Surround Well

Vaccination to avoid Termination

2011-08-31T07:47:00.000-07:00

Dayton Children’s is making flu shots mandatory for all employees and volunteers. According to a press release, beginning September 6, employees and volunteers will be responsible for making sure they receive either the flu shot or flu mist by October 31.

While the flu vaccine was always encouraged for employees and volunteers at Dayton Children’s, this is the first year that it will be mandatory.

We would like to hear from you – would you take a flu shot to keep your job? Is Vaccination worth it to prevent Termination?

What is the SECRET to a Middle of the Day Vacation?

2011-08-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

REST: ease up, unwind, recharge, put your feet up, take a load off, just chill.

Because when you don't rest, you wear out, wear down and start running on empty. Then you're not much good for yourself or anyone else. Try to nudge your schedule in a more restful direction, refusing to add new tasks to your own bucket, taking more breaks or simply helping your own mind be less busy with chatter, complaints about yourself and others or inner struggles.

Easier said than done, right? Incorporate these 7 small steps in your daily life to rest and rejuvinate your day.

1. Upon first waking, bring to mind your fundamental purpose in life, whatever it is, and rest in the felt knowing of it, in giving yourself over to it, like resting in the warm cradling current of a great river.

2. At meals, pause for half a minute with your food before you start eating.

3. Be aware of that little space between the end of an inhalation and the beginning of an exhalation (or vice versa). From time to time each day, notice that space and rest into it.

4. When you complete a task, take a break for a few seconds or more before shifting gears to the next one.

5. Promise yourself that you'll take a minute or more each day to sit quietly and remain present with yourself while doing nothing (this is an essential type of meditation).

6. Have real times each day when you truly "clock out" -- no longer on task or accountable to anyone.

7. Encourage your mind to come to rest at least occasionally. Tell yourself you can worry/problem solve/grumble later. The mind/brain is like a muscle, and it needs to stop working sometimes to replenish and rebuild itself.

When you rest, sink into its pleasures, its rewards, and sense them sinking into you, like a warm rain falling on thirsty ground.

When you get more rested, you have more energy, mental clarity, resilience for the hard things, patience and wholehearted caring for others.

by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist and author of the bestselling "Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom"

For more details, please chick here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rick-hanson-phd/why-rest-is-important_b_906725.html

Is Happiness a Habit you can develop and teach your children??

2011-08-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

What if happiness was a habit that we could teach children? We can. Qualities that lead away from happiness (strong negative emotions) and qualities that lead toward happiness (ethical actions) are all rooted in habits developed in the past.

Habits are easy to make, hard to break and everybody has them. Some habits are physical (cracking knuckles and twirling hair), some are verbal (using certain words or phrases) and some are psychological (worrying, daydreaming, judging and over-analyzing). By repeating a habit we reinforce the brain circuits associated with it and make the habit stronger.

There is a well-established, evidence-based curriculum that uses mindfulness to develop life-skills that make people happy. It rest on three universal qualities attention, balance and compassion. Mindfulness is a refined process of attention that allows children to see the world through a lens of attention, balance and compassion. When children learn to look at the world with attention, balance and compassion they soon learn to be in the world with attention, balance and compassion.

Making compassion a habit: To make compassion a habit all kids need to do is promise that everything they do will be kind and compassionate and keep that promise. Mindfulness is the mental quality by which children and teens remember to check-in with themselves throughout the day and make sure they are on track. Mindfulness helps kids remember their intention to be kind and compassionate and notice if they're acting and speaking in accordance with it.

Making concentration a habit: Concentrating on one thing and nothing else is a crucial skill in school. To develop concentration, and make it a habit, students use mindfulness to periodically check-in and make sure they are still paying attention to their chosen object.
Making balance a habit: The strong and stable faculty of attention that children and teens develop practicing concentration becomes more refined when they use it to see what's happening in, to and around them clearly even when what's happening is emotionally upsetting or charged. Mindfulness in developing emotional balance goes deeper by developing discernment a powerful quality of wisdom through which children and teens notice, among other things, patterns and habits of action and speech.
Hope motivates change: Parents want to be happy and they want their children to be happy. When they learn that mindfulness training is -- an evidenced based curriculum; with a long, reliable track record; universal in its approach; and taught in a secular way -- they feel hopeful again. Hope motivates change and explains the growing, grassroots social-action movement for mindful education.

