It sounds like utopia – eat what you want and when you want with no consequences.

But that is the problem – there are consequences to eating anything and everything you fancy. The impact may not be immediate, but at some point your body will begin to groan under the pressure of excess weight, as well as not receiving the right levels of essential vitamins and minerals.

With the UK and other developed countries looking at an obesity epidemic, the time has never been better to look at what you eat and how it may be impacting on your health.

The Problems of a Sugar-Laden Diet

amount of sugar in a small glass of coca cola

There is no doubt that over the years, we have become confused by the various health and diet messages we receive.

There are many ingredients and foods that can potentially impact on our health but one key ingredient is sugar.

As well as causing dental cavities, sugar impacts on the body in other ways;

A hidden danger

Sugar is added to the vast majority of processed foods, so even if you cut out sugar in tea, coffee, and other hot drinks and ditch if from your morning cereal, the likelihood is that this is just a drop in the ocean.

Check your favourite foods – are they high or low in sugar? What other changes could you make to decrease sugar in your diet?

The Problems with a High Fat Diet

There is a lot of information and misinformation regarding fats, and which are the right type of fats to have in your diet. Cutting out fat completely can lead to issues with joints as the body does need some fat to function normally.

It is widely understood that the best types of fat come from fish and lean meats. But again, any person can eat a diet high in fat but may not realise it.

A high fat diet creates problems that may take some time to manifest, so cutting down on fats now can help your health in the longer term;

Education is Key

There is no doubt that over the years, we have become confused by the various health and diet messages we receive.

For many years, we have been told that to keep bowel cancer and other conditions at bay, we need to be eating five portions of fruit and veg a day. But as nutrition and health courses point out, quite often people are unaware of how big or small these portions are, as well as the fact that they should be different colours.

People are also confused as to what is included under the banner ‘fruit and veg’ because some of the fruit and vegetables people commonly eat are not included in the five-a-day list, such as potatoes.

Understanding food is just one aspect of nutrition and health courses, getting the message across clearly is another.

The UK has the highest rate of childhood obesity in Western Europe (NHS). This sentence alone should be a wake-up call to make changes to how we see food, what we eat and how much. Add to this the strain that this places on the NHS too and you realise that this is a far bigger problem than first thought. With £4.2 billion each year spent on diet-related diseases, there is a need for action.

The various convention approaches to prevention such as social marketing and community-based interventions have not yielded the results that experts thought they would. Their failure to make an impact means that many children are still at risk.

We know what we need to do – this is why there is a collective guilt about not managing to ‘eat five a day’ – and what is good for us, but there is often a gulf between what is good and what we actually do.

The same is true for parents and children. When life is busy, time in short supply and money tight too, with £5 in your pocket that will buy a few pieces of fruit with a short shelf life, opting for the biscuits and other sugary snacks of which there is more and that will last longer quickly becomes the answer.

There are also problems with food labelling and what we understand by some of the phrases and words used. Drinking fruit juice, you may have thought was healthy and one of your five a day; it may be but it may also be laden with a large proportion of your recommended sugar intake too.

So what is the solution?
The answer is hard to come by but organisations and agencies have noted that there are underlying cultural forces that line up to make everyday life unhealthy, for both adult and kids.

‘Food deserts’ are an uncomfortable paradox in our developed country. The UK has a monopoly, like other rich, developed countries on the global food market and yet, in some of the most deprived areas of our own country, people struggle to afford healthy food.

Food retailers are constantly driving down prices to give us cheap, fast food with empty calories and negative nutritional value. Many organisations and health professionals have also highlighted the impact of advertising too. Most adverts are designed to trigger an emotional response, and if there is one thing certain to trigger an emotional need, it is promoting food of some kind or another.

Consumers, some say, need the will power and determination of a well-trained athlete to resist these adverts. And it is a daily barrage with children being bombarded too at every turn, or so it seems. From poster campaigns on main routes through towns and cities, to internet adverts and those on TV too.

