Banning Tan Beds

Today many teens are obsessed with trying to get that golden tan that makes them feel "gorgeous".
However almost all teens don't know the dangers of getting a tan from a tanning bed, sure it does give your body a source of vitamin D; which in the winter we dont have much. However it could
cause a type of skin cancer called melanoma. Melanoma is a cancer that begins in the melanocytes. The melanocytes are cells that are in your skin,  melanoma tumors are often brown or black. But they can also be pink, tan, or even white. Melanoma most often starts on the chest or back in men and on the legs of women, but it can start in other places, too. Melanoma can be cured if caught in early stages as it could spread quickly.

British Columbia has now decided to pass a new law in the fall about teens using tanning beds, the law states that if you are under 18 you may not use a tanning bed unless directed by a doctor. Many people are upset by the new law as they think that it should be okay for a young teen to use a tanning bed if the parent gives his/her consent. Kathleen Barnard is victim of melanoma cancer, she admitted that when she was younger she was addicted to getting that golden look to her skin, however after many surgeries and treatments she believes that you should be happy in your skin. She says ""I know now I would rather be alive with the skin I was given than die with the skin I so desperately wanted to have," This statement is true, why would you want to have a tan and be diagnosed with skin cancer then be alive and living life in your own beautiful skin?

The law that is being passed in the fall is a good law to have, Nova Scotia has already passed a law saying that: No one under the age of 19 may get a fake tan using a tanning bed. Doctors and the government are smart getting the law passed as soon as possible because getting a fake tan can improve your chance of getting melanoma by 75% as teens and young adults skin isnt as strong as adults. The city of Victoria also has their own law already that doesnt allow teens to get tans using tanning beds and it is about time that British Columbia has also banned them. However there is still the argument that going outside to the beach or the park and getting tanned is the same thing as going to a tanning salon. When  people go outside they are aware of the illnesses caused by the sun so they are more likely to protect them selves with sunscreen or sun tanning lotion, but when young teens go to salons they think that they are protected when they aren't.

If you still want that glowing golden look there are safer ways to get one, try getting a spray tan, it may not stay for as long but at least your chance of getting skin cancer is reduced drastically.

**sorry for my post being so late, i thought i had posted it earlier but i accidentaly saved it in my drafts instead**

here are my sources :

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20120426/tanning-beds-ban-for-those-under-18-120426/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/03/20/bc-tanning-bed-ban.html

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/03/20/bc-latest-jurisdiction-to-ban-teen-tanning-bed-use

http://www.cancer.ca/canada-wide/about%20cancer/types%20of%20cancer/what%20is%20melanoma.aspx

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/OverviewGuide/melanoma-skin-cancer-overview-what-is-melanoma

Be the Tan

Looks are a very big trend now and days if you doing look good your a nobody and being tan is a big part of looking good. And being tan is a very popular trend for teenagers but its not very good for them .                   




There are other ways of being tan like spray tanning, self tanner, or just the sun, but the main one and the worst one is tanning beds! Tanning beds are these beds you lay in and they have very high light bulbs all around you and somehow make you more tan. Yes its a great thing to do its cool and relaxing and makes you look good but  i can cause a serious case of skin cancer.




People especially young teens think its all right and cool because they see famous people and maybe older people or even their friends bed tanning so they think its okay but its not at all ! I wouldn't recommend it for anyone its one of the main things that cause cancer. For teenagers they shouldn't do it because there skin is still fair and young and by doing this there ruining their skin and aging their skin. You must be 18 years or older to go bed tanning unless you get your parents permission . If i 




 By going into tanning beds you can get melanoma—a deadly skin cancer by 75%!  Melanoma is the most deadliest skin cancer you can get. And i would know this is serious because my aunt got Melanoma from tanning beds. It was very serious and she is okay and hasn't gone in a tanning bed since.




Its a very serious deal and people especially teenagers should be taking this more seriously. Would they rather look good and have a chance of getting Melanoma or just get a spray tan plus its way cheaper. 

CE Blog 06/07/2012 Ban the Tan!

                                           Ban the Tan!

          Nowadays teens are obsessed with looks. Some will do anything to be beautiful, no matter the consequence. They put others down and themselves down. With summer coming up, they want to look their best for all those cute beach boys/girls, and will go to extremes to try to look perfect. Tanning beds have become extremely popular for teenagers; it’s an easy way to tan without having to sit out in the blaring sun for hours and hours. But are tanning beds as awesome as they seem? Sure they are if you don’t mind improving your chance of getting melanoma—a deadly skin cancer by 75%! Intrigued? Well I suggest you read the rest of this article for a full understanding of just how awful they can be.

           The Province of BC has announced that this upcoming fall, it will be illegal for kids under the age of 18 to use a commercial tanning bed unless they have a doctor’s permission. The leader of this new law is Health Minister Mike de Jong. He has been working with Doctors and politicians to prove that tanning beds are indeed very bad for you. Why are tanning beds so dangerous—you may ask? Cancer experts and scientists have confirmed that tanning beds are even more deadly than the sun. Tanning beds use UVA rays, which are 2-3 times more harmful than the sun because they penetrate the skin and cause long-lasting damage to cells, many of which are in the immune system.  At first tanning may give you a burn and blisters, but it can get worse and worse. Some long-term effects of tanning beds are eye damage, immune system changes, cataracts, wrinkles and premature aging of the skin, and skin cancers. The biggest issue tanning beds can lead to is melanoma (which I mentioned before.) Melanoma is the DEADLIEST skin cancer there is, and guess what one of the major causes of melanoma is? TANNING BEDS. The BC Cancer Agency has estimated that this year, in British Columbia alone, 966 people will be diagnosed with Melanoma, and 150 will DIE from it. If you don’t want to be one of those 150 people, then stay away from tanning beds! Not only are tanning beds bad for teenagers (and adults) physically, but they can also affect them mentally. Tanning beds send a message; that you shouldn’t feel comfortable in your own skin and you should try to change the way you look.

