by Ginny Hinton | Jan 30, 2015
There’s a new law in Florida – and although it’s far from comprehensive, it’s designed to better protect our kids. As of January 1, 2015, Florida law requires that all children riding in vehicles must use a safety seat until their 6th birthday. This means that kids who are 4- or 5-years-old and were previously restrained using just a seat belt must now ride in a car seat or booster seat.
Although much of the publicity about the new law also has reinforced the guideline that children under age 13 are much safer in the back seat, the law itself applies only to children who are not yet six. The law is not a “booster seat” law, because children under age 6 are still safer in a 5-point harness. Once your child is at least 4-years-old, weighs at least 40 pounds, and can sit in position for an entire car trip, you may make the decision to move that child to a booster seat. The fact remains, however, that the child is still much safer in a 5-point harness until he/she reaches the upper height or weight limit of that seat (typically 40-65 pounds). Even though your child may beg to differ, keeping him/her in a harnessed seat longer is one of the best gifts you can offer as a parent!
Want to make sure you’re using the best type of restraint for your child? You can find a nationally certified child passenger safety technician near you at http://cert.safekids.org. Click on “Find a Tech” and search by location.
by Elizabeth | Jan 17, 2015
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “resolution” as “the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc.; the act of resolving something.” Now that 2015 is here, what are you seeking to resolve this year?
If you read Living Well in the Panhandle articles, you probably have noticed a theme. The theme is information on Living Well – not just for one day or one month but for the whole year. With that in mind, what do you resolve to do this year to live well? While identifying your resolutions, it is important to note that, unless your chosen resolution becomes a habit, you may fail to achieve it. However, regardless of what your resolution is this year, here are a few things to consider to help you with your resolve.
Join an organization that supports people with the same resolve. For instance, many people resolve to save more money each year. From personal experience, it is tough to change spending habits without moral support. However, organizations like America Saves motivate people who want to save for different goals. Pledge to save during America Saves Week – February 23- 28 (www.americasaves.org) or any time before then. This is one avenue many people across the country have used to stick with their resolution to save. The resolution becomes a habit because, on the America Saves website (www.americasaves.org), you can find motivation from other savers or prospective savers like yourself. You also can sign up to receive a free newsletter with information on how to maximize your effort.
Judging by the number of weight loss commercials in the media, the other most common resolutions include eating right, exercising, and losing weight. There are several web sites you can visit that provide unbiased information as you work your way toward living well. At Small Steps to Health and Wealth (http://njaes.rutgers.edu/sshw/), you can sign up for the Online Challenge that will help you make small daily changes to improve your health and personal finances.
A good resolution should focus on improving one’s life. That said, choose to read Living Well in the Panhandle and live well not just for a day or a month but for the rest of your life. For more information on Living Well in the Panhandle, contact your local UF/ IFAS Extension Agent. Happy New Year!
by Marjorie Moore | Nov 22, 2014
Eat, drink, be happy and be healthy this holiday season. My favorite holidays are just around the corner. It is an exciting time to be with family and friends. There is usually lots of food that may come with lots of calories and carbohydrates. Are you wondering how to survive this holiday season without adding more calories and carbohydrates to your diet?
The first thing to keep in mind is to plan your meals to help keep your diabetes management on track. Persons with diabetes should space out their carbohydrate intake throughout the day. Fruits, starchy vegetables, dairy foods, and grain foods all contain carbohydrates. Eating the right amount of carbohydrates throughout the day will help you control your blood glucose levels. The Idaho Plate method of meal planning is one of many tools to help control carbohydrates while recommending at least one-half your plate consist of vegetables. More information on the Idaho Plate can be found at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy334 .
If you going to a party or eating at a friend or relative’s home and the meal time is around your normal dinner time, try to eat the same amount of carbohydrate that you normally would eat. You may ask your host if you can bring a covered dish. If so, take your favorite low carbohydrate dish to share.
Avoid or limit the amount of sugary drinks like soda, fruit punch or drinks, sweet tea and eggnog. These drinks raises blood glucose and can provide lots of calories in one serving. For example, one cup of fruit punch contains 100 calories or more and at least 30 grams of carbohydrate; and, one cup of eggnog may have as many as 344 calories and more than 34 grams of carbohydrates. A much better choice is to choose diet or other low-calorie drinks that are available in several flavors. Remember, water is a much healthier choice and has no calories.
Fill up on salad first. Filling up on salad or other raw veggies will fill you up without lots of calories.
Don’t forget to focus on conversation. Make an effort to meet new friends or circulate with those you know instead of eyeing the food.
Stay active this holiday season. Put yourself on your gift list by treating yourself to a personal trainer, fitness class series or membership to a gym.
