Health

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Physical health is one of the most important things people, especially kids, often neglect to prioritize in their lives. There are so many various reasons why you should exercise and different ways you can exercise depending on your skill and preference. Over this section I’ll do a quick rundown on the benefits of exercising, the effects of physical neglect in youth, and the best ways you can keep your body in its best condition possible. 

For more overall health knowledge specifically made for youth, follow our podcast, the We Are Podcast, on all major platforms. 

Making sure to get as much activity outside could not only boost your fitness, but also help you clear your mind and become more content. Exercising is actually scientifically proven to boost endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline, and endocannabinoid -- which are all brain chemicals associated with feeling happy, relaxed, motivated, and feeling less anxious and stressed. A boost of these chemicals can also help relieve pain! Because teens are going through so much mentally as they navigate their years through life, it is crucial that they get time just to calm down and prioritize taking care of their bodies. 

Studies show that teens are at one of the most susceptible ages to be depressed, anxious, and tired, due to so many factors that are running around in their lives and circling in their minds. Just simply taking a walk could do so much as provide the same amount of improvement to mental health conditions as prescribed medication. 

In addition to the many mental health benefits that exercise provides, the physical outcomes of exercise are so needed to live a healthy life, especially in recent years where obesity and other illnesses are more common. 

Contrary to popular belief, exercising is just as needed to prevent illness in youth as adults. Almost one in five kids in the United States are obese. This is extremely saddening and dangerous as this could lead to so many diseases later down the road like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and an overall lower quality of life. This is why in order to thrive in our future, we must keep up with our physical health. 

Being physically active is also proven to extend your life expectancy and give you the opportunity to do things that you never would have been able to do without taking care of yourself. The reason this is, is because exercising improves your heart circulation and oxygen levels which not only lowers your risk of heart disease and high cholesterol (which can clog arteries, thus making circulation difficult) but can also help with blood pressure and triglyceride levels. It also helps get rid of fat (excessive fat can lead to clotting, inflammation, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and other underlying conditions) and builds muscle which will help with reflex, ability, strength, and resilience in your body that will coming in handy whilst withstanding the many obstacles one might face.

So, how should one properly exercise? The best way for someone, especially younger people, is to have a balance. This way, you are not neglecting any important part of yourself and are also making sure that your body is cared for evenly. The different categories that one should focus on are aerobic exercise, core exercise, arm exercise, leg exercise, balance exercises, flexibility, and various forms of breathing and yoga exercises. These increase function and also give the users a sense and connection with their body. 

However, knowing your body and what it needs is the most important thing. Everybody is different and has its own individual needs, so listen to it whenever you’re using it. If you feel that you need to focus more on aerobics, do that. If you think you need to take flexibility a little slower, do that too. It’s all about finding a balance of what your body needs. Playing sports with a friend or neighbor could be a great way to get some activity without being bored. Just grab a soccer ball and ask your neighbors to come play a game. Try new sports and types of exercise! Maybe you could find your favorite form of exercise just by doing so. 

And of course, if you play more competitive sports, you might need to spend more time on certain parts of your body than others, but keeping everything in mind at the end of the day is what will keep you in the best condition.

Another big thing to look out for is making sure that you are exercising properly. Watching tutorials, taking classes, and even having training to ensure you are doing exercises properly could be huge. If you are doing an exercise wrong, it could lead to various joint issues and pain in the near future, so make sure you got it right. 

Also, balance your activity with a healthy diet. Eating a good, protein and nutrient filled diet and balancing that with exercise will lead you to be in the best physical state possible. Never try to eat less while exercising to achieve a body you see on Instagram. This will totally depreciate your mental and physical health, and it is never worth it in the end. 

Social media is unachievable and sets standards for beauty into things that are unrealistic. You should want to exercise for no one but yourself, for your own well being. If you are exercising to look skinnier, you should reevaluate your purpose because doing so could lead to so many other unhealthy habits.

Physical activity and listening to your body is a huge aspect of physical health, however there is so much more that goes into it. As you hit puberty, things will change. 

For girls, they will receive thicker hair, mood swings, enlarged breasts, growth spurts, the start of their menstrual cycle, and a hormonal roller coaster, to say the least. 

Boys will typically have voice cracks, a growth of hair in new areas, growth spurts, Adam’s apples, and many other things and feelings that can make life very difficult. 

All you might want to do is just to talk about it, however it may seem very awkward at first. I can assure you, the only things that really are awkward are at schools, or with strangers. Schools really need to stop showing “Just Around the Corner'' videos. If you go to a public middle school, you know what I’m talking about. If there is a friend or adult you trust, talking about your struggles could be both mentally and physically relieving. 

Another way to take care of your body throughout these changes-that personally made me feel better-is doing things for yourself. Getting a good 8-10 hours of sleep will also boost your health. Whether it’s trying to start a skincare routine, exercise, journal, etc, just saving some time and activity just for yourself could make the world of a difference. 

Overall, I would say my biggest advice is to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! Take care of it! It does so much for you!

Starting these habits from a young age is so important because by implementing them into your life you will learn to love them. You will help your body be fit and your mind clear, in a time that is very emotionally straining and physically confusing. Many changes happen physically as adolescents and staying active is a great part of controlling your body when it seems it has a mind of its own. 

To find out more about your physical health, check out my citations for the physical health section, and follow our podcast!

Citations:

“Mental Health and Physical Health.” Mental Health Minnesota, 1 May 2019, Mental Health and Physical Health

Livingston, Mercey. “How Exercise Can Make You Happier -- Even If You Hate It.” CNET, CNET, 12 Feb. 2020, 4 ways exercise can make you happier -- even if you don't like to exercise.

“Physical Activity - It's Important.” Better Health Channel,  Physical activity - it's important.

 “Exercise Can Be an Effective Way for Your Adolescent to Manage Their Stress.” Exercise Can Help Keep Your Teens Stress in Check, Exercise can help keep your teens stress in check - Allina Health. 

Mental health is an extremely important thing in our lives today. With an uptake of bullying, social media, different standards for beauty and success, and the isolation brought with the coronavirus. In this section I will discuss different mental health illnesses, how they affect youth, and what you can do to help.

