By Kac Young PhD, ND, DCH
For 35 years, Sesame Street has been the world’s largest informal educator of young children around the world. Not only can you learn your A-B-C’s, colors and numbers from Sesame Street but a team of educators, researchers, and writers continues to focus on designing segments that help children think things through and learn new ideas without sacrificing the creativity and fun that has made the show a trusted favorite for generations.
Plaza Sesamo, a Spanish-language version of Sesame Street, is a TV show is designed to help improve the health and health awareness of children ages 3 to 6. The project aims to teach children to eat a healthy and varied diet, to increase their physical activity, and to gain a better understanding and appreciation of a healthy human body — with particular emphasis on heart health.
The Spanish version of Sesame Street, Barrio Sésamo: Monstrous Supersanos is adding a brand new character, “Dr. Valentin Ruster.” inspired by the Director of New York City’s Mount Sinai Heart Center, Dr. Valentin Fuster, a prominent advocate for cardiovascular health around the globe and an international advisor on Sesame Workshop’s Global Health Initiative.
In the Muppet doctor’s own words, “I have dedicated myself to that miraculous, beautiful organ… the heart! My heart jumps at the chance to spend time with my furry friends in Barrio Sésamo. We love to exercise and eat scrumptious fruits and veggies together. But most of all, I just love to talk to my friends helping them get to the heart of any matter.” What a remarkable, positive, playful and entertaining way to learn about heart health at a very early age.
Many studies show that childhood obesity leads to cardiovascular disease, through an increase in risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Just when we may have thought TV was a waste of time, along comes this remarkable program to show us how popular media can help us live longer and healthier lives. What we need to keep in mind is that it is never too early to teach:
1. Foods that create healthy patterns for cardio vascular health.
2. Exercise that keeps us healthy and strong, inside and out.
3. Bad habits to avoid that will only harm us and not contribute to our health.
4. Early prevention halts later intervention.
The point is to tune into the “good stuff” so that many young lives can be saved. In fact, why not gather the whole family, adults, teens and tots around the TV and get everybody on the bandwagon for heart healthy entertainment. (Only heart healthy viewing snacks allowed!)
For more information about cholesterol levels, diet and exercise visit: www.HeartEasy.com
– Kac Young , a former television director and producer, has earned a Ph.D. in Natural Health and is a Doctor of both Clinical Hypnotherapy and Naturopathy. She is the author 10 books. Heart Easy is a system of nutritionally sound, delicious meals that promote heart health, long life and taste great. Traditional recipes are turned into heart healthy meals that anyone can make. The health results are outstanding.
While earning her Ph.D. in Natural Health and a Doctorate in Naturopathy, she completed 36 courses in nutrition from Baylor University.
She also earned a doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy. Her practice includes, weight control, smoking cessation, behavior modification, stress reduction, past-life regression, meditation training and phobia management. Her books include: “Heart Easy, The Food Lover’s Guide to Heart Healthy Eating,” “Discover Your Spiritual Genius,” “Feng Shui the Easy Way,” “Dancing with the Moon,” “21 Days to the Love of Your Life,” “Gold Mind,” “Cheese Dome Power,” The Path to Fabulous,” “The Quick Guide to Bach Flower Remedies” and “Supreme Healing.”