National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month

May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is the leading consumer and community-focused health organization dedicated to the prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones, the promotion of strong bones for life and the reduction of human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy and research.

The drastic consequence of osteoporosis is visible in the lives of the millions of sufferers worldwide. Researchers today know a lot about how you can protect your bones throughout your life. Getting enough calcium, vitamin D and regular exercise are important for your bones.

Feed Your Bones Today

Fact and Fiction about Osteoporosis


What You Need To Know About Milk

Nutrition and Health: Osteoporosis
by The Dairy and Nutrition Council of Indiana and Indiana Dairy Farmers

You’re never too young or too old to improve the health of your bones. Osteoporosis prevention should begin in childhood. But it shouldn’t stop there. Whatever your age, the habits you adopt now can affect your bone health for the rest of your life. Now is the time to take action.

May 29, National Senior Health and Fitness Day

Celebrate the 20th annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day. 100,000 older adults will participate in activities at more than 1,000 locations throughout the U.S. The goal is to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. National Senior Health and Fitness Day is the nation's largest annual health promotion event for older adults.

The 2013 Theme, "Think Healthy, Eat Healthy, Act Healthy...Be Healthy!"

Benefits of Getting Older

Global Aging

The Mature Fitness Awards are designed to encourage and recognize regular physical activity among adults age 50, 60, 70, and over. The program offers 25 activities with something for everyone, from beginning exercisers to long-time fitness enthusiasts. Many activities are appropriate (or can be adapted) for disabled participants. When selecting an activity, find one that you enjoy and that fits into your daily or weekly routine so you will be likely to stick with it.

Shopping and nutrition tips
for senior citizens
from Elisa Zeid, MS, RD

Resources and References

to Help Eating Well as We Age

Eating Well as We Age (pdf)

Resources for Seniors from Nutrition.gov

Older Americans Need To Make Every Calorie Count (pdf)

May 28, National Brisket Day Brisket on Rye Makeover

After

The original sandwich contained 6-1/2 ounces of brisket. By cutting back the brisket to 2 ounces lean saves 470 calories. Add vegetables to give the sandwich height, fiber and additional nutrients.

Ingredients

2 oz Brisket, lean

2 sl Rye Bread w/seeds

1 Onion, sliced

1/3 Red Pepper, grilled 

1 Romaine Leaves

6 Grape Tomatoes 

1/3 Cucumber, chopped

1 Tbsp Light Vinaigrette

Food Facts

Brisket is a beef cut taken from the breast or lower chest section, behind the foreshank. Brisket is an inexpensive boneless cut. In order to tenderize, the meat requires long, slow cooking to break down the collagen in the connective muscle tissues. 

Methods of Cooking
1. Basting
2. Smoking: Rubbing with a spice rub or marinating, then cooking slowly over indirect heat from charcoal or wood.

Tradition / Culture
Jewish: Braised as a pot roast; or cut for corned beef, which is further spiced and smoked to make pastrami.

Hong Kong: Cooked with spices over low heat until tender, and is commonly served with noodles in soup or curry.

Korean: Traditionally it is first boiled at low temperature with aromatic vegetables, then pressed with a heavy object overnight and served thinly sliced.

Britain: Cooked very slowly in a lidded casserole dish with gravy. The dish, known as a pot roast in the USA but more commonly as braised or stewed beef in the UK, is often accompanied by root vegetables.

Resource
Wikipedia. Brisket
ESHA, Food Processor

Memorial Day Traditions and Safety

Memorial Day Food Safety

visit www.fightbac.org

and Home Food Safety

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.  Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials of soldiers who lost their lives protecting our freedoms.  On Memorial Day the flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. At 3 p.m. local time, a national moment of remembrance takes place.

Memorial Day often marks the start of the summer vacation season. Families gather together for a long weekend marked by barbecuing, fireworks and trips to the beach. This is an important time to remember food safety practices.

The History of Memorial Day

Safe Summer Grilling Advice 
from the Department of Agriculture


Food Safety Advice for

Beach and Boat Outings

May 24, 2013 Heat Safety Awareness Day

May 24, Heat Safety Awareness Day
Resources.
1. National Weather Service
2. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hydrate Right

Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. Heat-related illnesses may occur when the body’s temperature rises too quickly to cool itself properly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration, excessive urination or sweating.

Heat-related illnesses can range from cramps to heat exhaustion to heat stroke. Heat stroke can result in death and requires immediate medical attention.

At Risk

Factors or conditions making some individuals more susceptible to heat-related illnesses include older adults, young children, physically disabled, excessive body weight, fever, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, prescription medication, alcohol use, and sunburn.