           If tanning beds are so dangerous, then why do people use them? One of the main reasons is because they are obsessed with their looks, and when they see other people with glowing bronze skin, they want to look just as good as them. It’s almost like peer pressure; others feel that they have to get tans to fit in. In our society, many people consider tans “cool” and they think it makes them look better. Girls especially are obsessing over tans. This month tanning beds are very popular for teens because graduation is coming up and they want to look their best! Another reason is ignorance. Many teens don’t know about the risks of tanning beds, so they have no reason not to go. They are not aware of the harm because perhaps their parents have not influenced them not to use them. There are 12 year-olds using tanning beds! Some parents either don’t know or just don’t care; which is wrong! When people tan regularly, they can become addicted to it. Like drugs or cigarettes, they just can’t become satisfied. So they keep going back for more and more and no matter how tanned they get, they feel that they still aren’t tanned enough. A big supporter of the new law, Kathy Barnard steps up and reveals her story. Kathy is a cancer (melanoma) survivor, and the cause of her cancer was tanning beds. She explained that when she was a teen, tanning became an obsession, which lead to her having to get many surgeries afterwards. She is now working to teach teens that you don’t need to be tanned to have perfect skin. "Be proud of the skin you're in,” Kathy stressed. "Own it, protect it, save it. I know now that I would rather be alive with the skin I was given than die in the skin I so desperately wanted to have.”

           There are absolutely no pros to using tanning beds. Some may disagree and say something along the lines of “At least my skin will look more radiant.” BUT risking your life to have a little darker skin is NOT a pro. In fact, it’s a con. However, arguably, there are cons to the new law.  Some parents may feel that it’s their choice as to if their teen can use a tanning bed or not. They don’t believe that the government should be telling them what to let their children do. Also, it could cause teens to rebel and attempt to illegally use a tanning bed.

             I have never used a tanning bed before (I’m only 14!) and I never plan on it either. I agree with Kathy; we should be proud of the skin we were given, and tanning isn’t going to make you look any more beautiful. Personally, I sometimes actually find very dark tans unattractive. There is nothing wrong with pale skin. Skin tone shouldn’t matter because it’s really what’s in the inside that counts. Sure, a nice natural tan from being outside in the summer time looks nice, but there is no reason for someone to need to go to a tanning both; especially with all of the precautions out there nowadays. If someone feels they NEED to go to a tanning salon to look good, then it just shows that they lack confidence. Don’t get me wrong, tans can looks really nice. If someone wants to have a nice tan for graduation, a vacation, etc, then go for it! BUT just don’t use a tanning bed. A much safer option would be to try a spray on tan; it’s temporary and a lot less harmful. I am proud that the province I live in has this new law, because it shows that we are educated on health and that our government really does care about teen health. The only reason I would agree for someone to use a tanning bed would be for medical reasons. The ultraviolet rays can be used to treat some health conditions, but that should be the ONLY acceptation. Do I think that it’s totally okay for people over the age of 18 to use tanning beds? NO. Just because they aren’t a teenager anymore; it doesn’t mean that tanning beds are harmless to them. The government is probably hoping that by the age of 18, they will be a lot more mature and capable of looking out for their own health and making the right decision. Overall, I agree with the decision of banning tanning beds for youths under the age of 18; it’s going to save lives!

           Feel good in your own skin. Everyone is unique in their own way, and there is no such thing as “perfect” because everyone is equally beautiful. Spare yourselves the various dangers that come with tanning beds and don’t use them!

Sites I used for my info:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120320/bc-bans-youth-from-tanning-beds-120320/

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/342856--bc-government-announces-tanning-bed-ban-for-teens

http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/sun-care/tanning-beds-dangerous.htm

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/03/province-to-ban-young-people-from-tanning-beds.html

http://www.medi-smart.com/nursing-articles/common-health-questions/tanning-dangers

http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/medicaldepartments/cancercenter/cancertips/tanning.html

Should Bullying Be A Crime?

            I’m sure that you’ve probably seen at least one person getting bullied online, at school, or other places before, or maybe you’ve seen it but didn’t know it was part of bullying. Some people think that bullying is not a very big issue and that it’s just a happening between friends, but there are a whole lot of serious problems behind it. More than 90% of students in Canada think that bullying is a serious problem. Also, 65% of them feel that bullying should be a crime. Bullying is happening everywhere and could happen anytime and bullies are getting away with punishments and they are not getting what they deserve today. There are many reasons why bullying should be a crime and why the bullies should get punished! 

            Bullying is an act of repeated aggressive behavior in order to intentionally hurt another person, physically or mentally. There are many different types of bullying. Not all bullying necessarily involve physical touch. There is physical, verbal, indirect bullying, social alienation, intimidation and cyber-bullying. Physical bullying is straight forward. It’s when physical harm is involved. Verbal bullying is name-calling, making offensive remarks, and so on, indirect is when they spread rumours or stories about someone, and social alienation is when a bully excludes someone from a group on purpose. Also, intimidation is when a bully threatens someone else and last but not least, cyber-bullying is done by using technology such as phones, computers, the internet and more. These 6 types of bullying are happening everywhere which means that a lot of people are getting harmed and affected by them. 

            Bullying began in September 2007 when a grade 9 student at a high school in Cambridge, N.S was bullied by the grade 12’s because he was wearing a pink shirt. That is the reason why “Pink Shirt Day” was formed and people started to go against bullying all around the world and helped and encouraged those who were getting hurt.  Bullies out there might not know how it feels to be bullied but it affects the people who get bullied on greatly! Many victims commit suicide, get seriously injured, or get mental problems after. It has been found by a doctor that the daily stress of getting bullied can lead into long-term damage to people’s body. People who are stressing out or threatened, usually tends to be alert for a long period of time which makes their heart speed up, their muscles tense, their blood vessels narrow, and also it makes their digestive system slow down. Tense muscles could become painful and their stomachs could start to ache at the same time. Also, stress could lead to getting weaker immune systems which means that they’d get sick easier. Bullied students mostly feel lonely, depressed, low self-esteemed, and also get physical ills like headaches, nausea, and so on. These symptoms could lead them to commit suicide because they don’t see the point of living anymore since they are depressed all the time. Many lose confidence and have problems with other people as they get older. They become more careful with others and are not able to make many good friends. 

