I feel very passionate about the quality of our education system. I have siblings that are currently enrolled in it and I was even a History Teacher at one point in time. Which means I also know how things run behind the scenes.
If I had a say, these are the three things I would advocate for being included in the education systems curriculum.
Movement is Medicine
Movement is one of the major pillars in any successful health journey and here are the statistics to prove it:
Twenty minutes of exercise can act as an anti-inflammatory
Exercise can counter depression, stress and anxiety.
Aerobic exercise and weight training can slow age-related decline in memory.
It helps us feel better, sleep better and reduce the risk of a ton of chronic diseases.
So if all of this is the case then why are schools across the United States decreasing funding for public school health and fitness programs?
The good news is, it’s not too late to learn. Thanks to the internet and platforms like Google and YouTube, there’s a world of knowledge and information at your hand. You just have to be willing to dedicate the time and energy.
I have a playlist full of movements workouts on my YouTube channel. Check it out for ideas, tips and information on a variety of health topics.
Budgeting
Finances in general need to be taught more in all levels of school. Specific topics surrounding budgeting that I believe should be covered are:
How to create a zero sum budget
Debt snowball
Saving 3-6 months expenses
How to buy my first car without debt
How to get into my first home without it being a curse
Think of all the money you’d have right now if you didn't make any financial mistakes. But instead, three in five adults don’t keep a budget, 78% of adults live paycheck to paycheck and four in five youths failed a financial literacy quiz.
Now I’m not saying teaching this in school is going to get rid of financial mistakes forever, but it would greatly decrease them.
Food is medicine
The more I learn about how we eat , what we eat, and how it’s killing us faster than we know the more I realize how incredibly serious this one is.
While we could use certain foods to treat chronic illnesses, physical health and so much more. Only 2% of high school students adhere to the suggested daily vegetable intake and only 9% meet daily fruit intake recommendations.
We NEED to be taught at an earlier age that certain foods heal. For example:
Leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, arugula, mustard greens, and Swiss chard contain nutrients that enhance immune function, decrease inflammation and promote recovery.
They are also high in vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, folate, and provitamin A, all of which are essential for immune function and overall health
Berries also provide a good amount of vitamin C. This promotes wound healing by stimulating the production of collagen which is the most abundant protein in your body!
Just like Kale, berries are packed with nutrients that help support your body’s recovery as well as give you anti-inflammatory immune-supporting effects.
It’s also important to listen to your body and cut out what doesn’t agree with you. Contrary to what some may believe, dairy, meat and so many other foods cause more harm than good to your body.
If you need guidance creating your meal plan, check out this video I made.
To anyone looking to really take control of their health and nutrition, you should try out one of my 3-day juice feasts. It really helps to rest your gut by allowing it properly digest and heal. You can sign up for that right here.