Playtimes HK Magazine The School Book 2019-2020 | Page 21

Mental wellness Mental wellness is defined as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (World Health Organization).” Children are being taught ways to relax and focus at school by using reflection time and mindfulness. There are many ways to improve mental wellness and some of them are related to the other pillars of wellness such as getting a full night of sleep, eating a healthy diet and keeping yourself active. Sleep Sleep affects every system in your body and is fundamental to maintaining mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. Lack of sleep increases hunger, decreases awareness and cognitive function and adversely affects the desire to exercise. “Babies, children, and teens need significantly more sleep than adults to support their rapid mental and physical development. One of the reasons it’s so hard to know when our kids are getting insufficient sleep is that tired children don’t necessarily slow down the way we do—they wind up. In fact, sleepiness can look like symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children often act as if they’re not tired, resisting bedtime and becoming hyper as the evening goes on. All this can happen because the child is overtired.” https://sleepfoundation.org/ excessivesleepiness/content/how-much-sleep-do-babies- and-kids-need If you want to improve the quality of your life, improve the quality of your sleep. For optimal health, the number of hours an individual needs for sleep varies. How much sleep do you really need? Age Sleep Needs Newborn (0-2 months) 12-18 hours Infant (3-11 months) 14-15 hours Toddlers (1-3 years) 12-14 hours Preschoolers (3-5 years) 11-13 hours School-age children (5-10 years) 10-11 hours Teens (10-17 years) 8.5 - 9.25 hours Adults 7-9 hours Nutrition For growing children, whose brains are still developing and changing the impact of good nutrition is far more significant than for adults. Nutrients like healthy fats, protein, complex carbohydrates, micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients) and water are essential in supporting all the important functions of the brain. What’s the best fat for brain health and learning? Omega-3 oils from foods like fish, nuts, seeds and dark leafy greens are the best fats for the learning brain. What role does protein play in learning? Protein provides amino acids which are the building blocks of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the brain. Proteins are crucial to brain function. Eating sufficient protein also helps avoid issues such as poor concentration and memory. Legumes, nuts, seeds, quinoa, oats, cheese, fish, chicken and other quality sourced meats all provide protein. Carbohydrates – Sugar, fiber and starch While the brain does require glucose (sugar) to function, too much sugar or refined carbohydrates at one time can actually deprive your brain of glucose. Eating sugar provides a boost in energy but excessive sugar consumption can cause bursts of energy followed by fidgeting, headaches, trouble concentrating, or drowsiness. Extra sugar in our diets from processed foods like deli meat, bread and most pre-made sauces and snacks, results in obesity, diabetes and increases the risk of heart disease. This is a serious threat to overall health. Along with fruits and vegetables, whole grains such as whole wheat bread, rye, barley and quinoa are complex carbohydrates which are better choices than highly refined white bread, French fries, cookies and processed foods in packages. Exercise Exercise has countless health benefits and is crucial to well-being. There is strong scientific evidence that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and even happier life. People who do regular physical activity have a lower risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers. Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy. Children ages 6 and up should get a minimum of 1 hour of physical activity every day, according to CDC guidelines. It doesn’t all have to be done at once and keep in mind most kids get this amount of exercise from playing outside with friends during and after school. Tiffany Beeson, MSc Physiology/Exercise Physiology The School Book 2019-2020 19