Mental health illness comes in many different forms and variations. Being able to distinguish having an illness from being sad is very important. Let me break it down for you: some of the most common mental illnesses include: depression (severe, elongated distress and bad mood, loss of prior interest), bipolar disorder (one who experiences extreme mood swings and looses interest to do anything they previously enjoyed), schizophrenia (a disease that affects a person’s perception of reality and their behavior may change in certain situations), eating disorders (disorders in which one has dangerously irregular eating patterns to achieve a certain “look”), anxiety (one may experience extreme worry and behavioral differences due to overthinking situations and having an excessive fear to perform a certain task), OCD (an obsessive disorder in which on feels compulsive to do certain things or have things a certain way), PTSD (trauma from a specific event that may cause one to be paranoid or have flashbacks), personality disorders (unstable self image, constantly changing parts of yourself or being emotionally unstable), panic disorders (being overly stressed to the point of panic, seizures, panic attacks, and more), etc. 

Many people who have experienced a big negative event in their life or haven’t had stable relationships with others may have been brought to the point of gaining a mental illness. Many people don’t even think they are suffering as much as they actually are and neglect getting help. 

The best way to know if you or a loved one has a mental illness is to talk to them and pay attention to any behavior changes. If anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, loss of motivation, or feel lost and stressed, you should definitely make sure to get them help in a way that makes them feel safe. 

I would also like to mention that there is a huge difference between being sad and having a mental illness. For example, if you are constantly sad for a long period of time, that could mean you are depressed, but feeling sad alone doesn’t make one depressed. Everyone feels sad. It’s a human emotion, but knowing and understanding that if you are feeling a certain negative way for so long that it could be depression is very important. It’s very important to be able to tell the difference so you don’t continue to live with depression thinking it’s no big deal, or undermine other’s actual mental illnesses by saying you’re depressed when you’re actually sad. 

Teens especially are affected by mental health due to the fact that people are the most emotionally vulnerable at this age. Coronavirus has taken a big toll on many people’s mental health because they aren’t able to reach the facilities that they would typically need. In addition, the amount of isolation that kids have experienced in the last year could lead many children to feel depressed and alone. 

I personally have done online learning the entire year, as have many other kids in my school. This kind of learning is very difficult academically for many kids who don’t have another option, but it also has an immense social impact on a person’s mental health. 

I know that so many people I’ve talked to make harsh comments about themselves I’ve never heard before, and they are suffering socially more than they ever have before. Since it is more hard than ever to reach out past your household it is so important to check up on your friends and family. Simply texting someone you haven’t seen recently could make the difference between them being depressed or not. 

Studies show that around one in five teens suffer from mental health illness, and only about one half of those individuals actually receive some sort of treatment for their issues. This is absolutely ridiculous and we as a community need to change that. 

By doing things like getting your friends help even when they tell you not to, you could literally save a precious life.  Oftentimes people will tell their friends things very personal that may obviously signal that they are not mentally stable, but by saying things like “I will never trust you again if you tell”, or “I won’t be your friend if you tell”, they make their friends scared to even reach out. The truth is, whenever someone’s safety is at risk, it is ok to break their trust. Trust can be gained back, but lives can’t. I repeat, whenever someone’s safety is at risk, you are allowed to break all barriers in order to keep them safe. It doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you someone who cares about the well-being of the people they care about. Most of the time the person you get help will even be grateful to you after the whole ordeal. You can save your loved ones lives by simply getting them help, even if they don’t want to. So if you are put in this situation, always choose safe over sorry and contact a trusted adult with your concerns. 

You can also call the suicide prevention line if you need help and check out the citations for this section which will include some mental help sources. Follow our podcast for more in depth discussions on mental health.

Citations:

“Mental Health and Teens: Watch for Danger Signs.” HealthyChildren.org, Mental Health and Teens: Watch for Danger Signs

“Statistics.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIMH » Statistics

Centerpolaristeen.com/articles/author/aribrown/, Polaris Teen. “Teen Mental Health Statistics [Updated 2018] - Polaris Teen Center.” Polaris Teen Center: Premier Adolescent Treatment Center in Los Angeles, 15 Jan. 2021, Teen Mental Health Statistics [Updated 2018] 

Drugs are a very serious matter in youth, especially as many kids nowadays think it is cool to do drugs, but don’t actually understand the risks of them. In this section I’d like to talk more about vaping because I have noticed that vaping is the most common type of drug in youth and is spreading like a wildfire. I consider myself pretty seasoned on this topic so prepare yourself for a bucketload of information. It’s important.

Vaping is a pressing matter in our society today, first marketed as a way to get addicted people off of cigarettes, but since companies have been manipulating the way they market this harmful device, targeting young teens and grabbing their attention by using tempting flavors.Vaping first became popular in our society by the mid-2000’s and 2010’s. Vaping was known as a way to quit using cigarettes, and a better alternative to smoking. In recent years, however, vaping has become very popular among teens.

 A total of 60 deaths linked to vaping products have been confirmed as of January 21, 2020 among 27 states and the District of Columbia. Over 1000 people are hospitalized across the nation. One of the youngest victims included a 17 year old boy. This boy is the same age as our cousins. Our friends. Our classmates. Our siblings. This boy was a young, bright teen, similar to many people we know and love. He had so much potential to have a positive impact on the world, but he was lured in by the intriguing flavors offered by the famous vape brand, juul, and eventually got addicted, and passed away. This is only one of the many tragedies that have occurred due to vaping.

Vaping not only can cause lung inflammation, scarring, lipoid pneumonia, and many fatal heart issues, but simply the vape pen can cause harm to users as well. The battery has a risk of exploding, and if it does while close to someone, it can make irreplaceable damage to the part of the body that it hit. But the most scary part about vaping is not what we know. It’s what we don’t know. Vape pens include many dangerous chemicals, including nicotine. This substance has the ability to kill an adult if they take 60 mg and only one teaspoon of pure nicotine can kill a child. This leads me to my next point; how children are affected by teens vaping.

Young children are extremely curious and always want to explore new things, and when a child sees anything labeled “cotton candy”, trust me, they will eat it. Though most children under the age of 12 are watched very closely and are denied any access to drugs, vaping can cause harm to any children, even those who are monitored. 

