What is health? The word gets thrown around so much that everyone is confused about it. People say health coverage when they really mean “illness care.” Grocery items called health foods are just real foods rather than processed, manufactured pretenders. Health is not only physical, but mental and spiritual, too. To have good health is to be largely without stress, depression, inactivity, and, of course, to have freedom and mobility.
We write a lot about health in these magazines. Every month we have at least two columns from experts in our communities talking about health, and that’s not mentioning the columns we have that give diet, food, and recipe ideas. To me, it all starts with food, and who hasn’t heard the expression “you are what you eat”? As parents, it’s really important that we start our children off eating right and that we show them that “nutritious is delicious.”
In this issue, our writer Golda Smith talks about achieving health goals for the new year and Tammy Scileppi has contributed an important piece about the dangers of mercury poisoning and how it’s affecting our children. Her interview with Albert Wilking is compelling and informative and a must read.
February is Children’s Dental Health month and we acknowledge this every year. Our writer Jamie Lober tells us how important it is to develop early oral health habits and for children to visit a pediatric dentist earlier than most people might imagine. The baby teeth are just as important as the permanent ones, and care and diet can determine the long range health and appearance of both. Setting an example for your children by taking care of your own dental needs and decay prevention will go a long way to helping them with their own.
And then there is our intellectual and artistic health, and there is no finer food for that than family visits to our wonderful museums. Family programming tailored to kids is in abundance throughout NYC. We are so lucky! Contributing writer Shnieka Johnson highlights 15 of our finest museums that do just that.
It’s Valentine’s Day month and I’m certain we should love each other as much as possible. We should hug and kiss and hold hands and identify with our neighbors. We should think positive thoughts and stand firm in our commitment to equality and inclusiveness. We should make sure everyone has access to a decent way of life. That would be great for our health in every way.
Thanks for reading!