There is little comparison between the calories consumed and the weekly amount of exercise that campaigns tell us that we need; the 150 minutes of exercise per week would only work off a quarter of a Domino’s pizza.

uk-suffering-child-obesity-crisis

Fast food with little nutritional value is often a cheaper and more convenient alternative to healthier food

High street domination
Empty shops on high streets in deprived areas don’t always welcome new tenants readily but when they do, research has shown that the new tenants are often cheap, fast food outlets.
Newham, a borough in London has the fifth highest child obesity rate in the UK, and a high prevalence of diabetes. The healthy school food ‘movement’ has not worked here, with only 15% of students eating in school canteens. When older students leave school premises at lunchtime, they enter a high street full of fast food outlets.

Research also noted that when there was a fast food outlet within 160metres of a school, obesity amongst students aged 15 to 16 increased by 5% (WAWWD). This is not good news for those directly involved in the tackling the UK child obesity crisis.

More than just food
It isn’t just food. Food spaces, for many young people, equal social spaces. But they are also associated with anti-social behaviour and littering. Chicken based fast food outlets seem to attract young people more than other fast food outlets.

Branding and design, as well as promotion, also pay a key role in how young people and children view food. Creating a ‘must-have’ to be ‘cool’ and ‘part of common, acceptable culture’ places parents under all kinds of pressures. And it’s not just trainers; you lunch box needs to be cool too. Who wants to be seen eating yogurt coated raisins when everyone else has chocolate or sugar coated sweets?

Education and awareness
There is no easy fix. Eating healthy is about changing habits, as well as educating people. Healthy Eating Courses is one means by which the UK child obesity crisis could be tackled. Changing attitudes may a whole lot more difficult…

With obesity coming to the fore, the need to educate people on why nutrition is important and managing their nutritional intake is growing in importance.

Nutrition courses online are proving popular in recent years, and their popularity looks set to increase. With obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other health related medical issues coming to the fore here in the UK and other countries, the need to help and educate people on why nutrition is important has grown drastically. Additionally, there is a growing need for people to learn to manage their weight and nutritional intake.

So how can weight be maintained? Here are some great, easy-to-follow tips:

woman using hand weights to exercise

1. Build lean muscle

Building muscle is preferable to storing fat for many reasons, but one is that muscle is more energy hungry that fat. There is a lot written on metabolism and how some people will say that their metabolism – the rate at which they use the energy in food – is faster or slower than the ‘norm’.
The debate on metabolism rates is for another time but, muscle will eat through energy faster than fat thus, having some lean muscle, built through lifting weights, can help to use energy quicker.

2. Stave off hunger with more filling foods

Take the time to study nutrition courses online and you will see that various diet programmes from Weight Watchers to Slimming World all operate in a similar way. Studies have shown that people who eat meals that leave them feeling fuller for longer are less likely to snack between meals, a common reason why people gain weight.

Their diet plans advocate that the best food to eat is that which keeps you feeling fuller, for longer. The means to do this is to eat foods that are high in fibre, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. If you do opt for pasta or rice, switch to wholemeal as these too can leave you feeling satiated for longer.

3. Willpower and determination play a role

Marketing around some diet plans suggest that for people to succeed in their quest to lose weight that they don’t need willpower or need to deny themselves food that they like to eat.

The truth is, of course, what we expect it to be – that we have to reduce the intake of high calorific foods. It may be that cutting down will have a huge, positive impact on our weight. However, if you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off, you will need willpower and determination to succeed.

This doesn’t mean chocolate or a gooey dessert never passing your lips again. It does mean, however, being able to control your urge and ‘need’ for these kinds of foods.

4. Count the calories

All slimming plans, no matter how they are packaged, all essentially do the same thing – they count calories. For people who lose weight, once they stop following the plan, they are surprised and sad that the weight seems to come piling back on.

Studies have shown that people who maintain a successful weight loss at a healthy weight do so by counting their calorie intake. Women, for example, have a suggest intake of 1,800 calories per day. By maintaining a figure around this, a weight loss can be maintained.

5. Planning meals

Counting calories is only part of that equation. Getting calories from the right foods, full of vitamins and minerals, is essential.

Planning meals in advance has shown to be key, time and time again, to not only boosting weight loss but to maintaining this loss too. Instead of putting your hand in the cupboard and eating a biscuit or two, being able to go straight to cooking ingredients and creating a delicious meal will be far more beneficial.

