Last updated 1 year ago
Most of us are familiar with the USDA’s MyPyramid symbol for healthy eating. The pyramid has now been replaced with the MyPlate symbol.
This was designed to be more easily understood by consumers and is consistent with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It is a visual reminder for people to make healthier food choices and aims to help consumers think about building a healthier plate at meal times.
What is the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? The new 2010 Guidelines was launched in January 2011. It is the foundation of the nutrition education programs for the federal government, federal nutrition assistance programs, and advice given by health and nutrition professionals. The basic message of the Guidelines is:
Balance Calories
• Enjoy your food, but eat less
• Avoid oversized portions
Foods to Increase
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
• Make at least half your grains whole grains
Foods to Reduce
• Compare sodium (salt) in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals, and choose foods with lower numbers
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks
More information, resources, and tools are coming with the new MyPlate icon and 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Visit the website www.choosemyplate.gov for more information and to find interactive tools and resources including food planners and recipes. Keep checking back, as more information about MyPlate comes out, we will be sure to blog about it for you!
Shelly Edens is a registered dietitian with Memorial Hospital.
Last updated 1 year ago
Do you suffer from intense cravings that will make you drive to the next town for a hot fudge sundae or your favorite donuts? Have you struggled with your weight for most of your life? Have you had a gym membership for years but don’t seem to have the energy to workout?
If so, you may not be getting enough sleep. Research suggests that the quality and quantity of sleep you get are contributing factors for weight gain, fatigue, mood disorders, diabetes, and heart disease. So, why is sleep so important? Sleep is like your body’s reset. While your sleep your growth hormones are produced, tissues grow and repair, hormones are regulated, blood pressure is lowered and your stress hormones (cortisol) decreases.
If your goal is to maintain or lose weight, get enough sleep. People who don’t get enough sleep tend to have bigger appetites because sleep affects the hormones that affect your appetite. You may mistake the feeling of tiredness or fatigue for hunger and you may head to the refrigerator rather than the bed. Without enough sleep, you make be hindering your ability to lose weight, even if you are exercising and eating well.
If your goal is weight loss or maintenance, get enough sleep. Here are some tips to help you get a good night sleep.
- Keep a regular bed and wake up time, even on the weekends if possible.
- Finish eating 2-3 hours before going to bed to avoid reflux, fullness and discomfort.
- Try not to nap during the day, if you do, limit your nap to 10-15min.
- Get 30 minutes sun exposure in the morning to help you wake up, avoid bright lights in the evening. Help set your body’s clock.
- Get regular exercise; try to finish 4-6 hrs prior to bedtime.
- Restrict caffeine to before 10 am, or give it up all together. Caffeine affects you sleep patterns for up to 10-12 hours after consumption.
Don’t bring business or homework into the bedroom; no TV either. Keep the bedroom a quiet place for sleep and rest.
Erika Watson-Lawson is a registered dietitian with Memorial Hospital.
Last updated 1 year ago
Memorial Health and Walgreens Take Care Health Systems Form Collaborative Relationship to Enhance Access to Health Care in the Greater Jacksonville Community
--Relationship expands Memorial Health’s presence in the greater Jacksonville community and improves continuity of care between health care professionals
JACKSONVILLE, Fl. – Memorial Health and Take Care Health Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG), today announced a new relationship which will increase opportunities for clinical collaboration and improve patient access to high-quality, convenient and affordable health care options in the greater Jacksonville region.
Take Care Clinics are professional walk-in health care centers located at more than 350 Walgreens drugstores across the country, including six locations in the greater Jacksonville community. Clinics are open seven days a week, including evenings and weekends, giving patients the option to access a variety of health care services at their convenience. No appointment is necessary.
Through this enhanced relationship, Memorial Health affiliated physician practices will share information on Take Care Clinics and other health care options when their locations are closed or they are unable to schedule an appointment within a patient’s desired timeframe. Professionals at Memorial Health affiliated practices will have access to information on Take Care Clinic locations, evening and weekend hours and services available to patients and their families.
