Thursday, May 22, 2008

Middle School Students Pull Off Stunning Boycott Against Standardized Testing

New York 8th-Graders Boycott Practice Exam But Teacher May Get Ax

by Juan Gonzalez
Published on Thursday, May 22, 2008 by New York Daily News
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/05/22/9123/

Students at a South Bronx middle school have pulled off a stunning boycott against standardized testing.

More than 160 students in six different classes at Intermediate School 318 in the South Bronx - virtually the entire eighth grade - refused to take last Wednesday’s three-hour practice exam for next month’s statewide social studies test.

Instead, the students handed in blank exams.

Then they submitted signed petitions with a list of grievances to school Principal Maria Lopez and the Department of Education.

“We’ve had a whole bunch of these diagnostic tests all year,” Tatiana Nelson, 13, one of the protest leaders, said Tuesday outside the school. “They don’t even count toward our grades. The school system’s just treating us like test dummies for the companies that make the exams.”

According to the petition, they are sick and tired of the “constant, excessive and stressful testing” that causes them to “lose valuable instructional time with our teachers.”

School administrators blamed the boycott on a 30-year-old probationary social studies teacher, Douglas Avella.

The afternoon of the protest, the principal ordered Avella out of the classroom, reassigned him to an empty room in the school and ordered him to have no further contact with students.

A few days later, in a reprimand letter, Lopez accused Avella of initiating the boycott and taking “actions [that] caused a riot at the school.”

The students say their protest was entirely peaceful. In only one class, they say, was there some loud clapping after one exam proctor reacted angrily to their boycott.

This week, Lopez notified Avella in writing that he was to attend a meeting today for “your end of the year rating and my possible recommendation for the discontinuance of your probationary service.”

“They’re saying Mr. Avella made us do this,” said Johnny Cruz, 15, another boycott leader. “They don’t think we have brains of our own, like we’re robots. We students wanted to make this statement. The school is oppressing us too much with all these tests.”

Two days after the boycott, the students say, the principal held a meeting with all the students to find out how their protest was organized.

Avella on Tuesday denied that he urged the students to boycott tests.

Yes, he holds liberal views and is critical of the school system’s increased emphasis on standardized tests, Avella said, but the students decided to organize the protest after weeks of complaining about all the diagnostic tests the school was making them take.

“My students know they are welcome in my class to have open discussions,” Avella said. “I teach them critical thinking.”

“Some teachers implied our graduation ceremony would be in danger, that we didn’t have the right to protest against the test,” said Tia Rivera, 14. “Well, we did it.”

Lopez did not return calls for comment.

“This guy was far over the line in a lot of the ways he was running his classroom,” said Department of Education spokesman David Cantor. “He was pulled because he was inappropriate with the kids. He was giving them messages that were inappropriate.”

Several students defended Avella. They say he had made social studies an exciting subject for them.

“Now they’ve taken away the teacher we love only a few weeks before our real state exam for social studies,” Tatiana Nelson said. “How does that help us?”

Labels:
--

Subscribe to emails from :
- Better World News: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/bwn_at7l.us
- Learning News - children learning, how mind works: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/learn_at7l.us
- Health News - better ways of healthy living: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/health_at7l.us
- Good Morning World - Robert & Barbara Muller's daily idea-dream for a better world: http://www.goodmorningworld.org/emaillist/#subscribe
or send a request a subscription to any of the three lists here.

View these blogs:
- Better World News
- Learning News
- Health News
- Good Morning World

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

One Laptop Per Child Now Less Than $100 - Touch Screen E Book & Computer

Design revamp for '$100 laptop'

The XO2 looks and acts like an electronic book

The wraps have been taken off the new version of the XO laptop designed for schoolchildren in developing countries.

The revamped machine created by the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project looks like an e-book and has had its price slashed to $75 per device.

OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte gave a glimpse of the "book like" device at an unveiling event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The first XO2 machines should be ready to deliver to children in 2010.

Mr Negroponte said he hoped the design would also be used by other manufacturers.

Dual use

"This laptop comes from a different point of view," he said.

The new version loses the green rubbery keyboard, sporting instead a single square display hinged at its centre.

This allows the device to be split into two touch screens that can either mimic a laptop with keyboard or the pages of a book.

"Over the last couple of years we've learned the book experience is key," he said.

The idea is for several children to use the device at once, combining the functions of a laptop, electronic book and electronic board.

"It is a totally new concept for learning devices," said Prof Negroponte.

The new machine will also be more energy efficient, half the size of the first generation device and lighter to carry.

It will continue to sport the XO logo in a multitude of colours so that children can personalise them.

"The XO2 will be a bit of a Trojan horse," said Prof Negroponte. Initially it will be promoted as an e-book reader with the capacity to store more than 500 e-books.

"Currently developing nations such as China and Brazil are spending $19 per student per year on books," he said.

Dual boot

The launch of the XO2 is being seen as an effort by OLPC to revitalise adoption of its machines. Initially, Prof Negroponte set a target of selling 100 million machines by 2008.

So far OLPC has only sold about 600,000 machines. Prof Negroponte said he expected a further 400,000 orders in the next "60 to 90 days".

Many countries have been reluctant to buy the machines because they did not run Microsoft's Windows operating system.

In mid-May OLPC announced a deal with Microsoft to make Windows available on the XO machine.

Previously the machines used a version of open source Linux operating system.

"There is no question that demand goes up when you offer dual boot," said Professor Negroponte.

The laptops which originally had a target price of $100 now cost $188 each.

The OLPC project believes the price tag for the new devices will be achieved thanks to falling prices for flat panel screens, the most costly of all laptop components.

At the MIT event, Prof Negroponte announced the resumption of the Get-One-Give-One programme to allow people in wealthy nations to buy two XO laptops and donate one to a child in a developing country.

The programme will be open to people in North America and Europe and start in August or September.

Prof Negroponte said the previous programme enabled OLPC to distribute 30,000 additional laptops to children in Rwanda, Mongolia and Haiti.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

New PE - Better For Health Of Body & Mind

Gym: The Next Generation
By Melanie Wong
September 2007
Chicago Athlete
http://www.chicagoaa.com/features/sept07napervillepe.html

Gone are the days of dodgeball and embarrassing fitness tests. Naperville Schools teach students heart rate monitor training and let students choose from classes like kayaking, rollerblading and Pilates- fun activities they'll do as active adults. Obesity rates are down and test scores are way up.