6. Exercise and activity

The key to weight loss is to increase activity so that more calories are burnt than what are consumed. Maintaining this weight loss also means partaking in regular and consistent exercise, as nutritional courses online advocate.

Exercising five times a week, for half an hour a time will boost weight loss but also make maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle far easier. Increasing these sessions by just a few minutes each time can be beneficial to your health. Studies show that people who are active for an hour or more on a daily basis have the least issues maintaining a healthy weight.

Why nutrition is important for supporting sports performance

older man working out at home

If you are trying to manage your weight and increase your sports performance level, you must watch your nutritional intake. For example, you must consume the right balance of both food and drink. If you don’t manage to do this then it could have an impact on your performance. Weight management is a large factor of sports nutrition as you must maintain a healthy weight to maximise your performance. You also should think about how to increase your energy levels. Fatigued and tired muscles are going to mean that you are not performing as you should.

However, it isn’t quite as simple as making sure you eat low-fat foods to keep your weight down. There is so much more to nutrition than this.

A common misconception is that fat should be removed from your diet completely to optimise your sports performance. However, this really is not the case. Fats are a source of fatty acids, which in turn is the energy that your body needs. This is particularly true if you take part in any workouts that take longer than an hour (which is common for many sports people). Fats are also important for the building blocks that build hormones (such as those that we need to regulate our moods), plus the formation of cell walls.

One of the most obvious things that you need to focus on during sports nutrition is protein. Protein is a key part of the diet of anyone who takes part in sports or who workout. Protein is a great source of energy and it is also critical in order to build new muscle. This is particularly true if you are taking part in bodybuilding and resistance training as the protein will be required to build and repair your muscles.

If you do want to learn more about sports nutrition, whether to help yourself or to help others, you can take one of the sports nutrition courses that are open to you. Sports nutrition courses are a great way to improve your knowledge and help you achieve everything you want. But they may even help you to enter a career as a professional, able to help others with their goals.

Why nutrition is important for managing your weight

From portion control to eating breakfast, there are many hints and tips to losing weight and maintaining it. With nearly three quarters of the UK adult population overweight, the need to manage weight and live a healthier lifestyle is paramount and thus, NCC Home Learning Healthy Eating courses are becoming a popular option for many students.

Sources

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity

In our first in a new series of blog posts, we talk to the author & tutor of the our new Reflexology Diploma course.

 

Maria Page is both the author and tutor of our great new Reflexology Diploma course. We took some time out for a chat with Maria, we wanted to get to know her and her story. We hope you enjoy!

“I began studying reflexology in 1999 after receiving my first treatment. I visited a therapist following a recommendation to assist me with a health problem. Initially I was skeptical and couldn’t see how ‘playing with someone’s feet’ would reduce their symptoms, however, from the moment my therapist began the treatment I was hooked.

She started by asking me questions about my health and then proceeded to ‘read’ my feet. She could tell that I walked heavily on the balls of my feet before she had even touched them. I expected the treatment to be painful and uncomfortable as I was very ticklish, however, as she placed her hands onto my feet I instantly relaxed.

My therapist began the treatment and in some areas I felt pain or discomfort. She informed me that she could feel crystals under the skin in these areas and that this indicated that the energy wasn’t flowing. My main reason for visiting a reflexologist was to reduce the pain I was experiencing in my shoulder. Half an hour into the treatment, the severe pain had reduced and now was a slight ache.

That night I slept better than I had slept in years and the following morning I awoke early, feeling refreshed, happy and pain-free. I had more treatments which helped to keep the pain away from my shoulder and my mood was lighter too. I felt more relaxed, calmer and was able to think clearer.

It is unimaginable to think that by touching specific areas on the feet, I could feel so much better in so many ways. The whole concept of the subject fascinated me so I wanted to know more about it. I did a reflexology course which taught me about the essentials of massage and reflexology, how to perform a basic treatment on myself and others and how the human body works. I wanted to know more so I continued with advanced courses of study which taught me how to give a full treatment to others and build a business.

I began working on family members and friends for free whilst I studied. The reaction I received from many people was pleasing and I decided that I wanted to do this for a living. I began my new career by renting a room within a beauty therapy business. This worked well to begin with as I was being introduced to new clients.

