Coffee vs. Tea - Which is Healthier?

Everyone tends to have their favorite morning beverage. However, is coffee or tea better for you?

Benefits:  Both are rich in antioxidants & show promise in reducing certain diseases.

Caution:
- Many prepared tea & coffee products have a lot of added sugar. So, it's healthier to make your own. (Review our 7/15/15 blog post to find out why too much sugar can be problematic.)
- Too much caffeine can cause health concerns (e.g., feeling jittery, heart racing, trouble sleeping, etc.). If sensitive to caffeine, you may have symptoms after even small amounts.
- If you take medications or have existing health issues, ask your primary care provider or pharmacist if there may be any interactions.

Short answer:  The experts are divided. So, drink whichever one you prefer... but, choose it closest to its natural form.

For more info, check out:
- Good Morning America's What's Better for You: Coffee or Tea?
- Prevention's Which is Healthier: Coffee vs. Tea (infographic)
- Greatist's Green Tea vs. Black Coffee - The Greatest Debate

It's Child Passenger Safety Week!

Did you know that almost 75% of car seats are not installed or used properly? (Safe Kids USA)

Want personalized help??? Child Passenger Safety Technicians are certified (after a 32 hour class!) to teach you how to choose the correct seat; install it properly into your vehicle; & safely secure your child. Locally, technicians offer free car seat checks in both Granville & Vance counties. Find your Safe Kids coalition here.

Here are a few general tips for each of the 4 stages.

* Rear-facing
- Experts recommend riding rear-facing until age 2 or as long as the seat allows. It's much safer.
- The seat's recline angle helps young infants breathe. Park somewhere flat & use the car seat's recline level, line, or label. Many also have ways to adjust.
- If your seat can be used both rear-facing & forward-facing, the car seat labels will tell you the correct belt path, weight limits, etc., for each.

* Forward-facing with harness
- Check your car seat labels for guidance on minimum & maximum weights on direction, harness straps, or lower anchors. Being rear-facing & using the harness as long as your seat allows are safest.
- Change harness straps to be at or slightly above your child's shoulders.
- To help prevent whiplash, attach the top tether strap to your vehicle's approved anchor point.

* Booster seat
- Booster seats use the vehicle seat belt instead of a harness. Boosters raise kids into the proper position for this.
- Boosters are available as no-back or high-back. No-back boosters should only be used if your vehicle has head restraints (rests). Some parents still choose a high-back for other reasons, though.
- Most booster seats are not connected to the vehicle. If equipped, the top tether strap should still be used.

* Seatbelt
- A seatbelt should fit snugly across the shoulder, chest, & upper thighs. Rubbing against the face, neck, or stomach is unsafe. Putting the shoulder belt behind you isn't safe, either.
- The back seat is safer. Keep kids in the back seat at least through age 12.
- Having airbags is not a good reason to stop wearing a seatbelt. They are designed to work together.

Learn more at:
- Safe Kids' Car Seat Safety Tips
- National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's Car Seat Safety.

Preventing (or Surviving) Norovirus

Hundreds of people in a neighboring school system recently experienced a gastrointestinal sickness (stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.). Two have already tested positive for norovirus (see WNCT's Two Cases of Norovirus in NC).

Two doesn't sound overwhelming... Why all the attention? Norovirus is:
- common. It infects about 1 in 15 Americans.
- spread by contact with infected people or contaminated food, liquid, & objects. The virus can last on surfaces for weeks! (Think about how many people touched your ATM, shopping cart, menu, etc.)
- very contagious. Double-digit particles is enough to infect you. It moves quickly through close-quarters like homes, daycares, restaurants, nursing homes, etc.

Your best defenses are regular hand washing & proper food preparation.

If you become sick,:
- many people recover without intervention. However, hundreds die each year (often young, old, & immune compromised). There's no vaccine or preventive medicine. Antibiotics don't work on viruses.
- stay hydrated.
- stay home unless you need urgent medical care.
- wash all contaminated surfaces & laundry.
- don't handle other people's food.

For more info, check out:
- NC Department of Health & Human Services' Norovirus Outbreak Remains Prevalent... (short)
- Centers for Disease Control's Norovirus Illness: Key Facts (printable tips)
- NC State News' When a Norovirus Expert Got Norovirus (tips from work & personal experience)

Did you know??? Your local & state Health Departments are responsible for communicable disease tracking & prevention efforts.

Physical Activity in a Crunch

(Pun slightly intended since a crunch is a kind of sit-up & also describes busyness...).

Being too busy is a common excuse for not being active. While we can't create more time, we often have some control over how we spend it. Here are some tips for being both busy & active!

- Prioritize. Regular physical activity provides great physical, mental, & emotional benefits. Schedule it like you would an appointment. Pick an activity you enjoy to encourage follow-through. Could you redistribute time from a less beneficial task?

- Incorporate. Think about ways to add physical activity into your current workload. Walk while talking to a friend. Stretch during breaks at work. Exercise during your favorite show's commercials. Play tag or catch with your (grand)kids. Park a little further away.

- Use the buddy system. It's easier to skip your workout if no one is counting on you. For the technology advanced, there are lots of fitness tracking apps. Some will even reward or fine you based on your behavior.

- Use your time wisely. Increased effort is a popular & effective way to get a quality workout in less time. Common terms include High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) & Tabata (20 seconds of intense activity with 10 seconds of rest). For the best results, move as quick as possible based on your ability. However, even low-intensity activity still benefits general health & wellness.

Check out this sampling of short workouts or create your own! These can be done at home with little equipment. Please adjust speed, range of motion, etc., to match your fitness level & goals.
- Johnson & Johnson's Does the 7 Minute Workout Really Work?
(To see the workout, check out the New York Times Well blog's The Scientific 7-Minute Workout.)
- PopSugar's Zumba Toning Full-Body Workout Video (10min)
- SparkPeople's 14-Minute Basic Yoga Workout Video
- Greatist's The 15-Minute-At-Home Tabata Workout
- RealSimple's 6 Effective Kettlebell Exercises
- American Council on Exercise's 30 Minute Lunch Workout
- Greatist's A 30 Minute Strength & Cardio Circuit...

** NOTE:  With any fitness program, please consider your current fitness level & progress slowly. Use proper form to help avoid injuries. If you have health concerns, talk to your healthcare provider or another expert before dramatically changing your routine. **