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Wellness Letter 3 WWCC Wellness News In This Issue: This will be the last newsletter
of the semester. I'll be back with more Wellness News in August. Have
a wonderful summer everyone! When Texas House members arrived at work on April 7th, they found little gray boxes on their desks. Inside each box was a pedometer, a device intended to measure how far each member walks or runs. The House members also found out there is a ban on doughnuts in Representative Jaime Capelo's office. It may sound like a fitness craze hit the Texas Legislature, but it is an effort to show support for the nutrition bill than bans vending machines in Texas schools. Capelo is the chairman of the House Public Health Committee and author of a bill that was the subject of many hours of debate in Capelo's committee on April 7th. Capelo believes that it is simply not enough to talk about an issue from a public policy perspective, but that each member should model the effort and set a good example as well. He said the distribution of pedometers to lawmakers was meant to send a message. Capelo said, "There is an alarming trend in health care costs attributed to obesity and diabetes." The intent of the bill is to reduce childhood obesity and diabetes in Texas, which health authorities have labeled as "alarming." Overweight children are at a higher risk of serious medical problems, such as Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and certain cancers, health authorities state. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs agrees with Capelo. Combs stated that obesity hits minorities hardest and can reduce a person's life expectancy by 20 years. She believes that parents have a right to expect that their schools will do no harm. The legislation would also create the Schoolchildren's Nutrition and Health Advisory Council to promote physical, nutrition, and health education. Capelo would like to see his lawmakers model good physical, nutrition, and health behaviors. According to the legislation, food and drinks would be prohibited if they do not meet the nutritional standards allowed in the National School Breakfast Program, the National Lunch Program, or the After School Snack Program. Many vending machine snacks do not meet the guidelines. Opponents of the bill, including school superintendents, argued that the proposal could take millions of dollars from cash-starved schools that rely on revenue from vending machines contracts. These revenues fund activities that are not funded through regular budgets, such as field trips. Capelo replied that he has no intention of taking money from public schools. His goal is to make children healthier and to reduce the alarming health care costs related to obesity and diabetes in Texas. Anyone want to try and lobby our legislators to pass a similar bill? Source: Abilene Reporter News
We all know the dangers of second-hand smoke. But, have you ever heard of the dangers of second-hand antibiotic use? If someone is taking an antibiotic they do not need, even bacteria residing in others in the household can mutate and become resistant to the drugs. The mutated bacteria then multiply, causing strains of illnesses that are resistant to antibiotics. According to researchers at Harvard School of Public Health, a large number of cases of pneumonia, meningitis, and other serious infections could be resistant to both penicillin and erythromycin by > July of 2004. These antibiotics are losing their effectiveness at a rapid rate. Many common illnesses are becoming harder to treat than they were just ten years ago. Why? Overuse. Both doctors and patients are responsible for reducing the antibiotic misuse. Be sure to do your part in being a savvy consumer of antibiotics. Take antibiotics only when you have a bacterial infection. Antibiotics do not work when you have a virus. Make sure you use take every pill prescribed, even though you feel better. This could help us all in the future when we really need an antibiotic!
(some of the exercises can
be used in car travel also) In-flight exercise #1 In-flight exercise #2 In-flight exercise #3 In-flight exercise #4 Before you fly: After you fly: A few good stretching exercises for plane or car... * Tilt your neck over to your right shoulder and hold the position for 10 seconds, then repeat to the left. * Look down at your belly button and hold for 10 seconds. Then, look over your right shoulder and hold 10 seconds. Repeat to the left. * Stretch both arms over your head as high as possible (reach for the ceiling), hold 10 seconds * Using your left hand, pull your right arm across your chest and hold for 10. Repeat on the other side. * If possible, stretch your legs forward under the seat in front of you. * Rotate your torso around to your right, as though you are going to talk to the person behind you. Repeat on the left side. Continue rotating right then left for a few repetitions. * Clasp your hands together and pull your arms forward as far in front of you as possible. Drop your chin to your chest for a better stretch (your arms will be up by your ears). * If possible, bend forward between your legs as far as possible and let your arms hang between your legs. Roll up one vertebrae at a time. Happy Traveling To You All!