“The team at Memorial Health is committed to providing the Jacksonville community with health care services when and where they are needed,” said Wayne O. Winney, Divisional Vice President with HCA Physician Services. “By partnering with Walgreens and Take Care Health we’re facilitating patient access to a high-quality health care provider while ensuring continuity of care with the Memorial Health team. We believe that sharing information on Take Care Clinics can play a role in limiting unnecessary emergency room visits and improving the care experience for Memorial Health patients.”
Providers at Take Care Clinics will have information available to educate patients on Memorial Health services and will continue to provide information on a variety of local health care resources as appropriate. If a patient at a Take Care Clinic requires care that falls outside of the setting’s scope of service, dedicated systems between Take Care Health and Memorial are in place to allow for rapid sharing of visit records with patient permission. Take Care Clinic professionals provide all patients with a copy of their visit record and will share records with other health care providers upon request.
“Walgreens and Take Care Health are dedicated to enabling access to health care services when and where it is convenient for patients and joining forces with an industry leader like Memorial Health furthers our ability to accomplish this mission,” said Heather Helle, Divisional Vice President for Walgreens Consumer Solutions Group. “The relationship with Memorial Health encourages continuity and accessibility, a combination which has the potential to reduce costs and improve outcomes for patients, payers and care providers.”
Patients today are increasingly looking for affordable, accessible health care options. According to research published in the September 2010 issue of Health Affairs, between 13.7 and 27.1 percent of emergency department visits could take place at retail clinics or urgent care centers, with a potential cost savings of $4.4 billion annually. According to this research, retail clinics, such as Take Care Clinics at select Walgreens, have been shown to save patients $279 to $460 per visit compared to emergency department costs.
Last updated 1 year ago
The Frist Humanitarian Awards recognize a physician, employee and volunteer at each HCA-affiliated facility who demostrate extraordinary concern for the welfare and happiness of our patients and their community. The Frist Humanitarian Awards are given annually in recognition of the late Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr., a founder of HCA. This years winners are very deserving! They have all worked hard to make our community a better place.
(from left to right)
J. Theodore Wingard, MD, --- Physician Winner
Nancy Stewart --- Volunteer Winner
Stewart Whitmore, Assistant Controller --- Employee Winner
Last updated 1 year ago
This weekend marks the start of outdoor cooking season for many. Across the country people will be dusting off their grill, hosting pool parties and unofficially starting summer. Make sure that you grill smart and safe this season. There are many questions regarding grilling and a possible increased risk of cancer. It’s what you grill and how you grill that makes the difference. Here are a few tips to help you out.
- Safety First: Avoid having food borne illness on the menu. Make sure that you use separate utensils, cutting boards, and plates for raw and cooked foods. Refrigerate foods that are marinating, and never reuse the marinade to baste your meats. Make a separate marinade for basting.
- Reduce Your Grilling Risk: Evidence has shown time and again, that a diet high in red meats contributes to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends limiting red meat to 18 ounces per week. In addition to limiting red meats the AICR recommends avoiding processed meat such as hot dogs due to a strong correlation between processed meat and colorectal cancer.
- Reduce your HCAs: The compounds that are produced in meat during the grilling process that are suggested to increase cancer risk are called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). You can greatly reduce your HCAs by cooking smaller portions thereby limiting cooking time, and using a marinade. It has been shown that marinating your meat prior to grilling can decrease HCA formation by up to 96 percent.
- Eat your veggies and fruits: Grilling vegetables and fruits produces no HCAs. Try a new grilling recipe using vegetables on a kebab this weekend.
- Trim the fat: Trim excess fats from foods that you are grilling. Try leaner cuts of beef like Filet Mignon or NY Strip.
- Try something new: I’m thinking grilled fish with mango salsa or a veggie grilled pizza. You might stumble across a new friends and family favorite.
Erika Watson-Lawson is a registered dietitian with Memorial Hospital.
