Anthony Fiore, a CDC epidemiologist, stated, “We could really get slammed in two weeks.”

When asked if we might skip a widespread epidemic this year, Fiore said, “Oh, no, it’ll get here.”

Time to get those flu shots, America.

I love cucumbers, especially mixed with some fresh tomato, vidalia onion and a little italian dressing. That’s just a perfect summer salad for me.

Anyway, I thought I’d do a little research into cucumbers and find out what they’re all about. Here’s what I found out:

• Cucumbers were first introduced into North America in the 16 century. It’s thought that they originated in India.
• Cucumbers belong to the squash family along with pumpkin, zucchini, yellow squash and watermelon.
• There are different varieties of cucumber with the most popular being English, Persian, and Pickling. (Persian is the variety usually offered in our grocery stores)
• Cucumber skin is usually waxed to seal in moisture.
• English cucumbers are sometimes known as “burpless” or seedless since their seeds are very small and don’t need to be removed.
• The best cucumbers are firm and have a rich green color with no soft spots.
• Cucumbers should be stored in the refrigerator and keep well for up to a week. Unwaxed cucumbers will store longer if wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.

Now it’s a little horrifying to hear about children with high cholesterol, but none of us should really be too surprised. Two recent studies indicate that obesity in children has been skyrocketing. And, with increased weight comes other serious risk factors like diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol problems. Just because they’re young doesn’t make children immune to conditions generally associated with adults.

Government statistics show that 15% of all American children between the ages of 6 and 19 were overweight in 2000. But, in just 4 years, things look like they’ve changed! A study published in June of 2004 found that 40% of rural Arkansas children were overweight.

And, according to a study just published as part of a series in the American Journal of Public Health, more than 40% of New York City public-school students are overweight, and nearly 25% are obese. But, do we really need these studies to tell us there’s a problem?

All is not lost! Isn’t that good news? Because of their age, many of these problems in children can be reversed – if caught soon enough – through proper diet and exercise. But, changing their already ingrained poor eating habits is another story altogether.

It would be best if the entire family were to make positive changes in the foods they eat and the amount of exercise they are getting. Families need to switch to a whole food diet (whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc) and avoid anything processed. Stay away from high glycemic foods like sweets, snacks, white bread and fruit juices. This is a MUST for the health of the children!

I would also suggest that the entire family add oily fish like salmon, tuna, herring or mackerel to their diet at least 3 times a week. If that’s not possible, they should all be supplementing with a high quality omega 3 fish oil supplement. I have an omega 3 comparison on my site if you’d like to see how to evaluate a supplement.

The results children will get depend on whether or not they change the foods they’re eating and the amount of exercise they’re getting. Remember, this is NOT a cure for cholesterol problems, but a healthy solution for the body to do its job correctly.

Even adults need recess. A lunchtime ping pong game can do wonders for clearing the cobwebs out and getting in some light cardio.

And yet I hate the idea of the government getting closely involved in trying to influence how we eat.