ACIDOPHILUS

Got yogurt? Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria, found in most yogurts containing active yogurt cultures, have been linked to health benefits in some studies. These benefits include improved resistance to infection. Yogurt is also an excellent source of protein and calcium.
Choose plain low-fat cultured yogurt mixed with fresh fruit for a snack or a dessert.


Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

WORKOUT BUDDY

If you find it hard to motivate yourself to exercise, consider finding a workout partner. According to our fitness experts, a lot of people miss fewer workouts when they are scheduled to meet someone else.
Meeting a friend for a regular walk or gym session makes you accountable to each other. It also gives you time to catch up and often makes your workout more fun!

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

More than 12,000 families will hear the words “your child has cancer”
this year alone. The emotional aspects of getting a cancer diagnosis and caring for a child with cancer can be overwhelming. If someone you know is in this situation encourage them to reach out to neighbors, co-workers, friends and extended family for help. Assistance with things like shopping, cooking and cleaning allows a caregiver to have more time and energy to take care of their sick child, be with their other children and stay connected with their partner. For resources and information about childhood cancer visit: www.curesearch.org.


Source: CureSearch for Children’s Cancer

PREVENTING FOOD POISONING

You cannot see or smell most of the bacteria that cause food poisoning. Under the right conditions, these same bacteria can double in number every 20 to 30 minutes! Food is safest when you avoid conditions that allow bacteria to thrive. This is why it is important to wash, cook and store food appropriately. Don’t leave food at room temperature longer than two hours, use leftovers within three days, and when in doubt, throw it out.


Source: Food and Drug Administration

STRENGTH TRAINING FOR THE GOLDEN YEARS

Do you think that age 65 is too old to be lifting weights? Not true!
Weight training is one of the secrets of aging gracefully. Weight lifting can help you reduce your risk of falling, improve your balance and coordination, increase everyday functioning and help maintain a healthy weight. These benefits don’t require heavy lifting. Use weights that are light enough so that you can do about 10-15 repetitions of an exercise for each muscle group. Aim to do muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week. If you are not sure what to do, ask a qualified fitness trainer.

BODY WEIGHT

Believe it or not, occasional overeating does not have to make a big impact on body weight. The extra calories can often be offset by exercise or careful choices on other days. But eating extra calories daily is different. Overeating by a consistent 100 calories per day can cause roughly a 10-pound weight gain over a year. That's fewer calories than you'll find in a 12-ounce can of sugared soda, a typical candy bar or a half-cup of regular ice cream. Focus on eating a balanced diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products.

KNOW SUICIDE RISK FACTORS

Suicide is a preventable public health problem. Depression and other mental or substance abuse disorders and a family history of mental disorders or substance abuse are some of the main risk factors for suicide. Prevention starts with early recognition and treatment of depression. If you or someone you know feels depressed and hopeless, seek help though your employee assistance program, physician or mental health professional.


Source: National Institute of Mental Health

TIP THE SCALES

According to the National Weight Control Registry, individuals who have lost weight and successfully kept it off for the long term weigh themselves at least once a week. If you do weigh yourself regularly, remember to do so at the same time of day, using the same scale and without clothing. To check the accuracy of your bathroom scale, weigh a 5-pound dumbbell or an object of a known weight.


Source:  The National Weight Control Registry

TRY SOYNUT BUTTER

Peanut butter is making a comeback as a healthy source of protein, vitamins and minerals. While not low fat, it is low in saturated fat.
If you're looking for another healthy spread to expand the variety of your meals or snacks, give soynut butter a try. One serving is 2 tablespoons (about the size of a golf ball) and provides 7 grams of soy protein. Soynut butter is also low in saturated fat and is a great alternative for those with nut allergies.

FOOD SAFETY AT HOME

You can significantly reduce your risk for foodborne illness by handling foods properly when cooking at home. According to the American Dietetic Association, four simple tips can help you keep food
safe:  1. Wash hands often when preparing food. 2. Keep raw meats and ready-to-eat foods separate. 3. Cook foods to proper temperatures. 4.
Refrigerate foods promptly below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

SUNGLASSES FOR KIDS

Experts recommend that everyone, including children, protect their eyes from the sun. Sunglasses with ultraviolet (UV) protection can help filter out damaging rays. Sunglasses that don’t block UV rays may actually be more harmful to wear.  Shop for glasses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays and that fit children’s active lifestyles. Think function instead of fashion when buying sunglasses. Look at the amount of UV protection, lens quality and durability to guarantee that you buy the right sunglasses for your child.

GRILLING SAFETY

There’s nothing like the aroma of grilled foods on the barbecue. When you gather with family and friends for the Labor Day weekend, enjoy but also keep safety in mind with the following tips: grill in open, well-ventilated areas away from the home and overhanging tree branches; do not wear loose clothing while grilling; keep children and pets away from the grill area; keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup; and never leave your grill unattended.

STRENGTH TRAINING

There has been debate about whether multiple sets (2-4) of a strength-training exercise produce more strength gains than doing only one set. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, more sets are better. However, if time tends to be an issue, completing even one set can be beneficial, especially if you choose a weight that causes you to reach muscular failure—the point at which you cannot perform any additional repetitions with proper form. So, the bottom line is that both quantity and quality will produce the best results from your strength training.   Source:  American College of Sports Medicine

JUMPING ROPE

Jumping rope for at least five minutes a day can improve physical fitness. If you work up to 10 minutes of nonstop rope jumping, you will gain the same benefits as 30 minutes of jogging, two sets of tennis, 18 holes of golf, and 720 yards of swimming. Those willing to learn and able to put out the extra effort can get healthy amounts of exercise rather quickly. Our fitness experts recommend minimizing the risk of injury by jumping on a shock-absorbing surface, such as a wooden floor or rubber mat.

TRACK IT!

Want to exercise more regularly? Consider keeping an activity log to track your progress. Keep track of when you exercise, what activity you did, how long you did the activity and how you felt during your workout. Records help many people stay motivated. Also, record the days that you planned to exercise, but didn't. What could you do different next time to fit in that workout?

TEEN DRIVING

Back to school means more young drivers on the road. According to the National Safety Council, the number of teens that die each day in the U.S. from motor vehicle accidents could fill a classroom. But this number can be reduced by up to 40 percent when parents enforce rules when their teen is learning to drive. Some of the most effective rules
include: zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol; never using a cell phone while driving; no passengers under age 18 until the driver is 18; wearing seat belts at all times; and limiting nighttime driving during the first six months.

GOLF—TO WALK OR RIDE

Golf can be a great way to improve your health and enjoy the outdoors.
Try walking more and riding less for the greatest benefits. If you typically use a cart, try these tips to get more out of your round:

- Walk alternate holes during a game.

- Walk one set of nines, ride the other.

- If you are at a course that requires carts, walk down the fairway to your ball while your partner brings the cart up.

- If playing with a partner who rides, ride only on the cart path and walk to and from the cart to your ball on every hole.

FRUIT & VEGGIE VARIETY

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is good for your health. It helps to sample new ones regularly to see which you like the best. To get started, purchase at least one fruit or vegetable this week that you've never had before. Suggestions include star fruit, radicchio, papaya, persimmon, arugula, endive, bok choy, snow peas or prickly pear. You may not like the first one you try, but eventually you will find some winners.