Whilst working I decided that I still wanted to know more and enrolled on more courses which taught me how to treat people with specific illnesses, terminal illnesses, pregnancy and to work with babies and children.

I progressed and moved to bigger premises. I wanted to incorporate other therapies with reflexology to enhance the treatment. I studied a course of aromatherapy which meant that I could use oils as part of the reflexology session. This intensified the treatment and aided recovery.

I also gave home visits as part of my business to people who were unable to get to the treatment rooms. This allowed me to visit a vast amount of people who wanted my help. I visited nursing homes and gave treatments to the residents to help ease pain and increase their circulation.

Working with so many individuals with numerous health issues, I wanted to increase my knowledge even further, so I enrolled on a nutrition course which taught me what to eat for good health. This continued with more study until I was able to use this knowledge as part of the reflexology business. I could advise clients on the foods and nutrients that they required which complemented their reflexology treatment.

Since then I have been working with people with degenerative conditions and giving them reflexology treatments which are increasing their wellbeing and reducing their pain. I give lectures and workshops to students teaching them both the basics and the advanced techniques used as part of a treatment. I still do some home visits to individuals who are suffering with physical, mental and emotional issues and I author learning materials and self-help guides”.

You can read more about our Reflexology Diploma course, written by Maria, by clicking here.

As we have now entered a New Year, one of the traditions is to make a “New Year’s Resolution”.

 

As we have now entered a New Year, one of the traditions is to make a “New Year’s Resolution”, this involves making a promise or commitment to change in some way for the New Year. In this blog, we will look at the six most popular New Year’s resolutions that people make!

1. Lose weight
Aiming to lose weight or getting fitter is possibly the most common New Year’s Resolution that people make. One of the reasons for this is because people tend to overindulge over the Christmas Period and as it’s still fresh in the mind, it encourages people to take this as an option. It’s also common that diets and new exercise regimes always seem to start from next week. This, in turn, leads to people starting their weight loss campaign Next Year.

Although we see a lot of news and stories about people who start their new diets in January and they are out the window in February or others who join gym, visit a couple of times then give up before the end of the month, we also see a lot of people who are successful in their attempts.

New Year is a great time for people to become motivated to exercise more and eat healthier foods. There are various ways this can be achieved. To learn more about this why not study our Nutrition and Weight Management course which looks at the

2. Give up smoking
Similar to losing weight, giving up smoking is a resolution that is health based. Many people choose New Year as the ideal time to kick-start their give up smoking campaign.

Smoking has become increasingly more taboo in recent years, with the introduction of the smoking ban, specifically in pubs/clubs and graphic adverts on cigarette packaging detailing the health risks of smoking.
This has encouraged many people to try and kick their addiction/habit.

There are many aids that people can choose from to try and help them give up. Traditionally nicotine patches and gum have been available with the aim of satiating the need for nicotine without having to smoke a cigarette. More recently e-cigarettes have been realised. These provide the nicotine and the sensation of smoking, without tobacco.

3. Save money
Another popular New Year’s resolution is to try and save money or start a savings account. Whereas the desire to lose weight may be brought upon by overindulging over the festive period, the will to save money could equally be influenced by spending or overspending around Christmas.

Many people tend to splash out and spend a lot on others (and themselves) over Christmas and New Year. A look at one’s bank account in January could be a painful task, particularly for those who may have been paid early in December and have a larger than normal gap between paydays. This could prompt people into saving in the New Year, with some opting to save for a large purchase, a house for example, and others just to save for a rainy day.

There are some handy ways to help people save their money. Banks now offer free advice and provide very competitive savings accounts, which can also provide a decent amount of interest on savings.

4. Lifestyle change
A more drastic New Year’s resolution is a complete lifestyle change. A common cliché heard around this time of year is “New Year, New Me!” Some people turn this into their resolution and opt for a lifestyle change. This can be minor change like wanting to read more books or get a new hobby, to a more substantial change, for example being more spontaneous or saying yes more to friends/family when they propose outings or events.

Some lifestyle changes can link into other resolutions we have covered, such as living a healthier life or being more frugal with money.