            Even though the bullies make others have lots of problems and issues, it’s hard to believe but they do NOT get punished at all for their act. Many victims get hurt physically and mentally and also commit suicide because the bullies make their lives feel pointless. How could people who lead others to feel miserable not get what they deserve? Since technology is so developed these days, cyber-bullying is starting to increase and the internet is turning into a main problem. People gossip and talk bad things about other people on social network such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace. There isn’t a certain law that says that bullying is a crime yet, but many people (65% of respondents) are requesting for them to create a law which would punish the bullies.  Even though it’s not robbery or direct murder, bullying would be still considered as murder because it destroys other people’s lives. Many people are too scared to call for help because they think that the bullies will do something even worse to them after. Some of the positive things if bullying gets considered as a crime is that, the bullies will get what they deserve and feel the pain too by recieving punishment. Also, the victims won't be scared or afraid to tell an adult or someone for help because they'd know that the bullies won't be able to hurt them again and the victims will be able to go to school without stressing or having to be alert all the time. Lastly, if other students see what happens to bullies if they get caught or reported, the bullying issue will decrease greatly and there won't be as many people who dare to try harm others!

Bullying is part of a crime and bullies should get criminal records for them so it affects their future lives. They’ll receive a criminal record and universities and companies will know if they have done anything bad in the past. The fact that they bullied others before would be very important because they will be able to know if the person’s responsible for their actions and is able to work well with others without causing any trouble. The bullies will also feel very guilty and it’d teach them a huge lesson. Bullying is a crime because it’s the exact same case as a murder in a way because it leads people to have an awful life and even lead to commiting suicide for some. Hopefully, one day bullying will be compromised as a crime and will be able to make the bullies feel the same way as how the victims felt! 

     ~ BULLYING STOPS HERE! ~ 

   

Sources I used:

• http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/29/even-non-violent-bullying-should-be-a-crime-canadians-tell-poll/
   
• http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3487269

• http://www.theprovince.com/life/Bullying+should+crime+Canadians+poll/6229221/story.html

• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35020704/ns/health-childrens_health/t/victims-bullying-face-lingering-health-issues/ 

•  http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/index.html 

•  http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00117/typesbullying.html 

 

SHOULD BULLYING BE A CRIME? ~ June.6/12

Bullying can happen everywhere and to anyone. Majority of Canadians believe that bullying should be a crime. A lot of bullies today get away with bullying there victim and have no punishments.

Children all across the world are being bullied every single day. Victims throughout the years have committed suicide or have been seriously injured. Children are either too scared, nervous or shy to confront the bullies and to tell/report to an adult.

Bullying is just not someone punching you in the face or calling you names. It's much more than that. There are 6 types of bullying. Physical bullying is when there is physical contact that would hurt or injure the victim, Verbal bullying is when there is name calling or making offensive comments, Indirect bullying includes spreading rumors or stories, Social alienation is when someone excludes someone from a group, Intimidation is when the bully threatens the victim and last but not least Cyber bullying is done involving with the internet. 

Also crime isn't just a murder, robbery or something illegal. It can also be the abuse of victims suffering from pain everyday in their life. Bullying is also not an offense in Canada, but often behaviors like harassment, threats and mischief can lead into criminal charges.  

Here's a short story of a 15 year old girl:  Phoebe Prince hanged herself on Jan. 14, allegedly after being bullied at school. Nine classmates have been charged, raising the question of whether bullying is a crime.

Bullying is a key that opens no lock. I believe that bullying should be a crime. No one deserves to be bullied or be committing suicide. Everyone deserves to be treated equally. Imagine a child's life taken away by committing suicide and the bullies have no punishment at all because there young. I'm glad that there is Anti Bullying day where everyone who chooses to support the cause wears Pink. It's a great way to spread the word that bullying needs to stop! Bullies should have consequences because they will know who much damage or pain they did to the victim.

My sources:

• http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00117/typesbullying.html 
•  http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/29/even-non-violent-bullying-should-be-a-crime-canadians-tell-poll/
• http://www.stopbullying.gov/
• http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/TheLaw/teens-charged-bullying-mass-girl-kill/story?id=10231357#.T8_eslIbEWk

Are Sports Drinks Healthy for Teens ?

There are so many types of sport drinks out there and allot of different flavors and brands. The most popular brands is Gatorade and Powerade.

      Teen athletes would drink sport drinks because its easy and accessible and tastes great and  advertizes the energy it gives but they don't always work out because some teens would just drink sport drinks even if there not  doing a sport just to drink it around the house or something like that. The sport drinks only work if your doing a sport. If your just sitting around doing nothing but drinking these drinks, its very unhealthy and just as bad a pops.

Its a much better choice to drink water. It may not taste as good and not look as cool but it is way better for you and doesn't have all thee chemicals that these sport drinks have. If your trying to stay active and energized and healthy just drink water and eat healthy.

The advantages about sport drinks is that it can replace food and if you are in a sport it can get you energized for a big game.  They are also very tasty and they draw your eye when you want to buy them plus they advertising business advertises them very well so you would want to buy it.

All the sugar and the chemicals that they put in the drinks is so bad for you. They have 14g of sugar per 8 ounces and 225 calories in them.

So i would recommend water and healthy foods. Its always the best thing. Water will keep you hydrated but sport drinks after awhile you will just get tired and you wont feel so great.

And sorry ms.lees for this being so late i finally found where it was under drafts it took me awhile.

.

Are Sports Drinks Healthy For Teens?

 

 

           Cherry, orange, blueberry, lemon…. There are so many different flavors and brands of sports drinks to choose from nowadays. They are perfect to drink instead of soda and also water sometimes when people want some flavor and sugar rather than no taste at all.  They come out in so many different pretty colours which attract people to drink them. Many teenagers like to chug sports drinks right after fitness. They are very popular because they are tasty and also healthy…at least that’s what everyone thinks. Are they actually healthy for us, teenagers? There are some pros and cons about sports and energy drinks and we are here to find out! 