Teens who are vaping put a great deal of risk toward their siblings. The vape fluid that is put into the vape pens is made up of flavors, sweeteners and solvents. The solvents include large amounts of nicotine and sometimes marijuana derived substances such as THC. This is an extremely dangerous compound that is responsible for the high effect in marijuana. When a child sees the intriguing flavored vape fluid laying on their siblings bed, or in their drawer, they take it and drink it, unknowingly. Innocently. This simple mistake can ruin their health immensely, and can kill them within minutes. 

But this is not the only way that vaping can affect your siblings health. Kids look up to their older siblings immensely. Well, most of the time. But all jokes aside, young kids look up to their siblings as role models, heroes, a safe place to go to when they’re scared. When they see their loved ones vaping, they don’t see it as harmful or dangerous, they see it as a way to be similar to their role models or to be “cool”.

Additionally, vape brands aren’t making it any easier to prevent teens from vaping. Though they claim not to target young adults, their advertisements make us believe otherwise. These companies have even stooped so low that they have used children in their advertisements. One in particular was of a young, 8 year old girl who was wearing a sweatshirt that read “born to vape”. This action is absolutely disgusting. This is a heinous crime that is not only insulting, but absolutely terrible of those brands to take advantage of innocent kids for their own advantage. But that’s not all.

By advertising flavors obviously targeted at teens such as strawberry, cinnamon, bubble gum, cotton candy and over 15,000 more candy-like flavors, they draw in much of our generation. Statistics show that 43% of youth vape users tried vaping only due to the appealing flavors, but this isn’t the only way that they are targeting teens. By making vape pens available incognito, disguising them as inhalers, sharpies, tik tak boxes, watches, USB’s, water bottles, and even hoodie strings, making vaping more accessible during school. 

This also tempts teens to start vaping because they are now comforted by the fact that their parents or teachers won’t find out about their actions. On top of all of this, vape brands provide very inaccurate data on their ingredients, and one brand, Smoke 51, had 60 percent more nicotine than labeled.

As the years go by, this problem is only getting worse. Dr. Karen Wilson of the American Academy of Pediatrics says, “We are seeing kids that use 4 pods a day; the equivalent to using packs of cigarettes a day. I mean, it is an astounding amount of nicotine that we are seeing in these products.” Instead of helping people get off of cigarettes, vaping is doing the exact opposite; if you vape, you are 4x as likely to start smoking cigarettes. 

The vaping epidemic is only getting worse, and we need to do something before it ruins the lives of many teens. Youth and young adults reported higher rates of current JUUL use, with 8.2% of 21- to 24-year-olds, 12.8% of 18- to 20-year-olds and 7.8% of 15- to 17-year-olds using JUUL in the past month, compared to older age groups (2.9%) (Stats found via  Percentage of young people using JUUL doubles in one year).

These percentages are mind boggling, and absolutely absurd, but the saddest part is that 43% of these high school users did not know that these products contain nicotine. If our school systems had educated students more thoroughly on the risks of vaping, some of the 500 hospitalizations that have occurred due to vaping could have been prevented.

But despite all the trauma and despair that vaping has caused, there is still so much that we can do to help inform and prevent future generations from falling under the trap of vaping. The first and most effective way to prevent vaping is to spread knowledge about the effects on people. By educating siblings and friends about the dangers of vaping, you can help save their lives. There are so many better alternatives to vaping, and there are some simple things that you can do to prevent you from starting to vape. Kids who ask a parent for help on daily stresses are 31% less likely to start vaping, and people who simply join an extracurricular activity are 12% less likely to vape.  

So please, do what you can to educate others. Post on your social media, make sure everyone you know is safe, and educate yourself by checking out our citations at the bottom of the page and follow our podcast.

Citations:

McKay, Betsy, and Jennifer Maloney. “Youth Vaping Has Soared in 2018, New Data Show.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 21 Sept. 2018, Youth Vaping Has Soared in 2018, New Data Show

“E-Cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students - United States, 2020.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Sept. 2020, E-cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students …

“Dangers of Vaping.” Northwestern Medicine, Dangers of Vaping

“Quick Facts on the Risks of E-Cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Apr. 2021, Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Young People

“Vaping: What You Need to Know (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth.” Edited by Lonna P. Gordon, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Sept. 2019, Vaping: What You Need to Know (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth

“Percentage of Young People Using JUUL Doubles in One Year.” Truth Initiative, Percentage of young people using JUUL doubles in one year 

Also, the seminars I attended really put many things in perspective, so thank you to anyone who does seminars on vaping to educate the public. (Thanks to UCHealth, which is what the seminars I attended was sponsored by.)

In this section I’ll be talking about different health conditions that teens and even children can get from others. These are more preventable and temporary illnesses that are spread from person to person. In this section I’ll talk about common diseases that teens may get and how to deal with them. These will include the flu, a cold, other transmitted diseases, etc.

First up I’ll talk about various transmitted diseases and infections. You can learn more about different transmitted diseases by checking out my citations below. For the most part, symptoms for these diseases include changes in itching, pain, abnormal bleeding, and rashes or sores on or around bodily areas and mouth. 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please tell a trusted adult or contact a doctor, even if you may seem embarrassed. When these diseases are left untreated they could lead to so many issues in the future. IT'S ALWAYS BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY! 

So how do these diseases get transmitted? These diseases could get transferred for various different reasons including kissing, however there are many other ways these diseases can be spread contrary to the ways that most people may think. 

Many diseases, such as mononucleosis, are caused by the spread of saliva, by something as simple as sharing a drink. At my school, I don’t know why, but all the girls drink out of each other’s water. They think it’s cute and trendy. Someone I know actually got mono from drinking out of her friends water, and she was very young when she got it. So please, if anyone asks to drink your water, say no. It’s just extremely unhygienic. You don’t know where their mouths have been! And if you find yourself in any other situations in which a disease like these could be transmitted, make sure you are being safe and hygienic. It’s for your safety and comfort.

Another really important aspect to preventable disease is deficiencies. They aren't exactly diseases, but they definitely can play a role in your life and depreciate your health. Common symptoms include unusual hair growth and patterns, pain, fatigue, rashes, bruising, weakness, etc.