A lifestyle change for many can seem daunting however it does not need to be drastic. Some people just like to spice their lives up and get a change from the norm, there are many ways this can be accomplished. Taking up a new hobby, for example, is a good way to both change your lifestyle and potentially help you benefit from learning a new skill or developing new relationships.

5. New career
The last on our list but by no means the least, is the New Year’s resolution of gaining a new career or a new job. Lots of people fancy a change in career path and the New Year is the kick start they need to start a job hunt.

Others may want to progress in their current career rather than a complete switch, so some resolutions are more specific, for example, “Gain a promotion in 2016” or “Increase progression in the next year”

NCC Home Learning provide courses in a range of sectors that can help you in a potential career move or job hunt. With courses ranging from Autism Awareness to Zoology, NCC cover a broad range of courses, each aimed at increasing your skills and employability.

Check out our A-Z course list to find the course which could help you gain your dream job!

With summer here (in theory) and the holiday countdown well under way, people have gone into overdrive to achieve their ideal figure. Despite all the hours being put in at the gym, some people could be overlooking a few dietary changes that could help give their body aspirations a boost.

 

With summer here (in theory) and the holiday countdown well under way, people have gone into overdrive to achieve their ideal figure.

Despite all the hours being put in at the gym, some people could be overlooking a few dietary changes that could help give their body aspirations a boost.

It often helps to make little adjustments here and there rather than completely overhauling your regular eating habits, so in this article we’ll provide you with 10 of the best superfoods you can add to your diet from our healthy eating courses:

Blueberries

These little berries are detox gold, in fact many nutritionists believe that if you make only one change to your diet it should be the addition of blueberries.

With age defying and disease fighting antioxidants, on top of a heroic amount of vitamin C, this fruit will keep you on form to hitting your fitness goals.

Beetroot

Naturally sweet, this is the Swiss army penknife of vegetables and is a great addition to salads, soups, crisps, and even cakes if you’re feeling adventurous!

With serious antioxidants, the beet has proven to purify the bloodstream, lower cholesterol and can be used to treat fatigue, ensuring you get more out of your day.

Garlic

The small and humble vegetable that makes everything taste just that little bit nicer can also give you a huge health boost.

From combating disease due to its antibacterial properties to boosting your sex drive due to improving your blood circulation, this little ingredient will keep you on your feet and fighting fit.

Lemon

We wouldn’t recommend eating it whole, but just one of these bad boys has more than 100 per cent of your Vitamin C intake!

Adding a lemon to your diet requires a bit of ingenuity but you’ll soon find it’s one of the more versatile fruits out there – for example you could add it to your water to pep it up or drizzle it on your chicken to get the anti-inflammatory and bone strengthening goodness from the fruit.

Seaweed

One of the major problems we see with adding seaweed to a diet is confusion over what to do with it – outside of sushi and Chinese buffet’s chances are you won’t even think of regularly eating the vegetable.

Packed with vitamins such as calcium, iron and zinc, one simple way of using the vegetable as an active part of your diet is to buy sheets of Nori (the kind used for sushi) – this makes a great alternative to a wrap or bread and you can then fill it with lean meat.

Cacao

The main selling point with raw cacao is that it provides all the flavour of chocolate without the guilt, containing just 15 calories per tablespoon with hardly any of the fat inherent in dairy chocolate.

If you’re slimming down but have a sweet tooth, this chocolate-alternative is your saving grace and there are plenty of recipes available for brownies and cakes. Not only that but the powder helps with blood circulation too!

Eggs

A staple of any fridge, not only are eggs one of the most versatile foodstuff you can own but they come packed with health benefits too.

High in protein, as well as A and B vitamins, they can be used as an accompaniment to almost any meal. Whether you boil, scramble, or poach, eggs are a simple way of getting the optimum amount of protein.

Green Tea

From speeding up your metabolism and ensuring your body burns fat quicker to helping glucose regulation, green tea is a great alternative to regular tea and coffee if you find yourself craving a cuppa.

Not to everyone’s taste, to counteract some of the bitterness you can add a hint of our other superfood, lemon, to make it more palatable.

