Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Myth: As a parent, the amount of time I spend watching TV doesn’t affect how much TV my children watch.

Family watching TV
Answer: New information may BUST this myth. 

A recently released survey found that the amount of time parents spend watching TV has a strong impact on the amount of time their children watch TV. The study, reported in the journal Pediatrics, found that this influence was seen in all age groups of children, and that it was a stronger influence than having a TV in the bedroom. The online survey, designed to be nationally representative, included parents and kids ages 12 to 17 years of age. Another interesting finding linked children ages 6 to 11 and parents who watched TV together to increased TV time for the children.

Parents can be good media role models. During family meals, turn the TV off and talk about everyone’s day. Keep the TV off when no one is watching it.

Youth spend too much time being inactive, which is time better spent being active. Parents can find screen-free alternatives for the family like gardening, dancing, playing balloon or scarf volleyball indoors. Being active can make bones stronger, improve stress levels and decrease risk of some chronic diseases.

Looking for more ideas? Go to “Play More, Watch Less” at http://extension.missouri.edu/p/F280

Contributor: Ellen Schuster, M.S., R.D., Associate State Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, schusterer@missouri.edu, 573-882-1933 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Myth: We have more food available than ever in the U.S.

Answer: TRUE, but...

We DO have more food available than ever before in the U.S., but is it the kind of food that promotes good health? A 2010 multi-city study found that snack foods are sold in 96% of pharmacies, 94% of gas stations, 22% of furniture stores and 16% of apparel stores. Furniture stores?! I recall walking into a chain shoe store a few years ago. As I walked from aisle-to-aisle, I ran right into a vending machine selling mostly soda. The vending machine wasn’t in the employee section of the store, but in the retail space.

Studies have shown that those living in low-income areas have 25% fewer chain supermarkets compared with middle-income areas. Areas with a predominantly black population have about half the number of these chains compared to areas that are predominantly white. Areas with mostly Latino residents have a third of that number. The type of store available may influence our health. Those that live within a mile of a supermarket may have a healthier diet than those who don’t. Twenty percent of rural counties are considered rural food deserts — meaning all people live more than 10 miles from a supermarket or supercenter.

Most recent data show that there was a 9.6% increase in farmers markets in the U.S. A total of 7,864 current farmers markets now exist, based on a self-reported directory available at http://search.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/. Studies find that those who live near supermarkets or in areas where fresh produce is sold (supermarkets, grocery stores, farmers markets, etc.) and have more of these stores as compared to stores that don’t sell such healthy foods (such as corner stores) have lower rates of diet-related diseases than those living in neighborhoods with less access to food.

More information about where to buy and how to select seasonal fruits and vegetables is available in the University of Missouri Extension publication Seasonal and simple. For more information about how to access this publication, including how to download the Seasonal and simple app, go to http://missourifamilies.org/features/nutritionarticles/nut374.htm.

Contributor: Ellen Schuster, M.S., R.D., Associate State Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, schusterer@missouri.edu, 573-882-1933

Monday, November 22, 2010

Myth: I should flush my expired prescription drugs and medications down the toilet.

Answer: Busted!

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consumers should take certain precautions before tossing expired medication. A few drugs can be flushed down the toilet. However, many drugs can be thrown in the household trash. And a growing number of community-based "take-back" programs offer safe disposal alternatives. These programs allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Call your city or county government's household trash and recycling service to see if a take-back program is available in your community.

Guidelines for Drug Disposal
In February 2007, the FDA worked with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to develop the first consumer guide for proper disposal of prescription drugs. A summary of the federal guidelines include:
  • Follow any specific disposal instructions on the drug label or patient information that accompanies the medication. Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so.
  • If no instructions are given, throw the drugs in the household trash, but first:
    • Take them out of their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. The medication will be less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through your trash.
    • Put them in a sealable bag, empty can or other container to prevent the medication from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.
Some additional tips include:
  • Before throwing out a medicine container, scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label to make it unreadable. This will help protect your identity and the privacy of your personal health information.
  • Do not give medications to friends. Doctors prescribe drugs based on a person's specific symptoms and medical history. A drug that works for you could be dangerous for someone else.
  • When in doubt about proper disposal, talk to your pharmacist.
Visit the FDA website for additional information about drug disposal.

