We’re All Winners

Walking in October

Network for a Healthy California

The focus of the 11th Network for a Healthy California Conference s on “Inspiring Healthy Change Together.” The conference held in early March is two days of inspiration and ideas to collectively focus the spotlight on perspectives and actions that lead to positive change. Participants will learn from over 100 speakers and poster presenters who will share their insights, tools, and strategies for making change happen in their community.

The Living with Loss By Understanding Grief eBook is a complementary resource that I helped write, design, create and get published as part of the Tuolumne County Working Group for Loss & Grief Education and Support.

The booklet was written by Dr. Dyer in 2008 with input from Working Group Members which included a cross section of those interested in Grief and Loss within Tuolumne County.

Download a copy of the eBook by clicking on the eBook image at the left or on the image in the right side bar.

You can find out more about the Living with Loss eBook and even view a smaller version of it on the Grief, Loss and Bereavement Blog.

• Living with Loss eBook
• Living with Loss eBook – On Docstoc

The new version of Microsoft creates documents as a .docx format, which is only readable if the person has the latest version of Microsoft (or has the program to convert files). Another issue with Microsoft documents even just .docs it that they are more likely to transmit viruses.

The concern about transmitting computer viruses is the main reason that many instructors require that documents submitted as attachments (which will be opened by the instructor) are submitted as .rtf, .txt or .pdf files.

I found a couple of great online Video resources on YouTube with reminders about some basic computer skills that many online instructors figure their students already know how to do.

Take a look at Tips for Converting Documents and Tips for Copying and Pasting Information if you need a reminder in how to use either of these skills on the Online Success Page of this blog.

Image Source: Wikimedia. Control cut copy paste.jpg. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.

Federal health regulators reprimanded Coca-Cola for placing inappropriate nutritional claims on its Diet Coke Plus soft drink. The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to the company, objecting to the product’s labeling, which describes the drink as “Diet Coke with Vitamins and Minerals.”

The FDA has pointed out that the Diet Coke Plus is misbranded. Federal regulators said the beverage does not have enough nutrients to justify the use of the word “plus” in its name.

According to the regulations, foods labeled “plus” must have at least 10 percent more nutrients than comparable products.

Additionally, the FDA said it is inappropriate to add extra nutrients to “snack foods such as carbonated beverages.”

Source:

Perrone. M. December 23, 2008. FDA warns Coca-Cola over nutritional claims. Associated Press.

SuperSize Me Video on Google Videos

This is particularly an eyeopening film when viewed at the end of a nutrition course.

Use MyPyramid to help your preschooler eat well, be active, and be healthy.

Customized MyPyramid for Your Preschooler

Visitors to the My Pyramid for Preschoolers Web site can “get a customized MyPyramid Plan for your preschooler” by entering the child’s first name, age, gender, and typical amount of daily activity. The site then generates a plan tailored to that child.

At the My Pyramid for Preschoolers website parents and caregivers can explore ways to help preschoolers:

• Grow up healthy. Complete a growth chart especially for your child to find out more about normal development.
• Develop healthy eating habits. Raise a healthy eater by setting a good example and practicing positive habits.
• Try new foods. Help for picky eaters.
• Play actively every day. Add physical activity into your preschooler’s day.
• Follow food safety rules.

The site provides a variety of information and resources for parents and caregivers wanting to ensure that their preschooler grows up healthy.

Downloads

The My Pyramid for Preschoolers Website also offers fun materials to download and print.

• MyPyramid for Preschoolers Poster – Download a printable 8½” x 11″ mini poster of the image on this blog entry.
  
• Two-Sided Bookmark – 5 per page, 3.1MB PDF
• MyPyramid for Preschoolers Coloring Sheet – Download the reproducible handout.
• Making Your Job Easier/ Features of the MyPyramid for Preschoolers Website – Download the 2-sided handout.

Some of the best points on the site is the reminder to parents is that:

You can raise a healthy eater by setting a good example and practicing positive habits.

You are the most important influence on your child.

You can do many things to help your children develop healthy eating habits for life.

For more information about the MyPyramid for Preschoolers, visit the My Pyramid for Preschoolers Website.

Sources:

Hitti M. October 27, 2008. ‘My Pyramid for Preschoolers’ Debuts. WebMD.

In both cases, the aspirin has been combined with a dietary supplement into a single pill.

Aspirin is often recommended by doctors to treat general aches and pains and in small doses (baby aspirin) as a blood thinner for patients with heart disease.

The two products in question:

• Bayer Aspirin with Heart Advantage (Bayer Heart Advantage)–aspirin combined with phytosterols (a plant-based supplement also known as plant sterols)
• Bayer Women’s Low Dose Aspirin + Calcium (Bayer Women’s)–aspirin combined with calcium

These product formulations are not approved by FDA. The FDA has issued a warning letter to the Bayer Corporation.

