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A Warning From the “Hand-Washing Police”
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We've all been taught to wash our hands after using the bathroom, and many of us do so diligently. I mean, it's a rule, right? You go to the bathroom...and you wash your hands. There are sinks with soap and water conveniently placed next to the exits for our use. So we do use them, right?Well, most of us do...but according to a recent study, it was found that about 33% of men don't wash their hands after using a public restroom (compared to only 12% of women). That's more than twice as many men as women...and there are more interesting details here.
So, why aren't our husbands, boyfriends, sons and fathers using those sinks? Well, the study doesn't say, but if you do anything for the health and well-being of your male loved ones (and yourself!), tell them to wash up! The hand-washing police is watching!
Eunice, DTR, CPT-ACE
Nutrition Specialist
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going”
Labels: Men's health
Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Improve Your Acne?
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We have all been through puberty and we all know what acne can do to your social life...a bright red pimple is not the best way to become socially accepted. It affects our self esteem when all we want to do is fit in, but don't despair, there is hope.What we eat can indeed affect the severity of your acne breakouts. If you have too many fried foods, processed foods and dairy you may end up with a breakout. According to “Cutting out dairy may reduce acne” by Lauren La Rose, research shows that the lower the antioxidant levels in your body, the more breakouts you have. Sorry ladies and gentlemen, you can't blame it solely on the cheese and ice cream you are eating, even though there might be a correlation between your breakouts and the amount of dairy you consume. As with most everything, moderation is the key!
The secret to a radiant complexion is to have a diet balanced with whole grains, lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables. Remember, when your parents told you sardines and salmon were good for you? It is the power of the antioxidants that help to reduce swelling and provide you with the nutrients your body needs.
Wendy, BSc, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Thoughts determine what you want...Action determines what you get."
Labels: Skin care
I've had bad acne for as long as I can remember. I had to cut out dairy last year when I realized I'm (slightly) lactose intolerant, but that didn't do anything for my skin, unfortunately.
HOWEVER, I started taking Omega 3 fish oil pills about three months ago and they are doing wonders for my skin! I don't even need to wear make-up anymore: it's that much of a miracle.
It took nearly 3 months to see results, and I broke out badly at first, but be patient. It's totally worth it!
Bikes, Not Punches, Thrown at a NYC Gym
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Talk about the need to release some pent up anger!It is not unusual for people to relieve stress at the gym, especially by joining an intense exercise class like spinning. However, in this particular cycling class, one member completely lost control and cast a fellow gym-goer AND his bike against the wall for refusing to cease and desist his disruptive noises.
Obviously this is not the first time someone herniated a disk working out; of course, the circumstances of this gym-related injury were a bit more physical for a 'normal' gym setting. Ouch!
Tracey, MS, RD
Nutrition Specialist
"Where there's a will, there's a way"
Labels: exercise
Young Kids Need to See the Dentist Too!
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Nutrition Specialist
Labels: children, dentist office
Teach Your Children How to Read Food Labels
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With obesity on the rise and the decrease of physical activity in children, why not teach them to read food labels?Knowledge of food labels is one of the first steps in adapting a healthier lifestyle. So teaching children to read food labels is an important part of this process. After all, if children learn how to read food labels they will become informed adults.
The FDA is very supportive of this, they have even partnered with the Cartoon Network “to launch a public education campaign encouraging 9-13 year olds (tweens) to read the nutritional facts on food labels.”
Of course, younger children may not necessarily understand things like cholesterol or trans fat; however, basic knowledge of calories, sugar content and fiber will make a big difference in their overall health.
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Years teach us more than books"
Labels: children
Eating Healthy Doesn’t Mean Loosen the Belt and Eat More
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Research indicates that people tend to consume more calories if they believe they are eating at a restaurant that markets itself as a healthy alternative. What people seem to forget is that a calorie is a calorie, “healthy” or not. If you eat a lot of calories the end result is weight gain.
Dr. Pierre Chandon puts it this way, “People think that the same 1000-calorie meal has 159 fewer calories if it comes from Subway than if it comes from McDonald's. If they choose to consume this fictitious ‘calorie credit’… and they eat at Subway twice a week for a year, they could gain an extra 4.9 pounds a year.”
A study done at Cornell University in Ithaca also warns not to be fooled into eating more simply because a food is supposed to be “good” for you. Dr. Brian Wansink and Dr. Chandon report the results of their studies in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
You never know what you can do, unless you try!
Labels: appetite
Is Football Season Ruining Your Diet?
