Teens and Good Health

A teen’s life is always in motion. There are so many things to do- School, exams, basketball practice or ballet classes, rock concerts, hanging out with friends and so on. It’s easy to forget your own health or to give it low priority.  Here is a quick guide for parents who want to instill good health habits in their teens.

Nutrition

Is your teen eating the three main meals each day? Is your daughter trying a diet, just to achieve the ultra thin look? Is there a tendency to take in too much of carbs and sweets? These questions will unearth eating problems.

Teens are kids and we need to coax them to eat their celery and broccoli. If they have been trained in good eating habits from a young age, you won’t need to worry much.

Pack plenty of fruits and vegetables for their lunch and warn against eating junk food. Try to prepare meals at home rather than allowing your teens to buy food from outside. If eating fruits/vegetables is a problem, make smoothies or juices and tempt your kids!

Pay special attention to daughters because they are prone to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. These conditions are more prevalent than parents realize and by the time you see symptoms, there may be irreversible damage.

Sometimes, teens need vitamin or mineral supplements, like Vitamins C and E and iron. Lackluster skin or hair or discolored toenails can be an indication that your child has some form of deficiency.

Smoking, alcohol & drugs

Parents need to establish strict rules when it comes to these. It is almost impossible to prevent experimenting but don’t tolerate such behavior if you come across it. Warn your child of the risks involved- heart disease, cancer, fatal overdose, organ damage and so on.

Relaxation and sleep

Teens are so pumped up that a day is not enough for all they want do and accomplish. In other words, they hardly get enough rest and sleep. As parents, you have the right to impose night curfews. For early teens, limit TV watching time, so that they are less likely to stay up late.

Parents also need to make sure that teens get enough ‘down time’. Education and extra curricular activities are important but not to the extent that it leaves the kid tired and unable to concentrate. Chronic fatigue is very bad for health and affects adult life too. So, monitor your kid to make sure he/she isn’t glued to the computer screen or reading nonstop in the room.

Exercise and fitness

An active lifestyle is very much a part of ‘teendom’ but sometimes, studies can limit time for exercise. A healthy teenager needs to exercise for at least half an hour per day. Not only does it make the body light and supple, the mind will be more alert. Exercise can help a student to remember and understand better and to score well in exams. It will also reduce the likelihood of boredom and depression, two situations that are common among teens.

Relationships

Finally, the bonds we have with others influence our health. Teenagers need to be socially active and to have good friends they can relate to and share with. Being close to the family is crucial to mental well-being.