Every year on January 1, people across the globe make New Year's resolutions.
Some write a list of the top things they want to change in their lives, set goals for the coming year, or even pick that same one thing they have yet to master.
Most common among resolutions is to lose weight, eat right and get healthy.
We support that one entirely. Good health is the hallmark for a good life in so many ways.
In the last 25 years, resolutions concerning weight, exercise, better relationships and quitting smoking have been at the top of the list, according to Dr. John C. Norcross, co-author of Changing for Good.
This year, let's not make resolutions a trite statement with no real meaning behind it. Let's actually do it.
Here are some simple tips to get healthier in 2011:
Eat right.
Make wise choices in the types of foods you eat; add lean proteins, more fruits and vegetables, and monitor portion sizes. Eat food low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate sugars. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Write what you eat down to help you keep track of your intake; a food journal forces you to be aware of what you eat.
Exercise more.
For exercise to help with weight loss, experts advise regular aerobic physical activity, such as walking, biking or swimming, for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day, three to five times a week. If you're a beginner, start slow, but be consistent and determined. Join a fitness center, or take classes at area health centers like the YMCA of Greater Springfield on Chestnut Street.
Get health exams.
It's important to know the state of your physical health before you begin any exercise regimen. Check with your doctor to see if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. For woman, get annual breast and gynecological exams. For men, get prostrate exams as needed. Regular exams are preventative and proactive measures to minimize health risks.
Get support.
Find a friend, family member, co-worker or someone else with similar "get healthy" goals to serve as an accountability partner, to offer support when you're feeling unmotivated. Programs such as Weight Watchers or working with a dietitian, nutritionist or personal trainer are also effective ways to garner support and learn new ideas and strategies to getting and staying healthy. Use the many online tools and websites available to give you a framework for getting and staying healthy, such as WebMd's diet assessment tool. Also, regularly visit the Mason Square Health Task Forcewebsite.
Now, start your new year right. Stay focused. Stay positive. And remember: Take one step at a time.
Happy New Year!
"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the creative light of altruism or the darkness of selfishness. This is the judgment. Life’s persistent and most urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ " -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dressed as Santa, Orlando Ramos gives gifts
to the children in his old neighborhood.
Can helping others really help us? According to research by mental health experts, the answer is a profound yes. Giving back to your community, or paying it forward to help others, even in small ways is fulfilling for yourself and for the recipient. We like ourselves just a little bit more knowing we are helping someone in need. Even small deeds matter, whether shoveling a neighbor's walk or cleaning the snow off some one's car, taking out an elderly person's trash, or even saying 'hi' to a stranger can make a difference to brighten the day. This makes us feel connected as a community. This reminds us to be grateful for what we have ourselves, and for others around us. A giver's spirit is healthy, not just emotionally, but also physically. We feel better when our hearts and minds are at peace, when we know we've helped someone else.
Springfield resident Orlando Ramos looks forward to the times when he can give back to his community. In particular, every year at Christmas, Ramos buys toys out of his own pocket to give to the kids in the neighborhood where he grew up on Manilla Avenue in Springfield. Located in the Pine Point section, the neighborhood where Ramos was raised is made up 20 duplexes, largely of low-income housing, and managed by the Springfield Housing Authority, he said.
"I moved out eight years ago in 2002, but I still take good care of the people that live there, especially the kids," Ramos, a former City Council candidate, said. Ramos has dressed as Santa for the past five years, bringing presents door-to-door to the kids on Manilla Avenue. He usually spends between $200 to $300. This year, 46 children ages 12 and under will receive gifts on Christmas day. "I do this because I care about these children," Ramos said. "I believe in the words in the Bible, Acts 20:35 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' I feel that God has blessed me in many ways, and I like to take advantage of every opportunity to give back. It's a blessing to be able to put a smile on the children's faces on Christmas. That for me is reward in itself."
There are transformative power's in giving. Let's all commit to having a giver's spirit this holiday season and in 2011.
The Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA) campaign has hired a new coordinator in its efforts to steadily raise awareness about health issues and disparities that effect men of color in Greater Springfield.