The hallways surrounding the gymnasium of Naperville Central High School are crowded with clusters of students clicking and stamping their heels as the sounds of their tap dance shoes reverberate throughout the halls. Amidst trying out their moves and throwing around terms like "ball change" and "straight tap," the students are enthusiastically planning out their own dance routines.

It may be unorthodox, but for the students at Central High, this is phys ed class. The tap dance class is one of many P.E. electives students can take as part of Naperville District 203's curriculum. The program has gained national attention not only for their innovative fitness methods, but for linking fitness to improved learning in the classroom.

Elementary school kids hop around on Dance Dance Revolution games, junior high students weight train with heart rate monitors on specially sized machines, and high school students scale the rock climbing wall in the school gum.

A new class of P.E.
The district's program, part of an organization called PE4Life, leaves the old stereotype of dodge ball games and whistle-wielding coaches in the dust, instead focusing on teaching students how to live physically active lifestyles and emphasizing fitness and health instead of sports and athleticism.

The program developed 15 years ago when Naperville administrators started making small changes in their P.E. classes. Phil Lawler, PE4Life Instruction and Outreach Director and retired P.E. teacher, said they were aware that P.E. programs were being cut back or eliminated nationwide. He said they began to think about ways to teach sports skills to every student, not just those who were athletically inclined, in a way that would affect them beyond graduation.

"We never stopped to look at kids in P.E. classes who aren't interested in sports. What about them?" Lawler said. Over the years the program has been incorporated into all 21 schools in the district from elementary to high school as Naperville's answer to increasing childhood obesity and diminishing P.E. requirements in schools across the country. PE4Life has also developed into a nationwide program that trains P.E. teachers and their communities to develop programs of their own. One of the program's six training academies is located at Naperville's Madison Jr. High.

At first the program was largely funded by supportive parents, but the district has also received grants and now is funded increasingly by corporate sponsors.

Lawler said he can see the effects of exercise on the students in a very tangible way. They are fitter, more enthusiastic about P.E. class and perform better in the classroom. He said that while the nationwide childhood obesity rate is about 20 percent, in Naperville schools it is only about three percent.

Naperville Central High School P.E. department chair and teacher Paul Zientarski said the key is giving students choices in their workouts and gym classes. There are a wide array of fitness and strength activities offered to students in all grades, he said, and all of them learn to use a heart rate monitor to ensure their workouts are done in their target heart rate zones.

At the high school level, the program's goal is to turn the responsibility of fitness over to students, said Lawler. Students, regardless of whether they play a school sport or not, are required to take 28 P.E. classes with requirements in fitness, team sports, individual sports, aquatic sports, gymnastics, dance and CPR training. They can choose from classes such as Pilates, bowling, self-defense, rollerblading and kayaking.

School sports cannot replace fitness instruction when it comes to preparing students to live healthy lives, said Zientarski. In fact, very few adults play team sports as their main form of exercise, he said.

He thinks that letting students choose their classes makes it more likely that they will be enthusiastic about the activities, Zientarski said. "We empower them. We give them a choice. They choose a class because they like the activity, or their friends are in it, or they like the teacher. As a result, fitness has really become a part of our school culture."

Freshmen begin with a fitness concepts class that teaches them what Lawler calls "life skills" - team building, basic cardiovascular fitness, core strength training, rhythm, and natural movements such as hopping or skipping. At the end of the course they create their own 6-week training plan.

"It's really about how to create a fitness plan to keep someone healthy. No one who graduates from here should ever have to hire a personal trainer," Zientarski said with pride.

A focus on fitness
But besides the wide array of activities Naperville's program offers, it is also unique in its focus. Heart rate monitors track individual improvement and activities are designed so that everyone participates in a non-threatening environment. Even games such as flag football are played four-on-four so that everyone touches the ball. What is important is not the score, but that students are in their optimal heart rate zone.

"We don't grade kids on their sports skills. We don't try to embarrass them. Fitness tests are all done in groups or individually in a separate room," Zientarski said. Gone are the days when the least- athletic kids stood shamefully against the bleachers waiting to be chosen for a team or the whole class watched as a student struggled to do pushups during a fitness test.

Zientarski said he used to be the mean coach blowing the whistle, but not anymore. For example, students still do the mile run, he said, but now his students go out on the track and start whenever they are ready. No one knows who is first or last, and they are graded based on their heart rate, not on their time.

"If a student runs a 15-minute mile, but their heart rate is 170 the whole time, then they're doing a pretty good job," he said. "Heart rate monitors have allowed us to assess kids and see what they were really doing, not what we as P.E. teachers thought they were doing. For some kids, walking is best. Some kids need to run. Some athletes need to run stairs at the stadium to get their heart rate up."

Lawler said they track students' fitness starting in the fourth grade. When they graduate, students will have a 25-page fitness record.

"I've seen kids in a fitness class a bit on the pudgy side, not what you would call athletic, and suddenly they get motivated," Zientarski said. "I've seen kids lose weight and start exercising."

He remembers a freshman who started the program slightly overweight and when he took his fitness tests, they showed he was very dehydrated. Zientarski talked to him about how hydration affects brain functions, and the next class the students started walking in with a water bottle.

"I never had to tell him. It was his choice to walk in with the bottle. Now a few years later he's slimmed down and looks better. He's made some big choices," Zientarski said.

Fit bodies, fit minds
However, Naperville's fitness program does not stop in the gym. The district's Learning Readiness program incorporates health and fitness in the classroom. The program is based on a Harvard Medical School psychiatry study showing that exercise stimulates the brain in ways that improves mood, attention span and readiness to learn.

"Sitting down does not increase brain function," Zientarski said. "Your body's made to be moving. When you sit down for long periods of time, part of your brain shut down."

Several high school classes took a workout course right before math and literacy classes. In the literacy classes, the students who worked out improved their reading level by a whole year over one semester. In algebra classes, students who took the P.E. course improved their scores by 20 percent compared to two percent improvement in the non- workout classes.

Central High school literacy teacher Deborah St. Vincent has her students engage in physical activity every 15 minutes. Sometimes they warm up on DDR machines or stair steppers she keeps in the back of the room. Sometimes it is as simple as asking the students to moves across the room to work with a friend of to do some stretching. "I've watched children for years. By the end of the day you know how tired you are. Common sense tells you that you need to get out of your seat. It's essential," said St. Vincent, who has taught for 32 years.

She said she has seen students benefit from the school's exercise program in grades as well as fitness. One student came in as a freshman without any athletic background and was inspired to join the track team. Now both her fitness and grades have improved, St. Vincent said.