A very common deficiency is a Vitamin C deficiency.  This can be caused my an inadequate diet, anorexia, bad mental health conditions, drug usage, alcohol abuse, etc. If the deficiency gets so bad, it can lead to scurvy, which is a really bad disease where the symptoms mentioned above are extremely bad. To prevent these diseases, keep a potion of fruits and veggies in your diet. Citruses especially help. Supplements are also a good idea, and can be found at various stores such as Whole Foods and Walmart. 

Vitamin D deficiencies can be caused by lack of sunlight, lack of the vitamin in your diet, inefficient production in the skin, and underlying conditions such as gastrointestinal and liver diseases. If not treated, then the deficiency can lead to osteoporosis and rickets, which are really bad for your bone growth and health. Supplements and spending some time in the sun (with the proper sunscreen protection) can help immensely. 

Calcium deficiencies can also cause brittle nails and weak bones, and can be caused by lack of milk in one's diet. Again, supplements are a good alternative for people who can't have milk. 

Having an Iron deficiency, or anemia, is another very common deficiency. Celine and my mom actually have this deficiency too. It causes extreme fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, etc., and can lead to many other conditions. If you have irregular menstruation, extreme fatigue, or any of the other symptoms, it's good idea to talk to a doctor. 

Other deficiencies include folate deficiencies, Vitamin B12 deficiencies, iodine deficiencies, Vitamin A deficiencies, Magnesium deficiencies, etc.  You can look up these deficiencies or check out my citations for more information. 

Lastly, I am going to talk about something that is kind of the opposite of Vitamin D deficiencies, but just go with it. Please, and I repeat PLEASE, always wear sunscreen even if it's winter, even if you're just going out for ten minutes, even if you don't think you will burn. I know it may seem enticing to lather yourself with baby oil and get a nice tan, but I assure you it is not worth it. By going into the sun without protection you really can make yourself much more likely to get skin cancer, which is extremely dangerous and even life threatening. People of any skin types and tones can get skin cancer, so EVERYONE should wear sunscreen. 

I myself actually used to think that nothing would happen if I didn't wear sunscreen, but after seeing so many people, some that I even know, get skin cancer just from not wearing SPF, really changed my perspective. And if you really want a tan, just get a fake tan. In fact, you can still tan with sunscreen on actually! But no matter what you do, please wear sunscreen.

Next let’s talk about other preventable illnesses you can get. The most common of these include stomach flu, colds, influenza, meningitis, etc. To learn more about these specific disease, look them up, check out our citations, or listen to our podcast for a deep dive into many health topics. Typically these diseases are transmitted by airborne respiratory droplets, so basically even if you are close to someone you could easily contract these viruses. Common symptoms include fever, body aches, exhaustion, abnormal pain, headaches, cough, and a runny nose. 

Again, if you feel anything is out of the normal it could be a good idea to take some rest and contact an adult. Ignoring it will not help you any 99% of the time. And if any discomfort continues for more than a week, then you should seek medical attention. To prevent this, try to be as cautious as possible and WASH YOUR HANDS. And if anyone you are meeting up with feels sick, wait it out. If you feel sick, don’t go. It’s as simple as that.

The last type of preventable illness I’ll cover in this section is injuries caused by challenges. They’re not exactly diseases, but they’re important so just go with it. These could include broken legs and arms, sprained wrists and ankles, choking, emergency situations, and other miscellaneous injuries. 

First let’s discuss breaks and sprains. These typically occur during activities like running, martial arts, jumping, and other physical activities. I’m not going to tell you to not give it your all when competing in a sport, because you should work hard at a sport if that’s what you want to do, however, it is important to stick to what you know. Don’t try doing flips and kicks without knowing what you’re doing because they could result in life changing injury including paralysis and inability to move the same ever again. I’m not saying to not be adventurous, because having fun is a large part of experiencing life, but knowing your limits will keep you alive. 

That leads me to my next point; challenges and trends. Now with the surge of internet use among youth, these challenges are really urging people to cross their limits as humans. Some of the challenges on the internet may come across as harmless; things like the cinnamon challenge and the hold your breath challenge. They sound pretty harmless and enticing right? Wrong. The cinnamon challenge may lead some people to be in a critical condition. A four year old child died from consumption of dry cinnamon, and a teenager was hospitalized for several days. Some risks can include choking, pneumonia, inflammation and scarring of the lungs, asphyxiation, and collapsed lungs. A sad part is that so many people and young kids who didn’t know better took part in this challenge. 

Another challenge is the breath holding challenge. Quite a few teenagers have actually passed out and died from overdoing breath holding underwater. These are just a few examples of innocent seeming challenges turned deadly. 

Other challenges aren’t as innocent-seeming. Challenges like the Benadryl challenge and corona challenge actually sound foolish, but you’d be surprised at how many people tried them. A prospering teen with so much potential died from doing the Benadryl challenge, and many others got harmed as well. As for the corona challenge, it was a viral Tik Tok challenge in which people would lick toilet seats. That one doesn’t even need an explanation. Ew.

The last thing I would like to cover here is preventing drug usage. I know this could go in the drug section, but I think this really does fit into the preventable disease. 

Whenever one does sprain an ankle, the doctor often prescribes some sort of medication that includes things like opiods. Even if medication isn’t prescribed, people take drugstore medications like Tylenol or Advil. They take it in excess, even with just mild headaches or body pain, and eventually get hooked. The feeling of these drugs leads them to addiction, even when it just started out as prescribed medication. 

Studies show that around 10% of people with opioid in their prescribed medication get addicted. An average of 5-14% of teens and young adults reported non medical use of prescription drugs. It is so easy to become addicted to these prescribed medications, so it is so important that as a teen you try to only use prescribed medications when it is absolutely necessary. And hey, you could also build your pain tolerance in the process. Although it may seem normal just to take these medications whenever you feel even a bit of pain, it could lead to so many complications. 

So to conclude, please, first of all, use your common sense, and second, for the more confusing topics, educate yourself. Another self promo here: a great way to do that is to listen to our podcast made specifically to educate you and help you figure out all of your problems; the We Are Podcast!

