It’s never to early for teens to start thinking about their health

As adults and parents, I’m sure we all look back at some of the choices that we made and the things that we did as teens and shake our heads. With a two-year-old daughter now, truly my mini-me, I now get to anticipate her potential to follow in my sometimes rebellious, sometimes foolish footsteps. Even now, she doesn’t always listen to me, and I know that she won’t always listen to me when she’s a teenager. And it makes me worry.

I worry because, many years ago, I was once a teenager and was faced with some of the difficult situations you encounter during that time in your life. It’s the classic “I wish I had known then what I know now!” I didn’t always make the best choices back then. I didn’t want to listen to my parents all the time. However, I often appreciated their insight and knowledge–even if their advice was not always followed immediately, I feel that it helped to influence my decision-making. I think that if there is one piece of advice that parents should try to communicate to their teens or tweens, it is this: protect yourself now for good health later!

The list of my health decisions as a teen is pretty comprehensive: 

• I played soccer most of my life and didn’t really think about what I was eating. I just knew that I had to eat to fuel my body and to play my best. In my mind, that meant an awful lot of Ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese. Probably not the best options.
• I spent a lot of time outdoors, riding bikes, snowmobiling, and four wheeling –many times without a helmet (Oh man- That was NOT smart!). 
• I also thought I needed a tan for every dance and to prepare myself for summer….if I had only known what later research would show.

It didn’t get much better as I got into my later teenage years–I actually may have made one of the worst health decisions possible: I started smoking. It was so bad that I would go out for a healthy, long run, and then I would have a cigarette upon finishing….SO DUMB! It seems so silly now looking back. It wasn’t easy to quit, but I did. Now, I teach others about how to quit. Quitting was so much more satisfying than ANY cigarette that I EVER smoked. And the simple solution is “DON’T! Just DON’T EVEN START!!!” It’s much easier to not start than to quit! 

I know that other parents have been there too. I think we all know as older, wiser, once teenagers, there are many decisions you make as a teen that keep you healthy and prepare you for a healthy adulthood! I know that many teens have a hard time ever imagining being an adult, but it is important to know that (okay I am full of clichés today) it will be here before you know it and the choices teens are making right now can affect their health when they’re adults!

Healthy habits, including eating healthfully, being physically active and making good choices can help you feel great, look great, and do well in school, work and sports! They may also prevent diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke and some cancers when you are older. So, what can you do? Below are tips to help keep your teen safe and healthy now and through adulthood:

• Avoid ANY (I mean ANY) type of tobacco product. Avoid breathing secondhand smoke.
• Exercise daily. The amount teens need can be in longer sessions of moderately intense activities, such as brisk walking for 30 minutes, or in shorter sessions of more intense activities, such as jogging or playing basketball for 15-20 minutes.
• Eat healthfully! Enjoy a variety of fresh fruits and vegetable, whole grains, lean protein and dairy.
• Always wear your seatbelt!
• Don’t drink and drive. Don’t get into the car with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs.
• Never swim alone.
• Wear protective head gear for motor sports and biking.
• Talk to your doctor or parents if you feel sad or if you have thoughts about hurting yourself.
• If you have sex, use protection condoms, birth control. Remember the “safest sex is no sex.
• Avoid situations where violence or fighting may cause you to be injured.
• Get regular checkups by your doctor.
• Wear sunscreen SPF 30 or higher every day.

Like many of us know, teenagers go through so many changes and along with these changes, they become more independent and make more of their own choices. Some of the most important choices they will make are about their health. So let’s ask our teens to think about their future self and the choices they are making now! Are they on the road to good health? We all hit a few potholes now and then, but patch those up and keep driving on to the road to good health!

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