Learn more about how you can enjoy eating healthy as a diabetic this holiday season by contacting your local UF/IFAS Extension Office .
by Angela Hinkle | Nov 21, 2014
Gratitude doesn’t have to happen only on World Gratitude Day or around the Thanksgiving table. Happiness researchers have found that expressing gratitude has wide-ranging benefits. Counting your blessings on a frequent basis is associated with increased happiness. Grateful people are more likely to:
- take better care of themselves both mentally and physically
- get more regular exercise
- eat a healthier diet
- have improved mental alertness
- schedule regular physical examinations with their doctor
- cope better with stress and everyday challenges
- feel happier and more optimistic
- report more hours and better quality of sleep
- experience fewer physical symptoms like headaches, coughing, nausea, or pain
- have stronger immune systems
- maintain a brighter view of the future
So how do you put more thanks-giving and gratitude into your day? Try these suggestions to give yourself a boost:
- Be mindful of what you have. It’s not how much you have, but how you feel about what you have, that makes the difference.
- Write it down or share with a group that you meet with on a routine basis. This is a great way to continually give thanks.
- If someone thanks you, accept the thanks graciously. Let the person know you appreciate being thanked. You don’t need to do anything else. Honestly.
- Look for small things to be thankful for. The only person they have to be meaningful to is you. Here are some examples: “I found a parking space right away”; “It’s raining and I remembered my umbrella today”; “I was in a hurry and someone let me go in front of them in the line at the store”; “I had a good hair day.”
- If you write a thank you note, keep it short and simple. It’s not a big report that’s due or the novel you keep putting off writing. Just think of the reason for the thank you and be sincere. If you forgot to send a thank you note, don’t let the elapsed time be an excuse to avoid the task all together. You can send a quick email and then get to the real thing.
During the holiday season and throughout the year, enjoy and be thankful for the little and the big things and the kindnesses of others. Gratitude is good for your head, good for your heart, and good for your soul. And, just so you know, we take you very seriously – thanks for taking the time to read this message.
by Judy Corbus | Nov 21, 2014
Do you have food containers growing green fuzzies in the back of your refrigerator? It’s easy for leftovers and other food items to overstay their welcome in the fridge, creating a food safety hazard as well as unnecessary clutter. With Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to super-clean your refrigerator. Follow these tips to get your refrigerator ready for Thanksgiving leftovers and other holiday treats:
- Remove everything from the refrigerator.
- Examine each container – discard outdated leftovers and any items of whose age you are uncertain or you don’t plan to use in the near future.
- Remove shelves, drawers, and bins. Wash with a solution of baking soda and warm (not hot) water.
- Clean the interior of the refrigerator with baking soda and warm water. Dishwashing detergent can leave a residue that can lead to odors if not rinsed thoroughly. Dry with a soft cloth or paper towel.
- Clean each container before returning it to the refrigerator.
- Wash the outside of the refrigerator with sudsy water (using hand dishwashing detergent), rinse, and dry. Wash the gaskets around the refrigerator doors – sticky gaskets can cause air leaks, costing you more energy over time.
- Vacuum the dust off the condenser coils, usually on the back of the refrigerator, or under it. Dirty, dusty coils make the refrigerator work harder to cool and use more energy, costing you more money.
- Remove and clean the “pan” or plastic tray at the very bottom of the refrigerator that collects the condensation or defrost water. Look in your care manual to find where this “pan” is located. Dust and moisture in this “pan” can cause mold to grow, causing health problems for people with allergies.
- Clean the floor around and underneath the refrigerator.
Your fridge is now ready for the holidays!
Sources: My Florida Home Book – Taking Care of Your Home, Chapter 5. Taking Care of Indoor Features, University of Florida/IFAS Extension, 2008.
http://www.cooksinfo.com/clean-out-your-refrigerator-day
by Elizabeth | Aug 6, 2014
Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in worldwide.
Make sure that your family and friends are up-to-date on their immunizations. With children enrolling in or returning to school, older students entering college, and adults and the health care community preparing for the upcoming flu season, this is a particularly good time to focus community attention on the value of immunization.
Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that once were common worldwide. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that once routinely killed or maimed tens of thousands of infants, children and adults.
The viruses and bacteria that cause vaccine-preventable diseases and death still exist and can infect people who are not protected by vaccines. Vaccine-preventable diseases have a costly impact, resulting in doctors’ visits, hospitalizations, and premature deaths. (Sick children also can cause parents to lose time from work.)
Now, suppose you could make your child safe from some of the deadliest diseases in history and suppose that, at the same time, you also could help protect your neighbors’ children and other children around the country from the same diseases. Finally, suppose you could actually help to rid the world of some of these diseases that have been crippling and killing children for centuries.
You can do all of these things with one of the easiest and, yet, most powerful health tools ever developed. You can make sure your children get their shots.
There are 12 potentially serious diseases that vaccines protect against:
- Diphtheria,
- Haemophilus Influenza Type b (Hib)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Measles
- Mumps
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Pneumococcal disease
- Polio
- Rubella (German Measles)
- Tetanus (lockjaw)
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
At least one shot is needed for each of these diseases, and for some of them, several doses are required for the best protection.
For more information on immunizations, call your local Health Department or contact your child’s pediatrician. You also may visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/child.html.