Citations:

Bjarnadottir, Adda. “7 Nutrient Deficiencies That Are Incredibly Common.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 21 May 2019, 7 Nutrient Deficiencies That Are Incredibly Common

“Iron Deficiency Anemia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 18 Oct. 2019, Iron deficiency anemia - Symptoms and causes

Betty Kovacs Harbolic, MS. “Vitamin D Deficiency: 9 Symptoms & Signs, Treatment, Causes & Charts.” MedicineNet, MedicineNet, 18 Feb. 2021, Vitamin D Deficiency: 9 Symptoms & Signs, Treatment, Causes & Charts

Julson, Erica. “15 Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 25 May 2018, 15 Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency

“Vitamin D Deficiency.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 June 2020, Vitamin D Deficiency 

National Institute on Drug Abuse. “What Is the Scope of Prescription Drug Misuse?” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 13 Apr. 2021, What is the scope of prescription drug misuse? 

ABC News. “Grieving Family Warns of Dangers of Kids Holding Breath.” ABC News, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2013, Grieving family warns of dangers of kids holding breath

Edited by Editorial Staff Last Updated: May 17, 2021. “Addiction Statistics: Drug & Substance Abuse Statistics.” American Addiction Centers, 17 May 2021, Addiction Statistics - Facts on Drug and Alcohol Use

“CDC - STD Diseases & Related Conditions.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 Nov. 2016, STD Diseases & Related Conditions 

“Mom On 4-Year-Old's Death: 'Cinnamon Can Kill'.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 10 June 2015, Mom on 4-year-old's death: 'cinnamon can kill'

“Food & Nutrition.” Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, Why Is the Cinnamon Challenge Dangerous?

“Cinnamon Challenge.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 May 2021, Cinnamon challenge 

It is fairly certain we can all agree that the dangerous virus, COVID-19, took us all by surprise, and none of us expected that we would have to go out in public wearing masks while staying 6 feet apart, or attending school online. As the year progressed, important guidelines were passed about the virus to protect everyone, especially those who are at high risk and could potentially die from the virus. 

COVID-19 is not a joke or anything to be taken lightly. In fact, more than 500,000 people have died in the U.S from COVID-19. I want to emphasize that this virus is serious and it is deadly; people are dying from it every day. 

It may be hard to face the fact that you might not be able to go to that party or walk through a grocery store without a mask covering your face, but it is for the good of you and our country, and if you do hangout with someone, make sure to keep the contact to a minimal point and make sure you know where they have been and what activities they have taken part in. Do the right thing during this pandemic and follow the guidelines set out by the CDC. 

Despite the seriousness of this virus, you might come across someone in a public area, such as a doctor’s office or grocery store, who isn’t following the guidelines put into place. Don’t be afraid to speak up and address them, as everyone should be taking this seriously and following the necessary precautions. It can be frustrating and draining when you see someone remove their mask to take a phone call, or take off their mask to sneeze and cough. Speaking up and acknowledging that the person is doing something wrong is the right thing to do. 

As adolescents and teens, I think a lot of us don’t understand or can’t comprehend how this virus is affecting people, and might believe that they themselves can’t spread it or contract it. It was hard for me to understand at first, and I was incredibly confused and anxious. 

But no one is invincible to this virus. You may not have a fever, but you could be A-symptomatic. You may be young, but you can still spread it to your family and those around you. It is so important that everyone, no matter their age, takes this global pandemic seriously and understands the risks. So many kids and even adults are going out in taking part in dangerous social activities because they don’t realize the risks and repercussions of their own actions. 

So, how can you protect yourself and your loved ones against COVID-19? This has been a scary year, but luckily, the CDC has given us helpful solutions to avoid spreading the sickness to our loved ones or contracting it ourselves. 

Wearing masks is extremely important to prevent the spread of the virus, as the material of the mask protects against respiratory particles entering your mouth or the mouth of another person. Respect other people and yourself by wearing a mask in all public places, and cover both your mouth and nose at all times. 

Never underestimate the power of washing your hands with a strong antibacterial soap and, of course, water. After entering a public place or coming into contact with people, it is always smart to wash your hands. 

If you’re in a public place, it is highly advised to distance from others (six feet apart), to ensure decreased contact with the person and a lower risk of spreading the virus to them or attaining it yourself. 

If you are experiencing any symptoms, stay inside and don’t come into contact with others, or get tested for the virus. If you have been around anyone who has the virus, it is also important to quarantine yourself for 14 days. 

This year has been hard on everyone. Many people have lost loved ones to the virus, or experienced loss is some way or another. Small businesses have suffered, industries have plummeted, and organizations have been hurt. This virus has affected people in so many ways. 

As a teenager myself, I understand how hard it can be to attend online school or have less social time with friends. Everyone has had to make sacrifices this year, and it has been a roller coaster. But with more and more people being vaccinated, I am excited at the prospect that things can go back to as normal as soon as possible. 

I want to take a moment to thank all the workers, including health care workers and scientists, who have helped so many people throughout this pandemic and braved these hard times. We may overlook the hard work of these people, but without them, our community might have fallen apart. I also want to thank anyone who has taken precautions to avoid getting or spreading the virus. Even the smallest things, like wearing a mask, makes a difference. 

We will provide more resources on COVID-19, precautions you can take to avoid it, and everything that young people need to know about it, on the bottom of this page. To learn more, be sure to also keep up with the We Are Podcast which you can find on the Podcast page.

Citations:

“How to Protect Yourself & Others.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, How to Protect Yourself & Others

“COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review

Ritchie, Research and data: Hannah. “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Deaths - Statistics and Research.” Our World in Data, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Deaths - Statistics and Research

“Symptoms of COVID-19.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Symptoms of COVID-19

Disabilities come in many different forms, and affect millions of children in our country. Disabilities can range from anything from learning disorders to vision impairments. It is important to spread awareness about these different disabilities, and help people understand what they mean and what different forms they can take so you can help anyone in your community struggling with one. 

Some of the more common disabilities most people have heard of are autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, blindness, cerebral palsy, and more. These disabilities can affect day to day life, and make some everyday tasks hard to perform. For example, if a person has autism, they could have a severe sensitivity to lights or noise, which might make it hard for them to enter a grocery store. Someone with cerebral palsy might need to use a wheelchair to travel and get around. 

