Benefits for People that Quit Smoking

NIH Medline Plus lists the following benefits for those that quit smoking:

•20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate drops.


•12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal.

•2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your heart attack risk begins to drop, and lung function improves.

•1 to 9 months after quitting: Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

•1 year after quitting: Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

•5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker's.

•10 years after quitting: Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker's.

•15 years after quitting: Your risk of coronary heart disease returns to normal.

Recognize a Heart Attack

February is American Heart Month. Many people do not know the signs a woman displays when having a heart attack. Follow the links in this article to learn more about both prevention and recognizing the signs of trouble.

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Schedule 30 Minutes Every Day

There are 1440 minutes in every day. Do something active for at least 30 of them. It does not have to be something you hate. It does not have to hurt. Get more information and valuable links from Medline Plus.


http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseandphysicalfitness.html

It's a Great Sport

For a great time and some good exercise try out the Carey Lake Cross Country Ski Trails.  They are beautiful!  There are 8 miles of groomed trails for classic and skate skier.  Ski trails at Carey Lake are in a quadrant pattern and range from easy to difficult.

For a pdf copy of the trail map, click here.
 
For trail conditions, updates, and other information about skiing in Hibbing check the website of the Hibbing Nordic Ski Club.

Resuts of Another Study on the Benefits of Walking.

The More You Walk, the Lower Your Diabetes Risk: Study

.

10,000 steps daily 5 days a week three times more protective than just 3,000 steps a day.

Easy Recipes to Help You Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

The holiday season is over and all the extra goodies have been eaten. Time to start eating more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. It doesn't have to be hard. Check out some great tips and websites posted by the Federal Citizen Information Center - Bookmark and Share.

You will find fun, easy, and delicious recipes and healthy eating tools. Your family will love it. Enjoy!

More evidence olive oil and veggies help the heart

Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States?  Two thirds of the women that have a heart attack fail to make a recovery.  All women should take steps to prevent heart disease right now!  Don't put it off.

Get some tips by reading the article recently published by Reuters Health.

New Year Dieting Resolutions

It is the New Year resolution time again.  If you resolve to lose weight every year and it never quite works out, read this HealthDay article. 

Baby steps may be the answer to boosting your success.

Managing your weight with healthy eating : MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Managing your weight with healthy eating : MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

In order to manage your weight effectively you need to know what a balanced diet is for you. Read this article for tips and good food choices.

Important Information About Lead In Your Drinking Water

The City of Hibbing has found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes and buildings.  Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women, and young children.  For more information on the health effects of lead, sources of lead, and reducing your exposure to lead in your water:

1. Pick up the notice being distributed by the City at the Hibbing Public Library.
2. Visit the Public Utilities website at http://www.hpuc.com/
3. Visit the EPA's website at www.epa.gov/lead
4. Call the PUC at 218-262-7725.

Great Website for Women

Womenshealth.gov is a great source for information for women, teens, and girls. 

The website offers the following tips for a heart healthy diet:
•Eating plenty of vegetables and fruits.

•Making at least half of your daily grain consumption whole grains. These may include whole-grain barley, brown rice, whole-grain corn and oatmeal.

•Eating low-fat dairy foods, such as yogurt, cheese and milk.

•Getting lots of nuts and dry beans, lean meat, fish and poultry without the skin.

•Favoring polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats via vegetable oils, fish and nuts.

•Avoiding: saturated and trans fats, sodium (salt), cholesterol and added sugars.

Holiday Season Safety Tips

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From picking a fresh tree to treating burns in the kitchen, these savety tips are worth repeating.

Walk Indoors During the Cold Months

Regular Walking May Slow Decline of Alzheimer's

Researchers also find that walking 6 miles a week can help prevent onset of disease

So now you have yet another good reason to get out and walk.

Click here for the complete Health Day article.

When the weather is cold and snowy you can walk at one of the following:

1.  Mesabi Mall

2.  Irongate Mall

3.  Hibbing High School

Beef and Vegetable Kebabs

By Mayo Clinic staff

Dietitian’s tip:

Marinating meat before grilling not only adds flavor but also reduces the chance that cancer-causing substances will form on the meat during grilling. Marinating also helps keep meat from burning and charring.



