May: In this Issue

Special Days and Monthly Celebrations

Grandma really enjoys celebrations and special days; so each month she will share a few ideas that she thinks are interesting.

Good Health Can Be Yummy

Recipes and thoughts from last month’s Foodland Chronicles on making food taste great and build healthy bodies.

Special Days and Monthly Celebrations

May is filled with events to celebrate; those below are a few that touched my heart this year.

American Wetlands Month

American Wetlands Month celebrates the importance of wetlands to our nation’s ecological, economic and social health. Wetlands play an important role in our environment and provide improved water quality, increased water storage, reduced flood risk, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife. As mentioned in my post Hook Some Healthy Fish on a Budget, fish is an important component of a healthy diet. More than half of commercially harvested fish in the United States come from our coastal wetlands. The abundance and health of these fish is directly related to wetland quality and quantity.

Employee Health and Fitness Month

Employee Health & Fitness Month, the largest work site health and fitness observance, is a month-long initiative with the goal to generate sustainability for a healthy lifestyle. Companies can have a big impact by offering healthy choices at meetings and other events. Small changes can make it easier for people to eat healthy foods and be physically active. See Guidelines for Healthy Meeting for ideas.

Making sure there are healthy choices in vending machines can make a big difference too.

 
 
Arthritis Awareness Month

Arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability. Currently 46 million men, women and children in the United States are afflicted with arthritis. According to the University of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine website, good diet is important for everyone, but it is especially helpful for people with arthritis. Experts in diet recommend seven basic guidelines for a balanced, healthy diet.

* Eat a variety of foods
* Maintain ideal weight
* Avoid too much fat and cholesterol
* Avoid too much sugar
* Eat foods with enough starch and fiber
* Avoid too much sodium

National Osteoporosis Prevention Month
Several epidemiological studies have found that higher intakes of fruits and vegetables, particularly those rich in potassium, are associated with higher bone mass density (BMD) and lower risk of fracture in older adults. Fruits and vegetables are rich in precursors to bicarbonate ions, which can preserve calcium in bones by buffering organic acids consumed in the diet or generated metabolically. Eat healthy now to prevent problems in the future.

Individual Observances in May Include:

National Teacher Day, May 3rd

Good teachers are critical to the success of individuals, families, businesses and nations. Teachers shape children’s view of the world and their attitude toward learning. Take a moment to reflect back on those teachers who inspired and motivated you.

Teaching is an incredibly important and challenging job. Be sure to show appreciation for a special teacher or teachers in your life.

Mother’s Day, May 8th

And speaking of incredibly important and challenging jobs, Mother’s Day is this month too. This short poem by Howard Johnson (c. 1915) conveys some of the special feelings of Mother’s Day.

M – O – T – H – E – R
“M” is for the million things she gave me,
“O” means only that she’s growing old,
“T” is for the tears she shed to save me,
“H” is for her heart of purest gold;
“E” is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
“R” means right, and right she’ll always be,
Put them all together, they spell
“MOTHER,”
A word that means the world to me.

Memorial Day, Monday May 30th

Memorial Day originated following the Civil War. It is a time set aside for remembering those who have given the ultimate sacrifice — their lives — for the freedom of loved ones and future generations.

Memorial Day typically signifies the beginning of summer. Take some time aside from your fun activities this Memorial Day to honor those fallen heroes. Some ways might include visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and/or participating in parades. More ideas are listed at usmemorialday.org.

Good Health Can Be Yummy
Did you miss any of these articles? These were some of the most popular blog posts and the most fun to write:

• An Ounce of Prevention – in this April 1st post, Mary Ireland discusses recent Alzheimer Disease research and shares a quick curry recipe.
• Mother Nature Offers Protection from Cancer and Obesity — in this April 5th post Dr. Grandma discusses the link between overweight/obesity and cancer risk and how to reduce the risk.
• Exulting in the Unthinkable — in this April 19th post Dr. Grandmas expresses her joy in finding an article titled: The whole foods movement: ‘Age of the unthinkable’ for processed foods?
• Using the Word ‘Mediterranean’ Is No Substitute for the Real Thing — in this April 27th post Dr. Grandma points out how (predictably) marketers are trying to pander to those who don’t really want to purchase, prepare, and actually eat fruits and vegetables.
• Exercise Tips — in this April 29th post Mary Ireland discusses the importance of exercising consistently and give some references and tips.

Other links of interest:

• Employee Health and Fitness Month
• Arthritis Foundation
• National Osteoporosis Foundation
• National Teacher’s Day
• Dr. Grandma’s Pancake and Waffle Mix
• Dr. Grandma’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Dr. Grandma’s All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener – Delight
• Dr. Grandma’s Organic Hard Red Spring Wheat
• Dr. Grandma’s Muffins Your Way Mix

Sending my best to you and your family, until next month,

– Joyce