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It's football season (!!!) and we are excited about our favorite teams. We are looking forward to meeting our friends and watching the big game at our local bar or pub, but this might just spell disaster if you are watching your diet. It can get tricky if you are at your local pub, especially with the beers, pizza, nachos and let's not forget the chicken wings. Anyone getting hungry? If you are watching the game at home, you are better able to have healthy options around to choose from. You can have popcorn, low fat, baked chips, a vegetable tray with low fat dips, and even some cut up fruit with fat free whipped topping.
Remember, moderation is the key! I would also suggest a healthy breakfast and/or lunch before heading out to see the game as well as fitting in some much needed gym time that day to balance out those extra, unwanted calories.
Go Steelers! Cheers!
Wendy, BSc, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Life does not happen to us, it happens from us."
Labels: dining out
Rising Gas Prices Could Make You Skinny???
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Are you fed up with the rising gas prices? Maybe you won't be after you learn that it can trim not only your wallet, but also your waistline. You may be thinking, “How is this possible?” It's rather simple: it can force people to walk more and save you a few bucks in the process.Actually, I love to walk but living in an area where public transportation is not the best, I can see why people would rather drive everywhere. Is this good? Absolutely not, but I think that a better transportation system would deter people from driving everywhere.
I was in Europe this summer and I was surprised to see the number of people walking. My two uncles who are in their seventies are as fit as a fiddle. One owns a car but almost never drives because he either walks or takes the bus or tube. They go grocery shopping at least twice per week and yes, they actually walk.
I found this to be a refreshing change but I was quickly brought back to reality after I got back from my trip. Gas prices are soaring there too but the difference is that they have an excellent public transportation, especially in the city areas. Maybe our local government should consider revamping the public transportation system. Think about this the next time you vote; it could help keep you fit!
Samantha, RD, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist.
“We are all measured by inches, ages, numbers and all the outside things that don’t add up to who we are on the inside. So let your weight loss journey be one of self-acceptance every step of the way. If you are unhappy with yourself fifty pounds heavier you’ll probably feel the same way when you lose the weight. Happiness is not embedded in outward appearances.”
Labels: exercise
I agree completely Samantha! Public transportation should be something we push for and wouldn't it be nice to be as healthy as our European relatives!
A Bulging Britney?! What?!
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Over the past year, Britney Spears has been criticized for her every movement, whether it be her parenting skills or wild night's spent partying, but after MTV's Video Music Awards the focus has moved away from her erratic behavior and on to her physique.
“Lard and Clear” and “bulging belly” were some of the nasty and unfair references made about Britney's body. Maybe she brought this scrutiny on by wearing next to nothing on stage; yet, what kind of message are these comments sending to young girls?
And this at a time when we were finally taking encouraging steps in the right direction, away from the skinny, skeleton-like frames of actresses, supermodels, and singers and on to healthier looking figures.
I don't know about you, but I'm sure there are many women out there that would be very comfortable and happy in a body like Britney's (not necessarily her outfit). Maybe we should tune out the rag mags /shows so they are forced to start sending the right message to our youngsters.
Tracey, MS, RD
Nutrition Specialist
"Where there's a will, there's a way"
Labels: Media
College Is Not Just For the Young Anymore!
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Physically attending classes seemed to be the biggest hindrance, but now college courses are so readily available, a college degree is no longer out of reach!
Colleges are now offering courses on-line, at night, and even businesses working around current schedules is becoming a hot commodity.
Some parents whose children have gone off to college or moved out are now left home alone and wondering on their future. Why NOT go back to school? I love this idea!
If you do go back, you don't have to worry about being the oldest one either, as so many are pursuing their interests.
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
It's one day at a time and that's what you need to focus on; each day that you do this will make you stronger for the next!
Labels: Mental Health
Some Professions Make a Huge Difference in Our Physical Activity
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It is no secret that people with a sedentary job need additional exercise for optimal health, especially when trying to lose weight. But have you ever wondered just how the professions rank in physical activity during an average work day?
Well, researchers gave pedometers to 98 workers in 10 different occupations. These workers were then asked to wear the pedometers for three consecutive work days. Keep in mind the recommended goal for optimal health is 10,000 steps for the day. Here were their findings:
On the lower end are Secretaries who logged an average of 4,327 steps a day, Teachers logged 4,726 steps, Lawyers at 5,062 and Police Officers averaged 5,336.
As far the jobs that really get you moving, they include Mail Carriers at 18,904 steps per day (WOW!...and that does not include being chased by Spot!), Custodians at 12,991 steps per day, Restaurant Servers with 10,087 steps and Nurses at 8,648 steps per day.
So even if you are not able to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, choosing an “active profession” will give you adequate exercise for good health.
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
“If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.”
