SNAP IS VACCINE AGAINST HUNGER

Children’s HealthWatch has found that SNAP benefits are associated with decreased rates of low birth rate among pregnant women receiving benefits; increased child intake of key vitamins and minerals; and lower risk of anemia, obesity, poor health, developmental delays, failure-to-thrive hospitalizations, low academic test scores, and child abuse or neglect reports in households with children. "There is good medical data that say that when children who receive SNAP compared to similar children who don’t, they are less likely to be hospitalized, less likely to have academic problem, less likely to be obese and anemic," said Pediatrician, Deborah Frank. "Children who are malnourished in early life are much less able as they grow up to compete in a knowledge-based economy, and also sick people have a tough time working," said Frank. "Even brief periods of nutritional deprivation and the toxic stress of being hungry, even if not for weeks and weeks, affects how the brain develops and how it works later on."

 

Source: Huffington Post, 10/9/13, SNAP as Vaccine