We kicked off term 2 in our house this week with mixed emotions. I think reality of being in high school for Rilien set in and there were some big emotions about going back to school.
Indrani is also now firmly sliding into the home plate of her high school years. She's handling it pretty well but already has assessments, plus there's talk about her trial HSC exams.
Term 2 is certainly set to be a big one. How about in your household?
This week I spent many hours immersed in writing a tender application for funding for our Children's Health Program in the Darling Downs West Moreton Region of Qld. The focus of the funding is to prevent people entering the health system with chronic conditions. In preparing the tender, I spent hours researching and I want to share some information with you. These stats are why I am so passionate about Children's Health.
A Chronic disease or condition is defined as "a long-lasting and often progressive health condition such as arthritis, cancer, respiratory disease, heart disease or type 2 diabetes." ~The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says that chronic disease are "long lasting conditions with persistent effects."
Why We MUST focus on Prevention
😥 47% of Australians have at least 1 chronic condition, which means approximately 12 million people are suffering with long term, persistent conditions.
😥20% of Australians have 2 or more chronic conditions. That's 4.9 million people.
😥44% of Australian Children in 2022 were reported to have chronic conditions.
😥Chronic disease is the leading cause of death and disability in Australia.
😥Chronic diseases cause 9 out of every 10 preventable deaths.
😥Nearly 40% of chronic disease could be prevented through modifying risk factors which are mainly lifestyle choices like food, exercise, movement.
😱It was estimated the cost of chronic conditions to Australia in 2018 was $24 billion dollars.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
I don't know about you, but I find these figures alarming. Our health and education systems are already struggling to cope under the weight of these statistics. Yet they continue to climb.
We must pull out all stops to not just support those people who have a chronic condition, but prevent more people from ending up with a long lasting chronic condition. This is why empowering people with knowledge and simple swaps is so important as a preventative measure. It's why we do what we do at The Root Cause.
Speaking for myself here, but I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure I don't grow into old age will illness. I also know I do not want to bear witness to my children growing into to adulthood with illness, so even though it would be easy to buy the convenience foods and have more fast food, I just won't do that. They deserve me to be a stand for their health.
➡️Focus on you first.
This is where you have the biggest opportunity to prevent chronic conditions. Be radically honest and ask yourself these questions:
- are you making health a priority by making better choices most of the time?
- are most of the foods you're putting in your trolley foods that support your health?
- are you moving your body daily - even a 10 minute walk is a good start?
- are you getting at least 7 hours sleep most nights?
- are you taking at least 5 minutes a day to breathe deeply to calm your nervous system and mind?
I presented at a women's wellness seminar earlier this year about simple steps to improve 5 pillars of your health. Hit reply if you'd like me to run a webinar training on this. If I get enough people who want it, then I will organise it.
➡️Focus on your family next
When you are role modelling taking care of your own health, those around you are more likely to come along for the ride.
If someone said you should do something because it's important, but then they did something opposite, would you believe them? Would you do what they said?
Probably not.
Your kids are the same. If you are telling them to eat and sleep better, yet they see you skipping meals and staying up late scrolling, as if they are going to believe it's important. I know this may sound harsh, but it is true. You know that old saying monkey see, monkey do.
➡️Start at home first.
Of course, if you'd love to see your school empower theie community too, then reach out to make an enquiry about our Children's Health Program. Our team of Certified Instructors are doing incredible work in their communities. You can enquire about our Children's Health Program here.
So that was a heavy way to kick off term 2. Sorry but not sorry. Standing for Children's Health sometimes means having conversations and doing things that feel hard.
Please know, I share this information only from a place of love not judgement. My hope is we can all do our own little part in Standing for Children's Health. I hope the information I have shared today and below help you with that.
Make A Bliss Ball Stash
Bliss balls are super easy to make and they are a great snack food for lunchboxes. You can load them up with extra nutrition and they are sweet too. Each batch of bliss balls usually makes about 20-30 balls. Pop them straight from the freezer into the lunchbox. Plus, there are so many different varieties you can make.
Bliss balls are a great replacement to muesli bars and biscuits in the school lunchbox. Making them at home means they will be more nutritious and you certainly won't have all the additives that get loaded into store bought muesli bars and biscuits.
Go here to check out the variety of Bliss Ball recipes on our website.