by kelsey | Jul 28, 2011 | Heart Health
I read an interesting article today that I couldn’t resist sharing with you. According to the American Heart Association, the cost of heart disease last year was $450 billion. A recent article published on MedlinePlus discussed how prevention programs such as our STRIVE 2 Survive wellness program and our nutrition services we provide at the clinic are a wise long-term investment in the national health and economy.
Authors in a the AHA statement calculated that for ever $1 spend on the construction of bike and walking paths, medical costs would be reduced by $3.
In addition, the nationwide push to reduce salt in our food supply would help save $26 billion in health care costs each year by helping Americans stay within the recommended sodium guidelines (1500 mg/day).
Our society has gotten into the habit of turning to a medicine to help improve their condition, however the key is really in our own hands and mind by making lifestyle changes to improve our health and well-being.
Adapting to a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular activity can reduce risk of disease, aid in longevity, and save you some money in your wallet!
You can view the full article at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_114694.html
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jul 27, 2011 | Food
Last night I made a tasty supper with grilled shrimp. The shrimp was our protein and then we added wild rice (a whole grain), a lettuce salad, and some fresh red grapes to create a healthy plate. This was a very quick and easy meal to make. We often forget that we can grill fish in addition to our typical grilled meats such as burgers, brats, chicken, steak, etc. I bought a bag of cooked shrimp, unthawed the frozen shrimp in the refridgerator (do not thaw on the counter!), and then mixed it up with some healthy extra virgin olive oil and a little seasoning. I then grilled it for about 10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes. Shrimp is a great source of protein that is low in calories and rich in vitamins D and B12 and other minerals. It is also proven to help raise your HDL (good) cholesterol and lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. Next time you’re at the grocery store, I encourage you to check out the fish selections to add some variety to your menu plan!
*Please note that if you do have a shellfish allergy, shrimp and other shellfish should be avoided!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jul 26, 2011 | Etc.
We are getting very excited to gear up for our fall 2011 session to start on September 6th! This will be our 4th session. If you’re looking to improve your cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, weight, or just overall health, we’re here for you! Please view our calendar tab for dates and contact us if you’re interested and/or want to learn more! Contact us NOW to get signed up!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jul 21, 2011 | Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Good job South Dakotans!! The CDC has released the latest obesity statistics from 2010 and we have improved! Our incidence of obesity went from 38% in 2009 to 36.9% in 2010. I congratulate you all on a job well done on making efforts to improve your health and wellness. Whether it’s by eating healthier, exercising more, or watching your portions, every little bit counts to help improve your health and wellbeing.
You can view the rest of the results at: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/display.asp?cat=OB&yr=2010&qkey=4409&state=SD
or read more about the report at: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011/07/CDC-finds-sharp-rise-in-obesity-state-by-state/49515506/1?csp=ylf
I have included a picture of a South Dakota sunset from last week on my bike ride. This really makes me appreciate living in a beautiful state (despite our winters)!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jul 20, 2011 | Weight Management, Wellness/Health
A new Havard study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine recently, supports the notion of how lifestyle interventions such as small changes in eating, exercise, and other healthy habits can result in large changes in body weight over time. This study tracked 120,877 well-educated men and women who were at healthy weights at the beginning of study for 12-20 years.
Their findings showed that processed foods such as french fries, pop, processed meats, and white refined grains resulted in long term weight gain. Whereas good, healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy products resulted in weight loss or weight maintenance. Other factors they examined were sleep, alcohol intake, television time, and smoking.
This large, long term study showed us that small changes in diet and exercise can truly result in improved health. For those people that count calories, you can be at rest that making healthy choices, practicing portion control, and engaging in regular activity can truly enhance your health and well-being and you do not necessarily have to count calories for life!
You can view the study at: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1014296
or read an article in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/health/19brody.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&ref=health
-Kelsey
