Dig into National Nutrition Month all through March

Whether it’s following a pyramid (old school) or a plate diagram, finding a good system for eating right is well worth the time and effort. And during National Nutrition Month, there’s no better time to slow down, look at your diet and see if there are changes to be made.

This year’s theme is “Put Your Best Fork Forward,” and there are loads of tips and tricks to be found in this toolkit put out by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Here you’ll find ways to get the community involved, plan your own nutrition awareness event and much more. If you’re a registered dietician, or work with one (or a team), consider partnering up to organize some fun, informational programming in the workplace.

What we eat, and how much we eat, is a big deal. Dining out often means huge portions, hidden fat and sugar, and much more. Consider starting to cook and eat at home as one way to get your diet under control — and save some cash at the same time. Who knows, that dusty veggie cookbook you got for Christmas a few years back may contain your new favorite recipe!

Exercise is right in there with diet, so as you’re looking for ways to up the ante in terms of mindful, healthy eating, explore putting your best foot forward as well. Even if it’s just a 30- minute walk after dinner, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, every little bit helps.

And finally, keep in mind that diet and exercise are the twin pillars of good health. If you’re in good shape, keep those good habits up — and maybe add in one or two new ones/ Tired, run down, overweight or dealing with a diagnosis of hypertension, type 2 diabetes or other issue? Know that a healthy diet along with a sensible exercise program can help reduce or even eliminate these ailments, and all the worry that goes along with them.

Not sure where to start? Try talking to a registered dietician, a personal trainer — or both. Sure, it’s an investment, but getting professional help (and having someone to hold you accountable) is a terrific way to start down, or keep moving on, the path to a happier, healthier life.

Bon appetit!

American Heart Month reminds us to take care now — and plan for the future

We talk a lot about a “heart healthy" diet, or go to the gym for cardio classes — but what does all that mean?

If you’re not sure, or need some pointers on taking care of the ol’ ticker, then there’s no better time to get educated than American Heart Month, brought to us by the American Heart Association. First, some sobering statistics:

•          Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States
•          One in four deaths every year are caused by heart disease

And now some good news: Healthy choices when it comes to diet and exercise can go a long way toward preventing heart disease entirely, or slowing its progression. And this is a situation where everyone can work together to support each other on the journey to a healthier heart.

The Centers for Disease Control has a few great tips:

•          Schedule a doctor’s visit to talk about heart health (Had that annual checkup yet?).
•          Add exercise to your day; start slow at first, then try to work up to 30 minutes at least three times a week.
•          Cook heart-healthy meals at least three times a week — in particular, watch the salt.
•          Smoker? Stop. Nothing else to say, except to call 1-800-QUIT-NOW and know that you’re not alone.
•          Are you on medication for cholesterol or high blood pressure? Be sure to take it as prescribed.

Want to get the word out about the importance of heart health? The government’s Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has put tougher a great toolkit with sample tweets, articles and other information that’s easy to grab and post to your social media channels. Take a look, find the right message you want to send, and join Scrubin Uniforms in the fight for healthy hearts everywhere!

Holi-dazed? Don’t overlook your health in the hustle and bustle!

Tis the Season … to get sick? Our holiday merriment has the unfortunate coincidence to land on the calendar at the peak of cold and flu season. Most of us do love the festive time of year: gifts, tinsel, eating ourselves into food comas. But we’re also running a higher chance to come down with a nasty bug that could cramp our Yule-tiding. So, this holiday season, here’s a few friendly tips from you secret Santas at Scrubin.

First, wash your hands. Oh, you do already? Well, maybe up the frequency. This is the season where you’ll be doing a lot of palm-pressing and back-slapping at holiday functions, recitals and other seasonal events. A good anti-bacterial sanitizer, several times a day, keeps the hacking coughs away.

           

Also, bust out those winter woolens and mittens if you’re in a colder climate. Keep your head covered, and your hands and feet warm. This helps keep core temperature regulated, and staves off those lingering chills many of us carry in from night.

And speaking of food comas, maybe watch the diet a tad. Sure, good eats and lots of them are a proud part of the holiday tradition. But there’s a downside to all that noshing. Namely indigestion, gastric distress, heartburn and other fun, fun stuff like that.