Susan Kaiser Greenland, author of The Mindful Child and former corporate attorney, developed the Inner Kids program for children, teens and their families and teaches worldwide.
For more details please chick here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-kaiser-greenland/the-new-abcs-for-making-h_b_924032.html?ir=Healthy%20Living

Will a vitamin a day keep cancer away?

2011-08-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

Do you faithfully take your vitamins everyday? Can popping vitamin pills prevent cancer?
The simple answer is NO, based on what we know so far. In fact, some vitamin supplements have even shown harm.

Beta Carotene: After the studies came out, researchers determined that in the lungs of smokers, the high doses of beta-carotene might have acted like a pro-oxidant (causing DNA damage) instead of an anti-oxidant. In two other studies of mostly non-smoking men and women, beta carotene didn't have an effect on cancer risk either way.

Selenium: A trial of selenium and skin cancer found no protection for skin cancer, but it did suggest a lower risk of prostate cancer, which led to another large trial. This second study, called SELECT, gave either selenium, vitamin E, both or placebo, to some 35,000 healthy men. It found no effect either way of selenium or vitamin E on prostate cancer.

Folate: Although folate is associated with a lower risk of developing colorectal (colon) cancer, a recent trial showed that in people who have had polyps removed, high doses of folic acid slightly increased the number and size of new polyps. What this suggests is that if the cancer process has already started, high dose supplements might feed the process.

Multivitamins: At least 50% of US adults take a vitamin supplement. The United States Preventive Task Force reviewed the evidence and concluded hat taking multivitamins (in adults) will not reduce the risk of cancer or other chronic diseases. Multivitamins contain several of the nutrients discussed above, though usually in lower doses than the trials.

Vitamin D: Although some observational studies provide some support for a role of vitamin D in colon cancer prevention, doses of 400 IU/day did not lower colon or breast cancer risk in a RCT. A new large trial testing vitamin D at higher doses (and fish oil) is underway, so results won't be out for several years. Vitamin D is hotly debated, and experts are understandably guarded about recommending any supplements to lower cancer risk until the evidence is solid.

Calcium: I've saved the best news for last. A large trial from the US showed that, in people who have had colorectal (colon) polyps removed, taking calcium lowers the risk that polyps will grow back by 15%. There is one hitch, though: men who consume or take high doses of calcium (say, >1,500 mg) may be at slightly higher risk of developing prostate cancer, according to some observational studies. For women, this is obviously not a problem. Until we know more, men may want to keep calcium intake between 800 mg and less than 1,500 mg. Supplements usually contain 500 mg, and a cup of milk contains 300 mg.

The important things to know:
1) Supplements are not the same as food. No supplement can fully replace a healthy diet.

2) More is not always better. Make sure to tell your health care provider about any supplements you are taking.

3) Supplements are not regulated by the FDA. That's right - no oversight. Given the fact that we know toxicities and overdoses can occur, and that some trials have shown harm from supplements, it's wise not to go overboard on supplements.

There may be other good reasons to take supplements, but at least for now, prevention of cancer is not one of them.

For more details, please click here: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/News/ExpertVoices/post/2011/08/16/Will-a-vitamin-a-day-keep-cancer-away.aspx

Parents' Top 9 Questions for Back to School: Are you ready?

2011-08-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

As the summer winds down, getting your kids ready for school can be a major endeavor.

Are you worried about flu? Stress? Colds? School health expert answers your questions about keeping children healthy.

For full article check out WebMD feature:

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/parents-top-9-questions-for-back-to-school

10 Delicious healthy ethnic cuisines: see where your fav ranks

2011-08-07T16:18:00.000-07:00

1. Greek: There's a good reason docs love the Mediterranean diet: Traditional Greek foods like dark leafy veggies, fresh fruit, high-fiber beans, lentils, grains, olive oil, and omega-3-rich fish deliver lots of immune-boosting and cancer-fighting ingredients that cut your risks of heart disease, diabetes, and other diet-related ailments.

2. California Fresh: Eating plenty of disease-fighting, naturally low-cal, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables from a local farmers' market or farm is good for your body, and it's satisfying, says Health's Senior Food and Nutrition Editor Frances Largeman-Roth, RD. "Foods grown locally are going to taste better and may have more nutrients," she explains, while produce that's shipped cross-country after being harvested can lose vitamin C and folate, not to mention flavor.

