Child Development and Health
Child development is closely related to water in all its aspects and disregarding this fact, can lead to serious consequencies to it's health.
What are children's water needs:
Did you know that acute child dehydration leads to a reduction in both mental and physical performance?
As we have already seen, water plays a very important role in a bodily functions.. It regulates the temperature, transports nutrients and oxygen to the blood, removing waste and lubricating the joints. It also protects organs and tissues. Once the body is dehydrated, the internal temperature rises and the body, particularly the brain, overheats. This process takes place much more quickly in a child than in an adult and kids do need to drink more water to maintain good health.
Child Health - Facts of child dehydration:
As per the US National Institute of Health: Children need more water than adults because of their large consumption of energy, so they should always have unlimited access to water
- A loss of 2% of body fluids causes a 20% reduction in child performance in both physical and mental activities.
- Dehydration in excess of 3% may lead to heat stroke, a condition to which children are much more prone than adults
Dehydration can affect child's brain - water makes up about 80% of the brain and is an essential element in neurological transmissions. There is evidence to show that cognitive performance decreases by 10% in healthy young adults when they are thirsty. The key to boosting the capacity to learn is frequent small drinks of water throughout the day (ideally from a personal water bottle within arm's reach). Read more
Overall
Child Development can be affected by dehydration. That's
why children should drink water at regular intervals and not wait until
they are thirsty. In his book called: ABC
of Asthma, Allergies and Lupus: Eradicate Asthma - Now! Dr.
by F. Batmanghelidj teaches us about how drinking water is
directly related to the prevention and cure of childhood
asthma without medication..
Recognizing child dehydration:
If your child had fever or diarrhea, is vomiting, or participates in intense physical activity, you should watch for signs of dehydration, which can include:
- dry or sticky mouth
- few or no tears when crying
- eyes that look sunken into the head
- soft spot (fontanelle) on top of baby's head that looks sunken
- lack of urine or wet diapers for 6 to 8 hours in an infant (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
- lack of urine for 12 hours in an older child (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
- dry, cool skin
- lethargy or irritability
- fatigue or dizziness in an older child
How to avoid child dehydration:
A child can be shown how to check urine - the production of large amounts of pale urine indicates good hydration. Dark urine indicates a degree of child dehydration
The child's thirst mechanism is also less developed than that of an adult and tend to appear only once dehydration is already happening. Children should therefore be encouraged to drink water even if they are not thirsty
Child development and health can be affected by bad drinking and eating habits:
Today, many kids and adults sip bottled soda pop or sports drinks while on the go. But, did you know most soft drinks contain sugar and caffeine which may actually SPEED UP child dehydration? In addition, drinking acidic, sugary beverages all day can lead to tooth decay. Child health and further development can be seriously affected by the heavy pop consumption which has also been linked to diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis:
"While our children are exposed to unremitting publicity for soft drinks, evidence of their dangers accumulates. The consumption of soft drinks, like land-mine terrain, is riddled with hazards. We as practitioners and advocates of a healthy life-style recognize that consuming even as little as one or two sodas per day is undeniably connected to a myriad of pathologies. The most commonly associated health risks are child obesity, diabetes and other blood sugar disorders, tooth decay, osteoporosis and bone fractures, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease, food addictions and eating disorders, neurotransmitter dysfunction from chemical sweeteners, and neurological and adrenal disorders from excessive caffeine." says Judith Valentine , PhD, CNA, CNC
The harmful effects of soft drinks for child development
There is a growing concern in the medical and scientific communities about the harmful effects associated with carbonated soft drinks:
Children consume many more carbonated beverages than adults.
Scientific studies have shown how as few as one or two soft
drinks a day can increase one's risk for numerous health problems.
Some of these health problems are obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, osteoporosis,
nutritional deficiencies, heart disease, and many neurological disorders.
It is generally understood that soft drinks, even though they contain a large number of calories, have little nutritional benefit and are known as "empty calories".
Most of the calories in soft drinks are from refined sugars, and there are no other nutritionally beneficial components in soft drinks.
Dr. Charles Best, the discoverer of insulin, claims that
teenagers who consume too many soft drinks have cirrhosis of the
liver similar to what chronic alcoholics have.
There is no cure for cirrhosis of the liver except to receive a new
liver through a transplant.
A common problem that is associated with consumption of a large number
of soft drinks is the increased acid levels throughout
the body.
All soft drinks are very acidic, but dark colas such as Coke and Pepsi
are much more acidic.
William Frazier states,
"in order to neutralize a glass of cola, it takes 32
glasses of high pH alkaline water."
Child Health: Obesity in Child
A big concern in our Child development is that: the misunderstanding of the child nutrition fact , dehydration and lack of exercise, an increasing number of children are obese. If no intervention is made, 80% of them will remain overweight as adults, with risk of many medical problems in the future, including:
- diabetes,
- high blood pressure,
- high cholesterol,
- sleep disorder
- Obesity can also adversely affect their self-esteem.
Research indicates that physical activity is important for child development because it promotes:
- general health through
- cardiovascular fitness
- mental alertness
- weight control
- improved sleep quality
- improved ability to handle infection
- reduced risk for some cancers
- maximum bone density
- optimal physical function to support independence in daily activities
- optimal psychological and social well-being by improving self-confidence and the ability to interact socially with peers.
Children with weakness or motor skill delays can excel in the water, particularly if it is presented as an opportunity for recreation and independent exploration rather than a situation where an adult places demands on the child to exercise.
