progress I continue to press on through the good times and times of struggle.



I have been married now for 9 years and have two children ages 41/2 and 2. Many of you may understand how much effort it takes to have a healthy family and children. It is not an easy task and will always be a continual work in progress. I feel that there is always room for improvement in our lives. Though I am not an expert, I hope with my life experience and background to share with you some information that may begin to change your life. I believe that our purpose is to encourage and edify others. If you have life experiences that would be encouraging and edifying to a healthy life I would love to hear from you!



-Barbara

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear.." 1John 4:18