Contributor: Maude Harris, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, harrismau@missouri.edu, (573) 545-3516

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Myth: Eating seasonal foods is harder after summer.

Answer: Busted

While summer offers great seasonal foods, so does the fall! In Missouri, there is a wide variety of delicious foods in every season. (We are quite fortunate to have such a big selection compared to other states.) Come early September, we will still see some produce from the summer, and autumn produce will start sprouting up. We will still see blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, peaches, green beans, summer squash, tomatoes, lima beans and sweet potatoes. But be on the lookout for broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and other greens coming from the garden.

Here is a list of foods you can find in September in Missouri:
Apples, Beets, Bell Peppers, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Grapes, Green Peas, Greens, Horseradish, Hot Peppers, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Nectarines, Okra, Onions, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Popcorn, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Scallions, Snap Beans, Southern Peas, Summer Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watermelon, Winter Squash

Not quite sure how to cook seasonal produce? Visit Missouri Families for some great recipe ideas, and check out this new MU Extension publication: Seasonal and Simple: A Guide for Enjoying Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.

Guest Contributor: Eva Hightaian, Nutrition Intern at the University of Missouri
Co-Author: Donna Mehrle, MPH, RD, LD,
mehrled@missouri.edu, University of Missouri Extension

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Myth: Our food choices don’t affect the environment.

Answer: Busted!

What we eat matters. The food choices we make every day have a big effect on the environment. How food is grown, stored, transported and processed can influence the environment.

Trucking, shipping and flying in food from around the country and the globe takes a toll on the environment and on public health. Food waste (discarded packaging and food) ends up in landfills and requires additional transportation to get it there.

The good news is that even small changes in what we buy and eat can add up to real environmental benefits. What can we do?

  • Eat local. Buying local can reduce pollution and energy use associated with transporting and storing food. It can provide fresher, more flavorful and nutritious food, support local farmers and the local economy, and create a sustainable food system.

  • Buy foods with less packaging.

  • Compost food waste.

  • Visit your local farmers market.

Eating “green” can mean eating fresher, healthier foods while reducing your grocery bill and supporting local farmers.

Contributor: Karen Sherbondy, RD, LD, Extension Associate, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri Extension, sherbondyk@missouri.edu

Friday, November 20, 2009

Myth: Disaster kits should include only water and whatever canned foods you like

ANSWER: BUSTED!

November 18th is Winter Awareness Day, so this is a good time to start thinking about your personal or family disaster plan. Assembling a disaster kit is an important step in the planning process, and it should include a lot more than simply food and water. Your kit should include supplies for everyone in your house, including your pets. See the document, Recommended Contents for Family Disaster Supplies Kit for more suggestions about first aid supplies, clothing, water, tools, and documents to include in the kit.

Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation, or cooking, and little or no water. Stay away from commercially dehydrated foods, as they can require a significant amount of water to prepare. Meal-sized canned foods are also usually bulky and heavy. Remember, you might need to carry this kit with you if you have to leave the house. Finally, avoid whole grains and pasta because preparation could be complicated under the circumstances of a disaster.

Recommended foods include:
· Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables (but don’t forget the can opener!)
· Canned juices, milk, and soup (if using dried milk, be sure to pack extra water)
· High-energy foods, such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, and trail mix.
· Foods for infants, the elderly, or people on special diets if necessary.
· Prepackaged beverages in foil packets and foil-lined boxes are good because they are tightly sealed and will keep for a long time.
· Familiar foods can lift morale and give a feeling of security in times of stress.

Finally, check for an “expiration” or “best if used by” date on the products. If there is no date listed on the product, the general recommendation is to store food for 6 months and then replace.