by Dan | Jun 14, 2014 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
The 18th Annual Hospital Hill took place earlier today, and was once again, a success. Over 150 people came out, even though the weather started off earlier with rain. It did hold off long enough for the race to occur, so nobody got wet. This race was started 18 years ago as a means to get people out to be active, and take charge of their own wellness and health. That is still the goal overall of this event each year. Everybody can come out and do some exercise, have a good time, and spend time with their family. This event would not be possible for me to do without the help of 2 very important people, besides all of the volunteers who help, and are very much appreciated. These 2 people are Tom Beaudry and Kris Munger.
Thank you very much Tom and Kris!!!!! You are my right and left hands, and I could not do this event without you! It truly is appreciated! I always tell everybody to keep moving, and today, you guys helped with that too!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2451
by kelsey | Jun 12, 2014 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management
When people think of summer it brings to mind family reunions, picnics, campfires and consequently hotdogs, potato salads, and s’mores. Here are some tips to make those summer months healthier:
-Summer is the best time of the year for fruits and vegetables! More fruits and vegetables are in season and are wonderful to incorporate in your diet. Try planting your own garden or checking out the local farmer’s market to stock up on a variety of fruits and vegetables. Our farmer’s market is open every Saturday morning in the Runnings parking lot. The melons have been especially delicious lately, so be sure to pick up some at our local grocery stores as well!
-Hotdogs and burgers are trademarks for summer. Instead of a sodium and fat packed hotdog or brat try to go for grilled chicken or lean red meats. If you are really craving that hotdog opt for the lower in fat turkey dog and watch your portions.
– Macaroni salad and potato salad are featured at the usual family get-together. The majority of these salads are going to contain high amounts of fat. Opt for fresh fruit or bring your own salad made with a low fat mayonnaise, low-fat Greek yogurt, or low fat sour cream.
-Be sure to drink plenty of water! Having at least eight 8oz. glasses a day is important to stay hydrated during the hot summer months.
– As for the infamous s’more, try dark chocolate and bananas (replacing the marshmallow) which will give you some antioxidants as well as taste great! Or just cut your portion to one s’more since it’s hard to mess with a classic!
-Get active! If you do indulge in some tasty, not-so-healthy treats this summer, just be sure to get in a little extra activity to balance your calories in with your calories out. Take advantage of the nice weather and get outside!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jun 10, 2014 | Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
June is national dairy month, thus it’s a great time to recognize and discuss the benefits we can get from dairy in our diets.
Cow’s milk is the richest source of well-absorbed calcium and is actually absorbed better (about 25%) than the calcium in soy milk. There is about 300 mg of calcium in an 8 oz serving of milk and we recommend getting at least 3 servings of dairy a day. A serving is equal to an 8oz (1 cup) serving of milk, 6 oz tub of yogurt, 1 oz cheese, 1/2 c cottage cheese. In addition to calcium, cow’s milk is an excellent source of phosphorus, vitamin B12, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin D, protein, and niacin…totalling 9 nutrients compared to only 4-5 nutrients found in soy and almond milk.
There are many other types of “milks” out there such as almond, rice, coconut, and soy, however these drinks are not the same as cow’s milk in regards to the nutritional qualities. Many of these milks use fortification (adding nutrients), whereas the nutrients are found naturally in cow’s milk. Below is a list from the Midwest Dairy Association about these beverage’s nutrient sources and nutrition quality (http://www.midwestdairy.com/0p335/dairy-imitators/)
- “Soy beverages are made from soybeans and are a good source of protein. However, according to the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS), soy protein is a lower quality protein than the whey protein found in dairy products.
- Rice-based beverages are generally processed from brown rice and are fortified with nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. Rice beverages typically contain only one gram of protein compared to eight grams in cow’s milk.
- Nut-based beverages can be ground from any nut and the most popular is almond. Almond beverages only supply one gram of protein per serving and lack many of the natural benefits found in almonds.
- Seed-based beverages, such as hemp, are newer to the marketplace. Their nutritional benefit is touted to be their omega fatty acid content. Similar to the other beverages, they also fall short on protein.”
Often times, these other “milks” contain higher sugar content, less calcium, less protein, and are absorbed less than those benefits in cow’s milk. Now if you have a lactose intolerance or milk allergy, these are certainly options for you, however if you do not have an allergy or intolerance, I highly encourage you to work towards getting your 3 a day servings of dairy and preferably low fat dairy. It will not only provide you with excellent vitamins and minerals to keep your bones and muscles healthy and strong, it will also provide you with an excellent source of protein.
For more information on the benefits of dairy, you can visit www.midwestdairy.com or contact my good friend and fellow Registered Dietitian Whitney Jerman at wjerman@midwestdairy.com.
I know I will enjoy a nice glass of cold milk tonight with supper, I hope you do too!
-Kelsey
by Dan | Jun 7, 2014 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
This afternoon we went and picked up my new training partner. Meet Zeus, our new purebred German Shephard! I found a new partner to take over where Buddy left off. He has a lot to live up to with Buddy, but so far he is off to a good start. We went for a short walk/jog this evening, and stayed by my side the whole way! He is now 7 weeks old.
Looking forward to having another training partner. I miss Buddy everyday! Hopefully this little guy with help fill that role. He has some big paws to fill, but as you can see, he is off to a great start! Look at the size of his paws already! Getting fired up for this summer, and spending time with my new training partner, and my family, who are all excited about this new addition. He came from the family of one of my daughter’s boyfriends, and we have been anticipating his arrival here since early April. Welcome home Zeus! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2444
by Dan | Jun 4, 2014 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
The first wednesday in June, today, June 4, is National Running Day, created back in 2009. It is a good time to reflect on why you run, or even better, a good day to begin to run, to encourage others to run and begin taking that first step. It is also a day to sign up for a race, set new goals, or to just run a little further than you ever had.
Here was this years start of the Fargo 5k in May. Over 6,000 people joined in, some running a 5k for the very first time. For the majority of us, we are in competition with ourselves. We are trying to create new goals for ourselves, and to begin with, our minds our the biggest obstacle. It is time to change, put your head down, and start thinking of a new goal. For those wanting a new challenge, the glow run is this friday night beginning at the Elks, at 8:30. No times, just for fun, and for charity! Following that is next weekend, June 14, the Hospital Hill 5k run and walk. Time to expand your horizons. You never know, following this, you may be thinking of a half marathon, or even a marathon, such as these at Disney this January.
There were over 25,000 runners in each of these 2 events in January. Some of us were even crazy enough to do both of them (like Steve and I!). You will never know what you are capable of unless you give it a try. The run club will be meeting at 5:30 PM at Anytime Fitness, so now would be as good a time as any to start to run. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2441
