Monthly Archives: April 2014

National Infant Immunization Awareness
Week, April 26 – May 3

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cartoon_vaccine125The DuPage County Health Department shared in a press release this week that National Infant Immunization Week is April 26-May 3.  Therefore, it is  reminding parents to vaccinate their children according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended immunization schedule for safe, proven disease protection.

Giving babies the recommended immunizations by age two is the best way to protect them from 14 serious childhood diseases, like whooping cough and measles. Parents are encouraged to talk to their child’s doctor to ensure that their infant is up-to-date on immunizations.

Immunizations not only provide individual protection to each child, but protect the health of the entire community. Immunizations have been so successful, in fact, that many people may not have seen cases of the serious diseases they prevent. Continue reading →

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G-Free Pizza – Really!

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polenta-caprese-pizza-fore296SELF Magazine shared this great
Gluten-Free pizza recipe:

The polenta crust needs to chill at least 2 hours before baking, so prep it the night before (or in the morning before you run to work—it’s that easy). Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
    • 3 cups 1 percent milk
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 1 1/2 cups cornmeal
    • 2 large shallots, thinly sliced
    • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
    • 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 3/4 lb fresh mozzarella, cubed

PREPARATION:
Lightly coat a large rimmed baking sheet with 1 tbsp oil. In a large pot, bring milk, 3 cups water and salt to boil over high heat. Whisk in cornmeal in a gentle stream and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often, until polenta is thick and no longer gritty, about 20 minutes. Working quickly, pour polenta into prepared pan, spreading evenly to the edges. Let stand 10 minutes; cover with plastic wrap and press polenta along sides of pan to form edges of crust. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.Heat oven to 450°. Bake chilled crust until it begins to brown at edges, 45 minutes to an hour. Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan. Sauté shallots and garlic over medium-high heat until soft, 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, 5 minutes. Mash with the back of a spoon and cook until thickened, 3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce onto the crust, top with cheese and bake until cheese is bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. Top with basil and cut into squares.

THE SKINNY
281 calories per serving, 12 g fat (7 g saturated), 28 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 13 g protein

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Laughter May Make Your Brain Work Better!

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fave-exercise-800x600The Daily Herald Newspaper ran an article from ABC News  that reports that new research suggests that humor can improve short-term memory in older adults, .

In a recent small study conducted at Loma Linda University in Southern California, 20 normal, healthy, older adults watched a funny video distraction-free for 20 minutes, while a control group sat calmly with no video. Afterward, they performed memory tests and had saliva samples analyzed for stress hormones.

You guessed it; those who got to laugh the 20 minutes away with the funny video scored better on short-term memory tests, researchers said. And salivary levels of the stress hormone cortisol — a memory enemy of sorts — were significantly decreased in the humor group.

The act of laughter — or simply enjoying some humor — increases endorphins, sending dopamine to the brain to provide a sense of pleasure and reward, authors of the study say.

That, in turn, makes the immune system work better and changes brain wave activity toward what’s called a “gamma frequency,” amping up memory and recall.

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DCHD Announces Every Kid Healthy Week

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3495411871-1In recognition of Every Kid Healthy Week, the DuPage County Health Department is offering some ideas on how schools can take small steps to make big changes when it comes to the health of their students.

Every Kid Healthy Week™ is an effort created by Action for Healthy Kids®, a non-profit organization that fights childhood obesity, undernourishment and physical inactivity by helping schools become healthier places so kids can live healthier lives. During this national observance and throughout the month of April, schools across the country are encouraged to host events that will make sustainable changes that encourage students to eat better and be active every day.

To celebrate Every Kid Healthy Week™, schools can implement wellness initiatives to promote and reinforce healthy eating, physical activity and nutrition education. Some events taking place across the county include:

  •  Hosting a healthy food taste test event
  •  Organizing a family fitness night
  • Incorporating fitness breaks into the classroom curriculum

FORWARD, a county-wide, public-private partnership of the DuPage County Health Department, that is also working to fight obesity, offers resources for schools working to make healthy changes. For more information or to access our resources, visit www.forwarddupage.org.

Schools already participating in Every Kid Healthy Week are encouraged to share their planned events by registering the event on the Every Kid Healthy Calendar by going to, https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2014EKHWeek.

For more information on the DuPage County Health Department, follow us on Twitter @DuPageHD or become a fan on Facebook.