Trevis Wray, program officer and community leadership coordinator of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, will also serve as coordinator of MOCHA.
"For me, the health disparities facing men of color are real. I'm living with this and seeing it in my community and in my life everyday," Wray said, noting that statistics on morbidity and mortality rates of men of color are markedly higher than for whites. "Even in my own family and extended outward, I can see the currents of the typical illnesses that plague our community heavily - diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, alcoholism and more."
Wray said to keep the conversation about health and health awareness on the tips of every one's tongue, the initiative will host an on-going speaker series with leaders in the area of health, wellness and the community. The first speaker in the series is Coach Dee Brown, former NBA star and coach of the Springfield Armor.
Brown will speak about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and exercise on Wed., Dec. 15, at the Springfield YMCA, 275 Chestnut St., Springfield, MA at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
We encourage everyone to attend MOCHA events as a means to get men of color in our community healthy and informed.
The Mason Square Health Task Force is part of a community collaborative working with MOCHA that includes Baystate Health, Black Men of Greater Springfield, the YMCA of Greater Springfield and others. The YMCA will facilitate a variety of wellness classes ranging from food and fitness to financial literacy.
The Mason Square Health Task Force applauds MOCHA and encourages all men to get and stay healthy!
In every community there is a neighborhood or two that seems to have a societal stigma attached to it, whether from ill-founded cultural biases to actual disparaging factors that may exist.
If you live in Springfield, one of the areas in the community that appears to have such a stigma is the 01109 zip code, which is five sections of the city largely identified as Mason Square.
People believe there is so much violence and drugs in these neighborhoods that students who attend the surrounding colleges are sometimes warned to not get too far away from their campus. I believe the Mason Square area is no more violent or drug infested than any other zip code in Springfield. If the police collected data on violence and drugs in this area, they would probably come to the same conclusion.
A healthy neighborhood has neighbors who know each other; they greet each other in the morning and bid each other good night in the evening when they are out. They look out for their neighbor’s property and children. A healthy neighborhood looks like a community the President of the United States would be glad to bring his or her children for vacation or to see the Basketball Hall of Fame. What do you think a healthy neighborhood looks like? Go to masonsquarehealthtaskforce.organd check out the website, and then I encourage you to submit your opinion to zgovan@mlkjrfamilyservices.org. I know your ideas will resemble Mason Square.
If you want to get involved in helping to continue to keep Mason Square healthy and make it even healthier, join the Mason Square Health Task Force. The quarterly meeting will be on Dec. 16, 2010 at Rebecca Johnson School. For more information, contact me at (413) 739-4901 or email me at zgovan@mlkjrfamilyservices.org.
Growing up in Springfield, I remember being able to hang out with my friends and my brothers' friends and just having a good time. The city is still the same! The media would like to portray Springfield as a crime infested city that no one wants to live in. That is the farthest thing from the truth. Traveling to California, Louisiana, Florida, New York and other major cities, it is clear that Springfield is a great city to live in. Mason Square is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the City of Homes. The old Victorian homes are something to treasure and exhibit. Many great things and people have lived here, and great things happened in this area including the birth of basketball, the Indian motorcycle, great leader Primus Mason, great colleges, and many more. Great things continue to happen here, and great people continue to live here.
The next time you drive up and down State Street take notice of the positive things in Mason Square. Look at the new trees that were planted recently, the paved streets and the beautiful friendly people waiting for the bus, or walking down the street. If the media would focus on these, they would see that there is more positive than negative in Mason Square. The children walking to and from school are innocent and need to be protected from negative influences. It is our responsibility to do this. To start, we have to focus on the positive. Give them an opportunity to grow up healthy and safe from the ills that face us and other places in this country.
This may be a hard pill to swallow right now, but the fact is we live in New England, and in New England winter means snow.
"Oh but the leaves are just starting to fall; we're still having a bit of an Indian Summer," you may say. That can change in an instant. What that means is be prepared. Protect yourself from the harshness of Old Man Winter in a variety of ways - from the clothes you wear to the tools and technique you use in shoveling snow.