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water, non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids. Our body needs water to keep cool. Persons who are on fluid restrictive diets or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids. Limit caffeinated beverages and do not drink alcoholic beverages. 

Staying hydrated is important, especially when the temperature rises or during increased physical activity. Try these easy ways to increase your fluid intake:

1. Carry a reusable water bottle. Keep it full.
2. Add flavor to your water, such as slices of lemon, lime, cucumber or strawberries. Herbal ice teas can be a great way to increase fluids.
3. Eat fruit or popsicles. You can get fluids from the foods you eat. Watermelon and cantaloupe have high water content. A100% fruit juice pop provides fluids and is refreshing on a hot day.
4. Plan ahead. If you are going to be outside at a picnic or ball game, make sure to pack plenty of fluids.

Never Leave Children, Disabled Individuals

or Pets in Parked Vehicles

Each year children and pets left in parked cars die from hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is an acute condition occurring when the body absorbs more heat than it can handle. Studies have shown temperatures inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for children, pets and even adults. Leaving the windows slightly open does not significantly decrease the heating rate. The effects can be more severe on children because their bodies warm at a faster rate than adults.

 

PBSO demonstrates dangers of heat inside car

May, National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN)

The Council was originally founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 as the President’s Council on Youth Fitness. Since its beginning, the Council has been vital in getting Americans physically active through a range of programs, events and initiatives including the establishment of May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.

PCFSN was most recently known as the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. On June 10, 2010 President Barack Obama authorized in an Executive Order the name change and expanded the mission of the Council to include “nutrition”.

The Council seeks to promote good health through fitness, sports and nutrition for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through partnerships in national, state and local organizations, programs and initiatives. The Council plays a key role in the development of priorities, outreach and awareness efforts to improve the health and quality of life for all Americans. Among the Council's responsibilities are to encourage:

         1. Regular physical activity
         2. Participation in sports
         3. Healthy eating

The President’s Challenge

The President’s Challenge is the PCFSN signature awards and recognition program and includes the following:

* Youth Physical Fitness Test
* Adult Fitness Test
* Two School Recognition Programs
* Two Physical Activity Awards Programs
*  Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA)

*  Presidential Champions Award, available to people aged 6 and older.

PCFSN utilizes and promotes efforts associated with the following guidelines:

1. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans
3. National Physical Activity Plan

There are many national, regional, state and local programs and initiatives that aim to get Americans active and healthy. Below is a review of three programs: "Let's Move", "Kids Eat Right", and "We Can".

Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.

Let’s Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping children become more physically active.

First Lady Michelle Obama has been active with many groups in promoting the Let's Move program.

Let's Move! Active Schools Launch
with First Lady Michelle Obama

Beyoncé in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) created "Move Your Body" video for the Let's Move! Flash Workout. Here you will find First Lady Michelle Obama making a surprise visit to Alice Deal Middle School to join students in a Lets Move! Flash Workout. Over 600 schools across the country participated in similar workouts at the same time.

Kids Eat Right, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Kids Eat Right supports the efforts of the White House to end the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.

The goal of Kids Eat Right is to educate families, communities, and policy makers about the importance of quality nutrition. The Kids Eat Right campaign provides resources to help Academy members become recognized leaders in childhood obesity prevention.


We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) is  a science-based national education program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We Can helps children ages 8-13 stay at a healthy weight. We Can! offers materials to help caregivers and families encourage children to become more active.

60 Second PSA for We Can!

The We Can! materials provide simple suggestions for easily getting more physical activity.
We Can!® Tools and Resources
We Can! Make Physical Activity Fun
We Can! Try Tips to Eat Well and Move More

Resources

1. President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN)
2. The President’s Challenge
3. Let's Move
4. Kids Eat Right
5. We Can

May 22, International Day for Biological Diversity: Water and Biodiversity

The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). The 2013 theme is Water and Biodiversity; chosen to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. In addition, the period 2005-2015 is the International Decade for Action 'WATER FOR LIFE'.

UN Secretary-General message
"International Year of Water Cooperation 2013"

The United Nations has prepared materials on Natural Solutions For Water Security. This is a segment on "The Elements of Good Practices in the Drinking Water Sector".

Finalists of 2013 edition of UN-Water 

´Water for Life´ Best Practices Award

Clean water, free of pollution, bacteria and other contaminants, is the bedrock upon which sustainable, thriving and equitable human societies are built. Good governance of the ecosystems providing us with quality drinking water is an essential pre-requisite involving the cooperation of private sector enterprises, all levels of government, public agencies, indigenous and local communities, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.

Water is a deeply local issue in terms of availability, economic and environmental setting, climate and conflicting interests. 

