Parents are being advised against putting ham sandwiches into children's lunchboxes

Parents are being advised against putting ham sandwiches into children's lunchboxes in this BBC report. Other cured, salted, smoked and processed meats are also advised against. The reason given (by the World Cancer Research Fund) is that these meats increase the risk of bowel cancer in later life.

I agree with the WCRF that these meats are not good for children. Salty food, in particular, is not good for children. As well as increasing the risk of bowel cancer (and most other cancers too) it is the cause of child obesity. Unfortunately the Food Standards Agency says it is OK to give children cured, salted, smoked and processed meats occasionally. - Well it's not OK - not if you want your children to be as healthy as possible, and also to avoid becoming overweight.

Salt, of course, could properly be regarded as a carcinogen.

Children and Obesity

Associated health conditions

FAT RETENTION

Lose weight, reduce your risk of most cancers, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, heart attack, vascular dementia, stroke, osteopenia, osteoporosis, hypercholesterolaemia, depression, liver damage and kidney problems, and improve your health in many other ways without drugs, hunger or expense by eating less salt! - Try it! - You will feel so much better! See my website www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk

The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

Vulnerable groups

And see Sodium in foods

The Prince of Wales, visiting a diabetes centre in Abu Dhabi, suggested that banning McDonald’s was the “key” to children eating more healthily.

Charles hits out McDonald's

Extract:

"The Prince spoke as he and the Duchess of Cornwall visited a diabetes centre in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, and watched children packing healthy lunch boxes to encourage awareness of the disease.

As nutritionist Nadine Tayara told him they tried to discourage children from eating fast food, he retorted: “Have you got anywhere with McDonald’s, have you tried getting it banned? That’s the key.” "

"The United Arab Emirates has the second highest prevalence of diabetes in the world with 20 per cent of its adult population diagnosed with type two diabetes due to the sedentary lifestyle of this oil-rich nation, and the change in just 50 years from a harsh desert subsistence diet to a western fast-food culture. "

I must say that my sympathies are with the Prince of Wales on this matter, especially as it was a diabetes centre he and the Duchess of Cornwall were visiting. - McDonald's fast food restaurants mostly serve food that is high in salt/sodium and low in potassium and so is unsuitable for children. - Children are the largest group of people vulnerable to salt, and if fed a diet high in salt/sodium and low in potassium they are at risk of becoming obese because of fluid retention. And diabetes is one of the many other health problems that comprise the 'obesity collection', if I may coin a phrase. - Other members of the collection are heart disease, hypertension, breathlessness, depression, etc. etc. - See http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/children.html and http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/conditions.html

All overweight people suffer from fluid retention. - You can reduce this and lose some of the excess fluid you have in your body by eating less salt and making sure you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. - You do NOT need to restrict calories!

Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it!
See my website www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk and http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/children.html
(The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Children’s packed lunches – are they even worse than turkey twizzlers? - A report based on a study at Bristol University

Children’s packed lunches – are they even worse than turkey twizzlers? - A report based on a study at Bristol University.

I have only read the perhaps abbreviated press releases about this, but in those I have read there is no mention of salt/sodium at all! - It is very important to protect children from high salt intake, because high salt intake in childhood is the main cause of child obesity. See http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/children.html

Lose weight by eating less salt! - Go on! - Try it! - See my website for further details: http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/ (The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.) - If you would like to get in touch with me you can do so via my website.