Incorporating Nutritional Education into Martial Arts Instruction – Tom Fox
Posted by Member Solutions on Tue, Feb 14, 2012 @ 07:00 AM
The world is full of self proclaimed “nutrition experts” who are more than happy to tell us what we should and should not eat. In fact a Google search using the key word diet returned 643,000,000 hits. Let’s face it … nutrition is a complex ongoing science in which new information is constantly being discovered. Some of the things we believed to be true a few years ago have proven false, while new research has provided enlightenment in other areas. So it’s safe to say we all harbor some incorrect nutritional beliefs.
Fortunately for us the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services team up every 5 years to perform an exhausting meta study, which reviews all of the published nutritional research and then presents its findings in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The latest 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides information and advice for choosing a healthy eating pattern — namely, one that focuses on nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and that contributes to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight (DGA 2010.)
This research found that there is a huge disconnect between what we should be doing nutritionally and what we are actually doing. The fact is, most Americans are over-fed and under nourished. This is due to poor nutritional habits, and according to an article in the Journal of American Medicine, if we do not change our behavior the current generation of children will not live as long as their parents.
Childhood obesity and chronic disease are epidemic in our “civilized society”. Fully one third of our children and two thirds of our adults are overweight or obese.
But get this: the latest research suggests that even if you are not overweight, poor diet and lack of activity can lead to a variety of chronic diseases including, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and some types of cancer.
The average American routinely skips breakfast, eats huge-portion servings of high calorie, low-nutrition food, and has recently begun to rely on energy drinks, that are high in sugar and caffeine, to get through the day. And this is not only taking place here in the United States. At the Martial Arts SuperShow in Las Vegas this past summer, I spoke with instructors from England, Scotland, Australia, and Germany who all see the same patterns.
We know from the research that “eating patterns” established in childhood often track into later life. This is where we as Martial Arts instructors can have a significant impact. Think about it, we are already in the business of behavior modification. Most schools have an impressive record of improving students’ focus, respect and school grades. Furthermore, we provide healthy physical exercise and stress management (fight or flight) as part of our curriculum. Isn’t it time we help our students develop healthy nutritional habits?
To address this need, I have taken information from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines & created a basic nutrition curriculum. In addition I have developed a website, http://www.martialartsnutrition.org/, that provides Martial Arts instructors with specific, easy-to-use tools designed to help them to join the fight against chronic disease & childhood obesity.
One of the links on the website takes you to the “Ten Tips Nutritional Education Series”, provided by the USDA. Check it out here: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/healthy-eating-tips/ten-tips.html. You will find downloadable information on everything from eating more fruits and vegetables, to becoming a healthy role model for kids. These downloadable tips can be easily used in your classes. Although the thought of teaching nutrition may seem overwhelming, don’t be intimidated.
Simply asking your students to eat breakfast, cut back on fast food, and drink more water can have a significant impact on their health.
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Tom Fox owns and operates The Kent Martial Arts Center. He is the author of The Logical Approach to Diet and Weight Control and The System for Health and Weight Loss. He also heads Martial Arts Nutrition, a simple, systematic program enabling Martial Arts instructors, students and their families to join the fight against childhood obesity and chronic disease. For more information, visit www.martialartsnutrition.org or email info@martialartsnutrition.org.
Do you talk about nutrition with your students in your Martial Arts classes? Let us know by commenting below.
