November 2012
Mark your calendars!
The next HEAL-SLO meeting is Wednesday, November 14th from 2:00-4:00 in the
Red Room.
HEAL-SLO members Janice Fong Wolf and Stephanie Teaford accepting the 2nd
annual proclamation for October Healthy Communities month for SLO County
from the Board of Supervisors.
Building Healthy Communities Health Summit
Thank you to all who participated and attended the 2012 Building Healthy
Communities Health Summit! Over 220 people attended the free summit.
Participants gave rave reviews about the speakers and venue for the Health
Summit. The speaker presentations and pictures are posted on the HEAL-SLO
website and the video will be posted soon. Participants’ reviews of the Building
Healthy Communities Health Summit included:
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“Thank you for such a high caliber group! I liked the focus being on
communities and planning with a concentration on healthy living- and it
was free!”
“I am definitely more aware of the community efforts and how it relates
more to my personal health. I am truly inspired.”
“Great energy among speakers! Loved the teen exercise break!”
Candy at the Cash Register- A Risk Factor for Obesity and Chronic
Disease
A common misconception to the obesity epidemic is the belief that food-related
decisions are conscious and intentional. However, with a large part of the
population claiming they want to lose weight and only a small amount of them
doing so, human behavior doesn’t always correspond to an individual’s goals.
Many businesses promote the “impulse marketing” strategy that encourages
spur-of-the-moment emotion related purchases that are triggered when an
individual sees the product or a related message. Markets implement this
strategy by placing candy at the registers. Some vendors pay a slotting fee to
retail markets to have their products placed in certain areas of the store that are
more profitable. For example, goods place in prominent end-of-isle locations
account for 30% of all supermarket sales. Many of these good are high in sugar
and fat. The “impulse marketing” strategy, is a hidden risk factor and new
approaches are being taken to reduce its influence on the individual. Solutions to
this issue would be to limit the types of foods displayed at prominent end-of-isle
locations as well as restricting foods associated with chronic diseases to locations
that require a deliberate search to find. For more information visit
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1209443.
“All Natural” Food Labels May Be Misleading
While health awareness continues to spread throughout the world, many food
companies are trying to disguise their products as healthy options by labeling
them as “all natural”. Unfortunately, there are hidden ingredients in these
products that are processed and unhealthy. The label “all natural” can be placed
on these unhealthy products because neither the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration nor the Federal Trade Commission have a strict definition for the
term. The FDA says products are not “all natural” if they contain added color,
artificial flavors, or synthetic substances. However, so-called “natural” foods can
still contain a wide range of processed sweeteners, lab produced “natural”
flavors and colors, additives, and preservatives. Many companies, such as
General Mills “100% Natural” Nature Valley granola bars, are facing law suits
for containing unnatural ingredients that fool their consumers into thinking their
product is a healthy option. For more information on “all natural” foods that
have hidden unhealthy ingredients visit http://fitbie.msn.com/slideshow/9-allnatural-foods-aren-t/slide/1.
Healthier Treats for the Holiday Season
During this upcoming holiday season, candy and desert cravings can interfere
with your plan to eat healthy. However, there are healthier holiday sweets that
can curb your cravings to help maintain an adequate diet. Marisa Moore, RD, is a
spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and has several suggestions
for healthier options. For example, instead of reaching for sugar coated gummy
snacks, dried fruit is a great alternative that has fewer calories and has the added
benefit of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and minerals. Also, when craving a creamy
desert, instead of reaching for the ice cream carton, Greek yogurt with fruit and
honey is packed with protein, fiber, nutrients, and antioxidants that are healthy
and satisfying to your sweet tooth. You can also try frozen banana slices drizzled
in dark chocolate. This is a great source of potassium which is linked to a
reduced risk of stroke and blood pressure. For healthier desert options this
holiday season visit http://fitbie.msn.com/slideshow/7-healthy-foods-sweetcandy/slide/1.
Concerns follow reports that Monster beverages may have been
linked to five deaths in recent years
Following reports that highly caffeinated Monster energy drinks may have been
linked to five deaths in the past three years, doctors are expressing concern about
the large amounts of caffeine typically found in these types of beverages. In one
case, the family of a 14-year-old Maryland girl who died from an irregular heart
rhythm after drinking Monster energy drinks has filed a lawsuit against the
maker of the drink, Monster Beverage Co., of Corona, Calif. To read more about
this story visit
http://www.healthfinder.gov/newsletters/diet102912.aspx#669950
The Re-Think Your Drink campaign is a powerful outreach method to educate parents,
teachers, and students. Drinking sugary beverages and energy drinks can be harmful to
your health and may lead to obesity, heart disease and diabetes.