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THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH PROTECTION?
THINK AGAIN.
Teens and young adults may need a booster shot to stay protected from meningoccocal meningitis if they received a meningitis vaccination between the ages of 11 and 15.
This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the booster shot to insure increased protection from age 16 through college.
Meningitis can start suddenly with flu-like symptoms and lead to death within hours or result in devastating effects including amputation and brain damage.
Hear the personal heartbreak of families affected by this preventable disease on our website.
For more information regarding meningitis vaccination, call us at: (248) 967-8355.
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EAT HEALTHY AT HOME
SWEET-AND-SOUR CHICKEN
INGREDIENTS
1 bag (12 oz) frozen vegetable stir-fry
1 Tbsp peanut oil or vegetable oil
1 Tbsp ginger, minced
1 Tbsp garlic, minced (about 2-3 cloves)
1 Tbsp scallions (green onions), rinsed and minced
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp Asian hot chili sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 C low-sodium chicken broth
12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
1 Tbsp lite soy sauce
DIRECTIONS
1. Thaw frozen vegetables in the microwave (or place entire bag in a bowl of hot water for about 10 minutes). Set aside until step 6.
2. Heat oil in a large wok or sauté pan over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, and scallions, and stir fry until cooked, but not browned, about 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add the rice vinegar, chili sauce, and brown sugar to the pan, and bring to a simmer.
4. In a bowl, mix cornstarch with chicken broth, and add to the pan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Lower heat to a gentle simmer.
5. Add chicken, and stir continually for 5 to 8 minutes.
6. Add vegetables, and mix gently. Simmer with lid on to reheat, about 2 minutes.
7. Add soy sauce, and mix gently.
8. Divide into four even portions, and serve.
YIELD
4 servings
SERVING SIZE
3 oz chicken,
1 C vegetables
NUTRITION FACTS
calories 221
total fat 6 g
saturated fat 1 g
cholesterol 51 mg
sodium 287 mg
total fiber 3 g
protein 23 g
carbohydrates 21 g
potassium 460 mg
vitamin A 90%
vitamin C 45%
calcium 6%
iron 6%
Source: Keep the Beat: Heart Healthy Recipes from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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STEP UP TO A CHALLENGE
National Employee Health and Fitness Day™ (NEHF) is
May 18. This national observance promotes the benefits of physical activity through worksite health initiatives.
This year, why not give a stairwell challenge a try?
Stairwell challenges offer a budget-friendly way to get employees active at work.
Worksite stairwells can be decorated with supportive materials like posters, healthy recipes and other health-related information that employees may use during the challenge period or throughout the year.
Here are a few ideas to get you started with planning a stairwell challenge:
- Make sure that the stairwell is safe.
- Add footsteps from the elevators to the stairs, and have a message spelled out along the way.
- Post arrows showing the way to the stairs.
- Remind people of the health benefits associated with physical activity, and appeal to the environmentally conscious by pointing out how much energy is used in running an elevator.
- Clean, paint, and decorate the stairwell if needed; add music and other physical intervention ideas to make the stairwell a pleasant place to be.
MoveMore Stairwell Guide is a free resource created to assist with the development of a worksite stairwell challenge.
If you have implemented a stairwell challenge at your workplace, we would like to hear from you. E-mail us your story and we will highlight your health challenge or activity in our next issue. |
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GOT STRESS?
Stress can come at us from a variety of different sources: home, work, our children, an ailing parent or a difficult boss. Although we try to deal with situations the best way we know how, we do not always have the skills to manage the daily stressors in our lives. Our inabilities to deal with such stressors can have negative effects on our overall physical well being.
Think back to the way you felt when you were last stressed. You may have felt drained of all your energy, depressed, tense, angry and even unproductive.
According to the American Psychological Association:
People who suffer from depression and anxiety are at a heightened risk for heart disease, with depression leading to a two-fold increased risk and anxiety a doubling of increased risk. Additionally, people exposed to chronic stress are at increased risk of developing drug addiction.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are often available through your employer. Become familiar with their offerings and how you may benefit from a confidential individual or group session with a trained professional to help reduce the stress in your life. |
SCREEN EARLY FOR COLON CANCER Early cancer screening can prevent colorectal cancer by allowing health care providers to identify and remove precancerous polyps. Screenings can also identify cancer in its early stages when it is easier to treat and a chance of recovery is better. Did you know that:
- Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer cause of death in the United States affecting both men and women.
- Colorectal cancer also is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States.
- Screening is recommended for men and women beginning at age 50.
- You may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer if you or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, if you have inflammatory bowel disease or if you have certain genetic syndromes.
Under healthcare reform law, colon cancer screenings like colonoscopies are a fully covered preventative service. This means that under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), health plans must now cover many preventive health services at 100 percent and before any deductible applies. Do not delay! If you have been putting off your colorectal cancer screening, speak with your health care provider. |
MAKE STRIDES
IN YOUR HEALTH! Walking is a low-impact exercise that has many health benefits including burning calories, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and blood sugar (glucose). It may help increase your levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and decrease your bad cholesterol (LDL).
Walking also offers an opportunity to socialize with family and friends which can provide support for those looking to get active and fit.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Check with your doctor before you start a walking program.
- Choose a safe route and go with friends or family.
- Wear shoes with proper arch support, a firm heel and thick flexible soles.
- Wear clothes that will keep you dry and comfortable.
- Spread your walking evenly throughout the week. Try to walk at least three days each week if you cannot walk daily.
- Break up your walk into multiple sessions throughout the day if you have a busy schedule. Make sure each session is at least 10 minutes long.
You can make walking part of your daily life, especially in your neighborhood or surrounding areas, such as malls, parks and school yards, all these provide great locations to get started. MapMyWalk, is an excellent resource that allows you to search, browse and create maps of your favorite routes or walking destinations.
If you are looking for a great place to walk or run, join VNA's signature fundraiser Run for the HEALTH of It on September 10, 2011, at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. For registration and sponsorship information visit www.vna.org. |
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