Every year, physicians and staff at Baystate Medical Center advise people on the ill effects of improper shoveling, frost bite and other maladies that occur during the winter months. As the area's only and largest trauma center, BMC in Springfield treats an increasing number of patients who incur heart attacks, back injuries and severe frostbite during New England's harsh winter season.
"If you haven't already, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself on how to protect your heart while removing that often beautiful, but heavy white stuff," said Dr. John Santoro, vice chairman, Emergency Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, on the Baystate Health news website. "Persons who have coronary artery disease and other illness should avoid exposure to cold weather, especially when shoveling." Anyone experiencing symptoms suggestive of a heart attack should be brought to the Emergency Department immediately.
Signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:
Pressure or pain in the chest, arms or neck
Nausea.
Lightheadedness.
Sweating or feeling clammy.
Unusual fatigue.
Unusual exertion from shoveling snow can also cause severe back pain for those with healthy and bad backs, and result in pain in the hips and knees. A standard shovel full of snow weighs about 16 pounds. Shoveling 10 times every minute for ten minutes alone is equivalent to lifting about 1,600 pounds after 10 minutes of shoveling.
For the elderly and disabled, shoveling snow and experiencing long periods of time in the cold is an even more harmful combination. We need to be neighborly and help them out. Get a youngster in the neighborhood to shovel their walkways, or call the city to inform them that snow removal services are needed.
Stretch before you begin to shovel. Use the proper technique which means using a medium-sized ergonomically-designed shovel. Pick up smaller amounts of shovel on the blade and lift with your legs, not your arms.
If you have a driveway, clear the snow build up at the base of the driveway near the street first while your strength is greatest; then clear the snow from the middle of the driveway pushing out to the sides from the middle. It's easier and results in less wear and tear on your body.
Lastly, if you simply don't have the strength, physical wellness or stamina to shovel snow, then don't. Don't be too prideful to ask for help. It's better to seek help from someone then face a possible life-threatening health challenge because you didn't.
Now, let's all zip up our coats and buckle down for Mother Nature's next season of treats.
While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
1. Pregnant women
2. Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
1. Health care workers
2. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
3. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
If you don't have a doctor you can get the flu shot at your local pharmacy, including CVS and Walgreens. It costs under $30 to get the flu shot. To find the nearest location where flu shots are available, fill out the Find a Flu Shot box on the right.
Betty Agin has made a name for herself in Springfield - she's known as a community organizer, a woman who works hard to get inner city issues brought to the forefront of discussion and addressed by political, business and other community leaders, and a fearless soldier for positive reform.
Agin, a Springfield resident by way of her native Georgia, sits at the helm of the Universal Community Voices Eliminating Disparity, an outgrowth of the Springfield Health Disparities Project.
The Springfield Health Disparities Project is just one of many public health initiatives given new life through grant funds provided through the Mason Square Health Task Force. The Health Disparities Project received $17,000 in funds during the 2009-2010 cycle of funding.
The disparity project is a grass roots initiative aimed at engaging community residents and assisting them in identifying and taking appropriate action to address root causes of health inequities through conversations on community health.
The group is not just a "let's talk about it" network of concerned people, but also a "let's be about it" outreach.
Every second Saturday of the month, the Universal Community Voices Eliminating Disparities Project holds a community forum from 9:30 to 11:30 am at 365 Bay Street, Springfield, MA. Last week's discussion group was on HIV and AIDS awareness, and connecting people to the prevention and treatment services in the community. The forums bring out neighborhood activists, doctors, nurses, political leaders, and concerned Moms and Pops.
"It's usually open conversation and strategizing about what we can do to make this community better, to help one another, to work together," said Again, who was recognized for her community service work recently by the AFL-CIO supported group Western Mass Jobs With Justice group. "These meetings are for everybody, the health care provider, community organizers, people who work around specific issues like HIV, teen pregnancy, violence, young dads, single moms. Everybody. What we've learned is that for a lot of people in need of help, the issue is about not knowing where to turn for help. We can fix that."
The group has been successful in getting many issues of concern in the city addressed ranging from having blighted homes boarded or torn down to helping dozens of people with minor, decades-old, or even dropped criminal offenses on their records sealed so they can get jobs and find housing.