          The most popular or common sports drinks that people drink are Gatorade and PowerAde. Like the name, the drink is supposed to give power and keep people hydrated after exercise. Through sweat, the body can lose a great deal of vitamins and fluids. By drinking a sports drink, it can refill the body with many of the vitamins such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, and sugar. Also, sports drinks contain electrolytes which help greatly with hydration. These drinks hydrate the body enough to sustain throughout the work out. Unbalanced electrolytes can lead to heat strokes or circulatory collapse so it’s very important to keep them balanced with these drinks. Furthermore, electrolytes and carbohydrates help reduce muscle cramps and amount of tiredness during exercise. They allow muscles to be smooth and flexible so people can exercise for a longer period of time. Carbohydrates maximize peoples’ performance more than water does and keep lots of energy in the body. Carbohydrates with protein make it even better and allows much better performance than athletes who drink sports drinks with just carbohydrates.  

           Another advantage of sports drinks is that they are good replacements for food. Many people do not recommend athletes to eat junk food or even just regular food before competitions or exercise because it could lead to throwing up and getting cramps. Sports drinks are very easy to digest without getting any symptoms and they contain all the essential elements and nutrition that it needs for a healthy body.  Moreover, sports or energy drinks are very easy to carry around. They are mostly in hard plastic bottles with caps that prevents from spilling. They are transportable and the bottles can be reused for other things too if wished. Sports drinks are easily found everywhere like the gas station. 

          When there are pros, there are always the cons. A lot of the teenagers think that sports drinks are very healthy and beneficial for them. They choose them over soda because it makes them feel healthier when they actually aren’t. It depends on when and where they drink them. Sports drinks contain a lot of sugar. They contain as much as 14g of sugar per 8 ounces and 224 calories. It might sound alright for people who drink them when they work out and can burn them off easily but a lot of the teens these days drink them at lunch and at home when they aren’t actually exercising. They simply drink them because they think it’s healthier than soda and also because they don’t want to drink water when it could actually be more harmful than soda if it's overdosed. The drinks would not help for anything if  they don't work out and sweat. It could lead to obesity. According to a research, it has been found that teenagers who drink sports drinks tend to eat more unhealthy food such as, snacks and desserts just like the teenagers who die for soda. But, they also tend to eat more vegetables and fruit more than the soda drinkers. This fact could be a pro AND a con. 

             One of the biggest issues about sports drinks is that they are very bad for peoples’ teeth. The chemicals in the drinks are very acidic. The highly acidic substances damages a part of our teeth called enamel. It is the hardest substance in the human body and when it gets damaged and disappears, it doesn’t come back and teeth are known to be easier to decay than anywhere else in the body. Researchers have found that teen girls who consume highly acidic drinks are three times more likely to have softer bones than girls who don't. It makes the bones softer which could lead to weak bones and muscles in long term. If people MUST drink high acidic drinks like sports drinks, it may be helpful to chew gum, or even rinse out their mouth afterwards because it activates saliva production and brushes off the acid.

              In my opinion, I think it’s perfectly fine to drink sports drinks ONLY if you are planning to exercise. I don’t think there would be a big issue with consuming Gatorade or PowerAde when you are working out. If people are responsible for when they drink them, it could be very beneficial and wouldn not do much harm. I wouldn’t suggest for teenagers who are inactive and stays at school or home a lot because it wouldn’t do anything for them except gain weight and have unhealthy teeth. The whole point of drinking sports drinks and energy drinks is to help and support your body when working out. They aren't made to drink on a daily basis instead of water. The best choice for a healthy lifestyle would be drinking water and eating healthy food everyday. Just ask yourself the next time you go grocery shopping and when you are about to pick some sports drinks out. Are you responsible for it?  

Sources:

- http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-x-0516-trice-column-20120516,0,187379.column

-  http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/diet/articles/2010/09/28/are-sports-drinks-healthier-than-soda-teens-think-so

- http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/30/teens-dont-need-sports-and-energy-drinks-pediatricians-say/

- http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/27/health.sports.drinks.teens/index.html 

- http://www.lifescript.com/diet-fitness/articles/s/sports_drinks_exploring_the_pros_and_cons.aspx 

- http://www.naturalnews.com/035118_sports_drinks_kidney_stones_osteoporosis.html 

CE May 17, 2012~~~ Are Sports Drinks Healthy for Teens?

         You have just finished playing a tiring match of hockey and you are in the change room. “Aw man, I forgot a drink,” you complain. Instantly, two of your teammates offer you some of theirs. One holds out a water bottle, while the other tosses you a Gatorade. Which one do you take? Most teenagers would opt for the Gatorade; it tastes better and everyone assumes that it give you the energy you need. Plus, it’s such a pretty colour. But are energy drinks as amazing for your health as they are for your taste buds. Most people just assume that they must be super healthy in order for them to be considered a “sports drink.”Plus some of the best athletes out there promote them. But is the whole thing a trick? This is a commonly asked question nowadays. In this article you can read about the main brands of sports drinks, and the pros and cons to drinking them.

           Three of the most popular sports drinks out there nowadays are Gatorade, Powerade and All Sport. Gatorade is used by teens throughout the world and is the most well known sports drink. There are dozens and dozens of flavours out there nowadays, so the calories range from only 25 to over 200. A few examples of Gatorade flavours are Mixed Berry, Fierce Strawberry, Lemon-Lime and even Chocolate! Gatorade doesn’t have very much fat, but it is filled with carbs. Carbohydrates are what give us energy, but can also cause us to gain weight. Gatorade is also filled with electrolytes, which is basically a fancy word for salt, and helps us with the sweating process. BUT, Gatorade contains a lot of electrolytes; 5% of your daily value and more than double the amount in pop.  Powerade is very similar to Gatorade, but is newer. Although Powerade does not have nearly as many flavors as Gatorade, it claims to be the better brand because it supplies kids with more energy. Basically; it has more sugar. Thirdly, there’s All Sport. All Sport is not as well known as the other two drinks; but it still drunk often by teens. It’s a lot more natural and fruity than most sports drinks, but still contains high amounts of acids. Most sports drinks are different from each other, and there are so many different brands out there that it would take forever to talk about each one. Just make sure to reach the ingredients and nutrition info on the back.