Why the Warning?

Bayer has been marketing these products as pain relievers and as treatments for heart disease and osteoporosis. They claim that Bayer Heart Advantage helps in “reducing the risks of heart disease.”

The labeling for Bayer Women’s also claims that the product helps “fight” osteoporosis.

Treatments for heart disease and osteoporosis must be reviewed by government scientists and cannot be sold over the counter.

In addition the FDA has determined that these products have inadequate and misleading directions and warnings. Both products lack adequate directions and warnings for their safe use by consumers.

According to ABC News these results were discovered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has been investigating drug advertising and the FDA’s oversight of pharmaceutical manufacturers for over a year.

Sources:

October 28, 2009. FDA Warns Bayer Over Claims on 2 Aspirin Products: Federal Regulators Call Health Claims Unsubstantiated. ABC News.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. October 28, 2009. FDA Warns Bayer About Two Unapproved Aspirin Products. Consumer Updates.

Image Source: Esra Su. Aspirin. Royalty Free Use.

WIC is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants, and children.  WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding healthcare and other community services.

What makes a cereal a WIC Approved Cereal?

WIC-approved cereals are ones that are low in sugar and have a lot of nutrients, vitamins and minerals in them. Two of the vitamins included in many of the cereals:

• Iron
• Folic Acid

List of WIC Approved Cereals in California for Children

All of these cereal are low in sugar and high in nutrients like iron and folic acid. Any cereal specified on the food instrument Box or bags – 12 oz. package or larger except for brand Instant Oatmeal which may be an 11.8 or 12 oz. box General Mills

• Cheerios (plain)
• Kix (plain)

Kellogg’s

• Corn Flakes (plain)
• Frosted or Unfrosted Mini- Wheats (Big Bite or Bite Size)

B&G Foods

• Cream of Wheat (1 minute, 2-1/2 Minute, 10 minute)

Post

• Honey Bunches of Oats (Honey Roast)

Quaker

• Life (plain)
• Crunchy Corn Bran Store Brands (See list of authorized labels)
• Crisp(y) Rice
• Instant Oatmeal (Regular unflavored, in 11.8 oz or 12 oz. box of individual serving packets)

Cereals that Can not be Bought on WIC Programs

• Brands or labels not specifically listed on WIC Authorized Food List and California Shopping Guide WIC Authorized Foods
• Individual serving packets, except for store brand Instant Oatmeal – Packages smaller than 12 oz., except for store brand Instant Oatmeal
• Honey (except for Honey Bunches of Oats, Honey Roast), frosted, cinnamon, or fruit flavored
• Cereals with chocolate, fruit, nuts, marshmallows, or yogurt clusters/pieces

California WIC Sources

PDF File of California WIC Authorized Food List.

California WIC Program Website.

Additional Sources:

Minnesota Department of Health. WIC-Allowed Cereal.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Maine WIC Program Approved Foods List.

Image Source: Annette Gulick. Cheerios. Royalty Free Use.

Tyra addresses rather effectively the unflattering bathing suit photos that were plastered across every tabloid and gossip website in 2007, claiming that she had gained 40 lbs.

In calculating Tyra’s BMI, at 5′10″ and 161 lbs, she ends up right in the healthy range with a BMI of 23.1

You can read an interview with her at People Magazine online.

Calculating BMI (Body Mass Index)

BMI Formula BMI = [ Weight in Pounds / ( Height in inches ) x ( Height in inches ) ] x 703

BMI = ( kg/m² )
(weight in pounds * 703 )
height in inches²

Metric BMI Formula

BMI = [ Weight in Kilograms / ( Height in Meters ) x ( Height in Meters ) ]

BMI = ( kg/m² )
weight in kilograms
height in meters²

The bill was sponsored by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy and the American Cancer Society.

The law written by Senator Alex Padilla requires restaurant chains with 20 or more locations statewide to post calorie information on menus and indoor menu boards for consumers.

Carol Jackson, the California Division Chair of the Board of the American Cancer Society had this to say about the passage of the bill “We are so excited that the Governor signed menu labeling this year. It is a trendsetting bill that will set the standard for the nation by increasing the visibility and importance of healthy eating.”

With the passage of this bills all Californians will soon be benefit from having reliable, accessible nutrition information at the point of sale that will help them make more informed, healthier choices. Making sure that people can make choices about what they are eating when dining out is becoming increasingly important as more people are eating a greater number of their meals outside of the home each week.

SB 1420 was modeled closely on an ordinance implemented in New York City that affects large chain restaurants. Restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Starbucks, Quizno’s, Applebee’s, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, TGI Friday’s are now posting calorie information on menu boards in New York City.

This bill has been two years in the making. I think this is a great move to improve the health of Californians. Kudos to the Governor for promoting health and nutrition.