Greetings!  

March has certainly come in like a lion. The snowfall on the daffodils was a reminder that Mother Nature enjoys the element of surprise and has a sense of humor. Typically this time of year our thoughts turn toward the explosion of colorful blooms that we joyfully anticipate will canvass the landscape, and the plot of land in our own yard that with proper care and tending will turn into a summer's bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers.

A backyard or kitchen garden is one of the easiest ways to ensure access to nutritious foods. Gardening can provide a diverse supply of nutritionally-rich foods, reduce grocery bills, and provide a potential source of income from sales of garden products. Even the Augusta Regional Free Clinic has a shared community garden whose offerings and degrees of success have varied year to year depending on effort, weather and of course the snails and groundhogs.

Since March is recognized as National Nutrition Month, this is a great opportunity to remind ourselves that proper nutrition can prevent chronic disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informs us that by practicing four low-risk behaviors: don't smoke, eat healthy, get more physical exercise and drink alcohol in moderation, we can reduce our risk by 63% of dying from malignant cancer, heart disease and other related causes.

Nutrition is emphasized for patients at the Augusta Regional Free Clinic because 65% suffer from one or more chronic conditions with diabetes, hypertension, depression and anxiety leading the list. The recommendation for weight loss, increased activity and healthier eating habits are basic strategies used with ARFC patients in prevention and treatment. Obesity is a problem at the Free Clinic just like in the general U.S. population where 69% of adults and 32% of children are overweight. Fortunately, a number of resources are available to assist patients with meeting nutrition and fitness goals. These include participation in our Chronic Diabetic Clinic, nutrition education from a trained volunteer, and access to Augusta Health's Diabetes and Nutrition Center, and Lifetime Fitness Center. More than 100 complicated or non-compliant diabetes patients are managed through the Chronic Diabetic Clinic annually, preventing diabetes complications through preventive screenings, such as foot and eye exams, as well as patient education and self-management support, including nutrition.

I hope I have inspired you to put away your snow shovels and take out the gardening tools. If gardening is not your forte, consider supporting local farmers and buy produce from one of the many regional farmers markets! I provided a link below. Ben Franklin stated that an apple a day...well you know the rest of the story...

Shenandoah Valley Farmers Markets 

Yours in health,

Margaret Hersh

Executive Director