Most teachers are on board with the program because they see its results, Zientarski said, and there are others besides St. Vincent who have adopted similar classroom methods. The school has even brought in a neurokinesiologist to talk to teachers about incorporating movement into the learning process.

Last year before the beginning of statewide testing, all the students marched to upbeat music before starting the test, and there were intervals of stretching and movement during the testing. While previous data is not available to compare, Naperville's test scores are among the highest in the state.

Not only does the program make for fitter kids and better grades, but less disciplinary problems too. Lawler said PE4Life did a study in an inner-city Kansas City school, increasing P.E. from one to five days a week. Consequently, the school had 63 percent less referrals and the students' cardiovascular health improved 200 percent.

Results like this are catching the attention of school administrators across the country, enabling such programs to get started and continue. Lawler said that in Naperville, the administration, the teachers, the parents and the community back the program.

"That's the key," he said. "You have to bring the community team in, not just the P.E. teacher."

Zientarski said the success of the program really shows that something old can evolve. Not only has the program revolutionized the traditional gym class and classroom methods, he said, but his own philosophy on fitness. He's changed his own workout program and keeps track of his activity throughout the day using a pedometer. He used to be one of the coaches that kids hated, he said.

"I truly believe most teachers get in education to make a difference in the life of kids," he said, "and I feel like in the last 10 to 12 years, I'm finally doing that."

Melanie Wong is a former Chicago-based cyclist and journalist who recently moved to Vail, Colorado, to work as a reporter (and enjoy some high altitude training).

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Hardcover)

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Hardcover)
by John J. Ratey (Author), Eric Hagerman (Contributor)

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

The following are excerpts from reviews from Amazon's listing of this book followed by the reviews.

humans are genetically built to move
incorporating an intense athletic regimen.
more movement actually increases the brain's ability to learn.
highly favorable impact of regular exercise on mental health.
health benefits of exercise
incentive to get off the couch.

exercise is the best thing you can do for your brain
Exercise reduces your risk for Alzheimer's by 50%.
Exercise can mitigate the symptoms of depression better than drugs

help to explain and motivate individuals who suffer from any number of today's health-related problems.
inter-relationship of the mind and body
we have the capacity to improve and make the changes we seek. Exercise is the 'ruby slipper' It cranks up the brain and gets us where we want to go.

this book contradicts my outdated education on the brain, how it develops
aerobically exercises regularly.

regular aerobic exercise stimulates better and more effective mental activity.

optimal brain functioning requires plenty of blood, the right nutrients, a balance of body chemicals designed to help the brain operate, and an ability to grow new cells and connections in the brain. Each of these elements is helped by regular aerobic exercise.

The results are often measurable within a few weeks.

about thinking well and being able to learn. There are longevity and other quality of life benefits as well . . . including reduced incidence of disease and less chance of dementia.

fascinating chapter about anxiety. Dr. Ratey says that a peptide secreted by the heart muscle when we exercise regulates stress and anxiety (atrial natriuretic peptide, p. 102). Who knew a heart valve needs to get pumping for us to feel calm, cool, and collected?

chapter on addiction
exercise produces chemicals which help us experience pleasure in life's simple things, reducing urges to seek pleasure in self-destructive ways.

kids - especially the chapters on learning and ADHD. It is so interesting to learn how our bodies can improve our brain :-)

exercise improves mind, body and soul. I've experienced it in my own life.
depression and fatigue are a result of poor dietary habits and failure to launch out of their chairs.

Since reading this book, I've upped my exercise 50%.

This is a book that every educator, every teacher, every parent, every school board member and administrator AND every student should read.

cognizant of how learning takes place neurologically and build teaching around the science.

I work with children with learning challenges
I realized that it applies to everyone. The book pulls together much research about learning, anxiety, depression, ADHD, aging, etc. and the effects of exercise on each.

This book has really gotten me and my family off the couch. It's so inspiring. I hadn't realized that exercise can promote brain-cell growth--the implications of this are huge. Filled with easy-to-understand and fascinating science as well as ideas on how to exercise, this one is a must-read.

it focuses on keeping things simple, just getting up and moving. And it explains the science behind it all:
writing is extremely coherent and understandable to a non-physics-major like me. The tone is accessible and encouraging, while being substantial and authoritative.

will inspire you to get moving.

I experienced severe depression.
running
impact it had on my emotional well being almost instantly

inspirational book,
provocative case studies, scientific evidence and practical information, not only provides another great reason to incorporate physical activity into your life.

provides an individualized formula to make your exercise routine have an impact on your brain, improving function and alleviating the negative effects of depression, anxiety, stress and hormonal fluctuation among others.
sharpen mental capacity.

scientific research being done worldwide
patient accounts which make this book not just informative but touching, funny and relatable as well.

appreciate my body and what I can do on a daily basis

inspire people to move.
exercise as a way to good health

be active, and need to, literally, "move" our minds.

a solution to the culture-wide epidemic of stress and learning problems that is 100% healthy, involves no medication and is completely free and accessible to everyone.

a sound explanation of how unhealthy diet and
lack of movement impairs memory and learning.

exercise improves attention, motivation, mood, and memory while decreasing anxiety, impulsivity and distractibility
a future with less dependence on medicating our children
more emphasis on supporting today's youth with the "food" they need to grow into healthier, more balanced young adults.

After reading Spark my entire viewpoint has changed. Exercise is a master key to brain functioning. Cholesterol and other system problems caused by lack of exercise are a bit ambiguous since we often can't directly feel them until we manifest some disease. Brain functioning is something else entirely. We can feel an almost immediate change after aerobic exercise. After reading Spark I definitely have become a six day a week exerciser. I need my brain functioning as well as possible, and the data in this book has made a believer out out of me.

in our highest thought processes.

the value exercise has for the learning process in high school students: improved academic performance, alertness, attention and motivation.

we can alter our mental states by physically moving.
a chapter where depression is relieved in case studies by exercise.

SPARK puts it in perspective from a scientific
point of view.
chapters on Stress and depression

If its as simple as getting on a treadmill or a bike and working out for 30-45
minutes without any side effects, then it seems only logical to do it.
"you goto workout "
"why you goto workout"

exercise will also make your
brain fit along with your body. The brain-body connection is important and
one cannot be ignored over the other.
+++

Customer Reviews

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

29 Reviews

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

(29 customer reviews)

5.0 out of 5 stars Spark - the best book I read in years, May 9, 2008
By     P. Creaven "celticmna" (Seattle, WA, USA)
(REAL NAME)
If I had plenty of money I would buy up every copy of "Spark" on the shelves and give a copy to every Politician, Teacher and child in our nation and make them read it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Who needs to read this book? Everyone!, April 25, 2008
By     armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota)
Modern America is in love with fitness. It seems that the quest for the body beautiful has reached epidemic proportions. However, most people only think about the physical benefits of exercise. It should come as no surprise that exercise is a good idea - for the body and the mind. Although marketing gurus would have us believe that everyone in America owns a Bowflex or an Ab-Roller, it seems that the result of our overly sedentary lifestyle has largely caught up with us.