"Most of our job is to recruit and teach people how to be leaders in their own neighborhoods and be advocates for themselves around issues," Agin said.
Now that's what we call working for the greater good!
Do you think a drive thru window at a liquor store would be convenient for you? Imagine how much more convenient it would be for our young people to obtain alcohol without consequence. We do not need a drive thru liquor store in the city of Springfield.
A special permit request for a drive thru window at a Cottage Street liquor store came before the City Council on Sept. 27 and was sent to committee for further review. We can't sit idly by and let this go forward. City Councilors Melvin Edwards and E. Henry Twiggs have spoken publicly against the measure, and are rallying the support of others. We have to contact our City Councilors and speak out against this before any measures move forward. For contact information for your local City Councilor clickhere. People need to understand that increased access to alcohol for adults leads to increased access by our youth.
Statistics have shown that alcohol is more of a health risk to young people than drugs. Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by high school seniors, and its use is increasing.
Let's not make it easier for youth in
Springfield to access alcohol.
According to an American Medical Association report, boys usually try alcohol for the first time at just 11 years old, while the average age for American girls' first drink is 13. In short, the report says, our nation's youth are "flirting with disaster." Consider the facts:
Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes, the leading cause of death among teens.
Alcohol use contributes to youth suicides, homicides and fatal injuries.
Alcohol abuse is linked to two-thirds of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students
Alcohol is a major factor in unprotected sex among youth, increasing their risk of contracting HIV or other transmitted diseases.
Although we have mandatory compliance checks on liquor sales to minors in Springfield, the compliance rate has been around 75 percent, which is poor. This means that 1 in 4 stores have failed to even ASK a minor for identification.
"Needless to say, the bar is low to pass the checks," Peggy Vezina, coordinator of the Springfield STOP ACCESS campaign, has said. "All the store clerk needs to do is ask for an ID. Once they do, the check is over and the store has passed. How much more difficult will it be to judge the age of or intoxication level of a person in a car? How much more difficult will it be to judge the age of other occupants in the car? How much more difficult will it be for investigators to enforce the law?"
The Mason Square Health Task Force, the Weed and Seed Initiative and Gandara Mental Health's STOP ACCESS Springfield is among several groups here fighting to decrease alcohol access to youth in the Mason Square area and Springfield. Please join us in this effort.
Did you know that September is Fruit and Veggies-More Matters Month and Baby Safety Month, or that Sept. 29 is National Women's Health & Fitness Day? If you're like many of us, probably not.
While some of the authors of national health observances are quite successful at marketing their cause (think National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, World Aids Day and even the Great American Smokeout each November) others such as these awareness efforts go largely unnoticed by the general populous.
There are reasons why community groups, health professionals, teachers and residents should support organized local and national health observances: They educate the public about health risks, help organize successful health promotion events and campaigns, and get news and information out about vital health topics and resources in the community. On a personal level, use them as a launching pad to implement healthy changes into your own life.
So lets start with National Women's Day of Health & Fitness. The day is sponsored as a public/private good health partnership by the Health Information Resource Center as a way to promote the importance of health awareness and regular physical activity for women of all ages. to According to sponsors, over 100,000 women will participate in events throughout the U.S. In Mason Square, we can host events in small groups, among girlfriends, co-workers or family members. Arrange to meet for a walk around the Springfield College or Blunt Park tracks, or workout at a local gym. The bottom line - establish a fitness regimen and continue to use that regimen in your daily lifestyle.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & Produce for Better Health Foundation is the sponsor for Fruit and Veggies-More Matters Month. The month promotes health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables.
Click to see the food Pyramid
Fruit and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet that can help protect you from:
Heart disease
Bone loss
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Some cancers, such as colorectal cancer
Simple steps you can take to increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables is:
1. Seek out healthy recipes with fruits and/or vegetables and implement into your daily diet.
2. Share your research on the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables with family and friends
3. Teach your children that fruits and vegetables are not just good for you, but also GOOD!
Baby Safety Awareness Month is a campaign launched by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, an agency that works with the Consumer Protection Agency to establish guidelines for juvenile products, to help educators and caregivers understand the importance of using safe products for babies. The month has been observed since 1991.