3. Vietnamese: One of the healthiest and most delicious Vietnamese dishes is pho (pronounced "fuh"), an aromatic, broth-based noodle soup full of antioxidant-packed spices. (Check out judge Bittman's vegetarian take on it, at right.)

4. Japanese: Japanese practice Hara Hachi Bu, which means "eat until you are eight parts (or 80 percent) full," she says. This simple diet rules may be why people in Japan are far less likely than Americans to get breast or colon cancer.Japanese staples that are amazing for your health include antioxidant-rich yams and green tea; cruciferous, calcium-rich veggies like bok choy; iodine-rich seaweed (good for your thyroid); omega-3-rich seafood; shiitake mushrooms (a source of iron, potassium, zinc, copper, and folate); and whole-soy foods.

5. Indian: The distinctive flavors do more than perk up your favorite curry: They may actually protect against some cancers. And turmeric and ginger help fight Alzheimer's, according to recent studies. Researchers point to the fact that rates of Alzheimer's in India are four times lower than in America, perhaps because people there typically eat 100 to 200 milligrams of curry everyday.

6. Italian: Studies have shown that the lycopene in tomatoes may help protect women from breast cancer," Dr. Miller says. One of the best ways to get cancer-fighting lycopene is in cooked tomato products: a half-cup of tomato sauce has more than 20 milligrams. Plus, garlic and traditional Italian herbs provide vitamins A and C. And olive oil helps lower cholesterol, fight heart disease, and burn belly fat.

7. Spanish: The Spanish eat tons of fresh seafood, vegetables, and olive oil-all rock stars when it comes to your weight and well-being. Superhealthy dishes to order: gazpacho (full of cancer-fighting lycopene and antioxidants) and paella (rich in fresh seafood, rice, and veggies).

8. Mexican: A Mexican diet of beans, soups, and tomato-based sauces helped lower women's risk of breast cancer, a study from the University of Utah found. And the cuisine's emphasis on slowly digested foods like beans and fresh ground corn may provide protection from type 2 diabetes.

9. South American: With 12 countries within its borders, South America has a very diverse culinary repertoire. But our judges applaud the continent's traditional diet of fresh fruits and vegetables (including legumes) along with high-protein grains like quinoa. In fact, a typical South American meal of rice and beans creates a perfect protein,

10. Thai: Can a soup fight cancer? If it's a Thai favorite called Tom Yung Gung, the answer just might be yes. Made with shrimp, coriander, lemongrass, ginger, and other herbs and spices used in Thai cooking, the soup was found to possess properties 100 times more effective than other antioxidants in inhibiting cancerous-tumor growth.

Struggling with Pain? Asthma? Or anxiety? Yoga could help you

2011-08-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

Ten ailments where Yoga can make a difference:

1. Headaches

2. Asthma

3. Sexual dysfunction in women

4. Sexual dysfunction in men

5. Sleep problems

6. Menstrual pain

7. Rotator cuff injuries

8. Osteoporosis

9. Pain sensitivity

10. Depression and anxiety

For details on specific Yoga poses click here

Health and Wealth: is there a connection?

2011-07-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

There is in mental health, according to a study conducted by researchers at 20 centers in conjunction with the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Initiative

Depression rates are higher in richer countries than in low- or middle-income nations, according to researchers who compared socioeconomic conditions with depression.

About 121 million people worldwide have depression, which can harm people's quality of life by affecting their ability to work and form relationships. Severe depression can lead to suicide and causes 850,000 deaths every year.

Detailed interviews with more than 89,000 people in 18 nations revealed that 15 percent of people in high-income countries were likely to get depression during their lifetime, compared with 11 percent of those in low- or middle-income countries. About 5.5 percent of people in high-income countries had depression within the previous year.

High-income countries had higher rates of major depression (28 percent vs. 20 percent), and especially high rates (more than 30 percent) were found in the United States, France, the Netherlands and India. China had the lowest rate of major depression (12 percent).

The average age at onset of depression was nearly two years younger in low-income countries, the investigators found.

Women were twice as likely as men to suffer depression, and the major contributing factor was loss of a partner because of death, divorce or separation.

(SOURCE: BMC Medicine, news release, July 25, 2011)

Prepared parents…are you one of them?

