Live Your Best Life

Hunger is an epidemic that plagues millions of children worldwide. We have all seen images of children in developing countries that do not have enough to eat. They may appear very skinny, and in other cases have bloated bellies. These things are caused by the lack of calories and protein in the diet. But, there is a new form of hunger on the rise, mainly in developed countries like the United States, where food is plentiful. It is referred to as hidden hunger.

Hunger is a feeling that you get in between meals. You know things like stomach pains, moodiness, and irritability.  Children in poorer nations experience chronic hunger like this all of the time. But, hidden hunger is different, because it occurs despite a surfeit of calories and protein in the diet. This form of hunger occurs from eating too many calories and not enough essential nutrients. Yes, a child can still feel hungry after getting a fast food meal, because such foods lack essential nutrients. Many children eat a diet that is inexpensive, calorie-dense, and nutrient-poor. They will feel full for the next several hours. But afterwards, severe hunger pangs set in, because the body is not truly satisfied because the brain senses a lack of essential nutrients.

Ever wonder why there is an increase in childhood obesity? Sure, it relates to eating too many calories. Calories are plentiful in the U.S, and children are eating up to 200 more of them than they did 30 years ago. Why is that? Perhaps it has something to do with children’s brain forcing them to continue eating until essential nutrients needs are met. Sadly, children who continue to eat a nutrient-poor diet will never meet their nutritional needs. This is why hidden hunger will continue to occur unless the diets of children contain the essential nutrients.

Children who don’t regularly get all of their needed essential vitamins and minerals experience worse consequence than adults who don’t meet all of their essential nutrient needs.  First, children can have impaired physical development; adults are already full-grown. Growth can be stunted, preventing them from reaching their full height. Second, a child’s mental aptitude may not be reached, because their brains may not become fully developed. (Adult brains are pretty much formed). This could affect a child’s ability to reach his or her highest learning potential. Without getting all of the essential nutrients, a child living in the U.S. may not be as tall or as smart as he or she should be.

There is good news though. Studies conducted in the U.S. and Europe showed that children eating foods such as cereals, fortified with essential nutrients like folate, iron and vitamin D, are able to absorb these nutrients and correct blood deficiencies. But sadly, most foods in our stores are only fortified with a small subset of the essential vitamins and minerals. A growing child needs all of them. Yevo foods has stepped up to bat and created a program to help children called 43 for kids. It is food created to eliminate the deficiencies. Yevo food offerings provide all of the 43 essential nutrients, in the right balance, to help kids grow and thrive and achieve their full potential. For more information on the foods, please visit Loving My Yevo.

Written by  Dr. Stacie Bell

Dr. Stacey Bell, Yevo’s Chief Science Officer, has been a registered dietitian for 35 years, and has worked in that capacity and conducted clinical research studies for 20 years. She received a doctorate in nutrition from Boston University, with Honors in 1994. She was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School in Boston, and has published over 70 peer-reviewed scientific articles. She is a frequent lecturer around the world on many topics related to nutrition and has 6 issued patents. She has also developed several functional foods and has held many prestigious positions with multiple food, nutraceutical, and non-profit companies.

Formatted and revised by Angela Christu.

Proud Momtreprenuer. Nutrition Advocate.  CEO of Corporate Angels, LLC  and Author of The Mom Chronicles, True Health Testimonials and Blogs, and The 5 Blog Spot . Angela is passionate about her family, community health, the global food crisis and empowering moms to succeed in both motherhood and business.  Please feel free to read more on her involvement in the wellness industry, follow her zany blogs of life as a stay-and-work at home mom or join her  Team of nutrition advocates out to rock the world!