Free Gillian McKeith's Food Bible by Gillian McKeith

careful, aggressive outbursts.
    As any parent who’s been there will know, convincing teenage boys to eat well takes time, effort, and care. Girls often want to be healthy, but boys don’t want to be seen munching on what their friends might call “rabbit food.” You
can
set a good example at home. Explain the “masculine” benefits of eating well: stronger muscles, more energy, better mental and physical stamina. In other words, he’ll be brainier, fitter, and better looking.
    Tips for parents
    Be a good role model; it will help your health and weight, too. Make sure that your child understands how their body changes as it develops, and that healthy lifestyle changes are not about appearance but to help their mood, concentration, skin, and health.
    Recognize that we’re all different shapes and sizes and examine your own feelings and comments about your weight and shape.
    Help your child to find something they’re good at and enjoy to boost their self-confidence.
    Make sure your child has a healthy breakfast, as studies show it can significantly improve performance at school.
    Don’t let your kids eat mindlessly in front of the television. Eat together whenever you can.
    Try not to let food become a power struggle, nor a means of reward or punishment.
    Health tip: If you have real concerns about your child’s diet, weight, or eating habits, then see your GP and get a referral to a nutritionist.
    I have noticed that our family thrives on the organically grown vegetables and herbs from our garden. We have spinach, new potatoes, string beans, beets, cabbage, leeks, onions, and herbs. Gillian, you have made us all think about our eating habits and how we prepare food.
    What if I am a vegetarian?
    Lots of teens come home and declare one day that they’re vegetarian. It might be a phase or an early lifestyle choice. Either way, it’s best to take them seriously and respect their choice. A vegetarian or vegan diet can be a very healthy option as long as you do it well, specifically if it’s balanced, nutrient-dense, and varied. Vegans and vegetarians need to enjoy an abundance of fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, nuts, grains, legumes, pulses, seaweed, and veggie juices. Soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and miso are tasty proteins. And while vegetarians do eat dairy products, it is worth trying goat’s and sheep’s milk and cheese for a change. They tend to be more easily digested than cow’s milk products.
    The acne plague
    There is a direct relationship between acne and hormones. Acne usually begins when the body starts to produce androgens. Androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands to enlarge and secrete more sebum (oil). The sebum gets accumulated in the follicle, and moves up the hair shaft to the exterior part of the skin. As the sebum moves up, it mixes with bacteria and the hair follicle gets blocked. This could result in acne, spots, pimples, and oily skin.
    Hormones regulate every bodily function. Sleep, growth, and many other things depend upon your hormones. If your hormones are in balance, then you are less likely to suffer from acne.
    In my clinical experience, many teenagers with acne have tested positive for a deficiency in the mineral zinc. A nutritious diet is hormone balancing and a far more effective remedy for acne than topical creams and lotions. See page 171 for my Acne Plan.

    The Fertile Years
    Nearly every client who has come to me in the hope of conceiving a baby has been granted their wish. When you think about the purpose of your reproductive organs—creating new life—it’s easy to understand how vital it is to nourish them with a vibrant, energy-giving diet. The full spectrum of nutrients is needed for maximum reproductive health.
    But you don’t just need to think about reproductive health when you’re trying to conceive. Far from it. Nutrition plays a crucial role in the development and maturity of male and female reproductive systems, right from childhood. Just take zinc, for