         There are several advantages to sports drinks. Kids crave sugar, especially after working their butts off playing a sport. By drinking a Gatorade, they can quench both their sugar craving and thirst at the same time. It’s a better choice to fix their sugar craving by drinking some of a sports drink instead of gulping down a Big Mac and two donuts. When you are playing a sport for a long time, you tend to sweat a lot which results in you losing potassium and sodium. Plus, you burn a lot of carbs. Sports drinks contain lots of electrolytes that help you regain the sodium you need. They also contain carbs, which give you lots of energy to go on with your day. All of the pretty colours and yummy sounding flavors of sports drinks draw kids in and make them want to drink them. This can be good because sports drinks are partly water, which will help keep them hydrated when participating in a tiring sport or activity. Also, sports drinks are usually a better choice than pop because they have a lot less sugar and calories. One can of Coke contains 39 grams of sugar!

          There are many disadvantages too. It’s recommended that teens consume no more than 18-36 grams of sugar a day. A 20 ounce bottle of Gatorade contains 35 grams of sugar alone, which is almost going over the recommended intake. And although you may think that because it isn’t completely over the recommended intake, it’s still a LOT because no one just drinks one Gatorade each day and doesn’t eat or drink anything else. Sports drinks also contain a lot more sodium and sugar than needed to give athletes “energy.” Children are drawn to these drinks because they come in blue, red, purple and even magenta--- so much more exciting than boring old water. Well they may look better, but food colouring actually very bad for you. Food colouring contains lots of chemicals that just haven’t been tested enough for long-term damage. All teens nowadays are picking up Gatorades and Powerades from their local corner shop and bringing them back for movie night with their buds. They sit there chugging down the high energy drinks and then attempt to pull an all nighter. This is abusing and overusing sports drinks! The only people that should be drinking Gatorade are intense athletes that train for at least an hour each day. Sports drinks can also give cravings that lead to people wanting more and more sugar. The large amount of sugar can also damage teeth. People start to think that sports drinks are a healthy substitute for water, which is absolutely incorrect. Water is necessary for EVERYONE to drink lots of EVERY DAY.

           So... are sports drinks good for teens? The answer is YES and NO. If sports drinks are consumed responsibly, then they can definitely boost an athlete’s performance. However, you shouldn’t chug down a Gatorade after going on a ten minute run around the block. Big no no. Personally, I believe that it is best for athletes to just go the old fashioned route; drink lots of water before and after exercising. Sure, water doesn’t taste as fabulous as Gatorade, but it will keep you refreshed and hydrate. Plus, then you can save your sugary craving for something even yummier--- and hopefully not too unhealthy. Water is safe and contains no sugar or sodium at all! You could also have some fruit after exercising to fill up your empty stomach and give you nutrients. This article isn’t on ENERGY drinks, but I would just like to point out that sport drinks are almost always a lot healthier than them. Drinks like MONSTER can be very dangerous to kids and harm them. But, we’ll save that discussion for another time. Just remember, always be aware of what you are eating and drinking, and make sure that if you do drink an energy drink... you’re not superman, so be wary!

For more information, visit the sites I used:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/27/health.sports.drinks.teens/index.html

http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons

http://www.gatorade.com/frequently_asked_questions/

http://voices.yahoo.com/is-gatorade-bad-know-about-1621491.html?cat=5

http://www.livestrong.com/article/241331-benefits-of-sports-drinks-like-gatorade-and-powerade/

http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/gatorade/

http://www.ehow.com/way_5758048_much-sugar-safe-daily-diet_.html

Are Sports Drinks Healthy for Teens?

Are sports drink actually good for you? Believe it or not, the answer is YES! However sports drinks aren't supposed to be drunk unless you are doing a workout that is at least an hour or longer.

Sports Drinks like "Gatorade" and "Powerade" were intended to improve athletic performance by replacing fluid  lost in sweat, these drinks include ingredients like sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, and sugar, to restock your energy. However you are only supposed to be drinking about 1/2-3/4 cups of water or a sports drink every 15-20 minutes. By drinking Gatorade you also may tend to drink more, which also means more sugar in your system. If you are going to be working out/exercising for a long period of time drinking a sports drink will help you in the long run as it helps replenish lost fluids and sodium your body has gotten rid of.

Personally, i believe that drinking Sports Drinks is better for teens, as many kids crave sugary and different flavoured drinks and it is also better than teens drinking pops like ; coke, pepsi, rootbeet etc.
However i think that water would be the best choice for teens to drink, whether they are just walking to school, doing a light workout or playing a sport. Also a study showed that with the decrease in teens drinking soda and more teens drinking water and sports drinks the amount of fruit consumed also went up, especially with the girls.

I do also realize that Gatorade is packed with sugar as well, it has about 35 grams of sugar per bottle,but since that is less sugar that is found in other drinks and soda's it is considered a better choice for many teens. Another problem with teens is that most of the time they are dehydrated, and if their drink tastes better they are most likey going to drink more of it and become less dehydrated. One of the big problems with sports drinks being very easily accesible to teens and young childern these days, everywhere you go whethers it's the grocery store, mall, gas station etc. they all carry sports drinks.

Sports Drinks were not meant for un-active teens, they were intended to help your body recover from losing many fluids during a HIGH intensity workout, not just a walk around the park, If you play a very active sport where you will be sweating alot like hockey, soccer, basketball etc. then Gatorade would be helpful in helping your body recover. So i think that if you do work out and are involved in a high intesnsity workout then i agree that sports drinks are alright for you once in a while.

CE Topic : Are Sports Drinks Good For Teens?

       Everyone needs to stay hydrated to stay healthy, and you can't go wrong giving kids plain water. But what about kids who play sports? Do they need something extra to avoid dehydration? When it comes to hydrating kids and children, particularly those who play sports, there's a huge selection of sodas, juices, teas, bottled waters and other fluids to choose from. Another selection  of drinks are causing a riot: sports and energy drinks.