 

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You’re Invited …

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Perceptive logo for Word_192x140You are invited to attend a  fun and interactive FREE class on “Nature’s Superfoods.” This class is scheduled for, Saturday, May 3rd at 11:30 A.M.  at the Forward Fit Gym in Carol Stream, IL, 26W535 St. Charles Rd., Unit B Carol Stream, IL.
The class will include some of Brooke’s  favoriteTOP Superfoods and why you need to be eating them! At the end of the class, you will be able to:Explain what a “superfood” is

  • Identify and explain the unique nutritional value and composition of each superfood
  • Identify and explain the disease preventative and healing properties of each superfood
  • Identify and apply ways to incorporate them into your diet

*Spots are limited!  To reserve a space email Brooke at [email protected]

no later than Monday, April 28, 2014.
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Steps to support brain health, improve overall wellness

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cartoon-brain-1Joshua Steckler, owner of Push Fitness, a personal training studio located in Schaumburg specializing in weight loss, muscle toning, and nutrition wrote in a recent Daily Herald article that brain health is an often overlooked aspect of fitness but has a major impact on the overall well-being of the body.

Many times brain health is only addressed once there are known issues. Fortunately, many of the healthy steps we recommend for the well-being of the body will also support healthy brain function.

The following tips will support brain health while improving overall wellness.

Never stop learning. Keep your brain sharp by challenging it on a daily basis. Simple things like brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand, or trying a new activity that makes you think on your feet like a dance class, or simply reading a book on an unfamiliar topic are all great for keeping the brain active. These types of activities should make you think, learn, and use the brain while embracing the new challenges. Continue reading →

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“Get Educated” About Heart Disease – Are You at Risk?

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HeartRisk

An alarming fact about heart health is that 50% of heart attacks and strokes occur in people with normal cholesterol levels.  What you may not know is that inflammation is actually the key contributor to heart disease and cardiac events. Have you checked your inflammation levels lately?

Experts at National University of Health Sciences will explain how a series of simple blood tests can detect inflammation and other markers of heart attack risk.

Whether patients are in their twenties or forties, these tests can give a reliable report on their cardiac risk profile. They can determine whether a heart attack is likely in the next year, or whether healthy patients can make small lifestyle changes to avoid a heart attack twenty year’s from now.

Learn more on April 28 at 7:00 pm at the “Get Educated” community wellness series on”Heart Disease: Are You at Risk?”

Come to the NUHS Whole Health Center in Lombard at the intersection of Highland Ave and Roosevelt Road, Bldg. B, Room 539.

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How Much Screen Time for Kids?

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young-kids-digital-media-useOn April 7, the Daily Herald posted the following article by Kendall Powell from the Washington Post:

As most parents know by now, the experts say we should limit our kids’ screen time or risk raising socially stunted couch potatoes.

Last fall, the American Academy of Pediatrics released updated guidelines for children and adolescents using media, recommending no more than two hours per day of any type of entertainment screen time for kids ages 3 to 18 and none for children 2 or younger. The guidelines cover media such as Internet and texting as well as TV, movies and video games.

As a science writer, I wondered how the AAP decided on that limit, which seems arbitrary and simplistic. As a mother raising a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old in a house full of glowing screens, I wondered, how would I ever enforce it?

Victor Strasburger, a professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and an AAP spokesman, explained that the two-hour cutoff comes from several large studies that have followed the television-watching habits and health of children over decades.

“Over two hours per day, and the more time spent in front of a screen, the higher the risk of obesity,” he said. Continue reading →

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Ageless Grace Certification May 4, 2014

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DSCN0837Relaxation Plantation, Oak Park, Illinois is hosting an Ageless Grace Educator Certification May 2-4 including a KIDZ! Playshop. You are invited to attend and experience the world of Ageless Grace “timeless, fun fitness for body & BRAIN”…that “almost anyone can do!”… in a chair… based on the Science of Neuroplasticity and Movement.

If you cannot attend, please share this invitation with others who want to learn about Ageless Grace, to teach…to help themselves and the world become a healthier place while changing the “model of aging”!

For details email Peggy at: [email protected]   or   630-916-9677

 

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Celebrate Public Health Week

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applause signNational Public Health Week is April 7-11 and the DuPage County Health Department will be celebrating the work of public health professionals more than ever this year as public health continues to evolve at a rapid pace with the onset of Affordable Health Care.

 

Public Health Week is a nationally recognized event that takes place during the first full week of April every year since 1995. Communities from coast to coast will be raising awareness of issues that are important to everyone’s health.

This year’s daily themes for Public Health Week are:

  • Monday, April 7: Be Healthy from the Start: public health starts at home, take action to protect your health by better meal planning, conducting recommended safety upgrades and preparing for emergencies.
  • Tuesday. April 8: Don’t Panic: Disaster can strike at any moment and you can’t always predict when or what, but you can be prepared for it.
  • Wednesday, April 9: Get out Ahead: 7 in 10 deaths are related to preventable disease.  Get out ahead of them by taking preventative health measures like regular check-ups and living a healthy lifestyle.
  • Thursday, April 10:  Eat Well: Many people do not understand the important information listed on a food label or what precautions to take during a foodborne illness. This day will be dedicated to bringing awareness to these issues.

Friday, April 11: Be the Healthiest Nation in One Generation: For the first time in decades, the current generation isn’t as healthy as the one that came before it. Communities will band together to try and reverse this disturbing trend. Continue reading →

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