The General Nutrition Center (GNC) will pull all ephedra products from their shelves by end of June 2003. GNC is based in Pittsburgh and owned by Dutch retailer Royal Numico N.V. It's 5,300 stores make GNC the largest specialty retailer in the nutritional supplement industry. Products containing ephedra have been suspected of contributing to deaths, including Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler this past February. Suffolk County in New York has banned ephedra products, and New York City is considering a ban on products containing ephedra as well. GNC said they should still remain profitable for 2003. They said success of the new ephedra-free products, "showed us that the consumer trend towards e-free products is on the rise." Until there is more information on the safety of ephedra, GNC has made the responsible decision to move in a different direction and promote e-free products. Good for GNC!
A recent study revealed that fermented cabbage, or sauerkraut, may contain even more cancer-fighting compounds than raw or cooked cabbage. Fermenting the cabbage appears to produce isothiocyanates, compounds that have demonstrated anti-carcinogenic properties in laboratory studies. The formation of plant-derived biomolecules during sauerkraut fermentation was studied. Cabbage was fermented with a starter culture, and the results were compared to the results of spontaneous fermentation. The concentration of flavonoids and glucosinolates was analyzed and the results showed that the fermented cabbage had the highest level of these compounds. Cabbage is rich in a compound called glucosinolate, and fermenting cabbage appears to break down glucosinolates into anti-carcinogenic compounds. These compounds are also found in other cruciferous foods. Laboratory studies suggest that isothiocyanates encourage cancer cells to die off. More research is needed to determine the effects of these compounds in the human diet. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2002 Nov 6;50(23):6798-6803
Recipes ... Tanya's Krazy Kabbage © Ingredients: 1 large head of cabbage Directions: Place cabbage in large glass bowl or casserole dish. Add water and season with Krazy Jane to your liking. Cover dish and microwave until cabbage is cooked and leaves separate easily.
Overnight Pork Roast With Sauerkraut Ingredients: 1-2 large cans sauerkraut Directions: Put the pork roast in a roasting pan on a RACK. Fill the roasting pan with sauerkraut and cover. At bedtime (11:00 pm or so), put it into a 175 degree oven. When you wake in the morning, add the beer and let cook for 4-5 more hours. Make mashed potatoes and spread the pork and sauerkraut over the whole works. Enjoy! Option #1: You can bury lean hot dogs (or soy dogs) into the mix around noon, cook for 15-30 minutes, and serve for lunch. Kids love it! Option #2: You can cook, refrigerate, and reheat the entire meal for a later dinner, if preferred.
Tuna-Stuffed Manicotti Ingredients: 10-12 whole-wheat manicotti
(Hodgson Mill) Sauce: Topping: Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare an 11- x 7-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. Prepare pasta shells according to package directions; drain. To prepare filling, combine tuna, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, parsley, onions, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Stuff cooked pasta shells with tuna mixture and place seam side down in prepared pan. To prepare sauce, combine remaining cottage cheese, yogurt, dill weed, and garlic powder. Spoon over pasta shells. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 minutes. Approximate nutrients: 350 calories; 2 g total fat; 1 g saturated fat; 31 mg cholesterol; 550 mg sodium; 41 g carbohydrates; 4 g fiber; 41 g protein; 160 mg folate.
Tanya's Too Healthy Banana
Oat Bran Muffins © Ingredients: 2 cups buttermilk Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Using no-stick cooking spray, spray 18 jumbo, or 36 regular, muffin
tins. Blend milk with baking powder and soda in a large bowl. Let mixture
cure for about 5 minutes until bubbly. Add brown sugar, Splenda, and
cinnamon and blend thoroughly. Blend bananas with eggs and fat replacement
in a separate bowl. Add to milk mixture. Fold in flour, bran, and 5-grain
cereal only until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon batter into muffin
tins. Bake 15-20 minutes until muffins are lightly browned and firm
to touch. Cool muffins before removing from tins. Place on wire rack
to cool completely. Bag and freeze extras. |
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