       Sports and energy drinks can include anything from sports drinks to vitamin waters, to "high-energy" drinks. What they all have in common, is added ingredients they say that "do" something extra, whether it's increasing energy and alertness, boosting nutrition, or even enhance athletic performance. But are they good options for kids?

       Not really. The average young athlete can and should get all the necessary nutrients and hydration by eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. During games and competitive events, drinks should be available at all times and regular water breaks should be about every 15 to 30 minutes. The amount of water needed can be different depending on the child's age, weight, intensity of the sport or activity, and weather conditions.

       It's pretty ordinary to see kids chugging a Gatorade or other sports drink at a sporting event, but nutrition experts, adults and pediatricians want to make sure that children know there's a right time and a wrong time to drink them.Sports drinks and energy drinks are different types of drinks. Sports drinks contain carbs, minerals, electrolytes, artificial flavoring, and calories. They replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating during intense exercise. Also, energy drinks are loaded with caffeine and other stimulants including guarana and taurine.

       Energy drinks are not appropriate for children and should not be consumed. Some cans or bottles of energy drinks have more than 100 milligrams of caffeine. Which is an alarming and dangerous rate. Especially for children. The real ingredient is caffeine. Caffeine is addictive but just like adults, kids can have withdrawal from caffeine. Too much caffeine equals results in no sleep, unable to concentrate on anything, and in very rare cases. Death.

       These two drinks are a danger to kids everywhere today. Even though I tend to drink sport drinks here and there. Some people have totally neglected the drinks, and called them "fancy sugar water".
This just goes to show, that some people can be really mean.

       I'm sorry if this blog post isn't as long as my last one, for I don't have much time. But thank you anyways to whoever reads this post, and as always. Comments, improvents and suggestions in the section BELOW.

Links I used to help me with my post

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/phys-ed-are-sports-drinks-actually-good-for-kids/

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/30/pediatricians-no-energy-drinks-for-kids-greatly-limit-use-of-sports-drinks/

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/05May/Pages/energy-drinks-and-children.aspx

ARE SPORTS DRINKS GOOD FOR TEENS? ~ May 16/12

Are sports drinks good for teens?  Sports drinks are designed to help athletes rehydrate when fluids are depleted after training or competition.  Teens that are physically active in sports are more likely to thirst on sport drinks. Sports drinks has become so popular because they taste good. The question is are sports drinks good for a healthy teens lifestyle?

Sports drinks are popular because it has flavor, sugar and artificial colour to attract customers. Gatorade is the best selling sports drinks today. It contains water, sugar, artificial colour, electrolytes, glucose, fructose and fructose corn syrup. Gatorade is designed to keep athletes hydrated. The amount of carbohydrates in Gatorade can cause obesity. 

Isotonic, Hypnotic and  Hypertonic are the 3 popular types of sports drinks. Isotonic quickly replaces fluids loss by sweating. It also supplies a boost of carbohydrates. Hypnotic replaces fluid loss and is best for low perspiration athletes such as gymnasts. Hypnotic adds daily carbohydrates after exercise. This drink is often used for athletes that are long distance runners.   

When people think of the word "sports" drinks they mainly think of a drink full of vitamin and nutrients. Sports drinks are good once in a while for athletes that train and sweat. If you just attend gym class at school it's not necessary to take sports drinks. 

An advantage to sports drinks is that they are transportable. You can even recycle them. You can stop by any convenient store to purchase them and you can grab a few out of your fridge if you have a stock of them! It also contains high amounts of protein and loads of carbohydrates. You can lose a great deal of vitamins and fluids.

Disadvantages to sports drinks is that it is full of sugar just to make them taste good. Most customers end of buying more and more because of the sugar that is added. It can cost between $1.50 -$2.50. If you drink up to 2 or 3 products each day you can spend more than $30 in a week. All your money is going to a drink that can cause harm to your body.  Sports drink can also dissolve or stain your teeth. With the acidity in sports drinks it can dissolve your teeth because of the sugar and sodium that cling to your teeth and eat away your teeth. Sports drinks can cause an effect to your health too. With too much sugar it can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and weight gain. 

Sports drinks are not good for teens because it's not good for your body. It contains too much sugar which I find to be a little sweet. Try not to spend over $30 a week if you are the type of person that drinks up to 2 or 3 products a day. If you ever want to hydrate your self drink water. Athletes shouldn't drink sports drinks more than once a day because they can always drink water. Water is essential for life. It's also way more refreshing! Decide your self if sports drinks are the best way to replenish your body's natural fluids.

My sources:

• http://caloriecount.about.com/sports-drinks-healthy-necessary-b501723
• http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/27/health.sports.drinks.teens/index.html
• http://www.lifescript.com/diet-fitness/articles/s/sports_drinks_exploring_the_pros_and_cons.aspx
• http://www.lifescript.com/diet-fitness/articles/s/sports_drinks_exploring_the_pros_and_cons.aspx

Homework?

Hi guys, I'm just wondering since dinny told me on facebook. Did we have to write a poem for homework? If we did, can you just please tell me. Because I need to get on that right away. Thanks

You guys are doing GREAT!

Wow, this is fantastic! ALL of you posted and pretty much on time too. :) I am really proud, and I appreciate the effort. I am sorry that my post was a bit late, and I will try to make it on time next week. Keep up the great work, girls... and Jefrrey.

Should High Schools Be Regulating what WE eat?

Sorry that this is an hour late! I had horseback riding after school and finished my blog immediately when I got home. I hope it hasn't affected any of you. :(

When people first go to high school, they often have many misconceptions about it. One of the most common beliefs they have are that the cafeteria food will look like sloppy green mush and the lunch lady with have a huge wart on her face and secretly wants to torture all of the students. We call these misconceptions for a reason... because they are false! Some of the cafeteria/lunch ladies at school may have a wart or too, but more often than not; they are pretty friendly. Many kids enjoy the cafeteria food; there are many options, it’s easier than making lunch, and it’s cheap.