2011-07-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

Be ready with soothers by thinking ahead for some common un-fun health events

1. A broken bone

2. A from-the-vein blood draw

3. Filling a cavity

4. Getting stitches

5. Having a hospital procedure

6. Getting braces

7. Swallowing a pill

For details click here

Eating out? Be smart about it

2011-07-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

Choose the right restaurants
Avoid portion distortion
Scan your menu for high-fat hints
Think outside the veggie box
Cut the fat
E is for effort
Get the most nutritious bang for your buck
Dress down your salad.
Save that sandwich
Choose comfort foods occasionally

To read full article – Click Here

Do you love lamb? Find out how it rates on Carbon Foot print scale

2011-07-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

Click here for more

Fact or Myth? Crunches Will Flatten Your Stomach

2011-07-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

Answer: Myth

Crunches alone won't flatten your stomach, because there are no exercises to reduce fat in specific areas of your body.

If You Stop Working Out, Your Muscle Turns to Fat

Answer: Myth

Muscle turns into fat only in very rare circumstances, and it never occurs in healthy people.

Eating Protein After a Workout Will Build Muscle

Answer: Myth

"That's definitely a myth," said Elisabetta Politi, a nutrition director at the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center. "What you need after a workout are carbohydrates."

Find out more on debunked myths

Stuck in a rut?

2011-07-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Research has shown that most people are able to make a permanent change in their daily behavioral patterns when there is some abrupt change in their "life story" -- whether moving to a new home, changing jobs, changing relationships, etc. This turbulence, as it upsets the normal daily pattern, helps "reset" our minds and puts us in a good place to adopt new patterns!

To create a new environment and embrace health habits try one of these tips

All about Omega 3

2011-07-17T18:08:00.000-07:00

Office of Dietary supplements summarizes the benefits of Omega 3 Fatty acids on health and conditions like Cardiovascular disease, heart function, asthma, cognitive function, organ transplantation and other conditions like joint tenderness and need for corticosteroid drugs in rheumatoid arthritis.

Studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids in general decrease triglyceride and very-low-density lipoprotein blood levels in hyperlipidemic individuals but may increase or have no effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.

Most American diets provide more than 10 times as much omega-6 than Omega-3 fatty acids. There is general agreement that individuals should consume more Omega-3 and less omega-6 fatty acids to promote good health. Good sources of ALA are leafy green vegetables, nuts, and vegetable oils such as canola, soy, and especially flaxseed. Good sources of EPA and DHA are fish and organ meats. LA is found in many foods, including meat, vegetable oils (e.g., safflower, sunflower, corn, soy), and processed foods made with these oils.

Adverse events related to consumption of fish-oil or ALA supplements are generally minor and typically gastrointestinal in nature (such as diarrhea). They can usually be eliminated by reducing the dose or discontinuing the supplement.

To read details on individual studies please Click here

Stay fit, Fit walking into your life

2011-07-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

The goal of taking 10,000 steps in a day is a rough equivalent to the Surgeon General's recommendation to accumulate 30 minutes of activity most days of the week. It should be enough to reduce your risk for disease and help you lead a longer, healthier life.

First, invest in a pedometer.Keep it closed and attached to the front of your waist to the left or right of center. Wear it all day from the moment you wake up until going to bed, except when immersed in water. At night remove it, record the number of steps you've taken in the log, and note if you did any formal exercise (wear your pedometer then, too); for example, "20-minute treadmill walk."

Also note if anything caused more (museum tour) or fewer (all-day meeting) steps than usual in your day. Attach your pedometer to your shoe if you bicycle and the pedometer doesn't seem to count your pedaling.

If you want to know not just the number of steps you've taken, but the distance as well, you can calibrate a pedometer. The simplest way is to wear it while walking a known distance, such as once around a quarter-mile track, at your normal walking speed. Then multiply that number of steps by four, and you know your typical number of steps per mile.

Probiotics: research shows high potential

2011-07-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics are available to consumers mainly in the form of dietary supplements and foods.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center investigated how Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 might work to slow the growth of certain cancerous tumors. Their study documented the molecular mechanisms of the probiotic's effects in human myeloid leukemia-derived cells—i.e., how it regulates the proliferation of cancer cells and promotes cancer cell death. The researchers noted that a better understanding of these effects may lead to development of probiotic-based regimens for preventing colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.

In another study, researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Ohio State University looked at whether Lactobacillus acidophilus might enhance the immune-potentiating effects of an attenuated vaccine (a vaccine prepared from a weakened live virus) against human rotavirus infection—the most common cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in infants and children worldwide. The investigators' tests on newborn pigs found that animals given both a vaccine and the probiotic had a better immune response than the animals given the vaccine alone. The researchers concluded that probiotics may offer a safe way to increase the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in humans.