Avocado

The instinct with healthy eating is to avoid anything containing the word ‘fat’, but ask any dietician or nutritionist and they will tell you that specific types of fat are a must in any diet.

Not just happy with being packed with fibre and protein, Avocado’s contain monounsaturated fats which reduce inflammation and actually quiet your hunger throughout the day via slow digestion. That means the fat content effectively helps you lose weight!

Grapefruit

A great addition to your morning breakfast plate, this tangy fruit can help lower insulin and prevents the body from storing as much sugar as fat therefore increasing weight loss.

Not only that but the fruit is high in fibre and even has anti-pain properties due to its salicylic acid content, leaving you to gain in the gym without the pain.

So there you have it, 10 superfoods to add to your diet to take your beach body progress into overdrive. By adding these here and there into your everyday food consumption you’ll soon find yourself with boundless energy, ready for all the fun in the sun you can handle.

The Alzheimer’s Show works in association with the Alzheimer’s Society, which is the UK’s only exhibition dedicated for professionals and families caring for an individual living with dementia. There are two shows taking place, one in London Olympia set to take place 16-17th May 2014, and the other at Manchester EventCity from 4-5th July 2014.

Both events will provide visitors with talks delivered by first class speakers. The Baroness Greengross OBE – Chair All-Party Parlimentary Group on Dementia will lead the main speech for the event. Other guest speakers include Angela Rippon (Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador), Dr Eric Karran & Dr Simon Riddley (Alzheimer’s Research UK), Jeni Bell – Admiral Nurses Clinical Specialist just to name a few!

You can expect to see Brendan Lynch who you may know from The Great British Bake Off. He will demonstrate two bakes and discuss reminiscence baking and nutrition. There are a number of workshops that will take place during the event, which you will find very useful and informative. The aim of the Alzheimer’s Show is to provide an engaging experience to anyone involved in the caring process of individuals living with dementia. It strives to support and educate visitors on the necessary information needed to provide ease to individuals who deal with dementia.

The show will also demonstrate the latest products and services on the market which can help people suffering from dementia. This is the ideal conference for people who are a carer, relative, or a care professional in this field. The event will hold more than 60 dementia and care exhibitors including care at home, living aids, respite care, assistive technology, education, finance and many more!

At both the Manchester and Liverpool show, visitors will have the opportunity to meet Admiral Nurses for a free consultation on a 1-2-1 basis. These clinics are supported by Bupa. If you would like further information about the event, please visit: https://alzheimersshow.co.uk/

Save the Children Week commences Monday 14th April 2014, with the aim to raise awareness of the campaign ‘No Child Born to Die’. Here we outline who Save the Children are, the key aims and objectives of the campaign, as well as their achievements.

The Campaign

Save the Children set up a campaign known as ‘No Child Born to Die’. Save the Children was first established at the beginning of the 20th century by two sisters known as Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton, who had a vision to safeguard and protect children around the world.

Mission Statement:

“To inspire breakthrough in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.”

Nearly one hundred years on and this organisation is still operating effectively. They work in 120 countries with the intension of protecting and saving the lives of children through the implementation of world-class programmes. Not only this, they fight for children’s rights and assist in helping them to reach their full potential.

Other campaigns:

– Every Beat Matters
– Get Ready. Get Safe
– Keeping Kids Strong
– Mom’s the Word
– Syria Relief

Shocking Facts

Here we run through some alarming facts and figures. The ‘No Child Born to Die’ campaign strives to help and support children.

– Did you know 6.6 million children die every year? This is an appalling figure!
– In 2013, Save the Children gained a huge investment in vaccines, which by 2015 will save around 4 million lives. This is a dramatic amount of children’s lives that will benefit from the new investment.
– Save the Children managed to secure commitments to train more health workers, meaning children can access a doctor/nurse when needed.
– Are you aware that 1 in 3 children are left with permanent damage to their mind and body as a result of being malnourished in their early years? This is an outrageous amount, this suffering can’t go on.
– Every hour of each day, 300 children die from malnutrition.

