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Newstand
The Healthy Foundation
Vitamin Relief USA/Children First
The Healthy Foundation (THF) is a tax-exempt, non-profit foundation committed to improving the health status of children and adults through vitamin supplementation. It has developed the Vitamin Relief USA/Children First program.
Vitamin Relief USA is a national initiative that provides daily nutritional support through vitamin supplementation programs for groups at-risk for nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition. At-risk groups include children, pregnant women, teenage girls, the poor, the homeless, the elderly, the chronically ill and others.
For pennies a day, Vitamin Relief USA assures that the basic biological needs for at-risk adults and children are met and their health, well-being and ability to learn improved. In addition, it significantly reduces the escalating cost to the American people to care for those at-risk.
The Children First program is an effective and economical vitamin distribution program designed to reach children to assure that their basic nutritional needs are met, to improve their health status, academic performance and behavior and to assure their body’s growth and development. Through the Children First program THF is providing multivitamins to over 7,200 children a day at 80 sites in 33 states throughout the U.S. The organization seeks to expand its program nationwide to provide another 30,000 children per day with multivitamins and to further validate the positive impact of nutrition on health, cognitive development and behavior through clinical studies.
Reducing Risk, Increasing Opportunities
The good news is these problems can be overcome. There is a positive link between improved nutrition and improved intellectual development, academic performance and social behavior as well as the ability to deal with stress and trauma more calmly and non-violently. Studies show that in children with vitamin deficiencies, nutritional supplements improve brain development, social behavior, ability to process trauma, academic achievement, and in some cases, even IQ scores. Other studies have shown that dietary supplements given to juveniles in correction facilities reduced anti-social behavior, including assaults and suicides, by 47 percent.
In her remarks upon recently assuming the presidency of The Healthy Foundation, Hyla Cass, M.D. states the following:
“In the aftermath of September 11, I am firmly convinced that Vitamin Relief USA/Children First is more relevant and more needed than ever.
“Now, for the first time since World War II, a large number of children in America exist in heightened states of stress, anxiety and fear. The massive exposure via television images of the horrific scenes being played over and over have left an indelible mark on them. Since the attack, THF has received reports of children at-risk experiencing traumas: nightmares, fear of going to school, inability to concentrate, as well as an increase of acting out and aggressive behavior toward peers.
“During times of stress the body uses high levels of the B vitamins, vitamin C as well as calcium and magnesium, none of which can be stored in the body. This inevitably causes a daily deficiency of many essential vitamins and minerals required not only for normal health, but also for growth and development of young bodies. If these vital micronutrients are not replaced daily, children at-risk suffer the consequences both immediately and for the rest of their lives.
“THF’s Children First program replaces every day those essential micronutrients, thereby allowing these already challenged children the opportunity to process this tragedy more calmly and to strengthen their bodies so they can move forward in their growth and development toward a brighter future for themselves and for our nation.
“As we improve the health of our nation’s children, we affirm that a powerful America will endure. Please support THF’s efforts with your generosity.”
According to Michael Alan Morton, executive director of The Healthy Foundation, the cost of providing vitamins and minerals to one child for a full year is $36.50 ($0.10 per day). For further information on activities of the foundation or how to make a donation contact The Healthy Foundation, 24977 Washington Avenue, Ste. H, P.O. Box 888, Murrieta, California 92564-0888;?909-696-0552; Fax 909-696-0702; http://www.healthfound.org.
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