March 2012 Newsletter

Fast winds and warmer temperatures aren’t the only thing March brings. March is National Nutrition Month. Nutrition month awareness focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. It’s a simple and straightforward task: make healthy choices by incorporating a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy into your meals every day.  The ADA encourages all Americans to take time during National Nutrition Month to look at their eating patterns and begin to make the small improvements that, over time, add up to significant health benefits.

Each year the theme for Nutrition Month changes. This year’s theme, “Eat Right with Color,” provides an easy way to focus on improving eating habits — simply include plenty of color on your plate. Adding a splash of colorful seasonal foods to your plate makes for more than just a festive meal. A rainbow of foods creates a palette of nutrients, each with a different bundle of potential benefits for a healthful eating plan.

While we all know eating healthy is a good thing to do, we often think it’s difficult or too time consuming. However, you should understand that small changes in your food choices can make a big difference in the overall quality of your diet. You do not have to sacrifice all of your favorite foods. Usually, a person can find ways to include some of their favorites and still eat a healthy diet. The easiest two things to watch are portion control and not eating out too often. If you are encouraged to change your diet, you may want to start out slowly. Be easy on yourself; it’s better to do incremental changes to improve your diet than nothing at all.

Another easy way to improve your diet, is by adding more fruits and vegetables. People with diets high in fruits and veggies can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease and certain types of cancer. Keep in mind, people need between three and five cups of fruits and vegetables daily. In addition to adding more fruits and vegetables, look for food in its most whole state—closest to the way it’s produced in nature. The best ways to achieve this is twofold 1) Shop on the perimeter of the store, where freshest foods are kept and 2) Avoid any boxed or canned foods if at all possible. Being aware of additives in your food and drinks is also key. Common sense tells you to stop drinking soda; diet or regular as they are both loaded with additives and chemicals. Current research even shows that it is possible diet sodas actually cause weight gain, as they likely don’t satisfy the consumer’s sugar cravings.

I’ve just given you a few tips to make quick and easy improvements to your diet. I encourage each of you to take time to evaluate what you are eating this month and make changes if you are not eating well currently. You can only cheat your health for so long. It’s very hard to undo poor health decisions, so do it right the first time.

–Ashley Wynkoop

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Come learn more about your local association!

Soup du Jour

Chicken LaBrasa
Iced Tea and water

White Cloud Cake

We are collecting supplies again at the March luncheon to benefit Grace Medical Home. This is a great cause. A wish list is below.

 

                              Band-aids (different sizes)                                White Printer Paper (letter and legal)
Hand sanitizer                                              Pastel Blue Printer Paper (letter size)
Liquid Hand Soap                                                             Paper Clips
Benadryl allergy syrup                                                   Mailing Stamps
Aspirin                                                                     Post-It Notes

                                        Claritin                                                                      Legal Pads

                                      Robitussin                                                                Packing Tape

                                        Zyrtec                                                             File Folders (letter size)

                                  Baby Formula

                                      KY Jelly

                         Debrox Earwax Removal

             Compression Stockings (JOBST Relief Knee-highs)

                       Digital Blood Pressure Cuffs

        Hudson RCI Adult Aerosol Masks (Nebulizer Masks)

The mission of Grace Medical Home is to reflect the character and compassion of Christ by offering the highest level of medical care to those in our community who need it most.

For more information to go http://gracemedicalhome.org/