In this day and age, obesity is a big problem for high school students. For teens, 35% of boys, and 29% of girls in Canada are overweight, some of which are even obese. And that’s just Canada alone. Several other countries, such as the United States have an even higher percentage of overweight teens. The government is aware of this, and has finally decided to take action. All of the schools in Ontario are enforcing new cafeteria food regulations. There is to be no fried food sold (everything needs to be baked,) and only 20% of them menu is allowed to consist of high-fat or processed items such as cheese or hotdogs. Some school have even gone as far as to ban bagged lunches in Chicago and others even confiscate food that is considered “unhealthy.” These food regulations have started to spread throughout Canada, and there are mixed opinions on this. Some people believe that it's important to be healthy, and the school/government is only trying to help. While others believe that they are being cruel, and feel as if they are trapped in prison.

There are several pros to the new food regulations. Many teenagers aren’t even aware of how unhealthy some of the meals they eat are. By having cafeterias only supply healthy food, kids can still buy from the cafe; but also eat healthy.... some without even knowing it. For example, a teen could buy a whole-wheat sandwich with lettuce and other vegetables and love it. They then may start to buy it every day, or make it at home, and without even knowing it; they have already started a healthier diet. However, as ideal as that situation is, it’s not very realistic. Teenagers are like animals; most of them will rip into any food put in front of them. That’s why if we make it easier for them to eat healthier, then they may even enjoy it. They just need a helpful shove in the right direction. When the cafeteria is supplied with hamburgers, pizza, pop, fries, etc, then they are making it even easier for high school students to access unneeded calories and sugar. A high percentage of parents aren’t aware of what their children eat during school hours. They have no way of controlling what their kids eat, so there only chance is to be good role models. BUT, obesity isn’t only an issue between teens and kids; adults are making unhealthy food decisions as well. Teens want to be trusted and responsible, but let’s face it; some of them are just not capable of making healthy life decisions. Teenagers can be ignorant; it’s a part of growing up. That’s why the government/schools have taken it upon them to make us aware.

Of course, there are cons to this as well. Teenagers have the natural instinct to rebel. They don’t like to be told what to do. When someone forces them to do something, they are likely going to do the opposite of it. Some teenagers feel that they are almost adults, and they are capable of making their own decisions. When the government/school forces them to eat certain foods, they want to prove that they are in charge of themselves. Most high schools have several restaurants and fast food places within walking distance, and students will just resort to buying lunch at these places every day. Places like McDonalds, Wendy’s, KFC, etc are more often than not are a lot unhealthier than the cafeteria food was before the rules stepped in. Some kids just stop eating lunch altogether, which can be very unhealthy because they aren’t getting the energy they need. Studies have shown that ever since the lunch regulations were put in the place, cafeteria sales have decreased.

If it were my choice, I would want to compromise. The schools in Chicago that are forcing kids to only eat food from the cafeteria are going overboard. Being that controlling only leads to negative side effects. On the other hand, allowing schools to sell a ton of harmful/unhealthy foods is going to make kids feel like they are in jail, and they will start to dislike food. I agree that eating healthy is very important, along with exercise. But we need to educate teens. If they don’t know what they are eating, then how are they expected to change their bad habits? The schools should hold an awareness assembly of some time that encourages and teaches teenagers how to make healthy food choices. When I am deciding what eat, I often pay attention to the nutrition facts. When I see something has a lot of calories, then I know I will feel gross after I eat it. Perhaps on the menu, the cafeteria could give all of the nutrition facts. That way teens become more attentive of what they are eating. A smart—and sneaky—way schools could help teens eat healthier is by making food similar to the what they like, but modifying it a bit. For example, instead of a greasy, fat burger with a white thick bun and loads of cheese, they could sell veggie burgers with a whole wheat bun, a tiny bit of cheese and some vegetables. Or, they could sell banana bread but make it with apple sauce and whole wheat flour instead of lots of sugar and oil. I believe the government is just trying to help us and do what they believe is best for us. We are teenagers, and this is an important part of our life. It is OUR job to make good decisions and be a healthy wait---- after all, bikini season is coming up!

 Here are the links I used:

http://www.middleschooldebate.com/documents/Junkfood.pdf *This was very resouceful because it provided both sides of the situation.*

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2012/05/08/keep-junk-food-out-of-high-school-cafeterias *Gave lots of facts and percentages. Also gave a specific example about one high school*

 http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Content.aspx?id=6926 *I liked this site because I learned that some of the facts I believed were true, are actually myths.*

http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-health/teen-obesity.html                  and http://www.truestarhealth.com/members/cm_archives05ML4P1A23.html *Both these sites were useful for when I was finding facts on teen obesity. The second link was especially helpful because it's based on Canada.*

http://teenadvice.about.com/od/yourbody/a/how_to_eat_healthy_at_school.htm *This gave me lots of tips on how we can improve our school's cafeteria and what food would be a wise desision to include.*

 http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2011/04/26/the-state-has-no-place-in-the-lunch-bags-of-a-nation/ *This is the link Ms.Lees provided and probably the most useful of all. I got several statistics from here and opinions.*

Do students really need letter grades ?

Letter grades is a big deal for school. Its what every student and parent is either looking forward to or dreading every year. You either get a ,A ,B+ , B , C+, C, C-, F. A is the best you can get then F is the worst  you can get it means failed. If you do very poorly in school and get a really bad letter grade it reflects on your college and carrier applications. Letter grades have been in school for a long time but now some school are questioning or have stopped handing out letter grades all together.The University of Toronto is suggesting changes to their grading system.I think that letter grades are important because when you get your report card you want to see how your doing and your progress that your making and see if you need to do better. What if you got a really bad letter grade but because your school is not handing them out you cant see what your getting you could be failing and not knowing it. By getting your report cards you see what your getting and if your not doing well you can try harder and achieve your goal. So i think its best to get letter grades because without them i think that allot of parents and students would be upset because report cards is such a important thing for school you need good grades to pass high school and to get into college or get a good job , like who would want to hire you if you didn't know what you were doing or you were not qualified for the job they would need your letter grades to see this.

Daniela.R

Mandatory Physical Fitness for University Students?