Aims and Objectives

Save the Children strive to breakthrough the way in which children are treated around the world. They aim to raise awareness of a number of issues regarding child protection including the following matters:

– Hunger – Save the Children have an eight step plan of action in place, in which strives to combat child hunger around the world.
– Health and HIV – they help children access better healthcare with the aim of helping children to grow and develop healthier.
– Child Poverty – children who are born into poverty have a reduced chance of a better life.
– Children’s rights – Many governments promise to protect children and their rights, but they are still violated.
– Education – Save the Children strive to provide children with access to education to those who unfortunately miss out on going to school.

There are several projects Save the Children work on, all of which contribute to helping children in a number of different ways. Each campaign strives to raise awareness about a key issue.

Achievements

Below we outline some of Save the Children’s achievements:

– In 2012, Save the Children helped approximately 10 million children, and went on to gain around 100,000 supporters who regularly donate to such a valuable organisation. In the years 2006-2009, Save the Children held a campaign called Rewrite the Future, which supported 1.4 million children gain access into schools around the world, especially those where conflict may exist.
– In 2004, Save the Children put in place a five year response to the Asian tsunami, which helped and supported approximately 1 million people.
– They worked hard to reach children in intense areas of conflict during the Dafur, Sudan and other communities which were affected by the Pakistan earthquake in 2005.
– 2010-2015 Save the Children has put in place a strategy to help children gain an education and help to develop their learning knowledge.
– In 2012, they helped around 9 million children through the support of community volunteers, government officers and others involved in the process of helping children learn and develop.
– They continually challenge world leaders to help give children a better future.

As you can see, Save the Children conduct remarkable work which makes a huge difference to the lives of children around the globe. There are a number of distance learning courses available for those of you who would like to learn more about child care, and safeguarding and protecting children.

 

What is World Health Day?

7th April 2014 World Health Day (WHD) is celebrated each year on the 7th April to commemorate the establishment of the World Health Organisation in 1948. The theme for 2014 is vector-borne diseases. Every year a different theme is chosen to be the focus for the day. Each theme will cover a different topic of public health. This day commemorates a particular theme each year, to help raise awareness and helps to prepare people with all the necessary knowledge needed to protect themselves against such diseases. It will identify an area of concern for the World Health Organisation.

What are Vector-Borne Diseases?

Vector-borne diseases transmit parasites and pathogens from one person or animal who is infected to another. They can be transmitted through the bite of an infected arthropod species, for example mosquitoes, sandflies and ticks. This illness can often be found in tropical locations. More so in areas where safe drinking water and sanitation is hard to access.
Such vectors are sensitive to the weather, which will have an influence on the reproduction and survival and activity of vectors such as biting rates.

According to the World Health Organisation, there were 660,000 deaths in 2010 caused by malaria. This is known for being the most deadly vector-borne disease. Contributing factors can include poor waste disposal, water storage, and deforestation. The majority of sufferers were African children aged 5 years or below. Dengue fever is another illness, which is the fastest growing disease in the world. Vector-borne diseases are caused by a number of infectious agents for example bacteria, viruses, protozoa etc. They can be difficult to control.

Aims and Objectives

The WHD campaign strives to raise awareness of the vector-borne diseases. It aims to equip communities with information including the key points surrounding this health issue.
It also encourages families to take the necessary steps to protect themselves. As these diseases are becoming more widespread, it is crucial that action is taken to prevent such diseases thriving. This day aims to highlight some of the well-known vectors including mosquitoes, ticks and other bugs.

The aim is to provide travellers with all the necessary knowledge, and understanding needed when it comes to protecting yourself in countries which hold the threat of contracting the disease. It is essential that countries which pose a health threat, are able to work with the relevant authorities to develop and improve the measures and procedures in place to prevent the spread of infection. Awareness is essential when it comes to preventing the risk of contracting vector-borne diseases. It is vital that the affected countries take the time to prevent and protect communities against these deadly diseases.

It is vital that individuals maintain a nutritious and healthy diet. Regardless of whether or not people have an understanding of vector diseases and the effects illness can have on an individual. It is crucial that people take the time to maintain a good level of health. Issues such as lifestyle, food habits and pollution will all have a detrimental effect on an individuals’ health.

If you would like to learn more about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle through healthy eating and nutrition, there are many distance learning programmes available.

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