Serves 2

Ingredients

½ cup brown rice

2 cups water

4 ounces top sirloin (choice)

3 tablespoons fat-free Italian dressing

1 green pepper, seeded and cut into 4 pieces

4 cherry tomatoes

1 small onion, cut into 4 wedges

2 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes, or metal skewers



Directions

In a saucepan over high heat, combine the rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. Add more water if necessary to keep the rice from drying out. Transfer to a small bowl to keep warm.

Cut the meat into 4 equal portions. Put the meat in a small bowl and pour Italian dressing over the top. Put in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to marinate, turning as needed.

Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill or a broiler. Away from the heat source, lightly coat the grill rack or broiler pan with cooking spray. Position the cooking rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source.

Thread 2 cubes of meat, 2 green pepper slices, 2 cherry tomatoes and 2 onion wedges onto each skewer. Place the kebabs on the grill rack or broiler pan. Grill or broil the kebabs for about 5 to 10 minutes, turning as needed.

Divide the rice onto individual plates. Top with 1 kebab and serve immediately.



Nutritional Analysis (per serving)

Calories 330
Cholesterol 50 mg
Protein 22 g
Sodium 370 mg
Carbohydrate 48 g
Fiber 4 g
Total fat 5 g
Potassium 620 mg
Saturated fat 2 g
Calcium 37 mg
Monounsaturated Fat 2 g

Consumer Updates Serious Concerns Over Alcoholic Beverages with Added Caffeine

Consumer Updates Serious Concerns Over Alcoholic Beverages with Added Caffeine

Read this article and find out about the latest information on the "malt versions" of alcoholic / caffeinated drinks.

World AIDS Day

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Get informed and stay safe.

With the information and links in the article from the FDA Office of Women's Health and the Federal Citizen Information Center, you can find out how to protect yourself and your loved ones from HIV infection and learn what's being done to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Tips for Staying Safe on the Roads This Winter

1.  Take your car in for a checkup.  Breaking down on the side of the road is not safe.
2.  Create a car safety kit.  If you do get stranded a safety kit may keep you more comforable and safe.  Things to include are a blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, radio, first aid kit, jumper cables, granola bars, bottled water, ice scraper, and an extra pair of warm gloves, a hat, and boots.
3.  Start early and slow down. 
4.  Drop the destractions.  No texting, no fiddling with the GPS, no phone calls.  Put your hands on the steering wheel and focus on the road and what is going on around you.

Happy winter travels!

Quit Smoking

SmokeFree.gov outlines why quitting smoking is so difficult and offers tips to help smokers develop strategies to quit smoking and stay quit for life.

Just click HERE for links and additional information.

The time time to quit is now

500 Revolutionary Recipes for Better Living

New York Times bestselling author, Mark Bittman has written a new cookbook. You will want to look at "The Food Matters Cookbook" for straightforward ideas on easy, delicious foods that are as good for you as they are for the planet.
Since his own health prompted him to change his diet, Bittman has perfected cooking tasty dishes based on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Meat and other animal products are often included--but no longer as the main centerpiece dish.

Bittman also offers advice on how to find sustainable and flavorful meat and how to shop for dairy products, grains, and vegetables without waisting money on fancy organic labels. Lose weight, eat healthier, and heal the planet just by using the recipes and advice in this cookbook.

For more information visit Bittman's website at www.markbittman.co/ and check out his book at the library.

Save the Date

FREE


Special Screening & Panel Discussion

Monday, November 22nd, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Fairview Plaza, Hibbing in the Taconite Room.

FREE

“COLD TURKEY” sandwiches to the first 75 people in the door.

For more information:  218-726-4721 or northland@LungMN.org

Most people believe smoking is an individual choice.  But in reality that choice is shaped by many things and impacts many people lives.  This event is a special screening of "Tobacco Addiction: the Unfiltered Truth".  The film offers a glimpse into the personal journeys of four Minnesotans that suggests the "choice" to use tobacco isn't as simple as it seems.  A panel discussion will following the screening.