Labels: work
Eating Less Meat May Help Reduce Gas Emissions
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And I am not talking about the gas that comes from the exhaust of our cars…we are talking about livestock! The medical journal, The Lancet, has recently launched a scientific series on Energy and Health talking about this subject. Part of the research from this series reveals that a realistic reduction of only 10% of the world-wide meat consumption can help drop livestock production of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the methane flatulence from the animals. The animals mentioned were cows, sheep and goats.The paper indicates that world-wide meat consumption is 100g per person per day with a ten-fold variation between the lower-consuming and higher-consuming populations. And the trend of eating more meat has increased with time; for instance, Chinese people are now consuming double the amount of meat they were ten years ago.
Agriculture contributes almost 25% of the greenhouse pollution and 80% of that comes from the potent methane and nitrous oxide from livestock.
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take care, take control and Enjoy!
Labels: Environment
Why not just give the animals some Gas-X or Tums???
If someone figures out how to harness the methane, it could be turned into methanol for use in our autos. That would solve both methane pollution and auto pollution.
Your Job Can Be a Real Pain in the Neck, Shoulders, Legs, Lungs...
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Yes it is true, working is a real Occupational Hazard. According to a study at the Institute of New Zealand, 34% of people who suffer clots in their lungs and legs spent a great deal of time sitting. This prevents the muscles from massaging your veins and results in decreased blood flow.
That's not all...women's desks were found to have twice as much bacteria as men's...that's sickening! But wait there is more...”one in 15 of all desks are a breeding ground for the super bug MRSA.” Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus can be spread by just touching a desk with the virus. Did someone say sick day?
That brings us to those neck pains which are often caused by leaning in to see the computer or holding the phone (look, no hands!). We have all done it, lean forward for a better visual, but this is not working for our eyes. So how do we fix this? Well having the screen at eye level and using headphones.
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
“The greatest wealth is health”
Labels: work
Sport or gluttony?
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Eating competitions are becoming quite a TV attraction. They seem to attract more people each year. But is it healthy for the competitors to eat 66 hot dogs or more in 12 minutes. There is growing concern that these competitions are sending the wrong message in today's society, especially since we are battling an obesity crisis in the country, ranging from children to adults.
I find myself intrigued at the training methods of some competitors. It ranges from starvation before the contest and losing weight to be able to eat the excessive amount of calories. It is a competition that should not be taken lightly. There are risks of stomach perforations if you have ulcers as well as water intoxication, which is why as funny as it sounds training is required. Competitive eating is not a sport for everyone, but for some the 12 minutes of fame and prize money are worth the possible health risks.
Wendy, BSc. DTR
Nutrition Specialist
“Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.”
Labels: Competitive eating
Competitive eating is a horrible "sport" to have in life let alone on tv. We are trying to teach our children and ourselves that we need to have a healthy lifestyles. When there is stuff like this on tv our children are getting mixed message.
Nutrition Sells
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According to a grocery store in Maine, pointing customers toward better nutrition does pay off. The Hannaford Brothers Company formulated a guide that rates the nutritional content of food items sold in their stores. The system is based on zero to three stars. An item with zero stars is rated as having little or no nutritional value while three stars emphasizes a greater nutritional content.
Many food companies promote their own labels as being healthy, but often The Hannaford Brothers “Guiding Stars” nutritional rating system contradicted self-promoted healthy products, finding them to have little or no nutritional value and many times filled with excessive sodium or sugars. The yearlong study by The Hannaford Brothers Company concluded that their nutritional guide system has had a major impact steering consumers toward healthier choices, especially in the packaged-food category, including cereals, soups and breads. Lisa Southerland, assistant professor of pediatrics and nutritional science at Dartmouth Medical School and a member of The Hannaford Brothers nutritional advisory board remarked about the results of the study saying, “They are pretty much what I would have expected with an objective system that wasn’t designed to promote or negate one food or another.” Definitely, food for thought!
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"You never know what you can do, unless you try"
Labels: Grocery shopping
Do You Really Think Married Men do Less Housework than Live-In Boyfriends?!?
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No matter if you live with your boyfriend or are married, I know what you are thinking...been there, seen that!!But a recent study from sociologists at George Mason University and North Carolina State University, which involved 17,000 people from 28 different countries, indicate that married men perform less household labor than cohabiting ones. However, they didn't follow up with those living together to see if after marriage they changed their habits, which would have been very interesting.
The study suggests that no matter where you live in this world, gender or marriage "ideology" is more influential on how the labor is divided even if the couple thinks they are in an egalitarian relationship.
I still hope my husband will get more involved in the household chores...with time!
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take care, take control and Enjoy!
Labels: Relationships
In forty years of marriage my husband has never done any housework that I can remember. Not even in the early years. Not even when I've been down and out for medical reasons - like a knee replacement. I still love him and at this point in my life I don't expect him to do anything. If I poop out, what ever still to be done doesn't get done (his room is always last on my list).
