LIVING WELL

 

Shape Up Across Oregon

Shape Up Across Oregon is dedicated to improving the health and fitness of Oregonians with fitness motivation programs for all ages. Are you looking for a great way to promote physical fitness and nutrition in a school, community or workplace? Shape Up Across Oregon has a variety of motivational programs to fit your needs.

 Visit site

 

FDA Approves Health Claim - Calcium and Vitamin D for Bone Health

Oct. 2008 - The Food and Drug Administration has released a final rule for health claims on the relationship between calcium and vitamin D and reduced risk of osteoporosis. These claims will help communicate the critical role of these nutrients for bone health at all ages. They can be used on the packages of reduced-fat, lowfat and fat free milk and yogurt varieties, as well as other food products that qualify as excellent sources. In addition to calcium and vitamin D, nutrient-rich dairy foods contain a unique package of bone-building nutrients, including magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and protein.

 Get more bone health information
 View health claim language

 

Physical Activity Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The new guidelines include recommendations for people of all ages and physical conditions and are designed so people can easily fit physical activity into their daily lives. According to the new guidelines, adults gain substantial health benefits from two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, and children benefit from an hour or more of physical activity a day.

 View the new guidelines

 

New DASH Eating Plan Website

Get the Dish on DASH at www.dashdietoregon.org. DASH Diet Oregon is a colorful and interactive site for consumers and health professionals. Get started with free downloadable tools, tips, recipes and the interactive Rate Your Plate quiz. The DASH eating plan is recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for reducing high blood pressure and preventing other chronic diseases.

 Learn more about DASH
 Rate Your Plate

 

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Research shows specific health benefits with regular consumption of probiotics and/or prebiotics. Though to achieve a particular effect, the bacteria needs to be the proper strain, the amount needed and as a product that will support the bacteria. Summary information can be found in JADA (March 2008) and Today's Dietitian (May 2008).

For probiotics to be beneficial for patients and consumer, consistent and practical science-based information needs to be developed. Additional consumer tools will be added as available.

 US Probiotics - Mary E. Saunders
 Consumer Fact Sheet: Probiotics [PDF]

 

Feeding the Active Female: Part I
Melinda M. Manore, American College of Sports Medicine, Health & Fitness Journal, May/June 2005

How can you help the active females you work with make good dietary changes to fuel their sport and activities, while helping them to maintain a healthy body weight for their sport?

 Download [PDF]

 

Your Guide to Diet and Diabetes
University of Illinois Extension Office of Urban Programs

Today there are 20.8 million people in the U.S., 7% of the population, with diabetes. This website can be very helpful for adults with newly diagnosed diabetes. Its practical information about well-balanced meals, serving sizes, and food choices will help them to learn how to manage their blood glucose levels. Additional medical information that is specific for people with diabetes will answer many questions.

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Lotería de Diabetes/Diabetes Bingo (EM 8855)
Debra Minar Driscoll, Oregon State University Extension, Printed 2004

This bilingual teaching tool (Spanish/English) has easy to understand information about the prevention of diabetes, the symptoms, and dealing with diabetes. Use it with adult audiences who have limited reading ability.

A "preview" version of the CD package and ordering information is found on the Oregon State Extension Web site.

 Download [PDF]

 

The Down-Aging of Chronic Disease: The Importance of Early Lifestyle Habits
Health Connections: Linking Nutrition Research to Practice, Fall 2005, Dairy Council of California

Nutrition research shows that optimal health and health habits originate early in life. Conditions such as osteoporosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity - all traditionally associated with adulthood - are "down aging," appearing in early childhood and adolescence as well. Intervention of health-promoting habits early in life is critical if we are to avoid a potential medical meltdown of health care resources.

In an interview, Francine R. Kaufman MD, sheds light on the increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes in children, and the implications if this becomes an epidemic in the United States. Dr. Kaufman is a pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

 Read Article [PDF]

 

Family History and Your Risk of Disease
United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Most of us know that we can reduce our risk of disease by eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and not smoking. But did you know that your family history might be one of the strongest influences on your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer, and even a rare disease, like hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, or sickle cell anemia? Even though you cannot change your genetic makeup, knowing your family history can help you reduce your risk of developing health problems.

The HHS and CDC websites have Power Point presentations, tools, and activities to help teens and adults learn about and chart their own health history.

Visit these CDC sites:
 Visit Family Health History
 Visit Family History is Important for Your Health
 Visit Disease-Specific Links

Visit these HHS sites:
 Visit Create your Family Health History Chart