This year, the JMPA is focusing on safe sleeping environments. According to the JMPA, every year hundreds of deaths occur when children are placed in a sleep environment not specifically designed for infants, such as in a toddler or adult bed, couch or unprotected space. Children must be placed in properly assembled, safe and secure cribs, cradles, bassinets or the like. For tips on creating safe environments for babies click here.
As a result of national campaigns like these, Americans are raising their awareness about health risks and safety issues and implementing strategies for change. Let's jump on the bandwagon and do the same right here in Mason Square.
The Recovery High School
334 Franklin St., Springfield, MA
The Mason Square Health Task Force and the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction and Recovery will recognize September as National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Recovery Month with a Recovery Walk on Sept. 24, kicking off at 11 a.m. from the steps of City Hall to Recovery High Schoolat 334 Franklin St. A ceremony at the school will be held from noon to 3 p.m. A bus is available for individuals unable to walk.
The MSHTF team and Board of Directors ask that each of you show your support by taking this walk with us. Many people are unaware that Springfield has a high school whose mission is to educate and to reduce the high rates of relapse associated with teens in recovery by providing a safe, sober and supportive school environment where students and their recovery efforts are understood, valued and fostered.
Recovery High School Administrator Michael Ellis said they are devoted to helping young people by providing them with a high quality education experience in a safe, therapeutically supportive school setting. Studies indicate that without intense support, an extremely high percentage of teens in recovery relapse.
"We offer a lot of compassion, integrity and respect to help them become acceptable, responsible adults who are an asset to society," Ellis said. "We're smaller and we focus on the kids and their needs. We're proactive in our efforts."
I consider the city's Recovery High School to be one of our best kept secrets. The school is within the alternative school structure in Springfield, collectively known as Springfield Academy for Excellence (SAFE). SAFE currently includes seven programs located at six different campuses in Springfield and one at Holyoke Community College. Springfield's Recovery School, launched five years ago, is a small highly structured program for 30 to 50 students in recovery from alcohol or other drug abuse dependence.
In an attempt to shine a light on National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Recovery Month activities, our Recovery Walk will conclude with a ceremony at the school. A parent of a teen who is attending Recovery High School will share her story; Springfield Director of Health and Human Services Helen Caulton-Harris will read her powerful poem "Everybody is Recovering from Something," Ellis will talk about the work of the school and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno will issue a proclamation recognizing September as Recovery Month in the city.
For more information on the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction and Recovery visit their websitehere.
For more information on National Substance Abuse and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month activities visit www.recoverymonth.org.
We hope that you will come see that recovery is possible, that Springfield offers options for our teens and that we can collectively make a difference to improve the lives of all people no matter the circumstance.
Teatro V!da presents "Rumors of a New Day" on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.,
affords arts and culture opportunities to youth and adults.
When we think of societal plagues like substance abuse, depression, violence and assorted health ailments as a result of diet and stress, the cures we most often reach for are medicinal, believing it provides a quick fix. Though medicines are important treatments in many cases, we should not overlook the role of intervention and prevention strategies, especially when it comes to our youth.
Intervention means attacking a problem at the first sign of trouble by changing mindsets and behaviors. Prevention seeks to stop the issue in advance prior to becoming a health disparity. So how do we do that?
Get our youth involved in positive activities to steer them away from the trouble zones.
Help our adults overcome the daily challenges of life by balancing the struggle with hope and compassion.
Greater Springfield is fortunate to have a wealth of organizations in our backyard who espouse the same beliefs as the Mason Square Health Task Force; agencies that consider whole health and intervention as necessary goals in serving the people in our community. We need to do more to support them and help them flourish and grow.
Teatro V!da, the city's first Latino theater group is one such agency. Teatro V!da is the brainchild of Magdalena Gomez, a teaching artist for more than 35 years. In 2006, Gomez rallied the support of key leaders in Springfield's Latino community. One year later, Teatro V!da was born with funding from the Latino Breakfast Club, Hispanic Resources Inc., MassMutual Financial Group, Baystate Health and other community supporters. Since its founding, Teatro V!da has produced over 20 events, including four original full productions with music composed by artist, musician Heshima Moja, the theater's current Music Director.