There’s a very large chance that you’ve met someone with any sort of disability, so you know that these people might need some extra help, may partake in repetitive behaviors that calm them down, or use special tools to help them throughout their day. It is amazing to see how these kids work through these struggles and are able to get an education and learn just like other kids. These children should be treated with kindness and patience, just like any other child. They deserve the same treatment as other kids their age, and it is so important to show them that you care about them. 

Unfortunately, sometimes kids are ignorant about disabilities, and will taunt or make fun of these kids in a demeaning way. At my school, I have experienced kids egging on another kid with autism to do something in which they knew he was going to be rejected, along with coming up with an offensive nickname that had to do with his autism. 

This unfair and truly horrifying behavior cannot be tolerated. It amounts to one point. People need to become more aware and educated on disabilities, how to deal with people who have disabilities, and the kind of behavior that is hurtful towards these people. Ask yourself how you would feel if someone treated you in this way. It would probably upset you. So why should we tolerate this bullying and the actions of kids who are ignorant about this very important topic? The answer is, we shouldn’t tolerate it. 

I urge you greatly to treat children with disabilities with a sense of patience, kindness, and love. They deserve more than to be called names, endure taunts, and have to face hurtful words each day. They are people just like the rest of us. Their brains or other parts of their bodies are simply wired differently than others, but that just gives us more opportunities and different perspectives, as well as neurodiversity.  

Help kids with disabilities in any way that you can. I actually had a class at my school this year, and one of the main focuses was about kids and teens with disabilities. This class was incredibly eye-opening and informative. It is so important to spread kindness to everyone around you. Smile at people, help a person who is blind to cross the street, ask a kid who is visibly struggling how you can help, or just talk to them and let them know you care. 

We will talk more in depth about the different disabilities, what forms they take, and how to help people with disabilities and treat them in a way that they feel cared for. Check out our podcast and follow us on our social media to learn more!

Citations:

“What Is Autism?” Autism Speaks, What Is Autism?

“Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) - Diseases.” Muscular Dystrophy Association, 29 Apr. 2021, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) - Diseases

“What Is Cerebral Palsy?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31 Dec. 2020, What is Cerebral Palsy?

There are numerous illnesses that are easy to prevent and happen because of a reason that can be quickly spotted, but some illnesses that teens face today can’t be prevented and can often be debilitating. You can probably recognize some teens in your community who are struggling with these types of conditions. But there are so many ways for you to help your friends and community members who are facing these issues. 

One of the biggest and most serious illnesses teens can face is cancer. Cancer can come in so many different ways and forms, including lymphoma, breast cancer, skin cancer, etc. Thanks to modern technology, scientists have been searching for a cure and have made so much progress that is beneficial to people fighting cancer today. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants are all examples of new ways to treat cancer. It is truly spectacular how much progress scientists have made in the field of cancer, giving cancer patients the encouragement, hope, and physical aid they need to fight the condition. 

You can show your support for cancer by donating to the cause, shaving your hair to provide a wig for those undergoing chemotherapy, or spreading awareness and encouraging others to donate or take part in ways to help people who have it. I actually took part in a 5k where they donated money to cancer, so look out for events like those in your community. Another great way to support people with cancer is to create a bake sale and donate the profits to helping cancer research or supporting people facing cancer. 

If you know someone currently struggling with cancer, support them in ways like going grocery shopping for them, or simply let them know they can ask you for help whenever they need it. Shaving your head is a sign of bravery that can help a child struggling with cancer, donating would be much appreciated and would provide cancer patients with support and scientists with aid in coming up with a cure, and other ways of supporting the cancer community could change someone's life. 

Some other illnesses or conditions that can’t be prevented or can happen out of the blue are endometriosis, PCOS, or any condition relating to irregular periods.

 Irregular periods can be common in teen girls, especially during their first year of menstruation, but they can become a problem when the bleeding or pain is so heavy it affects day to day life. Although there is not a set cure for these conditions, surgery and medical procedures can alleviate the pain, while birth control can allow the periods to run on a more regular and natural course. 

I have actually experienced irregular periods, so I know how hard it can be, especially during your first year. Never be afraid to talk to your friends and family members about menstruation, and you should never feel embarrassed, because almost every girl goes through this.  If you are struggling, reach out to your loved ones and find a doctor who can help you with your concerns. It could be a serious issue, and it could also just be completely normal, but never be afraid to voice your concerns. 

Other unpreventable health conditions teens can experience are type 1 diabetes, asthma, and severe allergies.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic health condition where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or no insulin at all. This can cause severe hypoglycemia episodes that can result in distressing symptoms such as sweating and increased heartbeat. 

As a result, adolescents with this condition will have to use an insulin pump or needle to inject insulin into the body. If anyone around you is having a hypoglycemia episode or showing symptoms of one (symptoms include shakiness, confusion, headaches, fatigue, paleness, blurred vision, irritability, or trouble concentrating), call 911 immediately if the person experiencing the episode doesn’t have the proper materials to deal with it. 

Asthma is a condition where a person’s airways are inflamed, which can make it very hard to breathe. Most people with asthma will carry an inhaler if they are having difficulty breathing. If anyone around you is having an asthma attack and doesn’t have access to an inhaler, call 911 right away. Symptoms of an asthma attack include wheezing, constant coughing, rapid breathing, difficulty with speech, and a pale or sweaty face.

Allergies can come in many different forms, some more serious than others. If someone has a severe allergy to a certain food item or group of food items, they will most likely carry an epipen with them. If they are experiencing any concerning symptoms such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling, use an epipen or allergy treatment such as benadryl, and call 911. To use an epipen, remove the covering on top and stab the needle into the person's thigh. 

Finally, another health issue that is unpreventable is epilepsy. Epilepsy causes seizures, so the person experiencing them will have symptoms including uncontrollable shaking and movement, or even loss of consciousness. If someone around you has epilepsy and is experiencing a seizure, don’t try to touch them or hold them down, and if it lasts for more than 5 minutes or seems to be severely worsening, call 911. 

There are many more unpreventable conditions that teens face, and we will provide resources through our podcast, @ the We Are Podcast on most streaming platforms, where you can learn more about these conditions, what they mean, and how you can help someone struggling with them.

Citations:

“What Is Cancer?” National Cancer Institute, What Is Cancer?