Mind you, this is not a novel idea. Even Plato conceded, "Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical exercise save it and preserve it." This tome came to us from one of the very people who helped lay the philosophical foundation of Western culture.

Building upon this platonic idea that humans are genetically built to move, Dr. John Ratey provides an excellent development of the "why" behind exercise's importance. His book, Spark: the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain provides enough scientific evidence to spark an interest in all readers.

Dr. Ratey includes a landmark case where a school in Illinois actually reversed a negative educational trend by incorporating an intense athletic regimen. His delving into the realities there demonstrates the connection between exercise and increased intellectual acumen. Many school districts, who are currently opining for the next "magical bullet" to fix their systems, might find their money better spent on heart rate monitors that prove their students are exercising in the right zone. This methodology worked wonders in Naperville, Illinois.

It seems that Dr. Ratey wants to destroy stereotypes of unintelligent athletes. Nothing could be further from the truth: more movement actually increases the brain's ability to learn. This book provides sufficient scientific detail to prove it - to a physician, teacher, or layman. Dr. Ratey, himself a clinical associate professor of psychiatry, has no intention to aim this work exclusively at the scientifically minded, however. Even the intermittent athlete can benefit from decreased tendencies toward stress, depression, or anxiety.

Armchair Interviews says: Who needs this book? Anyone who wants to be smarter - and understand "why" exercise can provide a kick start for the brain.


5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Spark, April 15, 2008
By     Kenneth W. Harris (Bethesda, MD) -
(REAL NAME)
The book documents very well the highly favorable impact of regular exercise on mental health. The fact that the author is a practicing psychiatrist lends credibility to the overall conclusion that exercise is good for you mentally as well as figuratively.

Anyone interest in the health benefits of exercise and the health risks of not exercising ought to read this book.

If you are already regularly active, the book will motivate you to be more so. If not, it should give you incentive to get off the couch.

5.0 out of 5 stars 100 reasons to exercise, April 7, 2008
By     Mark R. Pearson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
In this groundbreaking book, Harvard psychiatrist, John J. Ratey, MD, takes us on a fascinating exploration of the impact of exercise on the brain. Most people just think exercise is good for overall health. But what's extraordinary is that exercise is the best thing you can do for your brain, not just your body. Exercise reduces your risk for Alzheimer's by 50%. It produces the protein BDNF, which is like Miracle-Gro for your brain. Exercise can mitigate the symptoms of depression better than drugs like Zoloft. Exercise can help your productivity at work. I could go on and on. After reading the book, you will have 100 reasons why you need to do aerobic exercise (for your brain) every single day.

SPARK is a terrific compliment to John Medina's new book, BRAIN RULES (full disclosure: I'm the publisher of the book). One of the 12 Brain Rules is "exercise boosts brain power." It's impossible to read these books without wanting to get up and move. Unforunately, our workplaces and schools keep us in cubicles or desks for 8 hours a day. I hope these books can do something about this problem. Sitting goes against everything we are built to do.


5.0 out of 5 stars SPARK: Confirmed what I believed with scientific evidence. A MUST READ, April 6, 2008
By     Charles R. Krasner "-C. Krasner" (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Highly recommended. It will help to explain and motivate individuals who suffer from any number of today's health-related problems.

This book explains so much about the inter-relationship of the mind and body, though a bit technical at times. A few simple diagrams / graphics would have been a nice addition - next printing perhaps.

I happened to read it after successfully weening myself from years of anti-depresents. I understand how I was able to be so successful even though my doctor lacked a firm sense of these beliefs. It helps to know the key to so much personal recovery/growth is within AND backed-up by science.

Like Dorothy in The Wizard of OZ, we have the capacity to improve and make the changes we seek. Exercise is the 'ruby slipper' It cranks up the brain and gets us where we want to go.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS BOOK! It is an important read and keeper but pass it on: Improving one's mind/body experience is the best gift we can share!


5.0 out of 5 stars A Concise Act of Appreciation, March 24, 2008
By     Sean E. Flanigan "Professional Consumer" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I like this book because it presents the research in a more objective manner than other popular press science books that I have read over the years. This book is concise and carefully refrains from sensationalism of the link between exercise and the brain. It describes groups of studies within a certain context and it presents the findings in a way that readers will be able to discern between "evidence" and "law".

This book was fun to read because much of the content of this book contradicts my outdated education on the brain, how it develops, and how it freezes from further significant development around hormonal changes as teens. Additionally, while Piaget may describe behavior well, the inferences made about physical brain development from his ideas are also rendered obselete.

As a matter of serendipity, I also read this book at a time when I was around 15 weeks of regular exercising after being dormant for 7 years. It really helped my confidence with the decision to make investments of time and money to exercise as many days out of the week as I could.

The underlying research that is in this book should be given credit and I have to take away points for not presenting the hypothesis of all the experiments presented in the book in greater detail, because a casual reader will likely infer that all the studies were conducted on behalf of the thesis of the book.

Still, 5 Stars.

5.0 out of 5 stars Regular Aerobic Exercise Helps School Performance and Improves Mental Performance During Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Aging, March 11, 2008
By     Donald Mitchell "a Practical Optimist" (Boston)
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)
I've read a lot about the brain in the last decade, and I thought this book was the most helpful summary I've seen of what to do differently. The thinking person is the person who aerobically exercises regularly.

Spark is an excellent summary of the brain research during the last decade or so that has added to our knowledge of how regular aerobic exercise stimulates better and more effective mental activity. Dr. Ratey considers the impact of such exercise on school-age children . . . and adults with stress, anxiety, depression, attention deficits, hormonal changes, and aging bodies. He also recommends a general exercise regime that seems to optimize what we know today from these studies.

The essence of the book can be found in the observation that optimal brain functioning requires plenty of blood, the right nutrients, a balance of body chemicals designed to help the brain operate, and an ability to grow new cells and connections in the brain. Each of these elements is helped by regular aerobic exercise. The results are often measurable within a few weeks.

So if you thought that aerobic exercise was simply about looking and feeling good, you're wrong. It's also about thinking well and being able to learn. There are longevity and other quality of life benefits as well . . . including reduced incidence of disease and less chance of dementia.

