Health Tip: Take a Walk!

If you are a new walker make sure you do not overdo it!  See the tips on MedlinePlus


MedlinePlus: Trusted Health Information for You

Try the SuperTracker

SuperTracker:

My foods. My fitness. My health.

Get your personalized nutrition and physical activity plan.

Track your foods and physical activities to see how they stack up.

Get tips and support to help you make healthier choices and plan ahead.

 

 

Try this USDA website.

Celebrate Nature

Another great idea from the USA.gov team:


Even with all the technology we have today, there is no smartphone app that can substitute for mother nature. USA.gov has the tips and ideas you need to get out and enjoy the fresh air this season:

• Make an environmentally friendly difference in your own backyard by greenscaping. Did you know that yard waste is second only to paper in landfills? Learn how to “grasscycle,” and get tips on mulching, and composting properly to leave your yard looking great, and help the environment.
• Keep your trees strong and healthy with proper pruning techniques. Learn which branches to trim or remove to prevent injury or property damage, stop the spread of diseased or insect-infested wood, and make your foliage look its best.
• Whether you live in the city or country, house or apartment building, you can enjoy the birds in your neighborhood. Learn how to get their attention with food and water, so you can enjoy their beauty and song wherever you reside.
• If you’re looking to get away for a bit, consider the many National Trails throughout the country. If it’s a rainy day, or you just can’t make it out, you can still enjoy the beauty of this country’s different landscapes with the National Park System’s many webcams.

Getting outside is a great way to relieve stress and have a great time with the entire family. Whether it’s maintaining the yard or taking a walk, the place to be is outdoors!

Get Your Family Moving During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

The following information is from the USA.gov team:

As the weather gets nicer in May, it’s the perfect time to get outdoors to celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Spend some time this month enjoying the warmer weather while sneaking in extra physical activity. Use these tips from USA.gov to make fitness more fun:

Exercise doesn’t have to be boring. You can play games with your family like wiffle ball, tag and capture the flag. Go to a local park or use your backyard to run around with your kids. Before you know it, you’ll have met the daily guidelines of 60 minutes of movement for kids and 30 minutes for adults.

Take the President’s Fitness Challenge. Start with the physical fitness test to see how you stack up against other people your age. Based on your scores you can earn awards in different categories.

Look to your state tourism office or your local department of parks and recreation to learn about active events going on in your area. You may be able to find sports teams for your children to play on or adult recreational leagues for yourself.

No one wants to get hurt and have to spend time on the sidelines. But if you do end up with an injury, learn the best at-home treatments and when you should call in the professionals. You’ll also find tips on how to prevent more injuries in the future.

You can find more ideas to get you and your family moving at LetsMove.gov.

Make Sure Your Child's Bike is the Right Size

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these bike-buying guidelines:

• Have your child shop with you for a new bike to make sure it fits properly.
• Don't intentionally buy a bike that your child will "grow into." A bike that's too big can be very dangerous.
• Don't let your child ride a two-wheeled bike until about age 5, or until the child is physically ready.
• Make sure the child's feet reach the ground when sitting on the seat. When the child stands, there should be about an inch of room between the crotch and the bar of the bike.
• Make sure your child can easily reach the brakes.

Energy and Sports Drinks Eat Away at Teeth, Study Finds

Sports and energy drinks are causing irreversible damage to the teeth of teens and young adults in the United States, the authors of a new study claim.
High acidity levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel, the glossy outer layer of teeth, the researchers contend in the May/June issue of the journal General Dentistry.

See the complete article on MedlinePlus.

What is Healthy Eating?

The American Diabetes Association offers these guidelines for healthy eating:

• Choose a variety of healthy foods, including lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and non-fat dairy products.
• Limit portion sizes.
• Avoid eating too much of the same type of food.
• Eat meals regularly throughout the day at evenly spaced intervals.
• Don't skip any meal.

Getting Enough Sleep?

Some estimates suggest that more than 50 million American adults sleep less than 6 hours a night. According to a new paper in the American Journal of Human Biology, sleep deprivation could be linked to obesity, heart disease, and other chronic health problems.

Read more at MedlinePlus

Is Your Preschooler Eating Enough?

Your child’s appetite changes.
Children don’t grow as fast in their preschool
years. That’s why your child may have a smaller
appetite now. That’s normal. If he or she isn’t
hungry or doesn’t finish a meal, relax. Take the
food away.
Your child probably is eating enough if he or she is
full of energy and is growing and seems healthy. If
your child is losing weight or has special food
needs, get help from a health professional. This
isn’t the time to figure out the problem by yourself.
Most young children do best when fed four to six
mini-meals a day.



