Wise & Well
The Douglas ESD Wellness Newsletter
American Heart Month
Our newsletter now has a name! “Wise & Well” steps up to the plate and offers ideas we hope you’ll find useful. And speaking of plates …
Winter is all about comfort. Our bodies are programmed to seek shelter from the elements, which this time of year translates into more time indoors, more nourishment and sometimes a need for more sleep during longer winter nights.
These natural impulses are fine in moderation. But it’s easy to go overboard, especially when it comes to comfort food. Good dietary choices are crucial to protect our hearts. So we’re marking February, American Heart Month, by sharing some good news – eating wisely and well CAN be enjoyable!
For example, this issue includes a make-ahead oatmeal recipe worth exploring even if you don’t usually make time for breakfast. Find out more also about the Fooducate app that users say is like having a nutritionist in your pocket. (Presumably a tiny nutritionist.)
Explore other apps to help you monitor your cardiac health, and check out a March 8 webinar that addresses some questions many of us have about the effect of screen time on our bodies.
This is your newsletter, so if there’s a topic you’d like to see covered in future issues of “Wise & Well,” talk to Jessica Vaughn or Tricia Jones.
Spring will be on the horizon when our next edition appears. Take care of yourselves in the remaining weeks of winter.
You are never too young or too old to take care of your heart
What you can do to prevent heart disease:
- Get active and eat healthy
- Control your cholesterol and blood pressure
- Quit smoking
- Watch your weight
- Drink only in moderation
The American Heart Association explains how to prevent heart disease in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond. Click HERE to find out how!
Heart-healthy overnight oats
Makes 5 servings.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 1/2 cups skim or nut milk
5 Tbl chia seeds
5 Tbl pure maple syrup
1 1/4 tsp vanilla
Toppings
2 1/2 cups fresh fruit
5 Tbl toasted nuts
Directions
1. Scoop 1/2 cup oatmeal into each of 5 mason jars (1/2 pint). Add 1/2 cup milk, 1 Tbl chia seeds, 1 Tbl maple syrup, and 1/4 tsp vanilla to each jar. Stir contents of each jar; cover and refrigerate overnight. Top each jar with 1/2 cup of fruit and 1 Tbl nuts.
Recipe combination suggestions:
- Cherries & almonds
- Blueberries & cashews
- Blackberries & pecans
- Strawberries & pepitas
- Raspberries & almonds
Click HERE for original recipe and more flavor combinations.
Heart Healthy Mobile Apps
Heart Health Mobile
Marshfield Clinic's Heart Health Mobile application has been designed to: 1) Reach individuals across the country, taking special aim at those who may be at risk for CVD and don't know it; 2) Deploy an engaging user interface that provides consumers with a quick health risk assessment, motivate them to obtain a more accurate risk assessment by entering their blood pressure and cholesterol values, and; 3) Direct them to nearby community pharmacies locations offering affordable and convenient blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.
Heart Health - Cardiac Risk
Find out about all the most common conditions of the heart and how you can keep your ticker in tip top shape. Prevention is the key to a long life, so controlling high blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and managing cardiac risk factors should be of utmost importance. Learn how you can keep your heart healthy with the Heart Health uKnowMo app.
Fooducate
iPhone
Android
Lose Weight, Eat Healthy, Get Motivated
Fooducate is a food coach that goes way beyond a simple calorie counter. Achieve your weight loss, health, and fitness goals by learning to eat REAL food. The Fooducate diet app is like a nutritionist in your pocket, advising you how healthy foods are based on their nutrients AND ingredients.
Exercise for a healthy heart
The simplest aerobic exercise that you can start with is walking. A walking program is flexible enough to fit in even the busiest of schedules. Make time to walk!
See below for recommendations from the American Heart Association. Visit HERE for more information.
FREE wellness webinars
Studies indicate there are both positive and negative effects on our lives with all of the different screen times we have available to us. How much is too much TV, cell phone use, texting and computer time? What can we do to support what is best for us? This webinar will address several risks and benefits of technology and how we use it.
Wed, March 8, 2017 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Register for this free webinar HERE