The book also explores that you don't have to do a tremendous amount of exercise to get most of the benefits.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews


5.0 out of 5 stars Executive Spark, March 7, 2008
By     David C. Goodrich - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

While this review is as enthusiastically positive as the previous ones, it comes from a different perspective. My view is based on years of consulting with top leaders of major organizations about their own performance and that of their company. Too bad that SPARK wasn't available sooner. Now we realize that a physical fitness program, especially with the kinds of experiences that Dr. Ratey describes, is an essential part of the career development plan of any would be top manager. Further, Dr.Ratey's suggestions for dealing with high pressure situations are especially helpful for those who already are in positions of heavy responsibility. And the scientific and clinical content are fascinating to any one.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? YesNo


Report this | Permalink
Comment Comment


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Ratey Hits it Out-of-the-Park with SPARK!!!, March 2, 2008
By     C. Bergland - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Spark is a luminous and visionary book. John Ratey and Eric Hagerman have done a terrific job of bringing the neuroscience of exercise and the brain to the mainstream in an intelligent, inspiring and practical book.

Once I started reading Spark, I couldn't put it down. The writing is smart, effortless and heartfelt. John Ratey is on a crusade to spread the message that exercise can transform people's lives from the inside out--and he presents this case convincingly. His enthusiasm is contagious. Spark will definitely persuade and motivate readers from all walks of life to make exercise something that they seek most days of the week.

Spark is packed with tons of really valuable scientific information and case studies, but it is never a heavy read. Ratey mixes in personal anecdotes, other people's experiences and practical advice to bring the pages to life. He also manages to maintain a friendly and down-to-earth voice even when discussing potentially mind-numbingly dry neuro-science. His conversational, upbeat tone keeps the eyes from glazing over and the pages turning...The science in this book is thorough and cutting-edge without ever being stodgy or overly complicated.

Huge thanks to John Ratey and Eric Hagerman for this timely, accessible and inspiring contribution to the field of Exercise and the Brain. Reading Spark will improve your life. I highly recommend this book.

Christopher Bergland

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank Goodness for SPARK!, March 2, 2008
By     Timothy McCord (Titusville, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
As a physical educator I have been looking for 30 years for a book like this to validate my profession. Dr. Ratey's book justifies everything done in a quality PE class. Best of all he explains the effects of exercise on the brain in an easy to understand manner. This book should become the bible for all physical educators. All PE teachers should purchase this book and give it to their administrators and school board members.


5.0 out of 5 stars Moods from the heart?, March 2, 2008
By     FFC "FFC" (California, USA) - See all my reviews
This book has a fascinating chapter about anxiety. Dr. Ratey says that a peptide secreted by the heart muscle when we exercise regulates stress and anxiety (atrial natriuretic peptide, p. 102). Who knew a heart valve needs to get pumping for us to feel calm, cool, and collected?

Dr. Ratey's chapter on addiction has tons of fascinating research on how exercise produces chemicals which help us experience pleasure in life's simple things, reducing urges to seek pleasure in self-destructive ways.

I recommend this book for anyone who has kids - especially the chapters on learning and ADHD. It is so interesting to learn how our bodies can improve our brain :-)



5.0 out of 5 stars Clear and Convincing Evidence, February 25, 2008
By     Blessedbybooks "Blessedbybooks" (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
I didn't need to read the book to be convinced exercise improves mind, body and soul. I've experienced it in my own life. Thus I have tried hard to convince others that their depression and fatigue are a result of poor dietary habits and failure to launch out of their chairs.

This book provides clear and convincing support for the author's conclusions. While the scientific jargon is scattered throughout, it is very readable, inspiring and just plain entertaining. I literally could not put it down. I took it into my office where my sedentary and overweight co workers are trying hard to incorporate exercise into their lives. Both were very impressed with the book and are more motivated than ever to 'move on' This book will save lives, read it!




5.0 out of 5 stars Makes a difference for therapists and clients, February 24, 2008
By     Allen Ivey "Allen Ivey" (Disinguished Univ. Prof. U Mass Amherst) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Since reading this book, I've upped my exercise 50%. I certainly wish I had read it before. But, I already feel better and know that I am on the right track.

And, Mary and I write textbooks for the counseling field. We will give a big emphasis to this book in our next revision.

Ratey is a scholar who writes for people. The knowledge he shares and his ability to communicate is incredible.

Read this book, share it with your clients, spread it around. Our country needs this book!




5.0 out of 5 stars SPARK, February 19, 2008
By     Joseph E. Herzog "bigfish344" (Fresno, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This is a book that every educator, every teacher, every parent, every school board member and administrator AND every student should read.

It's about time that we became cognizant of how learning takes place neurologically and build teaching around the science. 5,000 years ago, the Greeks knew that mind and body were one and that exercise was wholly integrated with "learning."

Finally we have the research to put the science into education and get the politics out. Kudos to Dr. John Ratey for writing the most meaningful and important book in American education.

5.0 out of 5 stars Spark, February 19, 2008
By     Joan M. Walker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Great book for all ages. I bought it because I work with children with learning challenges, however as I read it I realized that it applies to everyone. The book pulls together much research about learning, anxiety, depression, ADHD, aging, etc. and the effects of exercise on each.

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!, February 15, 2008
By     Jackie Keyser "Jackie" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
This book has really gotten me and my family off the couch. It's so inspiring. I hadn't realized that exercise can promote brain-cell growth--the implications of this are huge. Filled with easy-to-understand and fascinating science as well as ideas on how to exercise, this one is a must-read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and intelligent, February 13, 2008
By     Stephen F. Milioti "Stephen F. Milioti" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
As someone who works from home, I got this book shortly after my 30th birthday came and went, and I was still moving slowly on my resolution to exercise more. To that end, this book was the kick in the backside - literally - that I needed to get up and moving more.

I'm glad I bought this instead of buying a typical how-to exercise book with a shirtless guy on the cover - rather than filling your head with inane tricep curls and painful ab crunchers, it focuses on keeping things simple, just getting up and moving. And it explains the science behind it all: As a pretty analytical person I need to know HOW things happen - how does a plane get up off the ground, how does the stock market work, and now, how my brain and body are interconnected. This book makes me interested because it explains the how and why, rather than just preaching and shouting.

But, though there's hard science at every turn here, the writing is extremely coherent and understandable to a non-physics-major like me. The tone is accessible and encouraging, while being substantial and authoritative.

Before you go out and get an armful of fitness or exercise books, this one is required reading, because it lays down the set of fundamentals and facts that will inspire you to get moving. Highly recommended!