NIBBLES FOR HEALTH 18 Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service

Now Available at the Library

The 2012 Minnesota Grown Directory is now available at the library. This publication lists Minnesota Grown products and services that are available direct from the growers. You can search by area, product, and farm or market name.

Drop in and pick one up. They are free while the supply lasts.

Fruits and Veggies

Here Are Fruits, Veggies That Offer Best Bang for Your Buck

Strawberries, pineapple, spinach, broccoli and mustard greens are in season and good for you, experts say.  See the MedlinePlus article for full details.

MedlinePlus: Trusted Health Information for You

Young Americans Need to Cut Calorie Intake

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal of reducing the childhood obesity rate to 14.6 percent by 2020, and to do so children aged 2 to 19 would need to eliminate an average of 64 calories a day.

See this HealthDay article for more information.

Best Time of Day to Work Out

“The best time of the day is when you will do it most consistently, because the benefits of physical activity are tightly linked to the amount you do on a consistent basis,” said Russell Pate, M.D., professor of exercise science in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina in Columbus.
See the American Heart Association website for more details.

Create a Healthy Living Space

It is time for some spring cleaning.  Here ate some tips from USA.gov to help you make your living space healthier:

• Mold can grow easily in places you use every day, such as the sink, bath tub, heater or AC unit. It’s important to stay on top of cleaning these areas as soon as you notice the mold. Left untreated, mold can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home, and lead to health problems.
• Household products such as disinfectant, cleaning supplies and polishes can help make your cleaning duties much easier, but it’s important to remember they can be hazardous to your family and home too. The EPA offers guidelines on being smart when storing, using and disposing of your household products.
• Dust can pile up during the winter months when your windows stay closed, adding to allergies and other health problems. Increased dust could also mean you need to change your furnace or air purifier filters more often. Find out the ways dust can enter your home and ways you can remedy the situation.
• Unfortunately, unwanted rodents can show up in your basement, attic and other spots throughout the house any time of the year. Learn the appropriate steps for cleaning and disinfecting the areas and furnishings they’ve contaminated, and how to dispose of them properly.

Never to Late to Start

Exercise has benefits at all ages. 

See this Medline Plus article for great tips on exercising at any age.

Runners Tips

If you run marathons or other shorter events, remember that in addition to advance preparation you need to take care of your self the day of and day after the race.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these reminders:

• Make sure you eat properly and drink plenty of water.
• Lubricate the skin on any places where you may develop chafing or blisters.
• Dress in layers, so you can shed clothing as you get warmer during the race.
• Warm up with the walk to the race site and/or some light stretching.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the race site.

Have a Healthy Approach to Eating

The womenshealth.gov website says these factors can trigger an unhealthy attitude toward food among girls:

• Seeing that their mothers are very concerned with their weight.
• Having a mother who worries too much about her daughter's appearance and weight.
• Gaining weight naturally during puberty.
• Being influenced by peer pressure about appearance and weight.
• Having issues with self-esteem.
• Seeing examples of the "ideal" very thin body among images in the media.

Take Time for Health

Heart association finds Americans struggle to eat right, exercise and brush their teeth regularly.  Read this HealthDay article to find out if you are one of the people just too busy to be healthy.

Ask About Aspirin

Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of men and women.  In Minnesota over 75,000 people have had a stroke and approximately 144,000 have coronary artery disease.

Daily aspirin can help prevent a first heart attack or stroke.  You may be a candidate if:

You are a male between the ages of 45-79

You are a female between the ages of 55-79

You have not had a bleeding ulcer from the stomach or intestines

You are not allergic to aspirin

You are not taking any other clot-preventing or anit-inflammatory medications

Know for certain.  Ask your doctor or primary healthcare professional and go to

askaboutaspirin.com for more information.

 

 



Are You Eating Too Much Red Meat?

See the MedlinePlus article to find out about the controversy on eating read meat.  Research suggests that going meatless even a few days a week can significantly reduce the risk of many devastating diseases.  However the Beef Association gives a different perspective, "The scientific evidence to support the role of lean beef in a healthy, balanced diet is strong and there is nothing in this study that changes that fact," said Shalene McNeill, a registered dietitian and executive director of nutrition research at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.


MedlinePlus: Trusted Health Information for You