Television is one of the most prevalent media influences in kids' lives. According to Kids' Take on Media, a survey conducted in 2003 by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, watching TV is a daily pastime for 75 percent of Canadian children, both boys and girls from Grade 3 to Grade 10.
How much impact TV has on children depends on many factors: how much they watch, their age and personality, whether they watch alone or with adults, and whether their parents talk with them about what they see on TV.
To minimize the potential negative effects of television, it's important to understand what the impact of television can be on children. Below you will find information on some areas of concern.
Violence
Over the past two decades, hundreds of studies have examined how violent programming on TV affects children and young people. While a direct "cause and effect" link is difficult to establish, there is a growing consensus that some children may be vulnerable to violent images and messages.
Researchers have identified three potential responses to media violence in children:
Parents should also pay close attention to what their children see in the news since studies have shown that kids are more afraid of violence in news coverage than in any other media content. Fear based on real news events increases as children get older and are better able to distinguish fantasy from reality.
Effects on healthy child development
Television can affect learning and school performance if it cuts into the time kids need for activities crucial to healthy mental and physical development. Most of children's free time, especially during the early formative years, should be spent in activities such as playing, reading, exploring nature, learning about music or participating in sports.
TV viewing is a sedentary activity, and has been proven to be a significant factor in childhood obesity. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada almost one in four Canadian children, between seven and 12, is obese. Time spent in front of the TV is often at the expense of more active pastimes.
A Scientific American article entitled "Television Addiction" examined why children and adults may find it hard to turn their TVs off. According to researchers, viewers feel an instant sense of relaxation when they start to watch TV—but that feeling disappears just as quickly when the box is turned off. While people generally feel more energized after playing sports or engaging in hobbies, after watching TV they usually feel depleted of energy. According to the article "this is the irony of TV: people watch a great deal longer than they plan to, even though prolonged viewing is less rewarding."
As well as encouraging a sedentary lifestyle, television can also contribute to childhood obesity by aggressively marketing junk food to young audiences. According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, most food advertising on children's TV shows is for fast foods, candy and pre-sweetened cereals. Commercials for healthy food make up only 4 per cent of those shown.
Sexual content
Kids today are bombarded with sexual messages and images in all media—television, magazines, advertisements, music, movies and the Internet. Parents are often concerned about whether these messages are healthy. While television can be a powerful tool for educating young people about the responsibilities and risks of sexual behaviour, such issues are seldom mentioned or dealt with in a meaningful way in programs containing sexual content.
According to a 2001 study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, entitled Sex on TV, three out of four prime time shows contain sexual references. Situation comedies top the list: 84 per cent contain sexual content. Of the shows with sexual content, only one in ten included references to safe sex, or the possible risks or responsibilities of sex. In shows that portrayed teens in sexual situations, only 17 per cent contained messages about safe and responsible sex.
Americans spend billions of dollars every year on bottled water. People choose bottled water for a variety of reasons including aesthetics (e.g., taste), health concerns, or as a substitute to other beverages.
If you have questions about bottled water, make sure you are informed about where your bottled water comes from and how it has been treated. The standards for bottled water are set by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA bases its standards on the EPA standards for tap water.
In order to keep your heart strong and your cholesterol in the healthy range, consider making a few simple but significant changes to your diet. Incorporating these six so-called "super foods" into meals and snacks on a regular basis can make a big difference.
1. Oats and Fiber. High-fiber foods such as oats, oat bran, and fruits and vegetables are known to help the body decrease levels of LDL, often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. Soluble fiber seems to literally grab hold of cholesterol and, in doing so, reduce the amount that's absorbed in the intestines. And, the good news is that it doesn't take a lot of fiber to make a difference. So snack on an apple or spoon up some hot oatmeal topped with blueberries for breakfast.
2. Fish. Fatty fish, including mackerel, herring, salmon, and sardines, do more than lower cholesterol. By supplying omega-3 fatty acids, fish helps the body to reduce both blood pressure and the risk of clots. Doctors recommend eating at least two servings of fatty fish per week. You should prepare the fish by baking or grilling it. If you don't like fish, you can still derive some of the benefits by taking omega-3 or fish-oil supplements, which are available in most grocery stores, health-food stores, and drug stores.
3. Olive Oil. Replace unhealthy fats in your diet with healthy monounsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil. Drizzle it with vinegar over a salad as a dressing or pour a very small amount in a skillet and prepare fresh vegetables. The Food and Drug Administration recommends using 2 tablespoons of olive oil per day. It will help to both lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HDL or "good" cholesterol. But be careful not to overdo it—even good fats like olive oil contain a significant amount of calories, which can pack on the pounds.
4. Sterols and Stanols. Foods fortified with sterols or stanols—substances that occur naturally in many plants, including fruits, vegetables, and legumes—are said to significantly reduce LDL levels by blocking the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Many new products, from orange juice and yogurt to snack bars and milk, are fortified with these substances. If you're serious about lowering your cholesterol, keep these choices in mind the next time you visit the supermarket.
5. Nuts. Walnuts and almonds, like certain fish, are rich in plant omega-3 fatty acids -- the good type of fat. Nuts seem not only to help lower total cholesterol but to help blood vessels retain their health. Still, a small amount—about 2 ounces or a handful a day—is plenty. Nuts are high in calories so eating too many could cause weight gain, and being overweight is detrimental to heart health. Also, look for low-salt or no-salt varieties. When consumed in moderation, nuts are indeed a super food, providing heart benefits and a healthy and satisfying pick-me-up snack. Try sprinkling some nuts and berries over a bowl of low-fat yogurt for a delicious and healthy treat.
6. Green Tea. New research is pointing toward green tea as a way to improve blood-vessel function and keep arteries in shape. Specifically, green tea is thought to enhance the health of cells that line our blood vessels, called endothelial cells. Flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that's thought to be good for heart health, are also found in green tea.
Metabolism is a process that breaks down carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the food you eat to make the energy your body needs to build and maintain itself. Proper nutrition keeps your body functioning well, but the right foods can also speed up your metabolism. The amount of calories you eat, your genes and the amount of calories that you burn while eating and exercising determine your metabolism. The body breaks down carbohydrates, then fats and finally proteins. The food that you eat makes up 5 to 10 percent of your metabolic rate.
