Healthy Heart Beats

April-June 2009
Vol 31, Issue 2

Resources

President’s Council Encourages Physical Fitness

exercise Physical activity is viewed as a preventive measure to stem the rise of chronic diseases and obesity among both adults and children. In a statement issued by the Office of the Press Secretary of the White House, President Barack Obama proclaimed May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. To encourage attention to physical fitness, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is sponsoring the National President's Challenge, a sixweek competition to determine America's most active State. The Challenge extends from May 1, 2009, through July 24, 2009. Americans are encouraged to register for the Challenge at www.presidentschallenge.org and to begin recording activity to help their State win this year's competition.

The Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are designed to help Americans of various ages and abilities engage in physical activity that can be incorporated easily into their daily lives. More information about the guidelines is available at: www.health.gov/paguidelines.

Any individual 18 years of age or older can first assess his/her current level of fitness by taking the Adult Fitness Test at www.adultfitnesstest.org. Use the Pre-participation Screening Questionnaire provided by the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine to determine the level of risk for cardiovascular events during exercise testing. The screening includes:

Aerobic Fitness Test
Muscular Strength & Endurance Test
Flexibility Test
Body Composition Test
Instruction Booklet (pdf)

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Nutrition Tips on the Web

The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has launched a Web site that provides a short nutrition and health tip each day. The tips link to both a consumer article and a related research reference for those who want more information about the topic. The “Got Nutrients” Web site can be accessed via: www.manoa.hawaii.edu/gotnutrients.

The philosophy behind the website is that the number one goal of good nutrition is meeting essential nutrient needs by achieving "variety, moderation, and balance" in the overall diet..

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Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Newsletter

The Colorado Heart Disease Stroke Prevention (HDSP) e-News premiered in April 2009. This newsletter was developed in response to coalition member requests for more information and communication: Heart e-Newsletter April 2009.pdf.

Included are current events, links, national updates, and more. To request an online subscription to this newsletter, email Laura Scott, Administrative Assistant, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, laura.scott@state.co.us.

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Tufts University Offers Web Evaluation Guide

When evaluating health and nutrition information on Web sites, use the online tool from Tufts University at http://www.tufts.edu/med/ebcam/nutrition/organizations.html for guidance. Ask the following questions about organizations and agencies offering guidance on nutrition:

Are they financially uninvolved? What is their possible vested interest or bias?
What data do they provide to support their position or policy?
What is their history and political involvement?

Numerous resources and links are listed in the following categories:

Government, e.g. USDA
Professional, e.g. American Dietetics Association
Advocacy/Consumer, e.g. Center for Science in the Public Interest
Industry supported, e.g. American Egg Board

The MedlinePlus Guide to Healthy Websurfing gives guidance on what to look for when evaluating the quality of health information on Web sites from organizations and agencies in nutrition. Topics addressed include:

Consider the Source—note expertise of the developer of the Web site.
Focus on Quality—look for the review policy.
Be a Cyberskeptic—watch out for quackery.
Look for Evidence—rely on medical opinion.
Check for current information.
Read the privacy policy statement.

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Eat Smart. Play Hard. Together

kid North Dakota State University Extension Service in collaboration with the university athletic department has created a Web site with a video, a magazine and links to resources for kids, teens, parents/caregivers and educators. There is an additional link for recipes and health tips: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/eatsmart/. Any of these educational pieces can be used in entirety without getting special permission. To use parts follow the permission process at the bottom of the page.

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Feeding Kids Newsletter

The May issue of the Feeding Kids newsletter is available at http://nutritionforkids.com/emlnews/FK-May09.htm. The topics in this issue include:

For Kids Only: Find Your Food Style (quiz)
Veggies for Breakfast: Recipe and copy-ready handout
Teaching Nutrition is as easy as A-B-C!
News in Brief: Produce for Kids:
Spring Campaign Recent Studies of Interest Recommended Site: Michigan Team Nutrition Booklist

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Promote Fresh and Local Flavors

herbs With more emphasis on eating less salt, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has created a one-page spice and herb seasoning chart. Add flavor without adding calories back to foods with these sodium-free herb/spice/food combinations.

Download the spice/herb chart (“Add a Little Spice (and Herbs) to Your Life”) and post inside a cupboard or other easy-access place in your kitchen: http://www.lancaster.unl.edu/food/SpiceHerbChart.pdf.

Additionally, a free PowerPoint and handouts on spices and herbs can be found at http://www.lancaster.unl.edu/food/spiceherb.shtml.

To promote local fresh food, watch “Fresh from the Farmers' Market," a YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkTS5CrA34U.

A free PowerPoint, “The Garden Grocery: Food Safety and Selection at the Farmers’ Market,” and handouts, including “Healthy Cooking with Fresh Herbs” as well as others related to the Farmers’ Market, is at http://www.lancaster.unl.edu/food/farmar.shtml.

“Fresh Produce from the Farmers' Market, Your Garden or Grocery Store!” includes recipes, storage, canning and freezing tips: http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/fresh-produce.shtml.

Visit http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09354.pdf for a Fact Sheet from Colorado State University, Sodium in the Diet, Table 4: “Seasoning without your salt shaker with herbs and spices.”

Please remember to credit the source for free resources used as PowerPoint presentations, handouts, articles, etc.

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