"We offer the community an opportunity to build up our young people, and fill in the gap that's left vacant as a result to cuts in public education in the area of arts and culture," said Moja, an independent artist whose recent cd release has been getting national airplay. "We give them a chance to discover theater, acting, dance, but we also focus on issues like literacy, and health, and wellness and compassion. We take a whole health, holistic approach using artistic expression."
Their latest production, "Rumors of a New Day," is a multi-media performance celebrating Springfield and the arts. It will be held Monday, September 13 at 7 p.m., at City Stage. The performance was written and directed by Gomez. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the show. For more information call the City Stage box office at (413) 788-7033.
"This performance piece is about the issues we face right here in Springfield, the criticisms, the stereotypes, the 'isms, the things we care about and face in our everyday lives in Springfield," said Moja, noting the theme of "Rumors." The production uses a variety of artistic mediums including acting, dance and music.
The production has more than 100 people involved, including cast and crew. At least two dozen youth are tied to the play, either as performers or as apprentices under Daniel Jaquez, an acclaimed choreographer from New York City, Moja said.
"This show offers solutions woven throughout the fabric of the piece offering steps to emotional wellness, emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion," Moja said.
The Mason Square Health Task Force encourages you to support the show, and support Teatro V!da in its efforts to keep our city culturally diverse, artistically rich, healthy and well.
Football season has arrived and New England has a rich history of fans who embrace the sport, cheering at little league games for Mason Square's 5A players to braving rain and cold to support area high school and college teams.
So how does football and health care news relate? In recent weeks, the spotlight has been placed on the safety of football, particularly for our young people, with breaking news on the rising rate of sports-related concussions.
A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and a study that appears in the September issue of Pediatrics examining sports-related concussions in children and adolescents revealed that the number of young children treated in hospital ERs for concussions occurred while playing on sports teams has doubled within the past decade.If that's not alarming enough, researchers say the rate among younger athletes, as early as 8-years-old, is significant and rising.The study represents the first attempt to document the national incidence of sports-related concussions among children in elementary and middle school, according to national news reports.
The study looked at an analysis of data from hospital emergency departments across the nation and revealed that:
Roughly half a million ER visits for concussions occurred among 8- to 19-year-olds between 2001 and 2005.
About half were sports-related, and 40% of sports-related concussions involved children between the ages of 8 and 13.
Football and ice hockey were the organized sports with the most concussion injuries, and snow skiing, bicycling, and playground iinjuries accounted for the most concussions occurring from non-team-related activities.
So exactly what is a concussion and what are its symptoms? A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury that is caused by an impact or jolt to the head. The symptoms include:
Confusion
Headache
Dizziness
Ringing in the ears
Nausea
Slurred speech
Fatigue
Memory or concentration problems
While many of us in this area are big football fans and want to support our young athletes, we have to be mindful that their health and well-being take precedent over the game.Parents and caregivers need to be proactive about making sure their child has the right sports gear, from helmet to cleats. Equally as important, parents need to make sure their child's coach has our youth's best interest at heart, on and off the field.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
A new study says that one of our favorite goodies is actually OK to eat – in moderation!
It seems that every new health study that comes out gives us contradictory information. One of the latest studies tells us that chocolate in moderation can be good for our heart health.
What?
Does this mean that we can finally pour the chocolate syrup on our ice cream sundae?
Can we eat an entire chocolate bar at the movies without worries?
That heavily frosted four-level chocolate cake is good for us?
The answers to all the questions, is, unfortunately, a resounding No!
The chocolate-heart study (click here to read it) posted by the American Heart Association, is clear that only a moderate amount of chocolate is OK.
As an official from the American Heart Association warns:
“Those tempted to use these data as their rationale for eating large amounts of chocolate or engaging in more frequent chocolate consumption are not interpreting this study appropriately,” said Linda Van Horn, Ph.D., R.D., immediate past chair of the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee and professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “This is not an ‘eat all you want’ take-home message, rather it’s that eating a little dark chocolate can be healthful, as long as other adverse behaviors do not occur, such as weight gain or excessive intake of non-nutrient dense ‘empty’ calories.”