“Ways to Support Cancer Research.” Cancer Research Institute, Ways to Support Cancer Immunotherapy Research

“Irregular Periods (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth.” Edited by Robyn R. Miller, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Dec. 2018, Irregular Periods (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth

“Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 3 Oct. 2020, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - Symptoms and causes

“Endometriosis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 16 Oct. 2019, Endometriosis - Symptoms and causes

“Type 1 Diabetes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 27 Mar. 2021, Type 1 diabetes - Symptoms and causes

“First Aid for Someone Who Is Having a Diabetic Emergency.” BRC Site Name, First aid for someone who is having a diabetic emergency

“Asthma.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 11 Aug. 2020, Asthma - Symptoms and causes

Hammett, Emma, et al. “Asthma – What It Is and How to Help If Someone Is Having an Asthma Attack.” First Aid for Life, 29 Apr. 2021, Asthma – what it is and how to help if someone is having an asthma attack

“Seizure First Aid.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Sept. 2020, Seizure First Aid | Epilepsy

“Asthma Attack: Causes, Early Warning Signs, and Treatment.” WebMD, WebMD, Asthma Attack: Causes, Early Warning Signs, and Treatment

“Diabetic Hypoglycemia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 3 Apr. 2020, Diabetic hypoglycemia - Symptoms and causes

Eating well and having a diet full of nutrients is so important to living a healthy lifestyle. A lot of teens don’t understand or were never taught proper nutrition, which causes increased rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, and many dangerous health conditions.

Not only does eating a nutritious diet help reduce these risks, it can also help clear up acne (a common skin condition many teens deal with), and it can even lessen your chance of getting cancer. Eating nutritiously can also put you in a better mood, improve gut health and memory, and can even help with sleep patterns and blood pressure. 

But how exactly can you eat nutritiously and maintain a nutrient-filled diet? You may have heard of the seven food groups, which are proteins, carbohydrates, fibre, fats, water, vitamins, and minerals. It is important to include these different groups of food into your day in a healthy balance. 

It is recommended to consume about five servings of vegetables per day and four servings of fruit per day. Fruit and vegetables contain important vitamins and minerals that can be helpful to your body. You can simply eat raw fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, strawberries, apples, carrots, celery, etc. You could also incorporate salads as a side to your meals, or drink fruit or spinach smoothies.

For grains, six servings a day is advised. Grains can be food like bread, pasta, rice, or cereal. It is easy to include grains in your food in healthy and beneficial ways; for example, you could eat a stir fry with rice, a sandwich with whole wheat bread, or healthy wheat bran cereal. 

You are supposed to eat 3 servings of dairy a day, such as cheese or milk, but if you are dairy free or lactose intolerant, there are countless healthy alternatives. These alternatives include almond milk, soy milk, dairy free yogurt, etc. Dairy keeps your body and bones strong and healthy. 

Poultry, meat, or eggs have many health benefits including raising energy levels, and it is recommended to eat 8-9 servings per week. Good ways to include this type of food in your meals is a fried egg, chicken, lunch meat, etc. 

Fish and other seafood are a substantial source of omega-3 fatty acids, which keep the heart and brain healthy. 2-3 servings a week of seafood can allow you to reap the benefits of this heart and brain healthy food.

 Eating 5 servings a week of nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and serious health conditions. For example, eating a dinner with beans such as enchiladas with black beans, or having a bowl of almonds can be very healthy.

Finally, fats and oils can be a part of your diet if taken in a moderate amount, about 3 servings a day. Mayonnaise, salad dressing, and vegetable oil are all examples of fats and oils you probably already consume on a day to day basis. Fats and oils can actually protect inner organs and help cell growth. 

On top of eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy, poultry, eggs, and meat, fish and seafood, beans, nuts, seeds, and legumes, and small amounts of fat and oil, you can also try to include any of these 5 superfoods into your meals. These superfoods are oats, salmon, beans, berries, and dark, leafy greens. Another quick and easy tip for nutrition is eating homemade food. Going out to a restaurant every once in a while can be a fun outing, especially if you do it occasionally. But preparing your own meals and cooking your own food is much healthier for you than eating fast food or buying pre-cooked or frozen meals. Drinking lots of water (around 8 cups a day) is also a key part of nutrition, as it keeps your body healthy and stable, along with getting quality sleep.

When eating healthy, that doesn’t mean you have to give up all of your favorite foods and never eat those foods that your body craves ever again. It’s actually ok to indulge in these foods if you make sure to enjoy them in moderate amounts. For example, if you eat a couple cookies everyday, that would be considered unhealthy. But if you eat a chocolate cake a couple times a year, that is totally acceptable. 

In fact, if you completely cut off these foods that you enjoy and get overly obsessed with eating a completely clean and healthy diet 100% of the time, it can actually be extremely hurtful to your mental health and self esteem. While eating a nutritious diet can keep you feeling refreshed and motivated, it can also become a dangerous ordeal for some people and can lead to many harmful eating and body disorders. 

You could develop a serious disorder such as anorexia. Anorexia is a debilitating eating disorder that should be treated right away, and falls under the category of a mental health disorder. If a person has anorexia, they might limit food to a tiny and insubstantial amount, constantly obsessing about their weight and fearing they might be overweight or “fat”. 

Someone with anorexia might not even realize that they require help or are damaging themselves. Anorexia is nothing to be taken lightly, as it can lead to cardiac complications, heart, kidney, and liver failure, bone loss, low blood sugar, and, in severe cases, even death. 

I want everyone to understand that, though it is important to maintain a healthy diet and steady exercise routine, it is never helpful to take part in self-harming behavior that could result in so many dangerous health risks. Being underweight can actually be as harmful as being overweight, which some people fail to understand. I didn’t even realize how harmful being underweight was before I researched it. 

With social media, there is so much pressure put on teens to have that ideal body shape, and many kids will go to huge lengths to attain their “perfect” body. In reality, a perfect body actually doesn’t exist. As long as you feel good about yourself and you are exercising at your own level and eating in a healthy way that works for you, you should be so happy with the body you have. 

