by kelsey | May 10, 2016 | Etc.
Attention parents of school athletes! The process for completing sports physicals has changed.
Beginning with the 2017/2018 school year, athletic physicals will need to be scheduled with your provider and submitted to your insurance company for coverage.
* Most insurance companies will cover the exam, but you should check with your carrier if you’re not certain.
…
The required History Form will need to be completed and signed by the athlete’s parent prior to seeing the physician. The form is available on the Brown Clinic website for your convenience: www.brownclinic.org
by kelsey | May 5, 2016 | Diet, Etc., Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Have you ever thought about how your environment impacts your health, wellness, and choices you make? Believe it or not, our environment plays a huge role with our choices and impact our health positively or negatively. For example, take a look at your fridge and assess the following:
Do you have: a family photo near the door handle, precut fruit on the center shelf, precut veggies on the center shelf, cut up fruit or veggies are in a “see-through” container, salad and veggie leftovers are in transparent containers or plastic wrap, healthiest snacks are on the front middle shelf, less healthy snacks are in the back or lower sides, health snacks such as yogurt, string cheese, eggs, low fat milk, etc are available.
Do you see the theme here? Putting our healthiest items in the front and center of our fridge so that when we open the door, we see them first, will help us make healthier choices! Also- putting those healthy foods in easy to see containers will remind us that we have them available and make them easier to choose. I am sure you all have bought a healthy item such as carrots and they got shoved to the back of the fridge and didn’t get eaten before they expired. It’s that concept of “out of sight, out of mind”….if we aren’t seeing them, we aren’t going to choose them and the fruits and veggies are not prepped initially, we are less likely to choose them as well. This requires a little work, but once we get into the habit of making our environment healthier, it will be easier to make healthier choices!
If you want to learn more about this concept, go check out the book Slim by Design. It’s a good read!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | May 4, 2016 | Weight Management, Wellness/Health
There are many different kinds of multivitamins and it’s hard to know which one is best for you. We always prefer you to get the vitamins and minerals from real food over supplements, so striving for a well balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, and lean proteins is the first step. If you are cutting calories to lose weight, you have a health condition that needs additional vitamins or minerals, or you just want to stay healthy and aid in disease prevention, a MVI may be for you. There are two types of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K and can be stored in our bodies. Water soluble vitamins such as the B vitamins and vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, which means we can only store so much and when excess is consumed, they are excreted out. This concept is very important to understand as often times, you may be wasting your money on a supplement if you are already getting adequate amounts through your diet.
Deidra Van Gilder, Pharm D discusses vitamins in our STRIVE lectures and she talked again last week (it’s always a great and very educational session!) and here is her take on the various kinds:
- Basic: contains essential vitamins from vitamin A to Zinc
- Women’s- more Calcium and Vitamin D to help support breast and bone health
- Men’s- more Lycopene for prostate health
- Silver (50+)- Supports eye health, bone health, and B vitamins for energy…Deidra recommends the Centrum Silver as an excellent one for this population.
- Prenatal- More folic acid, iron, and DHA (omega-3) to help support child growth
- Performance/Energy/Metabolism- Contain some herbals thought to help increase energy as well as extra B vitamins…be sure to ask your health care team about these before taking them as they may interact with your meds or contain extra caffeine.
- Cholesterol/Cardio- Contain phytosterols to help lower cholesterol
** Vitamins vary in the levels of vitamins/minerals they contain
** Look at the amount of calcium and vitamin D in each vitamin
** Some multivitamins don’t contain iron
** Grocery store generic vitamins are ok to buy
As you can see there are many different types of vitamins. Overall, we recommend just a basic multivitamin such as One a Day or Centrum Silver to help fill the gaps that your diet is not fulfilling (a multivitamin should NEVER replace real food included in a well balanced diet!). If you have a specific health need such as a woman being pregnant or you are over the age of 50, then you can take that specific vitamin to fit your needs. The supplement industry is not regulated by the FDA like prescription drugs are…thus it is essential to consult your health care provider before taking supplements to ensure it is appropriate for you.
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Apr 28, 2016 | Cooking Tips, Diabetes, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Spring and summer bring warmer temps and the desire for more frozen treats! Smoothies are a great way to cool off and get some great nutrients while you’re at it!
Lately there has been an explosion in the media discussing smoothies for weight loss, athletic performance, and meal replacements. Since the supplement industry heavily promotes “quick fixes”, keep in mind that an overall balanced diet is the best way to maintain or improve your health. The goal of many supplement industries is not to fix the problem, but rather to create addiction and increase revenue. Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and claims made for them are not always accurate or proven. However, homemade fruit and vegetable smoothies are way to guarantee your 5-A-Day natural nutrients. Consumption of fruits and vegetables may help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes while delivering fiber and vitamins. With a new season upon us, we are gifted with a wider variety of options to choose from when eating the rainbow. Contrary to the common belief, consuming the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables can be inexpensive and in the long run will save you money in terms of medical bills.
There are endless smoothie recipes you can use to make a quick breakfast, after a workout, or for an afternoon snack. Adding an extra boost to your smoothie such as protein powder or Greek yogurt will additionally provide other valuable nutrients. Here’s a guide to help get started
Add Fruit/Vegetable
|
Add Liquid
|
Add Thickener
|
Extra
|
| Banana, Berries, Apple, Pear, Peach, Kiwi, Pineapple, Cherries, Mango, Orange, Spinach, Kale, Beets, Carrots |
Dairy, Soy, Rice, or Almond Milk, Fruit Juice, Water, Iced Tea |
Peanut butter, Yogurt, Frozen yogurt, ice cubes, or oats. |
Honey, Cinnamon, Protein Powder, Mint, Figs, Dark Chocolate, Flaxseed. |
| Choose 2-3 |
Add 1-2 cups of liquid |
Pick your consistency |
Your preference |
Here are some examples:
Green Smoothie: Mango Chunks, Banana, Kale or Spinach, Apple Slices, Water, Plain low fat yogurt
Carrot Smoothie: Carrots, Orange, Pineapple, Low-sugar Apple Juice, Ice Cubes, Cinnamon
Desert Smoothie: Banana, Apple Slices, Low Fat/Skim Milk, Peanut Butter, Top with Dark Chocolate Shavings
Enjoy!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Apr 27, 2016 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management
Our friends at County Fair Foods provided some extra tasty treats for last night’s STRIVE meeting. Be sure to give these recipes a try!
Healthy Banana Cookies (pictured above)
Ingredients: 1 ripe banana, 1 cup rolled oats, raisins or craisins
Directions: Mix and mush all ingredients together and then shape into balls and then flatten them onto a cookie. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
Garden Fresh Cottage Cheese Salad (pictured above)
Ingredients: 2 containers (22oz) of 1% cottage cheese, 1 cucumber diced,1 tomato diced, 1 pkg Good Seasoning Italian Dressing.
Directions: Mix together and put in refrigerator for a few hours before serving. Can serve plain or with whole grain crackers.
Enjoy!!