Here are Basic Facts about Your Heart:
The normal human heart is a strong, muscular pump a little larger than a fist. Each day an average heart “beats” (expands and contracts) 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood. In a 70-year lifetime, an average human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times.
The heart has four chambers through which blood is pumped. The upper two are the right and left atria. The lower two are the right and left ventricles. Four valves open and close to let blood flow in only one direction when the heart beats.
Click here to read about the warning signs of a heart attacks, courtesy of the American Heart Association.
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan
This quote reminds me of the story of Wes Moore, a Rhodes scholar, a White House fellow and a business leader who overcame the odds to succeed.
Moore wrote a biography, "The Other Wes Moore," released in April, about his experiences growing up in inner city Baltimore, raised by a single mom who worked tirelessly to use the resources around her to give him greater access to education and opportunity.
That's one side to the story. The book is also about the other Wes Moore, a man who grew up in the same neighborhood, around the same time, with the name name, who ultimately was convicted of murdering a police officer during a robbery attempt. He is in prison for life without parole. This Wes Moore had a strong mother too, but while she was working to support the family, her sons - ages 11 and 12 at the time - began dealing drugs. This mother has publicly said she didn't know where to go for help, didn't know what resources were available to her sons, and she wished she had done things differently.
This story is not entirely unique. Here in Springfield, we have youth who grow up in the same community, under similar circumstances, yet make extremely different choices. Often, the reason behind their divergent paths is one person having access to community programs, resources, opportunities and support programs, while the other one does not.
The Mason Square Health Task Force is an agency working alongside so many others to improve the quality of life for our youth and adults here. We want our youth to lead productive lives like the first Wes Moore, whose book became an instant New York Times best-seller.
In our efforts to continue to inform you about the array of services provided to residents in our community, we are putting together the Mason Square Resource Initiative, a comprehensive directory for substance abuse, prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery support for youth, families and adults.
We are seeking submissions about your programs with your name, contact information, location, and other relevant material for placement in the guide. The guide will be posted on the Mason Square Health Task Forcewebsite and updated routinely. Please send information to Govan@mlkjrfamilyservices.org.
The Internet provides us with many opportunities to better health. Not only are there hundreds of thousands of health-related web site that report on the latest medical research, treatments, discoveries and controversies, there are also bloggers who bravely share their health issues.
Adia Colar is one such blogger. A publicist who promotes psychology, self-help and health books, Adia is also a freelance writer who has written about many subjects, including her own recovery from an eating disorder.
Her essays are posted on her own blog and other places, such as the multi-million hit site Psychology Today and Huffington Post
Her blog entries are engaging and informative. She has strongly-held beliefs and shares them with humor, anger, pain, always honestly, giving courage to a lot of women who feel similarly but haven't had the words to express themselves. For them, Adia provides a bridge between what they feel and how to describe their feelings.
Sample quote from a blog entry by Adia on the television show, "The Price of Beauty," which shows the extremely painful -- physically and emotionally -- lengths some woman go to fill in mainstream media's definition of what a beautiful woman should look like:
"The optimal way for me to be with someone like that is to accept myself, curves, lumps, bumps, aunties, and all and not settle for anyone who didn't feel the same way."
When NBC decided to produce yet another show that ultimately serves to make people feel bad about their bodies, "Thintervention with Jackie Warner," Adia wrote a pointed letter to the network:
"Dear NBC,
Sigh. You're doing it again. First it was The Biggest Loser, then Losing It with Jillian, then Bravo planned a SkinnyGirl show before Bethenny Frankel got pregnant, and now you've created Thintervention with Jackie Warner.
I already know about the dangers of The Biggest Loser. Third season's Kai Hibbard has recountedherexperiences, including:
• trainers encouraging contestants to dehydrate before weigh-ins,
• overexercising,
• contestants being pushed to work out despite being injured,
• producers overriding doctors' orders
...and more. Kai has shared how she ended up developing an eating disorder that she still struggles with as a result of her experiences on the show.