4.0 out of 5 stars Two books that changed my life!, February 10, 2008
By     Cathy Cain "Cathy C." (Boston)
I am the mother of two young children. After having my second child I experienced severe depression. A friend asked me to be her running partner and I noticed the impact it had on my emotional well being almost instantly. Since then I have become very interested in brain science & exercise. Last year I read The Athlete's Way by C. Bergland (also great, maybe more practical for newcomers--a great precursor to Dr. Ratey because it's written by an athlete rather than scientist) and now I graduated up to Ratey's book. Who knew my C+ in science would lead to this!! Thank you to Dr. Ratey



5.0 out of 5 stars as if...., February 10, 2008
By     Patricia O'Brien (Palo Alto, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
we need yet another reason to exercise... As the Director of Lifelong Fitness Alliance, an organization that has been advocating physical activity for 29 years, I'm well aware of the benefits of exercise. Yet this inspirational book, written in a lively style and loaded with entertaining and provocative case studies, scientific evidence and practical information, not only provides another great reason to incorporate physical activity into your life. It also provides an individualized formula to make your exercise routine have an impact on your brain, improving function and alleviating the negative effects of depression, anxiety, stress and hormonal fluctuation among others. I will be purchasing this book for both my college-aged children, and I would recommend it to anyone who has a reason to sharpen their mental capacity.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!!! Run (or walk) and Get This Book!, February 6, 2008
By     Alison Levy "Ali L." (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Dr. John Ratey has created an invaluable and timely work that helps shed light on what exercise can do to enhance the quality and longevity of our lives. Spark is a tremendous resource for clinicians and non clinicians alike. Whether you are an olympic athlete or life long couch potato this book is definitely for you!

Dr. Ratey provides us with the latest clinical information and scientific research being done worldwide to better understand the impact of exercise on our bodies and minds. He shares personal experiences and patient accounts which make this book not just informative but touching, funny and relatable as well.

As a youngster who spent most of the time in the nurses office during gym class, I want to thank Dr. Ratey for writing this book and helping me learn about and appreciate my body and what I can do on a daily basis to try and reach my full potential.

Thanks so much, its a must read!!!
Ali L.
Boston, MA

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational!, February 6, 2008
By     Claudine N. Grange "claudine grange, APRN" (Arundel, ME) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I had the good fortune to hear Dr. John Ratey lecture on his new book Spark. I got a copy right away. I am a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and know the benefits of exercize; now we have some solid proof. Us health providers have to inspire people to move. As far as I'm concerned activity is the best way to mental health. Anyway John Ratey has inspired me and I thank him for this valid research and commitment to exercise as a way to good health. Any t-shirts available yet?...I dig that running stick figure. This book belongs in our hands; it inspires us to shake that thing!

Claudine Grange, APRN
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Arundel, Maine

5.0 out of 5 stars just what the doctor ordered !, February 3, 2008
By     A. B. Lopez (newbury, ma United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Excellent ! Dr.J.Ratey's book lays out the "state of the science" regarding exercise and brain function, in a clear, lucid, and engaging way.We have evolved to be active, and need to, literally, "move" our minds.
I'm a clinical psychiatrist,and I'm recommending this book to all my patients !(and friends,family,and colleagues).
A.B.Lopez,M.D.

5.0 out of 5 stars SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, January 24, 2008
By     Barbara Freethy
Finally, a solution to the culture-wide epidemic of stress and learning problems that is 100% healthy, involves no medication and is completely free and accessible to everyone.

So many of us, whether parent or professional, look with alarm at the current state of our nation's youth in regard to rising obesity, decreased emphasis on outdoor play, and over-use of "screen time" on computers, video games and television. As a clinician who has worked with children for 35 years, I am concerned about the marked increased in the frequency of learning problems, attention deficits, anxiety, depression, lagging social thinking skills, and explosive behaviors.

Dr. Ratey provides a sound explanation of how unhealthy diet and
lack of movement impairs memory and learning. He goes on to
show how exercise improves attention, motivation, mood, and memory while decreasing anxiety, impulsivity and distractibility. Dr. Ratey gives us hope for a future with less dependence on medicating our children and more emphasis on supporting today's youth with the "food" they need to grow into healthier, more balanced young adults. SPARK is a must read for all!

Barbara Baum Freethy, M.Ed.
Touchstone Psychotherapy Assc.
Portland, Maine


5.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opening, January 21, 2008
By     Brunello (Honolulu)
Our doctors always say to get more exercise. We always yawn and say of course; we've heard it all before. And then we are mediocre in our follow up. After reading Spark my entire viewpoint has changed. Exercise is a master key to brain functioning. Cholesterol and other system problems caused by lack of exercise are a bit ambiguous since we often can't directly feel them until we manifest some disease. Brain functioning is something else entirely. We can feel an almost immediate change after aerobic exercise. After reading Spark I definitely have become a six day a week exerciser. I need my brain functioning as well as possible, and the data in this book has made a believer out out of me.


70 of 70 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Brain on Exercise, January 9, 2008
By     steven langston "searcher" (Kentucky United States) - See all my reviews
This book explains in clear terms the role exercise plays in our mental processes. Moving our muscles produces proteins that play roles in our highest thought processes. Ratey says, "thinking is the internalization of movement." He illustrates this with the story of the sea squirt that hatches with a rudimentary spinal cord and 300 brain cells. It has only hours to find a spot of coral on which to put down roots or die. When it does put down roots, it eats its brain. According to Ratey only a moving animal needs a brain.

He begins with the value exercise has for the learning process in high school students: improved academic performance, alertness, attention and motivation.

He cites studies that say we can alter our mental states by physically moving. He said depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. He then presents a chapter where depression is relieved in case studies by exercise.

Among the areas Ratey covers are: stress, depression, ADD, and aging. This book is a great motivator for exercise.

However, Ratey's work was preceded by Glenn Doman's. Doman advocated exercise for brain injured children in the 1950s when the only 'treatment' was to institutionalize them. He later started a `super babies' program. Both the educational and medical establishments attacked and marginalized Doman's work.

