App Wrap 2016

Smart phones are blamed for a range of health concerns. However, this staple of American life can also help aid your health & fitness goals.

Check out these lists of recommended apps:
- Greatist's The 39 Best Health & Fitness Apps of 2016
- Time's The Best Free Health & Fitness Apps
- PCMag's the 25 Best Fitness Apps of 2016

How about the new Pokemon Go phenomenon?
- Forbes' 5 Ways Pokemon Go is Actually Good for You
- WRAL's Pokemon Go 5 Safety Tips...
- CNET's Pokemon Go Safety Tips...

Protect the Ones You Love! Immunizations Through the Ages...

Once upon a time, in a place not so far away, lots of people died from contagious (but preventable) diseases. Widespread vaccinations helped change that. Vaccines have made many formerly common illnesses rare (like whooping cough, mumps, polio, or even chickenpox).

The words "vaccinate" or "immunize" often make us think of screaming babies & small kids. In reality, traveling, coping with chronic illnesses, or even just aging can put us at greater risk. Locally, flu & pneumonia remain a leading cause of death among our elderly.

Immunization is related to the word "immune" (meaning safe or protected). Vaccines help your body learn to recognize & fight diseases. If done at the recommended time, they are very effective at preventing, or at least minimizing, illness. Most immunizations also put you at little to no risk. On the other hand, when people choose not be vaccinated, they endanger themselves & anyone else who isn't or can't be immunized.

For more information, check out:
- KidsHealth's Frequently Asked Questions About Immunizations
(For kids' & teens' articles, look for the tabs near the bottom of the page. For Spanish, click on the green box on the upper right. Attention teachers:  free lesson plans can be found on the left sidebar.)

- NC Public Health's NC Immunization Requirements (details what immunizations are needed to begin daycare, school, & college plus allowed exemptions. On the left sidebar, learn more about vaccine preventable diseases & which immunizations are recommended vs. required.).

- Centers for Disease Control's Child, Pre-teen & Teen, & Adult Immunization Schedules. These are also available in Spanish (gray box on the upper right). They also offer links to some interesting (& often free) apps.


Did you know Granville Vance Public Health offers both child & adult immunizations? Some of our programs operate on a sliding fee scale. We also accept many health insurance plans. No patient will be denied services based solely on their ability to pay. Call today with questions or for an appointment!

Coping with Cravings

Aah, we've all been there! Craving something salty... or something sweet. Maybe, it's something comforting from your childhood. Or, a reward for a hard workout or a rough day.

There are different theories as to why we have cravings.
- WebMD discusses research that found Junk Food Cravings Linked to Brain Lapse. The good news:  adequate physical activity, quality sleep, & limiting alcohol can help lessen them.
- In our modern industrialized world, cravings don't necessarily mean our body is missing nutrients. However, there are exceptions (e.g., an extremely restrictive diet; pica; etc.)
- Some people eat as a comfort or coping mechanism. The good news:  identifying this pattern (& using some of the tips below) can help you break it.

Tips:
- WebMD's Food Cravings That Wreck Your Diet (plus healthier alternatives)

- Huffington Post's 5 Creative Ways to Cope With Food Cravings
- Reader's Digest's 10 Ways to Control Your Cravings
- Greatist's How to Stop Any Craving Right When it Starts

Remember, tips are like tools in a toolbox. Every tool isn't appropriate for every job. Try different tips out & see which work for you. Sometimes, it may even be situation dependent. As with any new skill or habit, practice & patience are crucial.

What's the Difference Between a Portion & a Serving?

Last month's nutrition label post started a conversation about serving size vs. portion size. Here are the definitions, courtesy of NHLBI's We Can! program:
- portion:  how much you choose to eat.
- serving:  a measured amount of food or drink.

For example, many people drink a 20 ounce bottle of soda in one sitting (a portion). The company considers a serving size as 8 ounces (1 bottle = 2.5 servings). Current labels show nutrition info (calories, sugar, etc.) based on the company selected serving size. Newer labels will be more likely to reflect what an average person would consume (portion size). 

If you haven't already, click on the above link for their tips, family-friendly recipes, etc.!

Learn more with:
- WebMD's Portion Size & Weight Loss. If you prefer pictures, try their Portion Size Plate.
- Cooking Light's 10 Top Secrets to Portion Control
- Centers for Disease Control's How to Avoid Portion Control Pitfalls...

Not a fan of strict attention to portion size? Go, Slow, Whoa!... may be for you (or your family). This link is from KidsHealth. However, a printable, picture, & Spanish version are also available through We Can!

Summer Dining

Oh, it's been hot & humid lately... Even though I'd rather cook at home, the last thing I want to do is heat the house by using the oven. Summer eating doesn't have to be hard, expensive, or even particularly time consuming!

Check out these for some inspiration:
- Cooking Light's 5-Ingredient Salads (one of many 5-Ingredient meal topics)
- Eating Well's Quick Summer Dinners
- Food Network's Fresh Healthy Grilling & Summer Recipes
- Health.com's 7 Deliciously Frugal Feasts 
- Better Homes & Garden's Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinner Recipes
- Greatist's 52 Healthy Meals in 12 Minutes or Less