But simply having a weight-, eating-, and workout-dysfunctional show wasn't enough for you. To reward The Biggest Loser's high ratings, you gave the main trainer, Jillian Michaels, her own show to further spread this dangerous, deceptive message."
One of the greatest things about Internet is the many web sites that offer free blogging templates -- essentially, a blog is a web site where you write short essays about whatever subject you want -- so that people can share their experiences and thoughts. And sometimes, there are bloggers who share information that benefits a world of people. Adia is among those bloggers.
For more information on how to set up your own blog, here is a short list of free blogging sites that provide a range of templates -- or designs -- for you to choose from. They also show you step-by-step how to set up your blog so that you, too, can share information that, like Adia, can be helpful to untold millions of people.
President Barack Obama presented the 2010 Citizens Medal at the White House on Aug. 4, a honor bestowed on citizens who give back to the community because they know that what makes a community strong is the strength of its members to work together to make it a better place for everyone.
This video is "good news" television - no spotlight on what goes wrong in society, just a simple recognition of what goes right. You won't see this on the network or cable news, unfortunately. But you can know about it here!
As President Obama said, "What unites these citizens, what makes them special, is the determination they share -- to right a wrong; to see a need and then meet it; to recognize when others are suffering and take it upon themselves to make a difference.
When they saw a veteran in need of proper care, or a teenage mom who could use a helping hand, they didn’t just shake their heads and keep on walking. They didn’t write it off as another example of life not being fair. Instead, they saw it as a problem to solve, a challenge to meet, a call to action that they could not ignore.
So, just to give a few examples here. When Jorge Muñoz saw homeless men gathered on a street corner with nothing to eat, he could have rolled up his window and driven away. Instead he came home from his job as a school bus driver and started cooking hot meals for anyone who was hungry. These days, the “Angel of Queens” feeds over 100 people every night, rain or shine. And Jorge says, ”You have to see their smile. That’s what I get paid.”
If you know of someone who merits presidential recognition for community service, click here to find out how to tell the White House about her or him!
Who says you can't find fresh greens, tomatoes, berries, beets, fruits, figs, corn and more in the heart of Mason Square? If so, they must not be aware of the Mason Square Farmers' Market, an outdoor market held every Saturday at the square on Wilbraham Road.
The farmers' market is in its fourth year and is working hard to expand its presence and the traffic flow of shoppers there.
Organizer Tasha Moultrie-Phillips, project coordinator for Target Hunger, has described the market as a welcome relief to Mason Square's "food desert" issues that arise because of its limited supply of fresh food vendors in the area.
The Mason Square Health Task Force is a supporter of the market, recognizing that people need healthy food to live and stay healthy. With increasing obesity and diabetes rates in our Mason Square community, we need to pay closer attention to how we eat and what we eat.
Our diet is an important health issue and shouldn't be overlooked. What better way to increase the quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables in our diet than to buy them right here in the heart of our community at the Mason Square Farmer's Market.
Health disparities between men of color and whites are alarming: men of color have the highest rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and are more frequently the victims of violent crimes.
That's why the Mason Square Health Task Force is so excited about the Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA), a program aimed at improving the health of men of color in Greater Springfield.
The Task Force is part of a community collaborative working with MOCHA that includes Baystate Health, Black Men of Greater Springfield, the YMCA of Greater Springfield and others. The YMCA will facilitate a variety of wellness classes ranging from food and fitness to financial literacy.
Earlier this month nearly 150 people, mostly black and Latino men, joined on the steps of Springfield City Hall to announce that MOCHA had received a $250,000 grant from the state Department of Public Health.
The Mason Square Health Task Force applauds MOCHA and encourages all men to get and stay healthy!
Wonder why you or your kids need to have so many package stores in Your neighborhood, near your schools, Your daycare and community centers? Come share Your ideas to make Your neighborhood a healthy place for you and your kids to grow up!
Alcohol kills 6.5 times as many young people as all illicit drugs combined
For more information, call (413) 733-9024 or email mvezina@gandaracenter.org
Meeting Place: MLK Family Center 365 Bay St. Meeting Date: Monday, June 21 Meeting Time: Dinner: 5:30 (free) Meeting: 6-7:30p