In both studies, the investigators called for additional research into the mechanisms behind the health-related effects of probiotics.

Darker side of Popcorn at the Movie Theaters

2011-07-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

A large tub of popcorn at Regal Cinemas, for example, holds 20 cups of popcorn and has 1,200 calories, 980 milligrams of sodium and 60 grams of saturated fat. Adding just a tablespoon of butter adds 130 calories.

Not so hungry? The medium size popcorn, which comes in a bag, contains the same amount as the large. And even the small, at 11 cups, delivers 670 calories, 550 milligrams of sodium and 24 grams of saturated fat.

The findings may surprise those who choose popcorn at the concession stand because they believe it is a relatively healthy snack. In fact, plain air-popped popcorn is low in calories and free of saturated fat. Movie theater popcorn, however, is popped in oil — often coconut oil, which is 90 percent saturated fat. Add salt to the enormous portions, and your once-healthy snack turns into a health offender.

Using family reunions to talk about family health history, June 23, 2011, NIH Radio - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

2011-07-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

Knowing about your family’s health history goes a long way toward preventing or delaying the development of serious diseases, like diabetes. A family reunion this summer can be an easy opportunity to talk about family health.

Read more

Risks of getting paid

2011-07-14T11:32:00.001-07:00

Everyone looks forward to payday. Whether it's a paycheck from your employer or benefits from the government, the influx of cash to your bank account is always a good thing, right? Not according to the latest research.

Researchers report that getting paid may be associated with a higher risk of death. Among Social Security beneficiaries, military personnel and people receiving tax refunds or state dividend payments, the risk of dying in a given month was highest on payday and for several days afterward.

Cures from Nature

2011-07-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

CLAIM: Steam clears up sinus headaches

Is it true? Yes

This old-school treatment -- touted in more than 400,000 Google results! -- really works. "Inhaling steam flushes out your nasal passages, relieving sinus pressure," explains Neil Kao, M.D., head of research at the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in Greenville, South Carolina.

Add a few drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil to make it more potent. "The minty smell causes a tingling sensation in the nasal membrane, and this has a decongestant effect," says Kao, who also suggests dabbing Vicks VapoRub at the lower rim of your nostrils.

Another natural alternative: Using a neti pot to irrigate the nostrils with saline solution, which can also ease sinus symptoms, according to one study.

Find out about more natural cures

Chocolate and Wine- 2 of 7 anti aging super foods

2011-07-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

1. Here are some cool recipes to enjoy these in your meals and snacks..

Chocolate
Blueberries
Fish
Nuts
Wine
Olive Oil
Yogurt

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What is Health?

2011-07-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.- World Health Organization, 1948

Does cold weather make you sick?

2011-07-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

Find out if these 11 Myths are true...

1. Cold weather makes you sick.

2. Green mucus indicates a sinus infection..

3. You lose most of your body heat through your head.

4. Milk makes you phlegmy.

5. Cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis.

6. Birth control pills don’t work as well with antibiotics.

7. Singles have better sex lives than married people.

8. Sugar makes kids hyper

9. You should poop at least once a day.

10. It’s okay to double dip in the chip dip.

11. Food quickly picked up from the floor is safe to eat.
Click here to find out

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Who is to blame? Ads or bad eating habits?

2011-07-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

The food and advertising industries have launched a multi-pronged campaign to squash government efforts to create voluntary nutritional guidelines for foods marketed to children.

Calling themselves the Sensible Food Policy Coalition, the nation’s biggest foodmakers, fast-food chains and media companies, including Viacom and Time Warner, are trying to derail standards proposed by four federal agencies. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also lent its lobbying muscle to the effort.

“If you look at rising rates of obesity, one in three kids is either overweight or obese. That percentage is growing. I don’t think anyone thinks the status quo is okay...” says David Vladeck, director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC in an interview.

To check out complete article please click here
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Obesity by states...find out where your's rank

2011-07-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

The percentage of obese adults increased in 16 states over past year and didn't decline in any state, a report says. In addition, the number of adults who say they don't do any physical activity increased in 14 states this past year.

This report is based on state-by-state obesity data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in which people self-report their height and weight. Because people tend to underreport their weight, the percentage of people who are obese is probably higher than the statistics indicate.

To find how your state ranks, please click here

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