Holiday foods tend to be rich, sugary — and carb-y. Make sure you maintain some balance in your diet; don’t skimp on the fruits and greens. Also, alcohol consumption jumps during the holiday season, and this can obviously have its own potential downsides. Don’t overindulge, never drive after you’ve been drinking and try not to revel too late into the night. Lack of sleep leads to fatigue, which leads to lowered immune system, which leads to colds and flus. And just like that, we’re back to step one.

We should probably say something here about not maiming yourself while with a Phillip’s head screwdriver while attempting to assemble a needlessly complex toy on Christmas Eve, but sometimes you just must let people make their own mistakes.

No mistake about how much we value all of you, and are grateful for the support you’ve shown us throughout 2016, however. From all of us here at Scrubin to all of you, happy holidays!

The importance of American Diabetes Month can’t be overstated

November brings us to the holiday rush, Thanksgiving travel — and American Diabetes Month. Just thinking about heavy holiday meals should be enough to bring our focus around to diet, exercise and this health concern. Fewer health issues in the country are more relevant right now than diabetes. From adult to childhood diabetes, type 1 and type 2, from the links to diet and the quality of our foodstuffs, diabetes is getting a lot of exposure right now.

And it needs to get a lot more still. Because it is a disease which strikes one out of eleven people in America. It is responsible for more fatalities annually than AIDS and breast cancer combined. There are more than 200,000 cases of juvenile diabetes diagnosed annually. All told, 86 million Americans are at risk for diabetes.

These are daunting and relevant statistics, but they only tell part of the story. That is why this year the theme for American Diabetes Month is “This is Diabetes.” The emphasis is on the real-life stories of Americans coping with, struggling with and oftentimes triumphing over diabetes. There will be:

• testimonies about the experience of being first diagnosed;
• the scary process of beginning a treatment regimen; and
• first-hand accounts about changes in diet, lifestyle and a general reshuffling of priorities.

Not only will it be great time to recognize our 29 million fellow citizens struggling with the disease, but we can all learn something to utilize in our own lives and help us to make better choices.

There are dozens of outlets to help contribute to the campaign against diabetes this November. From buttons to yard signs to posters, to social media platforms and community events. And of course, like all the events on our calendar commemorating the fight against diseases and disorders, we are hopeful the day will come these days on the calendar will open up again. That will mean a cure has been found. So to that end, research is always an important element and will always be a priority.

This November, explore the many avenues to lend your own voice and listen to the voices of others!

http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/american-diabetes-month.html

Out of alignment? Then celebrate National Chiropractic Health Month

Chiropractic care is increasingly being viewed as the first line of defense against musculoskeletal pain, a condition that afflicts millions of Americans every year. Chronic back and neck pain, along with other locations of the body, can be serious hindrances to life, work, enjoyment of free time, as well as overall state of mind. Nurses and other healthcare workers in particular can suffer from neck, back and joint pain and injuries, and that’s why National Chiropractic Health Month is an important date on the public-health calendar.

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Chiropractic care is particularly important in our current climate because of its emphasis on treatment and pain management through holistic methods rather than pills. The opioid crisis has well shown the pitfalls of that approach, and people suffering from chronic pain are seeking alternate sources for treatment.

For that reason alone, chiropractic care services are coming into their own. They are recommended now by The Journal of the American Medical Association, as well as the Joint Commission, as a viable option in place of many surgical procedures and an effective tool in pain management.

Many sufferers of musculoskeletal pain are already well aware of the benefits of chiropractic care. The relief afforded while embracing a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical approach has made them believers. National Chiropractic Health Month looks to spread this good news to the scores of others who have yet to avail themselves of this tried-and-true method.

Perhaps you yourself are an untreated sufferer? Take this opportunity to educate yourself on chiropractic services, the nature of the treatment methods. Seek a consultation with an approved and respected chiropractor near you. Or if there is someone in your life who is dealing with chronic musculoskeletal pain, you could point her or him to chiropractic services as an option.

The American Chiropractic Association recommends seeking conservative solutions such as chiropractic care for pain management, both for their efficacy and affordability.  The positive results are there, just waiting to be discovered. October is the ideal time to learn about chiropractic care, and finally stamp out the pain through safe, drug-free alternative treatments!