5.0 out of 5 stars The brain-exercise connection finally explained !!, January 9, 2008
By     M. Bankal (NJ, USA)
(REAL NAME)
Having ready 2 previous books by John : The users guide to brain and Driven
by distraction i was looking forward to reading SPARK. I was especially
interested in learning how John was going to tie exercise with the brain
functioning since i am a strong supporter of exercise and have experienced
its benefits. I knew before reading SPARK that exercise in some way does
make you feel better. But SPARK puts it in perspective from a scientific
point of view. The chapters on Stress and depression particularly caught my
attention since most of us struggle with these 2 issues at some point in
life and again most of us turn to popping a pill to deal with it. If its as
simple as getting on a treadmill or a bike and working out for 30-45
minutes without any side effects, then it seems only logical to do it. The
BDNF (Miracle-gro as John calls it) was a very interesting read for me. I
did had to go back and re-read certain topics as was it too much medical
terms to comprehend in one read. But once i got it, it became permanent and
that's the beauty of this book.
Its simple yet powerful in its message. The simplicity comes from the fact
that "you goto workout ". The power comes from the facts / data that proves
"why you goto workout". Once the reader ties the two together, the message
is very clear and hopefully will remain for a lifetime with the reader.
Today if you look around there is a lot of awareness among people about the
ill-effects of obesity. There are TV programs, advertisements, books about
why exercising is good for you and how it will help you be more fit. But
this is the only books that tells you that exercise will also make your
brain fit along with your body. The brain-body connection is important and
one cannot be ignored over the other.
Labels:
--

Subscribe to emails from :
- Better World News: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/bwn_at7l.us
- Learning News - children learning, how mind works: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/learn_at7l.us
- Health News - better ways of healthy living: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/health_at7l.us
- Good Morning World - Robert & Barbara Muller's daily idea-dream for a better world: http://www.goodmorningworld.org/emaillist/#subscribe
or send a request a subscription to any of the three lists here.

View these blogs:
- Better World News
- Learning News
- Health News
- Good Morning World

Saturday, May 10, 2008

What is so bad about school food? Lots

From: www.angrymoms.org

Press kit: http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/media-press-kit.html

• There are 72.3 million children in the U.S. under 18 years of age.
• Parents of children under 18 make up over one-third of the nation's potential voters.

The intended audience for Two Angry Moms is wide and diverse. Every parent with a child in public school is potentially interested in the topic. Government statistics report that there are over 4.3 billion lunches served in nearly 88,000 schools to 26.5 million children annually. We believe that most parents currently have limited awareness of the poor quality of the food being served in our school cafeterias, vending machines and classrooms.

Parents need to understand the critical role eating healthy food, forming healthy eating habits and learning about food from a cultural and nutritional perspective can play in preventing and reversing childhood obesity, diabetes and a myriad of behavioral and learning problems.

Moms have traditionally been the nutritional gatekeepers of our homes. We do most of the food shopping and the meal preparation for our families. We care about our kids and want nothing but the best for them. These actions will hopefully set up healthy eating patterns for the life of our kids.

But what happens when our kids come home with their backpacks loaded with candy wrappers? We send them off to school and now they want chicken nuggets and fries instead of the meal we’ve prepared.

Welcome to the world of school food. Thanks to tight budgets, the cafeteria has to be self-sustainable or make a profit to survive. Since poor quality junk food is quick, cheap and profitable, our children’s health has become the price we pay.

Brown bagging your kid’s lunch can work for a while, if you’re a mom with time and money. But sadly, making your kid’s lunch doesn’t solve the problem. Candy rewards by teachers, frequent parties loaded with poor quality sweets, food fundraisers and vending machines have all turned schools into a toxic food environment. Kids want to be “cool” like the rest of the crowd. Even the savviest of mothers can ultimately feel overwhelmed.

There are many moms out there who care, but feel powerless to do something about school food. They are busy with kids and work. Thanks to food industry marketing and conflicting nutritional information, they’re not even sure just what is “healthy” anymore. As our kids become sicker and reach a weight that is clearly unhealthy, we know that something has to change.

There are over 40 million moms in the United States alone. Imagine if just 2 million moms and dads got angry enough to take a stand to change school lunch? This documentary film, Two Angry Moms, intends to inspire and empower those 2 million parents to create a tipping point for better school food and better health for our families.

We hope you’ll join us….

What is so bad about school food?

• Lots of harmful ingredients: hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, tons of sugar, artificial sweeteners, flavorings, colorings, preservatives and non-nutritive fillers.
• Simple answer: school food is often calorie-laden and of minimal nutritional value. We want to see schools serving kids whole foods, cooked from scratch, with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Our kids spend a significant time in school over 12 years. The school environment has a huge impact on children’s health. What are we teaching them about food? Are we walking our talk?
• A toxic food environment in school can undermine what parents are doing at home to instill healthy food values in their kids.

Why should parents care about the food served in school? • Schools have a responsibility to create a healthy supportive environment for kids.
• Schools that model better food on campus report higher test scores, fewer behavioral problems, winning sports teams and less absenteeism.
• School and home are the two places where kids learn habits that last a lifetime.
• What kids eat now has an impact on them 20 years from now. Obesity is way easier to prevent than to cure! No one has made real strides in reversing childhood obesity. Bariatric surgery is dangerous and has long-term effects.
• Of kids born in US in year 2000, 1 in 3 will develop diabetes
• CDC predicts this generation of American kids will be first in nation’s history to live shorter lives than those of their parents.
• Obesity-related illnesses cost the United States an estimated $117 billion.
• Poor diet and physical inactivity are the second leading causes of preventable death in the United States.
• Research shows that overweight preschool children are twice as likely to be obese as adults. Older children who are overweight are even more likely to be overweight as adults.

Who will change school lunch? Let’s face it! It’s up to us, the parents.
• Food service companies are not going to change it, they make too much money.
• State and federal legislation is too slow and food industry lobbyists have too much clout.
• School boards do not feel that this is a priority; they have so many other issues to deal with.
• School food is profit based first and foremost. School boards will not put it in as a line item like books and teacher salaries.
• It comes down to the PARENTS. Angry moms are taking a stand for their children’s health.
• Texas Agriculture Secretary Susan Combs said it’s going to take 2 million angry moms to change school food. We are the first two and we are building a movement from 2 to 2 million. Go to the website and join us.

How can you learn more?

Go to www.angrymoms.org to support the film and learn more.

Articles of Interest

It’s Official – Organic Really Is Better –The Sunday Times of London – October 2007 (Complete Article -http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/organicbetter.pdf )

Food Additives Increase Levels of Hyperactivity in Children in General Population – The Lancet - September 2007 (Complete Article - http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/additivestudyuk.pdf )

Earth Talk: How To Get Schools To Offer Healthier Food (Complete Article - http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/providers_healthy.pdf )

Results From School Health Policies and Program Study Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control find:
• “Schools are in a unique position to promote healthy dietary behavior.”

