Page 31 - Blue Valley News June/July 2021

HEALTH & WELLNESS

the doctor’s room. It is good for our bone
density and muscle strength, and keeps
our heart strong. It lowers blood pressure
and is good for brain function.
• Exercise is a great stress reliever and
improves well-being by releasing
endorphins.

People often eat just as a function of living,
without thinking about the ‘why?’. Teens who
think food is the enemy are doing incredible
harm to their bodies - some of which may be
irreversible.
• We need food to function – it is the fuel for
our organs, muscles and our heart.
• Good nutrition will affect how you feel and
reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as
diabetes.
• It is vital to growth and development.
The healthy eating guideline over the
duration of a day:
• Half your plate (what you consume) should
be a variety of different coloured fruits and
vegetables.
• A quarter should be wholegrains such
as barley, brown rice, buckwheat,
wholewheat products.
• A quarter should be healthy proteins –
meat, chicken, fish and peas.
• Remember to include lots of water and try
to consume only healthy oils.
• Watch out for empty calories – added Social care own personal brand which includes self-
sugars, solid fats, processed oils, desserts, This pillar is all about connecting with others awareness and being authentic: their ‘image’,
biscuits, sugary drinks, bars, energy drinks - enjoying friends and family. This is the comprising hobbies and other interests, or
– they are loaded with calories that don’t foundation of a support system - positive being creative or sporty. ‘Personal brand’ is
add any nutritional value. All they do is and enjoyable social media interactions and their relationship with themselves; it’s about
lead to weight gain and they can cause communication. how they promote themselves - without
nutritional deficiencies. poses or filters.
It also means setting boundaries and
being able to say ‘no’, thereby making good Choices made in this space have a direct
choices and allowing your teens to protect impact on their reputations and the
themselves. perceptions others have of them.
Remind your children to be aware of social Take away message
media influencers and TikTok videos. They • Self-acceptance is the key to being happy –
are often not real. They use filters and special you are you! Mindset is everything: accept
lenses and so ‘body altering’ is huge. It is your abilities, your body shape and take
important that they don’t try to model their good considered care of it.
looks and behaviour on something that is • Self-love is the best you can be, in all
totally fake. spheres, for the sake of yourself.
• Self-care means ‘you look after you’. BV
Spiritual care
This could be seen as religion, faith and prayer,
Emotional care but can also be alone time or mediation. It
Here stress management comes into play could be enjoying nature by going for forest
- how to relax. Arm yourself with coping walks or camping. For many, it could be
skills, a positive attitude to life, empathy their bedroom - their sacred space. Spiritual
and compassion for others; perhaps even care could even be giving back through
journaling which allows your teens to community service and feeling good about
unburden themselves, conceptualise what helping others.
they are thinking or feeling, and in so doing Another aspect here is self-forgiveness. We About Life Talk® Forum
to ‘get it all out’, in a safe space.
all make mistakes and maybe your teen is Our mission is to create happy, successful
If your child is experiencing difficulties such grappling with that. The focus should be to and fulfilled youth, guided by sound
values. Life Talk is a non-profit organisation
as anxiety, depression, or perhaps eating learn from the mistake, forgive themselves dedicated to raising awareness and
issues or drug usage are surfacing, do not and move on. Dwelling on it and living in the seeking solutions to the challenges faced
hesitate to get help. A doctor or therapist can past is not conducive to positive living. by parents and their children.
greatly assist with the emotional care they Personal care
need. There is no shame in needing help and LIFE TALK® FORUM NPC
the consequences of not acting early are far Examples here are aspects such as personal REG: 2010/017980/08
worse. goals; taking care of and building their
PBO # 930 036317
BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 3 2021 • 29