I never a live-in boyfriend so can't comment on them.
What to Learn From the World's Healthiest Men?
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Good health has to do not only with your outside but with your inside as well. So aside from being physically fit, total wellness is affected also by other factors such as your stress level, vacation time, relationships and sex. The survey revealed many things, but overall nothing was too surprising. For instance, it revealed that apparently living near parks, having cooler weather, and owning dogs, increases the chances of a man becoming more active and fit. It also revealed that diets high in vegetables and seafood are part of a healthy diet. Surprise! So, where do American men fall? Well, according to this survey, the typical American male smokes fewer cigarettes and is fairly relaxed, but is not very happy in their relationships. Want to know who ranked the best and the worst in all categories? Read on!
Renee, BS, LD/N, ACSM
Nutrition Specialist
"If you had one car to get around in your lifetime, how would you treat it?"
Labels: Men's health
Increased Food Safety Concerns Due To Outsourcing
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It seems to me that almost every industry is turning to outsourcing for the manufacturing of products and/or services. From health care, clothing and textile to our basic home phone service, almost every industry is jumping on the bandwagon. So it's no surprise that food manufacturers would soon follow this trend.
While outsourcing has it pros, it's the food safety concern that has companies recalling products left, right and center. How many cases of tainted products have we heard about since the start of the year? Stop counting because chances are those numbers may increase overtime. That is why this issue has become such a huge food safety debate. According to the Director of Food Safety for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “If people cannot trace a product back to a supplier, the supplier has no incentives to keep their processes as clean and effective, in terms of food safety, as possible.” Seems to me though that the food industry would rather find another scapegoat for this issue. What do you think?
Samantha, RD, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist.
“We are all measured by inches, ages, numbers and all the outside things that don’t add up to who we are on the inside. So let your weight loss journey be one of self-acceptance every step of the way. If you are unhappy with yourself fifty pounds heavier you’ll probably feel the same way when you lose the weight. Happiness is not embedded in outward appearances.”
Labels: Food Safety
To Supplement Or Not To Supplement?
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When I was growing up, I never took vitamins. However, I also ate a much healthier diet than most kids eat today! The worst supplements are those that claim to cure or prevent certain diseases, yet can cause dangerous side effects and even death. Vitamin and mineral supplements can be safe if they are not consumed in excessive amounts, which has actually shown to increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. In fact, there are studies that have shown benefits from mild doses of vitamins and mineral supplements in healthy individuals. That said, many foods today are being enriched with vitamins and minerals, which increases the amount we are getting in our diet. Getting as much as we can from the food we eat is precisely why we always emphasize the importance of eating a “varied” diet!
Renee, BS, LD/N, ACSM
Nutrition Specialist
"If you had one car to get around in your lifetime, how would you treat it?"
Labels: supplements
Protect Yourself from Sun Protection Marketing
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Sun lovers beware! In 1999 the Federal Drug Administration published a series of guidelines for sun protection products. But, these outlines have been under scrutiny since their conception. And a more accurate set of rules and guidelines will not likely be published until sometime in 2009. In the mean time producers of “sun protection” products have more leniency to make unchecked and ongoing claims of sun protection. Currently, products are scrutinized for their ultraviolet B protection by means of a Sun Protection Factor or SPF rating. UVB rays are known to cause varying degrees of sunburn. However, we must be most wary of ultraviolet A rays for their more lethal damage often attributed to cancer. Until the new regulations are released many sun protection products and their labeling, ingredients and associated testing for ultraviolet A rays may go virtually unchecked. When the new rules are abided by, a 4 star system will outline the degree of UVA protection ranging from low to highest, in addition standard UVB SPF rating system. In the mean time keep your shades on and your best form of protection might be to find some shade!
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"You never know what you can do, unless you try"
Labels: cancer
Breastfeeding Saves Lives
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Breast feeding is not simply a form of good nutrition for a new born, mother's milk can literally save lives. An infant's weak and developing immune system can get a big boost by it’s mother's milk. Through the introduction of mom’s milk a baby develops antibodies and a series of productive proteins. Introducing mother's milk within the 1st hour of birth significantly strengthens an infant's immune system. The World Health Organization says that “If babies breastfed within the first hour, 1 million lives might be saved.”Respiratory illness, diarrhea and other common medical conditions easily treated in the western world, can prove fatal in less developed countries. And, even here in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that only 31 percent of mothers exclusively breast-fed their babies for at least the first 3 months compared with the target of 60 percent. Some woman express concern over their appearance if they did breast feed. Health organizations worldwide have clearly outlined that their figures clearly show improved health and well being as a result of breast-feeding.
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"You never know what you can do, unless you try"
Labels: breastfeeding