• “Nutrition services program practices in many schools continue to need improvement.” (Complete Report - http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/cdcschoolreport.pdf)

Study Proves School Meals Help Learning Anushka Asthana Sunday January 21, 2007 The Observer (Complete Article - http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/observer.pdf)

“A study involving thousands of pupils and hundreds of parents and schoolteachers has confirmed the theory that transforming a child's diet improves how they learn and behave.”

Action for Healthy Kids http://www.ActionForHealthyKids.org Better Nutrition and More Physical Activity can Boost Achievement and Schools’ Bottom Line (Complete Fact Sheet - http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/bottomline.pdf)

Childhood Obesity:The Preventable Threat to America’s Youth (Complete Fact Sheet - http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/afhk.pdf)

Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity — A Matter of Policy - Marion Nestle, Ph.D., M.P.H. ……“Food marketing, the IOM (Institute of Medicine) says, intentionally targets children who are too young to distinguish advertising from truth and induces them to eat high-calorie, low-nutrient (but highly profitable) "junk" foods; companies succeed so well in this effort that business-as-usual cannot be allowed to continue.”… (Complete Article - http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/nestleobesity.pdf)
Preventing Childhood Diabetes: The Need for Public Health Intervention – Marion Nestle, Ph.D., M.P.H. (Complete Article - www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/nestlediabetes.pdf)

Labels: --

Subscribe to emails from : - Better World News: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/bwn_at7l.us - Learning News - children learning, how mind works: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/learn_at7l.us - Health News - better ways of healthy living: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/health_at7l.us - Good Morning World - Robert & Barbara Muller's daily idea-dream for a better world: http://www.goodmorningworld.org/emaillist/#subscribe or send a request a subscription to any of the three lists here.

View these blogs: - Better World News - Learning News - Health News - Good Morning World

Monday, May 5, 2008

Disease-Proof Your Child: Feeding Kids Right (Hardcover)

Disease-Proof Your Child: Feeding Kids Right (Hardcover)
by Joel Fuhrman (Author) "In order to better understand how our human bodies are programmed to process nutrients, we need to take a look at our closest wild relatives..." (more)
Key Phrases: toxic hunger, nutritional excellence, unrefined plant foods, United States, Hot Russian Dressing (more...)
http://www.amazon.com/Disease-Proof-Your-Child-Feeding-Right/dp/0312338058

The one book every parent needs to read,

October 9, 2005

By	Howie Jacobson, PhD (Durham NC USA) - See all my reviews

Disease-Proof Your Child does two things no other book has ever done. First, it clearly and persuasively presents scientific research that shows what our children eat now will more or less determine their risk of developing cancer and other killer diseases as adults. After reading the first few pages, you will never again view sodas, donuts, fries, pizzas, candies and other "All-American" junk foods as innocent again.

Allowing and encouraging our kids to eat this garbage on a regular basis is excusable only when we don't know what we're doing. Now that Dr. Fuhrman has exposed the truth - we can cause or prevent 99% of all diseases by what we eat - no parent who reads this book will be able to allow their child to develop "cancer on the installment plan" through malnutrition. And if you're not into long-term thinking, Dr. Fuhrman also demonstrates the link between the Standard American Diet and the national epidemics of childhood asthma, ear infections, colds, flus, and allergies.

So a warning: do not buy this book unless you're willing to exert your responsibility to protect your children. If you read it and do nothing, you'll go through hell as you watch your kids poisoning themselves with their favorite addictive substances and starving their immune systems by not eating nutrient rich foods.

Which brings me to the second thing this book does that no other has: it provides tools and a roadmap and a philosophy for transitioning your family to a healthy diet. Remember paint by numbers? This is the diet transition equivalent. From practical ideas (the "refigerator advertisements" is a wonderful example) to over 50 recipes ("string beans and almost dust" will blow you away with its simplicity and how much your kids will love it) to lists of delicious "non-recipe snacks" that ensure you'll always have healthy alternatives to junk fod - Disease-Proof Your Child is a well-written and well thought out "operations manual" to your most important job as a parent: setting your child up for a lifetime of health and happiness.

In Disease-Proof Your Child, Dr. Fuhrman explains:

- how to prepare your home for eating healthfully before making the shift
- why "three meals a day" is a recipe for failure when it comes to feeding kids right
- why focusing on quality, not quantity, is the key to healthy eating
- why "consistent but not perfect" is more effective than 100% "compliance"
- when and where it's OK to compromise
- how to teach your kids never to "diet"
- how to reform the picky eater

Dr. Fuhrman is not an armchair researcher. He runs a family practice, and offers many case studies that show exactly how families transitioned successfully to a healthy diet - even when both parents thought their child's eating habits were a lost cause.

After reading the first half of the book, you will be shocked, angry, and motivated like crazy to do something to save your kids from a lifetime of obesity and disease. The second half of the book, the solution, is going to get dog-eared and underlined and photocopied and food-spattered. You're going to want to recommend it to your friends, mostly because you won't be able to part with your own copy. I already find I need two - one for my study and another for the cookbook shelf.

There are few books ever written that have to potential to have such a huge positive impact on the well-being of your family. Is it easy to put this into practice? Not at first. But is it worth it? Try the following thought experiment:

It's 35 years from now. Your child is a grownup, with a kid in elementary school and another in high school. You get to choose one of the following scenarios: a) your child is a healthy and vibrant adult, at the prime of life; or b) your child has just been diagnosed with cancer, possibly fatal within 3 years.

I know that's stark. But the links between what we feed our kids now and their health as adults are that real. Try the thought experiment for 2 minutes and see what moves within you.

If you're not able to link current behavior with the long-term future, here's another experiment:

What if you were able to prevent most of the ear infections, allergies, colds, feveres, and severe asthma attacks that your child gets on a regular basis? The long nights up with a crying child, the endless trips to the doctor for another round of antibiotics, the missed events, the feelings of "when will they outgrow it"? That's a real outcome too.

Please - as a health educator, as a parent, as someone who cares about the world we're sending our kids into - I urge you to get and study this book.

Labels:
--

Subscribe to emails from :
- Better World News: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/bwn_at7l.us
- Learning News - children learning, how mind works: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/learn_at7l.us
- Health News - better ways of healthy living: http://at7l.us/mailman/listinfo/health_at7l.us
- Good Morning World - Robert & Barbara Muller's daily idea-dream for a better world: http://www.goodmorningworld.org/emaillist/#subscribe
or send a request a subscription to any of the three lists here.

View these blogs:
- Better World News
- Learning News
- Health News
- Good Morning World

Learn