Looking at other men and women and wishing you could have their body shape can be incredibly toxic and demeaning to children and teens, and can lead to disorders like anorexia. Unfortunately, society has pressed the idea into our minds that you aren’t skinny enough, you need to lose some weight, you don’t look as good as that one influencer, etc. Many teens could spend hours aimlessly scrolling through Instagram and looking through other’s accounts, wishing they could look like that one person while feeling ashamed at the way they currently look, and I have been in that situation before too. 

If you feel yourself starting to get lost in that toxic spiral of self-hatred and searching for ways to match up to those around you or the beauty standards of the world, take a moment to realize that you are trying your best, and that as long as you yourself feel healthy and happy with the way you look, it shouldn’t matter what others expectations and standards are. 

This is definitely something I have struggled with. If you get trapped in that mindset, it will only cause you more pain than you started out with. Nothing is healthy about comparing your body to others and desperately wishing you looked a different way. 

There needs to be a balance between being healthy and having a state of mental health where you can actually feel good about yourself. Anorexia can actually lead to a lack of energy and motivation, as your body isn’t getting the nutrients it needs to perform and function properly. If you are experiencing any form of anorexia or anyone you know is experiencing it, seek help immediately and work with someone to come up with helpful ways to make yourself as healthy as possible without depriving your body in the process.

Body dysmorphic disorder is another disorder some teens may develop due to obsession over their appearance, usually one specific area. Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental illness where someone obsesses over a perceived major flaw in their appearance that may appear minimal or non existent to others. 

For example, a teen could obsess over whether their stomach is flat enough, and will come up with ways to make the “flaw” appear better or minimal in their own eyes. But this behavior, like anorexic behavior, is quite debilitating. Kids can get obsessed with the way one part of their body looks, and some may use dieting as a way to “fix it” or make themselves feel more confident about their outward appearance. 

We need to be careful with the way we present information about nutrition and dieting, as it can cause some people to become largely preoccupied to the point that it’s hurting them. We need to make sure that teens understand that, while nutrition is important, they should never obsess over diets, body shapes, physical appearance, or weight loss and allow it to interfere with their mental state. 

By advertising ways for teens to lose weight quickly or diets that deprive their body of important nutrients and leave kids distressed and feeling like they can never eat their favorite foods again, society is teaching us that we can never enjoy ourselves. In some situations, we get the impression that we should force our bodies to look a certain way for other people. This is toxic and harmful.

I want to make the point that, although eating an unhealthy diet that leads to obesity and living a life full of unhealthy foods and meals is bad and teens should learn and take part in eating nutritiously, it should never become such a big deal that it affects a teen’s mental health and harms them. 

So be kind to yourself. Maybe you’re just starting out with eating a healthy diet, and you indulged in junk food without even meaning to. That’s ok. Set attainable goals for yourself and acknowledge the fact that it might take a while for you to reach your nutrition goals. 

Remember that if you feel healthy and you know you are exercising and eating at a pace that works for you, you should be proud of your body. However, if you are morbidly obese or just obese, this can be serious, and proper nutrition is an absolute must.  If you are dangerously overweight, seek help from a doctor who will aid you in coming up with a nutrition plan that is both helpful and attainable. 

One of the other most common eating disorders in bulimia. Bulimia is when a person indulges in large amounts of food and overeating, and then, shortly after, takes part in self-induced vomiting, purging, or fasting. 

To some people, the idea of bulimia may seem ludicrous and hard to comprehend. Some people may not be able to understand why someone would make themselves throw up on purpose, as it is not a pleasant sensation. But similar to a teen cutting themselves, bulimia is a self-harmful disorder that should be taken seriously. 

Bulimia can cause people to feel horrible shame, guilt, and uncontrollable urges to perform actions that will help them lose weight after overeating. Bulimia is dangerous, as it can cause damage to stomach and intestines, hormonal problems, reproductive issues, heart failure, and fertility problems. It sounds serious, and it is. 

Yet again, this is a mental health disorder centered around a person’s appearance and excessively wanting to lose weight while also wanting to indulge into foods to an unhealthy extent. Taking in all these different eating disorders that I discussed throughout this nutrition section (I didn’t even cover half of the eating disorders that exist), it makes us realize the pressure of society to look a certain way. 

Teens shouldn’t have to experience these feelings, and it is saddening that they should have to feel this way. 

Tips to decrease feelings of self-hatred towards one's appearance include limiting your time spent on social media, taking part in self loving behaviors such as meditation, yoga, or hobbies that you enjoy, or reaching out for help and telling close friends or family about your insecurities so they can formulate a plan to help you live a nutritious life while also keeping your mental health intact. 

One of the most important things teens can do today is live a healthy and nutritious lifestyle without becoming so invested in the idea of it that it actually becomes unhealthy. Start living a healthy lifestyle, but do it for yourself. Don’t do it because of what others have said about you, don’t do it for social media, don’t do it because people are judging you right now. Do it because you genuinely want to be healthy and you want to feel good about yourself. 

I hope this was helpful to anyone looking to start living a more healthy life or struggling with eating disorders or feelings that they aren’t good enough for society. Check out the links below that dive into more about eating nutritiously and how nutrition and mental health are connected.

Citations:

“The Top 10 Benefits of Eating Healthy.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, The top 10 benefits of eating healthy

Parsons, Holly. “The Five Food Groups: How to Eat a Balanced Diet - Eat the Rainbow.” One You Leeds, Holly Parsons, The five food groups: how to eat a balanced diet - eat the rainbowThe five food groups

“Suggested Servings from Each Food Group.” Suggested Servings from Each Food Group

“Dietary Fats.” Dietary Fats

“5 Superfoods to Improve Heart Health.” Penn Medicine, 5 Superfoods to Improve Heart Health

“Anorexia Nervosa.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 20 Feb. 2018, Anorexia nervosa - Symptoms and causes

“Bulimia Nervosa.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 10 May 2018, Bulimia nervosa - Symptoms and causes

“Body Dysmorphic Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 29 Oct. 2019, Body dysmorphic disorder - Symptoms and causes

“GCSE PE 2016 - Lesson 4 - 1.3.1 - Balanced Diet and the Role of Nutrients.” YouTube, YouTube, 29 Sept. 2016, GCSE PE 2016 - Lesson 4 - 1.3.1 - Balanced diet and the role of nutrients

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