Good policy approaches for drinking water require holistic strategic approaches involving full consideration of:
* Water quality and availability
* Managing drinking water for both present and future needs
* Maintaining ecosystem integrity and functions
* The role of biodiversity
* Realistic approaches

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month May 17, World Hypertension Day

The World Hypertension League (WHL) is a division of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH), and is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO).

World Hypertension Day was established to highlight preventable stroke, heart and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection and treatment.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body.


Know Your Blood Pressure Number
The first number, systolic blood pressure measures the maximum pressure exerted as the heart contracts. A measurement over 90 and under 140 is generally considered normal for an adult.
The lower number indicates diastolic pressure is a measurement taken between beats, when the heart is at rest. A measurement over 60 and under 90 is generally considered normal for an adult.

High Blood Pressure is a Global Epidemic. Over 1.5 billion people world-wide suffer from high blood pressure (or hypertension).

Lower Your Sodium

Prevention and Control of High Blood Pressure

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight

2. Eat More Fresh Vegetables and Fruits

3. Cut Back on Salt Intake
4. Exercise
5. Check your Blood Pressure Regularly
6. If you are on medication, take the medication as prescribed.

Hypertension, I Forgot to Mention

Resources
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). National High Blood Pressure Education Program

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). High Blood Pressure Education Month

The International Society of Hypertension (ISH). ISH's main objectives are to promote and encourage the advancement of scientific knowledge in all aspects of research and its application to prevention and management of heart disease and stroke in hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases around the world.

The World Hypertension League (WHL).  The objectives of the World Hypertension League (WHL) are to promote the detection, control and prevention of arterial hypertension in populations.

May, National Hamburger Month Fast Foods, Varieties, Recipes and Safety

The Burger has many variations. The article looks at the nutrition information
of Fast Food Burgers, varieties, recipes and food safety.

The Fast Food Burger

Burger Love Handles is a song written by Don MacLeod about his personal battle with being overweight. The song focuses on the fast food burger as one of his difficulties in losing weight.

Many fast food items are high in Fat, Cholesterol, Saturated Fat and Sodium and are Risk Factors associated with Heart Disease. However, the informed customer can make healthier choices at fast food restaurants. Below is the nutrition information of some Fast Food Hamburgers. Calories range from 140 for a White Castle Slyder to 1061 calories for a Burger King Cheeseburger, Double Whopper.

Burger Variations

The variations of burgers are constantly changing and expanding to meet our personal preferences, cultural differences and/or nutritional needs.

A burger is not just a ground beef patty served on a bun with the numerous extras, such as tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, onions, jalapeno, cheese, ketchup, mayo, mustard, relish - the list is endless. Today, you can prepare or order a burger made from just about any food you can ground up and serve on a bun.

Some of the ground beef alternatives include:

Beans

Tofu

Seitan

Turkey

Chicken

Veal

Pork

Lamb

Bison

Deer

Seafood

In addition, to the variations listed above, there are numerous variations based on the percent of fat in ground beef and ground poultry.

Recipes using Alternatives to Ground Beef

Click the recipe title to obtain a copy of the recipe.

Black Bean Burgers. courtesy Sandra Lee from Sandra's Money Saving Meals.
This recipe is 302 Calories and 5 g Fat

Boca Burger, Meatless California Burger by Boca Burger.
Calories 250 and 7 grams Fat.

Stuffed Turkey Burgers, Ellie Krieger, Show: Food Network Specials Episode.
Calories 286 and 10 grams Fat.

Food Safety

Memorial Day is quickly approaching and many Americans will be using the Barbecue to prepare there favorite Burgers. It is extremely important to practice good food safety techniques.

Safe Summer Grilling Advice from the Department of Agriculture

Food safety officials and partners have some tips for a successful barbecue season.

The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline

can help answer your questions about the safe storage, handling

and preparation of meat, poultry, and egg products.

May 12 - June 16, 2013 National Family Month

National Family Month is celebrated every year from Mother's Day through Father's Day.
This year it runs from May 12 to June 16, 2013.

May 15, 2013 is the United Nations International Day of Families. 
The 2013 theme is "Advancing social integration
and intergenerational solidarity."

The Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) supports the worldwide observance of 15 May by preparing background information on the family for use by Governments, the UN system, including the regional commissions, and UN Information Centres and NGOs. An annual message of the Secretary-General is prepared for wide distribution.

"Families hold societies together, and intergenerational relationships extend this legacy over time. This year’s International Day of Families is an occasion to celebrate connections among all members of the constellation that makes up a family. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how they are affected by social and economic trends – and what we can do to strengthen families in response...."

International Day of Families, 

The Family Meal, a Tradition Celebrated Worldwide