           Mandatory fitness might not seem very appealing to some of you. People usually do not like to be forced and they like to do things when they want to. Every person has their own exercising routine and some schools are forcing the students to come out to the gym and work out certain days instead of letting themselves be responsible for their own fitness. The schools are highly encouraging these rules with some good reasons but some of the students are thinking differently and going against them. Let’s see what there own opinions are!

           There are a couple beneficial results from getting exercise. First, researchers have proven that physically fit students do better in school and it has shown that it is due to the blood flow that helps their brain work better. The amount of blood and oxygen that goes into the brain increases which leads to decrease of stress and better mood. Who would like to do work when they are in a grumpy mood? Moreover, having physical activity before studying is proven to help students focus on their work for a longer period of time. A lot of students get distracted by other things around them and eventually fool around, talk to their neighbours, fiddle around with their pencils and more. These work habits are commonly seen from many students in any grade but physical activity prevents the students from showing these bad work habits which is perfect. Therefore, the quality of their work and their overall work habits would be much better if they concentrate and focus. And here comes the reason that everyone gives on why they should exercise…it should be mandatory because they can keep in shape and be fit through out their lives. Once they’re used to the routine, there would be a high chance of continuing them even when they do not go to school. It’s important to be fit because if they aren’t, they will be a lot sicker which could affect their school career. These reasons clearly prove why it should be mandatory for students to get physical fitness. 

           Along with the persuasive reasons on why students should go to the gym, now it’s from the students perspectives. It sounds like the schools’ opinion is perfectly reasonable but the students’ opinions are a whole different story. They do realize that going to the gym is very beneficial for them but the argument is… do they need to FORCE them? The issue is that, they are in university and they are clearly adults now so therefore, they could be responsible for their own fitness and health. They aren’t little children who have to be reminded and watched. They can decide what’s healthy and beneficial for their health and control certain food they eat and get the right amount of exercise rather than trying to follow what everyone else does. Everyone has different routines and they know what the best is for them. Moreover, it is unfair for the BCIT students because they are the only students that come out for exercise when they could have other plans and things they could do. The reason is because there are stereotypes that think that computer programmers always sit in front of the computer with nerdy glasses and never get off of their chairs. The students disagree on this and in fact, a lot of them work out on their own time several times a week even when they aren’t forced to. Surprisingly, students who study different subjects could be not getting enough exercise than the BCIT students. Many people watch TV, go on computers, and play with their phones for a long period of time. Furthermore, they are forced to go to the gym at 8:30am sharp and when they arrive, they don't give any specific instructions and they make them do any exercise. That wouldn’t be fun at all. Who would want to work out in the morning with bags under their eyes without any certain instructions? People would probably lack off. The BCIT students can’t even skip or miss their gym periods because it affects their mark if they do. Basically, the whole point of going to the gym is to check their name off of the attendance list and just stand there not knowing what to do.    
      

           Therefore, there are pros and cons of making it mandatory for students to go to the gym and get physical fitness. Everyone has their own opinions but personally, I support the students because I never like being forced to do certain things. Even if I don’t get forced to go to the gym and get exercise, I can jog around the neighbourhood in my free time quickly every day or so. The school is making a big deal out of it and it’s honestly up to themselves whether they want to get some exercise or not. People have different ways and routines and it seems like the school is caring beyond their school career. To meet the students expectations and needs, the school could help arrange times that work for most students and let it be optional for students whether they want to come work out or not depending on their schedules. Even though I get the point of this mandatory rule, I wish that the school would be a bit more thoughtful and listen to the students’ opinions and try to work it out for everyone so there aren’t or not many complaints.

Sources I used:

http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/03/12/health-news-you-wont-want-to-sit-down-for/#more-244421

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120102180846.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128113246.htm

http://www.academica.ca/top10/stories/1570

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2012/04/20/mandatory-gym-ctrl-alt-delete/

SHOULD SCHOOL/GOVERMENT AGENTCIES BE REGULATING OUR LUNCHES? ~ May 9/12

Should schools/government agencies be regulating our lunches?

 In some states today schools are not allowed to bring a bagged lunch from home. Why? Schools think that teenagers/children should have a healthy diet and life style. They wish for teenagers/children to make healthier choices instead of eating fast food or other lunch stores that are convenient.  

School/government agencies are worried for students because some parents don't pack anything nutritional in there lunch bags. For example: Pop/soda, candy, chocolate , fried food etc...  Instead the school cafeteria will offer a balanced lunch meal involving all the 4 food groups. Such as vegetables, fruits, whole wheat, whole grain and maybe even organic!  

In the article it stated that the little village academy in Chicago was banned from students bringing home bagged lunches. Every student is required to eat lunch in the school cafeteria. What happens if students don't like the meals that they are given? In other areas in Chicago students get inspected of the lunches they bring. Also like all other schools in the world everyone has a strict policy and food guideline. The school boards are getting more money if students eat in the cafeteria.

Many students are obese because of the lack of exercise and the poor choices of meals they eat. If students that are struggling with there weight eating meals at the cafeteria could be a good idea. If students are athletic and maintain there weight and there eating style it could be a problem. They could think that it's unfair. A lot of us teenagers enjoy eating lunch with their friends out of bounds of school.

My opinion is that we shouldn't allow schools to regulate our lunches. Don't they trust us or our parents? It's our right to make are own choices. I agree that students should eat healthy and have a good healthy eating habit in the future. However we deserve to have a little freedom! Don't you think? Some students might think that the meals that the cafeteria has is nasty! I've noticed that not a lot of teenagers at my school buy lunch at the cafeteria. They usually buy a cookie, muffin or anything else to munch on at break.

I love going out for lunch. I absolutely love eating hot fresh french fries! Mmmmm... I try to maintain my eating diet so I can stay healthy. If teens/children get exercise daily and eat healthy to the best if there ability, I think they will be just fine!!!

My sources:

•  http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2011/04/26/the-state-has-no-place-in-the-lunch-bags-of-a-nation/

• http://www.inhabitots.com/should-public-schools-be-allowed-to-examine-and-regulate-home-packed-lunches/2/